U.S. patent application number 11/484888 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-22 for food packaging providing extended shelf-life.
Invention is credited to Perry S. Bagley.
Application Number | 20070039838 11/484888 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37637879 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070039838 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bagley; Perry S. |
February 22, 2007 |
Food packaging providing extended shelf-life
Abstract
Packaging to increase the shelf-life of food products,
particularly fresh meat and produce products such as fresh fruit.
The packaging of the present disclosure includes a conventional
tray pack, a separate carrier for one or more preservatives, and a
wrapping material. In an exemplary embodiment the separate carrier
is an inert sheet coated or impregnated with one or more naturally
occurring preservative(s). In another embodiment, the separate
carrier is a removable food product tray. In a further embodiment,
the carrier is in the form of both an inert sheet and a product
tray in the packaging. Optionally an absorbent food sheet or pad
can be included. Additionally, a carrier having the preservative(s)
is disclosed that may be sold separately as a food packaging insert
for use in the aforementioned packaging. A product tray is also
disclosed that may be offered and sold separately for use in said
packaging, optionally coated with the one or more
perservative(s).
Inventors: |
Bagley; Perry S.; (Cumming,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMAS, KAYDEN, HORSTEMEYER & RISLEY, LLP
100 GALLERIA PARKWAY, NW
STE 1750
ATLANTA
GA
30339-5948
US
|
Family ID: |
37637879 |
Appl. No.: |
11/484888 |
Filed: |
July 10, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60697835 |
Jul 8, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/204 ;
206/562 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/34 20130101; B65D
81/24 20130101; B65D 81/28 20130101; B65D 81/265 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/204 ;
206/562 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/26 20060101
B65D081/26; B65D 1/34 20060101 B65D001/34 |
Claims
1. Packaging for a food product, comprising: a tray pack; a
separate carrier for one or more preservatives for the food
product; and a packaging overwrap material.
2. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the carrier is a sheet of
material coated or impregnated with the one or more preservatives,
the material being non-reactive with the one or more
preservatives.
3. The packaging of claim 2, wherein the sheet of material is
selected from the group of polystyrene, blown polyvinyl chloride,
molded pulp and polypropylene.
4. The packaging of claim 2, wherein the preservatives are selected
from naturally occurring food preservatives that serve to maintain
a pH level of a food product to be packaged in the packaging at or
below 6.9.
5. The packaging of claim 4, wherein the preservatives are selected
from naturally occurring acids.
6. The packaging of claim 5, wherein the preservatives are selected
from one or more of citric acid, acetic acid, salts thereof,
anhydride forms thereof, mixtures of such acids, salts and
anhydride forms, and phosphoric acetate.
7. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the separate carrier is in the
form of a separate and removable food product tray.
8. The packaging of claim 7, wherein the product tray has a
perforated food product carrying surface and spacing members for
separating the food product carrying surface from the tray
pack.
9. The packaging of claim 1, further including an absorbent sheet
or pad for absorbing liquid exuding from the food product.
10. The packaging of claim 2, further including a food product tray
having a perforated food product carrying surface and spacing
members for separating the food product carrying surface from the
tray pack.
11. The packaging of claim 10, further including an absorbent sheet
or pad for absorbing liquid exuding from the food product.
12. A carrier for one or more food preservatives for use as an
insert to food packaging including a food product, the carrier
comprising a sheet of material having the one or more food
preservatives, the material being non-reactive to the one or more
preservatives, the one or more preservatives including a naturally
occurring food preservative that serves to maintain the pH level of
a food product packaged therein at or below 6.9.
13. The carrier of claim 12, wherein the naturally occurring food
preservative is selected from naturally occurring acids.
14. The carrier of claim 13, wherein the naturally occurring food
preservative is selected from one or more of citric acid, acetic
acid, salts thereof, anhydride forms thereof, mixtures of such
acids, salts and anhydride forms, and phosphoric acetate.
15. A food product tray for use in food packaging, the food product
tray having a perforated food product carrying surface and spacing
members for separating the food product carrying surface from the
tray pack.
16. The food product tray of claim 14, wherein the food product
carrying surface has a concave shape for retaining the food
product.
17. The food product tray of claim 15, further coated or
impregnated with one or more preservatives.
18. The food product tray of claim 17, including at least one
preservative that is a naturally occurring food preservative that
serves to maintain a pH level of the food product at or below
6.9.
