Multiple-tray, multiple-compartment food package

Abstract

A multiple-tray, multiple-compartment food package that allows for individual trays to be initially packaged together in a connected manner, yet later be separated from each other while a film remains intact upon the trays to allow opening at different times. The film covering the food compartments and a back panel attached along the bottom of each tray initially maintains the trays in an attached, sealed state. The film contains a weakened portion along which the film and trays are separated. The back panel is a single, continuous piece, however, it can be removed or separated into at least two pieces by tearing along an area of weakness thereon, which also separates the trays from one another with a portion of the back panel remaining on each tray. The back panel is used to provide either a stand-up display feature or an overhead hanging hole in the top of the panel.

1 . A food package comprising:
 at least two rigid, unconnected trays, each tray having at least two compartments and peripheral and internal flanges, the compartments defined by side walls extending downwardly from the flanges to bottom walls and at least one of the compartments of each tray containing a food product;   a common air impermeable flexible film affixed to each tray at the peripheral and internal flanges of each tray and forming air-tight seals at least with respect to the compartments containing food product, the film having a weakened portion positioned between the two trays; and   a common back panel adhered to a portion of the bottom wall of at least one compartment of each tray, the back panel having an area of weakness positioned between the two trays.   
     
     
         2 . The food package of  claim 1  wherein the back panel extends outwardly from the compartments in at least one direction so that an extending edge is aligned with an outer edge of a side of the peripheral flange. 
     
     
         3 . The food package of  claim 1  wherein the back panel extends outwardly from the compartments in a lower direction, such that a lower edge of the back panel is aligned with a lower edge of the peripheral flange such that the lower edge of the back panel and the lower edge of the peripheral flange form a pair of edges that are generally within a same plane upon which the package can stand upright. 
     
     
         4 . The food package of  claim 2  wherein the area of weakness is one of a perforated tear strip, perforation, tear tape, tear string, and reverse cut score. 
     
     
         5 . The food package of  claim 2  wherein the weakened portion is one of a perforation, laser score, mechanical score, and tear tape. 
     
     
         6 . The food package of  claim 2  wherein the back panel is adhered to a portion of the bottom wall of only some of the compartments on each tray. 
     
     
         7 . The food package of  claim 2  wherein the back panel is adhered to a portion of the bottom wall of all of the compartments on each tray. 
     
     
         8 . The food package of  claim 2  wherein the flexible film is heat-sealed, glued or ultrasonically sealed to the flanges of the trays. 
     
     
         9 . The food package of  claim 2  wherein the flexible film is a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, and polyethylene. 
     
     
         10 . The food package of  claim 2  wherein the back panel is a material that is either paperboard or plastic. 
     
     
         11 . The food package of  claim 2  wherein the package includes two trays having three compartments each. 
     
     
         12 . The food package of  claim 11  wherein a farinaceous food is included in a large compartment and proteinaceous foods are included in each of the two smaller compartments of each tray. 
     
     
         13 . The food package of  claim 1  wherein the back panel extends outwardly from the compartments in an upper direction, such that an upper edge of the back panel extends past an upper edge of the peripheral flange such that a portion of the upper edge of the back panel is visible at a height above the package and contains a hole near the upper edge. 
     
     
         14 . The food package of  claim 1  wherein a peggable hole is provided on a peg member attached to one or all of the trays. 
     
     
         15 . The food package of  claim 2  wherein the bottom walls of each tray has a portion generally in the same plane. 
     
     
         16 . The food package of  claim 15  wherein the bottom wall has a first portion at a first depth, and a second portion at a second depth, the back panel being adhered to the bottom wall of the second depth, the second depth being greater than the first depth. 
     
     
         17 . The food package of  claim 2  wherein the film has a portion that extends outwardly from the peripheral flange and past an edge of the peripheral flange to provide a gripping surface for removal of the film. 
     
     
         18 . A food package comprising:
 two generally rectangular rigid, unconnected trays, each tray having three compartments and peripheral and internal flanges, the compartments defined by side walls extending downwardly from the flanges to bottom walls and at least one of the compartments of each tray containing a food product;   a common air impermeable flexible film affixed to each tray at the peripheral and internal flanges of each tray and forming air-tight seals at least with respect to the compartments containing food product, the film having a weakened portion positioned between the two trays; and   a common back panel adhered to a portion of the bottom wall of at least one compartment of each tray.   
     
     
         19 . The food package of  claim 18  wherein the back panel has a central area of weakness positioned between the two trays, the back panel extending outwardly from the compartments in at least one direction so that an extending edge is aligned with an outer edge of a side of the peripheral flange. 
     
     
         20 . A method of separating a multi-tray food package, the method comprising:
 removing an area of weakness along a common back panel attached to a bottom of each tray of the multi-tray food package to separate the back panel into multiple parts, one part along each tray and to separate the trays along a bottom plane;   separating a common flexible film attached to an upper portion of the food package along a weakened portion where the multiple trays are connected to each other along the weakened portion and further dividing the flexible film into multiple films, a separate film for each tray; and   providing for multiple individually singulated trays obtained from the food package.