US4534984A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Puncture-resistant bag and method for vacuum packaging bone-in meat
Assignee: WR Grace and Co
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Filing: 1983-08-16
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Granted: 1985-08-13
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Expires: 2003-08-16
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed to an improved open-ended flexible plastic container which is adapted to package a meat article having protruding bone sections. In particular, the container comprises a flexible bag preferrably formed from an oriented, i.e. heat shrinkable, and heat sealable plastic material. Since the bag material is susceptible to puncture by bone sections which may protrude from a meat article, one face of at least one side of the bag is provided with a sheet of material which is more resistant to bone puncture than the bag material. The sheet may be adhered on an interior or exterior face of the side of the bag, as desired. The puncture resistant sheet is located on and adhered to the bag in such a manner that it can be aligned with and overlie the protruding bone sections upon insertion of the meat article into the bag. Preferably the sheet of puncture resistant material is smaller in size than the face of the side of the bag to which the sheet is adhered. Additionally, the puncture resistant sheet is provided with at least one line of weakness which allows the puncture resistant sheet to maintain its original alignment with the protruding bone sections of the meat article during a vacuum packaging process.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard O. Kuehne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:36
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D33/00; B65D33/02; B65B; B65B31/00; B65B31/02; B65B31/024; B65D2275/00; B65D2275/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
An open ended flexible plastic container adapted to package a meat article having protruding bone sections, comprising; a plastic bag comprising two sides and a closed end, said sides defining an opening into the interior of said bag opposite said closed end; and a sheet of a material more puncture resistant than said plastic, one face of said sheet being adhered to one of said sides, said bag being a "lay flat" bag after the sheet of puncture resistant material has been applied thereto; and wherein the surface area of said face is less than the surface area of the side to which said face is adhered, said sheet being located on and adhered to said bag such that it can be aligned with and overlie the protruding bone sections upon insertion of said meat article into said bag, and said sheet is provided with at least one line of weakness along which a fold can be initiated to cause the puncture resistant material to drape and fold readily over said protruding bone sections when a meat article is placed in said bag said line of weakness being sufficient to allow said sheet to maintain its original alignment with the protruding bone sections of said meat article during vacuum packaging.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
An open ended flexible plastic container adapted to package a meat article having protruding bone sections, comprising; a plastic bag comprising two sides and a closed end, said sides defining an opening into the interior of said bag opposite said closed end; and a sheet of a material more puncture resistant than said plastic, one face of said sheet being adhered to one of said sides, said bag being a "lay flat" bag after the sheet of puncture resistant material has been applied thereto; and wherein the surface area of said face is less than the surface area of the side to which said face is adhered, said sheet being located on and adhered to said bag such that it can be aligned with and overlie the protruding bone sections upon insertion of said meat article into said bag, and said sheet is provided with at least one line of weakness along which a fold can be initiated to cause the puncture resistant material to drape and fold readily over said protruding bone sections when a meat article is placed in said bag said line of weakness being sufficient to allow said sheet to maintain its original alignment with the protruding bone sections of said meat article during vacuum packaging.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said plastic bag is formed from a multi-layer plastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The container of claim 2, wherein said multi-layer plastic material comprises a first outer surface layer comprising an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer; a second interior oxygen barrier layer comprising a copolymer of vinylidene chloride and vinyl chloride; and a third inner surface layer comprising a cross-linked ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The container of claim 2, wherein said multi-layer plastic material consists essentially of a first outer surface layer comprising an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer; a second interior oxygen barrier layer comprising a copolymer of vinylidene chloride and vinyl chloride; and a third inner surface layer comprising a cross-linked ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said sheet is a laminate comprising two or more cross-oriented layers of a high density polyethylene material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The container of claim 5, wherein said sheet has a thickness of from 3.0 mil to 5.0 mil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said sheet is adhered to said side by a pressure sensitive adhesive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The container of claim 7, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive comprises an aqueous acrylic emulsion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said line of weakness comprises a slit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The container of claim 9, wherein said slit runs the entire length of said sheet and divides said sheet into two substantially equal portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The container of claim 9, wherein said slit runs approximately one half the length of said sheet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said line of weakness comprises a serrated line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The container of claim 12, wherein said serrated line runs the entire length of said sheet and divides said sheet into two substantially equal portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The container of claim 12, wherein said serrated line runs approximately one half the length of said sheet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said line of weakness comprises a score line.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The container of claim 15, wherein said score line runs the entire length of said sheet and divides said sheet into two substantially equal portions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The container of claim 15, wherein said score line runs approximately one half the length of said sheet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said line of weakness comprises a fold.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The container of claim 18, wherein said fold runs the entire length of said sheet and divides said sheet into two substantially equal portions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The container of claim 18, wherein said fold runs approximately one half the length of said sheet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The container of claim 1, comprising two or more substantially parallel lines of weakness running the entire length of said sheet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The container of claim 21, wherein said lines of weakness are slits.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The container of claim 22, comprising two lines of weakness which divide said sheet into three substantially equal portions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The container of claim 21, wherein said lines of weakness are serrated lines.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The container of claim 24, comprising two lines of weakness which divide said sheet into three substantially equal portions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The container of claim 21, wherein said lines of weakness are score lines.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The container of claim 26, comprising two lines of weakness which divide said sheet into three substantially equal portions.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The container of claim 21, wherein said lines of weakness are folds.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The container of claim 28 comprising two lines of weakness which divide said sheet into three substantially equal lines of weakness.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
205 words
In the process for vacuum packaging a meat article having a protruding bone section in a plastic bag with a patch of puncture resistant material adhered to at least one face of the bag, said patch being located on and adhered to said bag such that it can be aligned with and overlie the protruding bone sections upon insertion of said meat article into said bag; said process including the steps of placing said article in said plastic bag, evacuating, sealing, and then shrinking the bag around said article, the improvement which comprises: (a) providing at least one line of weakness on the patch, the line being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bag, said line of weakness being sufficient to allow said sheet to maintain its original alignment with the protruding bone sections of said meat article during vacuum packaging; (b) placing the meat article in the bag with the bone protruding section facing the patch whereby the patch will fold along said line and drape around the bone section; and, (c) evacuating the bag whereby the patch, as the bag is drawn against the meat article, drapes and folds around the meat article with the bone section being covered by the patch.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
205 words
In the process for vacuum packaging a meat article having a protruding bone section in a plastic bag with a patch of puncture resistant material adhered to at least one face of the bag, said patch being located on and adhered to said bag such that it can be aligned with and overlie the protruding bone sections upon insertion of said meat article into said bag; said process including the steps of placing said article in said plastic bag, evacuating, sealing, and then shrinking the bag around said article, the improvement which comprises: (a) providing at least one line of weakness on the patch, the line being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bag, said line of weakness being sufficient to allow said sheet to maintain its original alignment with the protruding bone sections of said meat article during vacuum packaging; (b) placing the meat article in the bag with the bone protruding section facing the patch whereby the patch will fold along said line and drape around the bone section; and, (c) evacuating the bag whereby the patch, as the bag is drawn against the meat article, drapes and folds around the meat article with the bone section being covered by the patch.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-08-12 | 1989-02-11 | 1989-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-08-12 | 1993-02-11 | 1993-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-08-12 | 1997-02-11 | 1997-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |