Abstract:
A shrimp and tray combination includes a shrimp tray having an outer retaining ridge and an inner support ridge. A groove is formed between the inner and outer ridges. A plurality of shrimp is arranged radially on the tray with head ends of the shrimp lying in and supported in the groove and convex sides of the shrimp bodies supported on the inner support ridge. A cup and cover contain sauce for the shrimp. The cup and cover are located in a depression formed in the center of the tray with the tail ends of the shrimp bodies held in place by the side of the cup. The combination including the shrimp tray, the shrimp bodies, the cup, the cover, and the sauce may be tightly enclosed in a plastic film material as by shrink wrapping and frozen together for storage and shipment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to food and to methods for packaging, shipping, storing, and serving food. More specifically, the invention provides an improved frozen shrimp product and a method of making such a product. 
     Trays are presently used for packaging and serving frozen shrimp. One such tray is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 404,612. This tray requires shrimp to be placed on their sides in multiple layers. One consequence is that the overlapping, layered shrimp can be difficult to remove individually from the tray. Each shrimp must be pried from the adjacent shrimp. Subsequent consumers cannot be assured that remaining shrimp have not been handled. 
     A second undesirable characteristic of prior art tray and shrimp combinations of this type is a top uneven surface. The combination of the tray with layered tapered shrimp forms an irregular upper surface. There is only a small center of the tray that can serve as a base for stacking similar trays with shrimp. Stacking and storing multiple trays of shrimp could, therefore, be unstable and difficult. 
     Another undesirable characteristic of some prior art products is a lack of structural support. The weight of the vertically stacked shrimp is predominantly placed on a tiered, horizontal surface that is raised above the base of the tray. The weight of the shrimp on this surface can deform or damage the tray. The inclined horizontal surface provides limited support when a radially inward force is applied by a wrapping or sealing process. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a shrimp and tray combination that can be stacked and stored, has vertical and horizontal support, is free from the risk of damage, and facilitates convenient, visually appealing service. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is embodied in a novel shrimp and tray combination for use in packaging shrimp. The combination is designed to allow convenient, visually appealing service of shrimp. Additionally, the resulting configuration of shrimp with the tray creates a strong unit that allows for stable and convenient stacking and storage. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a circular tray has outer and inner ridges that are elevated above the remaining areas of the tray. The inner ridge forms an arch to accommodate the radial placement of shrimp with the concave side of the shrimp lying on the ridge. A surface slopes radially inwardly and downwardly from the inner ridge to accommodate the shrimp. A cup for sauce or the like can rest in a depression at the center of the tray. In the preferred embodiment the head end of each shrimp rests on the surface of the tray abutting the outer ridge, and the tail rests at the bottom of a sloped surface leading to the cup. The shrimp are arranged radially around the inner ridge in a single layer, within close proximity of each other, with the concave side down. 
     One advantageous feature is the radial arrangement of shrimp around the inner ridge. The bodies of the shrimp can form a level, annular surface. The head and tail of each shrimp can rest on the bottom of the tray and abut the wall of either the tray or the cup. The shrimp thus conform to the tray and create a partially flat surface on which trays may be securely stacked. The frozen shrimp form an annular arch and thus provide a strong, supporting surface. This arrangement also creates a visually appealing display from which the shrimp may be individually removed without difficulty. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described below in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the shrimp tray shown in FIG. 2 in combination with a plurality of shrimp. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a shrimp tray embodying a part of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the shrimp tray shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the shrimp tray shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the shrimp tray shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shrimp and tray combination shown in FIG. 1 without the cup and cover. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cup and cover for use in the combination. 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the tray shown in FIG. 2 with the cup and cover shown in FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The invention includes a tray  30  for use in packaging, shipping, storing, and serving frozen shrimp. The tray  30  is preferably thermoformed from a single sheet of a suitable plastic and comprises a plurality of seamlessly joined annular, concentric and circular surfaces. The tray  30  is preferably molded from plastic. It should be made of a sufficiently rigid plastic by thermoforming, or by any other suitable method of manufacture. The top surface of the tray is configured to accommodate shrimp arranged radially to form an annular arch, as shown in FIG. 1, with the concave sides of the curved shrimp facing downward and supported on a surface of the tray. 
