Abstract:
A bag for holding a food item within a cooking appliance is formed with a mounting opening. The bag is mounted to a cooking appliance, such as an indoor grill, by placing the mounting openings over a mounting fixture provided on the appliance. Alternatively, the bag may be mounted to the kitchen appliance with a spring-biased clasp.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/749,077, filed on Dec. 9, 2005 whose specification and drawings are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to bags, sacks and pouches for holding a food within a cooking or heating appliance.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Disclosed herein is a cooking bag to avoid a messy clean-up after grilling, toasting or otherwise cooking food in a grill, toaster, toaster oven or similar cooking appliance. The bag is designed to withstand the heat of cooking and is adapted to directly contact hot grilling surfaces without melting or burning during normal use.  
         [0004]     The cooking bag is adapted to contain not only the food being cooked but also any liquids and grease which may be driven from the food during cooking. Since the food within the bag does not directly contact the cooking appliance, there is little or no need for clean-up. Moreover, the cooking bag can be produced economically so that it may be discarded after use to further eliminate any clean-up.  
         [0005]     It is possible to form a liquid and grease compartment in the bag to separate the food being cooked from the liquid and grease which drips from the food. Alternatively, or in addition to this separate liquid and grease compartment, an absorbent material may be disposed within the bag for absorbing liquid and grease. This is advantageous in that the absorbent material prevents liquids and grease from flowing out of the bag during cooking in the cooking appliance, during removal of the bag from a cooking appliance, during removal of the cooked food from the bag, and during disposal of the bag.  
         [0006]     The bag may be constructed from a cooking parchment having a low friction interior coating to facilitate removal of food from the bag after cooking, grilling, baking, etc. The bag is adapted to be positioned in any orientation within a cooking appliance, from vertical to horizontal. Mounting holes or other mounting arrangements can be used to secure and fix the bag in position within an appliance during cooking. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a cooking bag constructed in accordance with the present invention and mounted in a vertical orientation with a cooking appliance.  
         [0008]      FIGS. 2 through 7  are views of alternate bag constructions in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 8  is a partial view in section of a bag constructed in accordance with the invention and including a grease trap.  
         [0010]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of section  9  of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0011]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are alternate constructions of section  9  of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 12  is a view of a bag having a series of attachment points for forming a grease trap.  
         [0013]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a bag constructed in accordance with the invention adapted for use with a horizontal or mildly inclined clamshell-type grill.  
         [0014]      FIG. 14  is an alternate construction of bag having side holders constructed in accordance with the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 15  is a schematic view of a strip of multiple bags formed from a perforated tube-like assembly.  
         [0016]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a bag constructed with a bonded edge seam.  
         [0017]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged view in section of the seam of area A in  FIG. 16 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a bag constructed with a bonded face seam.  
         [0019]      FIG. 19  is an enlarged view in section of the seam of area B in  FIG. 19 .  
         [0020]      FIGS. 21 through 23  show further embodiments of cooking bags constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cooking bag having a reclosable adhesive top flap and a removable side panel.  
         [0022]      FIG. 25  is an exploded view of  FIG. 24  with the peel-off strip removed and the flaps peeled open to release a side panel.  
         [0023]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cooking bag.  
         [0024]      FIG. 27  is a partial cross sectional view through the seam of the bag of  FIG. 26 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 28  is a partial cross sectional view through the bottom of the bag of  FIG. 26 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     A bag  110  constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 1  mounted to a heating or cooking appliance  112 . Appliance  112  can be of virtually any construction such as a toaster, grill, oven, or the like. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , bag  110  is provided with such mounting holes, slits or perforations  114  that are adapted to engage mounting projections such as elbows or hooks  116  fixed to the appliance  112 . The holes or slits can be less than one inch in diameter and can be anywhere from ⅛ inch long or ⅛ inch in diameter to about ½ inch long to ½ inch in diameter. It is also possible to clip or clamp the bag  110  in position by substituting or adding spring-biased clips or clamps such as those used on clipboards to the appliance  110 . Alternatively, wire clips similar to paper clips, can be used for this purpose.  
         [0027]     In this manner, the bag  110  can be vertically suspended within the cooking appliance  112  for holding a food item  118  within a cooking compartment  119  as the food is grilled, broiled, toasted, baked or otherwise cooked within the cooking appliance  112 . Alternatively, the bag  110  can be mounted at any angle between horizontal and vertical. Food item  118  can be virtually any type of food such as beef, poultry, fish or vegetables. Movable opposed heated grill plates  120  can be mounted in the side walls of appliance  112  and adapted to clamp bag  110  and food item  118  between them and apply grill marks to the food item through the bag  110 .  
