GB2565060A

GB2565060A - Packaging

Info

Publication number: GB2565060A
Application number: GB1712174.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Taylor Adam
Original assignee: Leeways Packaging Services Ltd
Current assignee: Leeways Packaging Services Ltd
Priority date: 2017-07-28
Filing date: 2017-07-28
Publication date: 2019-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 2037-07-28
Also published as: GB2565060B; GB201712174D0; GB2565060A8

Abstract

A packaging 10 comprising a compartment 12 for receiving food and a longitudal receiving area 14 within the packaging 10 for a utensil 100. The receiving area 14, possibly integrally formed with the packaging 10, comprises at least one detent 16 for engaging the cutlery 100 and first and second pockets 20, 22 at either end of the receiving area 14. Opposite the detent 16, each pocket 20, 22, has a side wall 20a, 22a forming bearing areas to either side of the detent 16 for supporting end portions 102, 104 of the utensil 100. The receiving area may be adjacent to and adjoining the food compartment 12 and could also contain a support 18. The detent 16 may be lateral and centrally positioned and an upper end of the detent 16 may be sloped. The pockets 20, 22 could be configured for receiving either end of the utensil 100. The packaging 10 may have a lid. A die or mould could be used to manufacture the packaging 10.

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging, and particularly but not exclusively to a food packaging for holding a utensil.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Some packaged foodstuffs such as salad or prepared fruit include an eating utensil in or on the packaging. This makes it convenient for a consumer to eat the food on the move, and provides a fully disposable product. The utensil can either be provided in the same cavity as the food, or in a separate cavity within the body of the packaging, or in the lid of the packaging.

Until now, it has been known to provide a plastics tray, for example, a thermoformed plastic tray, within an open cavity to contain a utensil. In some arrangements, spaced undercuts or clips are provided for engaging both ends of the utensil, or a single clip may be provided to hold an end of a utensil. All of these designs give rise to problems, when utilised on a food packaging production line.

For example, the utensil is often not held securely and can jump out when on a conveyor. Also, engaging a utensil at both ends is a two-handed operation, is fiddly and takes valuable time. It has often been found that utensils also rattle loose from their engaged position during transit in the distribution process.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved packaging that reduces or substantially obviates the aforementioned problems.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a packaging comprising a compartment for receiving a foodstuff, a receiving area having a longitudinal extent within the packaging for a utensil, at least one detent in the receiving area for engaging the utensil, and first and second pockets at either end of the receiving area, a side wall of each pocket forming first and second bearing areas to either side of the detent and opposing the detent, for supporting end portions of the utensil, the detent and bearing areas together being configured for flexing the utensil and/or the receiving area to resiliently hold the utensil within the receiving area.

Advantageously, the position of the detent between the bearing areas enables a utensil to be pushed into and held in the receiving area of the packaging in a single-handed operation. Overall, this reduces the time needed to provide utensils in each item of packaging on a food packaging production line, because each utensil is held in place once inserted into the receiving area. Also, a consumer can easily disconnect the utensil from the receiving area with one hand by pulling on it.

Jarring or jolts of the packaging along the production line or during transport do not cause the utensil to become separated from the packaging. This is because the utensil is resiliently held. The geometry of the detent and bearing areas impart some flex to the utensil. The receiving area itself also has some resilience. This is important where the utensil is less flexible, for example because it is thicker. Securing the utensil in the receiving area also prevents the utensil from falling into and becoming contaminated by the foodstuff prior to use.

The term ‘pocket’ should be interpreted as meaning a space with at least two side walls, for receiving an end of the utensil.

The receiving area may be integrally formed with the packaging. This enables manufacture of the packaging in a single stage. For example, the packaging may be thermoformed or injection-moulded.

The receiving area may include a rear wall opposing the pocket side walls. The detent may extend from the rear wall of the receiving area. The detent may be positioned substantially centrally in the receiving area.

Putting the detent in the middle of the receiving area enables the detent to flex the centre of the utensil in one direction, whilst the bearing areas flex ends of the utensil in the opposing direction. The utensil is preferably flexed substantially horizontally in the upright orientation of the packaging.

An upper end portion of the detent may be sloped. The detent may engage a rear portion of the utensil, an upper portion of the utensil, or both.

The sloped detent makes it easier to force the utensil downwardly over the end of the detent, to be held in the receiving area. The bearing areas engage the utensil once it has been forced into engagement with the detent.

The detent and the bearing areas may be disposed on opposite sides of a transverse plane bisecting the receiving area. In other words, the detent (or most of it) is located to one side of the receiving area, and the bearing areas are located on the other side.

Typically the utensil is made of plastic, and so is resilient to flexing. However, there is not significant overlap between the detent and the bearing areas, when viewed from the side of the receiving area. This is because too much overlap would require excessive flexing of the utensil, beyond its elastic limit. It would also require more careful placement of the utensil in situ, since the barrier to engaging the detent would be greater. The detent and bearing areas are configured to impart non-permanent curvature to the utensil.

The first and second pockets may be configured for receiving either end of the utensil. The pockets may be mirror images of each other.

