U.S. patent application number 09/780271 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-15 for shipping and baking package for food items.
This patent application is currently assigned to Oven Ready Foods L.L.C.. Invention is credited to Boedigheimer, Patrick, Krupa, Calvin S..
Application Number | 20020108880 09/780271 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25119109 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020108880 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Krupa, Calvin S. ; et
al. |
August 15, 2002 |
SHIPPING AND BAKING PACKAGE FOR FOOD ITEMS
Abstract
A packaging system in which food items can be frozen, stored,
shipped, baked and served is disclosed. The packaging system
includes a base, a pair of trays, a plurality of baking cups and a
shrink wrap protective covering.
Inventors: |
Krupa, Calvin S.; (Medina,
MN) ; Boedigheimer, Patrick; (Ramsey, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIKOLAI MERSEREAU & DIETZ, P.A.
820 INTERNATIONAL CENTRE
900 SECOND AVENUE SOUTH
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
|
Assignee: |
Oven Ready Foods L.L.C.
22000 Industrial Blvd. Suite 600
Rogers
MN
|
Family ID: |
25119109 |
Appl. No.: |
09/780271 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/497 ;
206/223 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/5038
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/497 ;
206/223 |
International
Class: |
B65D 069/00 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A shipping and baking package for food items comprising: (a) a
base having a bottom and an upwardly projecting sidewall proximate
the perimeter of the base; said bottom and sidewall forming a
cavity; (b) a first tray insertable into said cavity of said base,
said tray having a top and at least one downwardly projecting
support for holding the first tray a predetermined height above the
bottom of said base, said first tray including at least one air
hole through the top and at least one hole sized and shaped to
receive a baking cup; (c) at least one baking cup; and (d) a
shrink-wrap covering surrounding said base and its contents.
2. A shipping and baking package for food items comprising: (a) a
base having a bottom and a sidewall projecting upwardly from said
bottom to form a cavity, said bottom having a plurality of air
holes therethrough; (b) a first tray having a top and at least one
at foot, said first tray sized and shaped to fit with the cavity of
the base and at least one foot of a sufficient length to hold the
first tray a predetermined distance above the bottom of the base,
said first tray having at least one air hole and a plurality of
holes sized and shaped to receive a baking cup; (c) a plurality of
baking cups; (d) a shrink-wrap covering surrounding the base and
its contents.
3. The shipping and baking package of claim 2 further including a
second tray having at least one cup sized and positioned to be
insertable into one of said plurality of holes sized and shaped to
receive a baking cup.
4. A shipping and baking package for food items comprising: (a) a
base made of untreated corrugated paper and having a bottom and an
upwardly projecting sidewall, said bottom and sidewall forming a
cavity; (b) a first tray made of untreated corrugated paper and
having a top sized and shaped to be positioned within the cavity of
the base at a predetermined distance above the bottom of the base,
said first tray having a plurality of holes, a first set of said
plurality of holes being sized, shaped and positioned to serve as
air holes, and a second set of said plurality of holes being sized,
shaped and positioned to serve as baking cup holders; (c) a baking
cup inserted into each of said second set of said plurality of
holes into which batter can be deposited for storage, shipping or
baking; (d) a shrink-wrap covering encapsulating said base and its
contents.
5. The shipping and baking package of claim 4 when said base has an
air hole positioned immediately beneath each of said second set of
said plurality of holes in said tray.
6. A shipping and baking package for food items comprising: (a) a
base made of untreated corrugated paper and having a bottom and an
upwardly projecting sidewall, said bottom and sidewall forming a
cavity; (b) a first tray made of untreated corrugated paper and
having a top sized and shaped to be positioned with the cavity of
said base a predetermined distance above the bottom of the base,
said tray having a first set of holes for permitting the passage of
air and a second set of holes, (c) a second tray comprising a
plurality of containers each of which being sized, shaped and
positioned to fit within one of said holes of said second set of
holes of said first tray; (d) a plurality of baking cups into which
batter can be deposited, and (e) a shrink-wrap cover surrounding
the base and its contents.
7. The shipping and baking package of claim 6 wherein the number of
containers of said second tray is less than the number of holes in
said second set of holes of said first tray.
8. The shipping and baking package of claim 7 wherein one of said
baking cups is placed in each of said containers of said second
tray and in each of said holes of said second set of holes of said
first tray not occupied by a container of said second tray.
