Food packaging

Abstract

Food packaging ( 50 ) has a food vessel ( 52 ) and a food tray ( 54 ). The vessel has an upper lip ( 56 ) and an inwardly projecting ledge ( 58 ) below the upper lip. The food tray has a pair of opposed handle structures ( 70 a, 70 b ) and a tray portion ( 72 ) depending from the handle structures. Each handle structure has an outwardly projecting protuberance ( 82 ). The food tray is positioned within the food vessel with each protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge such that the tray portion is suspended within the food vessel by the handle structures. This forms two food compartments ( 90, 92 ): one ( 90 ) below and one ( 92 ) above the tray portion. The vessel may be topped by a topping film ( 98 ).

1 . Food packaging, comprising:
 a food vessel having an upper lip and an inwardly projecting ledge below the upper lip; and   a food tray having a pair of opposed handle structures and a tray portion depending from the handle structures, each handle structure having an outwardly projecting protuberance, the food tray positioned within the food vessel with each protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge such that the tray portion is suspended within the food vessel by the handle structures.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging according to  claim 1  wherein the inwardly projecting ledge is a continuous ledge extending about a circumference of the food vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the tray portion has a plurality of through holes. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein each protuberance is laterally elongated so as to extend along a section of the ledge. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging according to  claim 1  comprising an opening between each protuberance and a base of each handle structure sized to receive a thumb or finger of a user. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , comprising a topping film adhered to said upper lip of the food vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging according to  claim 1  comprising a first food component within the vessel below the tray portion of the food tray and a second food component supported on the tray portion of the food tray. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the food vessel is a bowl. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein each protuberance is laterally elongated so as to extend along a section of the ledge. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging according to  claim 9  further comprising an opening between each protuberance and a base of each handle structure sized to receive a thumb or finger of a user. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging according to  claim 10  wherein each handle structure comprises a pair of arms extending upwardly from the tray portion terminating in a cross-bar bridging the pair of arms, the cross-bar comprising the protuberance of each handle structure. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging according to  claim 8 , wherein each protuberance has a radius of curvature matching a radius of curvature of the bowl at the inwardly projecting ledge. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging according to  claim 12  wherein an outer edge of each cross-bar lies in close proximity to a side wall of the bowl so as not to admit a finger of a user between the cross-bar and the side wall whereby to encourage the user to remove the food tray from the bowl by placing a thumb or finger through each opening and drawing the food tray upwardly along the side wall of the bowl. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle structures comprise opposed inwardly directed fins. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging according to  claim 14  wherein each fin has dimpled sides. 
     
     
         16 . The packaging according to  claim 8 , wherein the bowl has a circumferential array of inwardly directed dimples extending medially between a base of the bowl and the upper lip frictionally engaging the tray portion of the food tray. 
     
     
         17 . A food packaging system, comprising:
 a food vessel having an upper lip and an inwardly projecting ledge below the upper lip;   a first food tray having a pair of opposed first handle structures and a first tray portion depending from the first handle structures, each first handle structure having an outwardly projecting first protuberance, the first food tray positionable within the food vessel with each first protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge such that the first tray portion is suspended within the food vessel by the first handle structures; and   a second food tray having a pair of opposed second handle structures and a second tray portion depending from the second handle structures, each second handle structure having an outwardly projecting second protuberance, the second handle structures being longer than the first handle structures, the second food tray positionable within the food vessel with each second protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge such that the second tray portion is suspended within the food vessel by the second handle structures at a level below which the first tray portion is located when suspended within the food vessel; and   whereby a first food component may be added to the food vessel, one of the first food tray and the second food tray positioned within the food vessel, a second food component added on top of the one of first food tray and second food tray, and a topping film adhered to the upper lip of the food vessel to create a food package.   
     
     
         18 . The packaging according to  claim 17  wherein the bowl has a circumferential array of inwardly directed dimples extending medially between a base of the bowl and the upper lip, the dimples for frictionally engaging the first tray portion of the first food tray when positioned within the food vessel with each first protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge and for frictionally engaging the second tray portion of the second food tray when positioned within the food vessel with each second protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge. 
     
     
         19 . A packaged convenience food comprising:
 a food vessel having an upper lip, a side wall, a base wall, and an inwardly projecting ledge in the side wall;   a food tray having a pair of opposed handle structures and a tray portion depending from the handle structures, each handle structure having an outwardly projecting protuberance, the food tray positioned within the food vessel with each protuberance resting on the inwardly projecting ledge such that the tray portion is suspended within the food vessel by the handle structures;   a topping film adhered to the upper lip of the food vessel;   a first food component within the food vessel between the base wall of the food vessel and the tray portion of the food tray; and   a second food component within the food vessel on top of the tray portion.   
     
     
         20 . The packaged convenience food according to  claim 19 , wherein the bowl has a circumferential array of inwardly directed dimples extending medially between a base of the bowl and the upper lip, the dimples frictionally engaging the tray portion of the food tray.