food tray

Abstract

To provide a food tray capable of preventing food from becoming sticky with oil when reheated in a microwave oven. [Solution] The food tray 100 has an inner bottom surface 110 on which food is placed, and multiple conical or pyramidal protrusions 120 protruding from the inner bottom surface. The protrusions are conical or pyramidal. The food is supported by multiple apexes 125 of the multiple protrusions, allowing oil dripping from the food 800 during reheating in a microwave oven to flow between the multiple protrusions. This prevents oil dripping from the food from being absorbed by the food during reheating, causing the food to become sticky.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This specification discloses technology relating to food trays. [Background technology]

[0002] A food tray is a container for placing food. In a typical food tray, the inner bottom surface on which the food is placed is flat. Patent Document 1 describes a food tray in which a plurality of cylindrical air bubbles are arranged on the inner bottom surface in order to improve cushioning effect and recyclability. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-26269 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] With the flat inner bottom surface of a typical food tray and the inner bottom surface of the food tray in Patent Document 1, when food cooked with oil is placed on the food tray and reheated in a microwave oven, oil dripping from the food during reheating accumulates between the food and the top surface of the bubble portion, and the oil is absorbed by the food, causing the food to become sticky. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One embodiment of a food tray disclosed herein includes an inner bottom surface for placing food and multiple protrusions protruding from the inner bottom surface. The protrusions are conical or pyramidal. This type of food tray supports food on the apexes of the multiple protrusions, allowing oil dripping from the food during reheating in a microwave oven to flow between the multiple protrusions. This prevents oil dripping from the food during reheating from being absorbed by the food and becoming sticky. Furthermore, this type of food tray allows microwaves from the microwave oven to reach the food through the gaps between the multiple protrusions, allowing microwaves to be applied to the food from both the front and back sides. This improves the efficiency of food cooking in a microwave oven. As a result, cooking time can be shortened and energy can be saved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the food tray seen from diagonally above. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a food tray. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a food tray according to a modified example, seen obliquely from above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of food tray 100 seen from diagonally above. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing food tray 100. The cross-sectional view of Fig. 2 shows food tray 100 cut along line F2-F2 in Fig. 1.

[0008] Food tray 100 is a container for placing food 800 on it. Food tray 100 has heat resistance that allows it to be heated and cooked in a microwave oven with food 800 placed on it. Food tray 100 is a molded resin product. The material of food tray 100 may be, for example, polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0009] Food tray 100 includes an inner bottom surface 110 , a plurality of protrusions 120 , a peripheral groove 160 , a peripheral wall 170 , and a support portion 180 .

[0010] Inner bottom surface 110 of food tray 100 is a surface on which food 800 is placed. Inner bottom surface 110 is the surface that faces upward when food 800 is placed on food tray 100 and used. Inner bottom surface 110 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 120.

[0011] When food tray 100 is placed on horizontal surface 900, inner bottom surface 110 is a surface parallel to horizontal surface 900. In another embodiment, inner bottom surface 110 may be inclined downward toward outer peripheral groove 160 when food tray 100 is placed on horizontal surface 900. This allows oil dripping from food 800 to flow effectively into outer peripheral groove 160, preventing oil from accumulating on inner bottom surface 110.

[0012] The protrusion 120 of the food tray 100 is a portion that protrudes from the inner bottom surface 110. When the food tray 100 is in use with food 800 placed on it, the protrusion 120 protrudes upward from the inner bottom surface 110. It has a square pyramid shape with an acute apex 125. In other embodiments, the protrusion 120 may have other pyramidal shapes, such as a triangular pyramid or a pentagonal pyramid. The protrusion 120 may also have a conical shape.

[0013] The plurality of protrusions 120 are arranged vertically and horizontally on the inner bottom surface 110. In another embodiment, the plurality of protrusions 120 may be arranged in a staggered pattern.

[0014] The outer circumferential groove 160 of the food tray 100 is provided on the outer periphery of the inner bottom surface 110. The outer circumferential groove 160 is a groove that is lower than the inner bottom surface 110. The outer circumferential groove 160 collects oil that drips from the food 800 and flows down from the inner bottom surface 110.

[0015] When food tray 100 is placed on horizontal surface 900, peripheral groove 160 forms a groove extending parallel to horizontal surface 900. In another embodiment, inner bottom surface 110 may be inclined downward toward one longitudinal direction of peripheral groove 160 when food tray 100 is placed on horizontal surface 900. This allows oil dripping from food 800 to flow into a lower portion of peripheral groove 160, allowing the oil to accumulate in a specific location.

[0016] Outer peripheral wall 170 of food tray 100 is provided on the outer periphery of outer peripheral groove 160. Outer peripheral wall 170 is a portion that rises above apex 125 of protrusion 120. Outer peripheral wall 170 prevents food 800 from falling off food tray 100.

[0017] Support portion 180 of food tray 100 supports the entire food tray 100. Support portion 180 is located on the rear side of peripheral groove 160.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of modified food tray 100B, viewed from diagonally above. Food tray 100B is similar to food tray 100 in FIG. 1, except that it does not include outer peripheral groove 160, outer peripheral wall 170, or support portion 180. Food tray 100B includes rectangular inner bottom surface 110 and multiple protrusions 120 protruding from inner bottom surface 110. Food tray 100B can be used in the same way as food tray 100 by placing it on other food trays, cooking utensils, tableware, etc. Food tray 100B may be used by cutting it to any size and shape.

[0019] According to the food trays 100 and 100B described above, food is supported by the multiple vertices 125 of the multiple protrusions 120, allowing oil dripping from the food 800 during reheating in a microwave oven to flow between the multiple protrusions 120. This prevents oil dripping from the food 800 during reheating from being absorbed by the food 800 and making the food sticky. Furthermore, according to the food trays 100 and 100B, microwaves from the microwave oven can reach the food 800 through the gaps between the multiple protrusions 120, allowing microwaves to reach the food 800 from both the front and back sides of the food 800. This improves the efficiency of cooking the food 800 in a microwave oven. As a result, cooking time can be shortened and electricity can be saved.

[0020] The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the above-described embodiments, examples, and modifications, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, among the technical features of the above-described embodiments, examples, and modifications, those corresponding to the technical features of each form described in the Summary of the Invention column can be appropriately replaced and combined to solve some or all of the above-described problems or achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, technical features not described as essential in this specification can be appropriately deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0021] 100...food tray 100B...food tray 110…Inner bottom surface 120...Protrusion 125...Vertex 160...Peripheral groove 170...Outer wall 180...Support part 800…Food 900…Horizontal plane

Claims

[Claim 1] A food tray comprising: an inner bottom surface for placing food thereon; a plurality of protrusions protruding from the inner bottom surface; Equipped with The food tray, wherein the protrusion is conical or pyramidal.

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