Tray with built in utensil
AssigneeCurwood, Inc.
InventorEdward L. Haedt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a pre-formed food packaging article, and method of manufacturing the same, useful in the packaging of individual food portions comprising a planar member having an upper surface and a lower surface, said planar member having a detachable utensil formed integrally in said planar member; and, said planar member having a sanitary membrane affixed to the lower surface covering and protecting the bottom of the utensil from contamination. The sanitary membrane of the present invention protects the lower surface of the integrally formed utensil, while a sealing film or lid protects the upper surface of the utensil, thus providing a food packaging article with a convenient, sanitary utensil for the consumer.
Claims23
A food packaging article comprising:
- a planar member having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- a utensil formed integrally in said planar member and detachably secured thereto;
- and,
- a sanitary membrane affixed to said lower surface, enclosing and protecting said utensil from contamination.
A food packaging article with integral eating utensil including:
- a semi-rigid planar member defining an upper surface, a lower surface and one or more cavities adapted to receive and contain food;
- a utensil formed in said planar member and removably secured thereto;
- and,
- a sanitary membrane secured to said lower surface of said planar member covering and protecting said utensil from contamination.
A thermoformed plastic food packaging article for packaging individual food portions, said food packaging article comprising:
- a planar, semi-rigid member having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- at least one integrally formed food receiving compartment formed in said upper surface by a thermoforming process, said food receiving compartment having an opening at said upper surface;
- at least one eating utensil integrally formed in said planar, semi-rigid member, said utensil defined by a scored perimeter that permits said utensil to be detached from said container;
- and,
- a sanitary membrane affixed to said lower surface covering said utensil, whereby said eating utensil is protected from contact.
A method of forming a food packaging article having an integrally-formed, sanitary utensil comprising:
- providing a laminate having a utensil layer and a membrane layer, wherein said utensil layer and said membrane layers are peelably bonded together;
- forming a food packaging article and a utensil integrally from said laminate;
- scoring portions of a perimeter defining said utensil such that said utensil is removable from said food packaging article and said membrane layer remains intact with said food packaging article upon removal of said utensil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.