Packaging tray

Abstract

A molded plastic tray adapted to receive a plastic overwrap film for preservation, secure handling and display of a perishable food product in the wrapped tray, such as fresh fruit or vegetables. The tray has a pair of central ribbing elements extending from opposing longitudinal side walls and into the bottom wall and is designed to provide structural rigidity that resists warping and collapse, thus enabling the overwrapped tray to be handled, shipped, and displayed with minimal leakage while preserving the food product therein. The tray is easy to manufacture and provides a lightweight and cost effective packaging product. The tray has a rectangular shape that provides for consistent wrapping strength and can be handled on standard processing equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A molded plastic packaging tray for receiving a perishable food product and wrapping in a plastic film wrap to preserve the food product, the packaging tray comprising:
 an integral molded plastic tray having topside and underside surfaces, the underside surface including a lowermost standing surface of the tray;   the topside surface defining a flange having a rectangular perimeter lying in a top reference plane TRP, the rectangular perimeter comprising opposing first and second longitudinal edges aligned parallel to a longitudinal centerline LCL of the tray, opposing first and second lateral edges aligned parallel to a transverse centerline TCL that is transverse to the LCL, and rounded corner edges joining the side edges and lateral edges;   the tray topside surface defining a recessed cavity wall depending downwardly from the rectangular perimeter to define an interior cavity having an open top end, the interior cavity comprising a substantially flat bottom wall, and extending upwardly from the bottom wall toward the flange, a pair of opposing longitudinal side walls disposed parallel to and equidistant from opposing sides of the LCL, a pair of opposing end walls disposed parallel to and equidistant from opposing sides of the TCL, and four rounded corner walls joining the side walls and end walls and which collectively, with the bottom wall, form the interior cavity;   a pair of central ribbing elements, each ribbing element forming an arc that lies in the TCL and extending into a respective side wall and the bottom wall so as to prevent outward sagging of the tray in the LCL direction, as well as preventing inward collapsing of the tray in the TCL direction, when the tray is filled with a product and the filled tray is wrapped in a plastic film wrap.   
     
     
         2 . A method of packaging a perishable food product comprising:
 depositing a perishable food product into the interior cavity of the molded plastic packaging tray of  claim 1 ;   providing a sheet of wrapping film and positioning it over the tray and the food product deposited therein;   pulling the sheet taut to engage the surface of the food product deposited within the tray and the rectangular flange perimeter; and   securing the sheet to the tray.   
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the tray includes:
 a trim area extending from upper end portions of the side walls, end walls and corner walls of the interior cavity, the trim area including the flange;   the flange comprising a top surface lying within the TRP and including opposing inner and outer edges.   
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the outer edge of the flange is coextensive with the rectangular perimeter; and   a trim lip extends from the outer edge downwardly away from the TRP for strengthening the trim area.   
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 4 , wherein the trim lip has an exterior edge that forms a substantially rectangular perimeter. 
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the arc is extends between first and second ends, the first end extending from the respective side wall or an adjacent trim area at the open top end of the cavity, and the second end extending from the bottom wall. 
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 6 , wherein the arc of the ribbing element comprises an arc shaped upper surface that extends between the first and second ends, and opposing side walls that extend downwardly away from the TRP from opposite sides of the upper surface between the first and second ends. 
     
     
         8 . The tray of  claim 7 , wherein the bottom wall includes a flat gap extending between the second ends of the respective arcs. 
     
     
         9 . The tray of  claim 8 , wherein the flat gap extends across 25-35% of a width of the bottom wall in the TCL direction, and more preferably 25-30%. 
     
     
         10 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each arc extends across 25-40% of a width of the bottom wall in the TCL direction, and more preferably 35-40%.   
     
     
         11 . The tray of  claim 10 , wherein the interior cavity has a height extending from the bottom wall to the TRP and transverse to the TRP, and each arc has a height transverse to the TRP of 75-100% of the cavity height, and more preferably 80-95%. 
     
     
         12 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the tray has a length L in the LCL direction and a width W in the TCL direction, and the ratio of L:W is greater than 1.25. 
     
     
         13 . The tray of  claim 12 , wherein the ratio of L:W is in a range from 1.25 to 2, and more preferably in a range from 1.5 to 2. 
     
     
         14 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the molded tray is made of a plastic material comprising one or more of polyester and polyolefin material, including homo-polymers, copolymers, mixtures and blends of the material, including foam and non-foam material, and including virgin and reclaimed and recycled material. 
     
     
         15 . The tray of  claim 11 , wherein the plastic material comprises polyethylene terephthalate material. 
     
     
         16 . The tray of  claim 6 , wherein the cavity wall depends downwardly from the TRP at an acute angle.