Fabric (woven – knitted – or nonwoven textile or cloth – etc.) – Coated or impregnated woven – knit – or nonwoven fabric which... – Coating or impregnation functions biologically
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-11-06
Cole, Elizabeth M. (Department: 1771)
Fabric (woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.)
Coated or impregnated woven, knit, or nonwoven fabric which...
Coating or impregnation functions biologically
C428S034300, C428S034200, C428S071000, C428S076000, C428S192000, C428S907000, C401S196000, C401S200000, C401S261000, C015S244300, CD32S035000, C424S404000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06313049
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the special formulation of sanitizer as approved by the Food Industry and United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which is uniquely applied in application and used in combination with saturated absorbent wipe(s) being pre-packaged as disposable towelettes
apkin/wipes to provide for the proper cleaning and sanitizing of food-related contact surfaces, utensils and containers when used with the preparation of food in accordance with the “sanitizer solution standards” as established by U.S. Federal Government, the F.D.A. as well as H.A.C.C.P (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) regulations which includes three sanitizers approved for food industry use being quaternary ammonium concentration solution, chlorine/bleach concentration solution and iodine concentration solution all of which have been tested, qualified and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States (EPA); U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under 21 CFR 178.1010; the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Department of Commerce (USDC). Accordingly, these four agencies are involved for the general public's safety and protection from pathogens and the protection of food from spoilage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For years society has enjoyed the innovation and benefits of pre-moistened towelettes fabric wipes which are usualLy found in tear-open sealed pouch for use when travelling, in restaurants, and the like, which are commonly saturated with alcohol, isopropyl, lotions, etc. However, these stated substances are not allowed nor permitted in use within the food industry when sanitizing food preparation surfaces, utensils, equipment containers, food instruments and the like.
The present invention relates to application of providing food industry approved sanitizing-solutions using the appropriate legal concentration parts per million (PPMs) as established by the U.S. Federal Government regulations to wet-saturate disposable fabric(s) and/or sponge(s) prior to pre-packaging, or over-wrapping the absorbent fabric and/or sponge wipes.
Food safety-scientists are aware that pathogens can multiply quickly, and sometimes, it only takes a few. It is therefore required, that procedures to maintain high-assurances of pathogen-free, food-contact surfaces be essential to safe-guard the public and be strictly adhered to in compliance with the United States regulations as PPM standards of permissible legal concentration PPM levels have been developed as can be found in the Federal Code of Regulations pertaining to such.
Some of the noted deficiencies in the food industry when working around food preparation are: the conditions of the kitchens and equipment; people wiping equipment with their clothing/aprons; chefs and cooks cleaning thermometers with alcohol—which is not a U.S.Government approved sanitizer—; workers handling non-food surfaces/objects, eating, coughing using their hands then handling kitchen equipment, utensils and patron food stuffs; chefs and cooks using either, a too weak of sanitizer solution mixture of PPMs, which is rendered ineffective against bacteria; or contrarily, too strong of a sanitizer solution which then becomes legally toxic.
It is with these and other aforestated problematic concerns coupled with the notion of public safety in mind, that the present invention which comprises one or more disposable pre-packaged fabric-saturated wet absorbant wipes and/or impregnated fabric(s) and/or sponges; for example, such as paper and/or cotton towelette
apkin wipe(s) uniquely processed with the food industry legal sanitizer solution(s) as established by the U.S. Federal Government regulations and respective governmental agencies. Since, the most noted violations in the food service industry occur from the improper use of sanitizers; specifically, the incorrect PPM level of mixture; either too low of sanitizer PPM level or to high in concentration PPM level. Generally, managers in food service preparation do not know the required legal strength of the particular sanitizer they are using, nor do they know how to check and measure the concentration level of the sanitizer they are using.
Further, most food service workers do not have knowledge of the sanitizer which is being used and the means in which to insure that the exact legal PPM range levels of concentration is achieved; and properly used in the food service industry on food contact surfaces, equipment, utensils, etc. Such wide spread ignorance is creating a major food safety problem. Should the sanitizer concentration parts per million (PPM) be too low, the sanitizer is rendered ineffective, thus resulting in potential food and cross-food contamination being served. Conversely, should the sanitizer become mixed at higher PPM concentration beyond the legal limit of PPMs, the solution then becomes toxic. For these reasons the U.S. federal government has strict regulations establishing the strict legal range of PPM levels of concentration for quaternary ammonium solution, chlorine/bleach solution and iodine solution.
The present invention reduces time management from the aspect of eliminating the need by personnel to properly prepare mixture and precisely measure same for accuracy, prior to use, to insure that such exact legal range of sanitizer-solution PPMs is met. This takes the onus off the food personnel, which statistically speaking, have a high turn-over rate in the food industry as it is, especially within the food service sector. Further, the wage scale paid to this personnel and difficulties resulting by language barriers makes training very difficult and almost seemingly non-existent; also their lack of understanding the importance of our government demands for food-safety, that cannot be over-emphasized.
The conditions described above create an atmosphere that is prone to cause outbreaks of foodborne illness in the consuming public.
Consequently, the food industry and various sub-industries need and can embrace the present invention which is the pre-packaged wet sanitizer fabric saturated wipe(s)—just as the public has embraced the pre-packaged alcohol sterlizer packets used in the medical field and the moist towelettes type packets available in most supermarkets. As stated, alcohol is a non-approved and illegal sanitizer for food service use in the United States. Further, many popular wipes/towelettes use types of alcohol, including scents and may contain lotions, all of which are incompatible with food contact surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention consists of a unique product and useful application for sanitizing food-related objects and surfaces using fabric saturated/impregnated absorbent sheet(s) and/or one-time use sponge with the U.S government approved legal concentrated parts per million (PPM) solutions of quaternary ammonium, chlorine/bleach solution and iodine solution all U.S. government approved legal solutions for sanitizing food preparation surfaces, utensils and equipment, etc.
Todate, there is no comparable disposable wipe packet product or prior art in the food industry that teaches the features of the present invention having a saturated/impregnated absorbent fabric sheet(s) and/or sponge(s) with the approved U.S. food-related legal concentration of sanitizer having a single sheet layer or laminated bonded material over-wrap packet.
An object of the pre-packaged fabric-saturated sanitizer of the present invention is designed to address and be utilized specifically for legal sanitizing of food-preparation surfaces, food equipment, utensils, containers and the other instruments used such as thermometers, knife blades, etc.
A further object of the present invention is to teach that the over-wrap substrate may be made from single layer or multiple layer sheet may have at least one line of separation and/or at least one border margin and/or edge sealed; or, in the alternative, two or more separate over-wrap sheets may also be laminated and sealed on at least one border margin and/or edge of
Heady Dotty
Wolkensperg Kaz
Cole Elizabeth M.
Singh Arti R.
LandOfFree
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