Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02770808 2012-03-09
Attorney Docket No. 077410.1203
MULTI-TIERED CUPCAKE CONTAINER
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Application Serial Number
29/387,753, filed on March 17, 2011 and U.S. Application Serial Number
13/156,143 filed
June 8, 2011, the contents of which are expressly incorporated in their
entireties herein by
reference thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present disclosed subject matter relates to a food packaging system
of a
disposable container and tray for packaging and displaying food items, such as
cupcakes.
Particularly. the present disclosed subject matter is directed to a container
for holding food
items, wherein the container has a tray having a plurality of tiers for
storing and displaying
food items at different heights.
Description of Related Art
[0003] A variety of containers are known for packaging of food products for
secure
shipping. Conventional food container designs include a tray having multiple
wells to
receive food products. Such conventional containers generally have been
considered
satisfactory for their intended purpose, however where the wells are closely
spaced, it can be
difficult for a consumer to access an individual food item for removal by hand
without
destroying the food item or disrupting adjacent food items. Where the food
items are
individual-serving pastries, for instance cupcakes, consumers desire the
ability access an
individual cupcake without contaminating the frosting on top of adjacent
cupcakes and
without damaging the frosting head of the selected cupcake in the removal
process.
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100041 Some examples of prior art designs directed to containers having tiered
trays
can be found in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,413,801 and 7,128.000. Other prior art
designs directed to
food trays with a plurality of individual wells can be found in U.S. Patent
No. 4,844,243 and
U.S. Design Patent No. D601,860. As evident from the related art, conventional
configurations do not provide adequate access to individual food items, often
require
unnecessarily complex and excessively wasteful designs, or are not robust
enough to provide
the requisite durability of a packaging container. There thus remains a need
for an efficient
and economic method and system for a multi-tiered food container that securely
encloses and
stores the food product, yet provides easy access to individual food items for
removal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[00051 The purpose and advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be set
forth in
and apparent from the description that follows, as well as will be learned by
practice of the
disclosed subject matter. Additional advantages of the disclosed subject
matter will be
realized and attained by the methods and systems particularly pointed out in
the written
description and claims hereof, as well as from the appended drawings.
100061 To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the
purpose of
the disclosed subject matter, as embodied and broadly described, the disclosed
subject matter
includes a container comprising a tray including a first portion and a second
portion. The
first portion has an upper surface defining a first tier, and the second
portion has an upper
surface defining a second tier. The first tier and the second tier are
separated by a height.
The upper surface of the first portion and the upper surface of the second
portion each have a
plurality of spaced-apart wells defined therein. Each well is sized and shaped
to receive a
food item, and each well has an upper edge with an engagement recess formed
therein. The
engagement recess is sized to allow a food item within the well to be gripped
for removal.
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[0007] As embodied herein, the first tier can define a first horizontal plane,
and the
second tier can define a second horizontal plane. The first portion can be
located proximate a
center of the tray, and the second portion can surround the first portion. In
this configuration,
the first portion can have a generally circular shape. and the second portion
can have a ring
shape concentric with the first portion. The first tier can be above the
second tier. The tray
can include a sidewall extending between the first portion and the second
portion, and the
sidewall can be angled relative the first tier and the second tier. An
interface between the
sidewall and at least one of the first tier and the second tier can be
radiused when viewed in
cross-section.
[0008] In some embodiments, each well has a depth defined between the upper
edge
of the well and a bottom of the well, and the height between the first tier
and the second tier
is less than the depth of a well in the first portion. The height can be
approximately one-half
the depth. The wells of the first portion and the second portion can be
similar in size and
shape. Each well can have a frustoconical shape, and the wells of at least one
of the first
portion and the second portion can have a non-planar bottom. The wells of the
first portion
can be evenly spaced apart and aligned in a first pattern, and the wells of
the second portion
can be evenly spaced apart and aligned in a second pattern. The second pattern
can be
concentric with the first pattern, and the wells of the first pattern can be
offset relative to the
wells of the second pattern. At least one engagement recess can be formed as a
notch in the
upper edge of the well, and at least one engagement recess can be formed as a
channel
disposed between two adjacent wells.
[00091 In some embodiments, the tray can include additional tiers. For
example, and
as embodied herein, the tray includes a third portion having an upper surface
defining a third
tier with a plurality of spaced-apart wells defined therein. The third tier
can define a third
horizontal plane and can be concentric with the first and second tiers.
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[00101 In some embodiments, the tray includes a trapping feature to secure a
lid. The
disclosed subject matter also includes a container comprising a lid configured
to be secured to
the trapping feature of the tray.
[0011] The disclosed subject matter also includes a method of forming a tray.
