Food packaging trays

Abstract

A package for storing food products, comprising a tray having multiple walls, including a bottom wall and at least one side wall, and open spaces formed in one or more of the multiple walls. The multiple walls have a total projected area, and more than half of the total projected area is open space. A wrapper is loosely placed around the tray so as to enclose it. In one embodiment, the wrapper is not attached to the tray. In one embodiment, the bottom wall and at least one side wall combine to define the interior, which includes multiple separate sections for storing food products.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 519,014, filed Aug. 11, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. (Field of the Invention) Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to packages, and more particularly to trays of packages formed from a reduced amount of material.

Background Art

[0002] Packages for foods such as cookies and other snacks typically include a tray surrounded by an outer wrapper. The tray holds the food in place and protects the food from damage. Typically, access to the contents of the container can be obtained by opening one end of the wrapper, pulling the tray out from inside it, and then removing the food from the tray. Alternatively, the user can gain access by opening a flap of the wrapper. Existing trays are typically formed with solid walls to ensure that the tray has sufficient structural rigidity to protect the food inside during packaging operations.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0003] According to one embodiment, a package for storing food products is disclosed that includes a tray having a plurality of walls including a bottom wall and at least one side wall, and an open space formed in one or more of the plurality of walls. The plurality of walls have a total projected area, and more than half of the total projected area is the open space. A wrapper is loosely placed around the tray to surround the tray.

[0004] In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the above - described features, in a further embodiment, the wrapper is not attached to the tray.

[0005] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, the bottom wall and at least one side wall combine to define the interior, which includes multiple separate sections for storing food items.

[0006] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, the configuration of each of the multiple distinct sections is identical.

[0007] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, the configuration of at least one of the plurality of distinct sections differs from the configuration of another of the plurality of distinct sections.

[0008] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, the multiple walls include at least one partition located inside. The multiple separate sections are located adjacent to at least one partition.

[0009] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, one or more of the multiple walls further comprises at least one retaining feature for supporting food items in the tray.

[0010] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, at least one retaining feature is a groove complementary to the food product.

[0011] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, at least one retaining feature is a projection. The projection defines the outermost position of the food items within the tray.

[0012] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, the tray is formed from a plastic material.

[0013] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, the open space is formed by at least one opening formed in a plurality of walls.

[0014] In addition to or instead of one or more of the above-described features, in further embodiments, the open space covers at least 65% of the total projected area.

[0015] In addition to or instead of one or more of the above-described features, in further embodiments, at least one of the multiple walls is formed from multiple wire-like members.

[0016] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, the wrapper includes a wrapper opening that communicates with the interior of the tray, and a cover adjacent to the wrapper opening and bonded to the wrapper. The cover is resealable to the wrapper.

[0017] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, the package is receivable on a conveyor during filling and packaging operations. The package is separated from adjacent packages by a barrier.

[0018] According to one embodiment, a package for storing food products includes a tray having a plurality of walls, including a bottom wall and at least one side wall. The plurality of walls combine to define the interior of the tray. At least one open space is formed in the plurality of walls. A wrapper is positioned around the tray so as to surround it. The wrapper has a wrapper opening that communicates with the interior and a cover portion adjacent to the wrapper opening that can seal to the wrapper.

[0019] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, the cover portion is formed integrally with the wrapper.

[0020] In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, the cover portion is separate from the wrapper and is attached to the wrapper.

[0021] In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, the cover portion is resealable to the wrapper.

[0022] In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, at least one of the plurality of walls is formed from a plurality of wire-like members.

[0023] In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, the interior includes a plurality of separate sections for storing food products.

[0024] In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, the plurality of walls includes at least one partition disposed therein. The plurality of separate sections are defined by at least one partition.

[0025] 0]In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, one or more of the plurality of walls further includes at least one retaining feature for supporting food products within the tray.

[0026] In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, the open space is formed by at least one opening formed in the plurality of walls.

[0027] In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, the plurality of walls has a total projected area, and more than half of the total projected area is open space.

