Patent Application
20080276571
This application relates generally to packages and similar items, and more particularly, to a package that provides features including an anti-fog package material, a seal that facilitates easy opening of the package (e.g., an “easy peel” feature), self-venting features for permitting venting during heating of packaged materials, and/or a package configuration (e.g., a gusset) that permits the package to stand generally upright.
Packages for storing various types of products such as food products (including liquids, solids, etc.) are generally known. Often, though, these packages may lack one or more features that facilitate the preparation of food products stored in such packages, in addition to providing one or more benefits related to the production, merchandising, and/or sale of such packages.
The present application discloses an improved package that may provide one or more advantages over conventional packages. To provide an inexpensive, reliable, and widely adaptable package that avoids the problems of conventional packages would represent a significant advance in the art.
One embodiment relates to a package comprising a first wall, a second wall coupled to the first wall at a peelably openable seal portion, a gusset coupled to the first wall and the second wall, wherein the first wall, the second wall, and gusset define an interior space, a vent portion provided on at least one of the first wall and the second wall, wherein the vent portion is configured to permit gases to escape from the interior space, and a food product provided within the interior, wherein at least one of the first wall and the second wall comprises an anti-fog material on a surface facing the interior space.
Another embodiment relates to a package comprising a pair of generally opposing side walls coupled together to define an interior, a vent portion provided on at least one of the opposing side walls and configured to permit fluid to escape from the interior, and an anti-fog material provided on at least a portion of one of the opposing side walls, wherein the opposing sidewalls define a width of the package that narrows along a length of the package.
Yet another embodiment relates to A method of providing a package having a food product comprising providing a package having at least one sidewall with an anti-fog material, a vent portion, and a support portion coupled to the at least one sidewall that supports the package in a substantially upright position, introducing a food product into the package, and sealing the package with a low-bond adhesive to provide a peelably openable seal portion.
Other embodiments further relate to various features and combinations of features shown and described herein. Other ways in which the objects and features of the disclosed embodiments are accomplished will be described in the following specification or will become apparent to those skilled in the art after they have read this specification. Such other ways are deemed to fall within the scope of this disclosure if they fall within the scope of the claims which follow.
Before explaining a number of exemplary embodiments in detail, it is to be understood that the present application is not limited to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components as set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings, but may be practiced or carried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Various exemplary embodiments of the package disclosed herein illustrate a variety of features that provide advantages over or address shortcomings of more conventional packages. For example, certain packages may lack an anti-fog feature that prevents fog from forming on the interior surface of, for example, a clear package. Without such a feature, it may be difficult for consumers to view the contents of the package and the package may appear less sightly to the consumer. Further, certain packages may not stand in an upright position (e.g., in the case of long, narrow packages consisting generally of two pieces of plastic or other material sealed along the entire outer edge). In order to permit easy viewing of either the interior contents of the package or information provided on the package itself, a consumer may be required to lift the package from, for example, a display shelf, in order to view the package information and/or contents.
Further yet, certain packages may be provided without any venting features. Without such features, packages heated using, for example, a microwave oven, may tend to rupture as the pressure increases within the sealed package. Additionally, many packages are provided without means for easy opening of the package, often making the task of opening a package a difficult and potentially messy one. Various embodiments of the package disclosed herein address these and other disadvantages associated with conventional packages.
Referring now to
According to an exemplary embodiment, front wall 16 and rear wall 18 may be sealed together (e.g., adhesively sealed, heat sealed, ultrasonically welded, etc.) at side seal portions 26, 28 and at top seal portion 30. Front wall 16 and rear wall 18 define an interior of package 10 that receives a food product 17. According to one embodiment, side seal portions 26, 28 extend generally along the periphery of the sides or edges of wall portions 16, 18 and top seal portion 30 extends across walls 16, 18 offset from the upper edge of wall portions 16, 18, forming grasping portions or tabs 32, 34. As shown in
According to some embodiments, package 10 may include self-venting features shown in
While vent portions 36, 38 are shown as slits, a variety of holes and/or apertures of various shapes and/or sizes may be used. According to one embodiment, vent portion 36 and/or 38 extend fully through material 42 (see
Referring further to
According to an exemplary embodiment, package 10 may be provided with an easy peel feature (e.g., an easily peelable seal, etc.). As shown in
According to one embodiment, the easy peel feature provided with package 10 is a one-time-use seal. According to various alternative embodiments, other types of seals and/or closure devices or mechanisms may be used instead of or in conjunction with seals 26, 28, 30 (e.g., a resealable portion provided in addition to and adjacent to top seal portion 30).
