Abstract:
Artisan food packages and methods of packaging are described. The artisan food package includes an artisan food product cut into individualized portions and packaged in a manner to maximize freshness and shelf life. It is further handled and shipped in a way to further protect the product&#39;s freshness and shelf life. The systems and methods provide advantages in that the purchaser can receive an artisan food product that is typically only served in bulk quantities. This allows the purchaser to enjoy products that may not be practical to purchase in bulk quantities due to spoilage. Additionally, the systems and methods provide the purchaser with the option to diversify and purchase several different artisan food products in small, individualized portions simultaneously without incurring the significant costs associated with purchasing bulk quantities of all of the artisan food products separately.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/658,976 filed on Jun. 13, 2012, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates in general to the field of artisan foods, namely, meats or cheeses. More particularly, the present invention relates to an artisan food package and the method to packaging and manufacturing the artisan food package. 
         [0004]    A significant interest in gourmet dining exists for ingredients of high quality, and consumers continually expect to get what they pay for when eating out. Countless menu options incorporate the use of cheese, meats, and other artisan food products; some options featuring these artisan food products as the sole component. As such, members of the food service industry, including but not limited to those working in restaurants, catering companies, hotels, aircrafts, cruise ships, etc. must make regular decisions to determine what types of food products to purchase, from which producers to make such purchases, and in what quantities to buy. 
         [0005]    However, many of the finest meat, cheese, and other artisan food producers operate on a small scale offering inflexible purchase options. For instance, many small cheese producers only sell cheese in bulk quantities, oftentimes in the form of a wheel. Typically these wheels are encased with a material that preserves the freshness of the cheese, but once that wheel is opened it is difficult to maintain the high quality product for extended periods of time. Unfortunately, many purchasers in the food service industry struggle to use an entire wheel of cheese prior to the cheese spoiling. Similar issues may result in cuts of meat and other artisan food products that are sold in a bulk quantity. Because of the risk of spoilage, and the significant loss of money resulting from such spoilage, many restaurants do not have the option to purchase these high quality products in bulk quantities. 
         [0006]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0007]    Within this application several publications are referenced. The disclosures of all these publications in their entireties are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application including for the purposes of indicating the background of the present invention and including the state of the art. 
         [0008]    As is known to those skilled in the art, the food service industry has a high priority in serving quality ingredients at peak freshness. Thus, a previously recognized problem has been that food products will not be used within the optimal time of freshness. Needless to say, it is desirable to find a means of shipping high quality ingredients in a manner where the ingredients can be used when still fresh. 
         [0009]    Additionally, those skilled in the art know that the process of preparing food products for service requires food service professionals to unwrap the food, divide it, weigh and portion it, rewrap it, and clean up. Executing such a process within a restaurant is time consuming and can lead to spoilage, waste, and theft. 
         [0010]    What is needed therefore is a readily available package that contains custom prepared, high quality ingredients that are ready to serve. Further, what is also needed is a means of packaging and manufacture to ensure that the product maintains the same high quality upon delivery. Heretofore these requirements have not been fully met without incurring various disadvantages. 
         [0011]    One unsatisfactory previously recognized approach, in an attempt to solve the problem referred to herein, involves a cheese platter with a variety of cheeses packaged within vacuum sealed plastic. A disadvantage of this previously recognized approach is that the cheese is not individually portioned, and therefore restaurant personnel would still be required to portion the cheese. This fails to address the disadvantages of preparing the food within the restaurant. Further, this previously recognized approach also has the disadvantage of not providing a means of delivery, and protection of the cheese product upon such delivery. 
         [0012]    Another unsatisfactory previously recognized approach, in an attempt to solve the problem referred to herein, involves a food package consisting of multiple compartments in which food is placed. Such an approach provides a rigid, compartmentalized package that is sealed, but does not address the freshness of the materials within. Additionally, this approach does not provide a means of manufacture such that the product will be delivered in a manner to maintain this freshness. 
         [0013]    The present invention is directed to overcoming the problems set forth above. The below-referenced U.S. patents, and allowed U.S. applications in which the issue fees have been paid, disclose embodiments that were at least in-part satisfactory for the purposes for which they were intended. The disclosures of all the below-referenced prior United States patents, and applications, in their entireties, are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application for purposes including, but not limited to, indicating the background of the present invention and illustrating the state of the art. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,701 discloses a food package consisting of a rigid plastic base tray with at least three compartments, at least one of which containing a food product. This base tray is covered by an airtight flexible seal. A label is attached to the flexible seal. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,634 discloses hermetically sealed food package with perishable food snack. The package is to be formed of material sufficiently rigid to maintain the shape and prevent damage to the food contents. The package contains an upper and lower part joined by a hinge, with the lower part containing at least two compartments. 
