Tray for a food product

A tray for a food product is thin-walled, unitary, and plastic. The tray comprises a central portion. The central portion comprises a plurality of downwardly extending recesses for receiving at least one of the food products, and a plurality of upwardly extending posts interspersed amongst the recesses. A first set of the posts is positioned on a first side of a horizontal axis of the tray, and a second set of the posts is positioned on a second side of the horizontal axis. The first set of posts and the second set of posts are positioned asymmetrically on either side of the horizontal axis. Each post comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending lengthwise therealong. The reinforcing ribs are integral to the posts. The tray further comprises an outer wall portion extending about the central portion. A plurality of webs extend between the outer wall portion and the central portion.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to trays for storing and/or transporting food products, such as muffins.

BACKGROUND

U.S. patent application publication No. US20110132796A1 (Epstein) purports to disclose a multi-compartment food tray that includes at least a first compartment and a second compartment formed from a paperboard material. Each compartment includes a compartment lip, and a carrier constructed from a paperboard material and including openings receiving the first and second compartments. Each compartment lip may be mechanically coupled to the carrier to create an interface. The interface may remain coupled during food reconstitution, and may include at least one surface having a coating. The first compartment may have a different volume than the second compartment.

SUMMARY

The following summary is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the applicant's teaching, but not to define any invention.

According to one broad aspect, a tray for a plurality food products is disclosed. The tray is thin-walled, unitary, and plastic. The tray comprises a central portion. The central portion comprises a plurality of downwardly extending recesses for receiving at least one of the food products, and a plurality of upwardly extending posts interspersed amongst the recesses. A first set of the posts is positioned on a first side of a horizontal axis of the tray, and a second set of the posts is positioned on a second side of the horizontal axis. The first set of posts and the second set of posts are positioned asymmetrically on either side of the horizontal axis. Each post comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending lengthwise therealong. The reinforcing ribs are integral to the posts. The tray further comprises an outer wall portion extending about the central portion. A plurality of webs extend between the outer wall portion and the central portion.

The posts may align with and nest within posts of another tray when the tray is in a first orientation, to allow nesting of the tray with the other tray. The posts may mis-align with the posts of the other tray with the tray is in a second orientation, to prevent nesting of the tray with the other tray and allow stacking of the tray with the other tray. To move the tray between the first orientation and the second orientation, the tray may be rotated about a vertical axis. The tray may be rotated about the vertical axis by an angle of about 180 degrees.

The tray may further comprise a plurality of abutment members interspersed amongst the posts and recesses. The tray may comprise a first set of abutment members. The first set of abutment members and the second set of posts may be positioned symmetrically on either side of the horizontal axis. The tray may further comprise a second set of abutment members. The first set of abutment members and the first set of posts may be positioned symmetrically on either side of the horizontal axis.

The abutment members may comprise a downwardly extending depression having a bottom abutment surface. The bottom abutment surfaces may each comprise a locating dimple for receiving one of the posts of another tray. When the tray is in the second orientation, the first set of posts may abut the second set of abutment members of the other tray, and the second set of posts may abut the first set of abutment members of the other tray.

The webs may extend between the outer wall portion and the abutment members.

The first set of posts may include a first number of posts, and the second set of posts may include a second number of posts. The first number may be different from the second number.

The tray may comprise five webs extending between the outer wall portion and the central portion.

The reinforcing ribs may extend from a bottom portion of the posts to a top portion of the posts.

The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification and are not intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various apparatuses or processes will be described below to provide an example of an embodiment of each claimed invention. No embodiment described below limits any claimed invention and any claimed invention may cover processes or apparatuses that differ from those described below. The claimed inventions are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below. It is possible that an apparatus or process described below is not an embodiment of any exclusive right granted by issuance of this patent application. Any invention disclosed in an apparatus or process described below and for which an exclusive right is not granted by issuance of this patent application may be the subject matter of another protective instrument, for example, a continuing patent application, and the applicants, inventors or owners do not intend to abandon, disclaim or dedicate to the public any such invention by its disclosure in this document.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 3, an exemplary tray100is shown. The tray100may be used to store and/or transport a food product. In the example shown, the tray100is configured to store and/or transport a muffin, or similarly shaped food product. In alternate examples, a tray may be configured to store and/or transport another type of food product.

In the example shown, the tray100is fabricated from a plastic, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), and is thin-walled and unitary. For example, the tray100may be thermoformed from a sheet of plastic. In alternate examples, a tray may be formed from another material.

Referring still toFIGS. 1 to 3, the tray100includes a central portion102, which receives the food products, and an outer wall portion104extending about the central portion102.

Referring still toFIGS. 1 to 3, the central portion102includes a plurality of downwardly extending recesses106. Each recess106may receive at least one of the food products. In the example shown, the central portion102includes eighteen recesses106that are arranged in a three by six grid, and each recess106is configured to receive one muffin. Specifically, each recess is generally inverted frustoconical in shape. In alternate examples, a central portion may include an alternate number of recesses, such as twelve recesses, and the recesses may be arranged in an alternate fashion, such as a three by four grid. Further, the recesses may be of an alternate shape, such as cylindrical or cubic.

Referring still toFIGS. 1 and 2, the central portion102further includes a plurality of upwardly extending posts108interspersed amongst the recesses106(only two of the posts are labeled in the Figures). The posts108serve to provide structural rigidity to the central portion102, and also allow the tray100to selectively stack or nest with other trays, as will be explained further below with reference toFIGS. 4 to 7.

Referring still to Figures and2, in the example shown, the posts108are generally frustoconical, and have a top portion110, a bottom portion112, and a length extending therebetween. The posts108extend generally vertically upwardly. In alternate examples, posts may be another shape, such as cylindrical, or cubic.

