U.S. patent number 3,866,817 [Application Number 05/423,034] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-18 for plastic packaging tray, particularly for bananas.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mobil Oil Corporation. Invention is credited to Morell J. Holden, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,866,817 |
Holden, Jr. |
February 18, 1975 |
PLASTIC PACKAGING TRAY, PARTICULARLY FOR BANANAS
Abstract
A tray, of approximately rectangular outline, has a bottom wall
and continuous surrounding upstanding rims, one of which has a
cover flap attached thereto by a living hinge. The bottom wall is
formed with a projecting ridge extending transversely across the
bottom wall, close to the back rim to which the cover flap is
attached, the space along the bottom wall between the ridge and the
side wall being preferably formed with means, such as depressions,
to collect latex and other substances which are apt to ooze from
the cut ends of bananas, the curve of the banana fitting over the
ridge, to separate the oozing substance from the remainder of the
banana and the remainder of the package.
Inventors: |
Holden, Jr.; Morell J.
(Canandaigua, NY) |
Assignee: |
Mobil Oil Corporation (New
York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
23677431 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/423,034 |
Filed: |
December 10, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/521.1;
206/564 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
1/34 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
1/34 (20060101); B65d 003/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;229/15,44R,2.5
;220/315 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McCarthy; Edward J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Huggett; Charles A.
Claims
1. Banana packaging tray comprising
a bottom wall (10) of approximately rectangular outline;
continuous upstanding side rims (11, 12, 13, 14) extending
outwardly at an angle from said bottom wall (10) to form a
surrounding rim about the support surface;
a projecting ridge (15) extending transversely across said bottom
wall (10) and located spaced from and adjacent to one of said side
rims (11) the ridge (15) projecting by a distance (h) which is a
fraction of the height of projection of the side rims (11-14) above
the bottom wall (10);
and a cover flap (20) unitary with one of said side rims (11) and
extending the width of the outer dimensions of the rims (12, 14)
adjacent to said one rim (11), said cover flap being hinged (21) to
said one rim, said flap (20) having a length (FL) of at least about
the projected distance (PL) between the peak of the projecting
ridge (15) and the edge of said one
2. Tray according to claim 1 wherein the tray is adapted to hold
cut bananas with the cut ends located adjacent the junction line
(16) between the bottom wall (10) and said one rim (11);
said tray further comprising means (25, 30) located on the bottom
wall (10) in the space between said projecting ridge (15) and the
connection or junction line (16) between the bottom wall (10) and
said one rim (11) to form entrapment receptacles for liquid oozing
from the cut ends of the bananas, between the projecting ridge (15)
and the adjacent said one rim
3. Tray according to claim 2 wherein said means to form entrapment
receptacles comprises spaced depressions (25) formed in the bottom
wall.
4. Tray according to claim 2 wherein said means to form entrapment
receptacles comprises spaced projecting knobs (30) formed in the
bottom
5. Tray according to claim 2 wherein said entrapment receptacles
are located about midway between the bottom of the projecting ridge
(15) and the connection or junction line (16) between the bottom
wall (10) and said
6. Tray according to claim 1 wherein said cover flap (20) is
dimensioned to form a partial lid over said bottom wall when folded
over the rim and
7. Tray according to claim 1 wherein a living hinge (21) is
provided to
8. Tray according to claim 1 wherein the rims are angled outwardly
with
9. Tray according to claim 1 wherein said projecting ridge (15) has
a projection (h) which is about 10 - 25 percent of the depth (D) of
the tray measured from the upper edge of the rim (11-14) to the top
surface of the bottom wall (10);
and the projecting ridge (15) is spaced from the connecting or
junction line (16) between the bottom wall (10) and said one rim
(11) by a distance (1) of about 10 - 25 percent of the distance (L)
across the bottom wall (10).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a packaging tray and more
particularly to a packaging tray for bananas, made of plastic
material such as expanded, cellular polystyrene.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of packaging trays have been proposed, some of them
being universally applicable; other types of packaging trays are
fitted to the specific articles to be packaged, and particularly to
the characteristics thereof. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,974,843 and
3,346,400, for example, are specifically directed to meat trays, in
which the bottom wall of the tray is formed with depressions or
small receptacles to receive moisture, particularly water, which
flows from the meat to be packaged therein upon storage; and which,
further, provide an interrupted bottom support surface for the meat
so that it will have access to air, and will not be entirely
supported by a smooth surface.
Trays for packaging, whether made of pulp material (see, for
example, the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 2,974,843) or of plastic
material (see, for example, the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.
3,346,400 which discloses the use of polyvinyl plastics,
polystyrene, polyurethane, and the likes, preferably cellular and
containing closed cells), while suitable for articles which are
essentially rectangular in outline, are not suitable for other
articles which do not provide a smooth support surface, and which
require special handling due to the nature thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pre-packaging
tray particularly for storage, shipping, and pre-package sale of
bananas, which is particularly adapted to the characteristics of
the bananas themselves.
Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, an essentially
rectangular tray is provided which has a bottom wall and
circumferential upstanding rims. One of the rims, forming the back
wall, is integrally connected to a cover flap, preferably by a
living hinge, to cover the cut ends of the bananas; a ridge is
formed in the bottom wall, close to the back rim, to provide,
between the back wall and the rims, a collecting channel for latex,
and other substances oozing from the cut ends of the bananas. The
bottom wall is preferably formed with a multiplicity of small
receptacles, such as by forming depressions in the bottom wall or
projections, the space between the projections then forming the
receptacles, to accept such latex or other substances oozing from
the bananas, and prevent contamination of the remainder of the
bananas and the packages with the oozing substance.
