GB2365000A - Food package - Google Patents

Abstract

A package for a food product comprises a sleeve into which the product, e.g. a pastry, is placed for heating. The package may include internal microwave interactive layer for browning or toasting the pastry surface during microwaving. The sleeve has an open top 3 and is formed from a blank comprising a front panel, a rear panel and side panels. The side panels are divided by longitudinal creases into first and second panel sections. The package has an integral tear strip which extends through the panels. The strip has a pull tab facilitate tearing thereof from the package. The strip divides the assembled package into an upper part 31 which may be discarded and a lower part 30 which holds the pastry product which may be eaten directly by holding the package part 30. This provides quick and convenient way of accessing and consuming the heated pastry without having to remove the product.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1>"A F..jI64;Mq_ePP Introduction 'The m*ventior relates to a package and in particular to a package for a food product such its a filled pastry product.

Statements of Inyoton According to the invention there is provided a package for a food product, the package having a front wall, a rear wall joined by side walls, and, a bottom closure, the package having an integral tear strip extending around the' front, rea r and side waJIs and having a pull tab for pulling the tear suip, removal 6f the strip dividing the package into at least two separate package parts, at least one of the package parts defining a pocket to hold the fbod product during consuipption- In a preferred embodiment the package is a sleeve into which the fbod product is placed fbr hrating. 'Me sleeve may have an open top to receive the. fbod product. The bottom may be fbrmed by a pair of flaps -which inter engagc (in assembly for cooking. The package preferably is adapted for microwaite cookirig and includes a microwave interactive surface which browns or toasts. the pastry surface during coolang. Generally such an interactive is metallic# such as a vacuum deposited thin layer of aluminium, rrietal- In a preferred embodiment of the invention the side walls each' include a longitudinal crease to facifitate collapse and opening of the package th receive: a food product. The longitudinal crease most preferably divides the s4e wall inio a first portion and a second portion which is wider than the first iportion to enhance the crisping characteristics of the package.

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The invention also provides a blank for use in fartning the package of the invention.

B66 Desgiplion of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following desaiption thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanymg drawings, in which;- Fig. 1 is a blank used to form a package according to the inven0on; Fig- 2 is a perspective view of an erected package; Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views illustrating the erection of tl#.e package; Fig. 5 is a side view of the package; Fig. 6 is a rear view of the package; Fig. 7 is a front view of the package; Fig. 8 is an underneath plan view of the package; Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the package; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the package being opened; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the opened package; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the package, in use,

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Fig. 13 is a perspective view of another package according to the invention; and Fig 14 is a plan view of a blank of another package.. Detailed Des ript Refming to the druwings there is illustrated a package I for a food product, i . n this case especially for a filled pastry or dough product which wifl, herein be referred to as a pastry pocket 2. In this case the package is a sleeve into which the pastry pocket 2 is placed for heating and the package includes an internal microwave interactive layer for browning or toasting the pastry surface during microwaving. The sleeve I has an open top 3.

The sleeve I is formed from a blank 10 as illustrated in Fig. 1. Th# blank 10 compdses a front panel 5, a rear panel 6 and side panels 7, 8. The sfde panel -8 includes an extension gap 9 which is glued to the opposite face of the pack, on assembly. The dotted lines indicate creases which form hinges tor use in assembling and use of the sleeve. In this case it will be noted that the side pane:4 7, 8 are divided by longitudinal creases 19 into first and second panel tections A, B which are, in this case, of the same width.

The front panel 6 inrJudes an extension 15 which forms, on assembly a base of the sleeve. The extension 15 is defined by a transverse fold line 16 and has a tab 17 which engages, on assembly of the sleeve, in a corresponding slo t 18 in the rear panel 5.

The assembly of a package 1 from the blank 10 is illustrated particulaily in Figs. 2 to 4-

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The package has an integral tear strip 25 whicb extends ctirough the panels 5,.6, 7 and 8. The strip 25 has a pull tab 26 for gripping the strip 25 to facilitate tearing thereof from the package 1. In this case the strip divides the:; assembled package into an upper part 31 which may be discarded and a lower part 30 which holds the pastry product 2 which may be eaten directly by holding the package part 30. This provides an extremely quick and convenient way of accessing and consuming the heated pastry pocket 2 without having:'tD remo ve the product onto a plate or the like.

In use, the package is folded flat by hinging along the intermediate f6ld lines or creases 19. The food product is typically packaged lying flat on the. outside 'of the pear pancl 6 of the package. The food product 2 is housed in a -sleeve and the sleeved food product and die package are typically qleeved by cling film. and placed in an outer box. On removal of the sleeved food product the slcevcis removed and the fbod product is placed inside the crisping sleeve package for heating/cooking in a microwave. After heating, the tab 17 is mpged in tile slot 18 to form a holder and the package is left to stand for one minute., Ile tear strip is removed leaving part of the heated food product exposed for case of eating while holding the remaining part of the package.

Referring to Fig. 13 there is illustrated another package 40 according to the invention which is similar to that described above. In this case to enhance crisping of a pastry pocket the side wall portions 47A, 47B and 49A, 49B are of different widths- Referring to Figure 14 there is illustrated another package 50 a=or4ing to the invention which is similar to that described above with reference to Figs I to 12 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the slot 18 is of diamond shape to more positively engage the lock-ing tab 17, on assembly. the front panel is in this case separated into two sections 6A, 6B #which, on assembly form the front panel. The section 6B includes an extension .9 which is

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glued on assembly to the other section 6B. in this case the pull tab 26-is locateil to project slightlY from a side wall g of the package, for casc of gripPing and Cearing of the tear strip 25 to open the Package- -Me Inventiop is not limited to the embodiments herembefore descnbed which may be varied in construction and detail.

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Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS 1. A package for a food product, the package having a front wall, k rear wall joined by side walls, and a bottom closure, the package having kn integral teat SHP extending around the front, rear and side walls and having a pull tab for pulling the tear strip, removal of thestrip dividing the package into at least two separate package parts, at least one of the package parts definirg a pocket to hold the food product during consumption:
2. 2. A package as claimed in claim I wherein the package is a sleeve into which the food product is placed for heating.
3. 3. A package as claimed in claim 2 wherein the sleeve has an open top to receivc the fbod product.
4. 4. A package as claimed in claim 3 wherein the bonom is formed by a pair of flap-, which inter-engage on assembly for cooking.
5. 5. A package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the package is adapted for microwave cooking and includes a nuicrowave -Interactive surface which browns or toasts the pastry surface during cooking.
6. 6. A package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the side walls ead h include a longitudinal crease to facilitate collapse and opening of the package to receive a fbod product.
7. 7. A package as damed in claim 6 wherein the longitudirial crease divides the sidc wall, into a first portion and a second portion which is wider than the first portion to enhance the crisping characteristics of the p ge-

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8. 8. A pa & age subsuntiaRy as hereinbefOre described with r & rence to the accomi.3anying drawings-
9. 9. A blank fbr use in forming a Package as claimed in any preceding claim-