One compartment food tray

Abstract

Described herein is a 100% biodegradable molded pulp food tray. In one embodiment, the tray has a base and side walls extending upward from the base, each side wall comprising an upper edge and a flange extending from the upper edge toward a perimeter in a visualized cross-section plane, wherein the base and the side walls are integrally formed of molded pulp. Each upper edge may intersect with a visualized vertical axis that is perpendicular to the visualized cross-section plane to define an angle of draw of about 13 degrees to be structurally viable for the molded pulp. In related aspects, the tray may be made from bleached Bagasse pulp or the like, and may be freezer/refrigerator safe, as well as microwavable.

1 . A food tray, comprising:
 a rigid body, the body having:
 a base wall along a bottom of the body, the base wall comprising an outer ring portion surrounding a raised central portion; 
 sloping side walls extending upward from the outer ring portion of the base wall, each side wall comprising an upper side wall edge and a flat flange extending from the upper side wall edge toward a perimeter in a visualized top cross-section plane; and 
 sloping transverse side walls extending upward from the outer ring portion of the base wall, each transverse side wall comprising a transverse upper side wall edge and a transverse flat flange extending from the transverse upper side wall edge toward the perimeter; 
   wherein the base wall, the sloping side walls, and the sloping transverse side walls are integrally formed of a molded pulp;   wherein the upper side wall edge intersects with a first visualized vertical axis that is perpendicular to the visualized top cross-section plane to define a first angle of draw of about 13 degrees that is structurally viable for the molded pulp; and   wherein the transverse upper side wall edge intersects with a second visualized vertical axis that is perpendicular to the visualized top cross-section plane to define a second angle of draw of about 13 degrees that is structurally viable for the molded pulp.   
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the tray has a depth of at least three inches. 
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 2 , wherein the tray has a depth of about 3.125 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the molded pulp comprises biodegradable and compostable Bagasse pulp material. 
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 4 , wherein the Bagasse pulp material comprises bleached Bagasse pulp. 
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 4 , wherein the Bagasse pulp material is freezer and refrigerator safe. 
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 4 , wherein the Bagasse pulp material is microwavable. 
     
     
         8 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the flat flange extends about 10 mm from the upper side wall edge to the perimeter. 
     
     
         9 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse flat flange extends about 10 mm from the transverse upper side wall edge to the perimeter. 
     
     
         10 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a lidding film applied over the body at each flat flange and transverse flat flange, wherein each flat flange and transverse flat flange serves as a rigid flat seat for application of the lidding film. 
     
     
         11 . A tray, comprising:
 a rigid body, the body having:
 a base wall along a bottom of the body, the base wall comprising an outer portion and a central portion; and 
 side walls extending upward from the outer portion, each side wall comprising an upper side wall edge and a flange extending horizontally from the upper side wall edge toward a perimeter in a visualized cross-section plane; 
   wherein the base wall and the side walls are integrally formed of a molded pulp;   wherein the body comprises a first angle of draw defined by the intersection of the upper side wall edge and a first visualized vertical axis that is perpendicular to the visualized cross-section plane, the first angle of draw ranging from about 13 degrees to about 15 degrees to be structurally viable for the molded pulp.   
     
     
         12 . The tray of  claim 11 , wherein the tray has a depth of at least three inches. 
     
     
         13 . The tray of  claim 12 , wherein the tray has a depth of about 3.125 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The tray of  claim 11 , wherein the molded pulp comprises biodegradable and compostable Bagasse pulp material. 
     
     
         15 . The tray of  claim 11 , wherein the flange is generally flat and extends about 10 mm from the upper side wall edge to the perimeter. 
     
     
         16 . The tray of  claim 11 , wherein the body further comprises transverse side walls extending upward from the outer portion, each transverse side wall comprising a transverse upper side wall edge and a transverse flange extending horizontally from the transverse upper side wall edge toward the perimeter. 
     
     
         17 . The tray of  claim 16 , wherein the body further comprises a second angle of draw defined by the intersection of the transverse upper side wall edge and a second visualized vertical axis that is perpendicular to the visualized cross-section plane, the second angle of draw ranging from about 13 degrees to about 15 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The tray of  claim 17 , wherein the transverse flange is generally flat and extends about 10 mm from the transverse upper side wall edge to the perimeter. 
     
     
         19 . The tray of  claim 11 , further comprising a lidding film applied over the body at each flange, wherein each flange serves as a rigid flat seat for application of the lidding film. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a body, the body comprising a base and side walls extending upward from the base, each side wall comprising an upper edge and a flange extending from the upper edge toward a perimeter in a visualized cross-section plane;   wherein the base and the side walls are integrally formed of a molded pulp;   wherein the upper edge intersects with a visualized vertical axis that is perpendicular to the visualized cross-section plane to define an angle of draw that ranges from about 13 degrees to about 15 degrees to be structurally viable for the molded pulp.