Damage Resistant Package

Abstract

A package has inner and outer layers of formed web material. The outer layer has a bottom wall portion, and has a side wall portion projecting upward from the bottom wall portion. A flange portion of the outer layer projects outward from an upper end of the side wall portion. The inner layer has bottom and side wall portions defining a cavity for containing a product. The inner layer further has a flange portion that is sealed to the flange portion of the outer layer fully around the upper end of the cavity. The bottom and side wall portions of the inner layer are nested within the bottom and side wall portions of the outer layer, and are unattached to the bottom and side wall portions of the outer layer.

1 . A package comprising:
 an outer layer of formed web material having a bottom wall portion, a side wall portion projecting upward from the bottom wall portion, and a flange portion projecting outward from an upper end of the side wall portion; and   an inner layer of formed web material having bottom and side wall portions defining a cavity for containing a product, and having a flange portion projecting outward from an upper end of the cavity, with the flange portion of the inner layer sealed to the flange portion of the outer layer fully around the upper end of the cavity;   wherein the bottom and side wall portions of the inner layer are nested within the bottom and side wall portions of the outer layer, and are unattached to the bottom and side wall portions of the outer layer.   
     
     
         2 . A package as defined in  claim 1  wherein the bottom and side wall portions of the inner layer are nested within the bottom and side wall portions of the outer layer in overlying contact. 
     
     
         3 . A package as defined in  claim 1  further comprising an intermediate layer of formed web material having bottom and side wall portions nested between the bottom and side wall portions of the inner and outer layers, and having a flange portion projecting outward between the flange portions of the inner and outer layers, with the flange portion of the intermediate layer sealed to the flange portions of the inner and outer layers fully around the upper end of the cavity, and with the bottom and side wall portions of the intermediate layer unattached to the bottom and side wall portions of the inner and outer layers. 
     
     
         4 . A package as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of intermediate layers of formed web material, each of which has bottom and side wall portions nested between the bottom and side wall portions of the inner and outer layers, and each of which has a flange portion projecting outward between the flange portions of the inner and outer layers, with the flange portion of each intermediate layer sealed to the flange portions of the inner and outer layers fully around the upper end of the cavity, and with the bottom and side wall portions of each intermediate layer unattached to the bottom and side wall portions of the inner and outer layers. 
     
     
         5 . A package as defined in  claim 1  wherein the formed web material is vacuum formed web material. 
     
     
         6 . A package as defined in  claim 1  wherein the outer layer is shaped as a rectangular tray. 
     
     
         7 . A package comprising:
 an outer layer of formed web material having a bottom wall portion, a side wall portion projecting upward from the bottom wall portion, and a flange portion projecting outward from an upper end of the side wall portion;   an inner layer of formed web material having bottom and side wall portions defining a cavity for containing a food product, and having a flange portion projecting outward from an upper end of the cavity;   a food product in the cavity; and   a lid layer of web material reaching over the upper end of the cavity, projecting outward over the flange portions of the inner and outer layers, and sealed to the flange portions of the inner and outer layers fully around the upper end of the cavity;   wherein the bottom and side wall portions of the inner layer are nested within the bottom and side wall portions of the outer layer, and are unattached to the bottom and side wall portions of the outer layer.   
     
     
         8 . A package as defined in  claim 7  wherein the food product is movable within the cavity, and the bottom and side wall portions of the inner layer are nested within the bottom and side wall portions of the outer layer in overlying contact that accommodates movement of the inner layer relative to the outer layer under the influence of the food product. 
     
     
         9 . A package as defined in  claim 7  wherein the food product is movable within the cavity, and the bottom and side wall portions of the inner layer are nested within the bottom and side wall portions of the outer layer in overlying contact that resists movement of the inner layer relative to the outer layer under the influence of the food product. 
     
     
         10 . A package as defined in  claim 7  wherein the food product is movable within the cavity, and the bottom and side wall portions of the inner layer are nested within the bottom and side wall portions of the outer layer in overlying contact that blocks movement of the inner layer relative to the outer layer under the influence of the food product. 
     
     
         11 . A package as defined in  claim 7  further comprising an intermediate layer of formed web material having bottom and side wall portions nested between the bottom and side wall portions of the inner and outer layers, and having a flange portion projecting outward between the flange portions of the inner and outer layers, with the flange portion of the intermediate layer sealed to the flange portions of the inner and outer layers fully around the upper end of the cavity, and with the bottom and side wall portions of the intermediate layer unattached to the bottom and side wall portions of the inner and outer layers. 
     
     
         12 . A package as defined in  claim 7  further comprising a plurality of intermediate layers of formed web material, each of which has bottom and side wall portions nested between the bottom and side wall portions of the inner and outer layers, and each of which has a flange portion projecting outward between the flange portions of the inner and outer layers, with the flange portion of each intermediate layer sealed to the flange portions of the inner and outer layers fully around the upper end of the cavity, and with the bottom and side wall portions of each intermediate layer unattached to the bottom and side wall portions of the inner and outer layers. 
     
     
         13 . A package as defined in  claim 7  wherein the formed web material is vacuum formed web material. 
     
     
         14 . A package as defined in  claim 7  wherein the outer layer is shaped as a rectangular tray. 
     
     
         15 . A package as defined in  claim 7  wherein the food product comprises bone-in meat.