Food tray

Abstract

The present invention relates to a food tray by which food such as fried dumplings can be cooked using a cooking appliance such as an air fryer, a microwave oven, or a conventional oven. The food tray according to the present invention includes at least one food accommodation unit. The food accommodation unit includes: a food accommodation space that includes a first side part and a second side part facing each other, a front surface part and a rear surface part respectively connecting the ends of the first side part and the second side part, and a bottom part forming the bottom surface; a central support part including a first central support part and a second central support part that are connected to the first side part and the second side part, respectively, and protrude upward from the bottom part; a front surface support part and a rear surface support part formed, along the longitudinal direction of the food accommodation unit, on the front surface side and the rear surface side, respectively, of the central support part; and a trench part formed on the bottom surface of the food accommodation space.

Description

food tray

[0001] The present invention relates to a food tray capable of cooking food such as fried dumplings using an air fryer, microwave oven, or oven.

[0002] Various instant foods are widely consumed in busy modern life. Representative examples of such instant foods include ramen and dumplings.

[0003] Cooking appliances such as air fryers, microwave ovens, or ovens may be used to prepare instant food. In the case of dumplings, frozen or refrigerated boiled dumplings, fried dumplings, or pan-fried dumplings may be placed into a cooking appliance and heated. In the case of fried dumplings or pan-fried dumplings provided in a fried state, when cooked in a cooking appliance such as an air fryer, oil leaks out, making them soggy and resulting in a poor texture after cooking, or uneven heating may not be achieved.

[0004] In addition, there is the inconvenience of having to transfer food from the packaging to a separate container or use parchment paper to absorb oil when cooking instant food.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a food tray that can be placed in a cooking appliance such as an air fryer, oven, or microwave oven, prevents the texture of a fried product from being compromised by oil leakage during cooking, and enables uniform heating.

[0006] The present invention provides a food tray capable of receiving food and being placed into a cooking appliance, wherein the food tray comprises at least one food receiving portion, and the food receiving portion comprises: a food receiving space including a first side and a second side facing each other, a front portion and a rear portion connecting both ends of the first side and the second side, respectively, and a bottom portion forming a bottom surface; a central support portion including a first central support portion connected to the first side and protruding upward from the bottom portion, and a second central support portion connected to the second side and protruding upward from the bottom portion; a front support portion formed on the front side of the central support portion along the length direction of the food receiving portion; a rear support portion formed on the rear side of the central support portion along the length direction of the food receiving portion; and a trench portion formed on the bottom surface of the food receiving space to partition the first central support portion and the second central support portion, partition the central support portion and the front support portion, and partition the central support portion and the rear support portion.

[0007] In one embodiment, the trench portion forms a groove on the bottom surface of the food receiving space.

[0008] In one embodiment, the trench portion includes a longitudinal trench portion formed along the length direction of the food receiving portion, a first transverse trench portion formed between the central support portion and the front support portion, and a second transverse trench portion formed between the central support portion and the rear support portion.

[0009] In one embodiment, each of the first central support and the second central support includes a central support portion protruding upward from the bottom portion and a side support portion protruding laterally from the first side or the second side.

[0010] In one embodiment, the food tray comprises a flange portion forming an upper rim and having at least one food receiving portion located on the inner side thereof, and a handle portion protruding outwardly from the flange portion.

[0011] In one embodiment, the front support member or the rear support member includes a first auxiliary support member and a second auxiliary support member that are partitioned left and right by the trench member and protrude from the bottom member.

[0012] In addition, the first auxiliary support member may be connected to the first side, and the second auxiliary support member may be connected to the second side.

[0013] Additionally, the front support member or the rear support member may further include an inner support member protruding from the bottom portion and positioned closer to the front portion or the rear portion than the first auxiliary support member and the second auxiliary support member.

[0014] In addition, the inner support portion may be connected to the front portion or the rear portion.

[0015] In one embodiment, the first auxiliary support member and the second auxiliary support member may be spaced apart from the inner support member by the trench member.

[0016] In one embodiment, the upper surface of the first auxiliary support member and the second auxiliary support member may be connected to the upper surface of the inner support member.

