US2007095719A1PendingUtilityA1

Multiple portion packaging tray and method of making same

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Oct 31, 2005Filed: Oct 31, 2005Published: May 3, 2007
Est. expiryOct 31, 2025(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Christopher ColavitoRoy G. SmithPatrick E. O'BrienMichael William Worstell
B31D 5/0021B65D 1/30
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PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A multiple portion packaging tray comprising a plurality of pliable polymer containers configured in an array, each comprising a receptacle and an integral peripheral flange extending from the receptacle, the flanges integrally connecting adjacent containers to one another along perforation lines comprising a series of alternating openings and land areas wherein the land areas are sized so that the containers are separated by tearing apart the flanges without propagating cracks across the flanges. The method of making a multiple portion packaging tray in a former comprising a form station and a separate trim station comprising the steps of thermoforming the multiple portion packaging tray and cutting the perimeter and perforation lines of the multiple portion packaging tray to create a series of alternating openings and land areas.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A multiple portion packaging tray comprising a plurality of pliable polymer containers configured in an array and each comprising a receptacle and an integral peripheral flange extending from the receptacle, the flanges integrally connecting adjacent ones of the containers to one another along perforation lines in the flanges having a series of alternating openings and land areas, wherein the land areas are sized so that the containers are separable by tearing apart the flanges without propagating cracks across the flanges.  
   
   
       2 . The multiple portion packaging tray as in  claim 1  wherein the pliable polymer containers comprise a polyolefin.  
   
   
       3 . The multiple portion packaging tray as in  claim 2  wherein the polyolefin is polypropylene.  
   
   
       4 . The multiple portion packaging tray as in  claim 2  wherein the polyolefin is high density polyethylene or low density polyethylene.  
   
   
       5 . The multiple portion packaging tray as in  claim 2  wherein the pliable polymer containers comprise a coextruded sheet comprising the polyolefin.  
   
   
       6 . The multiple portion packaging tray as in  claim 1  wherein each perforation line has a longitudinal direction and the length of each land area in the longitudinal direction of the respective perforation line ranges from about 15 mils to about 32 mils.  
   
   
       7 . The multiple portion packaging tray as in  claim 1  wherein each perforation line has a longitudinal direction and the length of each land area in the longitudinal direction of the respective perforation line ranges from about 18 mils to about 22 mils.  
   
   
       8 . The multiple portion packaging tray as in  claim 1  wherein each perforation line has a longitudinal direction and the length of each land area in the longitudinal direction of the respective perforation lines is about 20 mils.  
   
   
       9 . The multiple portion packaging tray as in  claim 1  wherein the land areas have a thickness from about 3 mils to about 40 mils.  
   
   
       10 . The multiple portion packaging tray as in  claim 1  wherein the land areas have a thickness from about 5 mils to about 30 mils.  
   
   
       11 . The multiple portion packaging tray as in  claim 1  wherein the flanges have channels and the perforation lines are formed in the channels so that the thickness of the land areas is less than the thickness of the flanges outside of the channels.  
   
   
       12 . The multiple portion packaging tray as in  claim 1  wherein the containers are made by thermoforming a pliable polymer sheet.  
   
   
       13 . The method of making a multiple portion packaging tray in a former comprising a form station and separate trim station comprising the steps of: 
 thermoforming a pliable polymer sheet in a form station to create the multiple portion packaging tray comprising a plurality of pliable polymer containers configured in an array and each comprising a receptacle and an integral peripheral flange extending from the receptacle, the flanges integrally connecting adjacent ones of the containers to one another; and    cutting the flanges in the trim station to form perforation lines having a series of alternating openings and land areas.    
   
   
       14 . The method as in  claim 13  wherein the step of cutting comprises cutting the flanges with steel rule knives to trim the containers and cutting the flanges along the perforation lines with notched steel rule knives to form the open areas.  
   
   
       15 . The method as in  claim 14  wherein the notches of the notched steel rule knives have a length that ranges from about 15 mils to about 32 mils.  
   
   
       16 . The method as in  claim 14  wherein the notches of the notched steel rule knives have a length that ranges from about 18 mils to about 22 mils.  
   
   
       17 . The method as in  claim 14  wherein the notches of the notched steel rule knives have a length of about 20 mils.  
   
   
       18 . The method as in  claim 13  wherein the pliable polymer containers comprise a polyolefin.  
   
   
       19 . The method as in  claim 19  wherein the polyolefin is polypropylene.  
   
   
       20 . The method as in  claim 19  wherein the polyolefin is high density polyethylene or low density polyethylene.  
   
   
       21 . The method as in  claim 19  wherein the pliable polymer containers comprise a coextruded sheet comprising the polyolefin.

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