Stress-absorbing buffer zone for sealed tray

A package configured for the sterility of medical supplies, the package comprising:

• a tray having a rectangular configuration with a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposing the first sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall opposing the third sidewall defining an open end of the tray, a base panel opposite the open end, and a flange extending about a periphery of the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the third sidewall, and the fourth sidewall at the open end of the tray, wherein the flange includes a planar top surface and has a rectangular configuration, the flange including a first edge, a second edge opposing the first edge, a third edge, a fourth edge opposing the third edge, a first corner extending between the first and third edges, a second corner extending between the third and second edges, a third corner extending between the second and fourth edges, and a fourth corner extending between the fourth and first edges;
• a cover removably assembled onto the tray, the cover configured to seal the open end of the tray when the cover is assembled onto the tray, wherein the cover includes a peripheral underside surface configured to mate with the planar top surface of the flange of the tray;
• a continuous barrier seal formed between the flange and the cover when the cover is assembled onto the tray;
• and
• a discontinuous sacrificial seal formed between the flange and the cover when the cover is assembled onto the tray, the discontinuous sacrificial seal configured to absorb stress applied to the flange and preferentially break to protect the continuous barrier seal, wherein the continuous barrier seal is disposed closer to the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the third sidewall, and the fourth sidewall of the tray than the discontinuous sacrificial seal, and
• wherein the discontinuous sacrificial seal is disposed on each of the first edge, the second edge, the third edge, and the fourth edge, and
• wherein the discontinuous sacrificial seal is not disposed on each of the first corner, the second corner, the third corner and the fourth corner.

A package configured for the sterility of medical supplies, the package comprising:

• a tray having at least one side wall defining an open end of the tray, a base panel opposite the open end, and a flange extending about a periphery of the at least one side wall at the open end of the tray, wherein the flange includes a planar top surface;
• and
• a cover configured to seal the open end of the tray when the cover is assembled onto the tray, wherein the cover includes a peripheral underside surface configured to mate with the planar top surface of the flange of the tray;
• a continuous barrier seal formed between the planar top surface of the flange and the peripheral underside surface of the cover when the cover is assembled onto the tray, the continuous barrier seal being configured to provide a bacterial barrier when the cover is assembled onto the tray;
• and
• a discontinuous sacrificial seal formed between the planar top surface of the flange and the peripheral underside surface of the cover when the cover is assembled onto the tray, the discontinuous sacrificial seal configured to absorb stress applied to the flange, wherein the continuous barrier seal is disposed closer to an inner periphery of the flange than the discontinuous sacrificial seal, and
• wherein at least one hole is formed on the planar top surface of the flange, the at least one hole being spaced apart from the discontinuous sacrificial seal and the continuous barrier seal being disposed closer to the inner periphery of the flange than the at least one hole.