[0017] In one embodiment, the front support member includes a first front corner member and a second front corner member, respectively, in the connection portion between the first side member and the front member and the connection portion between the second side member and the front member, and each of the first front corner member and the second front corner member includes a first front corner support surface and a second front corner support surface arranged diagonally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the food member to support the side of the food member introduced into the food member.

[0018] In one embodiment, the rear support member includes a first rear corner member and a second rear corner member, respectively, in the connection portion between the first side member and the rear member and the connection portion between the second side member and the rear member, and each of the first rear corner member and the second rear corner member includes a first rear corner support surface and a second rear corner support surface arranged diagonally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the food member to support the side of the food member introduced into the food member.

[0019] According to the present invention, it can be used in high-temperature environments such as air fryers or ovens as well as microwave ovens, and allows for crispy food cooking without compromising texture due to oil leakage during the cooking of fried products, and enables uniform heating.

[0020] The food tray according to the present invention can be provided to consumers in a packaged state containing instant food, so consumers can open the packaging and directly insert the food tray containing instant food into a cooking appliance, thereby increasing convenience of use.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food tray according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a food tray according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the bottom.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a food tray according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a food receiving portion provided in a food tray according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view including a longitudinal cross-section (a cross-section in the AA' direction of FIG. 1) of a food receiving portion provided in a food tray according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view including a transverse cross-section (BB' direction cross-section of FIG. 1) of a food receiving portion provided in a food tray according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the state in which food is placed in a food receiving portion provided in a food tray according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view (cross-section in the CC' direction of FIG. 7) of a food receiving portion provided in a food tray according to one embodiment of the present invention with food placed in it.

[0029] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, it should be noted that in assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing, the same components are given the same reference numeral whenever possible, even if they are shown in different drawings. Furthermore, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known components or functions may obscure the essence of the present invention, such detailed description is omitted. Additionally, while preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below, the technical concept of the present invention is not limited or restricted thereto and can be modified and implemented in various ways by those skilled in the art.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a food tray according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from the bottom, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of a food tray according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, FIG. 4 is a plan view of a food receiving portion provided in a food tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective view including a longitudinal cross-section (cross-section in the AA' direction of FIG. 1) of a food receiving portion provided in a food tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view including a transverse cross-section (cross-section in the BB' direction of FIG. 1) of a food receiving portion provided in a food tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] The food tray (1) according to the present invention can be used to hold food and cook the food using a cooking appliance such as an air fryer, microwave oven, or oven. The food tray (1) may be provided separately from the food or provided in a packaged state containing the food. For example, the food and the food tray (1) may be provided separately, and the user may place the food into the food receiving portion (10) of the food tray (1) and then cook it using a cooking appliance. Alternatively, the food may be placed into the food receiving portion (10) of the food tray (1) and provided in a packaged state, and the user may remove the packaging and then place the food tray (1) containing the food into a cooking appliance to cook the food.

[0032] These food trays (1) can be manufactured using heat-resistant plastic or pulp. For example, the food tray (1) can be made of CPET (Crystallized Polyethylene Terephthalate) material. The food tray (1) can be formed by injection molding or press processing within a mold of a predetermined shape.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the food tray (1) includes a flange portion (3) forming an upper edge and at least one food receiving portion (10) formed inside the flange portion (3). A handle portion (5) protruding outwardly may be formed on the flange portion (3). FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrates that four food receiving portions (10) are provided inside the flange portion (3), and a separating wall (7) is formed between adjacent food receiving portions (10); however, the number and arrangement of the food receiving portions (10) may be changed as needed.

[0034] In addition, in FIGS. 1 to 3, the two inner food receiving portions (10) and the two outer food receiving portions (10) are shown with their internal shapes rotated 180 degrees, but it is also possible for the multiple food receiving portions (10) to be arranged in the same direction or arranged in a zigzag pattern relative to each other.

[0035] In the food tray (1) of the present invention, the configuration of the food receiving portion (10) is characterized by ensuring that the food introduced into the cooking appliance is heated uniformly and that the texture is not compromised. The food introduced into the food receiving portion (10) is not limited, but examples include dumplings or fried foods. In the case of foods fried in oil, such as pan-fried dumplings, fried dumplings, or fried chicken, when heated or reheated in a cooking appliance such as an air fryer or microwave oven, problems such as the oil contained in the food leaking out and the food becoming soggy occur. In this regard, the food tray (1) according to the present invention is characterized by including a food receiving portion (10) that supports the food stably while reducing the contact area with the food to ensure even heating, and collects the oil leaking from the food downwards to maintain a crispy texture.

