Tray With Curved Bottom Surface

• US 20120312807A1
• Filed: 06/07/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Fitzwater, Kelly R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,078,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/730
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3406 Pizza or bread
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3447 Heat attenuators, blocking agents or heat insulators for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/302 combined with a slot provided in an adjacent side wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6408 Supports or covers specially adapted for use in microwave heating apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6494 for cooking

Abstract

A tray for holding a food product includes a plurality of panels extending around an interior of the tray. The plurality of panels includes at least a central panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the central panel, and at least one end panel foldably connected to the central panel along an arcuate fold line. The central panel forms a curved bottom surface of the tray.

Claims

1. A tray for holding a food product, the tray comprising:

a plurality of panels extending around an interior of the tray, the plurality of panels comprising at least a central panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the central panel, and at least one end panel foldably connected to the central panel along an arcuate fold line, wherein the central panel forms a curved bottom surface of the tray.

2. The tray of claim 1, wherein curvature of the curved bottom surface is defined by the arcuate fold line.

3. The tray of claim 2, wherein the curved bottom surface includes a medial portion extending into an interior of the tray.

4. The tray of claim 1, wherein the central panel includes a plurality of lateral scores extending from the at least one side panel.

5. The tray of claim 1, wherein the curved bottom surface is arranged to support a food product.

6. The tray of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one extension extending from the at least one side panel configured to elevate the central panel.

7. The tray of claim 6, wherein the at least one extension is defined by a curved cut-line cut through the central panel.

8. The tray of claim 1, wherein the arcuate fold line is a first arcuate fold lien and the plurality of panels further comprises:

a second side panel foldably connected to the central panel; and

a second end panel foldably connected to the bottom panel along a second arcuate fold line.

9. The tray of claim 8, wherein the first and second side panels comprise respective locking flaps configured to engage the first and second end panels to form the tray.

10. The tray of claim 9, wherein the second end panel comprises a notch arranged therethrough configured to allow access to one end of a food product.

11. The tray of claim 8, wherein curvature of the curved bottom surface is defined by the first and second arcuate fold lines.

12. The tray of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of extensions extending from the first and second side panels configured to elevate the central panel.

13. The tray of claim 12, wherein the plurality of extensions are defined by curved cut-lines cut through the central panel.

14. The tray of claim 8, wherein a central axis of the second arcuate fold line is collinear with a central axis of the first arcuate fold line.

15. The tray of claim 1, further comprising:

an interactive element arranged on the central panel.

16. The tray of claim 15, wherein the interactive element is a radio-opaque element configured to interact with a microwave oven.

21. The tray of claim 1, further comprising:

an interactive element arranged on at least one of the central panel, the at least one side panel, and the at least one end panel.

17. The tray of 15, wherein the interactive element comprises a metallic inlay.

18. The tray of 17, wherein the metallic inlay comprises a grid of interlocking metallic traces.

19. The tray of claim 18, wherein the metallic inlay further comprises an oblong central interactive element.

20. The tray of claim 19, wherein the oblong central interactive element is arranged to contact a major surface of a food product.

22. A blank for forming a tray for holding a food product, the blank comprising:

a plurality of panels configured to extend around an interior of a constructed tray, the plurality of panels comprising at least a central panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the central panel, and at least one end panel foldably connected to the central panel along an arcuate fold line, wherein the central panel is configured to form a curved bottom surface of the tray formed from the blank.

23. The blank of claim 22, wherein curvature of the curved bottom surface of a constructed tray is defined by the arcuate fold line.

24. The blank of claim 22, wherein the central panel includes a plurality of lateral scores extending from the at least one side panel.

25. The blank of claim 22, wherein the curved bottom surface is arranged to support a food product.

26. The blank of claim 22, further comprising:

at least one extension feature extending from the at least one side panel configured to elevate the central panel of a constructed tray.

27. The blank of claim 26, wherein the at least one extension is defined by a curved cut-line cut through the central panel.

28. The blank of claim 22, wherein the arcuate fold line is a first arcuate fold lien and the plurality of panels further comprises:

a second side panel foldably connected to the central panel; and

a second end panel foldably connected to the bottom panel along a second arcuate fold line.

29. The blank of claim 28, wherein the first and second side panels comprise respective locking flaps configured to engage the first and second end panels to form the tray.

30. The blank of claim 29, wherein the second end panel comprises a notch arranged therethrough configured to allow access to one end of a food product.

31. The blank of claim 28, wherein curvature of the curved bottom surface is defined by the first and second arcuate fold lines.

32. The blank of claim 28, further comprising:

a plurality of extensions extending from the first and second side panels configured to elevate the central panel.

33. The blank of claim 32, wherein the plurality of extensions are defined by curved cut-lines cut through the central panel.

34. The blank of claim 28, wherein a central axis of the second arcuate fold line is collinear with a central axis of the first arcuate fold line.

35. The blank of claim 22, further comprising:

an interactive element arranged on the central panel.

36. A method of forming a tray for holding a food product, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising at least a central panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the central panel, and at least one end panel foldably connected to the central panel along an arcuate fold line;

forming at least a portion of an interior of the tray by folding the at least one side panel relative to the central panel; and

forming a curved bottom surface of the tray by folding the at least one end panel relative to the central panel along the arcuate fold line.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein curvature of the curved bottom surface is defined by the arcuate fold line.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the central panel includes a plurality of lateral scores extending from the at least one side panel.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the curved bottom surface is arranged to support a food product.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the blank further comprises at least one extension feature extending from the at least one side panel and the method further comprises:

elevating the central panel by folding the at least one extension feature relative to the central panel.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the arcuate fold line is a first arcuate fold line and the plurality of panels further comprises a second side panel foldably connected to the central panel and a second end panel foldably connected to the bottom panel along a second arcuate fold line, and the method further comprises:

further forming the portion of an interior of the tray by folding the second side panel relative to the central panel; and

further forming the curved bottom surface of the tray by folding the second end panel relative to the central panel along the second arcuate fold line.