Reclosable Food Tray and Tray Blank with Yang's Notch Cut as Fastening Mechanism;and Carrying Strap for Carrying Single or Multiple Food Trays

• US 20140231494A1
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven Song Yang
• Original Assignee: Steven Song Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Steven Song
• Granted Patent: US 9,505,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/108
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2007/0013 with fasteners along the periphery of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/10 Handles for carrying purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/2047 trapezoidal, e.g. to form a body with diverging side walls B65D5/2033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/2061 of triangular shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/247 and being maintained in erected condition by integral mechanical locking means formed on, or coacting with, the gusset folds, e.g. locking tabs, tongue and slit B65D5/248 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/46008 formed separately from the container body

Abstract

A reclosable food tray is disclosed comprising a receptacle portion and two pairs of opposing closure flaps. The receptacle portion has substantially trapezoidal volume defined by a rectangular shaped bottom panel and two substantially upstanding pair of opposing side panels. The opposing side panels defined four pairs of adjacent panels which are hingedly connected in liquid-sealed manner by four folded gussets secured by three pairs of notch cuts. The notch cut is a curved and hook-like cut serves as interlocking mechanism to hold the food tray together. The pair of notch cuts can also be disconnected from each other to open the penal(s). The notch cut enable the food tray shipped in blank and erected by end user, also eliminates metal wire and adhesives that are commonly used by prior arts. A carrying strap purposely designed for carrying one or multiple food trays is a component of the invention.

Claims

1. A reclosable food tray erected from a single unitary blank having an interior and exterior surface and a substantially square gross geometry. Unlike prior arts, the present invention has notch cuts (named Yang'"'"'s notch cut, hereunder) that enable the food tray, without assistant of foreign materials, e.g. adhesive or metal wire, etc., shipped in blank, erected and shaped by end user. Also, as designed, the said food tray can be opened and reclosed from both top and side panels that have said Yang'"'"'s notch cuts as fastening and interlocking mechanism. The food tray comprises:

a fully constructed receptacle portion having access openings, from top or from side, permitting introduction of food into said receptacle portion having a volumetric geometry defined by a rectangular shaped bottom panel, a first substantially upstanding pair of opposing side panels, a second substantially upstanding pair of opposing side panels said pairs of opposing side panels defining four pairs of adjacent side panels, with each pair of adjacent side panels being hingedly connected by one of four folded gussets, with each of said gussets unitary with said adjacent side panels, secured and interlocked to the opposing said gusset by said Yang'"'"'s notch cuts. Each said panel has a short line cut at joint point located at upper end (side panel at upstanding position) of said side panel and said gusset. Each said folded gusset and said exterior surface, each said side panel being disposed at a first obtuse angle measured from said bottom panel so that said volumetric geometry facilitates nesting of the receptacle portion of one reclosable food tray within the receptacle portion of another reclosable food tray;

Yang'"'"'s notch cut, a curved, looped and hook-like cut in paperboard and other stiff sheet materials serves as interlocking mechanism to hold said reclosable food tray. The Yang'"'"'s notch cut comprises;

an inner loop line;

an outer loop line;

a tip point where the outer and inner loop lines curved and merged together;

an optional zigzag cut (or teeth-like rough edge) along inner loop line. These inner loop line cuts serve a purpose of more security to enclose said food tray. Said Yang'"'"'s notch cut can be hooked into each other and un-hook from each other permitting said food tray reclose and reopen. Yang'"'"'s notch cut can be adapted to many other materials and products as connecting, interlocking tool.

a first pair of opposing closure flaps, each extending from one of said opposing side panels and being capable of closing off a portion of said access opening with said Yang'"'"'s notch cut; and

a second pair of opposing closure flaps, each extending from one of the other pair of opposing side panels and being adapted to cooperatively interlock with each other by said Yang'"'"'s notch cut and overlap a portion of said first pair of opposing closure flaps to close off said access opening.

2. The reclosable food tray of claim 1, wherein each said folded gusset is suitably dimensioned so that said receptacle portion is capable of retaining liquid or semi-solid consumables without leakage through said receptacle portion.

3. The reclosable food tray of claim 2, wherein said two substantially upstanding pair of opposing side panels comprise a first side panel disposed opposite a second side panel, a third side panel disposed opposite a fourth side panel, with said first side panel being adjacent said third and said fourth side panels and said second side panel being adjacent said third and said fourth side panels to form a volume having trapezoidal dimensions.

4. The reclosable food tray of claim 1, wherein said blank comprises paperboard material which is substantially resistant to microwave and other heat radiation.

