U.S. patent application number 11/193614 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-01 for resealable food container.
Invention is credited to Alexis Julian Gracia-Lugo, Stuart Graham Paterson, Eva Marie Peters, Gladys Odette Sierra-Gomez, Thomas JR. Tedeschi, Jeffrey Thomas Weber.
Application Number | 20070023436 11/193614 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37309230 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070023436 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sierra-Gomez; Gladys Odette ;
et al. |
February 1, 2007 |
Resealable food container
Abstract
A polygonal shaped container is provided which includes a
wrapper surrounding a food product. The shape of the container is
defined by either a frame containing a food product or rigid
material incorporated with the wrapper. Access to contents in the
container is provided by withdrawing a resealable sealing layer
sealed to the top or side surface of the container and withdrawing
the sealing layer from the container or by pivoting a rigid lid
away from the top of the container.
Inventors: |
Sierra-Gomez; Gladys Odette;
(Woodbridge, NJ) ; Peters; Eva Marie; (Cedar
Grove, NJ) ; Gracia-Lugo; Alexis Julian;
(Bloomingdale, NJ) ; Tedeschi; Thomas JR.;
(Brewster, NY) ; Weber; Jeffrey Thomas; (Lake
Zurich, IL) ; Paterson; Stuart Graham; (Fox River
Grove, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STITES & HARBISON PLLC
1199 NORTH FAIRFAX STREET
SUITE 900
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
37309230 |
Appl. No.: |
11/193614 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/359.2 ;
220/270 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/5855 20130101;
B65D 75/5838 20130101; B65D 2585/363 20130101; B65D 77/003
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/359.2 ;
220/270 |
International
Class: |
B65D 17/34 20060101
B65D017/34 |
Claims
1. A food container comprising: a frame defining the shape of the
container, said container having a top, a bottom and sides
connecting the top and bottom, the frame containing a food product;
a wrapper surrounding said frame, said wrapper forming the top,
sides and bottom of the container; said top and one said side
having an access opening sufficiently large to provide access to
substantially all of the food product contained within the frame;
and a sealing layer having a starter portion which can be grasped
by a user, said sealing layer adhesively sealed to said top and
said one side around said opening, said sealing layer being
releasable when said starter portion is pulled in a direction away
from said side to in turn pull and thereby release at least a
portion of said sealing layer to provide said hand access to said
top access opening and resealable against said top and side one
side to seal said opening when said sealing layer is moved back
against said top and said one side.
2. The food container of claim 1, wherein said top and the one said
side of said wrapper comprise a flap have substantially the same
dimensions as said opening and permanently affixed to said sealing
layer.
3. The food container of claim 1, wherein said starter portion
comprises a tab which projects past an edge of said one side of the
container upon which said starter portion is sealed, said tab being
accessible beyond said edge to be grasped by a user.
4. The food container of claim 1, wherein said starter portion
comprises a tab.
5. The food container of claim 1, wherein said sealing layer is
transparent.
6. The food container of claim 1, wherein said top of the container
includes graphics around said opening, and said sealing layer
includes graphics which match the graphics on said top.
7. The food container of claim 1, wherein said starter portion is
located at a crimp seal end of said wrapper.
8. A polygonal shaped food container comprising: a frame defining
the polygonal shape of the container, said container having a top,
a bottom and sides connecting the top and bottom, the frame
containing a food product; a wrapper surrounding said frame, said
wrapper forming the top, sides and bottom of the container; said
top having at least two access openings to, together, provide
access to substantially all of the food product contained within
the frame; and at least two sealing layers, each having a starter
portion which can be grasped by a user, each said sealing layer
adhesively sealed to said top around a respective one of said two
openings, each said sealing layer being releasable when a
respective said starter portion is pulled in a direction away from
said top to in turn pull and thereby release at least a portion of
said respective sealing layer to provide said hand access to said
respective top access opening and resealable against said top to
seal said respective opening when said respective sealing layer is
moved back against said top.
9. The polygonal shaped food container of claim 8, wherein said
frame comprises a tray.
10. The polygonal shaped food container of claim 9, wherein said
tray comprises two compartments, each compartment accessible
through a respective one of the at least two openings.
11. The polygonal shaped food container of claim 9, wherein at
least one of said at least two sealing layers extends from said top
along at least a portion of one of the sides of said container.
