Self-leak indicating package

Claim 2

A PACKAGE FOR PERISHABLE FOOD PRODUCTS COMPRISING A SEMI-RIGID PLASTIC CUP OF OXYGEN-BARRIER MATERIAL HAVING MARGINAL FLANGES AND CONTAINING A FOOD PRODUCT FILLING ONLY A PORTION OF THE CUP VOLUME BELOW SAID FLANGES: A THIN FLEXIBLE FILM OF OXYGEN-BARRIER MATERIAL PEELABLY SEALED TO SAID FLANGES AND STRETCHED DOWN INTO SAID CUP ALONG THE SIDE SURFACES THEREOF, THE INTERIOR PORTIONS OF SAID FLEXIBLE FILM SERVING TO ENGAGE AND PRESS AGAINST THE FOOD PRODUCTS TIGHTLY ACROSS THE FULL UPPER SURFACE THEREOF, THE INTERIOR OF THE CUP BEING EVACUATED SO THAT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AGAINST THE FLEXIBLE FILM FORCES THE FOOD PRODUCTS AGAINST THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE CUP, AN A SEMI-RIGID PLASTIC COVER OF NON-OXYGEN-BARRIER MATERIAL COMPRISING OUTER FLANGES AND A RESESSED CENTRAL SECTION TELESCOPED INTO THE CUP, THE OUTER SIDE WALLS OF SAID CENTRAL SECTION BEING TIGHTLY ENGAGED IN A FRICTION-FIT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID FLEXIBLE FILM WHERE IT IS STRETCHED INTO THE CUP DOWN TOWARDS THE PRODUCT, SAID CENTRAL SECTION BEING SPACED A MODERATE DISTANCE FROM SAID FLEXIBLE FILM, THE LATERAL DIMENSION OF SAID RECESSED CENTRAL SECTION BEING SUFFICIENTLY LARGE TO PROVIDE A TIGHT FIT WITHIN SAID CUP AFTER (1) THE COVER HAS BEEN REMOVED, (2) THE FLEXIBLE FILM REMOVED, AND THEN (3) THE COVER HAS BEEN REPLACED FOLLOWING REMOVAL OF A PORTION OF THE PRODUCT. SAID RECESSED CENTRAL SECTION AND SAID SEMI-RIGID CUP BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO PROVIDE INTER-ENGAGEABLE MEANS COOPERATIVELY OPERABLE AFTER THE COVER HAS BEEN REINSERTED WITH THE FLEXIBLE FILM REMOVED FROM THE REGION ADJACENT THE SIDE SURFACES OF SAID CUP TO PROVIDE A GRIPPING FIT EFFECTING RETENTION OF THE COVER AFTER SAID REMOVAL OF SAID FLEXIBLE FILMS. SAID PLASTIC COVER EXTENDING OVER THE ENTIRE OPENING OF SAID PLASTIC CUP, AND COOPERATING WITH SAID SEMI-RIGID PLASTIC CUP IN PROVIDING PHYSICAL PROTECTION FOR THE CONTAINED PRODUCT WHILE SAID FLEXIBLE FILM AND SAID PLASTIC CUP COOPERATE TO SEALINGLY ISOLATE SAID PRODUCT FROM OUTSIDE ATM

Claim 3

A package as in claim 1, wherein said interengageable means comprises an outwardly extending lip on the interior surface of said recessed central portion and a cooperating inwardly extending ridge on the inner wall surface of said semi-rigid cup, said lip being located interiorly of said ridge when said cover is in place in said cup so as to provide engagement there between to retain said cover positively in position.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3, wherein said product has an undulating surface facing towards said cup-bottom surfaces; and forming said cup-bottom surfaces with undulations matching said product undulations, whereby to ensure that said product engages said cup-bottom surfaces throughout the entire area thereof.

Claim 7

The method of claim 3, wherein said semi-rigid cover is formed with a recessed section telescoped into the opening of said container and having side walls which are pressed outwardly against, and in friction-tight engagement with, the inner side wall surfaces of said container.

Claim 8

A package for perishable food products comprising a semi-rigid plastic cup of oxygen-barrier material having marginal flanges around the opening thereof and containing a product the upper surfaces of which are at least predominately below said flanges; a thin flexible film of oxygen-barrier material sealed to said flanges and stretched down into said cup along the side surfaces thereof, the interior portions of said flexible film serving to engage and press against the upper surface of said product, the interior of the cup being evacuated so that atmospheric pressure against the flexible film forces the product against the bottom surface of the cup; and a semi-rigiD plastic cover comprising outer flanges matched with the flanges of said cup and having a recessed central section having outer side walls extending down into the cup; said outer side walls of said central section being engaged in a friction-fit with the inner surface of said flexible film where it is stretched into the cup down towards the product, said central section being dimensioned so as to be located above the upper surfaces of said product and its engaging film for the range of product depths to be encountered; the lateral dimensions of said recessed central section being sufficiently large to provide a close fit within said cup after (1) the cover has been removed, (2) the flexible film has been removed, and then (3) the cover has been replaced following removal of a portion of the product; said recessed central section and said semi-rigid cup being constructed and arranged to provide inter-engageable means cooperatively operable after the cover has been reinserted to effect retention of the cover after said removal of said flexible film; said plastic cover extending over the entire opening of said plastic cup to cooperate with said semi-rigid plastic cup in providing physical protection for the contained product while said flexible film and said plastic cup cooperate to sealingly isolate said product from outside atmosphere.

Claim 9

A package for perishable food products comprising a semi-rigid plastic cup of oxygen-barrier material having marginal flanges around the opening thereof and containing a product the upper surfaces of which are at least predominately below said flanges; a thin flexible film of oxygen-barrier material sealed to said flanges and stretched down into said cup along the side surfaces thereof, the interior portions of said flexible film serving to engage and press against the upper surface of said product, the interior of the cup being evacuated so that atmospheric pressure against the flexible film forces the product against the bottom surface of the cup; and a semi-rigiD plastic cover comprising outer flanges matched with the flanges of said cup and having a recessed central section having outer side walls extending down into the cup; said outer side walls of said central section being engaged in a friction-fit with the inner surface of said flexible film where it is stretched into the cup down towards the product, said central section being dimensioned so as to be located above the upper surfaces of said product and its engaging film for the range of product depths to be encountered; the lateral dimensions of said recessed central section being sufficiently large to provide a close fit within said cup after (1) the cover has been removed, (2) the flexible film has been removed, and then (3) the cover has been replaced following removal of a portion of the product; said recessed central section and said semi-rigid cup being constructed and arranged to provide inter-engageable means cooperatively operable after the cover has been reinserted to effect retention of the cover after said removal of said flexible film; said plastic cover extending over the entire opening of said plastic cup to cooperate with said semi-rigid plastic cup in providing physical protection for the contained product while said flexible film and said plastic cup cooperate to sealingly isolate said product from outside atmosphere.

Claim 10

A package as claimed in claim 6, wherein said interengageable means comprises a detent arrangement with mating components on said cover and said cup respectively.