Food or edible material: processes – compositions – and products – Packaged or wrapped product – Packaging structure cooperating with food generated gas
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-07
2001-07-03
Cano, Milton (Department: 1761)
Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products
Packaged or wrapped product
Packaging structure cooperating with food generated gas
C426S106000, C426S124000, C426S108000, C206S521000, C206S592000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254908
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a packaging system for ventable product containing bags equipped with degassing relief valves and, more particularly, to a packaging system in which a container assembly for shipping such bags includes a removable insert for reducing space at the top portion of the container and minimizing damage during shipping and handling of such bags.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As an alternative to cans, products which generate gases, typically either roasted and ground coffee or roasted whole bean coffee, are often packaged in soft packages without applying a vacuum; these packages are typically known as pillow bags. Pillow bags are desirable in that they are easier to handle and more lightweight than cans and, as the product is used, the bags may be compressed to reduce the amount of space needed to store them. However, there are several drawbacks associated with pillow bags.
One problem with pillow bags is that newly packaged coffee tends to generate a mixture of gases inside the bag, mainly carbon dioxide, which causes the bag to become swollen and eventually burst, rendering the package unsellable. This problem has been ameliorated to some degree by the inclusion of a degassing valve in the bag which releases gas from the bag when a certain internal pressure is reached. The valve then closes when pressure returns to an acceptable level. Such valves are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,994 to Goglio and U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,846 to Gilbert. The design of these valves is typically such that the bag must completely fill with gas before sufficient internal pressure is reached to open the valve. Since such bags must necessarily have a headspace, i.e., a space within the bag above the product, and since the bags can freely expand, the headspace will fill with gas, giving it a swollen appearance by the time it is placed on the shelves of a retail store. This swollen appearance tends to be very undesirable to the consumer.
Another problem that is encountered with pillow bags is that because the bags are packaged in containers, such as rectangular boxes held closed with tape, adhesive or the like, there is a likelihood that if a knife is used to open the container, one or more bags may inadvertently be cut, rendering them unsellable. Still another problem is that since the bags are generally packaged such that they do not completely fill the container, they may bounce freely within the container during shipping and handling, causing cracks and holes to form in the bag film, allowing air to leak into the bags. The oxygen in this air causes staleness in the product long before the intended shelf-life has expired.
Accordingly, the need exists for a packaging system for ventable pillow bags containing gas generating products which reduces the amount of gas build-up in the headspace of the bags and prevents damage to the bags during shipping and handling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, it is a purpose of the present invention to provide improvements which overcome the above described disadvantages of existing packaging systems for ventable pillow bags.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the packaging system includes a container assembly comprising a container, an insert and the pillow bags themselves. The container is designed to receive a plurality of ventable pillow bags containing a product of the type which generates gases, each of the bags having a headspace at the top thereof which is expandable to accommodate such gases, as well as a valve for venting the gases when pressure in the bag reaches a predetermined level. The insert reduces available space in the container, thereby reducing expansion of the headspace and minimizing damage to the bags during shipping and handling.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a container assembly for holding a plurality of ventable bags containing a gas generating product includes a container having a bottom wall, a pair of opposite side walls, a pair of opposite end walls, an open top end and a closure member for closing the top end. The bags are receivable in the container such that the bottom ends are positioned along the bottom wall. The container assembly further includes at least one insert of triangular cross-section, said insert preferably comprising a rectangular shaped sheet of material folded to form two parallel folds therein forming the triangular shape. The insert extends generally between end walls adjacent the top of the container such that a base of the triangular shape is positioned closest to the closure member and an apex is directed downwardly to create a triangular-shaped separation between the tops of the adjacent rows of bags to thereby reduce available space at the top of the container for expansion of the headspace of the bags. Preferably the insert is removable and the container is a rectangular shaped box.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a packaging system for pillow bags containing a gas generating product which reduces expansion of the headspace in the bags during shipping and storage.
It is another object of the invention to provide a container assembly for packaging such bags which reduces the risk of the bags being damaged when the container is opened with a knife or other sharp instrument.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a container assembly which reduces movement of such bags packaged therein to thereby lessen the chance of damage to the bags during shipping and handling.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description to follow.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1108405 (1914-08-01), Shunk
patent: 2348509 (1944-05-01), Wheeler
patent: 2382308 (1945-08-01), Gevaart
patent: 3695505 (1972-10-01), Wolf
patent: 4000846 (1977-01-01), Gilbert
patent: 4184625 (1980-01-01), Stollberg et al.
patent: 4437569 (1984-03-01), Sorenson
patent: 5515994 (1996-05-01), Goglio
patent: 5553709 (1996-09-01), Wharton et al.
Cano Milton
Kraft Foods Inc.
Madsen Robert
Marcoux Thomas A.
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