Abstract:
A package includes a first wall, a second wall coupled to the first wall at a peelably openable seal portion, a gusset coupled to the first wall and the second wall, wherein the first wall, the second wall, and gusset define an interior space, a vent portion provided on at least one of the first wall and the second wall, wherein the vent portion is configured to permit gases to escape from the interior space, and a food product provided within the interior, wherein at least one of the first wall and the second wall comprises an anti-fog material on a surface facing the interior space.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/928,547, filed May 10, 2007, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This application relates generally to packages and similar items, and more particularly, to a package that provides features including an anti-fog package material, a seal that facilitates easy opening of the package (e.g., an “easy peel” feature), self-venting features for permitting venting during heating of packaged materials, and/or a package configuration (e.g., a gusset) that permits the package to stand generally upright. 
         [0003]    Packages for storing various types of products such as food products (including liquids, solids, etc.) are generally known. Often, though, these packages may lack one or more features that facilitate the preparation of food products stored in such packages, in addition to providing one or more benefits related to the production, merchandising, and/or sale of such packages. 
         [0004]    The present application discloses an improved package that may provide one or more advantages over conventional packages. To provide an inexpensive, reliable, and widely adaptable package that avoids the problems of conventional packages would represent a significant advance in the art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    One embodiment relates to a package comprising a first wall, a second wall coupled to the first wall at a peelably openable seal portion, a gusset coupled to the first wall and the second wall, wherein the first wall, the second wall, and gusset define an interior space, a vent portion provided on at least one of the first wall and the second wall, wherein the vent portion is configured to permit gases to escape from the interior space, and a food product provided within the interior, wherein at least one of the first wall and the second wall comprises an anti-fog material on a surface facing the interior space. 
         [0006]    Another embodiment relates to a package comprising a pair of generally opposing side walls coupled together to define an interior, a vent portion provided on at least one of the opposing side walls and configured to permit fluid to escape from the interior, and an anti-fog material provided on at least a portion of one of the opposing side walls, wherein the opposing sidewalls define a width of the package that narrows along a length of the package. 
         [0007]    Yet another embodiment relates to A method of providing a package having a food product comprising providing a package having at least one sidewall with an anti-fog material, a vent portion, and a support portion coupled to the at least one sidewall that supports the package in a substantially upright position, introducing a food product into the package, and sealing the package with a low-bond adhesive to provide a peelably openable seal portion. 
         [0008]    Other embodiments further relate to various features and combinations of features shown and described herein. Other ways in which the objects and features of the disclosed embodiments are accomplished will be described in the following specification or will become apparent to those skilled in the art after they have read this specification. Such other ways are deemed to fall within the scope of this disclosure if they fall within the scope of the claims which follow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a package according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the package of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section view of the package of  FIG. 1  prior to being sealed according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section view of a package material according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a package according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the package of  FIG. 5  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of the package of  FIG. 5  prior to being sealed according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section view of a package material according to an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Before explaining a number of exemplary embodiments in detail, it is to be understood that the present application is not limited to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components as set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings, but may be practiced or carried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Various exemplary embodiments of the package disclosed herein illustrate a variety of features that provide advantages over or address shortcomings of more conventional packages. For example, certain packages may lack an anti-fog feature that prevents fog from forming on the interior surface of, for example, a clear package. Without such a feature, it may be difficult for consumers to view the contents of the package and the package may appear less sightly to the consumer. Further, certain packages may not stand in an upright position (e.g., in the case of long, narrow packages consisting generally of two pieces of plastic or other material sealed along the entire outer edge). In order to permit easy viewing of either the interior contents of the package or information provided on the package itself, a consumer may be required to lift the package from, for example, a display shelf, in order to view the package information and/or contents. 
