PACKAGE

Abstract: A package with deep-frozen foodstuff which is suitable for heating in a microwave oven comprising a tray (2) on which the foodstuff is lying, which tray (2) is provided along at least three sides with an upstanding circumferential edge (3-6) which, together with the foodstuff, is wrapped in a tubular bag (1).

Description: The invention relates to a package with deep-frozen foodstuff which is suitable for heating in a microwave oven. A package according to the precharacterising part of claim 1 is known from GB-A-582 276. The object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive, user-friendly package which is suitable for heating in a microwave oven A package according to the invention is set out in claim 1. The tubular bag protects the foodstuff and can simply be opened and removed without using auxiliary means The tray on which the foodstuff is lying provides good support. The upstanding circumferential edge prevents the foodstuff from falling from the tray. After removal of the tubular bag, the foodstuff can immediately be consumed out of the package. Preferably, a heat-insulating tray is used; this can be held in the hand when eating the foodstuff after it has been heated. The package can be manufactured rather inexpensively: the tubular bag can preferably be manufactured from porous paper, the tray from polyester-coated cardboard. In one embodiment of a package according to this invention is characterized in that except along one side, the tray is provided with an upstanding circumferential edge. This embodiment has the advantage that the circumferential edge prevents the foodstuff from falling from the tray, while the foodstuff is nevertheless easily accessible on the open side of the tray. Another embodiment of a package according to this invention is characterized in that the circumferential edge at one side has a part which is connected to the remaining part of the edge by means of at least one detachable glue joint and which can be folded down so as to form a flat plane together with the bottom of the tray. In this case the foodstuff is well protected by the upstanding edge. After part of the circumferential edge has been folded down, the foodstuff as described above can be eaten out of the tray. This embodiment is particularly useful for packaging foodstuffs which should preferably not come into contact with the tubular bag at all. This embodiment is therefore often used for packaging deep-frozen pizzas to avoid contact between the pizza sauce and the tubular bag. After the package has been heated and the tubular bag has been torn open, the joint can be detached, whereafter said part of the circumferential edge can be folded down. Preferably, a layer of greaseproof paper is arranged between the tray and the foodstuff. This greaseproof paper prevents components of the foodstuff that have dripped off from burning during heating. This embodiment is e.g. used for packaging deep-frozen pizzas in order to avoid burning of meat or pizza sauce or cheese that has dripped off. The greaseproof paper is e.g. silicone-treated parchment paper. The novel package for deep-frozen foodstuff is illustrated in the attached drawings, in which : Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the package according to the invention in perspective view; Fig. 2 shows a detail of the depicted embodiment of the tray used in erected form and Fig. 3 shows a tray that is open on one side which is to be used in the package according to the invention, not depicting the tubular bag. The package shown in Fig. 1 consists of a tubular bag 1 shown transparantly and a cardboard tray 2 having four upstanding circumferential edges 3-6. The upstanding edge 3 on one of the short sides of the tray bottom 8 is connected to the adjacent longitudinal edges 5 or 6 by means of a folded tab 7. The two folded tabs 7 are connected in a detachable manner to the edge 3 by a glue spot 9. Fig. 2 shows in detail how, after this glue spot 9 has been disrupted, the edge 3 is folded down. In Fig. 1 the tray 2 is wrapped in a tubular bag 1 showing, in a conventional manner, a longitudinal seam 10 and two transverse seams 11 or 12. These seams can e.g. be formed by heat sealing. In Fig. 3 a tray 13 is depicted, showing only three upstanding edges 14-16 and in which one of the short sides of this tray is open.

Claims: A package comprising a tray (2,13) on which foodstuff is lying, which is provided with an upstanding circumferential edge (3-6) and, together with the foodstuff is wrapped in a tubular bag (1) characterised in that the package is provided with deep-frozen foodstuff, is suitable for heating in a microwave oven and wherein the circumferential edge is absent at one side or has a part (3) which is connected to the remaining part of the circumferential edge (5 or 6) by means of at least one detachable glue joint (7) and which can be folded down so as to form a flat plane together with the bottom of the tray. A package according to claim 1 wherein a layer of greaseproof paper is arranged between the tray and the foodstuff. A package according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said edge part (3) is a whole end of the edge which edge is rectangular in plan view.

Inventors: HERA, MANFRED, MUELLER-RENZOW, DIETER, Müller-Renzow, Dieter
Applicants: UNILEVER N.V., UNILEVER PLC
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B65D81
IPC codes: B65D81, B65D77