Multi-Compartment Food Tray

Abstract

A multi-compartment food tray includes at least a first compartment and a second compartment formed from a paperboard material, each compartment including a compartment lip, and a carrier constructed from a paperboard material and including openings receiving the first and second compartments. Each compartment lip may be mechanically coupled to the carrier to create an interface, wherein the interface may remain coupled during food reconstitution, and may include at least one surface having a coating. The first compartment may have a different volume than the second compartment.

1 . A multi-compartment food tray, comprising:
 a first compartment and a second compartment formed of a paperboard material, each compartment including a compartment lip; and   a carrier formed of a paperboard material and including openings receiving the first and second compartments,   wherein each compartment lip is mechanically coupled to the carrier to create a coupled interface.   
     
     
         2 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupled interface is inseparable while the tray is exposed to a food reconstitution process. 
     
     
         3 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the carrier and the compartments includes a coating. 
     
     
         4 . The tray according to  claim 3 , wherein the coating is an extrusion coating comprising at least one of polypropene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polyethylene (PE). 
     
     
         5 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein each compartment lip is mechanically coupled to the carrier using an adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . The tray according to  claim 5 , wherein the adhesive comprises a water-based adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The tray according to  claim 1 , wherein the first compartment has a different volume than the second compartment. 
     
     
         8 . A multi-compartment food tray, comprising:
 a first compartment and a second compartment formed of a paperboard material, each compartment including a compartment lip; and   a carrier formed of a paperboard material and including openings receiving the first and second compartments,   wherein each compartment lip is mechanically coupled to the carrier to create an interface, the interface including at least one surface having a coating.   
     
     
         9 . The tray according to  claim 8 , wherein the carrier comprises uncoated paperboard and the compartments comprise coated paperboard. 
     
     
         10 . The tray according to  claim 8 , wherein the carrier comprises coated paperboard and the compartments comprise uncoated paperboard. 
     
     
         11 . The tray according to  claim 8 , wherein the carrier and the compartments comprise coated paperboard. 
     
     
         12 . The tray according to  claim 8 , wherein the coating is an extrusion coating comprising at least one of polypropene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polyethylene (PE). 
     
     
         13 . The tray according to  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of each compartment is coated with a silicon release coating. 
     
     
         14 . The tray according to  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of each compartment is coated with an acrylic barrier. 
     
     
         15 . The tray according to  claim 8 , wherein each compartment lip is mechanically coupled to the carrier using an adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . The tray according to  claim 8 , wherein the first compartment has a different volume than the second compartment. 
     
     
         17 . A multi-compartment paperboard food tray, comprising:
 a first compartment and a second compartment, the first compartment having a different volume than the second compartment, each compartment including a compartment lip; and   a carrier including openings receiving the first and second compartments, the carrier including a divider area between the openings and an outer flange area adjacent the openings that are generally coplanar.   
     
     
         18 . The tray according to  claim 17 , wherein each compartment lip is mechanically coupled to the carrier. 
     
     
         19 . The tray according to  claim 17 , wherein the first and second compartments hold complementary food items. 
     
     
         20 . The tray according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the carrier and the compartments comprises paperboard having a coating.