Packaging tray and method of use

Abstract

A system for packaging food is provided. The system has a food for packaging and a food accessory for packaging with the food. The system has a packaging tray having a tray bottom and two substantially straight side walls coupled to the tray bottom. The tray has two curved end walls wherein each of the curved end walls are coupled to the tray bottom and the side walls wherein a first end wall curves toward the interior of the packaging tray and a second end wall curves away from the interior of the packaging tray. The tray has a border connected to a top edge of the two side walls and the two end walls thereby forming a perimeter around the top of the walls. The tray has a storage compartment formed in the border for storing the food accessory.

1 . A food packaging tray, comprising:
 a tray bottom wherein the tray bottom is substantially flat and has two substantially straight sides on opposite sides of a perimeter of the tray bottom and two curved ends wherein a first end is curved away from the tray bottom and a second end is curved into the tray bottom;   two side walls each extending above the straight sides of the tray bottom and located on opposite sides of the tray bottom;   two curved end walls each extending above the curved ends of the tray bottom and wherein each end of each of the end walls is coupled to an end of the side wall thereby forming walls extending from the perimeter of the tray bottom;   a food storage area above the tray bottom for storing a food, wherein the food storage area is substantially surrounded by the two end walls and the two side walls; and   a border connected to a top end of each of the end walls and the side walls, wherein the border extends from the top of the two end walls and the two side walls in a direction away from the food storage area.   
     
     
         2 . The food packaging tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage compartment formed in the border. 
     
     
         3 . The food packaging tray of  claim 2 , further comprising a food accessory configured be stored in the storage compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The food packaging tray of  claim 3 , wherein the food accessory is a thermometer configured to measure the temperature of the food while cooking. 
     
     
         5 . The food packaging tray of  claim 4 , wherein the thermometer has an indicator that displays when the food is cooked. 
     
     
         6 . The food packaging tray of  claim 3 , wherein the indicator displays a color change when the food is cooked. 
     
     
         7 . The food packaging tray of  claim 4 , wherein the storage compartment is formed to match the shape of the food accessory. 
     
     
         8 . The food packaging tray of  claim 3 , wherein the food accessory is a condiment. 
     
     
         9 . The food packaging tray of  claim 3 , wherein the border has substantially the same width around the food packaging tray. 
     
     
         10 . The food packaging tray of  claim 3 , wherein the border has a varying width at the end wall connected to the second end of the tray bottom. 
     
     
         11 . The food packaging tray of  claim 10 , wherein the edge of the border connected to the wall curves with the curved end wall into the tray bottom and an outer edge of the border is straight. 
     
     
         12 . The food packaging tray of  claim 11 , wherein the straight outer edge of the border is substantially perpendicular to the side walls. 
     
     
         13 . A system for packaging food, the system comprising:
 a food for packaging;   a food accessory for packaging with the food; and   a packaging tray comprising:
 a tray bottom; 
 two substantially straight side walls coupled to the tray bottom; 
 two curved end walls wherein each of the curved end walls are coupled to the tray bottom and the side walls wherein a first end wall curves toward the interior of the packaging tray and a second end wall curves away from the interior of the packaging tray; and 
 a border connected to a top edge of the two side walls and the two end walls thereby forming a perimeter around the top of the walls; and 
 a storage compartment formed in the border for storing the food accessory. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the food accessory is a thermometer. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the storage compartment has a shape that matches a shape of the food accessory. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the border has a varying width at the first end wall. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the edge of the border connected to the first end wall curves with the curved end wall into the tray bottom and an outer edge of the border is straight. 
     
     
         18 . A method of providing a food package to a consumer, the method comprising;
 providing a packaging tray comprising:
 a tray bottom; 
 two straight side walls; 
 two curved end walls; and 
 a border surrounding a top of the two straight side walls and the two curved end walls 
   placing a food in a food storage area of the packaging tray;   placing a food accessory in a storage compartment on the border of the packaging tray; and   wrapping the packaging tray in a manner that displays the food and the food accessory on one side of the packaging tray.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising forming the border with a varying width at one of the two curved end walls. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein forming the border with the varying width further comprises curving the edge of the border connected to the curved end wall toward an interior of the packaging tray and forming an outer edge of the border in a straight line.