Convertible tray

Abstract

Convertible trays are disclosed with features that facilitate preparation, transportation, and presentation of food items. An example convertible tray includes a substrate defining apertures, where each aperture is for holding a food item. The convertible tray also includes a first separation feature (e.g., at least one perforation) defined by the folded substrate on a first side of the convertible tray adjacent to at least one aperture of the apertures. The convertible tray further includes flaps that are foldable to support the first side of the convertible tray above a support surface. The folded substrate can be divided at the at least one perforation, to remove an individual tray that includes the at least one aperture adjacent to the perforation. The individual tray can be inserted into a serving container while holding the food item.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A convertible tray system for food items comprising:
 a food item defining a cavity to receive one or more additional food items;   a convertible tray for holding the food item, the convertible tray including
 a substrate defining at least one aperture into which the food item is received, 
 a first separation feature defined by the substrate on a first edge of the convertible tray adjacent to the at least one aperture, the first separation feature defining a boundary between the convertible tray and a second convertible tray detached from a blank forming each of the convertible tray and the second convertible tray, and 
 a plurality of flaps defined by the substrate by folding along at least one fold feature defined by the substrate, the plurality of flaps providing support of the at least one aperture of the convertible tray above a support surface; and 
   a serving container for substantially enclosing the convertible tray while holding the food item, the serving container including
 a bottom shell rotatably coupled to a top shell via at least one hinge, the bottom shell having a plurality of interior sidewalls and including the support surface, wherein at least one flap of the plurality of flaps conforms to at least one interior sidewall of the plurality of interior sidewalls, wherein the top shell rotates via the at least one hinge to substantially enclose the convertible tray while holding the food item within an interior volume defined by the bottom shell and the top shell. 
   
     
     
         2 . The convertible tray system of  claim 1 , wherein the food item includes a formed food product pressed in a mold to define the cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The convertible tray system of  claim 1 , wherein the convertible tray includes a second separation feature, the second separation feature defining a second boundary between the convertible tray and an end flap detached from the blank forming each of the convertible tray and the end flap. 
     
     
         4 . The convertible tray system of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the food item rests on the support surface of the serving container when the convertible tray is substantially enclosed within the serving container. 
     
     
         5 . The convertible tray system of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate defines a first fold feature about which a first flap of the plurality of flaps is folded, and wherein the substrate defines a second fold feature about which a second flap of the plurality of flaps is folded. 
     
     
         6 . The convertible tray system of  claim 5 , wherein the first flap opposes the second flap beneath the aperture when the convertible tray is positioned on the support surface. 
     
     
         7 . The convertible tray system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fold feature includes a score line defined by the substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The convertible tray system of  claim 1 , wherein the first separation feature includes a perforation defined by the substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The convertible tray system of  claim 1 , wherein the convertible tray includes at least one tray stabilizer defined by the substrate, the at least one tray stabilizer configured to hinge along the at least one fold feature to raise a section of the substrate above the at least one aperture. 
     
     
         10 . A convertible tray system for food items comprising:
 a convertible tray for holding a food item, the convertible tray including
 a substrate defining at least one aperture into which the food item is received, 
 a first separation feature defined by the substrate on a first edge of the convertible tray adjacent to the at least one aperture, the first separation feature defining a boundary between the convertible tray and a second convertible tray detached from a blank forming each of the convertible tray and the second convertible tray, 
 a plurality of flaps defined by the substrate by folding along at least one fold feature defined by the substrate, the plurality of flaps providing support of the at least one aperture of the convertible tray above a support surface, and 
 at least one tray stabilizer defined by the substrate, the at least one tray stabilizer configured to hinge along the at least one fold feature to raise a section of the substrate above the at least one aperture; and 
   a serving container for substantially enclosing the convertible tray while holding the food item,
 the serving container including
 a bottom shell rotatably coupled to a top shell via at least one hinge, the bottom shell having a plurality of interior sidewalls and including the support surface, wherein at least one flap of the plurality of flaps conforms to at least one interior sidewall of the plurality of interior sidewalls, wherein the top shell rotates via the at least one hinge to substantially enclose the convertible tray while holding the food item within an interior volume defined by the bottom shell and the top shell. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The convertible tray system of  claim 10 , wherein the convertible tray includes a second separation feature, the second separation feature defining a second boundary between the convertible tray and an end flap detached from the blank forming each of the convertible tray and the end flap. 
     
     
         12 . The convertible tray system of  claim 10 , wherein a bottom surface of the food item rests on the support surface of the serving container when the convertible tray is substantially enclosed within the serving container. 
     
     
         13 . The convertible tray system of  claim 10 , wherein the substrate defines a first fold feature about which a first flap of the plurality of flaps is folded, and wherein the substrate defines a second fold feature about which a first flap of the plurality of flaps is folded. 
     
     
         14 . The convertible tray system of  claim 13 , wherein the first flap opposes the second flap beneath the aperture when the convertible tray is positioned on the support surface. 
     
     
         15 . The convertible tray system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one fold feature includes a score line defined by the substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The convertible tray system of  claim 10 , wherein the first separation feature includes a perforation defined by the substrate. 
     
     
         17 . A convertible tray comprising:
 a substrate defining a plurality of apertures, each aperture for holding a food item;   a first separation feature defined by the substrate on a first side of the convertible tray adjacent to at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures;   a plurality of flaps foldable to support the first side of the convertible tray above a support surface, wherein at least one of the substrate and at least one flap of the plurality of flaps can be divided at the first separation feature to remove an individual tray that includes the at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures; and   at least one tray stabilizer defined by the substrate, the at least one tray stabilizer configured to hinge along the at least one fold feature to raise a section of the substrate above the at least one aperture.   
     
     
         18 . The convertible tray of  claim 17 , further comprising an end flap coupled between two flaps of the plurality of flaps, wherein the end flap defines a locking slot into which a locking tab defines by at least one flap of the plurality of flaps is inserted. 
     
     
         19 . The convertible tray of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of separation features defined by the substrate on the first side of the convertible tray, each separation feature of the plurality of separation features adjacent to at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures, wherein the substrate is configured to be divided at each separation feature to remove a plurality of individual trays that each include at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         20 . The convertible tray of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one tray stabilizer defines a recess in the substrate when hinged along the at least one fold feature to raise the section of the substrate above the at least one aperture.