5. The reclosable food tray of claim 1, wherein said first pair of opposing closure flaps are hingedly connected to said respective opposing side panels along respective top fold lines, and each folded gusset has an upper edge which extends substantially along one of said respective top fold lines.

6. The reclosable food tray of claim 5, wherein said first and second pair of opposing side panels are hingedly connected to said bottom panel along respective bottom fold lines, and each side panel has left and right side fold lines, each of which are disposed at a second obtuse angle with respect to adjacent bottom fold lines.

7. The reclosable tray of claim 6, wherein said blank comprises paperboard material which is substantially resistant to microwave and other heat radiation.

8. The reclosable food tray of claim 1, which further comprises a folded partition for insertion into said receptacle portion to divide said receptacle portion into two or more separate food storage compartments. Said partition could be straight insertion to divide said food tray diagonally into two triangular portions or two rectangular portions;

and could also be “

S”

shape insertion, “

X”

(or cross) shape insertion and even tube (cylinder) insertion, etc.

9. A reclosable food tray constructed from a single unitary blank having an interior and exterior surface, which comprises:

a receptacle portion having an access opening permitting introduction of food into said receptacle portion having a volume defined by a rectangular shaped bottom panel, a first substantially upstanding pair of opposing side panels, a second substantially upstanding pair of opposing side panels said pairs of opposing side panels defining four pairs of adjacent side panels, with each pair of adjacent side panels being hingedly connected by one of four folded gussets, with each of said gussets unitary with said adjacent side panels, secured and interlocked to the opposing said gusset by said Yang'"'"'s notch cuts and short line cuts. Each said side panel being disposed at a first obtuse angle measured from said bottom panel;

a first pair of opposing closure flaps, each extending from one of said opposing side panels and being capable of closing off a portion of said access opening; and

a second pair of opposing closure flaps, each extending from one of the other pair of opposing side panels, said second pair of opposing closure flaps interlock each other by Yang'"'"'s notch cut and overlap a portion of said first pair of opposing closure flaps to close off said access opening.

10. A blank adapted to be folded into a reclosable food tray having a fully constructed receptacle portion with a volumetric geometry which facilitates nesting of the receptacle portion of one food tray within the receptacle portion of another said food tray, said blank having a planar unitary construction, an interior and an exterior surface and a substantially square gross geometry, which comprises:

a bottom panel of rectangular shape having a surface area defined by a first and second pair of opposing bottom fold lines;

a first and second pair of opposing side panels hingedly connected to said bottom panel along said first and second pair of opposing bottom fold lines, said opposing panels defining four pair of adjacent side panels;

four foldable gussets, each said foldable gusset being hingedly connected to each pair of adjacent side panels so that when said first and second opposing side panels are folded substantially upright with respect to said bottom panel, a receptacle portion with an access opening is formed, each said foldable gusset is folded and can be secured by Yang'"'"'s notch cut and a short line cut to an opposing foldable gusset that has Yang'"'"'s notch cut and a short line cut as well. Two Yang'"'"'s notch cuts enable said gussets interlocked to each other. And each said side panel is disposed substantially upright at a first predetermined obtuse angle with respect to said bottom panel;

a first pair of opposing closure panels, each hingedly connected to one of said first pair of opposing side panels and being dimensioned to close off a portion of said access opening when folded over said access opening and disposed substantially parallel to said bottom panel;

a second pair of opposing closure panels, each hingedly connected to one of said second pair of opposing side panels and being dimensioned to close off said access opening when folded over said access opening and said first pair of opposing closure panels.

11. The blank of claim 10, wherein said second pair of opposing closure flaps comprises a releasable fastening means to selectively open and close said second pair of closure flaps when folded down over said first pair of closure flaps and said access opening.

12. The blank of claim 10, wherein said first pair of opposing bottom fold lines comprises a first bottom fold line opposing a second bottom fold line, said second pair of opposing bottom fold lines comprises a third bottom fold line opposing a fourth bottom fold line;

said first pair of opposing side panels comprises a first side panel contiguous with said first bottom fold line, and having a surface area defined by a first top fold line, a first left side fold line, a first right side fold line and said first bottom fold line, said first top and bottom fold lines being substantially parallel and said first left and right side fold lines diverging from said first bottom fold line at a said predetermined obtuse angle; and

a second side panel disposed opposite of said first side panel, being contiguous with said second bottom fold line, and having a surface area defined by a second top fold line, a second left side fold line, a second right side fold line and said second bottom edge fold line, said second top and bottom fold lines being substantially parallel and said second left and right side fold lines diverging from said second bottom fold lines at said second predetermined obtuse angle; and

said second pair of opposing side panels comprises a third side panel contiguous with said third bottom fold line, and having a surface area defined by a third top fold line, a third left side fold line, a third right side fold line and said third bottom fold line, said third top and bottom fold lines being substantially parallel and said third left and right side fold lines diverging from said third bottom fold line at said second predetermined obtuse angle; and

a fourth side panel disposed opposite of said second side panel, being contiguous with said fourth bottom fold line, and having a surface area defined by a fourth top fold line, a fourth left side fold line, a fourth right fold and said fourth bottom fold line, said fourth top and bottom fold line being substantially parallel and said fourth left and right side fold lines diverging from said fourth bottom fold line at said second predetermined obtuse angle.