In some embodiments, package 10 may also be configured to stand in a substantially upright position when filled with product. Gusset portion 20 may provide a support area that maintains package 10 in an upright position, thereby facilitating marketing and packaging of product contained therein (e.g., by making it easier for consumers to see the product with package 10, by maintaining liquid or semi-solid materials in a generally stable position, etc.). As discussed above gusset portion 20 includes portions 22 and 24.
According to one embodiment, walls 16, 18 and gusset portions 22, 24 may be made from a continuous length of a material 42 (e.g., a flexible polymer laminate, etc.) comprising a first inner layer 44 (e.g., a polyester) laminated to a second outer layer 46 (e.g., a sealant layer that provides an easy peel feature and/or an anti-fog feature). Material 42 may be a roll stock material that may be folded, die cut, and heat sealed using automated tooling and processes to form package 10. Further, vent portions 36, 38 may be formed in material 42 using automated tooling (e.g., a piercing wheel configured to form perforations in material 42). According to various alternative embodiments, gusset portions 22, 24 may be made from a separate length of material 42 and/or a material other than material 42.
As can be seen in
According to an exemplary embodiment, package 10 may further be provided with an anti-fog feature. According to one embodiment, an anti-fog material is embedded into second layer 46 (e.g., along with the easy peel seal material), which is then laminated to first layer 44 to form material 42. The anti-fog material resists fogging (clouding, discoloring, etc.) of material 42 after product has been sealed into package 10. In particular, the anti-fog material is configured to resist fogging due to extreme and/or sudden temperature changes (e.g., in the case of a package containing frozen food product being subsequently heated in a microwave, etc.). The anti-fog material may be made of any suitable materials, compounds, etc., known to those skilled in the art.
Referring now to
Referring in particular to
According to an exemplary embodiment, front wall 116 and rear wall 118 may be sealed together (e.g., adhesively sealed, heat sealed, ultrasonically welded, etc.) at side seal portions 126, 128 and at top seal portion 130. According to one embodiment, side seal portions 126, 128 extend generally along the periphery of the sides or edges of wall portions 116, 118, and top seal portion 130 extends across walls 116, 118 offset from the upper edge of wall portions 116, 118, forming grasping portions or tabs 132, 134. As shown in
According to some embodiments, package 110 may include self-venting features shown in
Referring further to
According to one embodiment, walls 116, 118 and gusset portions 122, 124 may be made from a continuous length of a material 142 (e.g., a flexible polymer laminate, etc.) comprising a first inner layer 144 (e.g., a polyester) laminated to a second outer layer 146 (e.g., a sealant layer that provides an easy peel feature and/or an anti-fog feature). Material 142 may be a roll stock material that may be folded, die cut, and heat sealed using automated tooling and processes to form package 110. Further, vent portions 136, 138 may be formed in material 142 using automated tooling (e.g., a piercing wheel configured to form perforations in material 142). According to various alternative embodiments, gusset portions 122, 124 may be made from a separate length of material 142 and/or a material other than material 142.
According to various exemplary embodiments, the packages shown and described herein may include a variety of food products (e.g., food product 17), including solids (breads, cheeses, etc.), liquids juices, sauces, etc.), and so on. According to various exemplary embodiments, the food product may be wholly or partially unrefrigerated, refrigerated, and/or frozen during processing, retailing, etc. In some embodiments, the food product is introduced into the interior of the package after the side seal portions (e.g., seal portions 16, 18 or 116, 118) are sealed. Upon the food product being introduced into the interior, the top seal portion (e.g. seal portion 30 or 130) may be sealed.
It is important to note that for purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” shall mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate member being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature. Such joining may also relate to mechanical, fluid, or electrical relationship between the two components.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the package shown in the exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and/or omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure as expressed in the appended claims.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/928,547, filed May 10, 2007, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60928547 | May 2007 | US |
