U.S. patent application number 13/448308 was filed with the patent office on 2013-04-25 for thermoformed packaging tray.
This patent application is currently assigned to Vancore Plastic Packaging Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Andrey Khomovskiy, Cheryl Ann Marshall, Abbassali T. Rehmanji. Invention is credited to Andrey Khomovskiy, Cheryl Ann Marshall, Abbassali T. Rehmanji.
Application Number | 20130098800 13/448308 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47022411 |
Filed Date | 2013-04-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130098800 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rehmanji; Abbassali T. ; et
al. |
April 25, 2013 |
THERMOFORMED PACKAGING TRAY
Abstract
A thermoformed packaging tray is provided which includes a
container having a bottom surface, an integrally formed peripheral
side wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface. The sidewall
defines an open top. A rigid lip is provided on a top edge of the
peripheral side wall; and a remote end of the lip which diminishes
in thickness to become flexible.
Inventors: |
Rehmanji; Abbassali T.;
(Surrey, CA) ; Khomovskiy; Andrey; (New
Westminster, CA) ; Marshall; Cheryl Ann; (Richmond,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Rehmanji; Abbassali T.
Khomovskiy; Andrey
Marshall; Cheryl Ann |
Surrey
New Westminster
Richmond |
|
CA
CA
CA |
|
|
Assignee: |
Vancore Plastic Packaging
Inc.
Surrey
CA
|
Family ID: |
47022411 |
Appl. No.: |
13/448308 |
Filed: |
April 16, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61476173 |
Apr 15, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/557 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/261 20130101;
B65D 1/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/557 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/34 20060101
B65D001/34 |
Claims
1. A thermoformed packaging tray, comprising: a container having a
bottom surface, an integrally formed peripheral side wall extending
upwardly from the bottom surface, the sidewall defining an open
top; a rigid lip is provided on a top edge of the peripheral side
wall; and a remote end of the lip which diminishes in thickness to
become flexible.
2. The thermoformed packaging tray of claim 1, wherein the rigid
lip curves over and outward from the peripheral sidewall.
3. The thermoformed packaging tray of claim 1, wherein the remote
end of the lip is diminished in thickness by more than 60
percent.
4. The thermoformed packaging tray of claim 1, wherein the remote
end of the lip is offset at an angle.
5. The thermoformed packaging tray of claim 1, wherein the remote
end of the lip curves downward.
6. The thermoformed packaging tray of claim 1, wherein the bottom
surface rises convexly upward.
7. The thermoformed packaging tray of claim 1, wherein a plurality
of intersecting recessed flow channels extend across the bottom
surface.
8. The thermoformed packaging tray of claim 5, wherein a portion of
a one or more of the plurality of intersecting recessed flow
channels are inverted.
9. The thermoformed packaging tray of claim 1, wherein a recessed
flow channel extends around the perimeter of the bottom
surface.
10. The thermoformed packaging tray of claim 8, wherein one or more
portions of the recessed flow channel extending around the
perimeter of the bottom surface are inverted.
11. The thermoformed packaging tray of claim 1, wherein leaf shaped
stabilizing ribs are spaced along the peripheral side wall
perpendicular to the bottom surface.
12. The thermoformed packaging tray of claim 1, wherein a groove is
extends along the apex of the lip.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLIATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/476,173, filed Apr. 15, 2011, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The invention relates to the field of thermoformed packaging
trays.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Presently, thermoformed packaging trays are used to package
food items such as meats for sale in grocery stores. Food items are
selected, and placed on the thermoformed packaging trays, which are
then encased with overwrap film. Overwrap film can be placed on
manually, or a wrapping machine can be used to speed efficiency.
Standard thermoformed packaging trays do not work well with
wrapping machines as the overwrap film tends to tear during the
process of applying the overwrap. Moreover, thermoformed packaging
trays can collapse or become damaged during the wrapping process.
This slows down the efficiency of wrapping machines. Finally the
overwrap may wear along the sharper edges of the thermoformed
packaging trays resulting in holes and leakage. Contamination of
the food product can occur as a result of holes in the overwrap,
and surrounding items may also become contaminated.
SUMMARY
[0004] There is provided thermoformed packaging tray which includes
a container having a bottom surface, an integrally formed
peripheral side wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface.
The sidewall defines an open top. A rigid lip is provided on a top
edge of the peripheral side wall; and a remote end of the lip which
diminishes in thickness to become flexible.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] These and other features will become more apparent from the
following description in which reference is made to the appended
drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and
are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the thermoformed packaging
tray.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the thermoformed
packaging tray.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the thermoformed
packaging tray.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view, in section, of the
thermoformed packaging tray.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a detailed side elevation view, in section, of the
thermoformed packaging tray.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the thermoformed packaging
tray.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the thermoformed packaging
tray.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the thermoformed
packaging tray containing a product and wrapped in transparent
overwrap.
[0014] FIG. 9 is perspective view of the thermoformed packaging
tray containing a product and wrapped in transparent overwrap.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the thermoformed packaging
tray with strengthening portions in the diagonal flow channels.
[0016] FIG. 11 is a top plan view on an elongated rectangular
packaging tray with more than one strengthening portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] A thermoformed packaging tray generally identified by
reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIGS.
1 through 11.