     Referring now primarily to FIGS. 1-5, the tray  30  is of generally circular configuration and includes an annular outer ridge  31  having an inner wall  32  and an outer wall  33 . The tray can have an annular outer lip  34  extending horizontally from the outer wall. An annular bottom surface  35  extends inward from the inner wall defining the bottom of a groove. This bottom surface is preferably an annular flat surface to distribute the load over a supporting surface below (not shown). 
     A rounded support ridge  36  is formed by a raised annular wall  37  and a sloped surface  38  that extends downwardly at an appropriate angle toward the center  39  of the tray  30 . The base of the raised wall extends from the flat surface  35 . The support ridge  36  extends from the top of the nearly vertical raised wall and merges with the sloped surface. The sloped surface can be either straight or curved in cross section to accommodate the shape and size of the particular shrimp to be used with the tray  30 . The annular outer ridge  31 , the annular flat surface  35 , the raised annular wall  37 , the support ridge  36 , the sloped surface  38 , and the center  39  are all concentric. 
     When shrimp  40  are placed on the tray, the annular ridge  31  will serve as a retainer for the shrimp, with the inner ridge  36  and sloped surface  38  providing a support surface for the shrimp  40  and serving to position the shrimp on the tray  30 , as described in more detail below. 
     The disk-like center  39  of the tray is flat and circular, extending inward from the base of the sloped surface  38 . The center  39  is substantially co-planar with the annular flat surface  35  and the lip  34 . 
     A separately formed flat circular base insert  43  is secured to the bottom of the tray  30 . The base insert  43  may be made of heavy paper or card stock and can have consumer information and labeling printed on it. Thus, the base insert  43  serves as a flat and stable bottom surface for the tray  30 , but it will be understood that the base insert can be omitted. Because the center, the annular flat surface, and the lip are all substantially or nearly level with one another, i.e., falling in a single plane, these elements will all bear against the base insert or supporting horizontal surface when the tray  30  is stacked or otherwise subject to a vertical load. 
     Referring now primarily to FIG. 6, a plurality of shrimp  40  are frozen and arranged radially, tails inward, on top of the tray  30  with the concave side of each shrimp resting on top of the support ridge  36  (compare FIGS.  3  and  6 ). The arch of each shrimp is supported and the shrimp is then positioned by the support ridge  36 . The tails are located adjacent the center  39  and the wider heads are adjacent to the flat surface  35 , abutting the inner wall  32  of the outer ridge  31 . The tail end of each shrimp body thus lies adjacent to the sloped surface  38 . Radial movement of the shrimp is thus restrained or prevented. The optimum radial width of the tray  30  and the radial width of each of the annular surfaces varies depending on the size of the shrimp  40  intended for use with the tray. A representative tray  30  may hold 36-44 medium-sized frozen shrimp. 
     Referring now especially to FIGS. 7 and 8, a cup  41  and a detachably connected cover  42 , which may be a rigid plastic lid, are included and placed at the center of the tray  30  where it resides in the depression formed by the sloping surface  38  and the disk-like center or bottom  39 . A combination comprising the tray  30 , the shrimp  40 , the cup  41  and the cover  42 , is shown in FIG.  1 . When so assembled, the tail of each shrimp abuts the cup  41  located at the center  39  of the tray  30 . With the head of each shrimp between the inner wall  32  and the raised wall  37  and the tail of the shrimp abutting the cup, the annular surfaces of the tray and the cup interact with the frozen shrimp  40  to oppose any radially inward force applied to the outer wall  33  or lip  34  of the tray. Such radially inward or compression forces can, for example, be encountered in a shrink wrap, or other sealing process, or during packing or shipping. The strength thus provided reduces the risk of damage or deformation of the product. 
     The cup  41  can be filled with sauce for dipping the shrimp, and the tray  30 , cup, cover  42 , and shrimp  40  can be assembled, shrink-wrapped and frozen together. The rigidness of the frozen shrimp, supported by flat surface  35 , support ridge  36 , sloped surface  38 , and center  39  of the tray, provides a firm annular surface on which multiple trays can be stacked, as described below. 
