Patent ID: 7507150
Filing Date: 2009-03-24
Classification: A22C

Abstract:
1. An article comprising: a shirred paper-reinforced cellulose food casing defining a shirred stick, the shirred stick formed from a tubular casing having an inflated diameter greater than about 43 mm, the shirred stick being substantially tubular and having a helical pleat ridge about a longitudinal axis in a deshirred state; a shirred stick outside diameter of at least 115% of the casing inflated diameter, wherein the outside diameter is the average diameter of the shirred stick along the longitudinal axis; a shirred stick inside diameter of at least 80% of the casing inflated diameter, wherein the shirred stick inside diameter is the average diameter of the inside of the shirred stick; and a pleat pitch, wherein the pleat pitch is defined as the distance between adjacent major pleats when the shirred stick is deshirred; wherein the shirred stick has a plurality of pleats which have been radially pulled out into an ovate shape with only a single axis of symmetry.