Flexible package with embossed liquid containment cells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10486885-B2
Application number	US-201415531508-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2014
Priority date	Dec 12, 2014
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

The present invention is directed to packages having a flexible top sheet sealed to a flexible embossed bottom sheet The flexible bottom sheet comprises a plurality of embossed peaks and valleys wherein each valley has a defined perimeter with a valley base integrally connected to a valley wall which thereby defines an individual liquid containment cell. The packages according to the present invention are heat resistant to allow food packaged therein to be cooked in a microwave oven such that a substantial amount of water and/or grease released by the food during the cooking process is captured beneath a food contact surface in a plurality of embossed individual liquid containment cells, in preferred embodiments, the package of the present invention is a microwavable form-fill-seal package or microwavable vacuum package for storing and cooking a precooked or cured food product with substantial water and/or fat content.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A flexible package for packaging a food product, the package comprising:
a flexible top sheet sealed to a flexible bottom sheet; wherein each of the top and bottom sheets has:
a thickness of between 12.7 μm and 305 μm (0.5 mil and 12 mil);
a bending resistance of between 5 and 5000 Gurley Units in either the machine or transverse direction;
a heat resistance to melting up to a temperature of at least 100° C. (212° F.);

wherein the bottom sheet has a food-contact surface comprising:
a plurality of embossed peaks and valleys wherein each valley has a defined perimeter with a valley base integrally connected to a valley wall which thereby defines an individual liquid containment cell; wherein the number of liquid containment cells per square inch of the bottom sheet is at least 10; wherein the food-contact surface has a reduced food contact-surface area that reduces a pre-embossed food-contact surface area by at least 20% to facilitate the retention of water and/or grease released by the food product.

2. A package according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of water and/or grease retained by the bottom sheet is at least 155 g/m 2 (0.10 g/in 2 ).

3. A package according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of water and/or grease retained by the bottom sheet is at least 232.5 g/m 2 (0.15 g/in 2 ).

4. A package according to claim 1 , wherein the number of individual liquid containment cells square inch of the bottom sheet is at least 25.

5. A package according to claim 1 , wherein the number of individual liquid containment cells per square inch of the bottom sheet is at least 50.

6. A package according to claim 1 , wherein the food-contact surface has a reduced food contact surface area that reduces a pre-embossed food contact surface area by at least 25%.

7. A package according to claim 1 , wherein the food-contact surface has a reduced food contact surface area that reduces a pre-embossed food contact surface area by at least 30%.

8. A package according to claim 1 , wherein the food-contact surface has a reduced food contact surface area that reduces a pre-embossed food contact surface area by at least 40%.

9. A package according to claim 1 , wherein the food-contact surface has a reduced food contact surface area that reduces a pre-embossed food contact surface area by at least 50%.

10. A package according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom sheet comprises channels.

11. A package according to claim 1 , wherein each of the individual liquid containment cells has a polygon shape.

12. A package according to claim 11 , wherein the individual liquid containment cells are formed as a polygon pattern continuously across the bottom sheet.

13. A package according to claim 11 , wherein each of the individual liquid containment cells has a diamond shape.

14. A package according to claim 11 , wherein each of the individual liquid containment cells has a hexagon shape.

15. A package according to claim 1 , wherein each of the individual liquid containment cells includes a volume of at least 1.64 mm 3 (0.0001 in 3 ).

16. A package according to claim 1 , wherein each of the individual liquid containment cells includes a volume of at least 3.3 mm 3 (0.0002 in 3 ).

17. A package according to claim 1 , wherein each of the individual liquid containment cells includes a volume of about 4.7 mm 3 (0.00029 in 3 ).

18. A package according to claim 1 , wherein the bending resistance of between 5 and 2000 Gurley Units in either the machine or transverse direction.

19. A package according to claim 1 , wherein each of top and bottom sheets comprises a film having an oxygen transmission rate of between 0 and 10 cm 3 /m 2 /24 hours at 1 atmosphere, 0% relative humidity and 10° C.

20. A package according to claim 1 , wherein the top sheet is peelably sealed to the bottom sheet.

Assignees

• Bemis Co Inc

Inventors

• Chen Peter M
• Hodson Jay D
• Berbert Otacilio T

Classifications

• B65D75/5855

  Peelable seals · CPC title

• A23L5/15

  using wave energy, irradiation, electrical means or magnetic fields, e.g. oven cooking or roasting using radiant dry heat · CPC title

• A23V2002/00

  Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs · CPC title

• B65D81/264 Primary

  for absorbing liquids · CPC title

• B65D2581/3417

  Bacon · CPC title