Forming a tray includes providing a sheet of polymeric material, and forming
the sheet of
polymeric material into a tray having any of the features described herein
above. The tray
can be formed of a single sheet of polymeric material.
[0012] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and
the
following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide
further explanation
of the disclosed subject matter claimed.
[0013] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute
part of
this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further
understanding of the method
and system of the disclosed subject matter. Together with the description, the
drawings serve
to explain the principles of the disclosed subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. I is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a tray in
accordance with the disclosed subject matter.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top view of the tray of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a left side view of the tray of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a right side view of the tray of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the tray of FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tray of FIG. 1, shown with a lid in
a closed
configuration.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[00201 Reference will now be made in detail to the various exemplary
embodiments
of the disclosed subject matter, exemplary embodiments of which are
illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. The structure and corresponding method of operation of
the
disclosed subject matter will be described in conjunction with the detailed
description of the
system.
[00211 The apparatus and methods presented herein may be used for storage and
display of food items and other perishable and nonperishable products. The
disclosed subject
matter is particularly suited for storage and display of food items, wherein
the tray has a
plurality of tiers for storing and displaying food items at different
heights..
[0022] In accordance with the disclosed subject matter herein. the tray
generally
includes a first base portion having an upper surface defining a first tier
and a second portion
having an upper surface defining a second tier. The first tier and the second
tier are separated
by a height. The upper surface of the first portion and the upper surface of
the second portion
each have a plurality of spaced-apart wells defined therein. Each well is
sized and shaped to
receive a food item and has an upper edge with an engagement recess formed
therein. The
engagement recess is sized to allow a food item within the well to be gripped
for removal.
The tray can further include a trapping feature to secure a lid. and thus form
a container.
[00231 The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to
identical or
functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, serve to further
illustrate various
embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance
with the
disclosed subject matter. For purpose of explanation and illustration, and not
limitation,
exemplary embodiments of the container in accordance with the disclosed
subject matter are
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shown in FIGS. 1-6. The container is suitable for use with a wide variety of
perishable and
nonperishable products. such as flowers. garden supplies, hardware components,
electrical
items, and craft items. However, the container disclosed herein is
particularly suitable and
beneficial for use with food items, wherein the multi-tiered container can be
used for
shipping, serving, storing, preparing and/or re-using such food items.
Further, the container
desirably, although not necessarily, can have insulating properties to assist
in maintaining the
temperature of food contained therein. For purpose of illustration, and not
limitation,
reference will made herein to a multi-tiered container intended to contain
food items.
[0024] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the tray 100 generally
includes
a first portion 10 having an upper surface 12 defining a first tier P and a
second portion 16
having an upper surface 18 defining a second tier Q. For purpose of
illustration and not
limitation, as best shown in FIG. 3, the first tier P can define a first
horizontal plane, and the
second tier Q can define a second horizontal plane. Alternatively, one or more
of the tiers P,
Q can have an angled configuration to define a portion of a frustoconical or
pyramid shape,
or the tiers P, Q can have a non-planar shape, such as a curved contour or any
other suitable
shape, as desired. If desired, the first portion 10 can be located proximate a
center of the tray,
and the second portion 16 can surround the first portion 10. In this
configuration, as
illustrated, the first portion 10 can have a generally circular shape, and the
second portion 16
can have a ring shape concentric with the first portion 10. Alternatively, the
first portion 10
and the second portion 16 can form a tray 100 with alternative shapes. For
example, the tray
100 shape could he spiral, rectangular, square, triangular, or any geometrical
shape. As a
further alternative, the first portion 10 and the second portion 16 can be
aligned generally
parallel with each other or side-by-side, such as in a "stadium-seating"
configuration.
[0025] The first tier P and the second tier Q are separated by a height H. In
the
exemplary embodiment, the first tier P is above the second tier Q. The first
tier P and the
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second tier Q being separated by a height H creates a multi-tier or stepped
configuration that
allows food items. such as cupcakes, to be stored and displayed separated and
staggered in
height. For the purpose of illustration and not limitation, and with reference
to a
configuration for storing cupcakes, the multi-tier or stepped configuration
can provide easy
access to individual cupcakes, reduced frosting contamination, and reduced
damaging of the
frosting head.
[00261 The tray 100 can further include a sidewall 20 extending between the
first
portion 10 and the second portion 16. It is contemplated that the sidewall 20
can project
vertically upwardly from the second portion 16 to the first portion 10;
however, the sidewall
20 can be angled relative the first tier P and the second tier Q.