[0028] In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, the open space covers at least 65% of the total projected area.

[0029] In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, the package is receivable on a conveyor during filling and packaging operations, and the package is separated from adjacent packages by a barrier.

[0030] According to one embodiment, a package for storing food products includes a tray having a plurality of walls including a bottom wall and at least one side wall, and an open space formed in the plurality of walls. The tray is configured to support the food products. A wrapper is positioned around the tray so as to surround the tray.

[0031] In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, the tray is configured to support the food products without a wrapper positioned around the tray.

[0032] In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, at least one of the plurality of walls is formed from a plurality of wire-like members.

[0033] In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, the interior includes a plurality of separate sections for storing food products.

[0034] In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, the plurality of walls includes at least one partition disposed inside the tray. The plurality of separate sections are defined by at least one partition.

[0035] In addition to, or alternatively to, one or more of the above features, in a further embodiment, one or more of the plurality of walls further includes at least one retaining feature for supporting food products within the tray.

[0036] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, the open space is formed by at least one opening formed in a plurality of walls.

[0037] In addition to or instead of one or more of the above-described features, in further embodiments, the multiple walls have a total projected area, and more than half of the total projected area is open space.

[0038] In addition to or instead of one or more of the above-described features, in further embodiments, the open space covers at least 65% of the total projected area.

[0039] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, the package is receivable on a conveyor during filling and packaging operations. The package is separated from adjacent packages by a barrier.

[0040] According to one embodiment, a system for packaging food products includes a conveyor, a plurality of trays that can be received on the conveyor, and a plurality of barriers associated with the plurality of trays. The plurality of barriers are configured to maintain spacing between adjacent trays among the plurality of trays.

[0041] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, the barrier includes a plurality of recesses formed in the conveyor. The plurality of trays are receivable within the plurality of recesses.

[0042] In addition to or instead of one or more of the features described above, in further embodiments, the barriers include a plurality of protrusions extending upward from the surface of the conveyor. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0043] The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming part thereof embody several aspects of this disclosure and, together with this description, help to illustrate the principles of this disclosure. In the drawings,

[0044] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a resealable container in a closed configuration according to one embodiment.

[0045] [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the resealable container in an open configuration, according to one embodiment, as shown in Figure 1.

[0046] [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of a tray, according to one embodiment, suitable for use in resealable containers filled with confectionery, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0047] [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the tray shown in Figure 3 with the confectionery removed, according to one embodiment.

[0048] [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of another tray, according to one embodiment, suitable for use with the resealable containers shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0049] [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of another tray, according to one embodiment, suitable for use with the resealable containers shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0050] [Figure 7] This is a perspective view of yet another tray, according to one embodiment, suitable for use in the resealable containers of Figures 1 and 2 filled with confectionery.

[0051] [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of the tray shown in Figure 7 with the confectionery removed, according to one embodiment.

[0052] [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram of a tray handling system having a barrier according to one embodiment.

[0053] [Figure 10] This is a schematic diagram of a tray handling system having a barrier according to another embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0054] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an example of a container or package 20 for storing at least one, and in some embodiments a plurality of food products 10, is shown according to one embodiment. As used herein, the term “food products” is intended to include any kind of manufactured or non-natural food, including but not limited to biscuits, cookies, crackers, chocolates, and confectionery. The package 20 includes a tray 22 and a wrapper 24 positioned around the outside of the tray 22. The wrapper 24 may be glued to the tray 22 at one or more of its positions. However, embodiments in which the wrapper 24 is loosely positioned around the tray 22 are also within the scope of this disclosure. As used herein, the term “loosely positioned” is intended to describe embodiments in which the wrapper 24 is not attached or glued to the tray 22 at any position. In the illustrated non-limiting embodiments, the wrapper 24 forms the top 26, bottom 28, opposing sides 30, 32, and opposing ends 34, 36 of the package 20. As shown in the figure, the ends 34 and 36 of the wrapper 24 may be formed by sealing the ends of the upper 26 and bottom 28 together, for example, by a crimp seal, adhesive seal, or heat seal 29.

