Food Tray Assemblies, Consumer Meal Products and Methods of Packaging Food Products

Abstract

Food tray assemblies, consumer food products and methods of packaging food products are provided. In one embodiment, a food tray assembly includes a retaining structure, a first tray, and a second tray. The retaining structure has a first engaging region and the first tray is removeably engaged with the retaining structure at the first engaging region. The first tray may be removed from the retaining structure by the application of a force to the first tray in a first direction and may be engaged with the retaining structure by the application of a force to the first tray in a second direction. The second tray may be removeably engaged with the retaining structure or be an integral component with the retaining structure. The retaining structure may further comprise a living hinge that separates the first tray and the second tray.

1 . A food tray assembly comprising:
 a retaining structure comprising a first engaging region;   a first tray removeably engaged with the retaining structure at the first engaging region, wherein the first tray is removable from the retaining structure by the application of a force to the first tray in a first direction and is engagable with the retaining structure by the application of a force to the first tray in a second direction; and   a second tray.   
     
     
         2 . The food tray assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein:
 the retaining structure comprises a second engaging region; and   the second tray is removeably engaged with the retaining structure at the second engaging region such that the second tray is removable from the retaining structure by the application of a force to the second tray in a first direction and is engagable with the retaining structure by the application of a force to the second tray in a second direction.   
     
     
         3 . The food tray assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the first and second trays are removeably engaged with the retaining structure at the first and second engaging regions by an interference fit. 
     
     
         4 . The food tray assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the second tray is integral with the retaining structure. 
     
     
         5 . The food tray assembly as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the first engaging region and the second tray are separated by living hinge and the second tray is movable toward the first engaging region by a rotation of the second tray about the living hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The food tray assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein:
 the first tray comprises an outwardly extending flange and an beveled neck portion extending from the outwardly extending flange and terminating in a notch portion;   the first engaging region comprises a first engaging seat extending from a first surface of the retaining structure, the first engaging seat further comprising a beveled wall terminating in a ledge; and   the notch portion of the first tray contacts the ledge of the first engaging seat and the outwardly extending flange of the first tray contacts the first surface of the retaining structure.   
     
     
         7 . The food tray assembly as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising one or more additional trays. 
     
     
         8 . The food tray assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein:
 the retaining structure comprises a first surface and an outer wall extending from the first surface; and   the outer wall is operable to support the food tray assembly.   
     
     
         9 . A consumer meal product comprising:
 a first food product;   a second food product; and   a tray assembly further comprising:
 a first tray, wherein the first food product is sealed within the first tray by a first sealing wrapper; 
 a second tray, wherein the second food product is sealed within the second tray by a second sealing wrapper; and 
 a retaining structure, wherein the first tray is removeably engaged with the retaining structure by an interference fit such that the first tray is removable from the retaining structure by the application of a force to the first tray in a first direction and is engagable with the retaining structure by the application of a force to the first tray in a second direction. 
   
     
     
         10 . The consumer meal product as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the second tray is removeably engaged with the retaining structure by an interference fit such that the second tray is removable from the retaining structure by the application of a force to the second tray in a first direction and is engagable with the retaining structure by the application of a force to the second tray in a second direction. 
     
     
         11 . The consumer meal product as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the first food product is different from the second food product. 
     
     
         12 . The consumer meal product as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the second tray is integral with the retaining structure. 
     
     
         13 . The consumer meal product as claimed in  claim 12  wherein:
 the retaining structure comprises a first engaging region;   the first tray is removeably engaged with the retaining structure at the first engaging region; and   the first engaging region and the second tray are separated by living hinge and the second tray is movable toward the first engaging region by a rotation of the second tray about the living hinge.   
     
     
         14 . The consumer meal product as claimed in  claim 9  further comprising an additional tray, wherein an additional food product is sealed within the additional tray with an additional wrapper. 
     
     
         15 . A method of packaging food products into a packaging assembly comprising:
 providing a tray assembly having a first tray and a second tray;   populating the first tray with a first food product;   populating the second tray with a second food product; and   engaging the first tray with a retaining structure of the tray assembly, wherein the first tray is engaged with the retaining structure by an interference fit in a first engaging region of the retaining structure.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising engaging the second tray with the retaining structure, wherein the second tray is engaged with the retaining structure by an interference fit in a second engaging region. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising:
 populating one or more additional trays with one or more additional food products; and   engaging the one or more additional trays with the retaining structure, wherein the one or more additional trays are engaged with the with the retaining structure by an interference fit in one or more additional engaging regions.   
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the interference fit in the first engaging region is such that the first tray is repeatably removable from the first engaging region of the retaining structure. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the second tray is integral with the retaining structure. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the method further comprises cooling the first or second food product in the first or second tray prior to engaging the first or second tray with the retaining structure.