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Multi-topping tray container systemRelated Patent Categories: Food Or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, And Products, Packaged Or Wrapped Product, Packaged Product Is Animal FleshMulti-topping tray container system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070065545, Multi-topping tray container system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
PRIORITY [0001] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) and 37 C.F.R. Section 1.78, the present application claims priority to the provisional application entitled "Multi-Compartment Container System" by Terry Vovan (Application Ser. No. 60/718,781; attorney docket number 2005-6008) filed on Sep. 20, 2005. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to fast-food container system. More particularly, the invention relates to plastic food packaging that includes multi-topping tray compartments to facilitate the creation of a complete salad meal offering that is geared to the specific taste of the "fast food" consumer. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Consumers throughout the world are largely familiar with rigid plastic packaging that is used to protect and display food items such as sandwiches, salads and bakery items. These traditional roles of plastic packaging are now the minimum expected standards, and the requirements placed on plastic food packaging continue to expand as increasing demands are placed upon it. The multi-faceted properties include the ability to form the material, using a variety of methods, into numerous configurations. Such characteristics have increasingly allowed retailers to participate in the design and development of plastic packaging and provide detailed requirements relating to aspects such as product presentation and utility in response to consumer desires, and thereby add to the retailers brand presence and competitive differentiation. Strong influences such as the demand for convenience and versatility are shaping the future of packaging, with consumers gravitating toward packaged convenience items that minimize the impact on their behavior. [0004] Salads typically comprise a green vegetable such as lettuce or spinach and a condiment or dressing. It is typical for consumers to add one of more toppings such as bacon bits, croutons, sesame seeds, fruits and/or nuts for added nutrition and enjoyment all according to the desire and taste of the specific consumer. In order to make their desired salad, consumers often purchase the salad items separately and then mix them in the desired proportions in a separate tray. Alternatively, consumers may purchase combination packages that include a large primary flexible plastic bag into which is placed the green vegetable, as well as a condiment and toppings that are separately pre-packaged into smaller secondary flexible plastic bags. The use of flexible plastic packaging material for such combination package lacks in a number of areas. Firstly, unless the primary flexible bag is fully sealed and remains unperforated, the bag will collapse and the contents included the salad toppings will be crushed and damaged when packaged for transportation; secondly, fully sealing the bags mean that they need to be loosely arranged during bulk transportation to the markets thus requiring care in packaging and further reducing the density value of the shipment of; thirdly, the separate contents contained in the primary package are not easily visible since it is buried among the green vegetables and needs to be dug out in order to be used; and finally, the consumer will still need a separate tray or bowl in order to mix the contents in the desired proportions. It is further not typical that utensils are placed within the primary flexible package for fear of perforation during handling. [0005] The currently available solution to such flexible plastic packaging has been the use of rigid plastic packaging combination packages. Rigid plastic food containers are typically manufactured from Polystyrene, Polypropylene, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polylactide, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), or other rigid polymers. They generally comprise either of two-parts--a tray and lid--or they may be a one-piece construction with a hinge that modifies one portion of the container to act as the tray and the other connected portion to act as a lid. Furthermore, they are available in a variety of shapes and cross-sections--circular, rectangular, square, and elliptical, etc. Current rigid plastic food packaging alternatives include a main tray that is used to hold the green vegetable, a multi-compartmentalized intermediate tray that is placed over the green vegetable with the intermediate tray being supported at the rim of the main tray, and a lid that covers and seals in the entire product contents. However, this current available rigid plastic food container has an intermediate multi-compartmentalized tray that is configured so that it is support by the rim of the main tray and covers most, if not all of the mouth of the main tray and thereby obstructs the view of the product contents. Therefore, as with the flexible plastic packaging altenrative, the consumer is unable to determine the quality of the green vegetables without either going up close to the product to examine the contents or often by picking up the package from the shelf and turning it around examining the product. This defeats the purpose of providing convenience to the consumer who is `on-the-go` and further diminishes the level of sanitation because of handling the product packaging. Overall, current salad food packaging alternatives fail in their ability to effectively display the contents of the salad offering while protecting the packaging contents. [0006] There is a need and a significant market for a food packaging container system that overcomes the limitations of currently available multi-package and multi-compartment food packages, and the present invention provides for a unique approach that achieves this objective. