Meal kit packaging system

• US 6,575,299 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2000
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.), Kreft Foods Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kinigakis, Panagiotis
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US09/656,157
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 206/541, 206/548, 206/549, 206/460, 229/162, 229/224-227, 229/904, 229/231, 229/229, 229/240, 426/115, 426/122
• US Class Current: 206/541
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/548 for opening containers formed by erecting a blank to U-shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/904 Compartmented fast food holder or lap tray

Abstract

A pac aging system for a meal kit that includes multiple, pre-packaged food items, optionally including a relatively massive component such as a beverage container. The packaging system generally comprises an outer container having two part a lid part and a tray part, separably joined together with a separable hinge portion and with a removable tear strip that leaves corners of the container parts reinforced so as to retain an enhanced stacking strength. Preferably, food items are supported by both the lid part and the tray part.

Claims

1. A carton arrangement comprising first and second integral carton blanks wherein:

the first carton blank comprises a center array disposed between first and second lateral arrays and at least partly joined to the lateral arrays by fold lines;

the center array of the first carton blank including a serial succession of a first front wall panel, a lid panel, a rear wall connector panel,

the first and second lateral arrays of the first carton blank each including a serial succession of a glue tab, an outer side panel, and a rear wall glue panel;

the outer side panels of the first carton blank being rectangular and divided by respective diagonal tear strips;

the second carton blank comprises a center array disposed between first and second lateral arrays and at least partly joined to said first and said second lateral arrays by fold lines;

the center array of the second carton blank including a serial succession of a rear wall connector panel, a bottom panel and a second front wall panel; and

the first and second lateral arrays of the second carton blank each including a serial succession of a rear wall glue panel, an inner side panel and a front wall glue panel.

2. The carton arrangement of claim 1 wherein said carton arrangement comprises a meal kit packaging system for ready-to-eat food and beverage items;

said first and said second integral carton blanks including surfaces comprising interior surfaces of the meal kit packaging system; and

a plurality of securements carried on said interior surfaces to provide mechanical isolation of at least some of the food and beverage items from one another.

3. The carton arrangement of claim 2 wherein said securements comprise individual portions of adhesive.

4. The carton arrangement of claim 2 wherein said lid panel includes a window through which contents of the erected carton can be viewed.

5. The carton arrangement of claim 1 wherein said first and said second carton blanks are made from paperboard.