Patent Application
20090206082
1. Field
Disclosed are container systems for foodstuffs. This disclosure relates to a food packaging containment system that is suitable for heated food items such as rotisserie chicken and the like. The system can include a tray compartment, a lid member and a tamper-evident locking mechanism. The disclosure also relates to a food containment system that can include a tray compartment, a lid member and structures for release of heated gases.
2. Description of the Related Art
Packaging for food (e.g., packaging for roasted chickens) has various drawbacks. For example, many chicken roaster packages lack a means whereby a consumer can know whether the packaging has been tampered with. Release of heated gases has also been a problem. Packages can sometimes be too hot to carry conveniently.
In some embodiments, a container system suitable for food comprises a tray member with a first connection lip, a lid member with a second connection lip configured to connect with the first connection lip of the tray member and a locking mechanism. The first and second connection lips are configured to form a seal between the lid member and the tray member. The connection lips may form a ridge and groove configured to receive the ridge. The locking mechanism can be configured to engage when the tray member and lid member are positioned to connect. The locking mechanism may comprise locking means, a skirt with a skirt edge and means for impeding access to the skirt edge.
In some embodiments the locking means may comprise a male member and a female member configured to receive the male member. The means for impeding access to the skirt edge may comprise a finger guard that impedes access to the skirt edge when the male member is received into the female member. The finger guard may be a raised rib with a side surface configured to overhang and impede access to the skirt edge. The skirt may further comprise a flat portion and a rib portion configured to impede access to the skirt edge. The container system may be stackable.
In some embodiments, the container system further comprises a tamper-evident separation mechanism. The tamper-evident separation mechanism may comprise a pull tab and a break-locus at which the skirt is configured to break in order to allow the user to open the container system at the seal between the lid member and the tray member. The break-locus can allow a single piece of material to separate into two pieces when the pull tab is pulled. The break-locus can take many forms, for example, it may be a perforated section or a thin section. The break-locus may also be an area around which the skirt folds along to allow the male and female members to engage with each other.
In addition, the system may be configured such that pulling on the pull tab after the male member has engaged with the female member can cause the skirt to break at the break-locus, allowing the pull tab and the separated portion of the skirt to separate and indicating that the tray member and the lid member have been closed and subsequently opened. This provides a consumer with evidence of potential tampering.
Some embodiments comprise a container system suitable for heated food. A first container system may comprise a tray with an activation member and a lid. The lid can have an aperture partially covered by a flap. The aperture and flap are configured to enable the release of heated gases when the flap is depressed. The activation member is configured to depress a flap in a second container system. The activation member may optionally protrude downward in the bottom of the tray member.
The container system of some embodiments comprise a dome surface, at least one stacking rib and an aperture surface. The aperture surface may comprise the aperture and the flap and the aperture surface is configured such that it is at least partially above the dome surface and below the at least one stacking rib. The aperture surface may also be sloped.
Some embodiments encompass a method of making a tamper-evident food container system. The method may comprise providing a first container portion of a lid formed from a single piece of material, the lid having an outward lid extension substantially surrounding the perimeter thereof. Providing a second container portion comprising a tray formed from a single piece of material, the tray having an outward tray extension substantially surrounding the perimeter thereof. Establishing an enclosed space by positioning the lid and the tray together with the outward lid extension and the outward tray extension abutting each other around substantially the full perimeter of the enclosed space and securing the lid to the tray by inserting a male portion of a locking mechanism of one container portion into a female portion of a locking mechanism in the other container portion at a securement complex. Further securing the lid to the tray at the securement complex by folding a portion of the long outward extension of one container portion over a sandwiched section of the outward extension of the other container portion and preventing future undetected tampering by causing a pull tab to protrude from the side of the food-container system, the pull tab configured to permanently separate from the container portion when the tab is pulled with sufficient force to separate the lid from the tray.
Some methods may comprise the further step wherein securing the lid to the tray comprises positioning the folded portion of the outward extension of one container portion underneath an overhanging feature on the other container portion to impede unfolding of the long outward extension.
