Abstract:
A meat storage device comprising a cylindrical food-grade plastic tube, a paper, wax-coated paper or plastic sheets, and a sealable plastic bag is presented. Additionally, a method of storing meat products such as bacon composing rolling meat strips around a cylindrical food-grade plastic tube with successive layers being sandwiched between a paper; wax-coated paper or plastic sheet is presented.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority under 35 USC 119 (e) (1) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/575,158 filed Aug. 15, 2011, of common inventorship, entitled “Bacon Roll”. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present Invention pertains to the field of food supplies, and more specifically to the field of storage and packaging for meat products such as bacon. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The prior art has put forth several designs for storage and packaging for bacon. Among these are: 
         [0006]    US Patent 2003/0148002 to Adele Mercier describes a packaging for bacon strips or other meats in which a strip of bacon is placed along one edge of a cellophane or other wrapping material. Bacon strips are wrapped in individual cellophane compartments and placed one over another until the desired number are stored in a neat accordion type package. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,761 to Louis G. Haerr describes a method of storing bacon so individual slices are made suitable to be cooked in a microwave oven. After slicing strips from a pork belly, individual bacon slices are frozen, wrapped in a microwaveable sheet of material, and then packaged in containers suitable for freezer storing. When ready to serve, the bacon strips are removed one at a time and cooked in a microwave oven. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,487 to Clifford C. Faust and Mark F. Mettler describes a disposable storage package that comprises an upper layer composed of a thin film plastic material having a seated pleated section. The pleated section extends from opposite parallel sides Intermediate the ends thereof and an elongated vent is disposed within this section. The sealed pleated section is adapted to open and expose the vent to a predetermined temperature below the cooking temperature of the bacon. 
         [0009]    None of these prior art references describe the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for storage and packaging for meat products such as bacon. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is shows two perspective views of the present invention. A first roll is in a rolling out position and a second roll is in a rolled up position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]    Bacon is a cured meat product that is made from pork. Bacon is prepared differently all over the world. American bacon almost always is prepared from a pork belly and sometimes is known as streaky bacon. One definition of bacon states that bacon is the cured belly of a swine carcass. An Integral part of the curing process is soaking the meat in a brine solution. Bacon varieties include smoking with corn cobs or hickory. Approximately two billion pounds are consumed annually in this country, and most bacon is commercially prepared and marketed by large food corporations. Small artisanal bacon producers exist all across this country and their product is either consumed locally or offered in specialty catalogs. Bacon is demonized as unhealthy, but factually it is healthier than presented. From a nutritional point of view, two slices of cooked bacon represent approximately one hundred and four calories, fourteen percent total fat, five percent cholesterol, twelve percent sodium and eleven percent protein placing it within recommended daily allowances. Lean bacon has a relatively low caloric content, helps boast energy and is a good source of iron because it is ham iron that is readily absorbed into the blood stream. 
         [0013]    Bacon is typically packaged in flat containers with the bacon pre-sliced and shrink wrapped. The bacon is difficult to separate from slice to slice and the package is usually not consumed in one sitting, so the remainder of the product is sealed and refrigerated. The bacon has a tendency to get rancid due in part to exposure of the bacon to air. 
         [0014]    The present invention, hereinafter referred to as the Bacon Roll, is different from current bacon packaging. The Bacon Roll device is a hollow food grade plastic cylinder around which pre-sliced meat product or bacon strips are rolled. A layer of strips are arranged length wise corresponding with the length of the tube on a wax paper sheet or other suitable plastic or paper sheet for wrapping meat. The strips are then wrapped around the cylinder. Optionally a second and or successive layers of meat strips are arranged on the paper and wrapped over the roll on top of the existing layers. In this way the paper separates the layers of strips. The product can be sold frozen or refrigerated with the consumer having the option of freezing. The amount of bacon desired is sliced from the roil, and the remaining product is resealed and frozen. 
         [0015]    The Bacon Roll may also be offered as a packaging kit to be used at home so the consumer can have a choice of any bacon brand product that is consumed in the household. Utilizing the separate wrapping kit at home, the bacon is placed on a long strip of waxed paper that is approximately forty eight inches in length. Each piece is placed side by side to the other without the slices touching one another. The user next places an equal amount of waxed paper to cover the entire bacon layout. The section is rolled around the plastic tubing until another row of bacon slices is wrapped around the cylinder. The wrapping paper is marked on its edges displaying what quantity of bacon is to be used. The entire tube then is fitted into a sealable plastic bag that is supplied with the kit. Using this method, the entire package of bacon is wrapped, sealed and frozen. The bacon is removed as needed by simply cutting the plastic roll adjacent to the last strip needed. The remainder of the bacon is placed back in the freezer until the next use. The Bacon Roll eliminates having to throwaway unused bacon that has been in the refrigerator too long and then spending extra dollars to replace a food staple that has gone bad. The present invention also provides the consumer with an accurate and efficient method of storing and cooking the bacon is predetermined amounts. 
         [0016]    Although this invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto and various modifications which will become apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.