[0055] In the illustrated, non-limiting embodiments, at least one wrapper opening 40 is formed in the body of the wrapper 24. For example, in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wrapper opening 40 is formed on the surface of the wrapper 24, which functions as the top 26 of the package 20. However, embodiments in which the wrapper opening 40 is located on another surface of the wrapper 24, such as its side 30, 32 or bottom 28, are also contemplated herein. The size of the wrapper opening 40 may be proportional to the size of the package 20 and / or the food products 10 contained therein, so that when the package 20 is full, the consumer can easily access most of the food products 10 inside the package 20. However, embodiments having wrapper openings 40 of a different size, which provide access to only a small portion of the food products inside the package, for example, are also within the scope of this disclosure.

[0056] The cover portion 42 may be positioned to cover at least one wrapper opening 40. In one embodiment, the cover portion is part of the wrapper 24, for example, resulting from the formation of the wrapper opening. In other embodiments, such as those shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cover portion 42 is separate from the wrapper 24 and is attached to its surface. One or more dimensions of the cover portion 42 may be larger than the corresponding dimensions of the wrapper opening 40, such that one or more edges 44 of the cover portion 42 are adjacent to the wrapper opening 40 or overlap with the surface of the wrapper 24 surrounding it. Adhesive (not shown) may be applied to a portion of the cover portion 42 configured to contact the surface of the wrapper 24 surrounding the wrapper opening 40. In one embodiment, the adhesive provides a removable seal between the cover portion 42 and the wrapper 24. When the cover portion 42 is sealed to the wrapper 24 by the adhesive, the package 20 may be considered to be in a closed or sealed configuration, and when the cover portion 42 is at least partially separated from the wrapper 24, the package 20 may be considered to be in an open configuration. In some embodiments, it should be understood that the cover portion 42 is resealable to the wrapper 24 to selectively close the package 20 after it has been opened. In the open configuration, the user can remove one or more food items 10 contained within the package 20 through the wrapper opening 40. It should also be understood that the package 20 may also be opened by forming another opening in the wrapper 24, for example, at the sealed ends 34, 36, etc.

[0057] The amount of adhesive applied to the cover portion 42 affects the functionality and peel force required to separate the cover portion 42 from the wrapper 24. In one embodiment, the amount of adhesive applied is a balance between the adhesive force required to ensure that the package 20 remains closed, the ability of the package 20 to have a sufficient number of resealing events, i.e., a resealing frequency, and a desirable peel force for separating the cover portion 42 from the wrapper 24 that is low enough to allow the package 20 to be opened easily. A starter portion 46, such as a tab, may extend from the first end 48 of the cover portion 42. The starter portion 46 can be grasped by the user and tensile force can be applied to it. The size and shape of the starter portion 46 can be optimized for functionality. In one embodiment, no adhesive is applied to the starter portion 46. The absence of adhesive on the starter portion 46 means that the starter portion is not sealed to the surface of the wrapper 24, so that the user can grasp the starter portion 46 more easily to open the package 20.

[0058] As described above, the wrapper 24 is positioned around the outside of the tray 22. The tray 22, positioned inside the wrapper 24, forms a tray for receiving the edible contents of the package 20. It should be understood that the tray 22 can be adapted to receive food items of any shape.

[0059] Referring here to Figures 3 to 8, various examples of trays 22 suitable for use in package 20 are shown. In each of the illustrated non-limiting embodiments, the tray 22 has a plurality of walls, including a bottom wall 50 and at least one side wall 52 positioned at an angle to the bottom wall 50. In embodiments including a plurality of side walls 52, each of the plurality of side walls 52 may have a constant height as shown. However, embodiments in which one or more components of the side walls 52 have a variable height are also within the scope of the disclosure. Alternatively, or additionally, in embodiments including a plurality of side walls, the height of each of the side walls 52 relative to the bottom wall 50 may be the same or different. The bottom wall 50 and the plurality of side walls 52 together define a substantially hollow interior 54 capable of receiving one or more food items 10 (see Figures 3 and 7). It should be understood that the rectangular shape of the illustrated tray 22 is intended as an example only, and trays 22 having one or more side walls 52 forming any geometric shape are also within the scope of the disclosure. It should be understood that trays of different geometric shapes, such as circular, elliptical, or any suitable polygon, form packages of the corresponding shape.