[0036] The configuration of the food receiving portion (10) will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

[0037] The food receiving section (10) forms a space for receiving food with an open top. The food receiving section (10) includes a first side section (12), a second side section (14), a front section (16), a rear section (18), and a bottom section (19) to form a space for receiving food (food receiving space). The first side section (12) and the second side section (14) are arranged to face each other, and the front and rear of the first side section (12) and the second side section (14) are connected by the front section (16) and the rear section (18) to form a wall that forms the perimeter of the food receiving section (10), and the lower parts of the first side section (12), the second side section (14), the front section (16), and the rear section (18) are connected to the bottom section (19) so that the bottom section (19) forms the bottom surface of the food receiving section (10). In the above description, 'front' and 'rear' are not intended to limit the front and rear of the food receiving section (10), and it is also possible to understand that the rear section (18) becomes the front and the front section (16) becomes the rear. Additionally, in the description of the food receiving section (10), the direction connecting the front section (16) and the rear section (18) is described as the 'length direction,' and the direction connecting the first side section (12) and the second side section (14) is described as the 'width direction.'

[0038] The food receiving portion (10) includes a central support portion (20), a front support portion (30), and a rear support portion (40), and a trench portion (50) is formed on the bottom surface of the food receiving portion (10). The trench portion (50) may include a longitudinal trench portion (52) formed along the length direction of the food receiving portion (10), and first and second transverse trench portions (54, 56) formed along the width direction of the food receiving portion (10) between the central support portion (20) and the front support portion (30) and between the central support portion (20) and the rear support portion (40).

[0039] The central support member (20) is provided at an approximately central position in the longitudinal direction of the food receiving member (10) and includes a first central support member (22) connected to the first side member (12) and protruding from the bottom member (19), and a second central support member (24) connected to the second side member (14) and protruding from the bottom member (19).

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the first central support member (22) and the second central support member (24) includes a central support member (26) protruding upward from the bottom member (19) and a side support member (28) protruding laterally from the first side member (12) or the second side member (14). When the central support member (26) and the side support member (28) are connected, the shape resembles a sofa with a backrest.

[0041] The central support portion (26) of the first central support portion (22) and the central support portion (26) of the second central support portion (24) are spaced apart with the longitudinal trench portion (52) in between.

[0042] The front support portion (30) is formed on one side in the longitudinal direction of the food receiving portion (10), and the rear support portion (40) is formed on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the food receiving portion (10).

[0043] In one embodiment, the front support member (30) includes a first front support member (32), a second front support member (34), a first front corner member (36), a second front corner member (38), and a front inner support member (39).

[0044] The first front support member (32) is connected to the first side member (12) and protrudes from the bottom member (19), and is formed between the first central support member (22) and the first transverse trench member (54). The second front support member (34) is connected to the second side member (14) and protrudes from the bottom member (19), and is formed between the second central support member (24) and the first transverse trench member (54). A longitudinal trench member (52) extends between the first front support member (32) and the second front support member (34).

[0045] The first front corner portion (36) is provided at the connection point between the first side portion (12) and the front portion (16). The first front corner portion (36) has a first front corner support surface (36a) having a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the food receiving portion (10).

[0046] The second front corner portion (38) is provided at the connection point between the second side portion (14) and the front portion (16). The second front corner portion (38) has a second front corner support surface (38a) having a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the food receiving portion (10).

[0047] The front inner support portion (39) is formed protruding from the bottom portion (19) between the first front corner portion (36) and the second front corner portion (38) at the front end of the longitudinal trench portion (52). In one embodiment, the front inner support portion (39) may be formed in a state connected to the front portion (16).

[0048] In one embodiment, the rear support member (40) includes a first rear support member (42), a second rear support member (44), a first rear corner member (46), a second rear corner member (48), and a rear inner support member (49).

[0049] The first rear support member (42) is connected to the first side member (12) and protrudes from the bottom member (19), and is formed between the first central support member (22) and the second transverse trench member (56). The second rear support member (44) is connected to the second side member (14) and protrudes from the bottom member (19), and is formed between the second central support member (24) and the second transverse trench member (56). A longitudinal trench member (52) extends between the first rear support member (42) and the second rear support member (44).

