Special receptacle or package – Shock protection type – For an egg – fruit – or vegetable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-01
2001-08-21
Gehman, Bryon P. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
Shock protection type
For an egg, fruit, or vegetable
C206S511000, C206S564000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276531
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an egg tray packaging system. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of a shrink film band enwrapping a molded fiber egg tray (filler flat) with a plastic dome lid to allow the egg tray system to securely nest within an underlying egg tray system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Popular egg and fruit trays encounter significant breakage and/or damage during delivery and storage. Care must be exercised in the collecting, processing, and handling of produce in order to prevent damaging or breaking the fruits, vegetables and other produce including eggs. A disadvantage of presently marketed trays for retail sale is that there is not a transparent protective lid to these trays and the eggs are forced to support at least a portion of the overlying trays.
Generally, as most grocers and warehouse retailers require a large sum of eggs and other produce yet do not have a large floor area for storage and/or display, such egg trays are often stacked to a substantial height and thus, can be insecure and unstable. Furthermore, presently marketed egg trays do not nest within each other and a large volume of retail space is required to display and store the egg trays. Some current egg trays contain a flat corrugated sleeve that slides over the egg trays but does not reduce stacking volume. Another shortcoming of currently retailed egg trays is that they do have not a secure lid or other feature to prevent egg tampering.
Accordingly, it is desirable to produce a secure and stable egg tray system that overcomes each of the shortcomings listed above and that virtually eliminates egg damage and breakage, promotes “tamper evident” packaging and increases the amount of eggs that can be safely and securely stored.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention deals with an egg tray system comprising a base (otherwise known as a filler flat) and a transparent lid that provides lateral stability for the trays when stacked but that avoids the difficulty of damaging or breaking the eggs. The lid is formed of transparent synthetic material that facilitates visual inspection of the eggs and is comprised of upwardly extending conical shaped elements and contains a rim that is comprised of notches that assist in securing the lid to the filler flat. The filler flat is comprised of a plurality of downwardly extending pockets and a plurality of upwardly extending posts. A shrink film band is placed around the filler flat with the lid applied to secure the lid during handling and make the finished product “tamper evident.” The shrink film band may be pre-printed with product information and other relevant items. The egg tray systems of the present invention also rest on top of one another such that each egg tray system is rotated approximately ninety degrees to “nest” inside of the underlying egg tray system and allow an increased number of eggs to be securely stored.
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Gehman Bryon P.
Jenkens & Gilchrist
Pactiv Corporation
LandOfFree
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