Typically one end of the utensil is a fork head, a spork head, or a spoon head. The other end of the utensil is the end of the handle, which is smaller than the head end. Providing both pockets with a shape and depth to accommodate the larger end of the utensil enables the utensil to be placed in the receiving area either way around.

The receiving area may include a support disposed below the detent, for supporting the utensil.

This ensures that the handle of the utensil is supported whilst the detent engages a side and/or top portion of the utensil. This prevents downward movement of the utensil relative to the detent (when already engaged therewith), and so the utensil cannot rebound past the detent following a bump or jolt to the packaging.

The detent may be arranged laterally. The detent may extend to either side of the support.

The compartment may be disposed adjacent to the receiving area. The compartment may adjoin the receiving area. The receiving area and the compartment may be joined at the side of the receiving area opposing the detent.

Linking the compartment and receiving area reduces the amount of material (e.g. plastic) required to form the packaging. This is because additional material is not required to form a wall isolating the receiving area from the compartment.

The packaging may be provided in combination with a utensil located in the receiving area. The utensil may have a co-operating portion for engagement with the detent.

The packaging may be sealed by a cover, for example a lid or film. If the cover is nonremovable prior to purchase by a consumer, then foodstuff is added to the compartment before applying the cover.

The packaging may be food packaging. The utensil may be an eating utensil.

A mould or die configured for manufacturing the packaging may be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a food packaging;

Figure 2 shows the packaging of Figure 1 with a utensil in the receiving area;

Figure 3 shows a side view of the packaging of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 shows a side view of the packaging of Figure 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, an embodiment of a food packaging is indicated generally at 10. The packaging 10 is typically moulded from plastic, for example, thermoformed. The packaging 10 includes a main food compartment 12. The compartment 12 includes sidewalls 12a, 12c, a curved front wall 12b, a substantially upright rear wall 12d, and a flat base 12e. The base 12e is substantially square. The compartment 12 is open at the top, enabling food to be put in and taken out of the compartment 12. The walls 12a-d taper outwardly towards the top of the compartment 12, enabling stacking of multiple packaging. This also allows straightforward removal of the packaging 10 from the tool following thermoforming, for example. A rim 15 is provided around the periphery of the packaging 10.

The compartment 12 has flat side sections 12f, 12g, each having a step set inwardly of the rim 15. The steps each extend around the front of the packaging 10, forming a peripheral reinforcing for the rim 15. In other words, this provides rigidity proximate an upper end of the rim 15, to which a film or other lid (not shown) can be attached.

The packaging 10 also includes a receiving area, indicated generally at 14, for receiving a utensil 100 (see Figures 2 and 4). The receiving area 14 and utensil 100 are substantially matched in size. The receiving area 14 takes the form of a bay or tray next to the compartment 12. The receiving area 14 is adjoined to the compartment 12 in this embodiment. The receiving area 14 is positioned at an upper end of the packaging 10. The receiving area 14 is open at the top. The rim 15 bounds the openings of the receiving area 14 and the compartment 12.

The receiving area 14 includes a rear wall 14a. The rear wall 14a protrudes or extends into a central region of the receiving area 14, as shown in Figure 3. A detent or clip 16 is provided on the rear wall 14a. The detent 16 is arranged laterally. In this embodiment, there is just one detent 16, and it extends across the width of the protruding part of the rear wall 14a. The detent 16 protrudes from the rear wall 14a by approximately 3 mm in this embodiment. This provides an undercut 16b below the detent 16.

The detent 16 includes an upper face with a sloped end 16a. The sloped end 16a reduces the force required to push the utensil 100 past the detent 16 and into engagement with the detent 16 and the remainder of the receiving area 14.

The receiving area 14 further includes a central platform or support 18. The platform 18 is disposed adjacent to the detent 16. The platform 18 is substantially horizontal, and works together with the detent 16 to provide support to a central portion 106 of the utensil 100, as shown in Figure 2. The detent 16 is positioned approximately 4 mm above the platform 18. This allows for stacking of an empty packaging 10 in combination with a plurality of other packaging 10.

The detent 16 needs to be wide enough and long enough to prevent the utensil 100 moving out of its secured position. In this embodiment, the utensil 100 in this embodiment includes a rear recess (not shown) running along the central portion 106. The recess acts a co-operating means for the detent 16, which extends into it to help hold the utensil in place.

First and second pockets (or recesses) 20, 22 are provided in the receiving area 14, the first pocket being at one end and the second pocket being at another end. The pockets 20, 22 are adjacent to ends of the platform 18. The pockets 18, 20 extend rearwards of the protruding rear wall 14a, relative to the compartment 12. The pockets 20, 22 are substantially symmetrical about a transverse plane bisecting both the compartment 12 and receiving area 14.

In this embodiment, each pocket 20, 22 extends to a point lower than the platform 18. This accommodates the utensil 100 either way round in the packaging. This is because a head end 102 of the utensil 100 is larger than a handle end 104 of the utensil 100. A base of each pocket 20, 22 is curved to substantially match curvature of the head end of the utensil 100. This is needed where the utensil 100 includes a spoon, a fork, or a spork, for example.