[0060] In one embodiment, the multiple walls 52 of the tray 22 include one or more dividers 56 positioned within the interior 54 of the tray 22, forming multiple rows and / or columns within the interior 54. At least one divider 56 may be the same height as one or more of the surrounding side walls 52, or it may be shorter or taller than one or more of the side walls 52. In the non-limiting embodiments shown in Figures 3 to 5, a single divider 56 positioned in the center of the interior 54 separates the interior 54 of the tray 22 into substantially identical first section 58a and second section 58b. In another embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the tray 22 includes first and second dividers 56a, 56b that are equidistant from each other to separate the interior 54 into a first section 58a, a second section 58b, and a third section 58c, respectively. While embodiments including a single divider or two dividers 56 are shown, it should be understood that embodiments including any suitable number of dividers 56, including no dividers, are within the scope of this disclosure. By including dividers, the movement of food items from one section 58a of the interior 54 to another section 58b of the interior 54 can be restricted. Furthermore, it should be understood that each section formed by each divider 56 may, but does not have to, be generally the same in size or shape. For example, sections of varying sizes may be suitable for embodiments in which different types of food items 10 are stored in different sections of the interior 54.

[0061] The partition 56 may be a wall extending substantially vertically, or it may have a different configuration. Furthermore, in one embodiment, a wall associated with the partition 56 may have one or more cuts or gaps formed at or near the interface with the partition 56. For example, referring to Figures 3 to 6, the partition 56 may be substantially V-shaped (the V is upside down) with a first partition wall 60 positioned at an angle nonparallel to the second partition wall 62. In such an embodiment, the bottom wall 50 may be connected to or integrally formed with the respective ends of the first and second partition walls 60, 62 such that a gap 64 is formed in the bottom wall 50 below the partition 56. Similarly, one or more side walls 52 may be connected to or integrally formed with the respective ends of the first and second partition walls 60, 62. As a result, a gap 66 can be formed in the side walls 52 at a position axially aligned with the partition 56.

[0062] In one embodiment, the tray 22 includes at least one retaining feature 68, for example, located on one or more inward-facing surfaces of a plurality of walls 50, 52, which is for holding food items 10 in a desired position within the interior 54 so as to be presented to the consumer. The retaining feature 68 may be formed integrally with the tray 22 or may be a separate component attached to the tray 22. In the non-limiting embodiments illustrated in Figures 3 to 6, the retaining feature 68 includes a plurality of grooves, such as those formed in the bottom wall 50, the side walls 52, the end walls 52, and / or the divider 56. Each of the plurality of grooves 68 has a size and / or contour complementary to the food items 10 that can be received therein. The plurality of grooves can cooperate to hold a plurality of food items 10 in a stacked configuration within each section of the interior 54. Alternatively or additionally, the retaining features 68 may include ribs or other projections extending from one surface of a plurality of walls 50, 52, 56 to restrict the movement of one or more food items 10 and / or provide structural rigidity to the tray 22. In the non-limiting embodiment of Figure 6, a plurality of ribs 68 extend inward from the side walls 52 forming the ends of the tray 22 to define the position of the outermost food items 10 of the array when stacked within the hollow interior 54.

[0063] In the illustrated non-limiting embodiments, one or more of the multiple walls have an open space formed therein. The open space may be formed by at least one notch or opening extending through one or more of the multiple walls. Including such an opening 70 is intended to reduce the overall material of the tray 22 while maintaining its sufficient structural rigidity. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in Figure 4, at least one opening 70 is formed in each of the multiple side walls 52 and the divider 56, for example, on the lateral side of one or more food items 10. However, the bottom wall 50 of the tray 22 is substantially solid. In another embodiment shown in Figure 5, one or more openings 70 are additionally formed in the bottom wall 50 at a position directly below a portion of one or more food items 10. In other embodiments, it should be understood that one or more openings 70 may be formed in any of the bottom wall 50, the side walls 52, and / or the divider 56.