9. The shipping and baking package of claim 6 wherein there is a
separate air hole through the bottom of the base for and aligned
with each of said second set of holes of said first tray.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] I. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to food packaging, and more
particularly to a packaging system in which frozen batter can be
stored, shipped and baked into finished, fresh from the oven,
bakery goods such as brownies and muffins.
[0003] II. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Various means have been used in the prior art to ship bakery
products from one location to another. Finished bakery products are
often transported in boxes, bags or cartons. Such boxes, bags and
cartons serve three functions: (1) provide a convenient means for
carrying bakery items; (2) prevent contamination of the bakery
items; and (3) assist in keeping the bakery items fresh.
[0005] Similarly, unfinished bakery items have been shipped in a
number of ways. Cake, brownie or muffin mixes have, for many years,
been shipped in boxes or bags. Consumers, restaurant workers or the
like blend the mixes shipped in this fashion with other ingredients
such as water, milk, or eggs and then bake the product.
[0006] Various bakery products, such as cookies and rolls have been
mixed at the factory, placed in a cardboard or plastic tube and
then shipped to grocery stores or restaurants. In these situations,
the product is generally removed from the package, placed on a
cookie sheet, and then baked in the oven.
[0007] Problems exist with all three packaging methods outlined
above. When bags, boxes and cartons are used to package fully baked
items, care must be taken to avoid crushing of the package and its
contents. Also, such items often lack the freshness and warmth that
consumers, whether eating in a restaurant or at home, find
desirable. Boxed or bagged mixes for cookies, brownies and cakes,
when properly used, often provide the freshness and warmth desired.
However, they require extra preparation time, the availability of
ingredients other than the mixes, and mixing and baking utensils.
This increases both preparation time and clean-up time. Even the
prior art products that are fully mixed and ready to bake require
the use of baking utensils. The product must be removed from the
packaging and placed on a cookie sheet or the like before they can
be baked.
SUMMARY OF TIRE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention overcomes all of the above-referenced
problems with the prior art by providing a unique packaging
arrangement in which bakery goods can conveniently be stored,
frozen, shipped and even baked. Thus, the present invention not
only provides a finished bakery product that is warm and fresh when
served, but does so without the need for either any mixing
operations or any other utensils at the point of final baking. A
further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a
safe and effective method of transporting baked goods after they
have been baked as well.
[0009] All of this is accomplished by providing a cheap and
inexpensive package made up of four components: (1) a corrugated
paper base; (2) a corrugated paper tray; (3) a plurality of paper
cups; and (4) a shrink-wrap cover that completely surrounds the
base, the tray, the cups and their contents. The base has a bottom,
an upwardly extending sidewall projecting from the bottom, and an
open top. A plurality of holes are cut through the bottom of the
base to permit circulation of air throughout the package. The tray
is designed to set within the base. It has a top and plurality of
downwardly extending feet to hold the top a predetermined distance
from the bottom of the base. The top of the tray has two sets of
holes. One set is provided to permit proper circulation of air
throughout the package. Each hole of the other set is used to
receive and hold one of the cups in a spaced fashion from the other
cups. The shrink-wrap plastic cover completely surrounds the
package to prevent contamination of the contents during storage and
shipping of the bakery products.
[0010] As suggested above, the present invention permits bakery
products to be stored and shipped in a frozen fashion. The consumer
or restaurant which receives the goods then simply removes the
shrink-wrap cover and place the package in a conventional oven to
bake the products. Once baking is complete, the products to be
served right from the tray. This eliminates the need for any
mixing, baking or serving utensils at a consumer or restaurant
site. Alternatively, a distributor of bakery products can bake them
in the package and then ship the entire package containing the
bakery products to the consumer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The foregoing features objects and advantages of the
invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art
from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment,
especially when considered in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fully assembled package
made in accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base of the package
shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tray of the package
shown in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative tray design
for other types of baked goods; and
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment
incorporating an additional separate bakery tray.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] As shown best in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the preferred
embodiment shown includes the following primary components: a base
10, a tray 20 and a shrink-wrap plastic covering 30. As shown in
FIG. 2, the base includes a bottom 12, and an upwardly projecting
sidewall 14 which surrounds the perimeter of the base. The top of
the base is open. The bottom 12 and sidewall 14 cooperate to form a
cavity 15. While the shape of the base shown is generally
rectangular, it can have any of a number of shapes, including but
not limited to, square, round, oval, trapezoidal, or hexagonal.
