Food tray

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9815607-B2
Application number	US-201313755501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2013
Priority date	Nov 21, 2005
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

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

What is claimed is:

1. A prepackaged microwavable food product comprising:
a first food product;
a second food product;
a lower tray, the lower tray holding the first food product, the lower tray having a bottom, a top flange, a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and having a lower peripheral wall and an upper peripheral wall with a shoulder connecting the lower peripheral wall and the upper peripheral wall, the shoulder including at least one indent formed therein, the upper peripheral wall angling outward at a greater angle with respect to the bottom than the lower peripheral wall;
an upper tray, the upper tray holding the second food product, the upper tray having a bottom, a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom, a lip extending around the upper edge of the sidewall, and a downward facing shoulder extending around the sidewall of the upper tray in a discontinuous arrangement, the downward facing shoulder forming a portion of a plurality of air channels extending between the lower tray and the upper tray, the downward facing shoulder resting on the shoulder of the lower tray when the upper tray is nested in the lower tray at least one of the plurality of air channels providing an interface between the upper and the lower tray to facilitate access for a finger to engage and lift the upper tray from the lower tray.

2. The prepackaged microwavable food product of claim 1 , further comprising a second indent formed in the shoulder.

3. The prepackaged microwavable food product of claim 2 , wherein the at least one indent and the second indent are oriented on opposite sides of the lower tray.

4. The prepackaged microwavable food product of claim 3 , wherein the top flange of the lower tray and the lip of the upper tray are generally level with respect to one another.

5. The prepackaged microwavable food product of claim 3 , further comprising a seal member attached to the top flange.

6. The prepackaged microwavable food product of claim 3 , wherein the upper and lower trays include at least one member of a group consisting of: polypropylene and crystalline polyethylene terephthalate.

7. A prepackaged microwavable food product comprising:
a first food product;
a second food product;
a lower tray, the lower tray holding the first food product, the lower tray having a bottom, a top flange, a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and having a lower peripheral wall and an upper peripheral wall with a shoulder connecting the lower peripheral wall and the upper peripheral wall at a position between the top flange and the bottom, the shoulder including at least one indent formed therein, the upper peripheral wall angling outward at a greater angle with respect to the bottom than the lower peripheral wall;
an upper tray, the upper tray holding the second food product, the upper tray having a bottom, a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom, a lip extending around the upper edge of the sidewall, and a downward facing shoulder extending around the sidewall of the upper tray in a discontinuous arrangement, the downward facing shoulder forming a portion of a plurality of air channels extending between the lower tray and the upper tray, the downward facing shoulder resting on the shoulder of the lower tray when the upper tray is nested in the lower tray.

8. The prepackaged microwavable food product of claim 7 , further comprising a second indent formed in the shoulder.

9. The prepackaged microwavable food product of claim 8 , wherein the at least one indent and the second indent are oriented on opposite sides of the lower tray.

10. The prepackaged microwavable food product of claim 7 , wherein the top flange of the lower tray and the lip of the upper tray are generally level with respect to one another.

11. The prepackaged microwavable food product of claim 7 , further comprising a seal member attached to the top flange.

12. The prepackaged microwavable food product of claim 7 , wherein the upper and lower trays include at least one member of a group consisting of: polypropylene and crystalline polyethylene terephthalate.

13. A prepackaged microwavable food product comprising:
a first food product;
a second food product;
a lower tray, the lower tray holding the first food product, the lower tray having a bottom, a top flange, a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and having a lower peripheral wall and an upper peripheral wall with a shoulder connecting the lower peripheral wall and the upper peripheral wall, the shoulder including a first and second indent formed therein, the upper peripheral wall angling outward at a greater angle with respect to the bottom than the lower peripheral wall;
an upper tray, the upper tray holding the second food product, the upper tray having a bottom, a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom, a lip extending around the upper edge of the sidewall, and a downward facing shoulder extending around the sidewall of the upper tray in a discontinuous arrangement, the downward facing shoulder forming a portion of a plurality of air channels extending between the lower tray and the upper tray, the downward facing shoulder resting on the shoulder of the lower tray when the upper tray is nested in the lower tray, at least one of the plurality of air channels providing a first and second interface between the upper and the lower tray to facilitate access for a finger to engage and lift the upper tray from the lower tray.

14. The prepackaged microwavable food product of claim 13 , wherein the at least one indent and the second indent are oriented on opposite sides of the lower tray.

15. The prepackaged microwavable food product of claim 13 , wherein the top flange of the lower tray and the lip of the upper tray are generally level with respect to one another.

16. The prepackaged microwavable food product of claim 13 , further comprising a seal member attached to the top flange.

17. The prepackaged microwavable food product of claim 13 , wherein the upper and lower trays include at least one member of a group consisting of: polypropylene and crystalline polyethylene terephthalate.

Assignees

• Conagra Foods Rdm Inc

Inventors

• Parsons Steven M

Classifications

• A23V2002/00

  Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs · CPC title

• A23L5/15

  using wave energy, irradiation, electrical means or magnetic fields, e.g. oven cooking or roasting using radiant dry heat · CPC title

• B65D77/046

  and being a tray or like shallow container · CPC title

• B65D2581/3404

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

• B65D81/3216 Primary

  Rigid containers disposed one within the other · CPC title