U.S. patent application number 12/951460 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-26 for packaged food product.
Invention is credited to Bin Chen.
Application Number | 20110123685 12/951460 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44062255 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110123685 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Bin |
May 26, 2011 |
Packaged Food Product
Abstract
A packaged food product has (i) a tray, (ii) a plurality of
stackable chip snacks aligned on the tray main body, and (iii) a
tubular container. The tray contains (1) a tray main body
comprising a proximal tray end and a distal tray end, and (2) a
cushioning space at the distal tray end. The tubular container
contains a wall body, a closed container end adjacent to the wall
body, an openable container end adjacent to the wall body and
opposed to the closed container end, the tubular container
comprising the plurality of stackable chip snacks and the tray
therein. The tray is aligned so that the cushioning space is
oriented adjacent to the closed container end.
Inventors: |
Chen; Bin; (Beijing,
CN) |
Family ID: |
44062255 |
Appl. No.: |
12/951460 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/124 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/36 20130101;
B65D 1/34 20130101; B65D 81/025 20130101; B65D 77/0486
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/124 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/30 20060101
B65D085/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 25, 2009 |
CN |
PCT/CN2009/001314 |
Claims
1. A packaged food product comprising: (1) a tray comprising: (i) a
tray main body comprising a proximal tray end and a distal tray
end, and (ii) a cushioning space at the distal tray end; (2) a
plurality of stackable molded chip snacks arranged in the tray main
body; and (3) a tubular container comprising a wall body, a closed
container end adjacent to the wall body, and an openable container
end adjacent to the wall body and opposed to the closed container
end, the tubular container comprising the plurality of stackable
molded chip snacks and the tray therein, wherein the tray is
slidable along the wall body, and the tray is aligned so that the
cushioning space is oriented adjacent to the closed container
end.
2. The packaged product according to claim 1, wherein the tray is
formed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic,
a biodegradable material, metal, rubber, and a combination
thereof.
3. The packaged product according to claim 1, wherein the stackable
molded chip snacks have a concave shape.
4. The packaged product according to claim 1, wherein the tray main
body further comprises a cushioning space on the proximal tray
end.
5. The packaged product according to claim 1, wherein the plurality
of stackable molded chip snacks are selected from the group
consisting of a molded potato chip, a rice snack, and a combination
thereof.
6. The packaged product according to claim 1, wherein the
deformation distance is from about 2 to about 15 mm.
7. The packaged product according to claim 1, wherein the tray
comprises an edge shelf.
8. The packaged product according to claim 1, further comprising a
pulling tab at the proximal end.
9. The packaged product according to claim 1, wherein the tray
comprises a bottom which is substantially round.
10. The packaged product according to claim 8, wherein the tray
comprises at least one pair of supporting members at the
bottom.
11. The packaged product according to claim 7, wherein the pinching
member comprises a width, W, from about 5 mm to about 40 mm.
12. The packaged product according to claim 2, wherein the
biodegradable material is selected from the group consisting of
corn starch, rice starch, flour starch, potato starch, cellulose,
polylactide, polycaprolactone, polyvinylalcohol, casein, and a
mixture thereof.
13. The packaged product according to claim 1, wherein the
stackable molded food snacks have a snack height, and wherein the
tray has a tray height, and wherein said tray height is more than
about 50% of the snack height.
14. The packaged product according to claim 13, wherein the tray
height is from about 60% to about 100% of the snack height.
15. The packaged product according to claim 13, wherein the tray
further comprises an edge shelf and wherein the edge shelf is
higher than the midpoint of the stackable molded chip snack.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims the benefit of PCT China Application
No. PCT/CN2009/001314, filed Nov. 25, 2009.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a packaged food product.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a packaged food
product containing stackable chip snacks such as molded chip
snacks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Chip snacks such as potato chips are normally filled in a
flexible bag or in a tubular container. A flexible bag may be used
for naturally cut potato chips. The flexible bag may protect such
naturally cut potato chips from external shock by filling the bag
with gas. Such a flexible bag requires space to transport and
display because of the extra space taken up by the gas. A tubular
container may be used for molded potato chips. The tubular
container may be useful for cramming the molded potato chips which
have substantially the same shape by stacking them.
[0004] But chip snacks in a tubular container may crack or break
during shipping, stacking, storage, etc. The chip snacks are
sometimes fragile that consumers find some cracked or broken chips
when they open the container. Therefore, there is a need to protect
chip snacks from cracking due to external shocks.
