Package for food product

• US 8,186,570 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Learn, Angela E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Newhouse, Nathan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEMEREE, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US12/605,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20100102111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 229/117.12, 229/125.19, 229/126, 229/210, 229/123.3, 229/902, 534/84
• US Class Current: 229/125.19
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/2033 polygonal having more than four sides, e.g. hexagonal, octogonal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/241 and the gussets folds connected to the inside of the container body B65D5/247 and B65D5/248 take 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 5/302 combined with a slot provided in an adjacent side wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/32 having bodies formed by folding and interconnecting two or more blanks each blank forming a body part, whereby each body part comprises at least one outside face of the box, carton or tray
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4204 Inspection openings or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4208 Means facilitating suspending, lifting, handling, or the like of containers handles B65D5/46
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/46152 formed in closure flaps of a container formed by folding a blank to U-shape to form the base and opposite sides, the remaining sides being formed by extensions of these opposite sides
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/54 Lines of weakness to facilitate opening of container or dividing it into separate parts by cutting or tearing B65D5/06, B65D5/5233, B65D5/5253 take precedence ; break-in flaps, or members adapted to be torn-off, to provide pouring openings B65D5/70
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/68 Telescope flanged lids

Abstract

A package for holding a food product that has a tray and a lid. The tray has a central panel for supporting a food product. The package includes various closing and opening features.

Claims

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

a tray for holding the food product, the tray comprising

a tray central panel,

a first tray side panel foldably connected to the tray central panel,

a second tray side panel foldably connected to the tray central panel,

a plurality of first tray end panels foldably connected to the tray central panel at a first end of the tray central panel, wherein each first tray end panel of the plurality of first tray end panels is foldably connected to the central panel along a respective first fold line, and at least one of the first tray end panels has a first end flap foldably connected at a first side of the at least one first tray end panel and a second end flap foldably connected at a second side of the at least one first tray end panel, and

a plurality of second tray end panels foldably connected to the central panel at a second end of the central panel, wherein each second tray end panel of the plurality of second tray end panels is foldably connected to the central panel along a respective second fold line, and at least one of the second tray end panels has a first end flap foldably connected at a first side of the at least one second tray end panel and a second end flap foldably connected at a second side of the at least one second tray end panel,

wherein each of the first tray side panel, the second tray side panel, at least one of the first tray end panels, and at least one of the second tray end panels having a respective locking opening, and the first end flaps and the second end flaps each have a locking projection for interlocking engagement with a respective locking opening; and

a lid for covering the tray, the lid comprising

a lid central panel,

at least one lid side panel comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion is foldably connected to the lid central panel, the lower portion of the at least one lid side panel comprises a handle panel forming a handle of the package, the handle panel being foldably connected to the upper portion of the at least one lid side panel and

at least one lid end panel foldably connected to the lid central panel at one of a first end and a second end of the lid central panel.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein the at least one lid side panel is a first lid side panel and the lid further comprises a second lid side panel, the second lid side panel comprising an upper portion foldably connected to the lid central panel and a lower portion removably connected to the upper portion by a tear strip.

3. The package of claim 2 wherein the lower portions of the first and second lid side panel are respectively adhesively connected to one of the first tray side panel and the second tray side panel.

4. The package of claim 1 wherein the lower portion of the at least one lid side panel is at least partially adhesively connected to the one of the first tray side panel and the second tray side panel.

5. The package of claim 1 wherein the at least one lid end panel comprises a plurality of first lid end panels at a first end of the lid central panel, the lid comprises a plurality of second lid end panels at a second end of the lid central panel, the lid comprises two first end flaps foldably connected to a respective one of the first lid end panels and two second end flaps foldably connected to a respective one of the second lid end panels.

6. The package of claim 1 wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the tray.

7. The package of claim 1 wherein the lid central panel comprises at least one window comprising an opening and transparent material covering the opening.

8. The package of claim 1 wherein each of the first end flaps has adhesive for securing the respective first end flap to the first tray side panel and each of the second end flaps has adhesive for securing the respective second end flap to a respective one of the first end panels and the second end panels.

9. The package of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the first tray end panels has a third end flap foldably connected to a respective end of the at least one first tray end panel, and the at least one of the second tray end panels has a third end flap foldably connected to a respective end of the at least one second tray end panel.

10. The package of claim 1, wherein at least two first tray end panels of the plurality of first tray end panels are foldably connected to the central panel along respective oblique fold lines, and at least one first tray end panel of the plurality of first tray end panels is foldably connected to the central panel along a lateral fold line.

