Abstract:
A compact and stackable package for displaying and protecting products including a transparent platform member having a planar portion on which a product may be placed, and a base portion at right angles to the planar portion on which the product is supported and which has a cavity or well therein in which an absorbent material, anti-microbial agent or atmosphere modifying agents may be placed, an overwrap of plastic film unitizing the platform member and product, and a sleeve member at least partially surrounding the periphery of the unitized platform member and product and on which indicia may be printed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to packaging and more particularly to a compact and stackable package for displaying products.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Most fresh meat, fish and poultry products sold at retail are packaged in trays formed of wood fibers, paperboard, plastic foam or thermoform plastic sheet material. An absorbent pad is frequently placed in the tray to absorb fluids which exude from the product. The tray and product is then overwrapped with a transparent plastic film. Examples of such packages are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,575,287; 3,700,096 and 4,664,922.  
           [0003]    Sometimes, the product is placed in a plastic bag and sealed. Examples of this type of package are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,619,361; 4,742,908; and 5,660,868.  
           [0004]    Prepared meats, etc., are packaged in a variety of blister-packs, specialty packs and the like. Examples of this type of packaging are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,125,633; 4,268,530; 4,496,354; 5,061,501; 5,326,577; 5,871,095; 5,888,565 and 6,110,512.  
           [0005]    Sellers prefer to offer attractive packages which display the products and have informative and eye-catching indicia and graphics that attract and convince customers and consumers to purchase the products. Sellers also prefer packaging which permits them to brand their products and differentiate their products from competitors products.  
           [0006]    Consumers prefer neat, clean and attractive packages which contain informative indicia and graphics. Most of all, however, purchasers want to see the products they are buying to the maximum extent possible.  
           [0007]    Heretofore, trays and other packaging materials, except for the overwrap film, have not been transparent and therefore cover and obscure the consumer&#39;s view of the product. Attempts have been made to provide transparent windows, but such typically expose only a minor amount of the product. Even where transparent film would otherwise have exposed a significant amount of the product, printed indicia, labels and the like have prevented an uninterrupted view of the products.  
           [0008]    Another major disadvantage of prior packaging is that such packaging has almost universally been of irregular size and shape. Both producers and consumers prefer packages of uniform shape and size which are much easier to pack and inventory. Most, if not all, of the packages heretofore in use have been of irregular shape and size, and therefore have been difficult to stack and display. Indeed, the shapes of such prior packaging have dictated that such packages be displayed in horizontal display cases. These refrigerated cases are inefficient, costly and are difficult for consumers to access.  
           [0009]    Such prior packaging frequently will leak exudates into the display cases creating an unsightly mess and necessitating frequent cleaning or onto consumers hands or into carrying bags or containers. Such propensity is decidedly disadvantageous and causes consumer dissatisfaction.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a package for displaying products that is neat, clean, attractive, regular in size and shape, provides good visibility of the product, permits branding and product differentiation, and therefore obviates the deficiencies and disadvantages of prior packaging.  
           [0011]    The present invention accomplishes this objective by providing a package of a size and shape which is readily stackable and displays the product in either vertical or horizontal orientation. The package of the present invention includes a platform member having a generally rectangular, transparent planar portion on which the product is placed and supported, and a base portion at substantially a right angle to the planar portion for supporting the platform member with the planar portion in a substantially vertical orientation and for supporting the product thereon. The base portion may be integral with the planar portion or removably attached thereto. The platform member may include a top portion opposite said base portion and substantially parallel thereto. The base portion may include a well or cavity therein, in which an absorbent material may be placed to absorb exudants from the product. This well may also contain anti-microbial agents and/or carbon dioxide generators/oxygen removing agents.  
           [0012]    A sleeve member encircles the platform member and the product to ensure the package has a regular cubic shape and to provide surfaces for printed indicia and advertising, marketing, or informational printing thereon. Preferably, the sleeve is formed of an elongate paperboard or plastic member having a width substantially equal to the width of the base portion of the platform member and at least as great as the thickness or height of the product such that the weight of superposed packages will be borne by the sleeve member and not the product. The sleeve member may be provided with a tear strip to aid in the removal thereof when the product is to be removed from the package.  
           [0013]    The package of the present invention further includes a transparent plastic film overwrap, which may be a stretch or shrink film, which is wrapped around the platform member and product to unitize the same. If desired, the sleeve member may be applied before the film overwrap, but it is preferred that the sleeve member encircles the platform member, product and film overwrap. The film overwrap should be adhered or heat-sealed at least to the front and sides of the base portion and to the perimeter of the platform member, but should not obstruct the visibility of the product through the transparent planar portion of the platform member.  