Some methods of making a tamper-evident food container system may involve the following steps. Forming a lid and tray, each from a single piece of material. Forming a securement mechanism on the food container system with a secured section, a skirt with a separable portion, a pull tab forming part of the separable portion, and a skirt edge. The skirt configured to fold along a separation locus around the secured section. The securement mechanism also has a male snap in either the secured section or the skirt, a female snap receptacle in either the secured section or the skirt, the female snap receptacle configured to receive the male snap when the skirt is folded, and a skirt overhang configured to impede access to the skirt edge when the skirt is folded.
Some methods may further comprise forming at least one ridge in the skirt, the ridge configured to impede access to the skirt edge when the skirt is folded and the skirt overhang overhangs the skirt edge. Some methods may even further comprise securing the securement mechanism by inserting the male snap into the female snap receptacle; positioning the skirt edge underneath the skirt overhang; and subsequently, configuring the tab to protrude such that when a user pulls the tab to open the container system, the tab irreversibly separates to provide evidence that the container has previously been opened.
Rigid and flexible plastic containers can be used to protect and display both perishable and fragile food items such as sandwiches, salads and bakery items. The roles of plastic packaging can be expanded to meet additional demands. Presentation, brand presence, consumer desires, added value to enhance commercial competitiveness, differentiation, imagery and psychology can all be factors in package design and application. Convenience and versatility continue to shape the future of packaging, with consumers gravitating toward packaged convenience items. Thus, social and environmental considerations can be advantageously included in the development process of plastic packaging. The provision of multiple compartments in a variety of shapes and utilities in rigid plastic containers is an example of a useful advantage.
Plastic food containers can be manufactured, for example, from Polystyrene, Polypropylene, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polylactide, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), or other rigid polymers. Materials that can be used include thermoformable plastics such as: Oriented Polystyrene (OPS); Talc-Filled Polypropylene (TFPP); High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS); Polypropylene (PP); Polyethylene Terepthalate (PET); Amorphous PET (APET); Crystallized Polyethylene (CPET); polylactide or polylactic acid (PLA); Polystyrene; Styrene Block Copolymer blends; and the like. Plastic food containers can comprise multiple parts—e.g., a tray and lid—or they may be a one-piece construction with a hinge that allows one portion of the container to act as the tray and the other connected portion to act as a lid. Plastic packages can be manufactured in a variety of shapes and cross-sections: circular, rectangular, square, elliptical, etc.
The use of such plastics for holding heated food has many advantages, especially with rotisserie chicken applications. However, many currently available food packages have not been designed to cater to the consumer's needs as related to the risk of tampering or the handling of container systems for heated foods. Many of the currently available container systems have no way of indicating whether the container has been prematurely opened or tampered with. In addition, heating of the container contents can result in high temperature fluids and gases, increased pressure build-up, and so forth. A hot container can thus be painful to touch. Such constraints also place limitations on the logistical elements such as containerization of large quantities of heated food product. This disclosure provides for a unique approach that achieves these objectives, among others.
Embodiments will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Inventions disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
Referring to the drawings and in particular to
The lid member 2 and tray member 4 of the container system 1 can be molded, through thermoforming manufacturing means, from a single sheetline of polymer material work piece into a predetermined shape and thickness as required. The lid member 2 and tray member 4 of the container system 1 may also be formed, through thermoforming manufacturing means, into a curvilinear geometry to thereby provide the end user with a variety of polygonal shapes. In the container system 1, the lid member 2 has geometry that permits even mating with the tray member 4 at their peripheral edge, where even mating can imply that two structures mate evenly. Additionally, mating between lid member 2 and tray member 4 can be releaseably-sealable and achieved using a snap-fit grip, shown here as components 62, 64. The releaseably-sealable mechanism can be a slotable mechanical interface wherein the tray member snap-fit grip component 64 is the male element and the lid member snap-fit grip component 62 is the female element.
