GB2481799A

GB2481799A - Food Packaging Tray with Hinged Sidewalls

Info

Publication number: GB2481799A
Application number: GB1011270.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Taylor; David Summerlee
Original assignee: ANSON PACKAGING Ltd
Current assignee: ANSON PACKAGING Ltd
Priority date: 2010-07-05
Filing date: 2010-07-05
Publication date: 2012-01-11
Also published as: GB201011270D0

Abstract

Food packaging 10 comprising a planar 20 base receiving the foodstuff 30 e.g. sandwiches, comprising a sidewall 50, 70 having one edge hinged to the base and being unattached at its other edges, movable between a flat position coplanar with the base and a position inclined to the base e.g. vertical (Figures 2, 4A, 4B). The side wall may have a shallow, flange U-shaped in cross section and extending perpendicularly to the plane of the wall along opposed edges. The base may have a similar flange or the flange may reduce in height towards the centre. There may be two sidewalls on opposite sides of the base and they may be lockable in the inclined position by means of a releasable, snap-fit mechanism 60 The mechanism may be respective protrusions on the base or base flange and sidewall of sidewall flange which engage along their lengths(Figures 3A, 3B)., or a post and recess (Figure 5). The packaging may be vacuum formed, transparent plastic, e.g. APET, PVC, polypropylene or polystyrene and wrapped e.g. in transparent film.

Description

TITLE: PACKAGING

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to packaging for storing foodstuff, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to vacuum-formed packaging comprising plastics material.

BACKGROUND ART

Plastics-based packaging is well known in the art as a means for storing foodstuff. In particular, it is known to provide packaging for sandwiches known as a "skillet" or "wedge" and having the form of a triangular prism, the prism being open on one of the sides between the ends for insertion of one or more sandwiches such that the plane of the sandwich lies parallel to the triangular ends of the prism. A transparent foil or a lid can then be used to close the open side, thereby sealing the packaging and keep the sandwiches in place. Prior to being filled, open skillets can be nested in one another for storage.

An alternative packaging, typically made of cardboard, has the form of a prism with substantially square ends, the prism being open on two contiguous sides for insertion of a sandwich such that the plane of the sandwich lies parallel to one of the remaining sides of the prism. The filled packaging is then wrapped in transparent film, thereby keeping the sandwiches in place as well as sealing the packaging. For storage, the two sides of the packaging may be folded together, this being enabled by hinges between the two sides and between each of the two sides and the two ends, each end further being formed with a further, central hinge.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided packaging for foodstuff, the packaging comprising: a planar base for receiving the foodstuff; and a side wall hinged along one edge to the base and unattached along its other edges, the side wall being moveable between a first position in which the side wall is substantially coplanar with the base and a second position in which the side wall lies inclined to the base.

By being hinged along one edge to the base but free along its other edges, the side wall can be placed in a position in which it is substantially coplanar with the base, thereby facilitating the loading of the base, e.g. with a free-standing foodstuff such as a sandwich. Once the base is loaded with the foodstuff, the side wall can be moved into an inclined position relative to the base in which it can provide support and/or protection for the foodstuff.

In one embodiment, the side wall in its second position is inclined so as to lie substantially perpendicular to the base. This may provide support to the side of a sandwich placed on the base.

The side wall may be configured to be releasably lockable to the base in the second position. This will increase the support and/or protection provided by the side wall.

The releasable locking mechanism may be located adjacent the hinge between the base and the side wall.

The mechanism may comprise a snap fit connection between the side wall and the base. The snap fit connection may comprise mutually engaging protuberances on the side wall and the base. The protuberances may be elongate and be configured to engage along their respective lengths.

The base may be polygonal, with a side wall being hinged to one edge of the polygon when viewed in plan. A second side wall may be hinged to another edge of the polygon, which may be located opposite that edge of the polygon to which the first side wall is attached.

In particular, the base may be rectangular and a side wall may be hinged to one or both of the shorter edges of the rectangle. The side wall may itself be rectangular, with its longer edge being hinged to a shorter edge of the rectangular base.

A side wall may have a flange extending perpendicularly to the plane of the side wall along at least one edge of that wall. Preferably, the flange extends along an edge of the side wall running perpendicularly to the hinge. Flanges may extend along opposed edges of the side wall. Such flanges provide extra stiffness to the wall and may also provide extra support and/or protection for the packaged item in a plane perpendicular to both the base and the side wall.

Preferably, however, the flange is relatively shallow, extending approximately 10% across the width of the base when the side wall is in its second position.

However, stiffness may be increased by making the flange U-shape in cross section. The width of the flange in cross-section substantially may be equal to its height.

The flange may be configured to be releasably lockable to the base and may include one half of a snap fit connection with the base.

