Highly absorbent open cell polymer foam and food package comprised thereof

• US 7,175,021 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dolco, LLC (ASP TPI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Commodore Machine Co. Inc. (ASP TPI Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Colombo, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSON, JERROLD D
• Application Number:
  US10/744,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20040195115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 206/204, 206/205, 206/213.1, 206/557, 206/564, 229/406, 229/407, 426/124, 426/129, 428/36.5
• US Class Current: 206/204
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/004 with auxiliary packaging elements, e.g. protective pads or frames, trays
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/003 Articles enclosed in rigid or semi-rigid containers, the whole being wrapped
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/264 for absorbing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/268 the absorber being enclosed in a small pack, e.g. bag, included in the package
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1376 Foam or porous material containing

Abstract

A highly absorptive open cell foam having a ratio of cell size to pore size of between about 1 and about 10. A juice absorbing food package comprising a tray having a bottom bounded by an upwardly extending lip around the perimeter of the bottom and a liquid-absorbing pad comprised of polymer foam joined to the bottom of said tray, wherein the polymer foam is a highly absorptive open cell foam having a ratio of cell size to pore size of between about 1 and about 10. The tray of the juice-absorbing package may be overwrapped with gas permeable film, and may be provided with an oxygen absorbing substance therein. Alternatively, the overwrapped tray may be placed in a sealed barrier bag that is subsequently purged with a non-oxidizing gas such as carbon dioxide.

Claims

1. A highly absorptive open cell polymer foam, wherein:

(a) said polymer foam is of between 50 to about 90 percent open cells;

(b) said polymer foam has an average cell diameter of between about 1 and about 10 thousandths of an inch;

(c) said polymer foam has a ratio of cell size to pore size of about 1 to about 10;

(d) said polymer foam has a density of between 1 and about 20 pounds per cubic foot; and

(e) said polymer foam has a contact angle when placed with water of about 0 to 70 degrees.

2. The open cell polymer foam as recited in claim 1, wherein said polymer foam absorbs liquid in an amount greater than about 30% of the available void volume within said polymer foam.

3. The open cell polymer foam as recited in claim 1, wherein said polymer foam has a thickness of between about 25 and about 350 thousandths of an inch.

4. The open cell polymer foam as recited in claim 1, wherein said polymer foam is comprised of between about 80 to about 90 percent open cells.

5. The open cell polymer foam as recited in claim 1, wherein said polymer foam has a ratio of cell size to pore size of about 1 to about 6.

6. The open cell polymer foam as recited in claim 5, wherein said polymer foam has a ratio of cell size to pore size of about 1 to about 4.

7. The open cell polymer foam as recited in claim 6, wherein said polymer foam is comprised of between about 80 to about 90 percent open cells.

8. The open cell polymer foam as recited in claim 1, wherein said polymer foam comprises between about 0.5 and about 15 weight percent of surfactant.

9. A food package comprising a tray having a bottom bounded by an upwardly extending lip around the perimeter of said bottom and a liquid-absorbing pad comprised of polymer foam joined to said bottom of said tray, wherein:

(a) said polymer foam is comprised of between 50 to about 90 percent open cells;

(b) said polymer foam has an average cell diameter of between about 1 and about 10 thousandths of an inch;

(c) said polymer foam has a ratio of cell size to pore size of about 1 to about 10;

(d) said polymer foam has a density of between 1 and about 20 pounds per cubic foot; and

(e) said polymer foam has a contact angle when placed with water of about 0 to 70 degrees.

10. The food package as recited in claim 9, wherein said polymer foam absorbs liquid in an amount greater than about 30% of the available void volume within said polymer foam.

11. The food package as recited in claim 9, wherein said polymer foam has a thickness of between about 25 and about 350 thousandths of an inch.

12. The food package as recited in claim 9, wherein said polymer foam is comprised of between about 80 to about 90 percent open cells.

13. The food package as recited in claim 9, wherein said polymer foam has a ratio of cell size to pore size of about 1 to about 6.

14. The food package as recited in claim 13, wherein said polymer foam has a ratio of cell size to pore size of about 1 to about 4.

15. The food package as recited in claim 14, wherein said polymer foam is comprised of between about 80 to about 90 percent open cells.

16. The food package as recited in claim 9, wherein said tray is comprised of at least 50 weight percent of polymer.

17. The food package as recited in claim 16, wherein said tray further comprises a step disposed around said perimeter of said bottom and wherein said step and said bottom form a countersunk volume within said tray.

18. The food package as recited in claim 9, wherein said tray is comprised of a gas permeable polymer resin.

19. The food package as recited in claim 9, wherein said tray is comprised of a gas impermeable polymer resin.

20. The food package as recited in claim 9 wherein said liquid absorbing pad is joined to said bottom of said tray with adhesive.

21. The food package as recited in claim 9 wherein said liquid absorbing pad is laminated to said bottom of said tray.