Special receptacle or package – Combined or convertible – Including drinking vessel
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-08
2001-07-10
Foster, Jim (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
Combined or convertible
Including drinking vessel
C206S541000, C229S904000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257403
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a packaging system for a meal kit that includes multiple, ready to eat food items and a beverage. In particular, the invention relates to a container that includes an outer carton and a removable inner carrier tray. The invention also relates to a method of assembling and packaging the food items and beverage container of the meal kit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pre-packaged meal kits which include multiple food items that require a minimal amount of consumer preparation and allow for quick assembly of the food items have become increasingly popular. Generally, a meal kit contains various ready to eat food items to provide an essentially complete meal. Typical food items include farinaceous food products, meat products, cheese, sauces or dips, and dessert items.
The food items may be individually pre-packaged in film wrap, pouches or containers having removable lids. The consistency of certain of these food items is more delicate such that the food items may be easily crushed, crumbled or otherwise deformed. For example, chips may crumble into smaller pieces and breadsticks may be deformed by a heavy item placed on it. It is desirable to arrange the multiple, pre-packaged food items in a container in such a way as to limit movement of the food items during shipping and handling to prevent damage to the food items and improve the visual presentation of the meal kit. It is known to contain the food items in a main tray made of plastic, or other rigid material, and having one or more compartments. Such main trays provide a compact container for the various food items.
To provide a more complete and convenient meal kit, it is desirable to include a beverage with the food items. Packaging the beverage container, which may be larger and heavier than many or all of the food items, in the meal kit may be a problem. If the food items and beverage container are not contained in generally stable positions, the beverage container may damage the food items and may obstruct a consumer's view of the food items in the meal kit container. Thus, it is desirable to isolate the beverage container from the food items. Because of the larger size of the beverage container, it may not be feasible or economical, however, to provide a container having a separate compartment for the beverage container.
Moreover, certain food items, such as pizza crusts, breadsticks and nacho chips, also present packaging problems. These food items may be pre-packaged in larger-sized packages that are essentially as long and/or as wide as the meal kit container itself. As a result, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to utilize a multi-compartment container with such food items and still maintain the desired compact size of the container and overall meal kit.
There remains a need for a compact, compartmentalized packaging system for use with a meal kit that includes multiple, pre-packaged food items and a beverage container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, there is provided a packaging system for a meal kit that includes multiple, prepackaged food items and a beverage container. The packaging system generally comprises an outer container and an inner, carrier tray having a single compartment and disposed within the outer container. One or more ready to eat food items are disposed in the inner carrier tray. These food items are arranged in one or more layers. A beverage container also is disposed within the outer container adjacent the inner carrier tray between a side wall of the inner carrier tray and an opposing side wall of the outer carton. The inner carrier tray mechanically isolates the food items from the beverage container when assembled within the outer container.
The outer container comprises generally upstanding front, back and first and second side walls, and the inner carrier tray comprises generally upstanding front and back walls and generally upstanding first and second side walls. The walls of the inner carrier tray may extend outwardly at an angle. The bottom wall of the carrier tray is generally planar and may include one or more cut outs for receiving food items. The carrier tray also may include legs or tabs extending downwardly from the bottom wall. The front wall, side wall and first side wall of the inner tray engagably contact the front, back and first side wall of the outer container to limit lateral movement of the inner carrier tray within the outer carton. The outer container further comprises a lid having at least one opening cut from the lid. The inner tray maintains the position of the food items and the beverage container relative to the openings in the lid to allow a consumer to view the food items and beverage container when the lid is in a closed position and the outer carton is sealed closed.
The invention further relates to a method of assembling a meal kit of ready to eat food and beverage items comprising individually packaging two or more ready to eat food items, assembling the food items in a carrier tray by arranging the food items in one or more layers within the carrier tray, providing an outer container having a lid, assembling a beverage container within the outer container, assembling the carrier tray with food items adjacent the beverage container, where the beverage container is disposed between and engagably contacting a wall of the carrier tray and an opposing wall of the outer container, and sealing the lid of the outer container.
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Fitch Even Tabin & Flannery
Foster Jim
Kraft Foods Inc.
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