Egg packaging

Abstract

An egg packaging includes a body defining a cavity for receiving an egg, where the cavity has a base and an open end. The cavity defines a longitudinal axis extending in a direction between the base and the open end, wherein the longitudinal axis is intended to be vertical when in use. The packaging includes one or more laterally resilient portions arranged to provide support against lateral movement of an egg in the cavity relative to the longitudinal axis and/or one or more longitudinally resilient portions arranged to provide support against longitudinal movement of an egg in the cavity relative to the longitudinal axis.

1 . Egg packaging comprising a body, the body defining a cavity for receiving an egg, the cavity comprising a base and an open end, and the cavity defining a longitudinal axis extending in a direction between the base and the open end, wherein the longitudinal axis is intended to be vertical when in use, and wherein the packaging comprises one or more laterally resilient portions arranged to provide support against lateral movement of an egg in said cavity relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         2 . Egg packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each laterally resilient portion is arranged to flex, thereby providing support against lateral movement of an egg in said cavity relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . Egg packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the packaging comprises a plurality of laterally resilient portions, optionally wherein the plurality of laterally resilient portions are substantially equally spaced with respect to the longitudinal axis, optionally wherein the plurality of laterally resilient portions are arranged in one or more pairs of diametrically opposed laterally resilient portions. 
     
     
         4 . Egg packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the body defines a boundary in relation to said cavity, coaxial with the longitudinal axis, and wherein the or each laterally resilient portion projects towards said longitudinal axis relative to the boundary, optionally wherein the or each laterally resilient portion comprises a curved profile in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis arranged such that an apex of the curved profile is provided nearmost the longitudinal axis of said cavity. 
     
     
         5 . Egg packaging according to  claim 4 , wherein the boundary is a circular boundary and wherein the or each laterally resilient portion comprises a curved profile, wherein the curved profile is bound by an arc of the circular boundary, optionally wherein the curved profile of the or each laterally resilient portion is shaped as an inversion of the arc about its chord. 
     
     
         6 . Egg packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each laterally resilient portion is arranged to define an arcuate profile extending in a direction away from the base of the cavity, wherein an apex of the arcuate profile is located furthermost from the longitudinal axis, optionally wherein at least one of said laterally resilient portions extends no further than the apex of the arcuate profile, optionally wherein at least one of said laterally resilient portion extends beyond the apex of the arcuate profile to project towards the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . Egg packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a side wall extending between the base and the open end of the cavity, optionally wherein the or each laterally resilient portion is provided by a respective portion of the side wall, optionally wherein the or each laterally resilient portion is integral with the side wall. 
     
     
         8 . Egg packaging according to  claim 7 , wherein the body comprises a slit or opening arranged to facilitate flexing of the or each laterally resilient portion, optionally wherein the slit or opening is provided adjacent the open end of the cavity and/or along at least a portion of a length of the side wall extending between the base and the open end of the cavity. 
     
     
         9 . Egg packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises one or more longitudinally resilient portions arranged to provide support against longitudinal movement of an egg in said cavity relative to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . Egg packaging comprising a body, the body defining a cavity for receiving an egg, the cavity comprising a base and an open end, and the cavity defining a longitudinal axis extending in a direction between the base and the open end, wherein the longitudinal axis is intended to be vertical when in use, and wherein the packaging comprises one or more longitudinally resilient portions arranged to provide support against longitudinal movement of an egg in said cavity relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . Egg packaging according to  claim 9 , wherein the or each longitudinally resilient portion is configured to flex to provide support against longitudinal movement of an egg in said cavity relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . Egg packaging according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the or each longitudinally resilient portion is provided by the base of said cavity and projects towards said cavity, optionally wherein the or each longitudinally resilient portion is integral with said base. 
     
     
         13 . Egg packaging according to  claim 12 , wherein the or each longitudinally resilient portion is substantially dome-shaped, such that an apex of the dome is nearmost the cavity, optionally wherein the or each longitudinally resilient portion comprises a central depression at the apex of the dome-shape, configured to receive a portion of an egg, optionally wherein the or each longitudinally resilient portion comprises at least one channel and/or ridge concentric with the apex of the dome, optionally wherein a plurality of channels are provided, each of which being concentric to the apex of the dome. 
     
     
         14 . Egg packaging according to  claim 13 , wherein the or each substantially dome-shaped longitudinally resilient portion comprises a circular perimeter defining a ring arranged to form a foot on which the egg packaging can rest. 
     
     
         15 . Egg packaging according to  claim 9 , wherein the egg packaging comprises the body having said cavity, and a lid coupled to the body, wherein at least one of the or each longitudinally resilient portions is provided by the lid, optionally wherein the or each longitudinally resilient portion is integral with said lid. 
     
     
         16 . Egg packaging according to  claim 15 , wherein the or each longitudinally resilient portion comprises one or more resilient fingers extending from the lid towards the cavity, when the lid is closed, optionally wherein each longitudinally resilient portion comprises four resilient fingers arranged as two pairs of diametrically opposed fingers, optionally wherein each resilient finger comprises a curved profile such that the resilient finger extends away from the longitudinal axis when the lid is closed. 
     
     
         17 . Egg packaging according to  claim 15 , wherein the or each longitudinally resilient portion is substantially dome-shaped, such that an apex of the dome is nearmost the cavity, optionally wherein the or each longitudinally resilient portion comprises a central depression at the apex of the dome-shape, configured to receive a portion of an egg in said cavity, optionally wherein the or each longitudinally resilient portion comprises at least one channel and/or ridge concentric with the apex of the dome, optionally wherein a plurality of channels are provided, each of which being concentric to the apex of the dome. 
     
     
         18 . Egg packaging according to  claim 15 , wherein a first longitudinally resilient portion is provided by the base and a second longitudinally resilient portion is provided by the lid. 
     
     
         19 . Egg packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the or each laterally resilient portion and/or the or each longitudinally resilient portion comprises a reduced thickness as compared to at least a portion of the remainder of the egg packaging. 
     
     
         20 . Egg packaging comprising a body, the body defining a cavity supporting an egg, the cavity comprising a base and an open end, and the cavity defining a longitudinal axis extending in a direction between the base and the open end, wherein the longitudinal axis is intended to be vertical when in use, and wherein the packaging comprises at least one of: one or more laterally resilient portions arranged to provide support against lateral movement of the egg in said cavity relative to the longitudinal axis, and one or more longitudinally resilient portions arranged to provide support against longitudinal movement of the egg in said cavity relative to the longitudinal axis.