[0064] Each opening 70 formed in one of the multiple walls is smaller than the wall itself. In embodiments including multiple openings 70 formed in the tray 22, the size and shape of each opening 70 may vary based on the position of the opening 70 around the tray 22 and / or the food items 10 that can be received in the tray 22. In embodiments in which the interior 54 of the tray 22 is divided into multiple sections by one or more dividers 56, the openings 70 formed in the walls associated with each respective section may, but do not have to be, substantially identical. For example, the side walls 52 forming the ends of the tray 22 may have a first opening aligned with a first section and a substantially identical second opening aligned with a second section. In one embodiment, not only may the configuration of each opening 70 be identical, but the relative positions of the openings in each respective section may also be identical. However, it should be understood that openings 70 of any size or shape are within the scope of this disclosure.

[0065] At least one wall, and in the non-limiting embodiments of Figures 3 to 6, each of the multiple walls, is substantially solid where there is no open space. For example, the material of a side wall extends continuously from the top or first edge of the side wall to the bottom or second edge of the side wall, spaced apart from a corresponding third edge that extends between the first and second edges of the side wall. Each of the multiple walls of the tray 22 has an associated projected area or footprint. As used herein, the term “projected area” is the area of ​​the wall calculated based on the external dimensions of the wall. In one embodiment, the open space formed in each of the multiple walls accounts for at least about 30%, and in some embodiments, about 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, and more than 75% of the projected area of ​​the wall. In other words, the actual surface area of ​​the wall material accounts for less than 70%, and in some embodiments, less than half, of the projected area of ​​that wall. Furthermore, the multiple walls of the tray 22 combine to form a combined or total projected area. In one embodiment, at least about 30% of the total projected area of ​​the tray 22, and in some embodiments, at least about 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, and 75% or more of the total projected area of ​​the tray 22 are open space. In other words, the materials of the multiple walls of the tray 22 occupy less than 70% of the total projected area of ​​the tray 22.

[0066] Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, in another embodiment, the multiple walls are not substantially solid. Rather, at least one of the multiple walls may be formed by multiple wire members connected to one another, such that the opening 70 is defined between adjacent wire members. In such embodiments, the diameter or thickness of the wire members is less than about 15 mm, and in some embodiments, less than about 10 mm, 9 mm, 8 mm, 7 mm, 6 mm, and 5 mm. In the non-limiting embodiments illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, each of the multiple walls of the tray 22 is formed by multiple connected wire members. However, embodiments in which only a portion of the wall, such as the side wall 52, is formed from wire members are also within the scope of this disclosure.

[0067] In the illustrated, non-limiting embodiments, the side walls 52 of the tray 22 include first and second outer wire members 80a, 80b that are spaced perpendicularly to each other. However, embodiments including additional wire members are also contemplated herein. As shown, the first and second outer wire members 80a, 80b are substantially rectangular in shape and define portions of each side wall 52 of the tray 22, such as two end walls 82 and two transverse walls 83 extending between them. However, it should be understood that outer wire members having any suitable closed perimeter shape are within the scope of this disclosure. However, embodiments using different or separate outer wire members to form different side walls of the tray 22 are also contemplated herein.

[0068] The structure of the tray 22 may be further defined by one or more end wire members 84 extending between a plurality of side walls 52, for example, between the end walls 82 of the tray 22. The end wire members 84 may, but are not required to be, oriented parallel to the side walls 83 of the tray 22. The end wire members 84 may be positioned vertically beneath the food items 10 supported within the interior 54 of the tray 22. Depending on the size of the food items that can be received in the tray 22, one or more end wire members 84 may be positioned beneath a single food item 10 to support the single food item 10. The end wire members 84 may be positioned centrally, at equal intervals, or at other positions relative to the corresponding dimensions of the food items in order to support the food items 10 in a stable manner.

