Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
In a molded tray for the packaging of fresh meat, fish or poultry in conjunction with a transparent overwrap film heatsealed thereabout, said tray comprising upwardly and outwardly inclined wall means defining a peripheral configuration; a generally rounded corner between each adjacent portion of said wall means; and a peripheral lip extending outwardly from said wall means and defining a periphery coaxial to the configuration of said tray, the improvement comprising: means for providing improved oxygen breathing through the bottom of the tray and for providing maximum visibility through the bottom of the tray and for supporting the fresh meat, fish or poultry at the bottom of said tray while maintaining a high humidity thereabout substantially without the formation of liquid pools, and also for protecting meat freshness and improving meat quality maintenance, said breathing and support means comprising a plurality of strong, substantially solid ribs, each having vertically extending side wall portions squeezed together and joined at the top with a rounded apex, some of said ribs extending in one direction, and other of said ribs extending in a different direction, said ribs meeting and defining therebetween a plurality of open windows, said ribs having a section modulus in combination with said wall means such that the total strength is substantially equal to the beam strength of a tray of the same material of equal weight with a flat, imperforate bottom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
In a molded tray for the packaging of fresh meat, fish or poultry in conjunction with a transparent overwrap film heatsealed thereabout, said tray comprising upwardly and outwardly inclined wall means defining a peripheral configuration; a generally rounded corner between each adjacent portion of said wall means; and a peripheral lip extending outwardly from said wall means and defining a periphery coaxial to the configuration of said tray, the improvement comprising: means for providing improved oxygen breathing through the bottom of the tray and for providing maximum visibility through the bottom of the tray and for supporting the fresh meat, fish or poultry at the bottom of said tray while maintaining a high humidity thereabout substantially without the formation of liquid pools, and also for protecting meat freshness and improving meat quality maintenance, said breathing and support means comprising a plurality of strong, substantially solid ribs, each having vertically extending side wall portions squeezed together and joined at the top with a rounded apex, some of said ribs extending in one direction, and other of said ribs extending in a different direction, said ribs meeting and defining therebetween a plurality of open windows, said ribs having a section modulus in combination with said wall means such that the total strength is substantially equal to the beam strength of a tray of the same material of equal weight with a flat, imperforate bottom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tray in accordance with claim 1 molded of wood pulp or like material, said ribs being of compressed wood pulp or like material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tray in accordance with claim 2 wherein said side walls are of bowed construction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tray in accordance with claim 2 wherein said ribs have a height about five times the thickness of said side walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A tray in accordance with claim 2, wherein said vertically extending side wall portions of each of said ribs are integral and have inner surfaces in contacting relationship.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A tray in accordance with claim 1, wherein said ribs extend parallel and perpendicular to said side walls and thereby meet at right angles to form rectangular open windows.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
102 words
A tray in accordance with claim 1 including means to resist deformation of said wall means from the inward pressure of wrapping film and to increase rigidity and strength at the location where said solid ribs join said wall means, said means comprising a curved portion in said wall means thereby defining in such wall means a straight upper portion, a curved center portion and a straight bottom portion, said bottom portion having a height equal to the height of said solid ribs, wherein the bottom portion of said walls means are inclined at an angle of about 5* from the vertical.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tray in accordance with claim 1 wherein said peripheral configuration of said wall means is polygonal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A tray in accordance with claim 1 wherein the peripheral configuratioN of said wall means is generally rectangular.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tray in accordance with claim 1 wherein the peripheral configuration of said wall means is hexagonal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tray in accordance with claim 1 wherein the peripheral configuration of said wall means is circular.