[0018] The base is preferably made of an untreated corrugated
cardboard. The bottom 12 of the base 10 has a plurality of air
holes 16 to provide air circulation and associated heat transfer
during freezing or baking operations.
[0019] FIGS. 3 and 4 best show two different embodiments of the
tray 20. The tray 20 includes a top 22 and at least one downwardly
projecting support comprising a foot 24. As shown in FIG. 4, two
feet 24 are provided. The ends 25 of the feet 24 engage the bottom
12 of the base 10 to hold the top 22 of the tray 20 a desired
height above the bottom 12 of the base 10. The tray 20 is also
sized to fit within the cavity 15 of the base 10 as defined by the
sidewall 14 of the base 10.
[0020] The top 22 of tray 20 has two sets of holes. As shown in
FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 the smaller set of holes 26 are air holes. Like
the air holes 16 in the base, the air holes 26 provide air
circulation and heat transfer during freezing or baking operations.
The larger set of holes 28 are sized and shaped to receive baking
cups 32. In FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the cup holes 28 are shaped to
receive round cups 32. This configuration of the package would
typically be used for muffins, cupcakes, or the like. In FIG. 4,
the cup holes 28 are square and are designed to receive square cups
32. This configuration of the package would typically be used for
brownies or small cakes. While round and square cup holes 28 are
shown, other shaped holes and other shaped cups 32 can be used
without deviating from the invention.
[0021] In constructing the tray, the goal is to provide adequate
strength and support as well as maximum airflow. To ensure proper
baking, the number of air holes 26 or their size can be increased.
The same is true with respect to the construction of the base 10
and the air holes 16. To provide even greater air flow during
baking, the tray 20 can be removed from the base 10 and then placed
in the oven.
[0022] Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5. In
this embodiment, a separate smaller baking tray 50 is also
provided. There may be times when a family or restaurant does not
wish to bake the entire quantity of items in the package. By
providing a separate, smaller baking tray 50, a user has the choice
of baking some of the items now and continuing to store the rest
for baking at a later time. The smaller baking tray 50 has one or
more cups 52. These cups 52 are sized and positioned to (a) receive
a baking cup 32; and (b) to fit within the cup holes 28 of the tray
20. Thus, the baking tray 50 can be conveniently shrink-wrapped
with the base 10, tray 20, baking cups 32, and batter placed with
the baking cups 32 for freezing, storage, shipment and/or
baking.
[0023] To fully appreciate the advantages of the present invention,
one needs to understand how it is typically used. First, a base 10
and tray 20 are assembled. Second, baking cups 32 are inserted into
each of the cup holes 28. Third, batter for the baked goods is
mixed and the desired amount of such batter is placed in each of
the baking cups 32. Fourth, the base 10, tray 20, baking cups 32
and batter are placed in a freezer to freeze the batter. Typically,
a nitrogen tunnel freezer would be used. Fifth, a shrink-wrap
covering 30 is placed around the base to seal the package. A
plurality of such packages, typically six, can then be placed in a
carton for shipment to a restaurant or the like.
[0024] When a restaurant wants to serve bakery items that have been
packaged as described above, a kitchen worker simply removes one of
the packages for the carton, removes the shrink-wrap covering 30
from the package and places the rest of the packages and its
contents in the oven. In about one half hour, the restaurant is
ready to serve warm, fresh baked goods. As indicated above, it may
sometimes be advantageous to remove the tray from the base and only
place the tray 20, cups 32 and frozen batter in the oven.
[0025] Restaurants or homemakers may not wish to bake all of the
items in the package at the same time. When the package is supplied
with the separate, smaller baking tray 50, the baking tray 50 can
be used to bake the desired number of items and the rest can be
placed back in a freezer. As a cost saving measure, when six
packages are shipped in a carton, one package (preferably the top
package in the carton) will include the smaller baking tray 50. The
rest will not.
[0026] Alternatively, a manufacturer of baked items can use the
package to deliver completely finished product to a restaurant or
the like. When doing so, the package is assembled, the batter is
placed in the baking cups and the tray 20 is placed in an oven for
the desired time and at the desired temperature. Once baking is
complete, the tray 20 is removed from the oven and, if not already
located with the base 10, placed with the base 10. The shrink-wrap
covering 30 is applied and the product is ready to be shipped.
[0027] This invention has been described in considerable detail in
order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those
skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel
principles and to construct and use packaging incorporating the
invention. However, it should be understood that the invention can
be carried out in other ways and that various modifications can be
made without departing form the scope of the invention
* * * * *