         [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,527 discloses a food package having a rigid base tray with a plurality of recessed compartments, at least some of the compartments containing food products that are air-tightly sealed with a flexible film. 
         [0017]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,652 discloses a food package having a tray with recessed compartments for receiving food products, the tray being covered by a thin, flexible, and preferably transparent film that seals the products in their respective compartments. The package includes a collar that serves as the outer enclosure and is sufficient to absorb any forces to the package during shipping, handling, and storage. 
         [0018]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/324,485 discloses a ready-to-serve cheese platter containing various cheeses placed on a decorative platter and vacuum sealed in a clear plastic. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    By way of summary, the present invention is directed to supplying artisan food products, sealed to maintain freshness, to restaurants and other food service operations. A primary aspect of the invention is to provide an apparatus that contains individually portioned artisan food products. Another aspect of the invention is to provide a method of packaging an artisan food product. Another aspect of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing an artisan food product. 
         [0020]    As used throughout this application the term “artisan” is used to generally define a high standard food product, and may include specialty, high quality, and/or high end food products. However, the term “artisan” is not intended to be limited to small volume producers or otherwise limited by either subjective or quantitative characteristics of either the food product, its manufacturing process or its manufacturer, and may particularly include high volume or large batch food products. 
         [0021]    As used throughout this application the terms “restaurant” or “food service operation” are used to generally refer to members of the food service industry, including but not limited to restaurants, bars, catering companies, hotels, aircrafts, cruise ships, and any similar establishment or organization that serves food products to consumers. The terms “restaurant” or “food service operation” are in no way indented to be limited in scope to only a single type of food service operation or restaurant. 
         [0022]    In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, an individually packaged artisan food product is achieved by providing an apparatus comprising artisan food products, a transparent sealable packaging, a label, and durable outer packaging. By preferably vacuum sealing the artisan food products, the food products will remain fresh for a longer period of time. Within this vacuum seal, the food products may be wrapped in sheet of high density polyethylene, or other food safe material, in order to prevent flavor transfer between the various products and the package itself. The label located on the sealed packaging allows the user to identify the product prior to opening the sealed package. The label may additionally disclose nutritional facts of the food product. Additionally, a durable outer packaging will ensure that the sealable package and the artisan food products within are not affected by any shipping or traveling. In one embodiment, this outer package consists of a padded envelope to avoid puncturing of the inner sealable package. Alternatively, the outer package may consist of a box with cushioned lining to protect the sealable package. The outer package can also contain a cooling unit such that the temperature of the artisan food product remains at a predetermined interval. The artisan food will also be in individual, ready to serve portions in order to reduce preparation time on behalf of the restaurant personnel while reducing waste, theft, and spoilage. 
         [0023]    Another aspect of the invention is to provide a method to package artisan food products. This includes procuring a bulk quantity of artisan food, dividing that bulk quantity into smaller, individualized portions, and packaging the food such that it will be fresh upon arrival to the purchaser, for example a restaurant. By purchasing the artisan food product in bulk, the product can be divided into smaller portions that will be more reasonable for the restaurant to use prior to spoilage. This may be especially appealing to a food service operation that does not have a large enough operation to use a full bulk amount of the artisan food product prior to spoilage. Additionally, instead of being forced to buy bulk quantity of one artisan food product, a food service operation has the opportunity to enjoy a variety of different artisan food products simultaneously. 
         [0024]    Another aspect of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing an artisan food product. This includes identifying, selecting, and purchasing food from an artisan food manufacturer; cutting the food into individualized portions; and packaging and shipping these portions to a purchaser. Such a method allows an expert to determine the types of artisan food products to purchase in bulk. Once the bulk quantity has been cut down into individualized portions, the restaurant personnel have the ability to order the specific quantities for which they have need. Upon arrival of the package, the restaurant personnel need only open the package, place the food product on a serving utensil, and serve the product to a customer. This ease will reduce costs of labor while allowing the restaurant to diversify the artisan food product offering at a given time. 
