Food packaging with gas between tensioned film and lid

• US 5,226,531 A
• Filed: 04/27/1992
• Issued: 07/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elonex IP Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Seawell North America Incorporated
• Inventors: Garwood, Anthony J. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US07/873,800
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 206/213.1, 206/497, 53/427, 53/432, 53/433, 53/453, 53/456, 426/106, 426/118, 426/124, 426/129, 426/396, 426/418
• US Class Current: 206/213.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 31/021 the containers or wrappers being interconnected
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 47/02 with means for heating the material prior to forming
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/02 for perforating, scoring , slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging scoring ampoules B65B3/006
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/04 one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material

Abstract

Improved packaging for goods including a base on which goods are placed, and a flexible, gas-permeable web covering the goods, with portions of the web being secured to the base at positions below the top of the goods. The web is in tension and engages and holds the goods to the base, which is relatively rigid compared to the web. A lid is positioned over and sealed to the base and defines a space between the web and the lid. A preservation-enhancing gas is in the space and permeates the web for enhancing preservation of the goods. The goods are retained against said relatively rigid base by the securing of the web to the base at positions below the top of the goods.

Claims

1. Improved packaging for goods, comprising:

a base over which goods are placed;

a flexible gas-permeable web covering said goods, portions of said web being secured to said base at positions below the top of said goods, said web being in tension and engaging and holding said goods to said base, said base being relatively rigid compared to said web;

a lid positioned over said base and said web, said lid being sealed to said base and defining a space between said web and said lid;

a preservation-enhancing gas in said space, said gas permeating said web for enhancing preservation of said goods,

whereby said goods are retained against said relatively rigid base by the securing of said web to said base at said positions below the top of said goods.

2. Packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base has an upper peripheral lip and a lower lip intermediate said upper lip and a bottom of said base, and wherein said web is bonded to said lower lip.

3. Packaging as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bonding is not continuous around said lower lip whereby to define opening means through which gas in said packaging can pass to allow gas above said web to circulate and contact the surface of the meat or other goods under said web.

4. Packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base comprises a horizontal bottom wall, a generally vertical lower side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and terminating approximately intermediate said bottom wall and said lid, a lower lip extending upwardly and outwardly from a top portion of said lower side wall, an upper side wall extending generally vertically upwardly from said lower lip, and an upper lip extending laterally outwardly from a top portion of said upper side wall, the generally vertically intermediate positioning of said lower lip permitting said base to be filled to a level between said lower lip and said upper lip, and said web to be tensioned around said goods thereby creating compressive forces in said goods.

5. Improved packaging for goods, comprising:

a base over which goods are placed;

a flexible web covering said goods, portions of said web being secured to said base at positions below the top of said goods, said web being in tension and engaging and holding said goods to said base;

said base being relatively rigid compared to said web and said goods being engaged against the relatively rigid base;

a lid positioned over said base and said web, said lid being sealed to said base and defining a space between said web and said lid; and

a preservation-enhancing gas in said space, said gas being at a pressure higher than the pressure under said web to hold said goods to said base, whereby said goods are retained against said base both by the pressure differential and by the securing of said web to said base at said positions below the top of said goods.

6. Packaging as claimed in claim 5 wherein said flexible web is gas-permeable.

7. Packaging as claimed in claim 5, wherein said base comprises a horizontal bottom wall, a generally vertical lower side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and terminating approximately intermediate said bottom wall and said lid, a lower lip extending upwardly and outwardly from a top portion of said lower side wall, an upper side wall extending generally vertically upwardly from said lower lip, and an upper lip extending laterally outwardly from a top portion of said upper side wall, the generally vertically intermediate positioning of said lower lip permitting said base to be filled to a level between said lower lip and said upper lip, and said web to be tensioned around said goods thereby creating compressive forces in said goods.