Disposable cooking bags

Disposable bags in which comestibles can be cooked and subsequently stored, if desired. Provision is preferably made for so attaching the bag to a cooperating utensil or accessory as to facilitate access to the contents of the bag and promote rapid and uniform cooking of the comestibles.

The present invention relates to novel, improved, disposable bags for 
cooking comestibles. 
My earlier filed applications Ser. Nos. 327,658 and 637,966 disclose novel 
cooking utensils intended to be used in many, if not most, instances with 
a disposable bag in which the comestibles are contained during the cooking 
process and novel accessories for giving conventional utensils the same 
capabilities as the utensils specifically designed for use with disposable 
bags. 
In cooking comestibles by the techniques described in the foregoing 
applications the bag is surrounded by a cooking medium for transferring 
heat to its contents during the cooking cycle. The cooking medium will 
typically be water in the case of stovetop cookery and air for oven 
cookery. 
Cooking in disposable bags as just described has a number of important 
advantages. First, this permits comestibles to be cooked in their own 
juices. The natural taste of the food is preserved and the loss of 
nutritional values which occurs when foods are cooked in water is avoided 
along with the mushy or waterlogged texture which commonly results. 
Another virtue is that the utensil is not soiled during the cooking 
process. Thus, the inconvenience of cleaning the utensil after it is used 
is eliminated; only rinsing and drying are required. 
Furthermore, the bag in which the comestibles are cooked can be used to 
store them. This is a particular convenience if the bag is stored in a 
refrigerator container or the like as the latter will not become soiled. 
Furthermore, the novel utensils and accessories described in my earlier 
applications keep the bag and the comestibles contained in it submersed in 
the cooking medium when comestibles which would otherwise float are being 
cooked. This results in heat being conducted uniformly to the comestibles 
from all directions and, typically, at a higher temperature than it would 
be if the bag and its contents were allowed to float in the cooking 
medium. As a consequence, the comestibles are cooked more quickly and more 
uniformly. 
Particularly useful embodiments of my previously disclosed inventions have 
an arrangement for detachably securing the lower corners of the bag in 
place. This produces two important advantages. 
First, this keeps the bag from being buoyed upwardly in a liquid cooking 
medium and, also, permits the cooking medium to more effectively collapse 
the bag against the comestibles. The result is that the bag is more 
uniformly surrounded by the cooking medium, producing more efficient and 
uniform cooking of the comestibles. 
Second, by securing the lower end of the bag in place, corners are 
eliminated and a rounded, more open shape is given to the lower end of the 
bag. This significantly facilitates access to the comestibles in the bag 
and removal of the comestibles from the bag. 
Parent application Ser. No. 637,966 discloses a disposable bag construction 
designed for use with accessories and utensils having the feature just 
discussed and, more particularly, a novel bag construction which 
facilitates the attaching of the bag to the accessory. At the same time 
these bags can be economically manufactured so that the convenience can be 
inexpensively obtained. 
I have now invented other novel disposable bag constructions which also 
facilitate attachment to a utensil or accessory designed to secure the 
lower end of the bag in place. These, too, are inexpensive to manufacture 
and may accordingly be disposed of once they have served their purpose. 
Certain of the accessories and utensils disclosed in my earlier filed 
applications are equipped with a series of inwardly extending elements 
pivotably fixed to an associated base at their outer ends. These elements 
are concomitantly movable between: (a) an open position in which the inner 
ends of the elements are rotated upwardly and outwardly to spread open a 
disposable bag attached to the inner ends as by clips or prongs and 
furnish access to its contents; and (b) a closed position in which the 
pivotable elements are rotated inwardly and downwardly. 
In the closed position the pivotable elements secure the upper end of the 
bag in a manner that will allow gases and vapors evolved from the 
comestibles to escape while keeping the cooking medium from entering the 
bag. This permits the bag to collapse against its contents, considerably 
increasing the efficiency with which heat is transferred to the 
comestibles; it also maximizes the uniformity with which heat is 
transferred to the comestibles from different directions. Furthermore, by 
permitting gases and vapors to escape, the tendency of the bag to float is 
minimized as is the possibility of the bag rupturing due to a build-up of 
internal pressure. 