[0005] Furthermore, when such chip snacks are filled in a tubular
container directly, a consumer may need to reach his/her hand into
the tubular container to remove the snacks. This can sometimes be
messy because such an action may soil the consumer's fingers and/or
hand with oil, cracked chips and/or flavoring. Thus, there is a
need of a package to accommodate chip snacks with less cracking and
messiness.
[0006] In view of the above problems, the present invention seeks
to provide a packaged product of chip snacks with less breakage
even when they receive a strong shock in the shop shelves, during
transportation, etc. The present invention may also significantly
reduce messiness when consumers eat such chip snacks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention relates to a packaged food product has
(i) a tray, (ii) a plurality of stackable chip snacks aligned on
the tray main body, and (iii) a tubular container. The tray
contains (1) a tray main body comprising a proximal tray end and a
distal tray end, and (2) a cushioning space at the distal tray end.
The tubular container contains a wall body, a closed container end
adjacent to the wall body, an openable container end adjacent to
the wall body and opposed to the closed container end, the tubular
container comprising the plurality of stackable chip snacks and the
tray therein. The tray is aligned so that the cushioning space is
oriented adjacent to the closed container end.
[0008] One of the benefits of the present invention is to further
protect stackable molded chip snacks from external shocks such as
dropping, bumping, and other shocks derived from storage,
transportation, etc. because the cushioning space reduces the
transmission of force to the snacks and thereby reduces breakage.
Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the tray
serves to protect the stackable molded chip snacks from cracks
resulting from the transmission of an external shock to the snacks.
As less force is transmitted to the snacks with the tray of the
present invention, fewer snacks are broken during shipment,
storage, etc.
BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention is more readily understood by the
attached non-limiting drawings, where:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a packaged food
product having a tray therein, and a plurality of chip snacks on
the tray, the tray being manually slid from the tubular
container;
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of the tray depicted in
FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a partial top view of a conventional
tray;
[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates a side plan view of the tray of FIG. 2,
viewed from the second side;
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a side plan view of the tray of FIG. 2,
viewed from the sliding tab;
[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates a cardboard box containing the packaged
product of the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates a case face diagram showing contact
position in the drop test.
[0017] The drawings herein are not necessarily drawn to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] All documents cited herein are incorporated by reference in
their entirety. The citation of any document is not to be construed
as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present
invention.
[0019] As used herein, "molded chip snacks" can include an edible
snack product that has been shaped, extruded or roll-milled in such
a way as to provide a chip-shape.
[0020] As used herein, "stackable" can include a state where an
object substantially has a planar shape and a plurality of such
objects can be heaped one another in a line, vertically,
horizontally or whatever else. Molded chip snacks are substantially
uniform in size and shape. They can be stacked and packaged in
rigid tubular containers.
[0021] As used herein, "tray" can include an object on which
stackable chip snacks are put and stored.
[0022] As used herein, "sliding" can include a state where an
object is linearly movable in a certain orientation.
[0023] The present invention relates to a packaged food product
containing a tray, (ii) a plurality of stackable molded chip snacks
and (iii) a tubular container.
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a packaged product
according to the present invention. The packaged food product, 20,
contains (1) a tray, 12, (2) a plurality of stackable molded chip
snacks, 14, and (3) a tubular container, 16. The stackable molded
chip snacks, 14, are aligned on the tray, 12. The tray, 12,
containing the stackable molded chip snacks, 14, is initially
inserted into the tubular container, 16. The tray, 12, is manually
slid from the tubular container, 16, for consumption of the
stackable molded chip snacks, 14.
[0025] The tray, 12, has a tray main body, 18, and a proximal tray
end, 22, and a distal tray end, 23 (see FIG. 2), opposed to the
proximal tray end, 22. The tray, 12, further has a first side wall,
24 and a second side wall, 26, each connecting to the proximal tray
end, 22, and the distal tray end, 23.
[0026] In FIG. 1, the tray main body, 18, contains an integrated
pulling tab, 28, at the proximal tray end, 22. The pulling tab, 28,
contains a pinching member, 31, which has a concave-convex surface.
In this embodiment, the pinching member, 31, protrudes upward from
the proximal tray end, 22, so that a thumb and a finger can pinch
the pinching member, 31, easily. In another embodiment, the
pinching member may protrude downward from the proximal tray end.
