Water absorbing article and method of using the same

• US 6,015,582 A
• Filed: 05/20/1998
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Showa Denko KK
• Original Assignee: Showa Denko KK
• Inventors: Banba, Takeshi, Kogure, Eikichi, Kageyama, Yohei
• Primary Examiner(s): CANO, MILTON I
• Application Number:
  US09/081,614
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 426/106, 426/124, 426/129, 426/132, 426/392, 426/410, 206/204, 604/378, 604/381, 604/382
• US Class Current: 426/392
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/264 for absorbing liquids

Abstract

A water absorbing article and method of using the same are provided in order to remove drip accumulated at the interface of a food and an water absorbing article and to prevent foods from quality degradation. The water absorbing article comprises a water absorbing sheet comprising at least three layers; a liquid permeable layer made of paper or pulp, a water absorbing layer made of paper or pulp containing water absorbing particles, and a liquid-in permeable layer inserted in between the liquid permeable layer and the water absorbing layer, and the water absorbing sheet is inserted in a bag made of a liquid permeable sheet. The object is attained by placing a food on a liquid permeable layer of the thus-formed water absorbing article and subsequently the whole is vacuum packed. Furthermore, it was also advantageous to prepare a water absorbing article which is prepared by sealing a water absorbing sheet, both surfaces of which have different water absorbing capacities and to apply a method of placing the food on a surface with low water absorbing capacity and vacuum packaging the whole.

Claims

1. A water absorbing article for absorbing drip exuded from food, comprising:

a water absorbing sheet comprising at least three layers comprising a liquid permeable layer formed by paper or pulp, a water absorbing layer formed by paper or pulp containing scattered particles of a water absorbing agent, and a liquid impermeable layer placed between said liquid permeable layer and said water absorbing layer;

wherein said water absorbing sheet is placed in a bag formed by a liquid permeable sheet.

2. A water absorbing article according to claim 1, wherein said liquid permeable sheet is formed by paper, an unwoven cloth, or a perforated film.

3. A method of using a water absorbing article for absorbing drip exuded from food said method comprising the steps of:

placing a food on a liquid permeable layer side of the water absorbing article of claim 1; and

vacuum packing the food and the water absorbing article, with an air impermeable sheet.

4. A water absorbing article for absorbing drip exuded from food comprising:

a sealed laminate comprising first and second outer layers each made of a liquid permeable sheet, and a partition layer made of a liquid impermeable sheet and inserted between said first and second outer layers; and

a sheet made of paper or pulp inserted between said partition layer and the first outer layer, and a sheet made of paper or pulp containing particles of a water absorbing agent inserted between said partition layer and the second outer layer.

5. A water absorbing article according to claim 4, wherein said liquid permeable sheet is formed by a material selected from a group consisting of paper, unwoven cloth, a perforated film.

6. A method of using a water absorbing article for absorbing drip exuded from food said method comprising the steps of:

contacting a food with a side of the water absorbing article of claim 4 containing the sheet made of paper or pulp; and

subsequently

vacuum packing the food and the water absorbing article.

7. A water absorbing article for absorbing drip exuded from food comprising:

first and second outer layers made of liquid permeable sheets; and

a water absorbing sheet placed between said first and second outer layers, comprising a partially coated layer and a liquid absorbing layer containing water absorbing particles, a surface of one of the livers the water absorbing sheet having a water absorbing capacity different from the other;

wherein said first and second outer layers are sealed at a periphery thereof.

8. A water absorbing article according to claim 7, wherein said liquid permeable sheet is formed by a material selected from a group consisting of paper, an unwoven cloth, and a perforated film.

9. A method of using a water absorbing article for absorbing drip exuded from food the method comprising the steps of:

placing a food on a surface of the water absorbing article of claim 7 having the lower water absorbing capacity; and

vacuum packing the food and the water absorbing article.