[0050] The first rear corner portion (46) is provided at the connection point between the first side portion (12) and the rear portion (18). The first rear corner portion (46) has a first rear corner support surface (46a) having a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the food receiving portion (10).

[0051] The second rear corner portion (48) is provided at the connection point between the second side portion (14) and the rear portion (18). The second rear corner portion (48) has a second rear corner support surface (48a) having a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the food receiving portion (10).

[0052] The rear inner support portion (49) is formed protruding from the bottom portion (19) between the first rear corner portion (46) and the second rear corner portion (48) at the rear end of the longitudinal trench portion (52). In one embodiment, the rear inner support portion (49) may be formed in a state connected to the rear portion (18).

[0053] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the rear support member (40), the first rear support member (42), the second rear support member (44), and the rear inner support member (49) may be formed with their upper surfaces connected to each other. This differs from the front support member (30) in that the first front support member (32) and the second front support member (34) are formed protrudingly separated from the front inner support member (39).

[0054] In the present invention, it is possible for the rear support member (40) to be configured with the same configuration as the front support member (30), or for the front support member (30) to be configured with the same configuration as the rear support member (40). In the present invention, the first front support member (32) and the first rear support member (42) may be referred to as the 'first auxiliary support member', the second front support member (34) and the second rear support member (44) may be referred to as the 'second auxiliary support member', the first front corner member (36) and the first rear corner member (46) may be referred to as the 'first corner member', the second front corner member (38) and the second rear corner member (48) may be referred to as the 'second corner member', and the front inner support member (39) and the rear inner support member (49) may be referred to as the 'inner support member'.

[0055] FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a state in which food is placed in a food receiving portion provided in a food tray according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view (cross-section in the CC' direction of FIG. 7) of a state in which food is placed in a food receiving portion provided in a food tray according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, food (100), such as pan-fried dumplings or fried dumplings, is placed in the food receiving portion (10) of the food tray (1).

[0057] The bottom surface of the food (100) is supported by the central support portion (26) of the first central support portion (22) and the second central support portion (24), the first and second front support portions (32, 34), and the first and second rear support portions (42, 44). Additionally, the front side bottom surface and the rear side bottom surface of the food (100) may be supported by the front inner support portion (39) and the rear inner support portion (49).

[0058] The side near the center of the food (100) may be supported by the side support (28) of each of the first central support (22) and the second central support (24). Additionally, both sides near the front of the food (100) may be supported by the first front corner support surface (36a) of the first front corner section (36) and / or the second front corner support surface (38a) of the second front corner section (38). Both sides near the rear of the food (100) may be supported by the first rear corner support surface (46a) of the first rear corner section (46) and / or the second rear corner support surface (48a) of the second rear corner section (48).

[0059] Referring to FIG. 7, the first and second front corner support surfaces (36a, 38a) and the first and second rear corner support surfaces (46a, 48a) may be configured as vertical surfaces forming a predetermined angle (α) with respect to the longitudinal direction (L) of the food receiving portion (10).

[0060] When a food tray (1) with food (100) placed in a food receiving section (10) is placed in an air fryer, microwave oven, or oven for cooking, the oil leaking from the food (100) flows down into a trench section (50) formed to form a groove on the bottom surface of the food receiving section (10), so that the texture of the food (100) is not compromised by the oil and a crispy texture can be achieved.

[0061] Additionally, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the side near the center of the food (100) is supported by the side support (28) of the first and second central support members (22, 24), so that a gap is formed between the food (100) and the first side (12) and between the food (100) and the second side (14). Accordingly, the hot air that heats the food (100) moves to the lower side of the food (100) through the space between the food (100) and the first side (12) or the second side (14), and the hot air can move into the empty space of the first and second transverse trench members (54, 56) and the longitudinal trench member (52), thereby enabling even heat transfer to the food (100).

[0062] In addition, the front and rear sides of the food (100) are supported by the first front corner support surface (36a) and the second front corner support surface (38a), and the first rear corner support surface (46a) and the second rear corner support surface (48a), so that the food (100) can be stably positioned within the food receiving portion (10) without falling over sideways.