In this embodiment, the tray, 12, has an open top, 30, so that a
user can easily remove the stackable chip snacks, 14.
[0027] On the tray main body, 18, are aligned a plurality of
stackable molded chip snacks, 14. The stackable molded chip snacks,
14, may be based on potato, rice, flour, corn, etc., or based on
potato or rice. The stackable molded chip snacks, 14, may have a
wavy shape, a concave shape or a planar shape, especially a concave
shape.
[0028] The tubular container, 16, has a closed end, 32, and an
openable end, 34, opposed to the closed end, 32. A lid, 35, is
typically present to allow easy opening and reclosing of the
openable end, 34. When the packaged food product, 20, is subject to
sale, the openable end, 34, may be sealed with the lid, 35. The
tubular container, 16, further has a side wall, 36, connecting the
closed end, 32, and the openable end, 34. The tray, 12, is inserted
into the tubular container, 16, so that the pulling tab, 28, is
oriented toward the openable end, 34, of the tubular container, 16.
This makes removal of the tray, 12, easier and less messy.
[0029] When in use, the tubular container, 16, is opened by
removing the lid, 35. After withdrawing by pulling the pulling tab,
28, the plurality of stackable molded chip snacks, 14, emerges from
inside the tubular container, 16. Then the stackable molded chip
snacks, 14, are easily removed without reaching for deep inside the
tubular container, 16.
[0030] Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed
that when a plurality of stackable molded chip snacks are aligned
inside a tubular container without a tray, the inner surface of the
tubular container may be soiled by the stackable molded chip
snacks; i.e., as oil, cracked chips and/or flavors adhering
thereto. In order to remove the stackable molded chip snacks from
the tubular container, consumers may need to put their hand into
the tubular container or need to tilt the tubular container and
drop the stackable molded chip snacks onto a hand, a dish, or other
surface. Such actions can be sometimes messy because the fingers
and hand may be soiled, or a separate vessel such as a dish may be
needed to receive the chip snacks. With the packaged food product
of the present invention, consumers can retrieve chip snacks with
less messiness because their hands may not be soiled and a separate
vessel is not necessarily needed.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the tray depicted in FIG. 1.
The pinching member, 31, may have a width, W, and a length, L. The
width, W, and the length, L, are typically from about 5 mm to about
40 mm, from about 8 mm to about 35 mm or from about 10 mm to about
30 mm. The shape of the pinching member, 31, is not limited
particularly. In some embodiments, the pinching member, 31, may
have a shape of a circle, an oval, a square, a polygon, etc. In one
embodiment, the pinching member, 31, has a logo of an old man's
face commonly known as Mr. Pringles. In one embodiment, the
pinching member, 31, has a logo of a product name (e.g., logo of
Pringles).
[0032] The pulling tab, 28, may be a fixed structure or a bendable
structure. In this embodiment, the pulling tab, 28, is a fixed
structure. In another embodiment, the pulling tab may be bendable
to allow greater flexibility during use from a variety of different
angles.
[0033] In a normal package, the stackable molded chip snacks
located at a tray end may be inclined to receive more external
shock than located in the middle, and therefore they are easy to be
cracked. Some of stackable molded chip snacks such as molded potato
chips are formed wavy or concave. In the present invention, the
tray, 12, is provided with a cushioning space, 25, between the
distal tray end, 23, and the stackable molded chip snacks, 14, The
cushioning space, 25, has a curvature so that the edge of the
stackable molded chip snacks may not directly contact the tray, 14.
The tray, 14, has a shoulder part, 27, outside the cushioning
space, 25. The shoulder part, 27, contacts the stackable molded
chip snacks, 14, but it is important to note that the distal tray
end, 23, does not directly touch the stackable molded chip snacks,
14. This cushioning space, 25, therefore allows the distal tray
end, 23, to deform due to impact without directly transmitting this
impact force to the stackable molded chip snacks, 14. Instead, the
distal tray end, 23, deforms to absorb and reduce the impact force.
Then, a reduced impact may be transferred at the multiple shoulder
parts, 27, instead of at a single point. Without wishing to be
bound by theory, it is believed that the stackable molded chip
snacks, 14, inside the tray, 12, are less likely cracked or broken
by external shocks because of the deformability of the tray, 14,
and the presence of the cushioning space, 25.
