Reclosable food tray and tray blank

A reclosable food tray constructed from a single unitary blank having an interior and exterior surface, which comprises:

• a receptacle portion having an access opening permitting introduction of food into said receptacle portion having a volume defined by a rectangular shaped bottom panel, a first substantially upstanding pair of opposing side panels, a second substantially upstanding pair of opposing side panels said pairs of opposing side panels defining four pairs of adjacent side panels, with each pair of adjacent side panels being hingedly connected by one of four folded gussets, with each of said gussets unitary with said adjacent side panels and secured to the exterior surface of one of said adjacent side panels by an adhesive applied between each said folded gusset and said exterior surface, each said side panel being disposed at a first obtuse angle measured from said bottom panel;
• a first pair of opposing closure flaps, each extending from one of said opposing side panels and being capable of closing off a portion of said access opening;
• and
• a second pair of opposing closure flaps, each extending from one of the other pair of opposing side panels, said second pair of opposing closure flaps comprise a releasable tab and slot adapted to interlock with each other and overlap a portion of said first pair of opposing closure flaps to close off said access opening.

A blank adapted to be folded into a reclosable food tray having a fully constructed receptacle portion with a volumetric geometry which facilitates nesting of the receptacle portion of one food tray within the receptacle portion of another said food tray, said blank having a planar unitary construction, an interior and an exterior surface and a substantially square gross geometry, which comprises:

• a bottom panel of rectangular shape having a surface area defined by a first and second pair of opposing bottom fold lines;
• a first and second pair of opposing side panels hingedly connected to said bottom panel along said first and second pair of opposing bottom fold lines, said opposing panels defining four pair of adjacent side panels;
• four foldable gussets, each said foldable gusset being hingedly connected to each pair of adjacent side panels so that when said first and second opposing side panels are folded substantially upright with respect to said bottom panel, a receptacle portion with an access opening is formed, each said foldable gusset is folded and can be secured to said exterior surface of one of said side panels, and each said side panel is disposed substantially upright at a first predetermined obtuse angle with respect to said bottom panel;
• a first pair of opposing closure panels, each hingedly connected to one of said first pair of opposing side panels and being dimensioned to close off a portion of said access opening when folded over said access opening and disposed substantially parallel to said bottom panel;
• a second pair of opposing closure panels, each hingedly connected to one of said second pair of opposing side panels and being dimensioned to close off said access opening when folded over said access opening and said first pair of opposing closure panels.

A blank adapted to be folded into a reclosable food tray having a receptacle portion with a volumetric geometry which facilitates nesting of the receptacle portion of one food tray within the receptacle portion of another said food tray, said blank having planar unitary construction and a substantially square gross geometry, which comprises:

• a bottom panel of rectangular shape having a surface area defined by first, second, third and fourth bottom fold lines;
• a first side panel contiguous with said first bottom fold line having a surface area defined by a first top fold line, a first left side fold line, a first right side fold line and said first bottom fold line, said first top fold line and said first bottom fold line being substantially parallel and said first left and right side fold lines diverging from said first bottom fold at a predetermined angle;
• a second side panel disposed opposite said first side panel and contiguous with said second bottom fold line, having a surface area defined by a second top fold line, a second left side fold line, a second right side fold line and said second bottom fold, said second top and bottom fold lines being substantially parallel and said second left and right side fold lines diverging from said second bottom fold line at said predetermined angle;
• a third side panel contiguous with said third bottom fold line having a surface area defined by a third top fold line, a third left side fold line, a third right side fold line and said third bottom fold, said third top and bottom fold lines being substantially parallel and said third left and right side fold lines diverging from said third bottom fold line at said predetermined angle;
• a fourth side panel disposed opposite said second side panel and contiguous with said fourth bottom fold line, having a surface area defined by a fourth top fold line, a fourth left side fold line, a fourth right side fold line and said fourth bottom fold line, said fourth top and bottom fold lines being substantially parallel and said fourth left and right side fold lines diverging from said fourth bottom fold line at said predetermined angle;
• a first foldable gusset being contiguous with said first and third side panels, and having a first corner fold line and a first corner edge;
• a second foldable gusset being contiguous with said first and fourth side panels, and having a second corner fold line and a second corner edge;
• a third foldable gusset being contiguous with said fourth and second side panels, and having a third corner fold line and a third corner edge;
• a fourth foldable gusset being contiguous with said second and third side panels, and having a fourth corner fold line and a fourth corner edge;
• a first closure panel being contiguous with said first side panel;
• a second closure panel being contiguous with said second side panel;
• a third closure panel being contiguous with said third side panel;
• a fourth closure panel being contiguous with said fourth side panel;
• and
• fastening means formed in at least one of said closure panels for selectively opening and closing said closure panels.