Packaging system for meal kit

• US 6,257,403 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kraft Foods Incorporated (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Feldmeier, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): FOSTER, JIMMY G
• Application Number:
  US09/499,764
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 206/217, 206/218, 206/541, 206/542, 206/545, 229/904, 426/120
• US Class Current: 206/217
• 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 5/28 with extensions of sides permanently secured to adjacent sides, with sides permanently secured together by adhesive strips, or with sides held in place solely by rigidity of material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/42 Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5019 formed by openings in the body walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/0413 the inner and outer containers being rigid or semi-rigid and the outer container being of polygonal cross-section formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks, e.g. carton
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/042 the inner container being of polygonal cross-section formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks, e.g. carton
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/904 Compartmented fast food holder or lap tray

Abstract

A packaging system for a meal kit of ready to eat food and beverage items is provided to mechanically isolate the food items from the beverage container included in the meal kit. A method of assembling the food items and beverage container of the meal kit in the packaging system also is provided.

Claims

1. A packaging system for a meal kit of ready to eat food and beverage items comprising:

a lightweight paperboard outer container having a bottom wall, a top wall and a plurality of side walls; and

an inner paperboard tray having only one compartment said tray having a generally planar bottom surface disposed on the bottom wall of said outer container and disposed within said outer container,

wherein a plurality of individually packaged ready to eat food items are disposed in said inner tray and a beverage container is disposed within said outer container adjacent said inner tray, and

wherein said inner tray mechanically isolates said food items from said beverage container within said outer container.

2. A packaging system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said outer container comprises generally upstanding front, back and first and second side walls,

wherein said inner tray comprises generally upstanding front and back walls and generally upstanding first and second side walls, and

wherein said front wall, back wall and first side wall of said inner tray engagably contact said front wall, back wall and first side wall of said outer container to limit lateral movement of said inner tray within said outer container.

3. A packaging system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said inner tray limits lateral movement of said food items and said beverage container.

4. A packaging system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said side walls of said inner tray are disposed at an angle extending outwardly from said bottom wall.

5. A packaging system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said angle of said side walls is from about 0°

to about 7°

outwardly from a vertical plane.

6. A packaging system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inner tray is removable from said outer container and usable for containing said plurality of food items during assembly and preparation of said food items.

7. A packaging system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said plurality of food items are preassembled in said inner tray prior to placing said inner tray within said outer container.

8. A packaging system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said outer container further comprises a lid having at least one opening and wherein said inner tray maintains the position of said food items and said beverage container relative to said at least one opening to allow viewing of said food items and beverage container by a consumer when the lid is in a closed position and said outer carton is sealed.

9. A packaging system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said plurality of legs of said tray extend downwardly from said side walls.

10. A packaging system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said inner tray further comprises a generally planar bottom wall having at least one opening for receiving a packaged food item.

11. A packaging system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said inner tray comprises paperboard.

13. A meal kit in accordance with claim 9 wherein said food items are individually prepackaged and are arranged in layers within the inner tray.

14. A meal kit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said food items comprise a farinaceous food product.

16. A packaging system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said legs extend downward from said front and back walls.

17. A packaging system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said legs extend downward from corners formed between said side walls and said front and back walls.

12. A meal kit of ready to eat food and beverage items comprising:

an outer container;

an inner tray having one compartment with a generally planar bottom surface and disposed within said outer container;

a plurality of legs extending downwardly from said bottom surface of said compartment;

a plurality of individually packaged ready to eat food items disposed in said inner tray; and

a beverage container disposed within said outer container adjacent said inner tray,

wherein said inner tray mechanically isolates said food items from said beverage container within said outer container.

15. A method of assembling a meal kit of ready to eat food and beverage items comprising:

individually packaging a plurality of ready to eat food items;

assembling said plurality of food items in a carrier tray by arranging said food items in one or more layers within said carrier tray, said carrier tray having one compartment for receiving said food items, said compartment having a generally planar bottom surface with a plurality of legs extending downwardly therefrom;

providing an outer container having a lid for securing said outer container in a closed position and for providing access to said food and beverage items;

assembling a beverage container within said outer container;

assembling said carrier tray containing said food items adjacent said beverage container, said beverage container disposed between and engagably contacting a wall of said carrier tray and an opposing wall of said outer container; and

securing said lid of said outer container in a closed position.