         [0019]    Further yet, certain packages may be provided without any venting features. Without such features, packages heated using, for example, a microwave oven, may tend to rupture as the pressure increases within the sealed package. Additionally, many packages are provided without means for easy opening of the package, often making the task of opening a package a difficult and potentially messy one. Various embodiments of the package disclosed herein address these and other disadvantages associated with conventional packages. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , a package  10  (e.g., a pouch, bag, container, etc.) is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. Package  10  is configured to receive a food product  17 , which may be a non-refrigerated, refrigerated, or frozen food product. Package  10  includes a top or upper portion  12  and a bottom or lower portion  14 . Package  10  further includes a first or front wall portion or member  16  and a second or rear wall portion or member  18 . According to one embodiment, front wall  16  and rear wall  18  are generally symmetrical and define the front and rear surfaces of package  10 . A gusset portion  20  (e.g., support portion or member, etc.) is provided at or near lower portion  14  and includes a first gusset member or support portion  22  and a second gusset member or support portion  24 . Support portions  22 ,  24  are positioned between front wall  16  and rear wall  18  and according to one embodiment form a generally “W” shape in conjunction with walls  16 ,  18  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0021]    According to an exemplary embodiment, front wall  16  and rear wall  18  may be sealed together (e.g., adhesively sealed, heat sealed, ultrasonically welded, etc.) at side seal portions  26 ,  28  and at top seal portion  30 . Front wall  16  and rear wall  18  define an interior of package  10  that receives a food product  17 . According to one embodiment, side seal portions  26 ,  28  extend generally along the periphery of the sides or edges of wall portions  16 ,  18  and top seal portion  30  extends across walls  16 ,  18  offset from the upper edge of wall portions  16 ,  18 , forming grasping portions or tabs  32 ,  34 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , because side seal portions  26 ,  28  do not extend to tabs  32 ,  34 , tabs  32 ,  34  remain unsealed and independent from each other and form graspable portions for users. According to various alternative embodiments, seals  26 ,  28 ,  30  may be located in various alternative locations, and more or fewer sealed portions may be provided with package  10 . Furthermore, walls  16 ,  18  may be coupled together using other methods in addition to or rather then sealing. 
         [0022]    According to some embodiments, package  10  may include self-venting features shown in  FIG. 1  as perforations or vent portions  36  and/or  38 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the self venting features may be provided horizontally (see, e.g., vent portion  36 ), vertically (see, e.g., vent portion  38 ), or in any other desirable configuration and/or alignment (e.g., circles, curves, ornamental configurations, etc.). Furthermore, package  10  may utilize a single one of vent portions  36  and/or  38  or more than one of vent portions  36  and/or  38  according to various other embodiments. 
         [0023]    While vent portions  36 ,  38  are shown as slits, a variety of holes and/or apertures of various shapes and/or sizes may be used. According to one embodiment, vent portion  36  and/or  38  extend fully through material  42  (see  FIG. 4 ) of package  10 . According to another embodiment, vent portion  36  and/or  38  may be configured as a weakened area (e.g., an area of reduced material thickness or reduced material strength, etc.) of material  42  configured to rupture (e.g., due to excessive pressure build up within package  10 ) prior to the rupturing of the remainder of package  10  (including seal portion  26 ,  28 ,  30 ). According to yet another embodiment, vent portion  36  and/or  38  may comprise a portion of one or more of seals  26 ,  28 , that has been weakened and/or omitted such that gases, etc. may vent through one or more of the sealed portions. 
         [0024]    Referring further to  FIGS. 1-4 , according to an exemplary embodiment, package  10  may include a display portion or area  40  on one or both of walls  16 ,  18 . Area  40  may include a portion of, or all of, one or both of walls  16 ,  18 , and may be transparent, translucent, opaque, and may be provided with a variety of textual information, graphic designs, etc. According to one embodiment, area  40  is configured as a “window” to permit consumers to view product within package  10  (e.g., in the case of “ready-made” products that are prepared within package  10  and sold ready to be consumed). 