[0069] The end wire member 84 may extend upward parallel to the end wall 82 of the tray 22. In one embodiment, the distal end of the end wire member 84 is attached to the first and second outer wire members 80a, 80b, respectively, at the end wall 82. However, embodiments in which the end wire member 84 is attached to only a portion of the outer wire members 80a, 80b at the side wall 52 are also intended herein. Thus, in some embodiments, the end wall 82 of the tray 22 is formed by a combination of the first and second outer wire members 80a, 80b and the end of at least one end wire member 84.

[0070] The tray 22 may optionally or additionally include at least one lateral wire-like member 86 extending between a plurality of side walls 52, such as between the side walls 83 of the tray 22. As shown in the figure, the plurality of lateral wire-like members 86 may be spaced apart between opposing end walls 82. The lateral wire-like members 86 may, but do not necessarily, be spaced equidistant between the ends of the tray 22. The lateral wire-like members 86 are positioned vertically beneath a plurality of food items 10 supported within the interior 54 of the tray 22. In one embodiment, at least one lateral wire-like member 86 is positioned vertically below at least one end wire-like member 84. However, in other embodiments, at least one end wire-like member 84 may be positioned below at least one lateral wire-like member 86. The lateral wire-like members 86 may, but do not necessarily, be oriented parallel to the end walls 82 of the tray 22.

[0071] In some embodiments, the lateral wire member 86 extends upward parallel to the lateral wall 83 of the tray 22. The lateral wire member 86 may, but is not required, be attached to each of the outer wire members 80a, 80b positioned on the lateral wall 83 of the tray 22. Thus, the lateral wall 83 of the tray 22 may be formed by a combination of the first and second wire outer members 80a, 80b and the distal end of at least one lateral wire member 86. In some embodiments, the bottom wall 50 of a plurality of walls may be defined by a combination of at least one end wire member 84 and at least one lateral wire member 86.

[0072] In one embodiment, one or more upwardly extending bends 88 are formed in the middle or central portion of at least one lateral wire member 86 located in the interior 54 of the tray 22. In some embodiments, one or more upper wire members 90 extend between end walls 82 and connect to a portion of each of the respective bends 88, for example, at the upper end. The upper wire members 90 may be arranged parallel to at least one end wire member 84. In embodiments in which at least one lateral wire member 86 includes multiple bends 88, the corresponding upper wire members 90 may connect to each of its bends 88. In such embodiments, at least one lateral wire member 86 and at least one upper wire member 90 cooperate to define multiple sections within the hollow interior 54 of the tray 22. In the illustrated non-limiting embodiments, each lateral wire member 86 includes two bends 88, and thus the interior 54 is divided into three sections 58a, 58b, and 58c, respectively. Although two end wire members 84 are shown positioned within each section, it should be understood that the number of end wire members 84 may vary depending on the size of the section. Furthermore, although the sections are shown to be substantially the same in size, it should be understood that the size of each section within the tray 22 may be the same or different. Therefore, the total number of end wire members 84 associated with each section may be the same or different.

[0073] Referring to Figures 7 and 8 in succession, each of the multiple walls of the tray 22 has an associated projected area based on the outer dimensions of the wall. In one embodiment, the open space of each wall, such as formed by at least one opening 70 defined between adjacent wire members 80, 84, and 86, may cover or occupy at least 50%, and in some embodiments, about 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, and more than 85% of the wall's projected area. In other words, the wall material occupies or covers less than 50%, in some embodiments less than 25%, or less than 15% of the wall's projected area. Furthermore, the multiple walls of the tray 22 combine to have a combined or total projected area. In one embodiment, at least about 50%, and in some embodiments about 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, and more than 90% of the total projected area of ​​the tray 22, are open spaces. In other words, the solid areas within the walls of the tray 22 occupy less than 75% of the total projected area of ​​the tray 22.

