Packaging system for meal kit
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
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Accused Products
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.
45 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A packaging system for a meal kit of ready to eat food and beverage items comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17)
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.
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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.
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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.
- to about 7°
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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.
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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.
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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.
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9. A packaging system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said plurality of legs of said tray extend downwardly from said side walls.
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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.
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11. A packaging system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said inner tray comprises paperboard.
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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.
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14. A meal kit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said food items comprise a farinaceous food product.
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16. A packaging system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said legs extend downward from said front and back walls.
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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.
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12. A meal kit of ready to eat food and beverage items comprising:
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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.
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15. A method of assembling a meal kit of ready to eat food and beverage items comprising:
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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.
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Specification