12. A polygonal shaped food container comprising: one or more food
protectors containing a food product and defining the polygonal
shape of the container, said container having a top, a bottom and
sides connecting the top and bottom; a wrapper surrounding said one
or more food protectors, said wrapper forming the top, sides and
bottom of the container; one of said sides having an access opening
sufficiently large to allow said one or more food protectors to be
withdrawn therethrough; and a sealing layer having a starter
portion which can be grasped by a user, said sealing layer
adhesively sealed to said one side around said opening, said
sealing layer being releasable when said starter portion is pulled
in a direction away from said side to in turn pull and thereby
release at least a portion of said sealing layer to provide
withdrawal of said one or more food protectors and reclosable
against said side to seal said opening when said sealing layer is
moved back against said side.
13. The polygonal shaped food container of claim 12, wherein said
one or more food protectors comprises a tray.
14. The polygonal shaped food container of claim 12, wherein said
one or more food protectors comprises a slug surrounding the food
product.
15. The polygonal shaped food container of claim 12, wherein said
one or more one food protectors comprises a core buff surrounding
the food product.
16. The polygonal shaped food container of claim 12, wherein said
one or more one food protectors comprises a frame surround the food
product.
17. The polygonal shaped food container of claim 16, wherein said
frame comprises sides but not a bottom or a top.
18. A polygonal shaped food container comprising: a wrapper
composed of a first, flexible material; a second material more
rigid than the first material, said second material incorporated
with said wrapper to provide rigidity to said wrapper and to define
faces of the container, said faces comprising a top, sides and
bottom of the container, the wrapper with incorporated rigid
material containing a food product; one of said faces having an
access opening sufficiently large to provide access to the food
product contained within the wrapper; and a sealing layer having a
starter portion which can be grasped by a user, said sealing layer
adhesively sealed to said one face around said opening, said
sealing layer being releasable when said starter portion is pulled
in a direction away from said face to in turn pull and thereby
release at least a portion of said sealing layer to provide
withdrawal of said food items and reclosable against said face to
seal said opening when said sealing layer is moved back against
said face.
19. The polygonal shaped food container of claim 18, wherein said
second material is disposed along substantially the entire the
perimeter of at least one of said faces of said container.
20. A polygonal shaped food container comprising: a frame defining
the polygonal shape of the container, said container having a top,
a bottom and sides connecting the top and bottom, the frame
containing a food product; a wrapper surrounding said frame, said
wrapper forming the top, sides and bottom of the container; said
top having an access opening sufficiently large to provide access
to substantially all of the food product contained within the
frame; and a rigid lid hingedly attached to said top, wherein said
container is transformed to an opened configuration by pivoting
said lid away from said top along said hinge to provide said access
to said top access opening, and returned to a closed configuration
by turning said lid back along said hinge so that said lid covers
said access opening.
21. The polygonal shaped food container of claim 20 further
comprising a rigid collar surrounding said access opening; said
collar engaging with said lid when said container is in a closed
configuration.
22. The polygonal shaped food container of claim 21, wherein said
collar forms an interlocking engagement with said lid when said
container is in the closed configuration.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a resealable container, and
in particular, a new and improved resealable container having a
recloseable sealing cover which can be withdrawn from one of the
sides of the container to gain access to its interior.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many conventional containers for food products such as
cookies and other snacks include a frame surrounded by an outer
wrapper. The frame acts as a tray to hold the food product and to
protect the food product from damage. One normally gains access to
the contents of the container by opening one end of the wrapper,
withdrawing the tray from the inside thereof, and then removing the
food product from the tray. However, these containers generally do
not provide a convenient opening and reclosing arrangement. For
example, reclosing of the wrapper, once opened, generally includes
simply folding or rolling the end down and clipping the end to keep
the wrapper closed.
[0003] Reclosable seals have been used for dispensing bags for wet
tissues or disposable cleaning wipes. The label on these bags can
be pulled back, thereby exposing an opening, allowing access to the
wet tissues or wipes inside. Typically, these dispensing bags are
completely flexible, formed exclusively of a plastic or other
suitable flexible material which closely surrounds the pack of wet
tissues or wipes. Examples of these dispensing bags include U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,840,270 and 6,026,953, U.S. Des. Pat. No. D 447,054 and
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0182359. However, such
known dispensing bags are not well suited for containing food
products as these containers fail to provide adequate protection
for storing food products.