[0074] The trays 22 in Figures 3 to 6 have walls formed from a solid material with openings formed by removing material, and the trays 22 in Figures 7 to 8 have walls formed from wire-like members, but it should be understood that trays formed as a solid body with one or more walls from which material has been removed, and trays having at least one wall formed from multiple wire-like members are also within the scope of this disclosure.

[0075] The tray 22 described herein may be formed from any material having sufficient rigidity to support one or more food items 10 in it without damaging the food items 10. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, plastic materials, composite materials, cardboard for cartons, or other paper-like materials. In one embodiment, the tray 22 is manufactured first by a thermoforming process and then by removing material from its walls to form a plurality of openings. However, any preferred process for manufacturing the tray 22 based on the material used, such as injection molding or 3D printing, is also contemplated herein.

[0076] Whether the tray 22 is formed from substantially solid walls or from walls using wire members, each wall of the tray 22 contains sufficient material to maintain the rigidity necessary to support one or more food items within it. Furthermore, it should be understood that the tray 22, including the opening 70, can support food items 10 within it without the wrapper 24.

[0077] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, during filling and packaging operations, a tray handling system, such as a conveyor, moves multiple trays, such as trays 22, between multiple stations, such as a filling station and a packaging station. Due to vibrations and intermittent stops and starts in existing tray handling systems, adjacent trays 22 may come into contact with each other. In embodiments where one or more walls of a tray 22 have openings 70 formed therein, the tray handling system 100 includes a conveyor or other transport device 102 that includes a barrier to maintain separation or a desired distance between adjacent trays 22, thereby preventing contact between adjacent trays 22 and deformation of the trays 22 that would result from contact between adjacent trays. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the barrier may be formed by projections 104 extending upward from the surface 106 of the conveyor 102. In other embodiments, the surface 106 of the conveyor 102, configured to receive trays 22 on it, may have a plurality of grooves or recesses 108 formed therein (see Figure 10). By positioning the trays 22 within their respective grooves 108, the movement of the trays 22 is generally restricted to within the grooves 108. The barriers illustrated and described herein are intended for illustrative purposes only, and it should be understood that any suitable barriers, such as a textured surface 106 of the conveyor 102 having an increased coefficient of friction, are considered herein.

[0078] The term “approximately” is intended to include the degree of error associated with the measurement of a particular quantity based on the apparatus available at the time of filing this application. For example, “approximately” may include a range of ±8%, 5%, or 2% of a given value.

[0079] The terms used herein are for the sole purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the disclosure. Where used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural form unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises” and / or “comprising,” where used herein, specify the presence of the described features, integers, steps, actions, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, actions, elemental components, and / or groups thereof.

[0080] While this disclosure is described with reference to exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications can be made and equivalents can be substituted for their elements without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt the teachings of this disclosure to specific circumstances or materials without departing from the essential scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not intended to be limited to any particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode intended for carrying out this disclosure.

Claims

1. A package for storing food products, wherein the package is It is a tray, Multiple walls, including a bottom wall and at least one side wall, A tray having an open space formed in one or more of the plurality of walls, wherein the plurality of walls have a total projected area, and more than half of the total projected area is the open space, A package comprising a wrapper that is loosely placed around the tray and surrounds the tray.

2. The package according to claim 1, wherein the wrapper is not attached to the tray.

3. The package according to claim 1, wherein the bottom wall and the at least one side wall are combined to define an interior, the interior comprising a plurality of separate sections for storing the foodstuffs.

4. The package according to claim 3, wherein each of the aforementioned separate sections has the same configuration.

5. The package according to claim 3, wherein the configuration of at least one of the plurality of separate sections is different from the configuration of another of the plurality of separate sections.

6. The package according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of walls further comprises at least one partition located inside, and the plurality of separate sections are located adjacent to the at least one partition.

7. The package according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of walls further comprises at least one holding feature for supporting the food items in the tray.

8. The package according to claim 7, wherein the at least one retaining feature is a groove complementary to the food product.

