Packaging container

Abstract

A packaging container for a food product includes a tray ( 2 ) for receiving a food product, the tray including a base ( 4 ) and a peripheral wall ( 6 ), and a film lid ( 8 ) for sealed attachment to an upper edge of the peripheral wall to seal a food product ( 10 ) within the container. The film lid ( 8 ) includes a lower film layer ( 12 ) for sealed attachment to the upper edge of the peripheral wall ( 6 ) and an upper film layer ( 14 ) that is peelably attached to the lower film layer ( 12 ) so that it can be separated by peeling from the lower film layer. The upper film layer ( 14 ) carries at least one printed layer ( 20 ).

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A packaging container for a food product, the packaging container being configured to allow heating of the food product in the packaging container and comprising a tray for receiving a food product, the tray having a base and a peripheral wall, and a film lid for sealed attachment to an upper edge of the peripheral wall to seal a food product within the container, wherein the film lid comprises a laminated film material that includes a lower film layer made of a first plastics material for sealed attachment to the upper edge of the peripheral wall and an upper film layer made of a second plastics material that is attached by a peelable layer to the lower film layer so that it can be separated by peeling from the lower film layer, said upper film layer carrying at least one printed layer and said lower film layer being unprinted, wherein the first plastics material comprises a heat resistant plastics material, and the peelable layer is attached more strongly to the upper film layer than to the lower film layer so that it is removed entirely from the lower film layer when the upper film layer is separated by peeling from the lower film layer. 
     
     
         26 . A packaging container according to  claim 25 , wherein the peelable layer comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         27 . A packaging container according to  claim 25 , wherein the first plastics material comprises a heat resistant plastics material that can tolerate a temperature of about 130°-210° C. 
     
     
         28 . A packaging container according to  claim 25 , wherein the peelable layer has a bond strength with the lower film layer in the range 20-90 g per 25 mm width. 
     
     
         29 . A packaging container according to  claim 25 , wherein the lower film layer comprises a PET homopolymer material. 
     
     
         30 . A packaging container according to  claim 25 , wherein the lower film layer includes an upper surface layer comprising a heat sealable copolymer material. 
     
     
         31 . A packaging container according to  claim 25 , wherein the lower film layer is heat sealed to the upper edge of the peripheral wall. 
     
     
         32 . A packaging container according to  claim 25 , wherein a lower surface of the lower film layer is corona treated. 
     
     
         33 . A packaging container according to  claim 25 , wherein the upper film layer comprises a polyester material. 
     
     
         34 . A packaging container according to  claim 25 , wherein a lower surface of the upper film layer is acrylic treated. 
     
     
         35 . A packaging container according to  claim 25 , wherein the upper film layer has a thickness in the range 20-30 μm. 
     
     
         36 . A packaging container according to  claim 25 , wherein the upper film layer carries a first printed layer that can be viewed from a first side of the upper film layer and a second printed layer that can be viewed from a second side of the upper film layer. 
     
     
         37 . A packaging container according to  claim 36 , wherein the first printed layer is printed on the first side of the upper film layer and the second printed layer is printed on the second side of the upper film layer. 
     
     
         38 . A packaging container according to  claim 36 , wherein the upper film layer is transparent and the first and second printed layers are printed on the same side of the upper film layer, whereby one of the printed layers can be viewed through the transparent film from one side of the upper film layer, and the other printed layer can be viewed from the other side of the upper film layer. 
     
     
         39 . A packaging container according to  claim 38 , wherein one of the printed layers is overprinted with the other printed layer. 
     
     
         40 . A packaging container according to  claim 36 , wherein at least one printed layer is substantially opaque. 
     
     
         41 . A packaging container according to  claim 25 , wherein the lower film layer is substantially transparent. 
     
     
         42 . A packaging container according to  claim 25 , wherein the tray comprises a plastics material. 
     
     
         43 . A packaged food product comprising a packaging container and a food product sealed within the container, said packaging container being configured to allow heating of the food product in the packaging container and comprising a tray for receiving a food product, the tray having a base and a peripheral wall, and a film lid for sealed attachment to an upper edge of the peripheral wall to seal a food product within the container, wherein the film lid comprises a laminated film material that includes a lower film layer made of a first plastics material for sealed attachment to the upper edge of the peripheral wall and an upper film layer made of a second plastics material that is attached by a peelable layer to the lower film layer so that it can be separated by peeling from the lower film layer, said upper film layer carrying at least one printed layer and said lower film layer being unprinted, wherein the first plastics material comprises a heat resistant plastics material, and the peelable layer is attached more strongly to the upper film layer than to the lower film layer so that it is removed entirely from the lower film layer when the upper film layer is separated by peeling from the lower film layer. 
     
     
         44 . A packaged food product according to  claim 43 , wherein the food product is a pre-prepared food product, preferably a chilled or frozen food product or an ambient food product, which is intended to be heated to a serving temperature in the packaging container. 
     
     
         45 . A laminated film material for sealing a packaging container for a food product that is configured to allow heating of the food product in the packaging container, wherein the laminated film material includes a lower film layer made of a first plastics material for sealed attachment to the packaging container and an upper film layer made of a second plastics material that is attached by a layer of peelable adhesive to the lower film layer so that it can be separated by peeling from the lower film layer, said upper film layer carrying at least one printed layer and said lower film layer being unprinted, wherein the first plastics material comprises a heat resistant plastics material, and the peelable layer is attached more strongly to the upper film layer than to the lower film layer so that it is removed entirely from the lower film layer when the upper film layer is separated by peeling from the lower film layer.