[0034] The cushioning space, 25, takes up the distance between the
tray, 12, at the distal tray end, 23, and the closest stackable
molded chip snack, 14. Therefore, the deformation distance, D,
between the distal tray end, 23, and the closest stackable molded
chip snack, 14, should be from about 2 mm to about 15 mm, or from
about 3 mm to about 12 mm, or from about 5 mm to about 10 mm, so as
to allow sufficient space for deformation before the tray would
touch the closest stackable molded chip snack, 14.
[0035] In an embodiment herein, the tray also has a cushioning
space at the proximal tray end, 22, as well as at the distal tray
end, 23. Such an arrangement is especially useful for protecting
from impact forces from multiple directions during transportation,
storage, etc.
[0036] In an embodiment herein, the distal tray end requires a
force of from about 0.5 kg to about 1 kg in a dynamic impact test
in order to deform the tray 1 mm. Equipment useful for testing such
a deformation includes Instron tension testers, from Instron
Industrial Products, Norwood, Mass., USA.
[0037] The tray, 12, may be made of any kind of material such as
plastic, a biodegradable material, metal, rubber, and a mixture
thereof. Suitable plastics may include, but are not limited to,
polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutadiene, polystyrene,
polyethylene terephthalate, polyamides, polyesters,
polyvinylchloride derivatives, co-polymers thereof, and mixtures
thereof. Suitable biodegradable material may include, but are not
limited to, corn starch, rice starch, flour starch, potato starch,
cellulose, polylactide, polycaprolactone, polyvinylalcohol, casein,
and a mixture thereof. Biodegradable materials are more preferable,
and especially corn starch. In an embodiment herein, the tray
comprises corn starch.
[0038] In an embodiment herein, the distal tray end, 23 is
deformable, and therefore helps to absorb impacts which would
otherwise be transmitted to the stackable molded snacks.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a partial top view of a conventional tray, 112,
where the distal tray end, 123, is formed flat, as compared to the
present invention which is curved. When the distal tray end, 123,
is pressed or subjected to any pressure or impact the pressure gets
transmitted directly to the stackable molded chip snacks, 114,
which in turn greatly increases their chances of breaking the
stackable molded chip snacks.
[0040] FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the tray of FIG. 2, viewed
from the second side, 26. In this embodiment, the tray, 12, may
have a height greater than that of the chip snacks, 14, contained
inside the tray, 12. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is
believed that the stackable molded chip snacks, 14, can be more
protected from external shocks.
[0041] The tray, 12, contains a plurality of bumps, 42. The bumps,
42, may protrude outward from inside the tray main body, 18, or
inward from outside the tray main body, 18, resulting in a
plurality of convex and/or concave shapes. In this embodiment, the
bumps, 42, protrude outward from inside the tray main body, 18.
Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the
plurality of bumps, 42, can strengthen the rigidity of the tray.
That is, the bumps can achieve sufficient rigidity even using a
thin material for the tray, leading to a lighter weight tray. Thus
strengthened tray can also protect the stackable molded chip snacks
from an external shock. It can prevent or at least reduce cracked
stackable molded chip snacks. The shape of the bump may not be
limited particularly, and examples include, a circle, an oval, an
ellipse, a square, a triangle, etc.
[0042] The bumps, 42, may be distributed to the entire tray main
body, 18, including the first side wall, 24, and the second side
wall, 26, and the bottom, 38. The broad distribution of the bumps,
42, may protect the stackable molded chip snacks from cracking.
[0043] The tray, 12, contains a bottom, 38 in the tray main body,
18. The tray, 12, is typically provided with at least a pair of
supporting members, 36, protruding outward from the bottom, 38, of
the tray main body, 18. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it
is believed that the pair of the supporting members, 36, may
provide stability with the tray, 12, when it is placed in a tubular
container (see FIG. 1) or on a plane (see FIG. 4). Also the
supporting member, 36, may protect the stackable molded chip
snacks, 14, from an external shock when the packaged product, 20,
is dropped from a certain height, or is pressed by an external
force. In the embodiment, the tray, 12, contains three pairs of
supporting member, 36, substantially located parallel to each
other.
[0044] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tray of FIG. 3, as
seen along line 4-4. The shape of the bottom, 38, may be
substantially planar or rounded. In this embodiment, the bottom,
38, is rounded. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is
believed that the round shape of the bottom, 38, can complement the
shape of the stackable molded chip snacks, 14, contained in the
tray, 12. As these shapes complement each other, and as only the
supporting members, 36, and an edge shelf, 43, touch the tubular
canister, the cracks of the stackable molded chip snacks reduce. An
edge shelf, 43, may also further help to reduce the transmission of
force to the stackable molded chip snacks, by further deforming
instead of transferring impacts and force.