Structure and Relationship of Parts:
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a thermoformed
packaging tray generally referenced by numeral 10. Thermoformed
packaging tray 10 is a container 12 that has a bottom surface 14
and an integrally formed peripheral side wall 16 that extends
upwardly from the bottom surface 14. The sidewall 16 is at an angle
from the bottom surface 14. The sidewall 14 defines an open top 18.
In the illustrated embodiment, thermoformed packaging tray 10 has a
first end 20, a second end 22 and two opposed sides 24 defined by
sidewall 16. A rigid lip 26 is provided on a top edge 28 of the
peripheral side wall 16. A shoulder 30 is provided between the top
edge 28 of the peripheral side wall 16 and the lip 26. The lip 26
curves over. A remote end 32 of the lip 26 is offset at an angle,
and diminishes in thickness by more than 60% to become flexible
such that it curves downward as illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 4, tray 10 is thermoformed from PET
(Polyethylene terephthalate), PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), HIPS (High
Impact Polystyrene), PS (polystyrene) and PP (polypropylene)
materials with high strength that is specific for food products
such as meat, fish, and poultry, but can also be used well with
non-food products. To increase the strength of thermoformed
packaging tray 10, and prevent fracture or collapse of the tray 10,
bottom surface 14 rises convexly upwardly toward its centre 34.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, leaf shaped ribs 36 are provided along
peripheral wall 16. Leaf shaped ribs 36 serve to prevent any
buckling effect caused by load on thermoformed packaging tray 10.
Each leaf shaped rib 36 curves outward from convexly from sidewall
16. Each leaf shaped rib 36 has a central stem portion 38 and a
leaf portion 40 which fans out from central stem portion 38.
Stabilizing ribs 42 are also provided in bottom surface 14 to allow
thermoformed packaging tray 10 to rest flat on an underlying
surface 44 as shown in FIG. 3
[0020] Leaf shaped ribs 36 are positioned along side wall 16 in
between stabilising ribs 42 and in corners 46 that from where first
end 20, second end 22 and opposed sides 24 of peripheral sidewall
16 join.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in the illustrated embodiment, a
plurality of intersecting flow channels 48 are provided in bottom
surface 14 for strength as well as flow such as drainage. In the
illustrated embodiment, the intersecting flow channels 46 are
recessed into the bottom surface 14 and preferably extend
diagonally across the bottom surface 14, although it will be
appreciated that other types of patterns such as traversely
extending flow channels also could be used. In the illustrated
embodiment the flow channels 48 are wider near the centre 34 of the
bottom surface 14, and narrower toward the sidewall 16. Referring
to FIGS. 6 and 7, a recessed flow channel 50 also extends around a
perimeter 52 of the bottom surface 14. Recessed flow channel may be
in communication with the plurality of intersecting flow
channels.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a groove 54 runs along an apex
56 of the lip 26 of peripheral sidewall 16 to provide additional
strength to thermoformed packaging tray 10. Groove 54 can be of
varying dimensions and depths but it is preferable that it is in
the range of 0.03 to 0.08 inches across.
Variations
[0023] Referring to FIG. 10, one or more of diagonally extending
flow channels 48 and peripheral flow channel 50 may have
strengthening portions 58 that interrupt the flow. These portions
58 may be inverted portions of the flow channel 48 or filled in to
as to strengthen the packaging tray 10. As consumers pick up
packaging tray 10, typically by the corner 48, the packaging tray
10 may have a tendency to fold or collapse under its load.
Strengthening portions 58 are strategically placed in the
peripheral flow channel 50 on the opposed sides intermediate the
corners 48. Strengthening portions 58 may also be placed in the
intersecting flow channels 48. It is preferable that the
strengthening portions 58 are placed in a diamond pattern 60 near
the centre 34 of the bottom surface 14. Referring to FIG. 11, where
packaging tray 10 is an elongated rectangle, more than one diamond
pattern 60 of strengthening portions 58 may be used to prevent
folding or collapse.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 5, lip 26 that extends outward from top
edge 28 of peripheral side walls 16 gradually decreases in
thickness toward a remote end 44 such that lip 26 has increased
flexibility so as to curve under. The reduction in thickness is
gradual and will be approximately 60% or less of the parent
material used to fabricate thermoformed packaging tray 10. By way
of example, if the parent material is 20 ml in thickness at groove
54, then lip 26 will be reduced to 5 ml thickness at remote end 32.
As further examples, if the parent material is 15 ml thickness then
lip 26 will be reduced to 3.75 ml at remote end 32, and if the
parent material is 13 ml thickness at groove 54 then lip 26 will be
reduced to 3 ml thickness at remote end 32. The thinning of lip 26
allows it to be more flexible so as to curve under gently.
Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the added flexibility helps to
prevent overwrap film 62 from being torn or ripped when
thermoformed packaging tray 10 contains a product 64 and is being
either manually or automatically wrapped in a wrapping machine (not
shown).
[0025] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in
its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are
included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A
reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not
exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is
present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and
only one of the elements.
[0026] The following claims are to be understood to include what is
specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually
equivalent, and what can be obviously substituted. Those skilled in
the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications
of the described embodiments can be configured without departing
from the scope of the claims. The illustrated embodiments have been
set forth only as examples and should not be taken as limiting the
invention. It is to be understood that, within the scope of the
following claims, the invention may be practiced other than as
specifically illustrated and described.
* * * * *