Removable Membrane Having a Truncated Tab
A removable membrane, or cover, for a disposable food container includes a membrane portion at least partially defined by a circular outer perimeter edge. The removable membrane further includes a truncated tab portion projecting radially outward of the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion. The truncated tab portion is at least partially defined by a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, with each of the first and second lateral edges converging as the tab portion extends away from the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion. The tab portion is further defined by a forward edge that extends along a straight line between the first lateral edge and second lateral edge, wherein the forward edge is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge.
This disclosure relates generally to containers and, more particularly, to removable membranes for covering containers.
BACKGROUNDDisposable food containers are commonly used to store food products, such as individual-sized portions of yogurt or fruit, for example. As illustrated in
The removable membrane 12 is typically made of an impermeable foil or film material that is secured by an adhesive, which may be a heat sealable coating or film, to a flange portion 14 formed around the upper circumference of the container 10. The removable membrane 12 is typically sized and shaped to correspond to the perimeter of the flange portion 18 of the container 10. Generally, this shape is circular, but the perimeter of the flange portion (and the shape of the container 10 itself) may have any shape, such as that of a triangle, an oval, or a square, for example. On known removable membranes, a rounded triangular tab portion 20 may project radially outward of the outer perimeter of the flange portion 18 of the container 10, as illustrated in
The conventional rounded triangular design of the tab portion 20 has several disadvantages. For example, the conventional tab portion 20 is large in relation to the membrane portion 12, and the relatively large tab portion 20 increases material costs. The relatively large tab portion 20 also detracts from the visual appeal of the packaging of the container 10. In addition, the large tab portion 20 may interfere with secondary packaging such as shrink-wrap, cardboard sleeves, etc. For example, the large tab portion 20 may extend beyond the perimeter of a cardboard sleeve or multipack, and the large tab portion 20 may adversely interact with secondary packaging.
Other embodiments of known removable membranes may include a relatively smaller rounded tab portion 20 than the conventional rounded triangular design. For example, such an embodiment may include a rounded tab portion 20, as depicted in
In accordance with one exemplary aspect of the present invention, a removable membrane for a disposable food container includes a membrane portion being at least partially defined by a circular outer perimeter edge. The removable membrane further includes a truncated tab portion projecting radially outward of the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion. The truncated tab portion is at least partially defined by a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, with each of the first and second lateral edges converging as the tab portion extends away from the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion. The tab portion is further defined by a forward edge that extends along a straight line between the first lateral edge and second lateral edge, wherein the forward is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge.
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In further alternative embodiments, the forward edge 40 may take the shape of plurality or a curved segments and/or linear segments that extend in a generally linear direction between the first lateral edge 36 and the second lateral edge 38. For example, as illustrated in
Configured as described above, the removable membrane 28 may be stacked and stored in a conventional magazine 14 for use in an automated process that seals the disposable food container 10. More specifically, as previously discussed and as illustrated in
Moreover, as briefly discussed above, the truncated tab removable membranes 28 require less material than membranes having conventional triangular tabs, thereby improving the overall aesthetic quality of the packaging and reducing the material cost. In addition, the above-described truncated tab design reduces the distance that the truncated tab portion 32 radially extends away from the membrane portion 30, thereby also reducing (or eliminating) the damage or undesirable interaction with secondary packaging caused by the conventional triangular tabs.
While various examples are described hereinabove as having forward edges 40 of different shapes, it should be appreciated that regardless of whether the forward edge 40 extends along a straight line, an arc, a sinusoidal shape, a sawtooth-shape, or otherwise, in each configuration the tab includes a profile that generally resembles a truncated triangle, which may otherwise be referred to as an upper portion of a trapezoid having converging sidewalls, for example, such as a tapered trapezoid. It is this shape that advantageously facilitates operation with the conventional magazine designs, increases aesthetic appeal, and minimizes damage to secondary packaging components.
While various embodiments have been described above, this disclosure is not intended to be limited thereto. Variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments that are still within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A removable membrane for a disposable food container, the removable membrane comprising:
- a membrane portion, the membrane portion being at least partially defined by a circular outer perimeter edge; and
- a truncated tab portion projecting radially outward of the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion, the truncated tab portion being at least partially defined by a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, with each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge converging as the tab portion extends away from the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion, the tab portion being further defined by a forward edge that extends along a straight line between the first lateral edge and second lateral edge, wherein the forward edge is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge.
2. The removable membrane of claim 1, wherein the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge are symmetrically disposed about a tab axis that extends through a center point of the circular outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion.