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In all embodiments of the invention, the rim or perimeter of the tray and lid members of the container system are designed to mate with and be releaseably lockable to each other. The releaseably lockable retaining mechanism may include one or more of a variety of snap-fit grip mechanisms. Such releaseably lockable mechanisms are used in virtually all rigid plastic food package offerings and this is not the subject of the present invention other than that this is the normal accept practice and requirement of the market that plastic food package manufacturers demand. [0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the container system comprises a rectangular main tray member, a complementary lid member with a vented rim that is formed to mate with and be releaseably lockable to the rim of the main tray member, and an intermediate tray with multiple recesses so that a variety of foodstuff, e.g. toppings and condiment, can be placed in them. In order retain the foodstuff in the said recesses, ensure a higher level of sanitation and permit the consumer to view the foodstuff in the recesses, a clear polymer film is disposed over the mouths of the recesses. The use of such membranes is commonplace and can be found in such food items as frozen microwaveable packaged foods and yogurt cup containers. A unique novel feature of the food container system of the present invention is that the multi-compartment intermediate tray does not cover the entire mouth of the tray member and is retention of the intermediate tray in the main tray is be achieved by retaining formations in the main tray periphery that engage with the intermediate tray at two of more points. This configuration provides the consumer with an unobstructed view of main tray contents, as well as contents of the intermediate tray with ease and without having to handle the package prior to purchase. The lid member further includes vents positioned at the lid member edge that permit air to flow into the closed food container in order to oxygenate the green vegetables. Unlike meats and many other grocery items, fruits and vegetables benefit from exposure to oxygen. While carrying out respiration, plants convert their stored glucose into carbon dioxide and water. As opposed to photosynthesis, respiration allows for the natural ripening of fruits even after they are picked. Such oxygenation hinders the growth of spores of bacteria and mold to thereby help extend the freshness of vegetable or fruit. Because respiration rates vary, the lid member vents are sized to meet the characteristics of food content. [0009] In one preferred embodiment, tongue-in-groove sliding lock mechanisms are used wherein slots or grooves are formed into and located at either orthogonal sides or opposing sides of the main tray with complementary mating ridges or tongues formed into orthogonal sides or opposite sides of the intermediate tray. When the tongue-in-groove mechanism is engaged, the intermediate tray is held fast within the main tray. The entire contents within the food container system of the present invention is clearly displayed for easy viewing by the consumer and the entire integrated package is presented as a single product item for sale. [0010] In another embodiment of the invention, the mouth of the main tray member and the corresponding lid member is circular. Though there are no orthogonal lines along the rim of the tray member, the principle related to the use of tongue-in-groove retaining mechanism is unchanged. [0011] This invention is a novel plastic packaging solution that improves significantly on the convenience and therefore marketability of food product. Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view showing the elements comprising an embodiment according to the present invention. [0014] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the container system in FIG. 1 showing the intermediate tray assembled into the main tray. [0015] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the container system in FIG. 2. [0016] FIG. 4 is an exploded fragmentary isometric view of one of the retaining mechanisms in FIG. 1. [0017] FIG. 5 is the fully assembled food container system of FIG. 1 ready for sale. [0018] FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view showing the elements comprising another embodiment according to the present invention. [0019] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the container system in FIG. 6 showing the intermediate tray assembled into the main tray. Continue reading about Multi-topping tray container system... Full patent description for Multi-topping tray container system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Multi-topping tray container system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Multi-topping tray container system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Package having a food compartment and a drainage compartment and methods of use and manufacture thereof Next Patent Application: Controlled atmosphere in a container Industry Class: Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Multi-topping tray container system patent info. 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