Patent US961180A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4919955A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4919955A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for packaging perishable products
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-06-27
•
Granted: 1990-04-24
•
Expires: 2008-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for packaging perishable products is disclosed, said method and apparatus enabling the alteration of the gaseous environment surrounding a given product. The packaging system can be readily prepared for immediate transport and aging, retail display and consumer freezing. The present system comprises a relatively rigid tray which is sealed with a flexible gas impermeable cover, said tray being provided with a resealable septum valve. The tray is also preferably provided with a plurality of protrusions or mounds so as to facilitate gas flow and contact with a given perishable product. The atmosphere in the packaging system may be modified to inhibit bacterial decay of the product and/or to enhance its appearance. Likewise, the package may be prepared for freezing by drawing a substantial vacuum within the packaging system.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerry L. Mitchell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:21
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B31/00; B65B31/04; B65B31/08; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/18; B65D81/20; G; G01; G01N; G01N30/00; G01N30/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for processing a perishable fresh meat product for controlled aging and subsequent presentation to the consumer, comprising the sequential steps of: positioning the product on a gas impermeable package tray; sealing said product on said tray in a non-inert atmosphere with a gas impermeable cover so as to form a gas tight package; inserting an atmosphere exchange apparatus through a septum valve disposed in the tray removing the non-inert gas from within the package through said valve disposed in said package; filling the interior of the package through said valve with a first gas capable of forming an anaerobic atmosphere in said package; aging said product in the anaerobic atmosphere in said package; removing said first gas from said package though said valve; filing the interior of said package with a second gas conducive to the formation of oxymyoglobin in said meat product; maintaining said meat product in said package in said second gas for at least a time sufficient to product a bloom in said meat product; removing said second gas from the package through said valve; and freezing said product while in said package.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for processing a perishable fresh meat product for controlled aging and subsequent presentation to the consumer, comprising the sequential steps of: positioning the product on a gas impermeable package tray; sealing said product on said tray in a non-inert atmosphere with a gas impermeable cover so as to form a gas tight package; inserting an atmosphere exchange apparatus through a septum valve disposed in the tray removing the non-inert gas from within the package through said valve disposed in said package; filling the interior of the package through said valve with a first gas capable of forming an anaerobic atmosphere in said package; aging said product in the anaerobic atmosphere in said package; removing said first gas from said package though said valve; filing the interior of said package with a second gas conducive to the formation of oxymyoglobin in said meat product; maintaining said meat product in said package in said second gas for at least a time sufficient to product a bloom in said meat product; removing said second gas from the package through said valve; and freezing said product while in said package.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first gas is inert.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the inert gas consists essentially of nitrogen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the inert gas comprises a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the atmosphere conducive to the formation of oxymyoglobin comprises a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the oxygen - carbon dioxide atmosphere is comprised of a ratio of approximately 80% oxygen and 20 % carbon dioxide.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for packaging a perishable fresh meat product for controlled aging and subsequent presentation to the consumer, comprising the sequential steps of: positioning said product on a substantially impermeable package tray while in an anaerobic, inert gas atmosphere; sealing said product on said tray in said anaerobic inert gas atmosphere with a substantially gas impermeable cover so as to form a gas tight package; aging said product in said anaerobic inert gas atmosphere; inserting an atmosphere exchange apparatus through a septum valve disposed in said tray removing said inert gas from said package through said valve; filling through said valve the interior of said package with a second atmosphere conducive to the formation of oxymyoglobin in said meat product; and maintaining said meat product in said package in the second atmosphere for at least a time sufficient to produce a bloom in said product,
Claim 9
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for packaging a perishable fresh meat product for controlled aging and subsequent presentation to the consumer, comprising the sequential steps of: positioning said product on a substantially impermeable package tray while in an anaerobic, inert gas atmosphere; sealing said product on said tray in said anaerobic inert gas atmosphere with a substantially gas impermeable cover so as to form a gas tight package; aging said product in said anaerobic inert gas atmosphere; inserting an atmosphere exchange apparatus through a septum valve disposed in said tray removing said inert gas from said package through said valve; filling through said valve the interior of said package with a second atmosphere conducive to the formation of oxymyoglobin in said meat product; and maintaining said meat product in said package in the second atmosphere for at least a time sufficient to produce a bloom in said product,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the inert gas consists essentially of nitrogen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the inert gas comprises essentially a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the atmosphere conducive to the formation of oxymyoglobin comprises a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the oxygen - carbon dioxide atmosphere comprises a ratio of approximately 80% oxygen and 20% carbon dioxide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising the sequential steps of: removing the second atmosphere from the package through the valve; and freezing the fresh meat product while in the package.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US30045A
Cited
US1509916A
Cited
CA843886A
Cited
US1207814A
Cited
US2161071A
Cited
US2316607A
Cited
US2402199A
Cited
US2364126A
Cited
US2506769A
Cited
US2638263A
Cited
US2709519A
Cited
US2814382A
Cited
US2847313A
Cited
US3348358A
Cited
US2863267A
Cited
US3047404A
Cited
US3286430A
Cited
US3445240A
Cited
US3360382A
Cited
GB1186978A
Cited
US3574642A
Cited
US3610516A
Cited
US3625713A
Cited
US3659393A
Cited
US3673760A
Cited
US3673758A
Cited
US3715860A
Cited
US3804962A
Cited
US4055672A
Cited
DE2244601A1
Cited
US3851080A
Cited
US3799427B1
Cited
US3799427A
Cited
US3851437A
Cited
US3930040A
Cited
US3943987A
Cited
US3980226A
Cited
US4066401A
Cited
FR2351008A1
Cited
US4122197A
Cited
US4184310A
Cited
US4424659A
Cited
US4513015A
Cited
US4427705A
Cited
US4548824A
Cited
US4548852A
Cited
US4685274A
Cited
US4642239A
Cited
US4627336A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-23 | 1993-10-23 | 1994-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-23 | 1997-10-23 | 1998-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-23 | 2001-10-23 | 2002-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |