Food tray

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016096674-A1
Application number	US-201514818737-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 5, 2015
Priority date	Nov 23, 2005
Publication date	Apr 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A food tray has a lower tray containing a first food product and an upper tray nested stably at least partly inside the lower tray, with the upper tray containing a second food product. An air permeable interface is provided between the upper tray and lower tray to allow venting of steam from the lower tray during cooking. A cover is provided for the food tray. Each of the lower tray and the upper tray are formed of a material that is suitable for use in a microwave or conventional oven. Various constructions may be used to create the air permeable interface, such as lugs, ledges and lips. The upper tray may sit above the lower tray. The trays are nested loosely for ease of removal of the upper tray from the lower tray. Various configurations of cover may be used such as a sleeve, carton or lid. The upper tray may contain the higher value food product.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A prepackaged microwavable food product comprising:
a first food product; a second food product; a lower tray holding the first food product, the lower tray having a lower tray bottom, a lower tray sidewall extending upwardly from the lower tray bottom and a lower tray lip extending around the upper edge of the lower tray sidewall; an upper tray holding the second food product, the upper tray having an upper tray bottom, an upper tray sidewall extending upwardly from the upper tray bottom and an upper tray lip extending around the upper edge of the upper tray sidewall; and a plurality of outwardly extending lugs formed under the upper tray lip, wherein the plurality of outwardly extending lugs rest on the top of the lower tray lip to form an air permeable gap between the upper tray and the lower tray.

22 . The prepackaged microwave food product of claim 21 , further comprising a second plurality of outwardly extending lugs formed under the lower tray lip.

23 . The prepackaged microwave food product of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of outwardly extending lugs is four lugs.

24 . The prepackaged microwave food product of claim 23 , wherein each of the four lugs is positioned at a respective corner of the upper tray.

25 . The prepackaged microwave food product of claim 21 , wherein the lower tray and the upper tray are made by at least one member of a group consisting of: injection molding, and thermoforming.

26 . The prepackaged microwave food product of claim 21 , wherein the material of the upper tray includes at least one member of a group consisting of: paper, polypropylene and crystalline polyethylene terephthalate.

27 . The prepackaged microwave food product of claim 21 , wherein the upper tray and the lower tray have the same nesting angle.

28 . The prepackaged microwave food product of claim 21 , further comprising a cover.

29 . The prepackaged microwave food product of claim 28 , wherein the cover includes a sleeve.

30 . The prepackaged microwave food product of claim 28 , wherein the cover includes a carton, wherein the carton encloses both the upper tray and the lower tray.

31 . The prepackaged microwave food product of claim 28 , wherein the cover includes a snap-on microwave lid that extends around the lower tray lip.

32 . The prepackaged microwave food product of claim 28 , wherein the cover includes a film heat sealed to the upper and lower tray lip.

33 . A container system comprising:
a lower tray, the lower tray having a lower tray bottom, a lower tray sidewall extending upwardly from the lower tray bottom and a lower tray lip extending around the upper edge of the lower tray sidewall; an upper tray, the upper tray having an upper tray bottom, an upper tray sidewall extending upwardly from the upper tray bottom and an upper tray lip extending around the upper edge of the upper tray sidewall; and a plurality of outwardly extending lugs formed under the upper tray lip, wherein the plurality of outwardly extending lugs rest on the top of the lower tray lip to form an air permeable gap between the upper tray and the lower tray.

34 . The container system of claim 33 , further comprising a second plurality of outwardly extending lugs formed under the lower tray lip.

35 . The container system of claim 33 , wherein the plurality of outwardly extending lugs is four lugs.

36 . The container system of claim 35 , wherein each of the four lugs is positioned at a respective corner of the upper tray.

37 . A container system comprising:
a lower tray, the lower tray having a lower tray bottom, a lower tray sidewall extending upwardly from the lower tray bottom and a lower tray lip extending around the upper edge of the lower tray sidewall; an upper tray, the upper tray having an upper tray bottom, an upper tray sidewall extending upwardly from the upper tray bottom and an upper tray lip extending around the upper edge of the upper tray sidewall; a plurality of outwardly extending lugs formed under the upper tray lip, wherein the plurality of outwardly extending lugs rest on the top of the lower tray lip to form an air permeable gap between the upper tray and the lower tray; and a cover.

38 . The container system of claim 37 , further comprising a second plurality of outwardly extending lugs formed under the lower tray lip.

39 . The container system of claim 37 , wherein the plurality of outwardly extending lugs is four lugs.

40 . The container of claim 37 , wherein the cover is at least one member of a group consisting of: a sleeve, a carton, a snap-on lid, and a film.

Assignees

• Conagra Foods Rdm Inc

Inventors

• Parsons Steven M

Classifications

• B65D77/046

  and being a tray or like shallow container · CPC title

• B65D2581/3422

  Cooking rice dishes · CPC title

• B65D21/0212

  Containers presenting local stacking elements protruding from the upper or lower edge of a side wall, e.g. handles, lugs, ribs, grooves (B65D21/0211, B65D21/0215, B65D21/023 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D2581/3404

  Cooking pasta dishes, e.g. noodles · CPC title

• B65D81/3453 Primary

  Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups · CPC title