19. The food product tray of claim 18, wherein the preservatives
are selected from naturally occurring acids.
20. The food product tray of claim 19, wherein the preservatives
are selected from one or more of citric acid, acetic acid, salts
thereof, anhydride forms thereof, mixtures of such acids, salts and
anhydride forms, and phosphoric acetate.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a fresh food packaging of
the type used to contain and display fresh food products, in
particular fresh meat and produce products, providing enhanced
shelf-life for the product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is known to package fresh food products, in particular
meat such as beef, poultry, pork and seafood, and fresh produce in
individual packages comprising a tray in which the product is
placed and a transparent outer plastic wrapping covering the
product and surrounding the tray to complete the package.
[0003] Various absorbent pads have been proposed to be included
within the aforementioned package to extend the shelf-life of a
fresh food product to be packaged therein. For example, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,275,811 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,997 to Miller disclose one
form of an absorbent pad intended to extend shelf-life of food
products in the aforementioned package. The absorbent pad comprises
an upper liquid impermeable plastic sheet and a perforated lower
plastic sheet with an absorbent mat placed therebetween. The pad is
intended to be placed in the package on the tray, the meat product
resting on the pad. Liquid exuded from the food product is intended
to be absorbed by the pad through the perforations in the lower
sheet. In this manner, the liquid is held out of contact from the
food product, thereby reducing contamination of the food product
and improving its appearance and shelf-life.
[0004] While packaging of this type having pads placed therein have
served to improve the product shelf-life somewhat, there remains a
need for further improved, longer shelf-life for the fresh food
products to be packaged.
SUMMARY
[0005] The packaging of the present disclosure has been found to
increase the shelf-life of food products, particularly fresh meat
and produce products such as fresh fruit, beyond that provided by
the aforementioned packaging by incorporating a separate carrier
for one or more food preservatives in the packaging.
[0006] In one form, the packaging of the present disclosure
includes a tray pack, a separate carrier for one or more
preservatives, and a wrapping material. In one embodiment the
separate carrier is an inert sheet coated or impregnated with the
preservative(s). It is then intended that the carrier be placed on
the upper surface of the tray pack, the food product placed on the
carrier having the preservative(s) and the wrapping material placed
around the tray pack and food product.
[0007] An exemplary preservative is a natural preservative, for
example, a naturally occurring acid such as citric acid or a salt
thereof such as sodium citrate.
[0008] Optionally an absorbent food sheet or pad can be included.
If included, the absorbent sheet or pad can be placed on the upper
surface of the tray pack, the carrier having the preservative(s)
placed on top of the absorbent pad or sheet, the food product
placed on top of the carrier, and the wrapping material placed
around the tray pack and the food product.
[0009] In a further embodiment, a separate carrier in the packaging
is in the form of a perforated product tray coated or impregnated
with the preservative(s) for placement on the upper surface of the
tray pack of the packaging. The product tray includes spacing
members for separating its product carrying surface above and apart
from the upper surface of the tray pack, allowing liquid exudate
from the food product to collect on the tray pack, below the
product tray in a manner such that the food product is separated
from and is not in contact with the exudate. The product tray is
removable from the package, allowing the food product placed
thereon to be removed from the package without having to touch the
food product. The product tray being perforated further allows for
the food product to be easily and conveniently rinsed prior to
preparation and cooking, for example, by placing it and the food
product under a water faucet or in the case of seafood in a cold
water bath.
[0010] The product tray can be included with the aforementioned
inert carrier sheet in the food packaging and, optionally, further
including an absorbent sheet or pad. The product tray may also be
included in the packaging without being coated or impregnated with
one or more preservatives.
[0011] The components of the packaging of the present disclosure
can be provided together or offered separately. Thus, in yet a
further embodiment a packaging insert is provided in the form of
either or both a carrier sheet or a food product tray having one or
more food preservatives for use in packaging for food products. For
example, the carrier sheet having the preservative(s) may be
offered and sold separately as a food packaging insert for use in
packaging including a tray pack and optionally an absorbent food
sheet or pad. The product tray may also be offered and sold
separately, with or without preservative(s), or together with the
other packaging components.