[0004] One recent resealable food container is disclosed in U.S.
Patent Publication No. 2004/0206637, herein incorporated by
reference. The disclosed resealable container is adapted for use
with food products and includes a frame which defines a polygonal
shape and a wrapper which surrounds the frame and has a top
opening. A sealable sealing layer is adhesively sealed to the
top.
[0005] An additional package used to dispense wet tissues of
disposable wipes is a container full of wet tissues marketed under
the trade name HUGGIES SUPREME.TM.. This package includes a rigid
tray with hinged rigid lid.
[0006] An additional recent resealable dispenser-container is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,953 in which a resealable
dispenser-container is designed for containing wet tissues. The
container is made of a flexible sheet material having a top surface
opening for dispensing wet tissues. A reinforcing sheet larger than
the dispenser opening is attached to the top surface of the
container. A resealable flap provides for opening and closing of
access to the wet tissues disposed inside the container.
[0007] There is a need to provide additional and improved
containers for food products having various resealable closure
devices.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The purpose of the present invention is to provide new and
improved containers for food products such as cookies and the like
and which the container provides adequate protection for the
contents thereof, while concurrently facilitating opening of the
container wrapper and resealing the container to protect the
contents thereof until the contents are fully consumed. An
additional purpose of the present invention is to provide a
container which can be manufactured using methods other than those
used in prior food containers having resealable openings. A further
purpose of the present invention is to use alternative materials
for a container for food products.
[0009] These purposes are achieved by providing a suitable
container composed of selected materials which provide desired
characteristics and containing food products which are accessible
using a resealable container.
[0010] In accordance with one embodiment, the present invention
comprises a food container having a frame defining the shape of the
container where the container has a top, bottom and sides connected
at the top and bottom. The frame contains a food product. A wrapper
surrounds the frame and forms the top, sides and bottom of the
container. The top and one side has an access opening sufficiently
large to provide access to substantially all the food product
contained within the frame. A sealing layer includes a starter
portion which can be grasped by a user. The sealing layer is
adhesively sealed to the top and the one side around the opening.
The sealing layer is resealable when the starter portion is pulled
in a direction away from the side to which the sealing layer is
sealed to in turn pull and thereby release at least a portion of
the sealing layer to provide access to the top access opening. The
sealing layer is resealable against the top and side to seal the
opening when the sealing layer is laid back against the top and the
side.
[0011] In alternative, further embodiments, the top of the wrapper
includes a flap which has substantially the same dimensions as that
of the opening and is permanently affixed to the sealing layer, and
the starter portion includes a tab which projects past an edge of
the side of the container to which the starter portion is sealed
and is accessible beyond the seal to be grasped by a user, when the
starter portion is located at the crimp sealed end of the
wrapper.
[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
a food container comprises a frame defining a polygonal shape of
the container. The container has a top, bottom and side connecting
the top and bottom. The frame contains a food product. A wrapper
surrounds the frame and forms the top sides and bottom of the
container. The top has at least two access openings to provide
access to substantially all the food product contained within the
frame. At least two sealing layers, each having a starter portion
which can be grasped by a user are provided. Each of the sealing
layers are adhesively sealed to the top around a respective one of
the openings. Each of the sealing layers is resealable when a
respective starter portion is pulled in a direction away from the
top to in turn pull and thereby release a portion of the respective
sealing layer to provide hand access to the respective top access
opening and resealable against the top to seal the respective
opening when the respective sealing layer is moved back against the
top.
[0013] In further alternative embodiments, the frame comprises a
tray and the tray comprises two compartments, each compartment
accessible through a respective one of the at least two
openings.
[0014] The present invention, in another form thereof, relates to a
polygonal shaped food container comprising one or more food
protectors such as frames containing a food product which define
the polygonal shape of the container. The container has a top,
bottom and side connecting the top and bottom. A wrapper surrounds
one or more of the food products and forms the top, sides and
bottom of the container. One of the sides has at least one access
opening sufficiently large to allow one or more food protectors to
be with withdrawn therethrough. A sealing layer having a starter
portion which can be grasped by a user is adhesively sealed to the
side around the opening. The sealing layer is releasable when the
starter portion is pulled in a direction away from the side to in
turn pull and thereby release at least a portion of the sealing
layer to provide withdrawal of one or more food protectors and
resealable against the side to seal the opening when the sealing
layer is moved back against the side.
