Disposable food tray
A repulpable and recyclable case ready food tray is disclosed for carrying various food items, such as meat, poultry and produce that is typically used for retail display. The food tray is formed from paperboard made from natural wood fiber that is coated to provide a waterproof food cavity for preventing leakage of liquid from the food item and a moisture proof exterior support surface which allows excess liquid to be released from the food tray during the manufacturing process while providing a moisture proof surface to prevent wicking of liquid into the food tray if the tray is placed on a wet surface.
1. A laminated paperboard for use in the fabrication of a food tray, the laminated paperboard comprising:
a first layer of natural wood fiber paperboard having opposing faces;
a waterproof coating applied to one of said opposing faces of said first layer;
a second layer of natural wood fiber paperboard having opposing faces; and
a moisture resistant coating applied to one of said opposing faces of said second layer; wherein:
the first layer of natural wood fiber paperboard consists of natural wood fibers;
said first layer and said second layer are laminated together; and
the face of the first layer having the waterproof coating and the face of the second layer having the moisture resistant coating are the outermost surfaces of the laminated paperboard.
2. The laminated paperboard as recited in claim 1 , wherein the composition of wood fiber in the first layer is the same as the composition of wood fiber in the second layer.
3. The laminated paperboard as recited in claim 1 , wherein the composition of wood fiber in the first layer is different from the composition of wood fiber in the second layer.
4. The laminated paperboard as recited in claim 1 , wherein the composition of wood fiber in one or the other of the first layer or second layer is a hardwood fiber.
5. The laminated paperboard as recited in claim 1 , wherein the composition of wood fiber in one or the other of the first layer or second layer is softwood fiber.
6. The laminated paperboard as recited in claim 1 , wherein the composition of wood fiber in one or the other of the first layer or second layer is a combination of a softwood fiber and a hardwood fiber.
7. A food tray comprising:
a waterproof food cavity; and
a moisture proof support surface, wherein said food tray is formed from a laminated paperboard, the laminated paperboard comprising:
a first layer of natural wood fiber paperboard having opposing faces;
a waterproof coating applied to one of said opposing faces of said first layer;
a second layer of natural wood fiber paperboard having opposing faces; and
a moisture resistant coating applied to one of said opposing faces of said second layer; wherein:
the first layer of natural wood fiber paperboard consists of natural wood fibers;
said first layer and said second layer are laminated together; and
the face of the first layer having the waterproof coating and the face of the second layer having the moisture resistant coating are the outermost surfaces of the laminated paperboard.
8. The food tray as recited in claim 7 , wherein said food tray is formed in a generally square shape.
9. The food tray as recited in claim 7 , wherein said food tray is formed in a generally rectangular shape.
10. The food tray as recited in claim 7 , wherein said food tray is formed in a generally circular shape.
11. The food tray as recited in claim 7 , wherein said food tray is formed with a single compartment.
12. The food tray as recited in claim 7 , wherein said food tray is formed with a multiple compartments.
13. The food tray as recited in claim 12 , wherein said food tray is formed with a multiple compartments having the same size.
14. The food tray as recited in claim 12 , wherein said food tray is formed with a multiple compartments having different sizes.
15. The food tray as recited in claim 12 , wherein said food tray is formed with a multiple compartments having the same shape.
16. The food tray as recited in claim 12 , wherein said food tray is formed with a multiple compartments having the same shape.
17. The laminated paperboard as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second layer of natural wood fiber paperboard consist of a hardwood fiber, a softwood fiber, or a combination thereof, and
the laminated paperboard comprises 94wt % to 96wt % of the overall weight of the laminated paperboard.
18. The laminated paperboard as recited in claim 17 , wherein the waterproof coating comprises polyethylene in an amount of from 2.9wt % to 3.3wt % of the overall amount of the laminated paperboard.
19. The laminated paperboard as recited in claim 18 , wherein the moisture resistant coating is a water based acrylic coating.
20. The laminated paperboard of claim 19 , wherein a polyvinyl acetate adhesive adheres a portion of the first layer of natural wood fiber paperboard to a portion of the second layer of natural wood fiber paperboard.
21. The laminated paperboard of claim 1 , wherein the first layer and second layer remain visually distinguishable when viewed in cross-section after the first layer and second layer are laminated together to form the laminated paperboard.