The invention relates to a draining tray (1) for containing fresh food, comprising a first bottom layer (2) and side walls (4), characterized in that it comprises a second bottom layer (3), arranged in the inside of said tray (1) and creating a hollow space (I) with said first bottom layer (2), wherein said second bottom layer is provided with through holes (5).
The invention relates to the sector of packaging of food products for human consumption.
More in detail, the invention relates to a draining tray for containing fresh food, and is particularly (but not exclusively) directed at the packaging of meat, fish or cheese.
According to prior art, trays for containing fresh food, such as meat, on sale in supermarket counters, are generally made of paper or plastic material, such as expanded polystyrene, and once filled they are wrapped and sealed with a transparent film.
These trays, prevalently quadrangular in plan, comprise a bottom layer and raised side walls to retain the product.
In some variants available on the market, said bottom layer is provided with small holes, arranged homogeneously on the surface thereof.
Said holes are blind and form a sort of microreservoir in which the liquid released by the fresh food contained in the tray, such as the blood released by meat or the buttermilk released by cheese, percolates and accumulates.
These trays have one noteworthy limitation: they are unable to permanently remove and isolate the liquids released by the foods contained therein.
The blood produced by meat, or the milk released by cheese, albeit in minimum quantity, disadvantageously remain in contact with the fresh food and damage its organoleptic properties, quality and freshness.
These released liquids are in fact the first to decompose, creating unpleasant odors and becoming darker or yellowish in color, which without doubt does not attract buyers.
Any blind holes provided on the bottom layer of the trays are very small and of limited volume and can only contain a part of the liquids released. Moreover, when the trays are moved from one shelf to another or handled without holding them perfectly horizontal, or transported loosely in a shopping bag, the liquids flow out of the holes and once again flood the trays.
Some trays are provided on the inside thereof, simply placed on the bottom layer and interposed between this layer and the food contained, with a layer of absorbent material, capable of retaining said liquids: disadvantageously, once the material is wet it remains in contact with the food, and therefore does not solve the problem of contamination.
The invention intends to overcome these limits by producing a tray for containing fresh food which is draining, i.e. structured to rapidly remove liquids released by the food and confine them in a separate space, preventing its deterioration and preserving its inviting appearance.
These aims are achieved with a draining tray for containing fresh food, comprising a first bottom layer and side walls, characterized in that it comprises a second bottom layer, arranged in the inside part of said tray and creating a hollow space with said first bottom layer, wherein said second bottom layer is provided with through holes.
According to an aspect of the invention, said hollow space comprises absorbent material suitable for food usage.
In particular, said absorbent material suitable for food usage is a cellulose sheet.
According to a further aspect of the invention, said first bottom layer comprises rapid connecting means for said second bottom layer. In particular, said rapid connecting means comprise discontinuous structures protruding from said first bottom layer towards the inside of the tray.
Moreover, said second bottom layer comprises interruptions adapted to be engaged by said discontinuous protruding structures.
According to a further aspect of the invention, said second bottom layer comprises female shaped structures protruding, at the interruptions, from said second bottom layer towards said first bottom layer, so as to cooperate by interference with said discontinuous protruding structures.
According to a possible embodiment of the invention, said second bottom layer belongs to an inside lining structure of said tray, in turn comprising further side walls. In particular, the size of said hollow space is obtained by changing the heights of said side walls.
According to a very advantageous aspect of the invention, said first and second bottom layers, said discontinuous protruding structures and said absorbent sheet are made of natural biodegradable material.
The invention presents numerous advantages: the tray thus shaped is more hygienic as it is able to permanently and definitively isolate the liquids released from the food contained therein, confining them in a space outside that in which the food product is contained.
The through holes provided on the second bottom layer enable drainage of the liquids which reach the hollow space, produced with the first closing bottom layer, where they are contained permanently, and optionally absorbed, by the specific layer of absorbent material.
The hollow space and the absorbent material have a considerable volumetric capacity and are able to retain the whole of the quantity of liquid produced, without the risk of return to the containing portion of the tray.
The draining tray according to the invention is advantageously always clean and dry, and the product is more attractive to the eyes of buyers.
Coupling between said first and second bottom layers takes place by pressure alone and with the aid of rapid connecting means obtained directly from said first bottom layer, and therefore without the addition of glues that can be harmful if placed in direct contact with foods.
All the components that form the tray according to the invention are made of natural materials, biodegradable, and above all suitable for food usage.
The advantages of the invention will be more apparent below, in the description of preferred embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, and with the aid of accompanying drawings wherein:
With reference to
Said first bottom layer 2 and second bottom layer 3 are maintained at a distance from each other, defining therebetween a hollow space I.
Said second bottom layer 3 is provided with through holes 5, adapted to place the area of the tray 1 for containing the fresh food in communication with said hollow space I, and to allow the liquids L produced by the foods to percolate, as illustrated in the section of
On the inside of said hollow space I there is arranged a sheet of absorbent material 7 for food usage, i.e. suitable to come into contact with food, adapted to retain said liquids L permanently.
Said first bottom layer 2 comprises rapid connecting means for said second bottom layer 3.
Said rapid connecting means are obtained by a plurality of discontinuous protruding structures 7, arranged in a discontinuous manner along the perimeter of said first bottom layer.
Said protruding structures 7 are obtained, for example, by relief molding of the first bottom layer, ensuring continuity of the material.
Said second bottom layer 3 instead comprises interruptions 8 (for example, windows, slots, holes, etc.), arranged along its perimeter and adapted to be engaged by said protruding structures 7 in substantially irreversible manner.
Coupling between said first 2 and second 3 bottom layer, and therefore insertion of said protruding structures 7 in said interruptions 8, takes place through snap fastening thereof, without the use of glues or adhesives, which are known to be unsuitable for food usage.
With particular reference to the section of
With reference to
Cooperation between the head of the mushroom structures and the interruptions 8 and between said sloping side walls 7' and said female structures 8' offers even more stable coupling between the two bottom layers 2, 3 of the tray 1, regardless of the position it takes.
In an embodiment not shown, said second bottom layer 3 can be provided with grooves and raised areas of known type, useful to maintain the food slightly raised and further facilitate drainage of the liquids released into the holes 5.
With particular reference to
In particular, the width of said hollow space I is produced by changing the heights of the side walls 4 and 4' of the tray 1 and of the lining structure.
In this particular embodiment, coupling between said first 2 and second 3 bottom layer is obtained through interference by a slight curvature of the edges of the side walls 4 of both trays.
In all the embodiments, said tray 1, said second bottom layer 3 or said inside lining structure, said protruding structures 7 and said absorbent sheet 6 are made of natural biodegradable material.
In particular, all components of the trays are made of a biodegradable material deriving from the crushing and cooking of waste from sugar cane, or deriving from Mater-Bi® corn starch, with the addition of a liquid additive adapted to make them watertight, while the sheet of absorbent material is obtained from pure cellulose.