The base may also have a flange extending perpendicularly to the plane of the base along at least one edge of the base perpendicular to the hinge. Again, such a flange may provide extra stiffness to the base and may also provide extra support and/or protection for the packaged item in a plane perpendicular to both the base and the side wall. The flange may be configured to be releasably lockable to the side wall and may include one half of a snap fit connection with the side wall.

The height of at least part of the flange on the base may be the same as the height of the flange on the side wall. Away from those edge(s) of the base hinged to the side walls, the height of the flange above the base may be reduced to approximately 50% of the height of the flange on the side wall, so as to increase visibility of the product supported on the top surface of the base.

Where the snap fit connection comprise elongate protuberances, the respective axes of elongation may extend at an angle, advantageously 45 degrees, to the plane of the respective base and side wall such that the protuberances engage in a snap fit when the side wall is perpendicular to the base.

The packaging may comprise material that is transparent, thereby increasing the visibility of the foodstuff in the packaging. The packaging may comprise plastics material, in particular plastics material chosen from the non-exhaustive group of: APET, PVC, polypropylene and polystyrene. Not only can such materials be transparent, they can also be moulded, advantageously by vacuum forming, to provide features such as snap fit connections that may be much more difficult to form in other materials such as cardboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1A is a perspective view showing both side walls of the packaging in the first position relative to the base; Figure lB is a front elevation of the packaging shown in figure lA; Figure lC is a top, plan view of the packaging shown in figure lA; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing one wall in the second position relative to the base; Figures 3A and 3B are perspective detail views of the snap fit connection between base and side wall in unlocked and locked positions respectively; Figures 4A,B and C are perspective, front and plan views respectively of the packaging with both side walls in the second position relative to the base; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the packaging.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT

Referring to figures lA-C, packaging tray 10 comprises a planar base 20 for receiving foodstuff 30, in this case a stack of two sandwiches in which the plane of the sandwiches lies parallel to the base.

Along one edge 21 of the base 20 is attached a side wall 50 by means of a fold line 40 acting as a hinge.

This side wall is unattached and free along its other edges 51,52 and 53, thereby allowing it to sit in the position shown in figure 1A in which it lies parallel to the base 20. This first position allows greater access to the base, thereby facilitating the loading of the base with the foodstuff 30.

Once the base 20 is loaded with the foodstuff, the side wall 50 can be folded up about fold line 40 (as indicated by arrow A) into a second position in which it is inclined relative to the base 20. As shown in figure 2, the side wall 50 lies substantially perpendicular to the base. In this second position, the wall 50 can provide lateral support for the sandwich and/or protection for the top of the sandwich. The packaging can then be wrapped, typically in a transparent plastic film by means of a flow-wrapping process. The base and side walls may help to hold the wrapping film off the foodstuff, thereby ensuring that the foodstuff is not crushed by the film.

The side wall 50 is releasably lockable to the base in the second position by means of a releasable locking mechanism 60 located adjacent the hinge 40 between the base and the side wall. As shown in figures 3A and 3B, the mechanism comprises a snap fit connection between the side wall 50 and the base 20, specifically an undercut clip fit comprising mutually engaging protuberarices 61,62 on the side wall 50 and base 20 respectively. The protuberances 61,62 are elongate and are configured to engage along their respective lengths.

Referring back to the plan view of figure 10, base is a polygon, having a rectangular shape with longer edges 22,24 and shorter edges 21,23. Side wall 50 is also rectangular, with its longer edge 51 being hinged to the shorter edge 21 of the rectangular base 20. For a base having a length of 125mm and a width of 100mm, a side wall may typically have a width of 100mm and a length of 72mm.

Whilst packaging according to the invention may only require one inclined side wall, the embodiment shown in the figures has a second side wall 70 hinged (at second fold line 41) to the other, opposite shorter edge 23 of the base. This second side wall 70 can be moved from the first position shown in figure 1A in which it lies parallel to the base 20 into the second position shown in figure 4A in which it is inclined and perpendicular to the base 20, thereby providing further support and/or protection to the foodstuff 30.

As shown in figures lB and 1C, the side walls 50,70 and base 20 have flanges 81-86 extending perpendicularly to their respective planes. The flanges extend along those edges of the walls and base that run perpendicularly to the fold lines 40,41. These flanges provide extra stiffness to the wall and base and, as illustrated in figure 4A, may also provide extra support and/or protection for the packaged item in a plane perpendicular to both the base and the side wall.

However, the flanges are relatively shallow so as not to obstruct the view of the product. The side wall flanges typically have a height perpendicular to the plane of their respective side walls 50,70 (indicated at Hi in figure 3A) such that they each extend approximately iO% across the width of the base 20 (longer edge 22 in figure iC) when each side wall is in its second position.

Thus for a base length of i25mm, the flanges typically have a height Hi of i2mm.