[0012] It can be seen, therefore, that a method for packaging a
fresh food product is also provided in which the packaging of the
present disclosure is used to package and display the fresh food
product, providing extended shelf-life for the food product and/or
additional convenience in handling the food product.
[0013] Other packaging systems, devices, features and advantages of
the disclosed packaging will be or become apparent to one with
skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and
detailed description. It is intended that all additional systems,
devices, features, and advantages be included within this
description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be
protected by the accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Many aspects of the disclosed packaging can be better
understood with reference to the attached drawings, FIGS. 1-4. The
components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis
instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of
the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference
numerals do not need corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a top view of the packaging of the present
disclosure including both a carrier having a food preservative and
a perforated product tray.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the product tray of FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the product tray of
FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 4 is an exploded side elevational view of the packaging
of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring more specifically to the drawings in which like
reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the several
views, an exemplary embodiment of the packaging of the present
disclosure is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4,
the packaging includes a conventional tray pack 1 and additionally
a separate carrier coated or impregnated with one or more
preservatives, in the form of an inert carrier sheet 5 or a product
tray 7 or both. Optionally, an absorbent sheet or pad 3 may be
included. An overwrap (not shown) completes the packaging.
[0020] The tray pack 1 has a bottom wall 11, side walls 13, and end
walls 15 and is shaped to provide an interior space for receiving a
fresh food product 9. The tray pack 1 can be formed of any material
suitable for packaging food products. Such materials include
expanded polystyrene, blown polyvinyl chloride (PVC) molded pulp
and other formable materials compatible with the food product to be
contained within the packaging. In an exemplary embodiment, the
tray pack 1 is made of thermoformed polypropylene, such as those
offered by Sealed Air Corporation under the trademark
CRYOVAC.RTM.Wrap.it.
[0021] The optional absorbent food sheet or pad 3 can be any of the
various absorbent food sheets or pads conventionally available.
Examples include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,811, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,321,997 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,930, which are
incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.
[0022] In one form the separate carrier is in the form of a carrier
sheet 5 and can be made of any material compatible with the food
products intended to be contained in food packaging. Additionally,
it is desirable that the carrier material be non-reactive with the
preservative(s) it carries. In an exemplary embodiment, the carrier
sheet 5 is made of polystyrene film or non-woven polypropylene
sheet material.
[0023] Carrier sheet 5 is coated or impregnated with one or more
preservatives. Exemplary preservatives are naturally occurring
preservatives that serve to maintain a desired pH level within the
package. We have found that, by maintaining the pH level of the
food product at or below 6.9, the growth and migration of
pathogens, such as bacteria, that cause decomposure of, for
example, fresh meat and produce products, is inhibited. Thus
product shelf-life is extended beyond that provided by conventional
packaging that does not include our sheet coated with the
preservative.
[0024] In an exemplary embodiment the carrier sheet 5 is a four mil
polystyrene sheet coated with one or more natural preservatives.
Suitable natural preservatives include naturally occurring acids
such as citric acid and acetic acid, salts thereof such as sodium
citrate and phosphoric acetate, anhydride forms thereof, and
mixtures of such acids, salts and/or anhydride forms. For many
products citric acid may be preferred over acetic acid because of
its more pleasing taste and odor. Phosphoric acetate can be used as
a preservative either in place of citric acid or in addition to
citric acid. The natural preservative(s) can be applied to or
coated on the carrier sheet 5 in the form of a composition
including one or more naturally occurring acids or salts thereof
and an oxidation reduction agent compatible with the
preservative(s). The natural preservative(s) can be in the form of
a paste, gel, powder, liquid or solid. When in the form of a paste,
gel or liquid a vehicle (such as water) can be included. In one
form, the preservative is a dried mixture of citric acid, distilled
water and a yellow dye applied as a coating on carrier sheet 5. One
or more non-naturally occurring preservatives can be included with
the natural perservative(s).
[0025] In another form the carrier is a product tray 7 included
within the packaging of the present disclosure that may be included
with our without the carrier sheet 5. Product tray 7 provides a
convenient means for removing the food product 9 from the packaging
and rinsing the food product prior to preparation. It also provides
a means for placing the food product 9 spaced apart from and above
the upper surface of the tray pack 1. In this manner, liquid that
exudes from the food product 9, in particular a meat product, can
drip to the bottom of the tray pack 1 without the product coming in
contact with the liquid exudate that collects. If an absorbent food
sheet or pad 3 is present, product tray 7 also keeps the pad 3 from
sticking to the food product, allowing the food product 9 to be
removed from the tray pack 1 without the pad 3 annoyingly sticking
to the food product.
