Tray with built in utensil
AssigneeCurwood, Inc.
InventorEdward L. Haedt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims16
A food packaging article comprising:
- a planar member thermoformed from a multilayer, thermoplastic laminate having a utensil layer and a membrane layer, said utensil layer and said membrane layer are contiguously and peelably bonded along an entire interface therebetween, said planar member having an upper surface formed by said utensil layer and a lower surface formed by said utensil layer of said membrane layer;
- a utensil formed integrally in said planar member and detachably secured thereto, said utensil being peelable from said membrane layer;
- and,
- wherein said membrane layer remains attached to said food packaging article after detachment of said utensil.
The 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, said planar member being thermoformed from a multilayer, thermoplastic laminate having a utensil layer and a membrane layer, said utensil layer of said utensil layer and said membrane layer are contiguously and peelably bonded along an entire interface therebetween;
- a utensil formed in said planar member and removably secured thereto, said utensil being peelable from said membrane layer;
- and,
- wherein said membrane layer remains with said food packaging article after said utensil is removed.
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, said planar, semi-rigid member comprising a thermoformed multilayer, thermoplastic material having a utensil layer and a membrane layer, said utensil layer and said membrane layer are contiguously and peelably bonded along an entire interface therebetween;
- 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 utensil layer of said planar, semi-rigid member, said utensil defined by a scored perimeter that permits said utensil to be detached from said container;
- and, wherein said utensil is peelable from said membrane layer and said membrane layer remains with said article after utensil is detached.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.