9. The package according to claim 7, wherein the at least one retaining feature is a projection, the projection defining the outermost position of the food product within the tray.

10. The package according to claim 1, wherein the tray is formed from a plastic material.

11. The package according to claim 1, wherein the open space is formed by at least one opening formed in the plurality of walls.

12. The package according to claim 1, wherein the open space covers at least 65% of the total projected area.

13. The package according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of walls is formed from a plurality of wire-like members.

14. The aforementioned wrapper, A wrapper opening that communicates with the inside of the tray, The package according to claim 1, further comprising: a cover adjacent to the wrapper opening and adhesively sealed to the wrapper, the cover being resealable to the wrapper.

15. The package according to claim 1, wherein the package is receivable onto a conveyor during filling and packaging operations, and the package is separated from adjacent packages by a barrier.

16. A package for storing food products, wherein the package is It is a tray, A plurality of walls, including a bottom wall and at least one side wall, wherein the plurality of walls are combined to define the interior of the tray, A tray having at least one open space formed in the plurality of walls, A wrapper positioned around the tray so as to surround the tray, the wrapper having a wrapper opening that communicates with the interior, A package comprising: a cover portion adjacent to the wrapper opening that can seal to the wrapper.

17. The package according to claim 16, wherein the cover portion is formed integrally with the wrapper.

18. The package according to claim 16, wherein the cover portion is separate from the wrapper and is attached to the wrapper.

19. The package according to claim 16, wherein the cover portion is resealable to the wrapper.

20. The package according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of walls is formed from a plurality of wire-like members.

21. The package according to claim 16, wherein the interior includes a plurality of separate sections for storing the food products.

22. The package according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of walls further comprises at least one partition disposed inside the plurality of separate sections defined by the at least one partition.

23. The package according to claim 16, wherein one or more of the plurality of walls further comprises at least one retaining feature for supporting the food items in the tray.

24. The package according to claim 16, wherein the open space is formed by at least one opening formed in the plurality of walls.

25. The package according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of walls have a total projected area, and more than half of the total projected area is the open space.

26. The package according to claim 25, wherein the open space covers at least 65% of the total projected area.

27. The package according to claim 16, wherein the package is receivable onto a conveyor during filling and packaging operations, and the package is separated from adjacent packages by a barrier.

28. A package for storing food products, wherein the package is It is a tray, A plurality of walls, including a bottom wall and at least one side wall, wherein the tray is configured to support the food items, A tray having open spaces formed in the plurality of walls, A package comprising: a wrapper positioned around the tray so as to surround the tray.

29. The package according to claim 28, wherein the tray is configured to support the food product without the wrapper positioned around the tray.

30. The package according to claim 28, wherein at least one of the plurality of walls is formed from a plurality of wire-like members.

31. The package according to claim 28, wherein the interior includes a plurality of separate sections for storing the food products.

32. The package according to claim 31, wherein the plurality of walls further comprises at least one partition disposed inside the tray, and the plurality of separate sections are defined by the at least one partition.

33. The package according to claim 28, wherein one or more of the plurality of walls further comprises at least one holding feature for supporting the food items in the tray.

34. The package according to claim 28, wherein the open space is formed by at least one opening formed in the plurality of walls.

35. The package according to claim 28, wherein the plurality of walls have a total projected area, and more than half of the total projected area is the open space.

36. The package according to claim 35, wherein the open space covers at least 65% of the total projected area.

37. The package according to claim 28, wherein the package is receivable onto a conveyor during filling and packaging operations, and the package is separated from adjacent packages by a barrier.

38. A system for packaging food products, A conveyor belt, Multiple trays capable of receiving trays on the conveyor, A system comprising: a plurality of barriers, the plurality of barriers being associated with the plurality of trays in order to maintain the spacing between adjacent trays among the plurality of trays.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein the plurality of barriers include a plurality of recesses formed in the conveyor, and the plurality of trays are receivable within the plurality of recesses.

40. The system according to claim 38, wherein the plurality of barriers include a plurality of protrusions extending upward from the surface of the conveyor.

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