     When the shrimp  40  and tray  30  combination depicted in FIG. 1 is thawed and unwrapped for serving, the shrimp are easily accessible to a consumer. The shrimp  40  are arranged radially in a single layer. The entire convex side of each shrimp  40  is exposed when arched over the support ridge  36 . An individual shrimp  40  can be easily removed without disturbing the remaining shrimp. Additionally, the annular arched arrangement of the shrimp  40  provides a visually appealing presentation for service. 
     The shrimp  40  are held securely on the tray  30  by the configuration of the tray acting in concert with that of the shrimp. When the tray  30  and shrimp  40  are assembled as shown in FIG. 1, the head ends of the shrimp are situated within the groove between the outer ridge  31  and the wall  37 , and the head ends of the shrimp are supported from below by the of flat surface  35 . The outer ridge thereby acts as a retainer preventing excessive movement of the shrimp  40  in a direction radially outward from the center of the tray. 
     The preferred embodiment has the advantage of improved vertical support over prior art trays. Together, the raised wall  37 , the support ridge  36 , and the sloped surface  38  form a strong continuous annular arch supported at the radially outward side by the flat surface  35  and at the radially inward side by the center  39 . Supported by the base of the tray, the continuous arch becomes a firmly supported annular surface. Each shrimp lies across the continuous arch with the head adjacent to the flat surface  35  and the tail adjacent to the center. The weight of the shrimp  40  rests on the base of the tray  30  and the supported continuous arch having substantial strength in the vertical direction. Weight is not placed on unsupported surfaces and the tray  30  is less likely to be damaged by the weight of the shrimp  40  or from stacking multiple trays, as discussed below. 
     When frozen, the shrimp  40  can be a primary source of vertical support. The heads and tails of the shrimp rest at the flat surface  35  and center  39 , respectively. Since the flat surface and center are nearly level with each other, the shrimp  40  are well supported by the base of the tray. Because they are frozen, the shrimp  40  form an arched, annular surface that is primarily supported by the flat surface and center of the tray  30 . Therefore, it is not necessary that the support ridge  36  be extremely thick or strong. 
     The preferred embodiment also has improved horizontal strength. The flat surface  35 , the center  39 , and the base of the outer wall  33  form three nearly level surfaces connected by other annular surfaces. When a radially inward force is applied to the tray  30 , as in a vacuum, shrink wrap or another sealing process, these three co-planar surfaces can exert force on each other to provide horizontal strength for the tray. This horizontal strength can exist with or without the lip  34  around the outer wall  33 . 
     Another advantage of the invention resides in the method by which the shrimp  40  and tray  30  combination produces a strengthened product. As described above, the head of each shrimp lies on the flat surface  35  and occupies the space between the inner wall  32  and the raised wall  37 . Bearing against the raised wall  37 , the support ridge  36 , and the sloped surface  38 , the shrimp add support to these surfaces. 
     The ability to stack multiple shrimp and tray combinations is a further structural advantage. The figures depict a shrimp tray that includes a cup  41  and a detachably connected cover  42 . When the shrimp  40  are radially arranged on the tray  30  as described herein, the annular shrimp surface formed by the outside of the shrimp bodies is substantially or nearly level with the cover  42  of the cup  41  (see FIG.  1 ). When multiple trays of shrimp  40  are stacked, the bottom of the tray  30 , and in particular the flat base insert  43 , rests firmly on top of the cover  42  and the shrimp bodies—with shrink wrap between them and protecting the shrimp. These extended, substantially flat support surfaces provide strength and stability when the shrimp and tray combinations are stacked. 
     While the particular embodiment described herein provides for one annular arrangement of shrimp, the invention can be used as well with multiple concentric annular arrangements of shrimp. A representative shrimp and tray combination embodying the invention has been described herein and depicted in the accompanying drawings. Modifications and additions to this tray may be incorporated as well by those of skill in the art. The scope of the invention should not be limited to the representative embodiment described herein. Instead, the scope of the invention should be determined primarily by reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which those claims are legally entitled.