Food Product Pedestal Tray

Abstract

A container or package for a food product is provided that includes a pedestal tray/support member formed of a material capable of supporting the weight of the food product to be positioned thereon and a cover engagable with the support member. The support member is formed with features to allow the cover to be readily engaged and disengaged from the support member and to enable the package to be easily grasped and moved in its entirety all without the need for a separate reinforcing corrugated pad disposed on the support member.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/344,585, filed on Jun. 2, 2016, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to containers, and more specifically to a container utilized to hold an item of food, such as a cake.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today, a consumer looking for a food product, such as a cake for a special occasion, can order the product from a grocery store or bakery. For relatively heavy food products of this type the prior art packaging 10 that is currently used is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and includes a clear plastic dome lid 12 that attaches to black or other color plastic thermoformed bottom tray 14. When using this type of packaging the food product, e.g., the cake, is usually placed on a coated corrugated pad (not shown) that is placed over the thermoformed bottom tray 14 and which has dimensions that enable it to fit within the packaging 10 when the lid 12 is secured to the bottom tray 14. The coated corrugated pad provides a strong rigid member for the packaging 10 that enables the consumer to pick up the packaging 10 with the cake or other item positioned within it without it cracking the icing during movement or placement of the cake. Typically the black plastic bottom tray 14, as a result of the thickness and material selected to form the bottom tray 14 is too weak, thin, flimsy, etc. to support the weight of the cake by itself without collapsing. Therefore, the packaging/container 10 requires the corrugated pad to provide the necessary rigidity to the container 10 to support the food item positioned therein.

Thus, while providing the corrugated pad enables the packaging t10 to function as desired, the extra material and cost associated with the production and placement of the pad within the tray 14 is undesirable.

As a result, it is desirable to develop improved packaging for food products that can better hold the product therein while also being able to support the weight of food product within the packaging/container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one exemplary aspect of the present invention, a container or package for a food product is provided that includes a pedestal tray support member formed of a material capable of supporting the weight of the food product to be positioned thereon and a cover engagable with the support member. The support member is formed with features to allow the cover to be readily engaged and disengaged from the support member and to enable the package to be easily grasped and moved in its entirety all without the need for a separate reinforcing corrugated pad as in the prior art.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the pedestal tray includes a support surface that extends across the entire tray, allowing the support surface to readily receive and support various food items thereon without the need for a separate supporting pad.

According to still another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the pedestal tray includes a unitary structure in which the support surface and the support structure are integrally formed with one another, significantly reducing the time and expense associated with the use of the pedestal tray.

Numerous other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be made apparent from the following detailed description together with the drawings figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present disclosure.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art food package/container;

FIG. 2 is a partially broken away perspective view of the component parts of the food package/container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a food packaging/container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is perspective view of a support member of the food packaging/container of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a support structure for the support member of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partially broken away perspective view of the support structure of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a partially broken away perspective view of an engagement structure of the support member of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a blank for the support structure of the container of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now in detail to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, an exemplary embodiment of a food packaging/container is illustrated generally at 100 in FIGS. 3-7. The container 100 includes a pedestal tray or support member 102 and a cover 104 secured to the support member 102.

Looking at FIGS. 4-6 and 8, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment the support member 102 is formed of a blank 101 of any suitable material, such as a generally rigid material, and in the illustrated embodiment is formed of a corrugated material, such as a corrugated paperboard material. The support member 102 is formed with a top support surface 106 that is designed to generally conform in shape to the shape of the food item (not shown) to be positioned thereon. The support surface 106 includes a pair of opposed sides 108 and a pair of opposed ends 110 extending between the opposed sides 108. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment each side 108 and end 110 is joined by a curved corner 112, though other configurations for the corner 112 are also contemplated as being within the scope of the invention.

Looking now at FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, the support member 102 also includes a bottom surface 114 having a shape corresponding to that of the top surface 106 and to which is secured or integrally formed with a support structure 116. The support structure 116 is formed of a pair of side panels 118 and a pair of end panels 120 that are each pivotally secured tom the support surface 106, and in the exemplary illustrated embodiment are integrally but foldably secured to the respective sides 108 and ends 110 of the support surface 106 along fold lines 117 and 119, respectively. The panels 118,120 each include end securing tabs 122, 124, respectively, that are foldably secured to the panels 118,120 along fold lines 121,123, respectively, in order to be positionable in an overlapping configuration with regard to one another for form the support structure 116 beneath the support surface 106. To form the support structure 116, the panels 118,120 are folded inwardly towards one another in order to position the tabs 122,124 in the adjacent and overlapping configuration shown in FIG. 6. At this location, the adjacent tabs 122,124 can be secured to one another in order to form the support structure 116 around the perimeter of the support surface 106. The tabs 122, 124 can be secured to one another in any suitable manner, such as by utilizing an adhesive, a locking feature or any other suitable engagement structure to hold the tabs 122,124 in contact with one another to form the support structure 116.

The panels 118,120 forming the support structure 116 are formed with a suitable width in order to provide a pedestal-like feature for the support structure 106 that positions the support surface 106 above the table (not shown) or other surface on which the packaging/container 100 is placed. This, in conjunction with folding handle flaps 130 formed in the end panels 120 between the tabs 124, facilitates the easy grasping of the support structure 106 for pick up and movement of the container 100.

In addition, looking at FIGS. 3 and 7, the cover 104 is formed of a plastic material, such as a thermoformed, transparent material, with a central portion 126 that extends over the support surface 106 and a locking flange 128 that extends around the perimeter of the central portion 126. The flange 128 has a configuration complementary to the perimeter of the support surface 106 and the corners 112. The flange 128 can extend over the support surface 106 to partially overlap the support structure 116 and frictionally engage the support surface 106 and corners 112 to securely but releasably hold the cover 104 of the support member 102.

Other exemplary features and advantages of the container 100 include, but are not limited to:

1) The cover 104 locks to the corrugated pedestal tray 102

2) The corrugated tray/support member 102 is made with a coating (not shown) thereon to release the cake from the tray/support member 102

3) The corrugated pedestal tray/support member 102 eliminates the corrugated pad (not shown) and black plastic bottom 14 in prior art container 10

4) The tray/support member 102 design provides accurate tolerances to lock the lid/cover 104 in place every time

5) The tray/support member 102 is recyclable and reduces the weight going in the environmental waste stream

6) A hand hold feature/flap 130 is formed in the end panels 120 of the pedestal tray/support member 102 to allow for easy pick-up

7) The pedestal tray/support member 102 is sufficiently strong that it can handle the life cycle of the food product.

Changes can be made in the above constructions and method steps without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Various other embodiments of the present invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the filed claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.

Claims

1. A container for a food product, the container comprising:

a. a support member including a support surface and a support structure; and

b. a cover releasably secured to the support surface opposite the support structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a number of flaps secured to the support surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the number of flaps are foldably connected to the support surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of the number of flaps includes a pair of securing tabs at either end of the flaps.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the pair of securing tabs are foldably connected to each of the number of flaps.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the securing tabs on adjacent flaps are secured is to one another in an overlapping configuration.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the securing tabs on adjacent flaps are adhesively secured to one another in an overlapping configuration.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the securing tabs on adjacent flaps are mechanically secured to one another in an overlapping configuration.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cover comprises a locking flange disposed around the perimeter of the cove, the locking flange shaped complementary to the perimeter of the support surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support member is formed of a corrugated material.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the support member is formed of a corrugated paperboard material.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a number of handle flaps disposed on the support member.

13. A method for packaging a food product, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing the container of claim 1; and

b. placing the food product on the support surface; and

c. engaging the cover with the support surface over the food product.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of providing the container comprises the steps of:

a. providing a blank for a support member including a support surface, a pair of side flaps foldably connected to the support surface, each side flap including a pair of securing tabs at each end, and a pair of end flaps foldably connected to the support surface, each end flap including a pair of securing tabs at each end;

b. folding the side flaps relative to the support surface;

c. folding the end flaps relative to the support surface; and

d. engaging the securing tabs on the side flaps and the end flaps with one another.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of engaging the securing tabs with one, another comprises adhesively engaging the securing tabs with one another.

16. A blank for a support member of a food packaging container, the blank comprising:

a. a support surface;

b. a pair of side flaps foldably connected to the support surface, each side flap including a pair of securing tabs at each end; and

c. a pair of end flaps foldably connected to the support surface, each end flap including a pair of securing tabs at each end.

17. The blank of claim 17 further comprising a number of handle flaps disposed in at least one of the pair of side flaps or the pair of ends flaps.

18. The blank of claim 16 wherein the blank is formed of a corrugated material.