Vacuum or modified atmosphere package for foods which tend to release liquids and/or gases
First Claim
1. A vacuum or modified atmosphere package for food products which are susceptible to release liquids and/or gases, said package comprising:
- a tray made of plastic material, having a bottom, and having sidewalls terminating with a jutting edge, the tray comprising at least two layers, of which a layer facing inward of the tray consists of a sheet of a substantially open-cell expanded thermoplastic material having holes or slots on at least part of its upper surface, and a lower layer facing outward of said tray consists of a gas-barrier composite film;
the tray further having a peripheral frame made of plastic material and having barrier properties with respect to the diffusion of gases, the peripheral frame being coupled to the tray edge all around the perimeter thereof and having substantially listel-like sides with an angular cross-section comprising two flanges of which a first flange juts out as a prolongation of the tray edge and a second flange engages the tray edge from beneath;
a food product susceptible of releasing liquids and/or gases placed onto the bottom of said tray; and
a cover for said tray consisting of a gas-barrier composite film which adheres onto the first flange of the peripheral frame and, optionally, onto the tray edge so as to maintain a vacuum or a modified atmosphere within the package.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum or modified atmosphere package for food products which are susceptible to release liquids and/or gases. The package has 1) a tray made of plastic material, having a bottom and sidewalls terminating with a jutting edge. The tray includes at least two layers, of which an inward-facing layer is a sheet of a substantially open-cell expanded thermoplastic material having holes or slots on at least part of its upper surface, and a lower outward-facing layer of a gas-barrier composite film. The tray further has a peripheral frame made of plastic material and having barrier properties with respect to the diffusion of gases, the peripheral frame coupled to the tray edge all around the perimeter thereof and having substantially listel-like sides with an angular cross-section comprising two flanges of which a first flange juts out as a prolongation of the tray edge and a second flange engages the tray edge from beneath. The package also has 2) a food product susceptible of releasing liquids and/or gases placed onto the bottom of the tray, and 3) a cover for the tray consisting of a gas-barrier composite film which adheres onto the first flange of the peripheral frame and, optionally, onto the tray edge so as to maintain a vacuum or a modified atmosphere within the package.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A vacuum or modified atmosphere package for food products which are susceptible to release liquids and/or gases, said package comprising:
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a tray made of plastic material, having a bottom, and having sidewalls terminating with a jutting edge, the tray comprising at least two layers, of which a layer facing inward of the tray consists of a sheet of a substantially open-cell expanded thermoplastic material having holes or slots on at least part of its upper surface, and a lower layer facing outward of said tray consists of a gas-barrier composite film;
the tray further having a peripheral frame made of plastic material and having barrier properties with respect to the diffusion of gases, the peripheral frame being coupled to the tray edge all around the perimeter thereof and having substantially listel-like sides with an angular cross-section comprising two flanges of which a first flange juts out as a prolongation of the tray edge and a second flange engages the tray edge from beneath;
a food product susceptible of releasing liquids and/or gases placed onto the bottom of said tray; and
a cover for said tray consisting of a gas-barrier composite film which adheres onto the first flange of the peripheral frame and, optionally, onto the tray edge so as to maintain a vacuum or a modified atmosphere within the package. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A vacuum or modified atmosphere package for food products which are susceptible to release liquids and/or gases, said package comprising:
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a tray made of plastics material, having a bottom, and having sidewalls terminating with a jutting edge, the tray comprising at least two layers, of which a layer facing inward of the tray consists of a sheet of a substantially open-cells expanded thermoplastic material having holes or slots on at least part of its upper surface, and a lower layer facing outward of said tray consists of a composite film having barrier properties with respect to the diffusion of gases;
the outward facing lower layer being engaged with the inward facing layer along all its lower surface and terminating with a portion jutting out of the tray edge as a prolongation thereof,a food product susceptible of releasing liquids and/or gases placed onto the bottom of said tray; and
a cover for said tray consisting of a gas-barrier composite film which adheres onto said portion jutting out of the tray edge and, optionally, onto the tray edge so as to maintain a vacuum or a modified atmosphere within the package. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A tray for use in a vacuum or modified atmosphere package for food products which are susceptible to release liquids and/or gases, the tray being made of plastic material, having a bottom, and sidewalls terminating with a jutting edge, the package comprising the tray and a cover for the tray consisting of a gas-barrier composite film, the tray comprising:
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at least two layers, of which a layer facing inward of the tray consists of a sheet of a substantially open-cells expanded thermoplastic material having holes or slots on at least part of its upper surface, and a lower layer facing outward of said tray consists of a gas-barrier composite film;
a peripheral frame made of plastic material and having barrier properties with respect to the diffusion of gases, the peripheral frame being coupled to the tray edge all around the perimeter thereof and having substantially listel-like sides with an angular cross-section comprising two flanges of which a first flange juts out as a prolongation of the tray edge and a second flange engages the tray edge from beneath, wherein the cover can adhere onto the first flange of-the peripheral frame and, optionally, onto the tray edge so as to maintain a vacuum or a modified atmosphere within the package. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A tray for use in a vacuum or modified atmosphere package for food products which are susceptible to release liquids and/or gases, said tray made of plastics material and having a bottom and sidewalls terminating with a jutting edge and comprising:
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at least two layers, of which a layer facing inward of the tray consists of a sheet of a substantially open-cell expanded thermoplastic material having holes or slots on at least part of its upper surface, and a lower layer facing outward of said tray consists of a composite film having barrier properties with respect to the diffusion of gases;
the outward facing lower layer being engaged with the inward facing layer along all its lower surface and terminating with a portion jutting out of the tray edge as a prolongation thereof. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A method of making a tray for use in a vacuum or modified atmosphere package for food products which are susceptible to release liquids and/or gases, the tray being made of plastic material, having a bottom, and sidewalls terminating with a jutting edge, the package comprising the tray and a cover for the tray consisting of a gas-barrier composite film, the tray comprising:
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at least two layers, of which a layer facing inward of the tray consists of a sheet of a substantially open-cells expanded thermoplastic material having holes or slots on at least part of its upper surface, and a lower layer facing outward of said tray consists of a gas-barrier composite film; and
a peripheral frame made of plastic material and having barrier properties with respect to the diffusion of gases, the peripheral frame being coupled to the tray edge all around the perimeter thereof and having substantially listel-like sides with an angular cross-section comprising two flanges of which a first flange juts out as a prolongation of the tray edge and a second flange engages the tray edge from beneath, the method comprising the steps of;
providing a sheet of expanded thermoplastic material with substantially open cells optionally containing at least one surfactant;
coupling a gas-barrier composite film onto a surface of said sheet of expanded thermoplastic material;
making a series of holes or slots in said sheet of expanded thermoplastic material in correspondence of at least part of its uncoupled surface, said holes or slots extending into at least part of the thickness of said sheet of expanded thermoplastic material, obtaining a perforated composite sheet;
forming the perforated composite sheet in such a way as to obtain a semi-finished tray having a bottom and side walls terminating in an edge and wherein said gas-barrier composite film defines the lower layer of said semi-finished tray;
providing a peripheral frame of a plastic material having barrier properties with respect to the gas-diffusion for bonding to the edge of said semi-finished tray, the peripheral frame having substantially listel-like sides with an angular cross-section including two flanges; and
coupling the peripheral frame to the edge of said semi-finished tray such that one of said flanges juts out from the edge as a prolongation thereof, and the other engages the edge from beneath, thereby obtaining said tray. - View Dependent Claims (30, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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31. A method of making a tray for use in a vacuum or modified atmosphere package for food products which are susceptible to release liquids and/or gases, the tray being made of plastic material, having a bottom, and sidewalls terminating with a jutting edge, the package comprising the tray and a cover for the tray consisting of a gas-barrier composite film, the tray comprising:
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at least two layers, of which a layer facing inward of the tray consists of a sheet of a substantially open-cells expanded thermoplastic material having holes or slots on at least part of its upper surface, and a lower layer facing outward of said tray consists of a gas-barrier composite film;
a layer overlying said inward-facing layer and consisting of a unexpanded plastic material film or sheet or of a gas-barrier composite film having holes or slots on at least said bottom; and
a peripheral frame made of plastic material and having barrier properties with respect to the diffusion of gases, the peripheral frame being coupled to the tray edge all around the perimeter thereof and having substantially listel-like sides with an angular cross-section comprising two flanges of which a first flange juts out as a prolongation of the tray edge and a second flange engages the tray edge from beneath, the method comprising the steps of;
providing a sheet of expanded thermoplastic material with substantially open cells optionally containing at least one surfactant;
coupling an unexpanded plastic material film or sheet onto a surface of said sheet of expanded thermoplastic material, thus obtaining a first composite sheet;