Additionally, an interface 22
is defined between the sidewall 20 and the first portion 10, and an interface
24 between the
sidewall 20 and the second portion 16, as shown in FIGS. 3-4. As embodied
herein, each
interface 22, 24 can be angled, or alternatively, the interfaces 22, 24 can
have a curvature, or
radius, to blend the sidewall 20 with the first portion 10 and the second
portion 16. The
sidewall 20 can be a generally smooth wall or can be provided with formations,
such as
textured surface or aesthetic designs or patterns, as well as indicia if
desired. Additionally,
the sidewall can include reinforcing ribs or structures (not shown) for
additional strength, if
so desired.
[00271 Further in accordance with the invention. the upper surface of the
first portion
and the upper surface of the second portion 16 each has a plurality of spaced-
apart wells
30 defined therein. Each well 30 is sized and shaped to receive a food item
and has an upper
edge 32 with an engagement recess 34 formed therein. The engagement recesses
34 are sized
to allow a food item within the well 30 to be gripped for removal. For purpose
of illustration
and not limitation, FIGS. 1-5 depict wells 30 configured to receive cupcakes,
muffins, and the
like.
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[0028] To accommodate a food item, each well 30 has a depth D defined between
the
upper edge 32 of the well 30 and a bottom 36 of the well 30. To produce a
multi-tier
configuration of the disclosed subject matter, the height H between the first
tier P and the
second tier Q can be less than the depth D. In an exemplary embodiment, the
height H can be
approximately one-half the depth D. It is contemplated that the wells 30 of
the first portion
and wells 30 of the second portion 16 are similar in size and shape; however,
the wells 30
could be provided with a variety of shapes to accommodate different-sized food
items. For
purpose of illustration and not limitation, each well 30 can have a
frustoconical shape, so as
to receive a cupcake, muffin, or the like. Alternatively, the wells 30 can
have a rectangular
shape, or any other suitable shape, for holding any size or shape of food
item, such as an
eclair, donut, or other individually-sized food items.
[0029] The wells 30 of the first portion 10 and/or the wells 30 of the second
portion
16 can have non-planar bottoms 36. The non-planar shape of the bottoms 36 can
add strength
to the tray to resist deformation. Further, the non-planar well bottoms 36 can
extend below
the other portions of the tray 100 to provide a bottom surface for storing and
stacking on a
support surface. In this manner, when a tray 100 is placed on a support
surface, the non-
planar bottoms 36 can provide a separation between the outer peripheral edge
of the tray 100
and the support surface to allow a user to more easily grasp and lift the edge
of the tray 100.
Additionally, when a tray 100 is aligned vertically with and stacked on top of
a similarly
configured tray 100. the non-planar bottoms 36 can provide a separation
between the trays
100 to allow a user to more easily grasp and separate an individual tray 100
from a stack of
trays 100. The non-planar bottom 36 of the wells 30 can also provide an angled
or non-
planar support surface for a food item in the wells 30 to aid in lifting food
items away from
the bottom of the wells 30.
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[00301 For purpose of illustration and not limitation, and with reference to
the
representative embodiment of FIGS. 1-2. the wells 30 of the first portion 10
can be evenly
spaced apart and aligned in a first pattern. Similarly, the wells 30 of the
second portion 16
can be evenly spaced apart and aligned in a second pattern. The wells 30 of
the second
pattern can be concentric with the wells 30 first pattern. Additionally, the
wells 30 of the first
pattern can be offset relative to the wells of the second pattern. In this
manner, the wells 30
can be separated and staggered, which allows a user easy access to individual
food items for
removal. Alternatively, the wells 30 of the first pattern can be placed in-
line with the wells
30 of the second pattern, and/or the wells 30 can be closely-spaced to allow
more wells 30,
and likewise more food items, to be placed in the same sized tray 100.
[00311 In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, an
engagement recess 34 can be formed as a notch 38 in the upper edge 32 of a
well.
Additionally or alternatively, an engagement recess 34 can be formed as a
channel 40
disposed between two adjacent wells 30. The shape of the channel 40, in
addition to
providing a shape to allow a food item within a well 30 to be gripped, can
also provide
additional strength for the tray 100. As a further alternative, the engagement
recess 34 can be
formed as an indentation, or any other discontinuity in the shape of the well
30 that can
provide a spacing between the food item and the well 30 to allow a user to
grip a food item
for removal from the well 30.
[00321 In accordance with the disclosed subject matter, additional tiers can
be
provided, with each tier separated from an adjacent tier by a height. For
purpose of
illustration and not limitation, and with reference to the representative
embodiment of FIGS.
1-5, the tray 100 further includes a third portion 50 having an upper surface
defining a third
tier R with a plurality of spaced-apart wells 30 defined therein. The third
portion 50 can
include any of the features described herein with respect to the first portion
10 and the second
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portion 16, including but not limited to. its size, shape, position relative
to the other portions,
and the pattern of wells 30. For purpose of illustration and not limitation,
as best shown in
FIG. 3, the third tier R can define a third horizontal plane. Although a tray
100 having three
portions 10, 16, 50 defining three tiers P. Q, R is shown in FIGS. 1-5, a tray
100 according to
the disclosed subject matter is not limited to any number of portions, and can
contain two,
three, or more portions having various features described herein.