The pockets 20, 22 include respective side walls 20a, 22a. These side walls 20a, 22a oppose the rear wall 14a of the receiving area. The side walls 20a, 22a taper outwardly away from the top of the receiving area 14. The corners of the side walls 20a, 22a are curved, to avoid injury when reaching for the utensil 100. For a transverse plane along the length of the receiving area 14, the detent 16 is located (at least predominantly) on one side of the plane, and the side walls 20a, 22a are located on the other side that plane.

The side walls 20a, 22a form part of respective lugs located between the pockets 20, 22 and the compartment 12. The size and shape of the lugs affects the amount of flex of the utensil in the receiving area 14. The size and shape of the lugs in this embodiment is selected to enable stacking of the packaging 10 as mentioned above in relation to the detent 16. For example, this may be useful in a thermoforming form/cut/stack production environment.

The pocket side walls 20a, 22a are not directly opposite the receiving area rear wall 14a. Instead, they are provided on either side of the receiving area rear wall 14a. This enables the detent 16 to bear outwardly on a central portion of the utensil 100. At the same time, the pocket side walls 20a, 22a provide bearing areas for bearing against ends of the utensil 100 in the other direction to the detent 16. This bends the utensil 100 within the receiving area, acting as a barrier to displacement of the utensil 100 from the receiving area. This barrier is negligible when manually removing the utensil 100, but prevents unintentional movement of the utensil 100 away from the receiving area 14.

The packaging 10 is manufactured by thermoforming in this embodiment. Any suitable plastic can be used to make the packaging 10. In another embodiment, the packaging could be formed by injection moulding, for example. These manufacturing techniques enable the packaging to be integrally formed.

Once the packaging 10 has been manufactured, a utensil 100 can be provided in the receiving area 14. In this case, the utensil 100 is manually placed in the receiving area 14 and pushed down, flexing the three walls 14a, 20a, 22a outwards so that the utensil clips into place when it meets the platform 18. The flexible walls 14a, 20a, 22a and detent 16 then bear against the utensil 100.

By holding the central part 106 of the utensil 100 against the walls 14a, 20a, 22a and platform 18, this substantially mitigates translational or rotational movement of the utensil along or about the cartesian axes, keeping it in place prior to use by the consumer. The packaging 10 can then be closed or sealed by a cover (e.g. a lid or film, not shown) with much greater certainty that the utensil 100 has not inadvertently left the receiving area, because it is held in place, allowing efforts for quality control and management to be directed elsewhere.

It will be appreciated that more than one utensil may be provided in some embodiments. The utensil may be a knife. For example, it may be necessary to provide a fork and a spoon, or a fork and a knife, in the receiving area. In such embodiments, the utensils may engage one another along their lengths, to minimise the space required. Therefore, the detent may engage one of the utensils in the pair, and the bearing areas may bear against the other of the utensils in the pair. In this case, the pair of utensils can be interpreted as a single utensil for the purposes of understanding its relation to the receiving area and corresponding features.

Some embodiments may include two or more detents. For example, two detents could be provided at either side of the rear wall 14a. In another example, a second detent could be provided above the detent 16, to engage the utensil 100 from above.

It will also be appreciated that the receiving area may flex to accommodate the utensil in some embodiments. The flex may be more pronounced in the utensil in the above embodiment, but in other embodiments the side walls of the receiving area and pockets may be more noticeably flexed than the utensil, when it is in situ. In either case, the utensil and receiving area exert bearing forces against each other, keeping the utensil in place.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of example only, and various changes and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A packaging comprising a compartment for receiving a foodstuff, a receiving area having a longitudinal extent within the packaging for a utensil, at least one detent in the receiving area for engaging the utensil, and first and second pockets at either end of the receiving area, a side wall of each pocket forming first and second bearing areas to either side of the detent and opposing the detent, for supporting end portions of the utensil, the detent and bearing areas together being configured for flexing the utensil and/or the receiving area to resiliently hold the utensil within the receiving area.

2. A packaging as claimed in claim 1, in which the receiving area is integrally formed with the packaging.

3. A packaging as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the receiving area includes a side wall opposing the pocket side walls, and the detent extends from the side wall of the receiving area.

4. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the detent is positioned substantially centrally in the receiving area.

5. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, in which an upper end portion of the detent is sloped.

6. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the detent and the bearing areas are disposed on opposite sides of a transverse plane bisecting the receiving area.

7. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first and second pockets are each configured for receiving either end of the utensil.

8. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the receiving area includes a support disposed below the detent, for supporting the utensil.

9. A packaging as claimed in claim 8, in which the detent is lateral and extends to either side of the support.

10. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the compartment is disposed adjacent to and adjoins the receiving area.

11. A packaging as claimed in claim 10, in which the receiving area and the compartment are adjoined at the side of the receiving area opposing the detent.

12. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, including a utensil within the receiving area.

13. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the packaging is closed or sealed by a cover.

14. A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the packaging is a food packaging.

15. A mould or die for manufacturing the packaging as claimed in any preceding claim.