Locking means, as used herein, is a broad term and is used in its ordinary meaning. Locking means can include but are not limited to any of the following: anything that attaches two pieces of material together, male and female locking parts, a button and button receiver (e.g., button hole), a hook, an interference fit, a tongue and groove, a tongue and slot, a rivet, a snap, mating portions of plastic containers, etc. Locking means can also include the locking mechanisms disclosed in the Figures.
Impediment means, as used herein, is a broad term and is used in its ordinary meaning. Impediment means can include but are not limited to any of the following: structures or voids (lack of structure) that make access to another structure more difficult, that prevent easy access to another structure, that prohibit access to another structure, that block or partially block access to another structure, that prevent access to a structure in normal use, etc.
The locking means can be configured to lock the locking mechanism and the impediment means can be configured to deny access to at least a part of the locking means. The locking means may be a male member 21, and a female member 23 configured to receive the male member 21. The locking means can have an interference fit. The locking mechanism 20 may further comprise a skirt 25 with a skirt edge 27. The locking means can be separate from the sealing mechanism. The impediment means may be a finger guard 29 configured to impede access to the skirt edge 27 after the male 21 and female 23 members are joined.
The locking mechanism can take on many different configurations. For example, the Figures show the male member 21 associated with the tray member 4 and the female member 23 with the lid member 2; this association can be reversed with the male member 21 formed as part of the lid and the female part formed as part of the tray. In addition, the locking mechanism 20 can be integrated into the releaseably-sealable mechanism. The principles of the locking mechanism 20 can be applied using different configurations from those displayed in the Figures. In addition, a container system 1 can have one or more locking mechanisms 20.
Now turning to
Reference is now made to
The finger guard 29 or other structures that are designed to impede access to the skirt edge 27 provide many benefits. Impeding access to the skirt edge 27 is one way of helping to ensure that the locking mechanism 20 stays in a locked configuration. Impeding access to the skirt edge 27 helps to prevent tampering and helps to ensure that the tamper-evident mechanism works as designed, as explained below.
In addition to the finger guard 29, the at least one rib portion 33 may also impede access to the skirt edge 27. The at least one rib portion 33 can provide many benefits including strengthening the skirt 25 and thereby increasing the rigidity of the skirt. This can help maintain the skirt 25 in the locked configuration, keeping the system securely closed. This is because as the rigidity of the skirt 25 increases, the skirt 25 in a locked configuration is more difficult to bend or flex in a manner that can enable the skirt's 25 removal from the locked configuration. A raised rib portion close to the skirt edge can also decrease access to the skirt edge 27 thus further impeding access to the skirt edge 27 when used in conjunction with the finger guard 29 or other impediment means.
Turning to
While the locking mechanism 20 is locked and the break-locus 44 is unbroken, a user can be prevented from separating the lid member 2 and tray member 4. This should be true when, for example, there are two locking mechanisms 20 on opposite sides of the container system 1, or when the lid member and tray member are connected at a hinge and the container system has a locking mechanism on the opposite side of the container system away from the hinge.
The break-locus 44 can comprise a weak section of material configured to allow a single piece of material to separate into two pieces (see
The pull tab 42 may be configured such that pulling on the pull tab 42 causes more force to be exerted at the break-locus 44 than at the locking means. This tends to cause separation at the break-locus 44 rather than, for example, separating the male member 21 from the female member 23 of the locking mechanism 20. In this way, the skirt 25 breaks at the break-locus 44 when the pull tab 42 is pulled.
The pull tab 42 may be used in concert with a gripping area 66 to break the break-locus 44. A user can hold the pull tab 42 with one hand and a gripping area 66 with another hand and apply force in opposite directions so as to separate the break-locus 44.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in
Returning now to
Additional features in some embodiments deal with the sealing engagement of the lid member 2 and the tray member 4. Referencing
The container system 1 may have the configuration depicted in
In some embodiments, a container system 1 suitable for food can comprise a tray member 4 and a lid member 2 wherein the tray 4 and lid 2 members have a connecting portion and a locking mechanism 20. The locking mechanism 20 may comprise a rotating section 25, a pre-formed connection 44 around which the rotating section 25 is configured to rotate and a closure assembly. When the closure assembly is in a closed state, the closure assembly can be closed together more strongly than the pre-formed connection 44 so that attempts to open the closure assembly will disconnect the preformed connection 44, thus unlocking the locking mechanism 20.