         [0025]    These, and other features and aspects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    A clear conception of the advantages and features constituting the present invention, and of the construction and operation of typical mechanisms provided with the present invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate the same elements in the several views. 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the inventive artisan meat and cheese package. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the inventive artisan meat and cheese package. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the inventive artisan meat and cheese package. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the inventive artisan meat and cheese package 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart describing the method of packaging food. 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart describing the method of manufacturing an artisan food product package. 
       
    
    
       [0033]    In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
       DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in detail in the following description. 
         [0035]    1. System Overview 
         [0036]    The present invention involves a vacuum sealed package of artisan foods, such as meats or cheeses, from a variety of award winning producers. These products will be cut or sliced into portions to meet the needs of various types of food service operation including but not limited to restaurants, bars, catering companies, hotels, aircrafts, cruise ships or other food service operations. The food service operation will only have to open the package, plate the food product, and serve. The package may include a disposable serving plate and utensils in the event that the food service operation does not have washable plates or has limited kitchen space. This convenience will reduce preparation time in terms of unwrapping, cutting, slicing, and weighing the individual portions. Additionally, there will be no clean up, rewrapping of remaining food, waste, or pilferage. All of these factors together will result in savings for the food service operation. 
         [0037]    In addition to presenting a convenient and cost effective food package, the present invention also ensures the integrity of the product, and includes steps to maintain optimal freshness. First, the materials selected for the food packaging, such as the transparent sealable packaging, which provides an air impermeable seal; the thin sheet of food safe material, which prevents flavor transfer between the food products and packaging; and the outer packaging, which provides both cushioning and the option of a cooling mechanism; help to keep the product at a comparable quality as when initially packaged. 
         [0038]    Second, freshness can be monitored through a detailed computerized log system. This system will document the food product received including its origin, its batch number, and its date of creation. At least one package from each batch of packages created will always be kept by the packager in the event that any scientific testing needs to be done on the product. Additionally, random testing may occur to ensure the quality of the product. The outgoing products will also be documented, and shipping of any packages can be electronically tracked to make sure the packages are received in a time frame where the product is still fresh. By monitoring the incoming and outgoing packages, the packager will be able to better ensure the freshness of the food product. 
         [0039]    Lastly, there will be means for the purchasing food service operator to make sure the product is still fresh. Each package will contain a label that will provide content such as the origin and product details, the preparation date, the number of packages prepared, the weight of the contents within the package, and an expiration date. This expiration date will help to communicate when the product should be used to maximize freshness. The package may also include specific care instructions to notify the restaurant of how to store and use the product. 
         [0040]    2. Detailed Description 
         [0041]    The artisan food product packages of the present invention offer restaurants and other food service providers the option to use high quality, artisan food products that may not otherwise be available due to the bulk availability. Referring to the drawings, it can be seen that the invention provides a means of packaging artisan food products into individualized portions and shipping these packages to purchasers in a way that helps to prolong the freshness of the products. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an artisan food product, for example meat and cheese, package,  10  allows an artisan food product to be shipped in a manner where the quality and freshness of the product will be protected. These artisan meats and cheeses  11  will first be wrapped in a thin sheet of material  20  to protect the transfer of flavor from one cheese to another. In one embodiment, this thin sheet of material  20  is high density polyethylene that substantially inhibits aromatic flavor and./or moisture transfer between the various artisan food products and other packaging components. Next, the artisan meats and cheeses  11  will be packaged in a transparent sealable package  12 . In an alternate embodiment, the artisan meats and cheeses  10  may be placed on a disposable plate  21  with a disposable utensil  22  prior to being packaged in the transparent sealable package  12 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The artisan meats and cheeses  11  may be cut into individual, ready to serve portions  15 . In one embodiment, the individual, ready to serve portions may be approximately four ounces or in an amount sufficient for at least two adults. However, in alternative embodiments the individual, ready to serve portions  15  may be approximately 2 ounces, 6 ounces, 8 ounces, 80 grams, or any other ready to serve portion size, and the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to any specific portions size. The individual, ready to serve portions  15  may also be custom cut either manually or in an automated fashion. In one embodiment, the transparent sealable package  12  is air impermeable and composed of polyethylene and nylon  19 . The air tight nature and composition of this package will help to maintain freshness. A label  14  will be attached to the sealable package  12  such that the contents of the packets can be easily determined without breaking the air tight seal. This label  14  can include relevant information such as the source, make date, and title of the food product; a preparation date of the package; and a date of expiration. Line LL shows the placement of the label  14  on the outside of the transparent sealable package  12 . Additional labels may be included to provide additional information, such as the nutritional facts of the artisan meats and cheeses  11 . 