making a series of holes or slots in said first composite sheet in correspondence of at least part of the uncoupled surface of said unexpanded film or sheet, said holes or slots extending into at least part of the thickness of said sheet of expanded thermoplastic material, obtaining a first perforated composite sheet;
coupling a gas-barrier composite film made of plastic material onto the first perforated composite sheet in correspondence of the free surface of said sheet of expanded thermoplastic material, thus obtaining a second perforated composite sheet;
forming the second perforated composite sheet in such a way as to obtain a semi-finished tray having a bottom and side walls terminating in an edge and wherein said gas-barrier composite film defines the lower layer of said semi-finished tray;
providing a peripheral frame of a plastic material having barrier properties with respect to the gas-diffusion for bonding to the edge of said semi-finished tray, the peripheral frame having substantially listel-like sides with an angular cross-section including two flanges; and
coupling the peripheral frame to the edge of said semi-finished tray such that one of said flanges juts out from the edge as a prolongation thereof, and the other engages the edge from beneath, thereby obtaining said tray. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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40. A method of making a tray for use in a vacuum or modified atmosphere package for food products which are susceptible to release liquids and/or gases, the tray being made of plastic material, having a bottom, and sidewalls terminating with a jutting edge, the package comprising the tray and a cover for the tray consisting of a gas-barrier composite film, the tray comprising:
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at least two layers, of which a layer facing inward of the tray consists of a sheet of a substantially open-cells expanded thermoplastic material having holes or slots on at least part of its upper surface, and a lower layer facing outward of said tray consists of a gas-barrier composite film;
a peripheral frame made of plastic material and having barrier properties with respect to the diffusion of gases, the peripheral frame being coupled to the tray edge all around the perimeter thereof and having substantially listel-like sides with an angular cross-section comprising two flanges of which a first flange juts out as a prolongation of the tray edge and a second flange engages the tray edge from beneath, wherein the cover can adhere onto the first flange of the peripheral frame and, optionally, onto the tray edge so as to maintain a vacuum or a modified atmosphere within the package, the method comprising the steps of;
providing a sheet of expanded thermoplastic material with substantially open cells optionally containing at least one surfactant;
coupling a gas-barrier composite film onto a surface of said sheet of expanded thermoplastic material;
making a series of holes or slots in said sheet of expanded thermoplastic material in correspondence of at least part of its uncoupled surface, said holes or slots extending into at least part of the thickness of said sheet of expanded thermoplastic material, obtaining a perforated composite sheet;
forming the perforated composite sheet in such a way as to obtain a semi-finished tray having a bottom and side walls terminating in an edge and wherein said gas-barrier composite film defines the lower layer of said semi-finished tray; and
forming a peripheral frame of a plastic material having barrier properties with respect to the gas-diffusion to said semi-finished tray edge, the peripheral frame having substantially listel-like sides with an angular cross-section including two flanges of which one of said flanges juts out from the edge as a prolongation thereof, and the other engages the edge from beneath, thereby obtaining said tray. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A method of making a tray for use in a vacuum or modified atmosphere package for food products which are susceptible to release liquids and/or gases, the tray being made of plastic material, having a bottom, and sidewalls terminating with a jutting edge, the package comprising the tray and a cover for the tray consisting of a gas-barrier composite film, the tray comprising:
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at least two layers, of which a layer facing inward of the tray consists of a sheet of a substantially open-cells expanded thermoplastic material having holes or slots on at least part of its upper surface, and a lower layer facing outward of said tray consists of a gas-barrier composite film;
a layer overlying said inward-facing layer and consisting of a unexpanded plastic material film or sheet or of a gas-barrier composite film having holes or slots on at least said bottom; and
a peripheral frame made of plastic material and having barrier properties with respect to the diffusion of gases, the peripheral frame being coupled to the tray edge all around the perimeter thereof and having substantially listel-like sides with an angular cross-section comprising two flanges of which a first flange juts out as a prolongation of the tray edge and a second flange engages the tray edge from beneath, the method comprising the steps of;
providing a sheet of expanded thermoplastic material with substantially open cells optionally containing at least one surfactant;
coupling an unexpanded plastic material film or sheet onto a surface of said sheet of expanded thermoplastic material, thus obtaining a first composite sheet;
making a series of holes or slots in said first composite sheet in correspondence of at least part of the uncoupled surface of said unexpanded film or sheet, said holes or slots extending into at least part of the thickness of said sheet of expanded thermoplastic material, obtaining a first perforated composite sheet;
