US 8,226,999 B2Granted

Microwaveable nested trays

AssigneeBarilla G. e R. Fratelli S.p.A.

InventorsIain Roberts, Eleanor Luna, George Kyaw Soe Maung Aye, Jeewon Jung, Giancarlo Tedeschi, Valentina Masotti, Francesca Passoni, Giancarlo Minervini, Daniela Riniker, Sue Lai, Jennifer Mehlman, Jennifer Mitkal, Michele Amigoni, Andrea Bordini

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Abstract

One embodiment includes a package system containing a main container with a smaller container nested in it. The smaller container is filled with a secondary food item designed to be mixed into the primary food item. The smaller container is placed within the main container. The area of the main container not occupied by the smaller container includes a main food item. Both containers are sealed with one film. Before consumption, a consumer will place the package in a microwave to heat. Once heated, the smaller container is removed from the main container, creating space in the main container previously occupied by the smaller container. The main food item in the main container will re-position creating space between the top of the main food item to the edge of the main container. The secondary item can be added into the main container without overflowing out of the main container.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A microwavable container system comprising:

a base container, having a pair of sides and having a pair of substantially rounded shaped diametrically opposed ends for defining a base interior cavity, the base container further having a continuous outwardly turned edge extending from an inner periphery of the base container, the inner periphery defined along a top portion of the pair of sides and rounded shaped ends;
a tray disposed within a first portion of the base interior cavity of the base container, the tray having a pair of tray sides and a pair of diametrically opposed tray ends positioned between the tray sides for defining a tray interior cavity, and wherein one of the opposed tray ends has an inwardly bowed profile;
wherein the base container further includes an indented ledge defined in the inner periphery about only one of the rounded shaped ends in the base container, the ledge extends along the, inner periphery away from the rounded shaped end and continues along the inner periphery about the pair of sides to a pair of terminals, the terminals ending along the pair of sides prior to a mid-point defined between the pair of rounded shaped diametrically opposed ends, and wherein the tray includes an upper outwardly turned edge sized complementary to rest on the ledge when the tray is disposed within the first portion of the base interior cavity of the base container, and the outwardly turned edge includes ends substantially abutting the terminals of the ledge, wherein the inwardly bowed profile of the opposed tray end is positioned prior to and towards the mid-point in the base container;
and
wherein a second portion of the base interior cavity not occupied by the tray includes a first food component, and wherein the tray interior cavity includes a second food component, that are combinable after microwave cooking by removing the tray from the base interior cavity and adding the second food component with the first food component in the base interior cavity which becomes larger with the removal of the tray.

2 more elements

A microwavable container system comprising:

a base container, having a pair of sides and having a pair of rounded shaped diametrically opposed ends for defining a base interior cavity, the base container further having a continuous outwardly turned edge extending from an inner periphery of the base container, the inner periphery defined along a top portion of the pair of sides and rounded shaped diametrically opposed ends, and wherein the base container further includes an indented ledge defined in the inner periphery about only one of the rounded shaped ends in the base container, the ledge extends along the inner periphery away from the rounded shaped end and continues along the inner periphery about the pair of sides to a pair of terminals, the terminals ending along the pair of sides about a mid-point defined between the pair of rounded diametrically opposed ends;
and
a tray disposed within a first portion of the base interior cavity of the base container, the tray having a pair of tray sides and a pair of diametrically opposed tray ends positioned between the tray sides for defining a tray interior cavity, and wherein one of the opposed tray ends has an inwardly bowed profile, and wherein the tray includes an upper outwardly turned edge sized complementary to rest on the ledge when the tray is disposed within the first portion of the base interior cavity of the base container, and the outwardly turned edge includes ends substantially abutting the terminals of the ledge, wherein the inwardly bowed profile of the opposed tray end is positioned about and towards the mid-point in the base container.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/783,651Filed 20 May 2010 · continuation in part
Priority: 21 Jan 2008
Published: US 2010/0282636 A111 Nov 2010
Granted: 24 Jul 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B65D 81/3216
For packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture: rigid containers disposed one within…
B65D 81/3453
Specially adapted to be heated by microwaves: rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups
B65D 81/3825
With thermal insulation: rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container with one or more containers located inside the…
B65D 2581/3404
Characterised by the type of product to be heated or cooked: cooking pasta dishes, e.g. noodles

Family

Application61/022,399Us provisional application · filed 21 Jan 2008
Application12/261,642Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Oct 2008
Application12/275,685Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 21 Nov 2008
US 2010/0282636 A1Pre-grant publication · published 11 Nov 2010
US 7,722,907 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2009/0184025 A1Published application
US 2009/0186131 A1Published application
US 8,753,699 B2Related patent
US 8,226,999 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.