[0015] In further alternative embodiments, the food protector
comprises a tray, a slug surrounding the food product, a core buff
surrounding the food product and a frame surrounding the food
product, wherein the frame may not include both a top or
bottom.
[0016] The present invention, in another form thereof, concerns a
polygonal shaped container comprising a wrapper comprising a first
flexible material and a second more rigid material than the first
material. The second material is incorporated with the wrapper to
thereby provide rigidity to the wrapper and define faces of the
container. The faces include a top, sides and bottom of the
container. The wrapper with incorporated rigid material contains a
food product. One of the faces has an access opening sufficiently
large to provide access to the food product contained within the
wrapper. The sealing layer includes a starter portion which can be
grasped by a user. The sealing layer is adhesively sealed to one
face around the opening. The sealing layer is releasable when the
starter portion is pulled in a direction away from the face to in
turn pull and thereby release at least a portion of the sealing
layer to provide withdraw of the food products and resealable
against the face to seal the opening when the sealing layer is
moved back against the face.
[0017] In accordance with another embodiment, the present invention
comprises a polygonal shaped food container comprising a frame
defining the polygonal shape of the container. The container has a
top, bottom and sides connecting the top and bottom and frame
contains a food product. A wrapper surrounds the frame and forms
the top bottom and sides of the container. The top has an access
opening sufficiently large to provide access to substantially all
of the food product contained within the frame. A rigid lid is
hingedly attached to the top which provides access to the top
opening. The container is transformed to an open configuration by
pivoting the lid away from the top along the hinge to provide
access to the top opening and returned to a closed configuration by
turning the lid back along the hinge so that the lid covers the
access opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] There follows a detailed description of the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, to be read together with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a resealable container in a
closed configuration in accordance with the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 in a
partially opened configuration.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a frame of the resealable
container of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another frame of a
resealable of food container.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another frame of a
resealable food container.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another frame for a
resealable food container.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another frame for a
resealable food container.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another resealable food
container in a closed configuration in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 8 in a
partially open configuration.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another resealable food
container in a closed configuration in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 10 in
a partially open configuration.
[0030] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another resealable
container in a closed configuration in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 12 in
a partially opened configuration.
[0032] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a food protector in
accordance with the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another food protector in
accordance with another aspect of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another resealable food
container in a closed configuration in accordance with yet another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 16 in
a partially opened configuration.
[0036] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another resealable
container in a closed configuration in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] Referring now to the drawings, where like elements are
represented by like numbers throughout the circle views, in FIGS. 1
and 2, resealable container 10 includes wrapper 11 which forms top
12, bottom 13, opposing sides 14a and 14b and opposing ends 15a and
15b. The top 12 and side 14a have a die-cut-out forming flap 16 as
indicated by broken line 19. The flap 16, when pulled back from
container 10, forms opening 18. The wrapper 11 extends past the end
of top 12 and bottom 13 at ends 15a and 15b, where the wrapper 11
is crimped together to form crimp seals 21a, 21b.
[0038] A sealing cover or layer is formed from a sealing label 20
which is affixed to the flap 16. Advantageously, the sealing label
20 is permanently affixed to the flap 16 using an appropriate
adhesive. The sealing label 20 covers a substantial portion of the
top 12 extending from the proximity of side 14a to the proximity of
the side 14b and from the proximity of end 15a to the proximity of
end 15b. A portion of the sealing label 20 extends over top surface
edge 17 and extends along side 14a.
[0039] The surface area of sealing label 20 is advantageously
proportional to the size of opening 18. For example, if the sealing
label 20 is too large, the covering could get caught or overlap
corners 23a, 23b of the package 10, or it could get caught up in
the crimp seals 21a, 21b, both potentially hindering functionality
of sealing label 20. Advantageously, the surface area of the
sealing label 20 should be approximately 1.5 to 2 times and more
preferably around 1.8 times the size of opening 18. Further, it is
advantageous to have the size of opening 18 be proportional to the
size of the package 10 and the food items contained therein so
that, when the container is still full of food product, the
consumer will have easy access to at essentially all of the food
product inside the package, for example, not requiring one to reach
deep inside the container 10 under top 12 to gain access to a food
item contained therein. Of course as the container is emptied, the
consumer can gain easy access to the remaining food product.