[0026] The product tray 7 may also be made of any material suitable
for use with food products such as meat. Suitable materials include
expanded polystyrene, blown polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and molded
pulp. In an exemplary embodiment the tray is made of thermoformed
polypropylene, as well as the tray pack 1. Further, the product
tray 7 may or may not be coated or impregnated with the
aforementioned preservative(s) and made of a material that is inert
or non-reactive with the preservative(s).
[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3,
product tray 7 is a perforated generally planar structure
optionally having opposed thumb tabs 71. Product tray 7 has a flat,
planar, rectangular, perforated upper food product carrying surface
72, though its upper surface could also be concave, for example, to
better hold the food product in place. Further, its surface 72 need
not be rectangular. Its surface 72 can be another shape, such as
square, oval or elliptical. As illustrated, the perforations
provide square shaped openings 73. The square shaped openings 73
form longitudinal and transverse strips 74. One skilled in the art
would recognize that the openings need not be square and that any
other opening shape may be suitable. The openings 73 allow liquid
that exudes from the product 9 to fall through the product tray 7
and collect on the tray pack 1, or if an absorbent sheet or pad 3
is present to be absorbed by it, below and separate from the
product 9. The openings 73 also allow for rinsing of the product 9
after being removed from the packaging while still carried by the
product tray 7. The product tray has a thickness 75 sufficient to
provide adequate support for the food product.
[0028] In a further exemplary form, product tray 7 has a bottom
surface 76 that includes spacing members 77, 78, such that when the
product tray 7 is placed in the packaging the spacing members 77,
78 serve to separate the food product carrying surface 72 of the
product tray 7 from the upper surface of the tray pack 1, and if
present from the upper surface of absorbent food sheet or pad 3.
Exemplary spacing members include feet 77 and/or transverse (shown)
or longitudinal (not shown) ridges 78 running along the bottom
surface 76 of the product tray. One skilled in the art would
readily recognize that other forms of spacing members may be used
either in place of or in conjunction with feet 77 and ridges 78,
such as pillars or posts.
[0029] The wrapping material (not shown) for the packaging can be
any conventionally used and available overwrap. An example is
Cryovac BDF-2001 film that is a multi-layered, coextruded
polyolefin shrink film with good aroma and oxygen barrier
properties, offered by Sealed Air Corporation, Duncan, S.C. If
desired, the overwrap can be a clear plastic film allowing the food
product to be seen and displayed in the packaging.
[0030] In practice, food products can be packaged in the present
food packaging in a number of ways. For example, a carrier sheet 5
having one or more preservatives may be placed on the upper surface
of the tray pack 1, the food product 9 placed on top of the carrier
sheet 5 and the packaging finished by wrapping a wrapping material,
such as the aforementioned overwrap, over the food product, around
and underneath the tray pack. Optionally, such packaging may
include an absorbent food sheet or pad 3 placed either between tray
pack 1 and carrier sheet 5, or on top of carrier sheet 5 between
carrier sheet 5 and the food product 9. If carrier sheet 5 is
coated, as opposed to impregnated, with one or more preservatives,
preferably the preservative coating is placed on the surface of the
carrier facing food product 9. In another form, the packaging
consists of product tray 7 placed on the upper surface of tray pack
1 with the food product 9 placed on top of product tray 7, finished
as before with a wrapping material or overwrap. Alternatively, such
packaging may include one or both of carrier sheet 5 having one or
more preservatives and an absorbent food sheet or pad 3. If
present, carrier sheet 5 or pad 3 may be placed between tray pack 1
and product tray 7.
[0031] It can be seen from the above description that a packaging
system is provided for extending the shelf-life of fresh food
products such as fresh meat and produce. A food packaging insert in
the form of a carrier having one or more preservatives for
extending the shelf-life of fresh food products is provided for use
in conventional food packaging. Additionally, a food product tray
for use in conventional food packaging is provided.
[0032] It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments
of the present packaging apparatus, particularly, any "preferred"
embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations,
merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the
invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the
above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from
the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications
and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope
of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.
* * * * *