           [0014]    Preferably, the platform, product, film overwrap and sleeve member may be over-wrapped in plastic film, shrink wrap or lidded by plastic film. This overwrap provides a second barrier to the escape of exudates from the package and renders the package more leak-proof. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)  
       [0015]    Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of a package according to the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the bottom of the package of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a frontal perspective view of the platform member of the package of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line  4 - 4  in FIG. 3;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line  5 - 5  in FIG. 3;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the sleeve member of the package of FIG. 1 illustrating the folding thereof;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 of another embodiment of the platform member of the package of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of the package of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the sleeve member shown in FIG. 8;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a carton being packed with packages of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a typical display case containing the packages of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 12 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 of a further embodiment of the platform member of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 12A is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line  12 A- 12 A in FIG. 12;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 13 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 3 and 12 of a still further embodiment of the platform member of the present invention; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 13A is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line  13 A- 13 A in FIG. 13. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]    The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.  
         [0032]    Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a package, generally indicated at  20 , incorporating the features of the present invention (FIGS. 1 and 2). Package  20  includes a platform member, generally indicated at  21  (FIG. 3), which is formed of a sheet of thermoplastic material having sufficient rigidity and structural integrity to resist bending and to support and protect the product P during packing, shipment, storage and handling.  
         [0033]    Platform member  21  includes a generally rectangular planar portion  22  and a base portion  23 . Base portion  23  is preferably formed by thermoforming, i.e., heating, bending and cooling, the sheet of thermoplastic material along a first fold line  23   a  to provide a base portion segment  23   b  extending outwardly at substantially a right angle to planar portion  22 . Next, the thermoplastic sheet is bent along a second fold line  23   c  to provide a base portion face segment  23   d  extending upwardly, substantially parallel to planar portion  22 , and then is bent along a third fold line  23   e  to provide a base portion support segment  23   f  extending toward planar portion  22  from the base portion face segment  23   d . Preferably, base portion support segment  23   f  extends toward planar portion  22  at a small declining angle. Base segments  23   b  and  23   f  preferably have a width between planar portion  22  and base portion face segment  23   d  at least as great as the thickness of the product P so that the product P will not extend outwardly beyond base portion face segment  23   d.    
         [0034]    Base portion support segment  23   f  preferably has perforations or slots  23   g  formed therethrough so that liquids exuding from the product P may pass therethrough and collect in the space or well  23   h  between base portion segments  23   b  and  23   f . The well  23   h  extends the full length of the planar portion  22  and the length thereof is determined by the cubic volume needed to contain the exudants and other liquids normally encountered with each particular product being packaged.  
         [0035]    Preferably, an absorbent material  24  is contained within well  23   h  to absorb any exudants or other liquids draining into well  23   h . The absorbent material  24  may be plant fibers, desiccants, super-absorbents, etc., which are well known to persons skilled in the packaging arts. Additionally, anti-microbial agents, deodorants or oxygen scavengers with or without accompanying carbon dioxide generators may be included in well  23   h.    
         [0036]    The product P, such as, for example, beef steaks, are placed on platform member  21  with one major surface against planar portion  22  and one edge resting on base portion support segment  23   f  which functions as a shelf on which the product P is supported. A transparent thermoplastic film overwrap  25  is then applied to unitize the product P and platform member  21 . While the film overwrap  25  may completely enclose the platform member  21  and the product P, it is preferred that the film overwrap  25  only extend over the product P and into contact with the periphery of the platform member  21 , including the top and ends of the planar portion  22  and the ends and face segments  23   d  of base portion  23 , to which the overwrap  25  is secured or heat-sealed.  
         [0037]    A sleeve member  30  is formed of an elongate strip of paperboard, plastic or other material which is readily printable and which has sufficient rigidity to support other packages stacked thereon (FIG. 6). Sleeve member  30  has a width at least as great as the width of base portion  23  of platform member  21  and a length slightly greater than the circumference of the package  20  so that opposite end portions  30   a  and  30   b  overlap. An adhesive  31  is provided to secure the opposite end portions  30   a  and  30   b  together. Preferably, sleeve member  30  is provided with a tear strip  32  for ease of removal of sleeve member  30  when the product is to be removed.  