I have now discovered that the fasteners used to secure the upper end of 
the bag to the pivotable elements are not essential and that the upper end 
of the bag can instead be lapped over the inner ends of the pivotable 
elements and secured to the base of the utensil or accessory. Or, pockets 
can be formed in the upper ends of the bag and the inner ends of the 
pivotable elements inserted in those to form connections similar to those 
afforded by clips or prongs. Accessories and utensils of those types are 
disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 702,002 filed July 2, 1976. 
I have now also invented novel disposable bag constructions especially 
suited for use with the accessories disclosed in copending application 
Ser. No. 702,002. These constructions may also be made so that the lower 
end of the bag can be secured in place for the purpose and in the manner 
discussed above. Again, inexpensive manufacture is a hallmark, permitting 
the bag to be disposed of following use. 
Disposable bags for cooking comestibles are as such not new as shown by 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,323,623 issued July 6, 1943, to Porter; 2,912,336 issued 
Nov. 10, 1959, to Perino; 3,008,837 issued Nov. 14, 1961, to Kaplan; 
3,027,261 issued Mar. 27, 1962, to Samara; 3,088,255 issued May 7, 1963, 
to Griem; 3,117,875 issued Jan. 14, 1964, to Burns; 3,547,660 issued Dec. 
15, 1970, to Weisberg; 3,615,711 issued Oct. 26, 1971, to Markus et al; 
3,716,369 issued Feb. 13, 1973, to Perlman; 3,750,873 issued Aug. 7, 1973, 
to Roman; and 3,935,810 issued Feb. 3, 1976, to Milano; British Pat. No. 
965,498 published July 29, 1964; the Drackett Products Co. pamphlet 
entitled "How to Use Cooking Magic Bags" copyrighted in 1971; and the 
Sears recipe and instruction book entitled "Meals in Minutes". However, 
none of the foregoing are relevant to the present invention as none 
discloses bags which are suitable for use with cooking utensils or 
accessories having the capabilities described above. 
From the foregoing it will be apparent to the reader that one primary 
object of the present invention resides in the provision of novel, 
improved, disposable bags for cooking comestibles. 
A second, primary object of the invention resides in the provision of 
disposable bags in accord with the preceding object which are especially 
suited for use with cooking utensils and cooking utensil accessories 
employing the principles of those disclosed in applications Ser. Nos. 
637,966 and 702,002 and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,654. 
Another important and primary object of the invention resides in the 
provision of disposable bags in accord with the preceding objects which 
can be inexpensively manufactured. 
A further important and primary object of the invention is the provision of 
disposable bags for cooking comestibles so constructed as to provide rapid 
and uniform cooking of, and ready access to, their contents.

Referring now to the drawing, FIGS. 1-3 depict an accessory 126 adapted to 
be used in conjunction with a conventional cooking utensil and disposable 
bags embodying the principles of the present invention to cook comestibles 
in the manner discussed above. In accessory 126 provision is made for 
stretching the lower end of the disposable cooking bag 128 across the 
lower end of the accessory base 130 and then securing the lower corners 
132 of the bag to base 130 to keep it taut. As discussed previously, this 
eliminates the corners, facilitating the removal of comestibles from bag 
128. Also, the lower end of the bag and its contents are kept from 
floating upwardly, promoting rapid and uniform cooking of the comestibles. 
The base 130 of attachment 126 can be made from sheet metal, for example. 
Legs 134 fixed to the base as by riveting support the base from the bottom 
wall 136 of the pan 138 (see FIG. 3) with which attachment 126 is 
employed. Spring arms 140, ingtegral with legs 134, engage the vessel side 
walls 142 and center attachment 126 in the vessel. By virtue of this and 
the supporting of the base in spaced relation to bottom wall 136 of the 
pan, free circulation of the cooking medium 144 to promote uniform cooking 
of the comestibles 146 in bag 128 is provided. 
It is preferred that buffers 147 of a softer material be fixed to the 
upper, distal ends of spring arms 140 to keep the spring arms from marring 
the pan. This is particularly important if the pan is lined with a Teflon 
or other easily damaged material. 
FIG. 4 depicts in more detail the disposable bag 128 designed for use with 
cooking utensils and accessories having the characteristics of the 
accessory illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. 
Bag 128 is of single fold construction and has a rectangular configuration 
with an open upper end 148 and a closed lower end 150. Holes or apertures 
152 are formed through the bag adjacent its lower end and adjacent the two 
edges of the bag. Inwardly of these apertures, the two sides 154 of the 
bag (only one of which is shown) are sealed together by seams 156 to 
prevent leakage through the apertures. 