In some embodiments (e.g., those illustrated in
With reference now to
Also in
In some embodiments, with reference to
The aperture surface 86 may optionally be sloped. The slope may be between approximately 0 and 60 degrees. The slope may also be between approximately 15 and 45 degrees. The slope may be between 25 and 35 degrees. The sloped aperture surface 86 advantageously provides clearance for the heated gases to escape the container system 1. This is especially true when the container systems are in a stacked configuration.
The ability to release heated gases is a useful characteristic in the design of container systems for heated food. The presence of heated gases, such as steam, can decrease visibility within the container system. This can be a problem as consumers are less likely to purchase certain food stuffs when they cannot see the actual food item inside the container system.
Now with reference to
The container system 101 may have at least one locking mechanism 120. The container system 101 preferably has two locking mechanisms 120, one on either side of the container system 101. The locking mechanism 120 can have a means for locking the tray 104 and the lid 102 in place. The locking means can be separate from the sealing connection.
Now with particular reference to
The break-locus 144 can comprise a weak section of material configured to allow a single piece of material to separate into two pieces when the pull tab 142 is pulled or when a user attempts to unlock the locking mechanism 120. The pull tab 142 may comprise grip features 146 wherein the grip features 146 may comprise ridges. The weak section can, for example, comprise a perforated section or a thin section. The perforated section can be an area defined by perforations in the material. The thin section can be defined by the relative thickness of material along one area compared to adjoining areas. The thin section can, for example, comprise a thickness of less than 0.007 inches.
The pull tab 142 can be attached to the skirt 125 and can provide a means for opening the locking mechanism, thus allowing the container system 101 to be opened. A user can hold the pull tab 142 and with a pulling motion break the skirt at the break-locus 144 so as to separate the lid member 102 from the tray member 104. Pulling the pull tab 142 may also remove the pull tab 143 from the container system 101. By so doing the male 121 and female 123 members may also become disengaged.
Breaking the skirt 125 at the break-locus 144 both allows a user to open the container system 101 and provides notice that the container system 101 has been opened. This is especially useful to the consumer buying food stored in container systems, as a locked container system 101 can provide the consumer with assurances that the food purchased is safe to consume and that it has not been tampered with. The unbroken locking mechanism 120 provides the consumer with this information.
Similarly to the previously disclosed embodiments, the container system 101 may have a skirt edge 127 and a means for impeding access to the skirt edge 127. When the locking mechanism 120 is engaged, the means for impeding access to the skirt edge 127 helps to maintain the locking mechanism 120 in the locked position. The means for impeding access to the skirt edge 127 may comprise a raised rib 129. The raised rib 129 may be formed integrally with or make up a part of the sealing connection. For example, the raised rib 129 can be a part of the groove 162. The raised rib 129 can have a side surface 135 configured such that a part of or all of the skirt edge 127 is received into the side surface 135. The side surface 135 may be sloped in such a way as to create an overhang at a top portion so that access to the skirt edge 127 is impeded by the overhang of the side surface 135.
The means for impeding access to the skirt edge 127 may take other forms as well. For example, the means for impeding access can be a receiving slit configured to receive all or substantially all of a skirt edge 127. The skirt edge 127 can also be angled in such a way to make access difficult because of the manner in which the skirt edge engages another surface. Impeding access to the skirt edge 127 is one way of helping to ensure that the locking mechanism 120 stays in a locked configuration. Impeding access to the skirt edge 127 helps to prevent tampering and it helps to ensure that the tamper-evident mechanism works as designed.
Now referring to
Although the disclosures presented herein are in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the disclosures extend beyond the specifically described embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the disclosures and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the disclosures herein described should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above.