As indicated at 90 in figure 3B, the flanges are (inverted) U-shape in cross-section, the walls 9i,92 of the U tapering outwards. The width W of the U-shape is substantially equal to its height Hi, a flange of H=i2mm typically having a width W of 10mm.

As shown in figure iB, the flanges on the base, at least in those regions of the flanges adjacent the hinges 40,4i, have the same height Hi as the flanges on the side walls. The inter-engaging elongate protuberances 6i,62 iS of the undercut clip fit 60 are formed in those regions, the respective axes of elongation extend at an angle, advantageously 45 degrees, to the plane of the respective base and side wall such that the protuberances engage in a snap fit when the side wall is in a vertical orientation relative to the horizontal base.

Away from those regions, the height of the flanges is reduced by 501 (as indicated at H2 in figure iB) so as to increase visibility of the foodstuff supported on the base.

Visibility is also facilitated by forming the packaging from material that is transparent, whilst manufacturability is facilitated by packaging that comprises plastics material, preferably vacuum-formed, such as APET, PVC, polypropylene and polystyrene.

Figure 5 shows a packaging tray 110 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Features common to the packaging tray 10 and the packaging tray 110 share the same reference numbers. The packaging tray employs a different releasable locking mechanism 60 to the packaging tray 10. The releasable locking mechanism 60 of the packaging tray 110 includes a rounded post 112 and a corresponding recess 114 in which the rounded post 112 is a friction fit when the side walls 50, 70 move from the first position (parallel to the base 20) to the second position (perpendicular to the base 20).

Claims

CLAIMS1. Packaging for foodstuff, the packaging comprising: a planar base for receiving the foodstuff; and a side wall hinged along one edge to the base and unattached along its other edges, the side wall being moveable between a first position in which the side wall is substantially coplanar with the base and a second position in which the side wall lies inclined to the base.
2. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 1, wherein the side wall in its second position is inclined so as to lie substantially perpendicular to the base. l5

0
3. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 1 or C') claim 2, wherein the side wall is configured to be releasably lockable to the base in the second position.
4. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 3, wherein a releasable locking mechanism is located adjacent the hinge between the base and the side wall.
5. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 4, wherein the mechanism comprises a snap fit connection between the side wall and the base.
6. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 5, wherein the snap fit connection comprises mutually engaging protuberances on the side wall and the base.
7. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 6, wherein the protuberances are elongate and configured to engage along their respective lengths.
8. Packaging for foodstuff according to any preceding claim, wherein the base is polygonal; with a side wall being hinged to one edge of the polygon when viewed in plan.
9. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 8, wherein a second side wall is hinged to another edge of the polygon located opposite that edge of the polygon to 0 15 which the first side wall is attached. 0*)

C\J
10. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the base is rectangular and a side wall is hinged to one or both of the shorter edges of the rectangle.
11. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 10, wherein the side wall is rectangular, with its longer edge being hinged to a shorter edge of the rectangular base.
12. Packaging for foodstuff according to any preceding claim, wherein a side wall has a flange extending perpendicularly to the plane of the side wall along at least one edge of that wall.
13. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 11, wherein the flange extends along *an edge of the side wall running perpendicularly to the hinge.
14. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 13, wherein flanges extend along opposed edges of the side wall.
15. Packaging for foodstuff according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the flange is relatively shallow1 extending approximately 10% across the width of 0 15 the base when the side wall is in its second position. 0*)
16. Packaging for foodstuff according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the flange is U-shape in cross section.
17. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 16, wherein the width of the flange in cross-section is substantially equal to its height.
18. Packaging for foodstuff according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the flange is configured to be releasably lockable to the base and includes one half of a snap fit connection with the base.
19. Packaging for foodstuff according to any preceding claim, wherein the base has a flange extending perpendicularly to the plane of the base along at least one edge of the base perpendicular to the hinge.
20. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 19, wherein the flange is configured to be releasably lockable to the side wall and includes one half of *a snap fit connection with the side wall.
21. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the height of at least part of the flange on the base is the same as the height of a flange 0 15 on the side wall. 0*)
22. Packaging for foodstuff according to any one of claims 19 to 21 wherein, away from an edge of the base hinged to a side walls, the height of the flange above the base is reduced to approximately 50% of the height of the flange on the side wall.
23. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 7, wherein the respective axes of elongation extend at an angle, advantageously 45 degrees, to the plane of the respective base and side wall such that the protuberances engage in a snap fit when the side wall is perpendicular to the base.
24. Packaging for foodstuff according to any preceding claim and comprising material that is transparent.
25. Packaging for foodstuff according to any preceding claim and comprising plastics material.
26. Packaging for foodstuff according to claim 25, wherein the plastics material is selected from the group of APET, PVC, polypropylene and polystyrene. r r (0 0*) cs'J