IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FOOD PACKS

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a food pack comprising a tray formed from card having a rectangular base (10) with fold up side (11) and end (12) walls and a sheet of wrapping material (15) extending over the tray and adhered to the sidewalls to receive a food item (17). The sheet is folded over the item across the tray and the folded ends of the sheet projecting from the ends of the tray is tucked between the base of the tray and the sheet extending across the base to cause the base to flex downwardly in a curved formation. The end walls of the tray having convexly curved fold lines (14) with the base of the tray whereby the end walls of the tray or upwardly with respect to the base to enclose the wrapped food item with the sidewalls.

Description: IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FOOD PACKS This invention relates to food packs and is particularly, although not exclusively, applicable to fast food items such as burgers, bagels and the like. This invention provides a food pack comprising a tray formed from card having a rectangular base with fold up side and end walls and a sheet of wrapping material extending over the tray and adhered to the sidewalls to receive a food item, the sheet being folded over the item across the tray and folded end of the sheet projecting from the ends of the tray being tucked between the base of the tray and the sheet extending across the base to cause the base to flex downwardly in a curved formation, the end walls of the tray having convexly curved fold lines with the base of the tray whereby the end walls of the tray or upwardly with respect to the base to enclose the wrapped food item with the sidewalls and to cover the tucked in ends of the wrapping. Preferably the sidewalls have straight fold lines with the base so that the sidewalls fold upwardly with respect to the base automatically as the sheet of wrapping material is folded over the food item. Preferably the sheet of wrapping material is generally rectangular and is located at its centre in the tray. The following is a description of a specific embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a blank for forming a tray of a food pack for a burger, bagel or the like; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the food pack in flat form including a folded sheet of wrapping material extending over the tray blank; Figure 3 shows the food pack of Figure 2 with the sheet of wrapping material unfolded to receive a burger; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the pack with the side edges of the sheet material pulled together over the burger; Figure 5 shows the good pack with the side edges of the wrapping material folded over; Figure 6 shows the food pack of Figure 4 with the ends of the folded wrapping material tucked between the burger and over the tray; and Figure 7 shows the food pack with the ends of the tray folded up to protect, with the sidewalls, the burger enclosed in the wrapping material . Reference is made firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings which shows a cardboard blank for a tray in which a food item such as a burger or bagel is to be wrapped and held for sale. The blank is formed from card and comprises a generally rectangular base 10 having rectangular sidewalls 11 hinged alongside fold lines 12 to the side edges of the base. The tray has end walls 13 hinged along concavely curved fold lines 14 to the end edges of the tray. The curved fold lines between the end walls and base ensure that when the base is curved downwardly between the sidewalls, as described later, the end walls with snap into line with the base or upwardly generally at right angles to the base. Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, there is shown a complete food pack in flat form in which a large rectangular sheet of material 15 extends over the tray blank with the sidewalls 11 of the blank secured to the sheet. A portion 16 of the sheet is folded over in line with one of the fold lines of a sidewall 11 and the base of the tray to reduce the overall size of the blank form. To complete a pack, the folded over portion 16 of the sheet is raised lifting the sidewall 11 with it and a burger 17 or other food item is placed on the upper surface of the sheet against the folded sidewall as shown in Figure 3. The side edges 18 of the sheet are then drawn upwardly together as shown in Figure 4 lifting the other sidewall 11 of the tray to bring the sheet together over the burger. The side edges 18 of the sheet are then folded over to make a first flap 19 and then folded over again to draw the sheet tightly over the food item as shown in Figure 5. The end portions 20 of the sheet are then tucked into the gap between the base of the tray and the burger thus causing the base of the tray to become downwardly curved between its sidewall. The end walls can then be snapped up against the burger to enclose the tucked in ends of the sheet and to complete the pack as shown in Figure 7.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. A food pack comprising a tray formed from card having a rectangular base with fold up side and end walls and a sheet of wrapping material extending over the tray and adhered to the sidewalls to receive a food item, the sheet being folded over the item across the tray and the folded ends of the sheet projecting from the ends of the tray being tucked between the base of the tray and the sheet extending across the base to cause the base to flex downwardly in a curved formation, the end walls of the tray having convexly curved fold lines with the base of the tray whereby the end walls of the tray or upwardly with respect to the base to enclose the wrapped food item with the sidewalls and to cover the tucked in ends of the wrapping. 2. A food pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sidewalls have straight fold lines with the base. 3. A food pack as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sheet of wrapping material is generally rectangular and is located at its centre in the tray.

Inventors: MONEY JULIAN DAVID KYRLE, MONEY, JULIAN, DAVID, KYRLE
Applicants: MONEY JULIAN DAVID KYRLE, PETHICK & MONEY LTD, MONEY, JULIAN, DAVID, KYRLE, PETHICK & MONEY LTD.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B65D75
IPC codes: A47G21, B65D75, B65D77, B65D81, B65D85