[0063] The foregoing description is merely an illustrative explanation of the technical concept of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to make various modifications, changes, and substitutions within the scope of the essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention and the accompanying drawings are intended to explain, not limit, the technical concept of the present invention, and the scope of the technical concept of the present invention is not limited by such embodiments and accompanying drawings. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical concepts within an equivalent scope shall be interpreted as being included within the scope of rights of the present invention.

[0064] <Explanation of Symbols>

[0065] 1 : Food tray 3 : Flange section

[0066] 5 : Handle part 7 : Separator wall

[0067] 10: Food receiving section 12: First side

[0068] 14: Second side 16: Front

[0069] 18: Rear 19: Bottom

[0070] 20: Central support 30: Front support

[0071] 32: 1st front support part 34: 2nd front support part

[0072] 36: 1st front corner section 38: 2nd front corner section

[0073] 39: Front inner support 40: Rear support

[0074] 42: 1st rear support part 44: 2nd rear support part

[0075] 46: 1st rear corner 48: 2nd rear corner

[0076] 49 : Rear inner support section 50 : Trench section

Claims

1. A food tray capable of receiving food and being placed into a cooking appliance, The above food tray includes at least one food receiving section, and The above food receiving portion is, A food receiving space comprising a first side and a second side facing each other, a front and a rear portion connecting both ends of the first side and the second side, respectively, and a bottom portion forming a bottom surface; A central support member comprising a first central support member connected to the first side and protruding upward from the bottom portion, and a second central support member connected to the second side and protruding upward from the bottom portion; A front support formed on the front side of the central support along the longitudinal direction of the food receiving portion; A rear support formed on the rear side of the central support along the longitudinal direction of the food receiving portion; and A trench formed on the bottom surface of the food receiving space to partition the first central support and the second central support, partition the central support and the front support, and partition the central support and the rear support; A food tray characterized by including 2. In Paragraph 1, A food tray characterized by the above trench portion forming a groove on the bottom surface of the food receiving space.

3. In Paragraph 2, A food tray characterized in that the trench section comprises a longitudinal trench section formed along the length direction of the food receiving section, a first transverse trench section formed between the central support section and the front support section, and a second transverse trench section formed between the central support section and the rear support section.

4. In Paragraph 1, A food tray characterized in that each of the first central support and the second central support includes a central support portion protruding upward from the bottom portion and a side support portion protruding laterally from the first side or the second side.

5. In Paragraph 1, The food tray is characterized by comprising a flange portion that forms an upper rim and has at least one food receiving portion located on the inner side thereof, and a handle portion that protrudes outwardly from the flange portion.

6. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 5, The above-mentioned front support or the above-mentioned rear support is, A food tray characterized by including a first auxiliary support and a second auxiliary support that are partitioned left and right by the trench portion and protrude from the bottom portion.

7. In Paragraph 6, A food tray characterized in that the first auxiliary support member is connected to the first side and the second auxiliary support member is connected to the second side.

8. In Paragraph 6, A food tray characterized in that the front support member or the rear support member further includes an inner support member protruding from the bottom portion and positioned closer to the front portion or the rear portion than the first auxiliary support member and the second auxiliary support member.

9. In Paragraph 8, A food tray characterized by the inner support portion being connected to the front portion or the rear portion.

10. In Paragraph 8, A food tray characterized in that the first auxiliary support member and the second auxiliary support member are spaced apart from the inner support member by the trench member.

11. In Paragraph 8, A food tray characterized in that the upper surface of the first auxiliary support member and the second auxiliary support member is connected to the upper surface of the inner support member.

12. In Paragraph 6, The front support member includes a first front corner member and a second front corner member, respectively, at the connection portion between the first side and the front member and at the connection portion between the second side and the front member. A food tray characterized in that each of the first front corner portion and the second front corner portion includes a first front corner support surface and a second front corner support surface arranged diagonally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the food receiving portion to support the side of the food introduced into the food receiving portion.

13. In Paragraph 6, The rear support member includes a first rear corner member and a second rear corner member, respectively, at the connection portion between the first side and the rear member and at the connection portion between the second side and the rear member. A food tray characterized in that each of the first rear corner portion and the second rear corner portion includes a first rear corner support surface and a second rear corner support surface arranged diagonally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the food receiving portion to support the side of the food introduced into the food receiving portion.

Images