Tray for preventing meat browning

Abstract

A tray including projections may store a product, such as meat. The projections may extend upward or downward from the tray. The projections may allow the tray to be offset from a subsequent tray or surface. The projections may allow air flow and thus oxygen flow through a film of the tray and into the product stored within.

1 . A tray for preventing the browning of meat, the tray comprising:
 a base;   a first wall connected to the base and extending axially upward from the base;   a second wall connected to the base and extending axially upward from the base;   a third wall opposite from the first wall, the third wall connected to the base and extending axially upward from the base;   a fourth wall opposite from the second wall, the fourth wall connected to the base and extending axially upward from the base, the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall are connected to form a generally rectangular shape;   an area defined between the base, the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall;   a film attached to the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall, offset from the base and configured to seal the area; and   a plurality of projections, the plurality of projections connected to at least one of the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall and extending axially upward from the film,   wherein the plurality of projections are configured to provide a space between the film and a base of a second tray, the space configured to prevent compression from the second tray on the film of the tray and configured to allow a volume of air to exist between the film of the tray and the base of the second tray, and wherein the plurality of projections are configured to move from a first position substantially parallel with the film to a second position substantially perpendicular to the film.   
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections are configured to support the base of the second tray. 
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections are one of teeth and turrets. 
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the film is an oxygen-permeable film and the film is configured to conceal an absorbent material. 
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein in a first position, the tray is configured to stack with the second tray, and in a second position, the tray is configured to nest with the second tray. 
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 5 , wherein in the first position, the base of the second tray is configured to rest on the plurality of projections, thus providing the space between the film and the base of the second tray and thereby allowing air flow between the tray and the second tray. 
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 5 , wherein in the second position, the plurality of projections are configured to extend into a corresponding plurality of slots located in the second tray. 
     
     
         8 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections form a plurality of openings between adjacent projections, the plurality of openings configured to permit the volume of air to enter the space, and wherein the plurality of openings are configured to allow air to flow across the film between about 0 m/s and about 0.5 m/s. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of projections has a height of about 5 mm or less. 
     
     
         11 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one foot, the at least one foot extending axially downward from the base, the at least one foot configured to move from a first position substantially parallel with the base and a second position substantially perpendicular to the base. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A tray for preventing the browning of meat, the tray comprising:
 a base;   a first wall connected to the base and extending axially upward from the base;   a second wall connected to the base and extending axially upward from the base;   a third wall opposite from the first wall, the third wall connected to the base and extending axially upward from the base;   a fourth wall opposite from the second wall, the fourth wall connected to the base and extending axially upward from the base, the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall are connected to form a generally rectangular shape;   an area defined between the base, the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall;   a film attached to the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall, offset from the base, and configured to seal the area; and   a plurality of projections, the plurality of projections connected to at least one of the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall and extending axially downward from the base,   wherein the plurality of projections are configured to provide a space between the base and a film of a second tray, the space configured to prevent compression from the tray on the film of the second tray and configured to allow a volume of air to exist between the film of the second tray and the base of the tray, and wherein the plurality of projections are removeable.   
     
     
         14 . The tray of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of projections are configured to sit on an upper surface of a plurality of walls of the second tray. 
     
     
         15 . The tray of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of projections form a plurality of openings between adjacent projections, the plurality of openings configured to permit the volume of air to enter the space, and wherein the plurality of openings are configured to allow air to flow across the film of the second tray between about 0 m/s and about 0.5 m/s. 
     
     
         16 . The tray of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of projections has a height of about 5 mm or less. 
     
     
         17 . A system for preventing the browning of meat, the system comprising:
 a first tray, the first tray comprising:
 a first tray base connected to a first tray wall, the first tray wall extending from the first tray base and surrounding a perimeter of the first tray base, 
 a first tray film connected to the first tray wall and axially offset from the first tray base, and 
 at least one first tray projection extending axially from the first tray wall; and 
   a surface connected to the at least one first tray projection to define a space between the surface and the first tray, the space configured to prevent compression between the first tray and the surface and configured to allow a volume of air to exist between the first tray and the surface;   a second tray, the second tray comprising:   a second tray base connected to a second tray wall; and   a second tray film connected to the second tray wall and axially offset from the second tray base; the surface comprising the second tray film, wherein the at least one first tray projection extends axially downward from the first tray base and wherein the space is provided between the second tray film and the first tray base such that the first tray does not transfer a weight of the first tray onto the second tray film and such that the volume of air is provided between the first tray base and the second tray film.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , the surface comprising the second tray base, wherein the at least one first tray projection extends axially upward from the first tray film and wherein the space is provided between the second tray base and the first tray film such that the second tray does not transfer a weight of the second tray onto the first tray film and such that the volume of air is provided between the second tray base and the first tray film. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)