Bag 128 is secured to the base 130 of attachment 126 by stretching its 
closed and across the lower edge 158 of the base and then hooking the 
lower corners 132 of the bag over outwardly projecting studs 160 fixed to 
base 130, the studs extending through holes 152 in the bag. Two 
diametrically opposed studs 160 are employed, one for each of the two 
corners 132 of the bag. 
Studs 160 preferably have enlarged heads 161 over which the bag is 
stretched. The bag then relaxes to its original configuration so that the 
enlarged heads of the studs keep the corners of the bag in place. 
The upper end 148 of the disposable cooking bag is attached to the inner 
ends of pivotable bag supporting elements 162 by clips 164 of sheet metal 
construction. The clips have a spring portion 166 held against the necked 
down, distal end portions 168 of the pivotable elements 162 with which 
they are associated by retainer portions 170 at the outer ends of the 
clips. The retainer portions are bent around the legs 172 and 174 of the 
pivotable elements to secure the clips in place. 
The upper edge of the disposable bag 128 is slipped between the spring 
portions 166 of the clips and the necked down portions 168 of the 
pivotable elements, permitting spring portions 166 to clamp the bag 
against the distal ends of the pivotable elements. The ends of the spring 
portions 166 into which the bag edge is inserted are preferably curved 
outwardly to facilitate insertion of the bag. 
It is not necessary in the attachments described herein that there be bag 
engageable elements at the inner ends of all of the concomitantly pivotal 
members. In attachment 126, for example, the pivotable members 162 bearing 
bag engaging spring clips 164 are alternated with pivotable elements 176 
having truncated logs 178 and 180 connected by an integral, lateral leg 
182. The pivotable elements 162 and 176 are assembled with the left-hand 
leg of each element 162 or 176 lying under the right-hand leg of the 
element to its left and the right-hand leg overlying the left-hand leg of 
the element to its right so that all of the pivotable elements 162 and 176 
will move in unison. 
In one actual embodiment of my invention intended for use with a 
three-quart saucepan, there are six elements of the character identified 
by reference character 162 in FIG. 2. There are five pivotable elements of 
the character identified by reference character 176. The place of the 
sixth element of the latter type is taken by the pivotable member 186 of a 
retainer or toggle mechanism 188. 
Toggle mechanism 188 also includes a vertically extending spring 190 fixed, 
at its lower end, to attachment base 130. At its upper, free end, the 
spring terminates in a downwardly opening loop or hook 194. 
Member 186 of the toggle mechanism has inwardly extending, outer legs 196 
and 198 by which the member is pivotally attached to base 130 in the same 
manner as the various pivotable elements described previously. Integral 
with the outer legs are two inner legs 200 and 202 connected by a 
transversely extending leg 204 at their lower and outer end. 
The configuration just described produces two generally V-shaped sections 
206 and 208 defined by legs 196 and 200 and by legs 198 and 202, the two 
legs in each section being connected at their distal ends. A fastener 210 
inserted through the two V-shaped sections 206 and 208 at these ends fixes 
the two sections of the member together with the end of one section behind 
the other. The laterally acting spring tension of the two sections and 
heads 212 on the fastener keep the latter in place. 
The outer, left-hand leg 196 of member 186 lies under the right-hand leg 
174 of the bag-supporting element 162 to its left; and the right-hand leg 
198 of the member overlies the left-hand leg 172 of the element 162 to its 
right. Accordingly, member 186 pivots concomitantly with the 
bag-supporting elements 162 and the associated pivotable elements 176. 
When the bag-supporting elements 162 are rotated upwardly and outwardly to 
spread the open end of bag 128, element 186 is displaced to a generally 
vertical position. In this position the lower end portions of inner legs 
200 and 202 are confined between spring 190 of the toggle mechanism and 
the base 130 of the attachment, maintaining pivotal member 186 in the 
illustrated position. Because of the interconnection between it and the 
pivotable elements 162 and 176 discussed above, bag-supporting elements 
162 are locked in an open position with the open end of the bag spread. 
When the pivotal elements 162 and 176 are displaced from the open position 
to the closed position shown in FIG. 2 to close the open end of bag 128 
and to collapse it around comestibles 146, the transversely extending leg 
204 of toggle mechanism member 186 moves upwardly until it bottoms in the 
loop 194 at the upper end of spring 190; and legs 200 and 202 of the 
member engage the upper edge 214 of base 130. This precludes further 
downward movement of element 186, bag-supporting elements 162, and 
elements 176. 