         [0038]    Sleeve member  30  has four fold lines  30   c ,  30   d ,  30   e  and  30   f  therein at locations corresponding to the corners of the platform member  21 . In use, sleeve member  30  is wrapped around the periphery of the platform member  21 , the product P and overwrap  25  and it&#39;s opposite end portion  30   a  and  30   b  are overlapped and secured together by adhesive  31  (FIG. 2). Sleeve member  30  may have indicia printed thereon, including but not limited to, product description and contents, marketing information, source identification, etc.  
         [0039]    Preferably, an additional overwrap  33  (FIG. 5) of plastic film, such as stretch or shrink film, may be used to protect the sleeve member  30  and retain the sleeve member  30  in place, and to form an additional barrier to leakage of exudates from the package  20 . Alternatively, sleeve member  30  may be adhered or otherwise attached to the platform member  21  or first overwrap  25 .  
         [0040]    Referring now to FIGS.  7 - 9 , there is illustrated another embodiment of the package of the present invention with like reference characters with the prime notation added referring to like components. In FIG. 8, there is illustrated a package, generally referred to at  20 ′, which includes a platform member, generally referred to at  21 ′. Platform member  21 ′ is substantially similar to platform member  21 , with a planar portion  22 ′ and a base portion  23 ′. In addition, platform member  21 ′ has a top portion  40  which extends outwardly from planar portion  22 ′ parallel to base portion  23 ′ and for substantially the same distance. Therefore, the product will be enclosed by the platform member  21 ′ on the top, bottom and one side for extra protection.  
         [0041]    As with package  21 , a unitizing overwrap  25 ′ of plastic film is used to enclose the open front and opposite ends of the platform member  21 ′. The overwrap  25 ′ may completely enclose the platform member  21 ′, but preferably overwrap  25 ′ is adhered to the periphery of platform member  21 ′ and therefore covers only the open space occupied by the product.  
         [0042]    A partial sleeve member  30 ′ extends from one end of base portion  23 ′ upwardly, across top portion  40  and downwardly to the other end of base portion  23 ′. Preferably, sleeve member  30 ′ is adhered to platform member  21 ′ at least at the opposite ends of base portion  23 ′. Sleeve member  30 ′ includes a projecting portion  30 ′ g  extending outwardly from the medial portion of sleeve member  30 ′. Projecting portion  30 ′ g  has tab portions  30 ′ h  and  30 ′ i  at its opposite ends. Tab portions  30 ′ h  and  30 ′ i  are not connected to the remainder of the sleeve member  30 ′.  
         [0043]    Projecting portion  30 ′ g  is folded downwardly over the front edge of top portion  40  of platform member  21 ′ in front of the top portion of the product receiving open space. Projecting portion  30 ′ g  thus provides a convenient and very visible banner for printing indicia to draw attention to the product. The tab portions  30 ′ h  and  30 ′ i  are folded rearwardly inside the end portions of sleeve member  30 ′ and to which they may be adhered. A final overwrap  33 ′ of plastic film completes the package  20 ′.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 10 illustrates the manner in which packages  20  or  20 ′ may be packed in a carton C while maximizing the use of available space therein and still protecting the product.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 11 illustrates the display of the products in packages  20  or  20 ′ in an upright or vertical orientation as opposed to the limited horizontal orientation of prior packages.  
         [0046]    Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 12A, there is illustrated a further embodiment of the present invention in which like reference characters with the prefix “1” are used to refer to like elements. A platform member, generally referred to as  121 , includes a planar portion  122  and a base portion  123 . Base portion  123  includes a base portion segment  123   b.    
         [0047]    In this embodiment, base portion  123  is bifurcated or formed in two parts with one part being removably connected to base portion segment  123   b . A base portion face segment  123   d  has a female receptacle connector portion  150  which receives the outer free end portion of the base portion segment  123   b  therein to connect removably the two segments together. A base portion support segment  123   f  completes the base portion  123 .  
         [0048]    Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 13A, there is illustrated a still further embodiment of the present invention in which like reference characters with the prefix “2” added are used to refer to like elements. A platform member, generally indicated at  221 , includes a planar portion  221 , which terminates at its bottom edge in a male connector portion  251 , and a base portion  223 . Base portion  223  includes a base portion segment  223   b  which includes at its inner edge a female connector portion  252 . Male connector portion  251  is received in female connector portion  252  to connect removably the two segments together.  
         [0049]    Base portions  123  and  223  are adapted to receive and contain absorbent material  124  and  224 , respectively, for absorbing and containing exudates and other liquids. While not specifically illustrated, it should be understood that platform members  121  and  221  will receive products thereon and will be used with the other elements of the package of the present invention.  
         [0050]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.