Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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NUFFIN TRAY PACKAGING
This invention relates to a packaging support system for
individuali~ed containers of baking batter. More particularly,
it relates to a package for retaining and supporting a tray of
individual batter containers arranged in substantially
horizontal alignment during storage and baking.
The demand for freshly baked cakes and muffins at retail
outlets, has created the challenge of providing a product of
uniform quality, freshness and consistency at the retail site.
Muffin retail outlets, for example, are located in
shopping malls, subway plazas and convenience stores and
provide freshly baked goods on the premises. Semi-skilled
personnel at these outlets measure out pre-mixed muffin batter
into~an assortment of baking CUp8. This assortment is then
placed;in a baking oven and baked to produce fresh hot muffins
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for~r~tail across the couhter. The baking oven is in full view
of the customer as an additional sales feature, to attest to
the freshnesslof the product
One means of simplifying the baking process, is through
he use of a paper or cardboard tray having a series of paper
baking cups of a size corresponding to the desired dimensions
of~the muffin. These cups are secured by their upper rim into
openlngs~in the cardboard tray. The tray includes perforations
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more such cups can be detached from the tray. A cardboard tray
of this type is usually designed to hold a dozen baking cups.
One such baking tray is disclosed in British specification
2,189,681 of Anghileri published November 4, 1987.
When a fresh batch of muffins are to be baked, a tray
containing a dozen such cups are individually filled with a
measured amount of the specified muffin batter and the entire
tray inserted into the baking oven. Since these baking
operations are carried out by employees who are not skilled
pastry chefs, the oven is usually preset at a specified baking
temperature and baking time.
Often the employee does not measure out an equal amount
of batter in each of the respective baking cups. It would
therefore improve efficiency and cut costs as well as provide
uniformity of product, if such baking trays could be pre-filled
with the measured amount of muffin mix at a supply centre and
stored at the local retail outlet in a frozen condition for
future use.
~ ~ When such trays a~re filled however, they are difficult
to maintain in horizontal position. $he cardboard tray does
not maintain its rigidity when the cups are filled with batter.
When the trays are stacked one on top of another, an overload
is created on the bottom stack so that the baking cups in that
stack are distorted. Even the frozen batter in such cups are
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subjeFt to a degree of distort ~ -
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The applicant has developed a packaging arrangement for
retaining and supporting a tray of such baking cups filled with ~ -
a premea~ured amount of batter.
It is therefore an object of one aspect of this
invention to provide a packaging support system for holding a
series of baking cups filled with pre-mixed baking batter in
horizontal alignment.
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It is an object of another aspect of this invention to
provide a packaging support system for baking cup trays which
permits the stacking of such trays filled with pre-mixed baking ;~
batter.
These and other objects are achieved by means of a
packag$ng support system for a baking cup tray comprising~
a blank having a center top panel with a plurality of
spaced~ apart openings, each capable of receiving and nesting r
of baking cup therein;
a~pair of opposite side~ panels and a pair of opposite `
end panels extending from said center top panel and having a
crease deformation' forl folding perpendicular ,to said center
top panel and thereby defining upright support walls for said
` panel.
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In the drawings~
Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for assembling the
package of the present invention; and
Figure 2 is a plan view of a blank of a support rib for
such package.
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The package blank shown generally at 10 includes a
center top panel 12 having a plurality of circular openings 14
of a dimension large enough to receive a baking cup (not shown)
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for nesting therein in a manner to be disclosed below. `~
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The blank includes a pair of longitudinal side panels
16a and 16b and a pair of end panels 18a and 18b. These panels
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are folded downwardly along crease deformation lines 20a, 20b, `~
20c and 20d respectively to form the upright walls of the ~ ;
package. ;~
Longitudinal panel 16a includes a reinforcing panel 22
~for~folding dovn along crease deformation lines 24. Similarly, ;~ ;
longitudinal side panel 16b includes a reinforcing panel 26
which folds along crease def~rmation lin`es 28.
~;~ End panel 18a and 18b includes reinforcing panels 30a
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and 30b respectively, which fold along deformation lines 32a
and 32b. A~pair of locking panels 34a and 34b on opposite `
sid~s of top panel 12 are integral with the adjacent side and
end panels.
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When the panel is to be assembled from the blank, the
reinforcing panels are folded down along their respective
crease lines under their respective side and end panels. The
side and end panels are then folded down so that such panels
are in upright position below top panel 12 with the support
panels in mating arrangement.
Locking tongues 36a, 36b, 36c and 36d respectively on
reinforcing panels 22 and 26 fit into the respective groove
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38a, 38b, 38c and 38d to remain held in position. As end
panels 18a and 18b are folded downwardly along crease lines 20c -
and 20d, reinforcing panels 30a and 30b are folded inwardly
along 32a and 32b respectively in mating alignment with the end
panels to be held together in upright position. Locking panels ~; . '. ' 1.~`b~i !
34a and 34b are folded inwardly to secure the four ends of the
asse~bled package.
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With the package so assembled in upright construction,
it presents a substantially hollow open bottomed structure in
which the four walls support the center top panel 12 in a
horizontal position.
A further embodiment of invention includes the use of a ~ -
center support rip constructed from the panel blank shown in ;~;
Figur- 2. This panel blank shown generally at 40, includes
matching panels 42 having center crease deformation 44 and ``~
~support end tabs 46 which interlock when the blank is folded `~
along croase line 44. The folded blank provides a mated pair
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fitted between and across the longitudinal side panels 16a and
16b and inserted within grooves 48a and 48b respectively of the
reinforcing panels of the packaging.
Such a support rib would constitute a brace running
across the center of the packaging below the center top panel
12 and assists in supporting the weight of a tray of baking
cups having a muffin or cake batter therein.
The applicant's packaging system permits muffin batter
to be arranged for baking by mounting a tray of assorted baking
CUp8 on the center top panel of the package so that each of the
CUp8 is nested within its respective opening on the center top
panel, while the bottom of the cups are suspended and spaced
above the table or platform on which the packaging is mounted.
A predetermined amount of batter is placed in each of
the baking cups and the entire packaging frozen for later use.
In view of the strength and rigidity of the packaging, a number
of such packages containing batter can be mounted one on top of
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the other for storage in the freezer.
When a batch of muffins it to be baked at the retail
site, the entire packaging is removed from the freezer and ~ -
inserted into the oven to be baked at the present time and ;~
temperature. The panel for the packaging is of a cardboard or
other material that can withstand the baking temperatures for -~
the d~uration required for baking the muffins.
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11 b apparent that other embodiments and
; tion can be m de without dep
the scope of
as recited in the appended claims.
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