[0033] A tray 100 can have a trapping feature 60 to secure a lid 70 (shown in
FIG. 6).
The trapping feature 60 can be formed integrally with any suitable portion 10,
16, 50 of the
tray 100, such as the outermost third portion 50 as shown in FIG. 2. The
trapping feature 60
can be any suitable mechanism for securing a lid 70, for example but not
limited to, an
interlocking lip with underlying recess or other snap-fit connector. An
alternative example of
a pastry container with a lid and tray having trapping features is shown and
described in U.S.
Patent Application Serial No. 11/998,582, which is incorporated by reference
herein in its
entirety. The lid 70 or the tray 100 can have a chamfered edge or the like to
serve as a pilot
to guide the lid 70 into a secured position with the tray 100. The chamfered
edge can aid a
user in securing and removing the lid 70 at an angle relative to the tray 100
so as to not
interfere with food items in the tray 100, and thus reduce any damage to the
food items, such
as the frosting of a cupcake.
[0034] Further in accordance with the invention, as shown for example in FIG.
6, a
container 80 can include a tray 100, having the features described herein, and
a lid 70
configured to be secured to the trapping feature 60 of the tray 100. The lid
70 can be
transparent to allow for display of the food items within the container 80,
and the lid 70 can
also allow for secure storage and shipping of the container 80 and food items.
Additionally,
the lid 70 can be configured for stacking of multiple containers 80 on top of
each other, for
example by having a top surface configured to receive a portion of a tray 100
located thereon.
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For purpose of illustration and not limitation, the lid 70 shown in FIG. 6 is
dome shaped;
however, it is contemplated that the lid 70 can be frustoconical, cylindrical,
or any other
suitable shape for securely covering the tray 100.
[00351 The tray and lid disclosed herein are preferably disposable, but it is
contemplated that they may be reused at a future time. Also, the tray and lid
can be
constructed from materials suitable to be placed in a heating apparatus, such
as a microwave,
to heat the food and/or used for storage in the refrigerator or freezer.
Additionally, the
materials from which the tray and lid is made need not be the same throughout.
[0036) The tray and lid described herein can be manufactured from any suitable
material, for example. expanded polystyrene foam, oriented polystyrene (OPS),
polypropylene, mineral filled polypropylene, amorphous polyethylene
terephthalate (APET),
thermoplastics, and paper. It is to be understood that the foregoing list is
not exhaustive, and
that the containers can be made from other materials. In an exemplary
embodiment, a tray
100 having the features described herein is formed from a single sheet of
polymeric material.
Forming a tray 100 can include providing a sheet of polymeric material, or
other suitable
material, and forming the material into a tray 100 having various features
described herein.
The tray 100, and lid 70 if provided, can be formed utilizing any type of
stamping or molding
process, or any other suitable process.
[00371 It is to be recognized that the dimensions and relative proportions of
the tray
portions and wells of the tray will vary according to the size and intended
use of the tray and
related contents. While a generally circular multi-tier tray 1100 is
illustrated in FIG. 1, one of
ordinary skill will recognize that any suitable shape and size of tray 100 can
be employed and
the disclosed subject matter is not so limited. Other suitable shapes include
spirals,
rectangles, ovals, various polygons, etc.
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[00381 While the disclosed subject matter is described herein in terms of
certain
preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various
modifications and
improvements may be made to the disclosed subject matter without departing
from the scope
thereof. Moreover, although individual features of one embodiment of the
disclosed subject
matter may be discussed herein or shown in the drawings of the one embodiment
and not in
other embodiments, it should be apparent that individual features of one
embodiment may be
combined with one or more features of another embodiment or features from a
plurality of
embodiments.
100391 In addition to the specific embodiments claimed below, the disclosed
subject
matter is also directed to other embodiments having any other possible
combination of the
dependent features claimed below and those disclosed above. As such, the
particular features
presented in the dependent claims and disclosed above can be combined with
each other in
other manners within the scope of the disclosed subject matter such that the
disclosed subject
matter should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments
having any
other possible combinations. Thus, the foregoing description of specific
embodiments of the
disclosed subject matter has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is
not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed subject matter to
those embodiments
disclosed.
[00401 It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and
variations can be made in the method and system of the disclosed subject
matter without
departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosed subject matter. Thus, it
is intended that the
disclosed subject matter include modifications and variations that are within
the scope of the
appended claims and their equivalents.
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