coupling a gas-barrier composite film made of plastic material onto the first perforated composite sheet in correspondence of the free surface of said sheet of expanded thermoplastic material, thus obtaining a second perforated composite sheet;
forming the second perforated composite sheet in such a way as to obtain a semi-finished tray having a bottom and side walls terminating in an edge and wherein said gas-barrier composite film defines the lower layer of said semi-finished tray; and
forming a peripheral frame of a plastic material having barrier properties with respect to the gas-diffusion to said semi-finished tray edge, the peripheral frame having substantially listel-like sides with an angular cross-section including two flanges of which one of said flanges juts out from the edge as a prolongation thereof, and the other engages the edge from beneath, thereby obtaining said tray. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of making a tray for use in a vacuum or modified atmosphere package for food products which are susceptible to release liquids and/or gases, said tray made of plastics material and having a bottom and sidewalls terminating with a jutting edge and comprising:
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at least two layers, of which a layer facing inward of the tray consists of a sheet of a substantially open-cell expanded thermoplastic material having holes or slots on at least part of its upper surface, and a lower layer facing outward of said tray consists of a composite film having barrier properties with respect to the diffusion of gases;
the outward facing lower layer being engaged with the inward facing layer along all its lower surface and terminating with a portion jutting out of the tray edge as a prolongation thereof, the method comprising the steps of;
providing a first sheet of expanded thermoplastic material with substantially open cells optionally containing at least one surfactant;
making a series of holes or slots in said first sheet of expanded thermoplastic material in correspondence of at least part of its surface, said holes or slots extending into at least part of the thickness of said first sheet of expanded thermoplastic material, obtaining a first perforated sheet;
forming the first perforated sheet in such a way as to obtain a first semi-finished tray having a bottom and side walls terminating in an edge and wherein the internal surface of said first semi-finished tray has said holes or slots;
providing a second sheet of expanded thermoplastic material;
coupling a gas-barrier composite film onto at least one surface of said second sheet of thermoplastic material, thereby obtaining a composite sheet;
forming the composite sheet to provide a second semi-finished tray terminating with an edge having an angular cross-section with two flanges, and wherein said gas-barrier composite film is facing inward of said second semi-finished tray; and
coupling said second semi-finished tray to the whole underside of said first semi-finished tray such that one of said two flanges engages the edge of said first semi-finished tray from beneath and the other juts out of the edge of said first semi-finished tray as a prolongation of said edge.
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48. A method of making a tray for use in a vacuum or modified atmosphere package for food products which are susceptible to release liquids and/or gases, said tray made of plastics material and having a bottom and sidewalls terminating with a jutting edge and comprising:
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at least two layers, of which a layer facing inward of the tray consists of a sheet of a substantially open-cell expanded thermoplastic material having holes or slots on at least part of its upper surface, and a lower layer facing outward of said tray consists of a composite film having barrier properties with respect to the diffusion of gases;
a layer overlying said inward-facing layer and consisting of an unexpanded plastic material film or sheet or of a gas-barrier composite film having holes or slots on at least said bottom;
the outward facing lower layer being engaged with the inward facing layer along all its lower surface and terminating with a portion jutting out of the tray edge as a prolongation thereof, the method comprising the steps of;
providing a first sheet of expanded thermoplastic material with substantially open cells optionally containing at least one surfactant;
coupling an unexpanded plastic material film or sheet onto a surface of said first sheet of expanded thermoplastic material, thereby obtaining a first composite sheet;
making a series of holes or slots in said first composite sheet in correspondence of at least part of the surface of said unexpanded film or sheet, said holes or slots extending into at least part of the thickness of said first sheet of expanded thermoplastic material, obtaining a first perforated composite sheet;
forming the first perforated composite sheet in such a way as to obtain a first semi-finished tray having a bottom and side walls terminating in an edge and wherein said first sheet of expanded thermoplastic material with substantially open cells defines the lower layer of said first semi-finished tray;
providing a second sheet of expanded thermoplastic material;
coupling a gas-barrier composite film onto at least one surface of said second sheet of thermoplastic material, thereby obtaining a second composite sheet;
forming the second composite sheet to provide a second semi-finished tray terminating with an edge having an angular cross-section with two flanges, and wherein said gas-barrier composite film is facing inward of said second semi-finished tray; and
coupling said second semi-finished tray to the whole underside of said first semi-finished tray such that one of said two flanges engages the edge of said first semi-finished tray from beneath and the other juts out of the edge of said first semi-finished tray as a prolongation of said edge.
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Specification