Referring still toFIGS. 1 to 3, the posts108further include a plurality of reinforcing ribs114, which are integral to the posts108. The reinforcing ribs114extend generally lengthwise along the posts108.

In the example shown, each post includes eight reinforcing ribs114, which extend in a generally linear fashion from the top portion110to the bottom portion112of each post108.

As mentioned above, the posts108allow the tray100to selectively stack or nest with other trays. Referring still toFIGS. 1 to 3, the tray100extends along a horizontal axis116. A first set118of the posts108is positioned on a first side of the horizontal axis116, and a second set120of the posts108is positioned on a second side of the horizontal axis116. The first set118of posts108and the second set120of posts108are positioned asymmetrically on either side of the horizontal axis116. That is, the first set118of posts108and the second set120of posts108are not positioned in a mirror image fashion on either side of the horizontal axis116. In the example illustrated, the first set118has three posts108, and the second set120has two posts108.

Referring now toFIGS. 4 and 5, the tray100is shown in a first orientation with respect to another second, upper tray200. The second tray200is essentially identical to the tray100, and like features in tray200are identified by like reference characters, incremented by 100. In this orientation, the posts108of the tray100align with and nest within the hollow interiors of the posts208of the other tray200. Specifically, the first set118of posts108of the tray100aligns with and nests within the first set218of posts208of the other tray200, and the second set120of posts108of the tray100aligns with and nests within the second set220of posts208of the other tray200, to allow nesting of the tray100with the other tray200in a vertically compact or compressed manner. Such nesting may be useful, for example, in storing and/or transporting empty trays.

Referring now toFIGS. 6 and 7, the tray100is shown in a second orientation with respect to the second tray200. In this orientation, the tray100has been rotated by 180 degrees about a vertical axis122with respect to the other tray200, so that the horizontal axis116of the tray100has been rotated by 180 degrees. In this orientation, the posts108of the tray100mis-align with the posts208of the other tray200. Specifically, the first set118of posts108of the tray100aligns with neither the first set218of posts208nor the second set220of posts108of the other tray200, and the second set120of posts108of the tray100aligns with neither the second set220of posts208nor the first set218of posts208of the other tray200. In this orientation, nesting of the tray100with the other tray200is prevented, and stacking of the tray100with the other tray200is allowed in a vertically expanded manner. Such stacking may be useful, for example, in storing and/or transporting full trays. The bottom surface of the upper tray200can remain spaced apart from muffins in the lower tray100(FIG. 7), when the trays are stacked.

In the example shown, the first set118of posts108includes a first number of posts, and the second set120of posts108includes a second number of posts that is different from the first number. Specifically, the first set118of posts108includes three posts108, and the second set120of posts108includes two posts108. The posts108of the first set118are arranged generally in a first row, and are generally evenly spaced apart along the length of the tray100. The posts108of the second set120are spaced apart along the length of the tray100and aligned along a second row, and as mentioned above, are not positioned in a mirror image fashion with any of the posts108of the first set118.

In alternate examples, posts may be positioned in another manner. For example, the first number of posts and the second number of posts may be equal.

Referring back toFIGS. 1 to 3, in the example shown, the tray100further includes a plurality of abutment members124interspersed amongst the posts108and recesses106(only two of the abutment members are labeled in the Figures). Specifically, the tray includes a first set126of abutment members124interspersed amongst the first set118of posts108, and a second set128of abutment members124interspersed amongst the second set120of posts108. The first set126of abutment members124and the second set128of posts108are positioned symmetrically on either side of the horizontal axis116. The second set128of abutment members124and the first set118of posts108are positioned symmetrically on either side of the horizontal axis116. That is, the first set126of abutment members124and the second set128of posts108are positioned in a mirror image fashion on either side of the horizontal axis116, and the second set128of abutment members124and the first set118of posts108are positioned in a mirror image fashion on either side of the horizontal axis116.

In the example shown, the abutment members124are downwardly extending depressions, which have a bottom abutment surface132(shown inFIGS. 5 and 7). The bottom abutment surface includes a locating dimple134(shown inFIGS. 5 and 7. Referring toFIG. 5, in the illustrated example the posts108extend entirely upwardly from an upper side of a horizontal plane125that extends through the central portion102of the tray100, and the abutment members124extend entirely downwardly from a lower side of the horizontal plane125. In this example, the bottom portion112of each post108is proximate the plane125and the top portion110is spaced vertically above the plane125.

Referring back toFIGS. 6 and 7, when the tray100is in the second orientation, the posts108abut the abutment members224of the other tray200, to support the other tray200and prevent lateral sliding of the other tray200. Specifically, the first set118of posts108abuts the second set228of abutment members224of the other tray200, and the second set120of posts108abuts the first set226of abutment members224of the other tray200. Further, the top portions110of the posts108are received in the locating dimples234of the other tray200, to prevent lateral shifting of the trays when the trays are stacked.

Referring back toFIGS. 1 to 3, the tray further includes a plurality of webs136extending between the outer wall portion104and the central portion102. The webs136may provide structural support to the tray100. In the example shown, the tray100includes five webs136, and the webs136each extend between an inner surface of the outer wall portion104and one of the abutment members124.

In alternate examples, a tray may include another number of webs. Further, the webs may be positioned in another manner. For example, the webs may extend between the outer wall portion and the posts.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, in the example shown, the webs136include a pair of opposed side walls138,140, and a top wall142(labeled only on one of the webs). The top wall142is sloped generally downwardly.

In alternate examples, webs may be of another shape and/or configuration. For example, the webs may include only a single generally vertically extending wall.

While the above description provides examples of one or more processes or apparatuses, it will be appreciated that other processes or apparatuses may be within the scope of the accompanying claims.