13. The blank of claim 10, wherein said foldable gussets comprise:

a first foldable gusset being contiguous with said first and third side panels, and having a first corner fold line and a first corner edge, a Yang'"'"'s notch cut and a short line cut are created close to the tip of the edge;

a second foldable gusset being contiguous with said first and fourth side panels, and having a second corner fold line and a second corner edge, a Yang'"'"'s notch cut and a short line cut are created close to the tip of the edge;

a third foldable gusset being contiguous with said fourth and second side panels, and having a third corner fold line and a third corner edge, a Yang'"'"'s notch cut and a short line cut are created close to the tip of the edge; and

a fourth foldable gusset being contiguous with said second and third side panels, and having a fourth corner fold line and a fourth corner edge, a Yang'"'"'s notch cut and a short line cut created close to the tip of the edge.

14. The blank of claim 12, wherein said first pair of opposing closure panels comprises:

a first closure panel with a Yang'"'"'s notch cut at the top of the edge being contiguous with said first side panel; and

a second closure panel with a Yang'"'"'s notch cut at the top of the edge being contiguous with said second side panel; and

said second pair of opposing closure panels comprises a third closure panel with a Yang'"'"'s notch cut at the top of the edge being contiguous with said third side panel; and

a fourth closure panel with a Yang'"'"'s notch cut at the top of the edge being contiguous with said fourth side panel.

15. The blank of claim 12, wherein a pair of Yang'"'"'s notch cuts interlocking means is formed in one of said opposing first and second closure panels or said opposing third and fourth closure panels for selectively opening and closing said opposing closure panels.

16. The blank of claim 11, wherein said first foldable gusset has a surface area generally defined by said first left side fold line, said third right side fold line and said first corner edge;

said second foldable gusset has a surface area generally defined by said first right side fold line, said fourth left side fold line and said second corner edge;

said third foldable gusset has a surface area defined by said fourth right side fold line, said second left side fold line and said third corner edge; and

said fourth foldable gusset has a surface area generally defined by said second right side fold line, said third left side fold line and said fourth corner edge.

17. The blank according to claim 14, wherein said first closure panel has a first left closure panel edge, a first right closure panel edge, and a surface area generally defined by said first top fold line, said left closure panel edge and said first right closure panel edge;

said second closure panel has a second left closure panel edge, a second right closure panel edge, and a surface area generally defined by said second top fold line, said second left closure panel edge and said second right closure panel edge;

said third closure panel has a third left closure panel edge, a third right closure panel edge, and a surface area generally defined by said third top fold line, said third left closure panel edge and said third right closure panel edge; and

said fourth closure panel has a fourth left closure panel edge, a fourth right closure panel edge, and a surface area generally defined by said fourth top fold line, said fourth left closure panel edge and said fourth right closure panel edge.

18. The blank according to claim 17, wherein said first left closure panel edge has a portion adjacent said first top fold line which is substantially parallel to said third bottom fold line;

said first right closure panel edge has a portion adjacent to said first top fold line which is substantially parallel to said fourth bottom fold line;

said second left closure panel edge has a portion adjacent to said second top fold line which is substantially parallel to said fourth bottom fold line; and

said second right closure panel edge has a portion adjacent to said second top fold line which is substantially parallel to said third bottom fold line.

19. The blank according to claim 16, wherein said third left closure edge has a portion adjacent to said third top fold line which is substantially parallel to said second bottom fold line;

said third right closure panel edge has a portion adjacent to said third top fold line which is substantially parallel to said first bottom fold line;

said fourth left closure panel edge having a portion adjacent to said fourth top fold line which is substantially parallel to said first bottom fold line; and

said fourth right closure panel edge has a portion adjacent to said fourth top fold line which is substantially parallel to said second bottom edge fold line.