This limiting of the downward movement of bag-supporting elements 162 is 
important because it permits bag 128 to collapse around the comestibles 
146 in a manner which insures uniform and efficient cooking of the 
comestibles and keeps the cooking medium from flowing into the bag in 
those applications where liquid is employed. 
Also, this keeps the various elements 162, 176, and 186 from pivoting 
downwardly to the extent that the element attaching loops at their outer 
ends can become unhooked from attachment base 130. 
Attachment 126 also has a latch 222 of sheet metal construction. At one end 
it is pivotally mounted on the transverse leg 182 of one element 176. 
Subsequent portions of the latch extend upwardly, horizontally, and 
downwardly to clear the inner ends of pivotable members 162. These are 
followed by a hook portion 226 which is engageable with the transverse leg 
182 of the element 176 facing that to which the latch is connected to hold 
the two elements 176 in the illustrated positions. As these two elements 
are interconnected with the remaining pivotable elements in the manner 
described previously, the latter are likewise held closed. 
At its free end, the latch terminates in a handle portion 228 by which the 
latch can be released and engaged. 
Accessory 126 is described and illustrated in more detail in parent 
application Ser. No. 637,966 to which the reader may refer if he wishes. 
Referring again to the drawing, FIG. 5 depicts a disposable cooking bag 232 
also designed for use with utensils or accessories embodying the 
characteristics of accessory 126. Bag 232 is again of tubular construction 
with a side wall structure 233 and has an open, upper end 234 and a lower 
end closed by a seam 236. Spaced apart holes or apertures 238 are formed 
through a skirt 240 below seam 236. 
Bag 232 is secured to an accessory such as 126 by stretching its closed end 
across the lower edge of the accessory base and then holding the lower 
corners 242 of the bag over studs fixed to the attachment base, the latter 
extending through the holes 238 in skirt 240. 
FIG. 6 depicts yet another disposable cooking bag 244 intended for use with 
utensils or accessories equipped with outwardly projecting studs for 
securing the lower part of the bag in place. Also of tubular construction, 
bag 244 has an open upper end 246 and a closed lower end 248 of arcuate 
configuration. 
Depending flaps 250 are hingedly attached to the side wall 252 of the bag 
at locations corresponding to the stud locations of the associated 
accessory or utensil as by heat sealing the upper edges 254 of the flaps 
to the bag. 
Openings 256 are formed through flaps 250 toward the lower ends thereof. 
Bag 244 is secured to the base of the accessory or utensil with which it is 
employed by disposing it in the base and then pulling the flaps upwardly 
over the lower edge of the base and hooking them over the outwardly 
projecting studs of the associated component, the latter extending through 
the apertures 256 in the flaps to secure the lower end of the bag in 
place. 
Referring still to the drawing, FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a conventional pan 
260 equipped with an accessory 262 which gives the pan the capabilities 
for cooking comestibles in a disposable bag 264 embodying the principles 
of the present invention. 
Accessory 260 resembles the accessory 126 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 
described above. Accordingly, like reference characters have been employed 
in the drawing to identify like parts, and only those features of 
accessory 262 which distinguish it from the earlier described accessory 
are discussed below. 
The major distinction between accessories 126 and 262 is that none of the 
elements pivotally attached to base 130 of the latter have clips, prongs, 
or other bag engageable fasteners at their inner ends. Instead, the upper 
part 266 of bag 264 is pulled down over elements 176 and secured in place 
by studs 268 projecting outwardly from base 130 at intervals therearound. 
With the bag thus secured to base 130, the upper end of bag 264 will close 
when elements 176 are concomitantly rotated inwardly and downwardly to the 
position shown in FIG. 7 and be spread open when these elements are 
rotated upwardly and outwardly to the position shown in FIG. 8. 
Bag 264, shown in more detail in FIG. 9, is identical to the bag 232 shown 
in FIG. 5 except that apertures 270 are formed adjacent the upper edge 272 
of the bag at intervals therearound which correspond to the locations of 
studs 268. 
Bag 264 is assembled to accessory 262 in the much same manner that bag 232 
is assembled to accessory 126. The lower, closed end 274 of the bag is 
first stretched across the lower edge 158 of base 130 and then pulled 
upwardly so that the corners of the bag can be hooked over studs 160, the 
studs extending through the apertures 238 in skirt 240. 