[0040] Graphics may be formed on the sealing label 20 which align
with corresponding graphics on top 12 when the sealing label 20 is
sealed or in a flap position on top 12 and side 14a. Alternatively,
sealing label 20 may be transparent, allowing graphics of top 12,
side 14a and flap 16 to be visible through the sealing label
20.
[0041] A starter portion, for example tab 22 extends from sealing
label end 24. As a result, tab 22 can be grasped by ones fingers
and thumb such that the tab 22 is easily accessible for one to
pull. Further, the tab 22 allows a user to reseal the package. The
size and shape of tab 22 are optimized for functionality.
Advantageously, tab 22 has a surface area of 1% to 6% that of the
total surface area of the sealing label 20.
[0042] Adhesive 26 is applied to the surface of sealing label 20
which is in contact with top 12 and side 14a which includes the
perimeter around flap 16. Advantageously, adhesive 26 provides a
removable seal between a sealing label 20 and top 12 and side 14a.
Adhesive 26 is not applied to tab portion 22.
[0043] The absence of an adhesive on tab 22 allows a consumer to
more easily grasp the starter portion in order to open the
container 10 since tab 22 will not be sealed to the side 14a. In
addition, by giving a consumer a specific portion of the sealing
cover on which to pull, the consumer is not drawn to touching the
adhesive portion of the sealing label 20 which, because of such
touching, could lose its adhesiveness and thus not provide for a
proper reseal against the side 14a of the container 10. This could,
in turn, allow air to gain access to the interior of the container
10 and the food product contained therein.
[0044] The sealing label 20 is made of a suitable material which
provides for a desired moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR). The
MVTR of sealing label 20 limits the amount of moisture transmission
between the interior of container 10 and the outside environment,
thus maintaining the freshness of the food product contained
therein. One preferable material for the sealing label 20 is 2 mil
biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) material with a 0.15
g/in.sup.2/day MVTR. Preferable materials for the combination of
the sealing label 20 and flap 16 have a maximum MVTR of 0.01
g/in.sup.2/day.
[0045] Container 10 is transformed from a closed configuration
depicted in FIG. 1 to a partially open configuration depicted in
FIG. 2 by grasping the tab 22 between ones fingers and thumb and
pulling back on the sealing label 20 to gain access to opening 18.
Once container 10 is opened, one can remove individual food product
28 such as cookies or other discrete food item contained inside the
container 10 through opening 18.
[0046] Wrapper 11 surrounds a frame 30 which forms a tray for
receiving the food contents. Referring to FIG. 3, the frame 30 is
comprised of a rigid material which forms that shape of the
container 10. Suitable rigid materials include plastics and
cardboard. Frame 30 includes ends 31a and 31b. A divider 32 divides
the frame 30 into a first section 34 and a second section 36.
[0047] Frame 30 can be any polygonal shape such as the rectangular
shape depicted in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the rectangularly shaped
frame 30 forms a rectangularly shaped container 10. Alternately,
different polygonal shaped frames will form containers having the
corresponding polygonal shape.
[0048] In other alternative embodiments, frames other than frame
30, which has a single divider 32 extending longitudinally along
the length of the frame 30, can be used to form resealable
containers. For example, referring to FIG. 4, frame 40 includes a
plurality of dividers 42 extending longitudinally along the frame
40. Referring to FIG. 5, frame 50 includes a plurality of dividers
52 which extend transversely across the width of the frame 50. FIG.
6 depicts a frame 60 which does not include a divider or ends. FIG.
7 depicts a frame 70 which does not include a divider or a bottom,
having merely ends 71a and 71b and opposing sides 72a, 72b.
[0049] Selection of a particular frame depends on a desired use.
Further, various frames may include ends such as frames 30, 40, and
50 which have ends 31a, 31b, 41a, 41b, 51a, 51b; or the frame may
be opened at the ends such as frame 60 with open ends 61a, 61b.
[0050] In an alternative embodiment, FIGS. 8 and 9 depict container
110. Like elements in container 110 are numbered similarly to those
of container 10 but raised by 100. Container 110 includes wrapper
111 formed around a rigid frame such as one of the frames 30, 40,
50, 60, 70 discussed herein. A continuous parallel die-cut 119 is
formed in the wrapper 111 along a portion of top 112 which extends
past edge 117, along end 115a and terminates at a package crimp
seal 121a of wrapper 111, so that the die-cut 119 forms flap 116.
