Releasably sealable, air and liquid impermeable bags and methods for low temperature food preparation using the same

• US 20030057206A1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Ishii, Tatsuya, Toussant, John William, Yoshikawa, Ken, Ishii, Yuka, Shirai, Kumiko, Hatano, Satoru
• Granted Patent: US 7,262,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/725
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/20 using pressure-sensitive adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 65/14 with areas coated with adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3415 specially adapted to be heated in hot water, e.g. boil pouches dissolvable packages B65D65/46; packaging articles or materials intended to be mixed or infused with a liquid B65D85/808

Abstract

Disclosed is a releasably sealable bag for low temperature cooking comprising a film material, wherein the film material does not deform at temperatures of up to about 125° C., and wherein the bag is air and liquid impermeable when sealed. Also disclosed are such bags wherein at least a portion of the film material is comprised of a composite film material provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive protected from inadvertent adherence. Further disclosed are methods for food preparation and cooking using any of the embodiments of the bag of the present invention.

Claims

1. A releasably sealable bag for low temperature cooking comprising a film material, wherein the film material does not deform at temperatures of up to about 125°

C., and wherein the bag is air and liquid impermeable when sealed.

2. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the film material is selected from the group consisting of a composite film provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive protected from inadvertent adherence, polyethylene, nylon, polypropylene, polyvinyledenchloride, polymethylpenten, water proof paper, water proof non-woven materials, and mixtures thereof.

3. The bag according to claim 2 wherein the film material is free from food preservation agents.

4. The bag according to claim 2 wherein the film material is a composite film provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive protected from inadvertent adherence.

5. The bag of claim 1 wherein the bag is comprised of at least two superimposed sheets of film material having at least a portion of their superimposed edges being permanently sealed, wherein at least one of the sheets is a composite film material provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive protected from inadvertent adherence, the adhesive-bearing film sheet being releasably sealable to the other film sheet when pressed thereagainst to create a seal perimeter, wherein an interior of the bag is comprised within the seal perimeter.

6. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the bag is comprised of a first sheet of film material and a second sheet of film material, wherein at least one of the sheets is a composite film material provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive protected from inadvertent adherence, the adhesive-bearing film sheet being releasably sealable to the other film sheet and forming an interior of the bag when pressed thereagainst to form a seal perimeter, wherein an interior of the bag is formed within the seal perimeter.

7. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the bag is comprised of a sheet having a first portion with at least one first portion free edge, a second portion with at least one second portion free edge, and a juncture area between the first portion and the second portion, wherein at least one of the first portion or the second portion is comprised of a composite film material provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive protected from inadvertent adherence, and wherein the first portion is overlaid onto the second portion by folding about the juncture area, the first and second portions being releasably sealable to each other along a seal perimeter created by pressing one of the portions against the other of the portions, wherein an interior of the bag is comprised within the seal perimeter.

8. The bag according to claim 7 wherein both of the first portion and the second portion are comprised of a composite film material provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive protected from inadvertent adherence.

9. The bag according to claim 8 wherein the juncture area is comprised of a composite film material provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive protected from inadvertent adherence.

10. The bag according to claim 9 wherein the sheet is a unitary sheet of composite film material provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive protected from inadvertent adherence.

11. The bag according to claim 7 wherein the interior is further comprised within the juncture area.

12. The bag according to claim 7 wherein at least a portion of the first portion free edge is permanently sealed to at least a portion of the second portion free edge.

13. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the bag is comprised of a sheet having a first portion with at least one first portion free edge, a second portion with at least one second portion free edge, and a juncture area between the first portion and the second portion, wherein at least one of the first portion or the second portion is comprised of a composite film material provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive protected from inadvertent adherence, at least one of the first or second portion free edges is provided with an opening indication means that visually contrasts with the other first or second portion free edges, and wherein the first portion is overlaid onto the second portion by folding about the juncture area, the first and second portions being releasably sealable to each other along a seal perimeter created by pressing one of the portions against the other of the portions, and the seal perimeter further comprising the juncture area.

14. The bag of any of claims 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 13 wherein the composite film material is a three-dimensional composite sheet material having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side comprises at least one region having a plurality of spaced three-dimensional protrusions extending outwardly from the first side, the protrusions being separated by an interconnected network of three-dimensional spaces between adjacent protrusions, and the spaces being partially filled with an adhesive.

15. The bag according to claim 14 wherein the plurality of protrusions form an amorphous pattern of interlocking convex polygons each having a finite number of substantially linear sides with facing sides of adjacent polygons being substantially parallel.

16. A method for low temperature cooking comprising the steps of:

(a) placing at least one food item to be cooked inside a bag according to any of the preceding Claims;

(b) releasably sealing the bag so that the bag is air and liquid impermeable when sealed;

(c) placing the sealed bag in an amount of boiling water sufficient to partially submerge the bag;

(d) leaving the bag in the water for a period of time sufficient to cook the food item that was placed in the bag; and

(e) removing the bag from the water.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the bag is comprised of a composite film material provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive protected from inadvertent adherence and the step of releasably sealing the bag comprises creating a seal perimeter by pressing the film at a desired location.

18. A method for low temperature cooking comprising the steps of:

(a) forming the bag of either of claims 5 or 6 by placing the first sheet of film material atop a body of a container that has a fitted lid with sufficient length of the film extending in all directions past the body of the container;

(b) placing at least one food item to be cooked directly on the first film sheet in the location of the container body;

(c) superimposing the second film sheet directly over the first film sheet such that the superimposed free edges are created;

(d) creating the seal perimeter by fitting the lid of the container to the body of the container wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive is activated, the at least one food item being located in the interior of the bag;

(e) placing the sealed bag in an amount of boiling water sufficient to partially submerge the bag;

(f) leaving the bag in the water for a period of time sufficient to cook the food item that was placed in the bag; and

(g) removing the bag from the water.

19. A method for low temperature cooking comprising the steps of:

(a) forming the bag of either of claims 7 or 13 by placing the first portion of the sheet of film material atop a body of a container that has a fitted lid with sufficient length of the film extending in all directions past the body of the container;

(b) placing at least one food item to be cooked directly on the first portion in the location of the container body;

(c) superimposing the second portion of the film sheet directly over the first portion such that the superimposed free edges are created;

(d) creating the seal perimeter by fitting the lid of the container to the body of the container wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive is activated, the at least one food item being located in the interior of the bag;

(e) placing the sealed bag in an amount of boiling water sufficient to partially submerge the bag;

(f) leaving the bag in the water for a period of time sufficient to cook the food item that was placed in the bag; and

(g) removing the bag from the water.

20. A method of microwave cooking comprising:

(a) placing at least one food item to be cooked inside a bag according to any of claims 1-15 and keeping the inside of the bag substantially free of oils;

(b) releasably sealing the bag so that the bag is air and liquid impermeable when sealed;

(c) placing the sealed bag in a microwave oven; and

(d) heating the oven for a period of time sufficient to cook the food item that was placed in the bag.

21. A method of preparing a marinated food comprising:

(a) placing at least one food item and at least one flavorant inside a bag according to any of claims 1-15;

(b) releasably sealing the bag so that the bag is air and liquid impermeable when sealed; and

(c) placing the sealed bag in a refrigerator for a period of time sufficient to marinate the food item that was placed in the bag.