3. The removable membrane of claim 2, wherein a reference line tangent to a reference circle at the intersection of the reference circle and the tab axis is separated from the forward edge by a distance between about 4 mm and about 10 mm, and wherein the reference circle is concentric with the outer perimeter edge and has a diameter equal to a diameter of the outer perimeter edge.
4. The removable membrane of claim 1, wherein a first rounded corner portion extends from a first end of the forward edge to a distal end of the first lateral edge and a second rounded corner portion extends from a second end of the forward edge to a distal end of the second lateral edge, and the linear edge portion of the forward edge extends between and is disposed between the first and second rounded corner portions.
5. The removable membrane of claim 3, wherein each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge tangentially intersect the outer perimeter edge.
6. The removable membrane of claim 1, wherein the forward edge forms an angle between about 115 degrees and about 155 degrees with the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge.
7. The removable membrane of claim 1, wherein the forward edge is disposed at an angle of about 135 degrees relative to the first and second lateral edges.
8. The removable membrane of claim 1, wherein the forward edge comprises a plurality of linear segments arranged to collectively extend along the straight line between the first lateral edge and second lateral edge.
9. The removable membrane of claim 1, wherein the forward edge comprises a plurality of curved segments arranged to collectively extend along the straight line between the first lateral edge and second lateral edge.
10. A removable membrane for a disposable food container, the removable membrane comprising:
- a membrane portion, the membrane portion being at least partially defined by an outer perimeter edge; and
- a truncated tab portion projecting radially outward of the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion, the truncated tab portion being at least partially defined by a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, with each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge converging as the tab portion extends away from the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion, the tab portion being further defined by a forward edge that extends between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge such that the forward edge, the first lateral edge, and the second lateral edge collectively have the shape of an upper portion of a trapezoid.
11. The removable membrane of claim 10, wherein the forward edge extends along a straight line between the first and second lateral edges.
12. The removable membrane of claim 11, wherein a reference line tangent to a reference circle at the intersection of the reference circle and the tab axis is separated from the forward edge by a distance between about 4 mm and about 10 mm, and wherein the outer perimeter edge has a circular shape and the reference circle is concentric with the outer perimeter edge and has a diameter equal to a diameter of the outer perimeter edge.
13. The removable membrane of claim 10, wherein the forward edge is an arc.
14. The removable membrane of claim 13, wherein the outer perimeter edge has a circular shape, and wherein the arc has a radius of curvature equal to or greater than a radius of curvature of the outer perimeter edge.
15. The removable membrane of claim 13, wherein a first end of the arc non-tangentially intersects a distal end of the first lateral edge and a second end of the arc non-tangentially intersects a distal end of the second lateral edge.
16. The removable membrane of claim 10, wherein the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge are symmetrically disposed about a tab axis that extends through a center point of the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion.
17. A system for storing a plurality of removable membranes for disposable food containers, the system comprising:
- a magazine having a plurality of vertical rods; and
- a plurality of removable membranes stored in the magazine, each removable membrane comprising: a membrane portion, the membrane portion being at least partially defined by an outer perimeter edge; and a tab portion projecting radially outward of the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion, the truncated tab portion being at least partially defined by a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, with each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge converging as the tab portion extends away from the outer perimeter edge of the membrane portion, the tab portion being further defined by a forward edge that extends between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge such that the forward edge, the first lateral edge, and the second lateral edge collectively have the shape of an upper portion of a trapezoid,
- wherein at least two rods of the plurality of rods are adjacent to portions of the outer perimeter edge, at least one rod of the plurality of rods is adjacent to a distal end of the first lateral edge, and at least one rod of the plurality of rods is adjacent to a distal end of the second lateral edge, whereby the plurality of rods cooperate to prevent one or more removable membrane from rotating relative to the plurality of removable membranes stored in the magazine.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the forward edge extends along a straight line between the first and second lateral edges.
19. The removable membrane of claim 18, wherein a reference line tangent to a reference circle at the intersection of the reference circle and the tab axis is separated from the forward edge by a distance between about 4 mm and about 10 mm, and wherein the outer perimeter edge has a circular shape and the reference circle is concentric with the outer perimeter edge and has a diameter equal to a diameter of the outer perimeter edge.
20. The system of claim 17, wherein the forward edge is an arc.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 27, 2011
Publication Date: Nov 1, 2012
Inventor: Donald S. Strickland (Antioch, IL)
Application Number: 13/095,663
International Classification: B65D 17/353 (20060101); B65D 85/00 (20060101);