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Package for storing, shipping, preparing and dispensing a meal

Package for storing, shipping, preparing and dispensing a meal description/claims

The present invention relates to a food packaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel package having sufficient structural integrity for storing, shipping, preparing and dispensing a prepared meal.

In the past, prepared meals have commonly been packaged in containers constructed from aluminum foil and/or thin aluminum sheets. One example of such a container is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,937, which discloses a package for storing and heating a prepared meal, where the package is constructed from aluminum foil laminated to a polyester film. Another example is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,919, which discloses a pouch constructed from an aluminum/polyester laminate for storing and cooking a meal. Although such packages are simple and suitable for both storing and preparing a meal in a single package, they have several limitations. For example, the materials used in the construction of these packages have poor structural rigidity resulting in a package that is susceptible to ruptures and punctures. Further, the packaging materials' lack of structural integrity limits the total weight of the meal that may be stored, prepared and dispensed. Moreover, the lack of structural integrity renders packaging susceptible to crushing making such packaged meals poorly suited for storage and shipping.

Attempting to overcome this limitation, and improve the structural integrity of packaged meals and to facilitate the serving of larger portions, several prior art containers have been constructed from multi-layered materials. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,951,765 discloses a container formed from a laminate having an inner layer of high wet-strength paper between two layers of aluminum foil. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,924,013 discloses a food container made from paperboard laminate that may be heated to about 400° F. Although these containers have improved structural integrity as a result of the incorporation of various cellulose based materials they are poorly suited for cooking the contents of the container using a direct flame, such as a barbeque.

Food packaging materials that can be heated by a direct contact with fire are also known in the art. For example, packaging materials composed of a press-molded aluminum foil container and an aluminum foil lid covering the container have broadly been used as such packaging material that may be heated by direct contact with fire. However, packages of this type are often difficult to seal tightly and are consequently poorly adapted for the storage of prepared foods.

Several packages having improved sealing characteristics, which may also be exposed to an open flame, have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,469,998 and 3,554,770 disclose a food-packaging material comprising a metal foil, the inner surface of which is coated with a polyvinyl chloride resin and the outer surface of which is coated with a heat-resistant resin such as an epoxy resin. Although these packages may be sealed and may be exposed to a flame, such packages are still insufficient because the heat resistant resin tends to impart unwanted flavors to the enclosed meal upon heating.

Despite the many types of food containers in the prior art there remains a need for a package suitable for storing, shipping, preparing and dispensing a meal, wherein the package has sufficient structural integrity to withstand each of the procedures and particularly sufficient structural integrity for storing, shipping, preparing and dispensing a meal weighing at least about one pound. Further, there is a need in the art for a prepared meal package having the foregoing characteristics as well as the ability to be heated over an open flame, while at the same time comprising a flavoring agent that is released into the meal during preparation, thereby contributing to the taste of the final meal.

The package of the present invention solves the problems of the prior art by providing a package that is useful for storing, shipping, preparing and dispensing a meal. The package is constructed such that it has structural integrity sufficient to withstand each of these procedures and in particular is constructed to withstand shipping. Moreover, the package of the present invention comprises a flavoring agent that is released into the meal during preparation, thereby contributing to the taste of the final meal.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a package for storing, shipping, preparing and dispensing a meal comprising an outer flavoring pouch having an inner space, a tray disposed within the inner space of the flavoring pouch and a meal disposed within the tray. In one embodiment the outer flavoring pouch comprises a top, a bottom and at least one sidewall, wherein the bottom wall comprises a first and second layer and a flavoring agent disposed between the first and second layers. In a preferred embodiment the top, bottom and sidewall are constructed from the same material and more preferably are constructed from a heat conductive material selected from the group consisting of aluminum and copper.

In other embodiments the present invention provides for a pouch formed from two opposed sheets, wherein at least one of the sheets comprises a first and second layer and a flavoring agent disposed between the first and second layers, the pouch being sealed along its outer perimeter to form an inner space. In another embodiment the pouch is formed from a tube having one or more transverse seals to form an inner space. In still other embodiments the pouch may be formed from single sheet of material, by folding a strip of the material in half and sealing the ends to form a tube, and then securing one end of the tube to form a pouch.

In another aspect the present invention provides a package for storing, shipping, heating and dispensing a meal comprising a pouch comprising at least two opposed sheets, each sheet comprising a first and second layer, and a flavoring agent disposed between the first and second layers, the sheets being sealed together along the outer edges thereof to form a pouch having an inner space, a tray disposed within the inner space, and a meal disposed within the tray.

In one embodiment the meal, which is disposed within the tray, comprises a protein, a vegetable and a sauce. In a preferred embodiment the protein is selected from the group consisting of a meat, a fish and a shellfish, and more preferably the protein is a shellfish selected from the group consisting of a mollusk, a crustacean, and an echinoderm. In other embodiments the meal may comprise more than one protein and more preferably at least two proteins, wherein one of the proteins is a mollusk selected from the group consisting of a clam, a mussel, an oyster, and a scallop and the other protein is a crustacean selected from the group consisting of a shrimp, a prawn, a lobster, a crayfish, and a crab. In another embodiment the meal comprises more than two proteins, and more preferably at least four proteins, wherein each protein is a shellfish selected from the group consisting of a mollusk, a crustacean, and an echinoderm.

In still other aspects the present invention provides for a method of shipping a prepared meal, the method comprising the steps of forming a pouch having an inner space, the pouch comprising a first and a second sheet, the first sheet having a first and second layer, and a flavoring agent disposed between the first and second layers, disposing a meal within a tray, disposing the tray containing the meal within the inner space of the pouch, sealing the pouch and shipping the pouch containing the tray and the meal.

FIG. 1 illustrates a package for storing, shipping, preparing and dispensing a meal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flavoring pouch according to one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flavoring pouch according to another aspect of the present invention.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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