Fluid retaining substrate

Abstract

The invention concerns a substrate for increased retention capacity of fluids, ideally for use in or as part of a packaging tray, wherein said substrate comprises a plurality of wells provided therein; and a packaging tray comprising said substrate.

1 . A substrate for retaining a fluid wherein said substrate is substantially planar and comprises a plurality of wells provided therein each having walls and a base wherein each one of said wells has a cross-sectional shape and cross-sectional length configured to retain fluid by capillary action and further wherein the walls of said wells extend above the upper surface of said substrate forming a rim. 
     
     
         2 . The substrate according to  claim 1  wherein the rim has a height, as measured perpendicular to the horizontal/transverse plane, of about at least 0.10 mm, extending above the substrate surface. 
     
     
         3 . The substrate according to  claim 2  wherein the rim has a height, as measured perpendicular to the horizontal/transverse plane, of at least 0.2 mm extending above the substrate surface. 
     
     
         4 . The substrate according to any preceding claim wherein the rim comprises an elongate structure, mirroring the well boundary and extended above the upper surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The substrate according to  claim 4  wherein the rim comprises a tapered rim edge. 
     
     
         6 . The substrate according to any preceding claim wherein said rim has a cross-sectional width, as measured in the horizontal/transverse plane, within the range of about 0.10-1.90 mm including both 0.10 mm and 1.90 mm and all 0.01 mm therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The substrate according to any preceding claim wherein the wells have a diameter or maximum cross-sectional length selected within the range of about 1-15 mm including both 1 mm and 15 mm and all 0.01 mm therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . The substrate according to  claim 7  wherein the wells have a diameter or maximum cross-sectional length selected within the range of about 6-13 mm including both 6 mm and 13 mm and all 0.01 mm therebetween. 
     
     
         9 . The substrate according to  claim 8  wherein the wells have a diameter or maximum cross-sectional length selected from the group comprising 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 11 mm, 12 mm, 13 mm and all 0.01 mm therebetween. 
     
     
         10 . The substrate according to any preceding claim wherein the wells have a depth, measured from the upper surface of the substrate, selected within the range of about 1.0-10.0 mm including both 1.0 mm and 10.0 mm and all 0.01 mm depths therebetween. 
     
     
         11 . The substrate according to any preceding claim wherein the wells are positioned immediately adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         12 . The substrate according to any one of  claims 1 - 10  wherein the wells are spaced apart from one another by an amount of about at least 0.1 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The substrate according to  claim 12  wherein the wells are spaced apart from one another by an amount between 0.5 mm-2.0 mm including both 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm and every 0.05 mm therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . The substrate according to any preceding claim wherein the wells are of a cross-sectional shape selected from substantially circular, elliptical, triangular, cross-shaped, hexagonal, or otherwise polygonal shapes in cross-section. 
     
     
         15 . The substrate according to  claim 14  wherein said wells are of a crosssectional shape selected from substantially circular, triangular, crossshaped, or hexagonal shape in cross-section. 
     
     
         16 . The substrate according to any preceding claim wherein the wells are provided as at least one array having a two dimensional shape, a first dimension of which is aligned or staggered with a first axis of said substrate (in which it is provided) and a second dimension of which is aligned or staggered with a second axis of said substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The substrate according to  claim 16  wherein the substrate is provided with a plurality of arrays of wells. 
     
     
         18 . The substrate according to any preceding claim wherein the wells are tapered whereby their cross-sectional length diminishes from the top of the well to the base, or vice versa. 
     
     
         19 . The substrate according to  claim 18  wherein the wells are tapered by an angle selected from the range of about 1-15° including both 1° and 15° and every 0.1° therebetween. 
     
     
         20 . The substrate according to  claim 19  wherein the wells are tapered by an angle selected from the range of about 5-15° including both 5° and 15° and every 0.1° therebetween. 
     
     
         21 . The substrate according to any preceding claim wherein the substrate is manufactured from a material selected from the group comprising: polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, or combinations thereof, including thermoformed or expanded polymer forms thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The substrate according to any preceding claim wherein the wells are provided as at least one array, wherein said array comprises circular cross-sectional wells having a cross-sectional length within the range of about 8-10 mm including both 8 mm and 10 mm and all 0.1 mm therebetween. 
     
     
         23 . The substrate according to any one of  claims 1 - 21  wherein the wells are provided as at least one array, wherein said array comprises triangular cross-sectional wells having a cross-sectional length within the range of about 8-12 mm including both 8 mm and 12 mm and all 0.1 mm therebetween. 
     
     
         24 . The substrate according to any one of  claims 1 - 21  wherein the wells are provided as at least one array, wherein said array comprises hexagonal cross-sectional wells having a cross-sectional length within the range of about 9-13 mm including both 9 mm and 13 mm and all 0.1 mm therebetween. 
     
     
         25 . The substrate according to any one of  claims 1 - 21  wherein the wells are provided as at least one array, wherein said array comprises crossshaped cross-sectional wells having a cross-sectional length within the range of about 9-11 mm including both 9 mm and 11 mm and all 0.1 mm therebetween. 
     
     
         26 . The substrate according to any one of  claims 22 - 25  wherein the wells have a rim of height of about at least 0.2 mm. 
     
     
         27 . The substrate according to any one of  claims 22 - 26  wherein the wells comprise a tapered rim edge. 
     
     
         28 . The substrate according to any one of  claims 22 - 27  said rim has a cross-sectional width, as measured in the horizontal/transverse plane, within the range of about 0.20-1.00 mm including both 0.20 mm and 1.00 mm and all 0.01 mm therebetween. 
     
     
         29 . A packaging tray comprising at least one substrate according to any one of  claims 1 - 28 . 
     
     
         30 . The packaging tray according to  claim 29  wherein the packaging tray comprises a floor and side walls extending upwardly from said floor, wherein said floor comprises said at least one substrate. 
     
     
         31 . The packaging tray according to  claim 30  wherein the at least one substrate is provided as a removable insert for positioning in the floor of said tray. 
     
     
         32 . The packaging tray according to any one of  claims 29 - 31  wherein the at least one substrate defines the floor, or part thereof, of said tray. 
     
     
         33 . The packaging tray according to  claim 32  wherein tray is manufactured from a material wherein the floor, is/are molded to provide at least one or more integrally associated substrate(s) according to any one or more of  claims 1 - 28 . 
     
     
         34 . The packaging tray according to any one of  claims 29  to  33 , further comprising one or more raised platforms. 
     
     
         35 . The packaging tray according to any one of  claims 29  to  34 , further comprising one or more bumpers. 
     
     
         36 . The packaging tray according to any one of  claims 29  to  34 , further comprising a plurality of wells having a chamfered wall. 
     
     
         37 . A process for manufacturing a substrate according to any one of  claims 1  to  28  or a tray according to any one of  claims 29  to  36 , comprising the step of thermoforming a sheet of material into a substrate or a tray.