11. In combination, a tray blank and a lid blank for forming a package for holding a food product,

the tray blank being for forming a tray for holding the food product, the tray blank comprising:

a tray central panel,

a first tray side panel foldably connected to the tray central panel,

a second tray side panel foldably connected to the tray central panel,

a plurality of first tray end panels foldably connected to the tray central panel at a first end of the tray central panel, wherein each first tray end panel of the plurality of first tray end panels is foldably connected to the central panel along a respective first fold line, and at least one of the first tray end panels has a first end flap foldably connected at one side of the at least one first tray end panel and a second end flap foldably connected at a second side of the at least one first tray end panel, and

a plurality of second tray end panels foldably connected to the central panel at a second end of the central panel, wherein each second tray end panel of the plurality of second tray end panels is foldably connected to the central panel along a respective second fold line, and at least one of the second tray end panels has a first end flap foldably connected at one side of the at least one second tray end panel and a second end flap foldably connected at a second side of the at least one second tray end panel,

wherein each of the first tray side panel, the second tray side panel, at least one of the first tray end panels, and at least one of the second tray end panels has a respective locking opening, and the first end flaps and the second end flaps each have a respective locking projection for interlocking engagement with a respective locking opening when the tray blank is formed into the tray; and

the lid blank being for forming a lid for covering the tray, the lid blank comprising

a lid central panel,

at least one lid side panel comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion is foldably connected to the lid central panel, the lower portion of the at least one lid side panel comprises a handle panel for forming a handle of the package formed from the lid blank and the tray blank, the handle panel being foldably connected to the upper portion of the at least one lid side panel, and

at least one lid end panel foldably connected to the lid central panel at one of a first end and a second end of the lid central panel.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the at least one lid side panel is a first lid side panel and the lid further comprises a second lid side panel, the second lid side panel comprising an upper portion foldably connected to the lid central panel and a lower portion removably connected to the upper portion by a tear strip, the lower portions of the first and second lid side panel are for being respectively adhesively connected to one of the first tray side panel and the second tray side panel when the tray blank and the lid blank are formed into a package.

13. The combination of claim 11 wherein the at least one lid end panel comprises a plurality of first lid end panels at a first end of the lid central panel, the lid comprises a plurality of second lid end panels at a second end of the lid central panel, the lid comprises two first end flaps foldably connected to a respective one of the first lid end panels and two second end flaps foldably connected to a respective one of the second lid end panels.

14. The combination of claim 11 wherein each of the first end flaps has adhesive for securing the respective first end flap to the first tray side panel when the tray blank is formed into the tray, and each of the second end flaps has adhesive for securing the respective second end flap to a respective one of the first end panels and the second end panels when the tray blank is formed into the tray.

15. The combination of claim 11 wherein at least one of the first tray end panels has a third end flap foldably connected to a respective end of the at least one first tray end panel, and at least one of the second tray end panels has a third end flap foldably connected to a respective end of the at least one second tray end panel.

16. The combination of claim 11, wherein at least two first tray end panels of the plurality of first tray end panels are foldably connected to the central panel along respective oblique fold lines, and at least one first tray end panel of the plurality of first tray end panels is foldably connected to the central panel along a lateral fold line.

17. A method of forming a package for holding a food product, the method comprises:

obtaining a tray blank, the tray blank comprises

a tray central panel,

a first tray side panel foldably connected to the tray central panel,

a second tray side panel foldably connected to the tray central panel,

a plurality of first tray end panels foldably connected to the tray central panel at a first end of the tray central panel, wherein each second tray end panel of the plurality of second tray end panels is foldably connected to the central panel along a respective first fold line, and at least one of the first tray end panels has a first end flap foldably connected at a first side of the at least one first tray end panel and a second end flap foldably connected at a second side of the at least one first tray end panel, and

a plurality of second tray end panels foldably connected to the central panel at a second end of the central panel, wherein each second tray end panel of the plurality of second tray end panels is foldably connected to the central panel along a respective second fold line, and at least one of the second tray end panels has a first end flap foldably connected at a first side of the at least one second tray end panel and a second end flap foldably connected at a second side of the at least one second tray end panel,

wherein each of the first tray side panel, the second tray side panel, at least one of the first tray end flaps, and at least one of the second tray end panels have a respective locking opening, and the first end flaps and the second end flaps each have a respective locking projection;

obtaining a lid blank, the lid blank comprises

a lid central panel,

at least one lid side panel comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion is foldably connected to the lid central panel, the lower portion of the at least one lid side panel comprises a handle panel and the method comprises forming a handle of the package by positioning the handle panel relative to the at least one lid side panel, and

at least one lid end panel foldably connected to the lid central panel at one of a first end and a second end of the lid central panel;

