Food or edible material: processes – compositions – and products – Packaged or wrapped product – Packaging structure cooperating with food generated gas
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-24
2001-06-12
Bhat, Nina (Department: 1761)
Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products
Packaged or wrapped product
Packaging structure cooperating with food generated gas
C426S396000, C426S410000, C426S413000, C426S415000, C426S496000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06245368
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the packaging of pre-assembled sandwiches and methods for their distribution and sale.
A popular prepared food item is a sandwich or submarine sandwich, typically containing meat and/or cheese. Deli type restaurants or in-store deli counters prepare sandwiches on site, either to order, or daily in advance of the order, and then maintain the sandwiches in refrigerated holding bins or displays. Gas stations, convenience stores, quick service food marts, airport shops, food marts, vending machines and other small retail locations without kitchen facilities, compete for these sandwich sales. Heretofore, such locations have been unable to economically present the consumer with completely satisfactory sandwiches. The most typical competitive sandwich offerings have been sold in a refrigerated state to the consumer in sealed, clear plastic packaging, with one sandwich per package. Such sandwiches have sometimes been packaged in modified atmosphere packaging to extend their shelf life in a refrigerated store display or vending machine.
Alternative bulk packaging of 4,6,12 or even 24 sandwiches individually wrapped in regular atmosphere packaging and sold frozen in cardboard boxes for thawing by consumers in their homes also exist, and are most commonly sold in warehouse club type stores. These sandwiches rely upon freezing for their shelf life. No refrigerated bulk packaged sandwich products are known to be individually wrapped within a larger modified atmosphere package.
In order to present a satisfactory product, many factors must be addressed. The meat and cheese components of the sandwich must be selected such that they will have a substantial shelf life when properly packaged, and such that when opened from the bulk container and placed in a refrigerated merchandiser will not deteriorate too rapidly. In addition, bulk packaging for the sandwiches must be inexpensive, preferably transparent, flexible, and providing a barrier to oxygen and moisture, as well as sufficient toughness for casual handling and storage for a 3 to 5 week period. In addition, the sandwiches should preferably be individually wrapped with a clear shrink wrap film or other gas permeable wrapper for store and consumer convenience in handling the individual sandwich products. Finally, because demand is uncertain, the sandwich products must be maintained in a palatable condition during several days of display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved sandwich for bulk packaging and subsequent individual sale from a refrigerated merchandiser. It is a further object of the invention to provide improved packaging for bulk sandwiches which are to be individually sold from a refrigerated merchandiser.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide an improved method of distributing and selling pre-assembled sandwiches from retail outlets that do not have on-site kitchen capabilities.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide bulk packaged, pre-assembled sandwiches for individual sale at a self-service counter food display station without requiring additional handling or assistance by store personnel.
It is a further object of the invention to provide bulk pre-assembled sandwiches with a refrigerated shelf life of at least about 30 days. In accordance with these objects of the invention, sandwiches with meat, cheese, or spread components and bread components are provided. These sandwiches are individually wrapped in gas permeable wrapper and placed in plastic web sleeves with modified atmospheres, wherein the sleeves provide barriers against moisture and oxygen sufficient to provide a refrigerated shelf life of at least 20 days. The packaged sandwiches are distributed to retail store locations and merchandisers with instructions describing display and placement of the product in a refrigerated merchandiser from which customers may make their selections without assistance by store personnel.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3850486 (1974-11-01), Brown
patent: 3964669 (1976-06-01), Sontag et al.
patent: 4355721 (1982-10-01), Knott, II et al.
patent: 4608302 (1986-08-01), Schirmer
patent: 4792457 (1988-12-01), Brna et al.
patent: 5345069 (1994-09-01), Grindrod
patent: 5514392 (1996-05-01), Garwood et al.
patent: 5553934 (1996-09-01), Wells et al.
Corley Steven A.
Sullivan B. Keith
Bhat Nina
Made-Rite Sandwich Company of Chattanooga, Inc.
Miller & Martin LLP
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