Special receptacle or package – With moisture absorbent
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-25
2001-05-01
Fidei, David T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
With moisture absorbent
C426S129000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223894
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of package used for packaging food products that tend to exude juice. More specifically, the present invention concerns an improved package that prevents the juices exuding from a food product from going back to the food product vicinity.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has been found desirable for retail stores to display food items in individually wrapped packages. Such individual packages generally comprise a tray with an absorbent pad in the bottom of the tray to absorb any juices or liquids exuding from the food product. An outer plastic wrapping is usually used to cover the food product and tray to complete the package. There have been various attempts to control these liquids in order to extend the shelf-life of such food products. Various packages are known in the art. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,507 discloses an absorbent pad disposed in a food package for absorbing juices or other exuding liquids. The absorbent pad disclosed therein comprises a mat of liquid absorbent material, an upper liquid impermeable plastic sheet overlying the absorbent mat, and a perforated lower plastic sheet underlying the absorbent mat. The upper and lower plastic sheets extend beyond the absorbent mat and are sealed together to enclose the absorbent mat therebetween. When a food product is positioned upon the upper sheet of the absorbent pad, any exuded liquids will flow around the pad and enter the pad by capillary action through the perforations in the lower sheet. The absorbent pad herein described retards reverse migration of exuded liquid to some extent, but still subject to reverse migration when pressure is applied to the pad.
While the inventions known in the art have resulted to the advancement within the present field, an important problem in this area continues to persist. This problem arises from the fact that the package known in the prior art fail to efficaciously absorb and retain exuded liquid from the packaged product. Therefore, these exuded liquids tend to accumulate in the receptacle and to go back to the food product or its vicinity. As a consequence, this provides an environment supportive of the growth and proliferation of microorganisms, thereby minimizing the appearance and shelf-life of the food product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a package for a food product that will overcome this drawback. In accordance with the present invention, that object is achieved with a package for packing a food product which likely exudes liquids, the package comprises a tray with a bottom wall and a raised rim. The package further comprises an upper sheet made of a stretchable liquid impermeable material. This upper sheet has a non-perforated central portion devised to receive thereon the food product, a periphery and a perforated intermediate portion defined between the non-perforated central portion and the periphery. The periphery is secured all around to the rim of the tray whereby the intermediate portion is inclined when a food product is laid down on the central portion. A liquid absorbent mat is disposed under the upper sheet to absorb any liquids exuding from the food product and passing through the perforated intermediate portion.
According to a preferred embodiment, the periphery of the upper sheet is secured to a top edge of the rim, and the absorbent mat is securely pressed against the non-perforated central portion of the upper sheet.
As can be appreciated, a package according to the present invention which is characterized by the fact that the upper perforated sheet is secured all around to the raised rim of the tray and thus forms an inclined surface as the food product is laid thereon, prevents the exuded juices that already crossed the upper sheet from going back to the food product vicinity.
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Darby & Darby
Fempro Inc.
Fidei David T.
LandOfFree
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