Multiple pastry box

Details Multiple pastry box Multiple pastry box

2000-02-07

2001-10-02

Fidei, David T. (Department: 3728)

Special receptacle or package

Tray type

With recess or groove for article

C206S589000, C229S906000, C426S128000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06296120

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to containers and, more particularly, to containers for the storage and transportation of baked goods.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Baked goods, such as pastries, cakes, and pies, are delicate items which are easily damaged during the shipping and handling thereof Furthermore, such baked goods are known as “impulse” items because a consumer often purchases baked goods without the prior intention of so doing. In order to increase the likelihood of creating the impulse to buy within the consumer, baked goods are prominently and attractively displayed in a high-traffic area of a retail establishment. The buying impulse is created by appealing to the consumer's senses of sight and smell. Aesthetics are a critical factor in the creation within the consumer of the impulse to purchase a baked good. An aesthetically appealing baked good is much more likely to create the buying impulse within a consumer than an unattractively displayed baked good or one with degraded aesthetics. The aesthetics of baked goods can be negatively impacted due to their delicate nature. Thus, it is desirable to preserve and protect the aesthetic quality of baked goods.
Many bakeries supply baked goods to a number of geographically-dispersed customers such as restaurants and retail outlets. The distribution channel may include, for example, a central bakery which produces large quantities of baked goods. The baked goods are then placed in shipping containers for distribution, and delivered to the customer location by, for example, a delivery truck. Once at the customer location, the shipping containers which contain the baked goods are then carried by hand or upon a wheeled cart from the delivery truck to a location within the retail outlet. During transportation from the bakery to the customer, the shipping containers may be stacked one on top of another, and are likely to encounter relatively rough handling which may result in the baked goods suffering some degradation in aesthetic quality.
Various individual display packages have been developed which enable the aesthetic display of an individual baked good at the point of sale by affording the consumer a relatively unobstructed view of the contents of the package. However, the individual display packages do not effectively protect baked goods during the distribution thereof from the central bakery to the customer location. The protective properties of the typical individual display package are sacrificed in order to achieve the desired aesthetic or display qualities. Such individual display packages may not be stacked one on top of another, nor may they be packed in quantity within a shipping container, without damaging the display package or the baked goods therein which, in turn, degrades the aesthetics of the baked good. Therefore, baked goods are typically packaged in small quantities. Very delicate baked goods, such as pastries, tend to be packaged individually. Even the individually packaged baked goods, however, still require very careful handling if their aesthetic appeal is to be preserved.
Even with careful handling, the individual display packages may shift within the delivery truck or within shipping containers during distribution. Such shifting often results in damage to the baked goods or in damage to the individual display packages. Damage to either the baked good or its display package degrades the overall attractiveness of the display of the baked good, reduces the aesthetic quality thereof, and therefore reduces the likelihood of creating the buying impulse within a consumer.
The above factors result in various inefficiencies within the distribution channel. Valuable delivery truck space is wasted due to an inability to stack boxes. Other examples of such inefficiencies include the additional hours of labor required to accomplish delivery due to the small quantities of baked goods contained in each package, an increased number of trips are required to deliver a given quantity of baked goods, and the special care which must be taken by a delivery person in order to minimize damage to the baked goods. Furthermore, due to damage in transit and delivery, shrinkage occurs from the amount of product which leaves the central bakery to the amount of product which reaches the customer in saleable condition and without loss of aesthetic quality. Such inefficiencies all result in higher operating costs and lower profits.
Therefore, what is needed in the art is a shipping container which enables the shipment of a relatively large quantity of delicate baked goods and which protects the baked good from damage. Furthermore, what is needed in the art is a shipping container which enables the shipment of a relatively large quantity of individually display-packaged delicate baked goods and which preserves the aesthetic appearance of the baked good and its individual display package.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a multiple pastry box which permits the packing and shipping of a quantity of individually display-packaged pastries within a single carton, and which protects the pastries and the individual display packages from damage, thereby preserving their aesthetic quality.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a container assembly, including a container having opposing side walls interconnected and spaced apart by opposing end walls, a bottom interconnected with the side and end walls, a top, and an interior. A retaining tray defines at least one aperture and is removably received in the container interior. The retaining tray is dimensioned such that the container side and end walls restrict movement of the retaining tray in a direction perpendicular to the container side and end walls. The retaining tray includes at least one spacing member extending therefrom and spacing the retaining tray a predetermined distance from an underlying surface. A display package includes a pan portion and a top removably secured to the pan portion. The pan portion includes at least one projection extending outwardly therefrom, and is removably received within the aperture until the projection contacts the retaining tray. The projection is disposed on the pan portion such that the display package is suspended from the retaining tray within the aperture and above the underlying surface, thereby restricting the display package from movement in a direction perpendicular to the container side and end walls and in a direction toward the bottom of the container.
An advantage of the present invention is that the display-packages are restricted from horizontal displacement during packaging, handling and transport.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the display packages are restricted from vertical movement during packaging, handling and transport.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the aesthetic quality of the display packages is preserved during packaging, handling and transport.
A still further advantage of the present invention is that a large quantity of display packages containing delicate baked goods may be shipped within one container without degraded aesthetics.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1267388 (1918-05-01), Dodson
patent: 1493796 (1924-05-01), Anderson
patent: 1818908 (1931-08-01), Pouchain et al.
patent: 1862980 (1932-06-01), Prather et al.
patent: 1994214 (1935-03-01), Frost
patent: 2170060 (1939-08-01), Meyer
patent: 2326013 (1943-08-01), Damrow
patent: 2326014 (1943-08-01), Damrow
patent: 2617577 (1952-11-01), Tardiff
patent: 2761785 (1956-09-01), Steger
patent: 2919844 (1960-01-01), Andersen, Jr.
patent: 3645758 (1972-02-01), MacManus
patent: 3874548 (1975-04-01), Buff, Jr.
patent: 3949930 (1976-04-01), Giordano
patent: 4114760 (1978-09-01), Entenmann
patent: 4375862 (1983-03-01), Kurinsky et al.
patent: 4644858 (1987-02-01), Liotto et al.
patent: 4649053 (1987-03-01), Lamonica
patent: 5605646 (1997-02-01), Colombo et al.
patent: 5706966 (1998-01-01), Rothe
patent: 5888565 (1999-03-01), Gics
patent: 5900264 (1999-05-01), Gics
patent: 5912033 (

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Multiple pastry box does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Multiple pastry box, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multiple pastry box will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2611294