[0045] The packaged food product of the present invention is in no
way limited to a particular type or category of food products.
Thus, the package of the present invention can be practiced with
any product therein. For example, the product of the present
invention can be selected from the group consisting of fragile food
products such as molded potato chips, molded rice chips, molded
corn chips, etc.
[0046] It should be noted that the present invention has no
limitation to the sizes or dimensions of the packages. In certain
embodiments, the tubular container has from about 3 cm to about 15
cm, from about 4 cm to about 12 cm, or from 5 cm to about 10 cm in
diameter, from about 6 cm to about 50 cm, from 7 cm to about 45 cm,
or from about 8 cm to about 40 cm in depth. In the embodiment shown
in FIG. 1, the tubular container for containing molded potato chip
snacks has 5.3 cm in width, and 4.7 cm in depth. In certain
embodiments, the tray has from about 3 cm to 15 cm, from about 4 cm
to about 12 cm, or from 5 cm to about 10 cm in width, from about 3
cm to 15 cm, from about 4 cm to about 12 cm, or from about 5 cm to
about 10 cm in depth. The tray and the tubular container of the
present invention can have any sizes or dimensions.
[0047] In this embodiment, the stackable molded chip snacks have a
snack height, h.sub.1, and the tray has a tray height, h.sub.2. In
an embodiment the tray height is more than about 50%, or from about
60% to about 100% of the snack height, or from about 65% to about
85% of the snack height. Without intending to be limited by theory,
it is believed that having such a tray height is especially useful
in combination with a stackable molded chip snack that has an oval
or rounded shape. Specifically, in such a case, the edge shelf, 43,
will be higher than the midpoint of the stackable molded chip
snack, 14. Therefore when an impact occurs, the edge shelf will
again deform rather than press directly on the stackable molded
chip snack, and therefore breakage will be reduced.
[0048] The shapes of the stackable molded chip snacks may not
limited so far as they are stackable to each other, but the
stackable molded chip snacks preferably have a shape selected from
the group consisting of wave, concave, and curvature.
EXAMPLES
Drop Test
[0049] A tray was manufactured by extruding a biodegradable corn
starch material. The tray has a thickness of 0.55 mm. 100% whole
molded potato chips (brand name; Pringles.RTM. Original Mix,
manufactured by The Procter & Gamble Company) were manually
stacked into the trays (74 chips per tray) and the potato chips on
the trays were put in each tubular container (container size:
diameter 65 mm, and height 210 mm). 12 (Twelve) tubular containers
were packed into a cardboard case (3 (columns).times.4 (lines)
cases) as seen in FIG. 5. The cardboard case was subjected to a
drop test. There were seven (7) free drops of the cardboard case
during the dropping test, following the instruction shown in Table
1 and FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the numbers from 1 to 6 shows each plane
of the cardboard case. After the dropping test, the molded potato
chips were retrieved from the tubular container. The molded potato
chips were carefully sorted by (i) whole chips (>90% weight),
(ii) broken chips (>50%, <90% weight) and (iii) small pieces
(<50% weight). The result is shown as Table 2. The result (With
tray) was compared with the one conducted with molded potato chips
in a tubular container without a tray (No tray).
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Drop number Drop height (cm) Drop facings 1
38.1 cm Edge of 3 and 4 2 38.1 cm Edge of 3 and 6 3 38.1 cm Edge of
4 and 6 4 38.1 cm Corner of 3, 4 and 6 5 38.1 cm Corner of 2, 3 and
5 6 61.0 cm Face 3 7 38.1 cm Face 3
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 No tray (control) With tray Whole chip 49%
69% Broken chips 23% 22% Broken into Small pieces 28% 9%
[0050] As a result, the packaged product of the present invention
showed significantly more whole chips after the drop test as shown
above, compared with a packaged product without a tray (69% vs.
49%). Furthermore, there was a significantly lower amount of chips
that were broken into small pieces with the tray of the present
invention (9%) as compared to when no tray was present (28%).
[0051] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values
recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension
is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".
[0052] All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the
Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference;
the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission
that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the
extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written
document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a
document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition
assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.
[0053] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims
all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of
this invention.
* * * * *