         [0025]    According to an exemplary embodiment, package  10  may be provided with an easy peel feature (e.g., an easily peelable seal, etc.). As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , tabs  32  and  34  extend above top seal portion  30  such that a user may grasp and pull apart tabs  32  and  34  in order to open package  10 . Top seal  30  and side seals  26 ,  28  may be provided with an easy release adhesive (e.g., a low bond adhesive, etc.) that is sufficient to maintain product sealed within package  10  during processing, transport, merchandising, etc., yet permits a user to easily open package  10  when desired. Seals  26 ,  28 ,  30  may also provide a controlled opening feature, in that the seals are configured to release (e.g., come apart, etc.) prior to the other portions of the packaging material ripping, tearing, etc., which may potentially result in spillage and/or waste of the contents of package  10 . 
         [0026]    According to one embodiment, the easy peel feature provided with package  10  is a one-time-use seal. According to various alternative embodiments, other types of seals and/or closure devices or mechanisms may be used instead of or in conjunction with seals  26 ,  28 ,  30  (e.g., a resealable portion provided in addition to and adjacent to top seal portion  30 ). 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, package  10  may also be configured to stand in a substantially upright position when filled with product. Gusset portion  20  may provide a support area that maintains package  10  in an upright position, thereby facilitating marketing and packaging of product contained therein (e.g., by making it easier for consumers to see the product with package  10 , by maintaining liquid or semi-solid materials in a generally stable position, etc.). As discussed above gusset portion  20  includes portions  22  and  24 . 
         [0028]    According to one embodiment, walls  16 ,  18  and gusset portions  22 ,  24  may be made from a continuous length of a material  42  (e.g., a flexible polymer laminate, etc.) comprising a first inner layer  44  (e.g., a polyester) laminated to a second outer layer  46  (e.g., a sealant layer that provides an easy peel feature and/or an anti-fog feature). Material  42  may be a roll stock material that may be folded, die cut, and heat sealed using automated tooling and processes to form package  10 . Further, vent portions  36 ,  38  may be formed in material  42  using automated tooling (e.g., a piercing wheel configured to form perforations in material  42 ). According to various alternative embodiments, gusset portions  22 ,  24  may be made from a separate length of material  42  and/or a material other than material  42 . 
         [0029]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 1-4 , when package  10  is sealed only at side seal portions  26 ,  28  (e.g., with top seal portion  30  unsealed and no product within package  10 ), package  10  is a generally flat member. After product is introduced into package  10  and top seal portion  30  is sealed, the product tends to force open or spread apart gusset portions  22 ,  24  such that the bottom edges of gusset portions  22 ,  24  and walls  16 ,  28  form a stable support that enables a user to stand package  10  in an upright position. 
         [0030]    According to an exemplary embodiment, package  10  may further be provided with an anti-fog feature. According to one embodiment, an anti-fog material is embedded into second layer  46  (e.g., along with the easy peel seal material), which is then laminated to first layer  44  to form material  42 . The anti-fog material resists fogging (clouding, discoloring, etc.) of material  42  after product has been sealed into package  10 . In particular, the anti-fog material is configured to resist fogging due to extreme and/or sudden temperature changes (e.g., in the case of a package containing frozen food product being subsequently heated in a microwave, etc.). The anti-fog material may be made of any suitable materials, compounds, etc., known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5-8 , a package  110  is shown according to another exemplary embodiment. Package  110  is substantially similar to package  10  in that package  110  includes upper portion  112 , bottom portion  114 , front wall  116 , and rear wall  118 . Package  110  may further include a gusset portion  120  having first and second gusset portions  122 ,  124  that permit package  110  to stand upright. Further, package  110  may include easy peel, anti-fog, and self-venting features similar to those discussed above with respect to package  10  and  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         [0032]    Referring in particular to  FIG. 5 , according to an exemplary embodiment, package  110  may be tapered from top portion  112  to bottom portion  114 . According to one embodiment, package  110  tapers from approximately 3.5 inches at top portion  112  to approximately 1.5 inches at bottom portion  114 . According to various alternative embodiments, package  110  may be provided with other