20. A blank adapted to be folded into a reclosable food tray having a receptacle portion with a volumetric geometry which facilitates nesting of the receptacle portion of one food tray within the receptacle portion of another said food tray, said blank having planar unitary construction and a substantially square gross geometry, which comprises:

a bottom panel of rectangular shape having a surface area defined by first, second, third and fourth bottom fold lines;

a first side panel contiguous with said first bottom fold line having a surface area defined by a first top fold line, a first left side fold line, a first right side fold line and said first bottom fold line, said first top fold line and said first bottom fold line being substantially parallel and said first left and right side fold lines diverging from said first bottom fold at a predetermined angle;

a second side panel disposed opposite said first side panel and contiguous with said second bottom fold line, having a surface area defined by a second top fold line, a second left side fold line, a second right side fold line and said second bottom fold, said second top and bottom fold lines being substantially parallel and said second left and right side fold lines diverging from said second bottom fold line at said predetermined angle;

a third side panel contiguous with said third bottom fold line having a surface area defined by a third top fold line, a third left side fold line, a third right side fold line and said third bottom fold, said third top and bottom fold lines being substantially parallel and said third left and right side fold lines diverging from said third bottom fold line at said predetermined angle;

a fourth side panel disposed opposite said second side panel and contiguous with said fourth bottom fold line, having a surface area defined by a fourth top fold line, a fourth left side fold line, a fourth right side fold line and said fourth bottom fold line, said fourth top and bottom fold lines being substantially parallel and said fourth left and right side fold lines diverging from said fourth bottom fold line at said predetermined angle;

a first foldable gusset with a Yang'"'"'s notch cut and a short line cut created close to the tip of the edge being contiguous with said first and third side panels, and having a first corner fold line and a first corner edge;

a second foldable gusset with a Yang'"'"'s notch cut and short line cut created close to the tip of the edge being contiguous with said first and fourth side panels, and having a second corner fold line and a second corner edge;

a third foldable gusset with a Yang'"'"'s notch cut and short line cut created close to the tip of the edge being contiguous with said fourth and second side panels, and having a third corner fold line and a third corner edge;

a fourth foldable gusset with a Yang'"'"'s notch cut and a short line cut created close to the tip of the edge being contiguous with said second and third side panels, and having a fourth corner fold line and a fourth corner edge;

a first closure panel with a Yang'"'"'s notch cut on leading edge being contiguous with said first side panel;

a second closure panel with a Yang'"'"'s notch cut on leading edge being contiguous with said second side panel;

a third closure panel with a Yang'"'"'s notch cut on the leading edge being contiguous with said third side panel;

a fourth closure panel with a Yang'"'"'s notch cut on the leading edge being contiguous with said fourth side panel; and

fastening means said Yang'"'"'s notch cut formed in at least one opposing pair of said closure panels for selectively opening and closing said closure panels. With said Yang'"'"'s notch cut on every single of said closure panel will increase tightness of fastening said food tray.

21. Said Yang'"'"'s notch cut:

A curved, looped and hook-like cut in paperboard and other stiff sheet materials serves as interlocking mechanism to hold said reclosable food tray. To enable said Yang'"'"'s notch cut works as locking device, as well, to enforce the strength of interlock, said Yang'"'"'s notch cut should be created geometrically and evenly at upper portion of said four gussets, in back to back fashion (mirror image);

in another word, cut openings facing said adjacent side panels. Said Yang'"'"'s notch cuts on each of said gussets shall become one Yang'"'"'s notch cut with double layers when said foldable gussets folded along said fold line to shape said food tray.

22. other type of notch cuts on the said gusset of said food tray have been considered and tested, including but not limited to, zigzag cut, triangle cut, etc., However, the present Yang'"'"'s notch cut has been proven serves the best purpose of the idea. All other shape and designs of cuts should be considered within the scope of the new invention and under the same dome of the claim.

23. for easy insertion and security of said Yang'"'"'s notch cut when enclosing said food tray, a short straight line cut is created on each gusset at top edge adjacent to said Yang'"'"'s notch cut.

A carrying strap designed to hold one or multiple said food trays together, after erected from said tray blank and tightened by said Yang'"'"'s notch cuts in closed position. Said carrying strap can be manufactured with the same materials as of said food tray, or any other suitable materials, such as plastic, textile and flexible metal, etc., which comprises:

24. a carrying strap erected from a single unitary blank.

25. a fully constructed said carrying strap is defined by a rectangular shape bottom panel.

26. said rectangular bottom panel continues and hingedly connect to one substantially upstanding pair of opposing side triangle panels that have purposely designed foldable line or lines at lower part of said triangle panels.

27. said multiple foldable lines enable the size of said bottom rectangular panel and said triangle panels become adjustable to fit the above said food tray in different size.

28. continued with said pair of triangle panels and, with reduced width at top portion of said triangle panels, a pair of long, narrow, extended strap of opposing side connect to said triangle