Package for heating a food product

Abstract

A package for holding a food product. The package comprises a first central panel, an end panel foldably connected to the first central panel, and a second central panel foldably connected to the end panel. At least one first side panel is foldably connected to the first central panel and comprises an opening. At least one second side panel is foldably connected to the second central panel. A retention flap is foldably connected to the second side panel. The retention flap comprises a locking portion shaped to be received in the opening and retain the first panel in a closed position of the package.

1 . A package for holding a food product, the package comprising:
 a first central panel;   an end panel foldably connected to the first central panel;   a second central panel foldably connected to the end panel;   at least one first side panel foldably connected to the first central panel,   a least one second side panel foldably connected to the second central panel, the at least one second side panel comprising an opening; and   a retention flap foldably connected to the at least one first side panel, the retention flap comprising a locking portion shaped to be received in the opening to retain the first central panel in a closed position of the package.   
   
   
       2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the retention flap is foldably connected to the at least one first side panel at an oblique fold line. 
   
   
       3 . The package of  claim 2  wherein the locking portion is formed at least in part by a notch extending between two portions of the oblique fold line. 
   
   
       4 . The package of  claim 3  wherein the notch has an elongate portion and two transverse end portions, the elongate portion being generally parallel to the oblique fold line. 
   
   
       5 . The package of  claim 4  wherein the two portions of the oblique fold line, the elongate portion, and the transverse end portions at least partially form a top edge of the at least one first side panel, and the transverse end portions extend past the oblique fold line into the retention flap. 
   
   
       6 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the second side panel is foldably connected to the first panel at an oblique fold line. 
   
   
       7 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the opening is elongate and extends between portions of the oblique fold line. 
   
   
       8 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the locking portion is positioned to extend laterally outward from a top edge of the first side panel. 
   
   
       9 . The package of  claim 8  wherein the opening is positioned at a location corresponding with a top edge of the second side panel. 
   
   
       10 . The package of  claim 1  further comprising a microwave interactive element attached to at least one of the first central panel and the second central panel. 
   
   
       11 . A blank for forming a package for holding a food product, the blank comprising:
 a first central panel;   an end panel foldably connected to the first central panel;   a second central panel foldably connected to the end panel;   a least one first side panel foldably connected to the first central panel;   at least one second side panel foldably connected to the second central panel;   a retention flap foldably connected to the first side panel; and   retention features comprising a locking portion of the retention flap and an opening in the second side panel, the locking portion is shaped to be received in the opening and retain the first central panel in a closed position of the package formed from the blank.   
   
   
       12 . The blank of  claim 11  wherein the retention flap is foldably connected to the first side panel at an oblique fold line. 
   
   
       13 . The blank of  claim 12  wherein the locking portion is formed at least in part by a notch extending between two portions of the oblique fold line. 
   
   
       14 . The blank of  claim 13  wherein the notch has an elongate portion and two transverse end portions, the elongate portion being generally parallel to the oblique fold line and the transverse end portions extending past the oblique fold line into the retention flap. 
   
   
       15 . The blank of  claim 11  wherein the second side panel is foldably connected to the second central panel at an oblique fold line, and the opening is elongate and extends between portions of the oblique fold line. 
   
   
       16 . The blank of  claim 11  further comprising a microwave interactive element attached to at least one of the first central panel and the second central panel. 
   
   
       17 . A method of forming a package from a blank, the method comprising:
 obtaining a blank comprising a first central panel, an end panel foldably attached to the first central panel, a second central panel foldably attached to the end panel, at least two first side panels foldably attached to the first central panel, at least two second side panels foldably attached to the second central panel, a retention flap foldably attached to at least one of the first side panels, and retention features comprising a locking portion of the retention flap and an opening in at least one of the second side panels;   upwardly folding the first side panels relative to the first central panel to from a first tray;   upwardly folding the second side panels relative to the second central panel to form a second tray;   downwardly folding the retention flap;   folding the second tray over the first tray; and   securing the second tray in a closed position of the package by actuating the retention features of the blank comprising inserting the locking portion of the retention flap in the opening.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the folding the second tray over the first tray comprises positioning the end panel in an upright position and placing the second side panels in an overlapping relationship with the first side panels. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein downwardly folding the retention flap comprises positioning the retention flap to be generally parallel to the first central panel so that the locking portion projects outward from the at least one first side panel. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the locking portion of the retention flap is positioned at a location corresponding with a top edge of the at least one first side panel. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the opening is positioned at a location corresponding with a top edge of the at least one second side panel. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first tray and the second tray are generally triangular. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising inserting a food product in the package. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising heating the package to warm the food product. 
   
   
       25 . A package for holding a food product, the package comprising:
 a first tray comprising a first central panel and at least two first side panels foldably connected to the first panel;   a second tray comprising a second central panel and at least two second side panels foldably connected to the second central panel;   an end panel foldably connected to the first tray and the second tray;   a retention flap foldably attached to at least one of the first side panels; and   retention features comprising a locking portion of the retention flap and an opening in one of the second side panels, the locking portion is shaped to be received in the opening and retain the second tray in a closed position.   
   
   
       26 . The package of  claim 25  wherein at least two first side panels are respectively foldably connected to the first central panel at oblique fold lines and the at least two second side panels are respectively foldably connected to the second central panel at oblique fold lines. 
   
   
       27 . The package of  claim 25  wherein the locking portion is positioned at a location corresponding with a top edge in the at least one of the first side panels and the opening is positioned at a location corresponding with a top edge of the one of the second side panels. 
   
   
       28 . The package of  claim 25  further comprising a microwave interactive element attached to at least one of the first central panel and the second central panel.