Next, the upper part 266 of the bag is pulled down over bag-supporting 
elements 176 and hooked over studs 268. The latter extend through the 
apertures 270 adjacent the upper edge 272 of the bag. Like studs 160, 
studs 168 have enlarged heads 277 to keep the bag in place. 
Accessory 262 is described in more detail in copending application Ser. No. 
702,002, hereby incorporated by reference, to which the reader may refer, 
if deemed necessary. 
The studs 268 employed in accessory 262 to hold the upper end of the 
disposable bag in place can be eliminated by substituting for bag 264 one 
having pockets into which elements 176 can be inserted to provide a 
mechanical connection between the elements and the bag and thereby permit 
it to be opened and closed. A bag of this character is illustrated in 
FIGS. 10 and 11 and identified by reference character 278. 
Disposable bag 278 of tubular or single fold construction differs from the 
disposable bag 264 shown in FIG. 9 primarily in that there are no holes in 
its upper edge. Instead, the upper part of the bag is folded down over the 
side 280 of the bag to form a cuff 282 having a free edge 283 facing the 
closed, lower end of the bag. Cuff 282 is sealed to side wall 280 by 
longitudinally extending seams 284 at intervals around the periphery of 
the bag to form pockets 286. The closed ends of the pockets face the 
upper, open end of the bag and the open ends face the lower, closed end of 
the bag, allowing the distal ends of the pivotal, bag-supporting elements 
to be inserted in the pockets as shown in FIG. 10. This forms mechanical 
connections between the elements and the bag equivalent to those produced 
if fasteners are used on the distal ends of the pivotable elements. 
Bag 278 is attached to an accessory such as that shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 by 
rotating elements 176 to the upward and outward positions shown in FIG. 8. 
The bag is then pulled down through the base 130 of the accessory while 
guiding the inner ends of elements 176 into pockets 286. When the 
pivotable elements are bottomed in the pockets, the lower end of the bag 
is stretched across the bottom edge of base 130 and then pulled downwardly 
and hooked over studs 160. 
Although generally less desirable it is possible in some cases to dispense 
with connections between the upper end of the disposable cooking bag and 
an accessory or utensil with pivotable members of the character shown in 
FIGS. 7 and 8. Instead, the upper end of a bag as shown in FIG. 9 or a 
similar bag without holes in the upper end is simply pulled down over the 
pivotable elements and left free. 
Also, though again preferred in most cases, it is not in all circumstances 
essential that bags having lower ends which can be attached to the 
associated accessory or utensil be employed. A bag which does not is 
illustrated in FIG. 12 and identified by reference character 290. Bag 290 
is essentially identical to the disposable bag 264 shown in FIG. 9 except 
that it has no holes in its lower skirt 240. 
Bag 290 is intended for use with utensils or accessories which, like that 
shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, have studs to which the upper portion of the bag 
can be attached to secure the upper part of the bag in place. The weight 
of the comestibles disposed within the bag is relied upon to keep the 
lower end of the bag in place. 
Disposable cooking bags as described and illustrated above and defined in 
the appended claims are quite different from the prior art disposable bags 
disclosed in the references identified above and the Sears "Meal In A 
Minute" bag illustrated in FIG. 13 and identified by reference characer 
294. For the most part, the previously disclosed cooking bags have no 
provision for attaching their lower, closed ends to the accessory or 
utensil with which they are associated. Nor is there any provision for so 
attaching the upper, open end of the bag to the accessory or utensil that 
it can be opened and closed by pivotable elements incorporated in the 
latter. 
While bag 294 does have apertures 296 formed therein, these are located 
only in the upper part of the bag in skirts 298 beyond seams 300 making 
them useless for securing the lower part of the bag to a utensil or 
accessory in the manner described above. 
I have illustrated in the drawing and described above a variety of 
disposable cooking bags in accord with the principles of the present 
invention. These particular embodiments were in part selected to show the 
features of my invention with a minimum of repetition. Therefore, while it 
has not in conjunction with each embodiment been so stated, it is to be 
understood that various ones of these features can be employed in the same 
bag and that such bags are fully intended to be covered by the appended 
claims. Also, bags adhering to the principles of the present invention 
will not necessarily resemble those shown in the drawing in appearance to 
any great extent. Consonant with the foregoing, the present embodiments of 
my invention are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not 
restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended 
claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all changes which 
come within the meaning and range of equivalents of the claims are 
therefore to be embraced therein.