Top 112 is not die-cut along end 115b thus forming a hinged end in
the proximity of end 115b.
[0051] A sealing label 120 is affixed to flap 116 along top 112 and
end 115a. A starter portion in the form of tab 122 extends from the
end of crimp seal 121a. Like container 10, access into opening 118
is provided by a user grasping tab 122 between ones finger and
thumb and pulling back on tab 122 to withdraw sealing label 120
with flap 116 permanently affixed thereto thereby exposing opening
118. As a result, one is able to gain access to food product
128.
[0052] One advantage of container 110 is that the parallel cuts
forming opening 118 allow for the access opening 118 to be formed
without need for a registration system to cut an opening in the
wrapper 111 as the die-cut 119 feature can be formed in a
continuous fashion.
[0053] An alternative embodiment of container 210 is depicted in
FIGS. 10 and 11 where like reference numbers are increased by 200
over those of container 10 of FIG. 1. Container 210 includes a pair
of openings 218a, 218b in top 212. A pair of parallel die-cuts
219a, 219b forms flaps 216a, 216b which are affixed to sealing
labels 220a, 220b, respectively. In one advantageous form, each
sealing label 220a, 220b provides access to the food contents
contained within a tray which defines the shape of container 210
and contains the food product. For example, the tray may include
two compartments, each one located under one of the openings 218a,
218b. Access to food product contained in the tray is provided
through the corresponding opening.
[0054] Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, in an alternative
embodiment, container 310 includes a side opening 318 formed in
side 314a. The opening 318 is sufficiently large to allow one to
withdraw food product contained therein.
[0055] The food product may be contained in any appropriate food
protector which includes any of the frames or trays 30, 40, 50, 60
or 70. Alternatively, the food protector may be a slug 80
surrounding a food product as shown in FIG. 14 or a core buff 90
depicted in FIG. 15 which provides rigidity to the container 310
and provides protection to a food product wrapped therein. Slugs 80
can be formed from a plastic or wax paper or other suitable
material. Core buff 90 can be formed from a corrugated cardboard
paper or other suitable wrap material. Alternatively, individual
trays containing a single row of food product like tray 60 which
may or may not be closed at ends 61a, 61b, may be disposed in
container 310. The individual trays can be individually withdrawn
thereby removing a single row of food product from container 310
through opening 318.
[0056] In an alternative embodiment to container 310, the sealing
label 320 can be peelable from side 314a from both the left side as
shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 as well as from the right side, in a
manner similar to sealing label 220 of container 210, thus allowing
one to access opening 318 from either the left side or right side
of the container.
[0057] In yet another alternative embodiment, FIGS. 16 and 17
depict container 410 which comprises a wrapper 411 which surrounds
a rigid frame that provides the polygonal shape of container 410. A
rigid lid 423 includes hinges 425 which pivotally attach lid 423 to
rigid collar 426 which in turn is attached to top 412. Lid 423
includes lip 427 and raised portion 428 defining a groove 429,
therebetween. When in its closed configuration, lid 423
interlockingly engages with collar 426 by having collar 426 engage
with and be disposed in groove 429. Access to food product
contained in container 410 is provided by one pulling up on tab 430
and pulling back on lid 423 so that lid 423 pivots along hinges
425.
[0058] In another embodiment, FIG. 18 depicts container 510 which
is formed by wrapper 511 composed of a flexible material similar to
that of wrapper 11. Unlike container 10, the polygonal shape of
container 510 is provided by a rigid material incorporated into
wrapper 511 on the perimeter edges of each face of the container
such as perimeter 517. Advantageously, a strip of rigid plastic
material may be formed on each face of container 510 such as the
perimeter of each face to provide a desired rigidity to container
510. Access into container 510 is similar to that of container
310.
[0059] An alternative to any of the aforementioned embodiments
would be to combine the rigidity of material 517 to one or more
faces of any of the containers of the present invention to provide
additional rigidity to the respective container.
[0060] As will now be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art,
the present containers provided features advantages not found in
prior food containers.
[0061] Although the invention has been described in detail with
respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that
the invention is capable of numerous modifications and variations,
apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
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