forming the tray from the tray blank, the forming the tray comprising positioning the first tray side panel, second tray side panel, first tray end panels, second tray end panels, first end flaps, and second end flaps relative to the tray central panel and placing a respective locking projection in interlocking engagement with a respective locking opening;

forming the lid from the lid blank; and

positioning the lid to cover the tray and close the package.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one lid side panel is a first lid side panel and the lid further comprises a second lid side panel, the second lid side panel comprising an upper portion foldably connected to the lid central panel and a lower portion removably connected to the upper portion by a tear strip, the positioning the lid comprises adhesively connecting the lower portions of the first and second lid side panel to one of the first tray side panel and the second tray side panel.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising opening the package by tearing each tear strip to separate each respective upper portion of the first lid side panel and the second lid side panel from a respective lower portion of the first lid side panel and the second lid side panel.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one lid end panel comprises a plurality of first lid end panels at a first end of the lid central panel, the lid comprises a plurality of second lid end panels at a second end of the lid central panel, the lid comprises two first end flaps foldably connected to a respective one of the first lid end panels and two second end flaps foldably connected to a respective one of the second lid end panels, forming the lid comprises positioning the first lid end panels, second lid end panels, first end flaps, and second end flaps relative to the lid central panel.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the forming the tray comprises adhesively securing each of the first end flaps to the first tray side panel, and adhesively securing each of the second end flaps to a respective one of the first end panels and the second end panels.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein at least two first tray end panels of the plurality of first tray end panels are foldably connected to the central panel along respective oblique fold lines, and at least one first tray end panel of the plurality of first tray end panels is foldably connected to the central panel along a lateral fold line.

23. A package for holding a food product, the package comprising:

a tray for holding the food product, the tray comprising

a tray central panel,

a first tray side panel foldably connected to the tray central panel,

a second tray side panel foldably connected to the tray central panel,

a plurality of first tray end panels foldably connected to the tray central panel at a first end of the tray central panel, wherein each second tray end panel of the plurality of second tray end panels is foldably connected to the central panel along a respective first fold line, and

a plurality of second tray end panels foldably connected to the central panel at a second end of the central panel, wherein each second tray end panel of the plurality of second tray end panels is foldably connected to the central panel along a respective second fold line; and

a lid for covering the tray, the lid comprising

a lid central panel,

at least one lid side panel foldably connected to the lid central panel, and

at least one lid end panel foldably connected to the lid central panel at one of a first end and a second end of the lid central panel,

at least one of the first tray end panels has a first end flap foldably connected at a first side of the at least one first tray end panel, a second end flap foldably connected at a second side of the at least one first tray end panel, and a third end flap foldably connected to a respective end of the at least one first tray end panel, and

at least one of the second tray end panels has a first end flap foldably connected at a first side of the at least one second tray end panel, a second end flap foldably connected at a second side of the at least one second tray end panel, and a third end flap foldably connected to a respective end of the at least one second tray end panel;

wherein each of the first tray side panel, the second tray side panel, at least one of the first tray end panels, and at least one of the second tray end panels have a respective locking opening, and the first end flaps and the second end flaps each have a locking projection for interlocking engagement with a respective locking opening.

24. In combination, a tray blank and a lid blank for forming a package for holding a food product,

the tray blank being for forming a tray for holding the food product, the tray blank comprising

a tray central panel,

a first tray side panel foldably connected to the tray central panel,

a second tray side panel foldably connected to the tray central panel,

a plurality of first tray end panels foldably connected to the tray central panel at a first end of the tray central panel, wherein each second tray end panel of the plurality of second tray end panels is foldably connected to the central panel along a respective first fold line, and

a plurality of second tray end panels foldably connected to the central panel at a second end of the central panel, wherein each second tray end panel of the plurality of second tray end panels is foldably connected to the central panel along a respective second fold line;

and

the lid blank being for forming a lid for covering the tray, the lid blank comprising

a lid central panel,

at least one lid side panel foldably connected to the lid central panel, and

at least one lid end panel foldably connected to the lid central panel at one of a first end and a second end of the lid central panel,

at least one of the first tray end panels has a first end flap foldably connected at a first side of the at least one first tray end panel, a second end flap foldably connected at a second side of the at least one first tray end panel, and a third end flap foldably connected to a respective end of the at least one first tray end panel, and

at least one of the second tray end panels has a first end flap foldably connected at a first side of the at least one second tray end panel, a second end flap foldably connected at a second side of the at least one second tray end panel, and a third end flap foldably connected to a respective end of the at least one second tray end panel;

wherein each of the first tray side panel, the second tray side panel, at least one of the first tray end panels, and at least one of the second tray end panels having a respective locking opening, and the first end flaps and the second end flaps each have a respective locking projection for interlocking engagement with a respective locking opening when the tray blank is formed into the tray.