US 5,503,858 A · Molded plastic overwrap tray

Abstract

A molded plastic overwrap tray is disclosed having a base and sidewalls. The upper edges of the sidewalls define an upper surface of the tray. The base and sidewalls define a food retaining chamber. Adjacent sidewalls of the tray are connected to one another through a corner reinforcing rib extending from the base to the upper edges of the associated sidewalls. The reinforcing rib defines a channel in communication with the food retaining chamber to provide finger access to food positioned in the food retaining chamber to facilitate removal thereof. Each of the corner ribs provides reinforcement to resist deflection of the upper edges of the sidewalls, whereby an overwrap on the tray is supported by the upper surface of the tray to minimize sagging of the overwrap and prevent the overwrap from coming into contact with food in the food retaining chamber. In another embodiment, a center post is provided having its upper end substantially level with the upper surface of the tray. The post contacts the under surface of the overwrap and assists in preventing contact between the food and the overwrap upon stacking one tray on top of another.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A molded plastic overwrap tray comprising:

a base and sidewalls, each of said sidewalls having end edges and an upper edge, the upper edges of said sidewalls defining an upper surface of said tray;
said base and sidewalls defining a food retaining chamber;
adjacent end edges of adjacent sidewalls of said tray being connected to one another through a corner reinforcing rib;
each of said corner reinforcing ribs extending from said base to the upper edges of the associated sidewalls of said tray and being formed having a wall providing a corner channel in communication with said food retaining chamber;
the corner channel of each of said corner reinforcing ribs being of a size sufficient to permit finger access to food positioned in said food retaining chamber of said tray to facilitate removal thereof;
and
the wall of each of said corner reinforcing ribs further providing reinforcement to resist deflection of the upper edges of said sidewalls of said tray;
whereby an overwrap on said tray is supported by the upper surface of said tray to minimize sagging of the overwrap and prevent the overwrap from coming into contact with food in said food retaining chamber.

5 more elements

A molded plastic overwrap tray comprising:

a base and sidewalls, each of said sidewalls having end edges and an upper edge, the upper edges of said sidewalls defining the upper surface of said tray;
said base and sidewalls defining a plurality of food retaining chambers, said chambers being free of partitions between one another;
adjacent end edges of adjacent sidewalls of said tray being connected to one another through a corner reinforcing rib;
each of said corner reinforcing ribs extending from said base to the upper edges of the associated sidewalls of said tray and being formed having a wall providing a corner channel in communication with at least one of said food retaining chambers;
the corner channel of each of said corner reinforcing ribs being of a size sufficient to permit finger access to food positioned in the associated food retaining chamber of said tray to facilitate removal thereof;
and
the wall of each of said corner reinforcing ribs further providing reinforcement to resist deflection of the upper edges of said sidewalls of said tray;
whereby an overwrap on said tray is supported by the upper surface of said tray to minimize sagging of the overwrap and prevent the overwrap from coming into contact with food in said food retaining chambers.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Molded plastic overwrap tray

Life of this patent

Molded plastic overwrap tray

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10