         [0043]    Additionally, the transparent sealable package  12  will be placed into an outer packaging  13  such to protect the transparent sealable package  12  and its contents. One embodiment of the outer packaging  13  is a padded envelope  16 . Alternatively,  FIG. 2  illustrates another embodiment consisting of a cushioned lining within a box  17  to provide a similar level of protection. In addition,  FIG. 3  shows a climate control unit  18  to ensure the quality of the food product, such as a cooling unit that keeps the contents of the package at a designated temperature range, which in one embodiment may be less than or equal to 40° Fahrenheit. 
         [0044]    A method is also provided for packaging food as shown in  FIG. 5  comprising the steps of dividing a bulk quantity of a first artisan food product selected from a group consisting of meats and cheeses into individualized portions  30 , dividing a bulk quantity of a second artisan food product selected from a group consisting of meats and cheeses into an individualized portion  31 , combining the first and second individualized portions into a ready to serve selection  32 , wrapping each of the individualized portions in a food safe material to prevent flavor transfer  42 , packaging the individualized portions in a transparent sealable material  33 , attaching a label to the outside of the transparent air impermeable sealable material identifying the individualized portions within the material  34 , and packaging the transparent air impermeable sealable material into a durable outer packaging  35 . The package can be sold at a reduced economical cost with respect to the total cost of the bulk quantity purchased  36 . 
         [0045]    The food safe material to prevent flavor transfer  42  may be high density polyethylene  41 . The transparent sealable member  33  can occur by placing the artisan food product onto the first material, placing a second material on top of the artisan food product, and sealing the first material and the second material together  37 . 
         [0046]    In alternative embodiments, the durable outer packaging  35  comprises a padded envelope  38  or bubble wrap within a box  39 ; and may contain a means for maintaining a specified temperature range  40 . The means for maintaining a specified temperature may be an ice pack, dry ice, or some other means of cooling. 
         [0047]    A method for manufacturing artisan food as shown in  FIG. 6  comprising the steps of identifying an artisan food manufacturer  50 , selecting an artisan food product from the food manufacturer  51 , purchasing the artisan food product from the manufacturer  52 , dividing the artisan food product into an individualized portion  53 , combining one or more individualized portions into a ready to serve selection  54 , packaging the ready to serve selection in a transparent sealable material  55 , attaching a label to the transparent air impermeable sealable material, the label identifying the individualized portions within the material  56 , packaging the transparent air impermeable sealable material into a durable outer packaging  57 , and shipping the outer packaging to a restaurant or food service operation  58 . The package can be sold at a reduced economical price with respect to the total cost of the bulk quantity purchased  60 . 
         [0048]    In selecting the artisan food product from the food manufacturer  51 , the food product may be artisan meat or artisan cheese  65 . In one embodiment, when purchasing the artisan food product  52 , the food product can be purchased in bulk quantity substantially larger than the individualized portions  59 . Many artisan food products are only offered in bulk quantities, which may not be a practical purchase option for a restaurant or food service operation due to the risk of spoilage. 
         [0049]    The shipping of the packaging to a restaurant or food service operation  58  can be monitored using a logging system including computer tracking and electronic bar code technology. This helps guarantee the freshness of the product upon receipt. Upon receiving the package, the restaurant or food service operation removes the food product from the package, plates the food product, and serves the food product to a customer  64 . 
         [0050]    Although the best mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out the present invention is disclosed above, practice of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be manifest that various additions, modifications and rearrangements of the features of the present invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. For example, the method of manufacturing could be enhanced by providing a variety of new artisan food products packaged in such a way to maintain freshness. 
         [0051]    Moreover, the individual components need not be formed in the disclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but could be provided in virtually any shape, and assembled in virtually any configuration, which would allow the purchaser to specify the exact size and shape of the individualized portions so as to provide the restaurant with the exact product desired. Furthermore, all the disclosed features of each disclosed embodiment can be combined with, or substituted for, the disclosed features of every other disclosed embodiment except where such features are mutually exclusive. 
         [0052]    It is intended that the appended claims cover all such additions, modifications and rearrangements. Expedient embodiments of the present invention are differentiated by the appended claims.