The side walls, preferably, extend upwardly and outwardly at an
angle from the bottom wall, for example at an angle about
30.degree. from the vertical or, in other words, about 60.degree.
from the bottom wall. The projecting distance of the ridge is a
fraction of the height of the side walls, for example, about 10 -
25 percent of the overall depth of the tray. The receptacles
themselves can be rather small. The spacing of the ridge from the
back wall, where the cut ends of the bananas are adapted to lie,
may in example be about 10 percent of the overall length of the
tray, measured in the direction of placement of the bananas.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled
in the art from the following description considered in conjunction
with the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the banana tray, with
bananas therein;
FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the tray;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along section III-III of FIG.
2;
FIG. 4 is a detail view of a depression in the bottom wall; and
FIG. 5 is a detail view of a knob formed on the bottom wall.
The tray has a bottom wall 10, and four upstanding side rims 11,
12, 13, 14. Side rim 11 is joined to the bottom wall by a junction
line 16. The side rims preferably extend outwardly at a slant, for
example about 30.degree. from the vertical with respect to the
horizontal plane of the bottom wall 10. Preferably, the underside
of the bottom wall 10 is of slightly concave configuration from
wall 13 to the base of the ridge 15 in bottom wall 10. Such a
concave configuration, best shown in FIG. 3, generally minimizes
bruising of bananas in one package stacked upon another package in
transport containers. Integral with side wall 11 is a flap 20 which
is connected by a living hinge 21 to side wall 11. The flap 20 may
carry advertising, or brand indicia thereon.
A ridge 15 extends transversely of the tray from the bottom wall 10
thereof. Ridge 15 has a height h which is preferably about 10 - 25
percent of the overall depth D of the tray. The overall length,
measured in the direction of placement of the bananas is indicated
by L; the distance of the top of the ridge 15 from the junction 16
between bottom wall 10 and back wall 11 is usually about 10 - 25
percent of the overall length L. The ridge itself can be integrally
formed in the bottom wall 10, with sides angled upwardly with
respect to the bottom wall at, for example, about 60.degree., so
that the upward angle of the ridge 15 corresponds approximately to
the angle .alpha. which the side walls form with the bottom wall
10.
To accept substances oozing from the cut end of the bananas, such
as stem latex, and the like, small receptacles may be formed in the
region between the ridge 15 and the junction line 16 of the bottom
wall 10 and back wall 11. These receptacles may be a multiplicity
of depressions 25 (FIG. 4) formed in the bottom wall; or they may
be the spaces between a multiplicity of upstanding knobs 30 (FIG.
5) formed in the bottom wall 10, as desired, or other means
suitable for containing fluid from the bananas.
The dimensions of the tray structure itself may be selected to
depend on the number of bananas, types and size which are to be
packed. For a package of about five to six "small" to "medium" size
bananas a dimension for LL of about 7 inches is usually suitable.
Dimension L can then be about 5 inches and dimension 1 between
one-half to three-fourths inch, for example about five-eighths
inch. For a package of four to six larger sized bananas, the
dimension for "LL" may be about 9 inches. The depressions 25, or
knobs 30 may have only a short depth, or elevation, respectively,
for example of about one-sixteenth inch. The depth of the tray,
dimension D usually varies between 1 and 11/2 inches, and, more
specifically, may be about 11/8 inch. The dimension of the flap
between its outer edge and the living hinge 21 may be, for example,
about 11/2 to 2 inches. None of these dimensions are critical, and
they may vary widely, depending on the character of the bananas to
be packed.
The spacing of the ridge 15 from the inner edge 16 (dimension 1)
likewise is not critical and may vary within substantial limits,
depending on the cutting of the bananas, and their shape and
characteristics. Dimension h of the upstanding projecting ridge
should be sufficiently high to provide a collection area between
the ridge and edge 16 but not so high as to provide a pressure
point on the bananas in the package. The height for dimension h
may, in a suitable embodiment, be on the order of about one-fourth
inch. The location of the depressions 25, or the knobs 30,
respectively, is preferably selected about midway between the
bottom junction of the ridge 15 with the bottom wall 10, and the
inner edge 16 forming the junction between the bottom wall 10 and
the adjacent side wall 11. The projecting ridge 15 has, in specific
embodiments, a projecting height h of about 10 - 25 percent of the
depth D of the tray, which will usually fit the average type of
banana being sold at retail, and specifically adapted for
pre-packaging. As aforesaid, the spacing 1 of the ridge 15 from the
inner junction line 16 is preferably about 10 - 25 percent of the
overall length L of the bottom of the tray. The length of the flap
20, dimension FL in FIg. 3, is at least about the projected
distance, or length PL between the peak of the projecting ridge 15
and the edge of rim 11, which is also the location of the living
hinge 21.
In use, the packaging tray embodied herein with produce (bananas)
packaged therein is normally overwrapped with flexible packaging
material such as transparent plastic film. In an embodiment, the
film is wrapped tightly about the packaged article and the
supporting tray and the film edges overlapped around the underside
of the tray where they are heat sealed together, thereby completing
the overwrap packaging operation. In another embodiment, the
overwrapping may be done by use of a stretch film (transparent
plastic) by means, as known to those skilled in the art, for
stretching the film whereby it tightly wraps the tray and articles
packaged therein.
Various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of
the inventive concept.
* * * * *