types of tapers, including curved contours, etc., and package  110  may further taper from bottom portion  114  to top portion  112  rather than top portion  112  to bottom portion  114 . According to an exemplary embodiment, package  110  is configured to substantially conform to the shape of a food product (e.g., a food product intended to be heated and offered for sale while within package  110  in the heated state) such that package  110  assists in maintaining the shape of the food product (e.g., to prevent folding, etc. of a heated food product) while the product is being displayed in an upright position. According to various alternative embodiments, package  110  may be tapered or otherwise contoured in ways other than those illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0033]    According to an exemplary embodiment, front wall  116  and rear wall  118  may be sealed together (e.g., adhesively sealed, heat sealed, ultrasonically welded, etc.) at side seal portions  126 ,  128  and at top seal portion  130 . According to one embodiment, side seal portions  126 ,  128  extend generally along the periphery of the sides or edges of wall portions  116 ,  118 , and top seal portion  130  extends across walls  116 ,  118  offset from the upper edge of wall portions  116 ,  118 , forming grasping portions or tabs  132 ,  134 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , because side seal portions  126 ,  128  do not extend to tabs  132 ,  134 , tabs  132 ,  134  remain unsealed and independent from each other and form graspable portions for users. According to various alternative embodiments, seals  126 ,  128 ,  130  may be located in various alternative locations, and more or fewer sealed portions may be provided with package  110 . Furthermore, walls  116 ,  118  may be coupled together using other methods in addition to or rather then sealing. 
         [0034]    According to some embodiments, package  110  may include self-venting features shown in  FIG. 5  as perforations or vent portions  136  and/or  138 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the self venting features may be provided horizontally (see, e.g., vent portion  136 ), vertically (see, e.g., vent portion  138 ), or in any other desirable configuration and/or alignment (e.g., circles, curves, ornamental configurations, etc.). 
         [0035]    Referring further to  FIGS. 5-8 , according to an exemplary embodiment, package  110  may include a display portion or area  140  on one or both of walls  116 ,  118 . Area  140  may include a portion of, or all of, one or both of walls  116 ,  118 , and may be transparent, translucent, opaque, and may be provided with a variety of graphic designs, etc. According to one embodiment, area  140  is configured as a “window” to permit consumers to view product within package  110  (e.g., in the case of “ready-made” products that are prepared within package  110  and sold ready to be consumed). 
         [0036]    According to one embodiment, walls  116 ,  118  and gusset portions  122 ,  124  may be made from a continuous length of a material  142  (e.g., a flexible polymer laminate, etc.) comprising a first inner layer  144  (e.g., a polyester) laminated to a second outer layer  146  (e.g., a sealant layer that provides an easy peel feature and/or an anti-fog feature). Material  142  may be a roll stock material that may be folded, die cut, and heat sealed using automated tooling and processes to form package  110 . Further, vent portions  136 ,  138  may be formed in material  142  using automated tooling (e.g., a piercing wheel configured to form perforations in material  142 ). According to various alternative embodiments, gusset portions  122 ,  124  may be made from a separate length of material  142  and/or a material other than material  142 . 
         [0037]    According to various exemplary embodiments, the packages shown and described herein may include a variety of food products (e.g., food product  17 ), including solids (breads, cheeses, etc.), liquids juices, sauces, etc.), and so on. According to various exemplary embodiments, the food product may be wholly or partially unrefrigerated, refrigerated, and/or frozen during processing, retailing, etc. In some embodiments, the food product is introduced into the interior of the package after the side seal portions (e.g., seal portions  16 ,  18  or  116 ,  118 ) are sealed. Upon the food product being introduced into the interior, the top seal portion (e.g. seal portion  30  or  130 ) may be sealed. 
         [0038]    It is important to note that for purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” shall mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate member being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature. Such joining may also relate to mechanical, fluid, or electrical relationship between the two components. 
         [0039]    It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the package shown in the exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and/or omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure as expressed in the appended claims.