Compartmented Food Tray with Angled Receptacles for Clean Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food packaging containers often cause frustration as they make it difficult to remove solid food products without breaking them, and result in excessive transfer of non-solid components onto the solid products, leading to a messy eating experience.
Innovation Solution
A tray design with compartments and angled receptacles that allow easy removal of solid food items and scraping off excess non-solid components, using angled walls and curved sidewalls to facilitate clean consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If solid food products are stacked on top of each other in a compartment, then the compartment can hold multiple food items, but it becomes hard for users to remove the solid food products without breaking them
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the container into multiple compartments, with each compartment holding a single solid food item. This segmentation allows users to access and remove individual items without disturbing others, eliminating the difficulty of extracting food from stacked arrangements while maintaining the ability to hold multiple food items in the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a new dimension by adding receptacles that extend from the side walls of compartments rather than stacking items vertically. This dimensional change allows food items to be arranged horizontally in separate compartments with side-access receptacles, enabling easy removal without vertical stacking constraints.
2Ease of operation
If users dip solid food into non-solid food product, then they can enjoy the combination, but they acquire excessive amount of non-solid food causing a mess
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful effect of excessive food transfer by providing a separate receptacle specifically for scraping off excess non-solid food. This receptacle is taken out from the main compartment and positioned separately, allowing users to scrape off excess dip or spread before consuming, thereby preventing mess without interfering with the dipping action.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary receptacle that serves as a buffer between the non-solid food compartment and the user's consumption. This intermediary structure allows users to transfer and control the amount of non-solid food, scraping off excess portions in the receptacle before applying to solid food, thus mediating the harmful excessive transfer effect.
3Reliability
If compartments are covered by membrane, then food products are protected, but membrane removal and food access becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary action by pre-forming access openings in the membrane covering each compartment. These openings are created during manufacturing, allowing users to easily access food items without having to manually pierce or remove the entire membrane, thus maintaining protection while facilitating convenient access.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a tray for holding a plurality of edible food products therein. The tray may include a top surface having a plurality of compartments extending downwardly therefrom in which a bottom wall of each compartment is generally parallel to the tray top surface. The tray may include at least one receptacle adjacent one of the at least one compartments in which a bottom wall of the at least one receptacle is angular with respect to the tray top surface. The tray may further include a first compartment of the plurality of compartments configured to house a solid food component therein, a second compartment of the plurality of compartments configured to house a non-solid food component therein, and at least the first and second compartments are covered by at least one membrane.