         [0028]     As seen in  FIGS. 2 through 18 , a bag according to the invention can take numerous forms and can be manufactured in many different ways. In  FIG. 2 , bag  110 B is formed with a series of mounting holes  114 B. A reinforcing ring  122  can be applied around the periphery of each mounting hole  114 B to add strength to the bag  110 B to prevent tearing when the bag is suspended with a food item  118  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Ring  122  can be formed of paper, cloth, plastic or other material, and can be circular, oval, rectangular or any other shape. Adhesive or heat can be used to bond the ring  122  to the bag  110 B. Ring  122  can be applied as an adhesive bead which surrounds hole  114 .  
         [0029]     As further seen in  FIG. 2 , bag  110 B can be formed with side folds or gussets  124  to expand in accordion fashion to accommodate thicker food items such as thick steaks or vegetables.  
         [0030]     Alternatively, as seen in  FIG. 3 , an extension of each side panel  126  of bag  110 C can be formed as a tab which can be folded over and glued or otherwise fixed to its respective side panel  126  so as to form a reinforcing ring  128 . Each side panel  126  is glued to the opposed side panel  126  along each side edge  130  and along bottom edge  132  so as to form the internal cooking compartment  119 . These edges  130  and  132  can be folded over and bonded for even greater strength.  
         [0031]     An alternate location for mounting holes  114 D is shown in  FIG. 4  wherein the mounting holes  114 D are formed through side edges  130  of bag  110 D. In this case, the cooking appliance can be provided with matching internal mounting projections.  
         [0032]     Another embodiment of bag  110 E is shown in  FIG. 5  wherein one side panel  126 E is extended beyond the top edge of the other side panel and folded over to form a flap  134  with a preformed seam  136 . Alternatively, both side panels can be folded over. A single mounting hole  114 E may be provided, as shown formed in flap  134 . In this manner, the bag  110 E can substantially encapsulate a food item  18 .  
         [0033]     With the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , a food item can be prepackaged within bag  110 E and refrigerated or frozen until use. Such prepackaged food items can be sold at grocery stores, brought home and cooked without any mess or preparation other than inserting the prepackaged food item into the appliance, cooking it and removing it from bag  110 E and eating it. The bag  110 E can be discarded, or can include a closure at the top such as the folded top edge of side panel  126 E shown in  FIG. 5 . Alternatively, the bag  110 E may be formed with a snap closure, a “zip lock”-type closure as found on sandwich bags, or a heat seal or removable adhesive seal or a seal as used on freezer bags.  
         [0034]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show an embodiment of the bag,  110 F, similar to that shown in  FIG. 3 , except the entire top edge  140  of each side panel  126 F is folded over for reinforcement and strength.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 8 through 12  show the formation of a liquid, grease and residue trap  142  along the bottom edge  132 G of bag  110 G. Trap  142  can be formed by gluing laterally spaced apart bonds  144  ( FIGS. 9 and 12 ) between the interior walls of each side panel  126 G.  
         [0036]     In this manner, food item  118  within the cooking compartment is held suspended above or spaced from the trap  142 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . An optional absorbent strip, pad, wad  146 , or the like can be disposed in trap  142  to absorb liquid and residue during cooking and subsequent handling of bag  110 G so as to prevent residue and liquid from escaping trap  142 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 10  shows the use of mechanical fasteners such as staples  148  instead of spot bonds  144  and  FIG. 11  shows the similar use of crimp regions or spot welds  150  in place of spot bonds  144 . Crimp regions can be formed by heat and pressure and or by piercing through panels  126 G.  
         [0038]     Wad  146  can be formed of absorbent paper such as used in paper towels, or foamy or sponge-type synthetic material, or fabric and felt-type materials and cotton.  
         [0039]     The bag, such as  110 E shown in  FIG. 5 , can be placed on the bottom half  152  of grill  112 B. The top half  154  of grill  112 B is pivotally attached to the bottom half  152  by a hinge  156 .  
         [0040]     As seen in  FIG. 14 , side handles or grasps  160  may be formed as extensions of side panels  126 H and bonded together along bond line  162 . Grasps  160  help to avoid contact with the heated central portion of bag  110 H. Mounting holes  114 H may be formed in side grasps  60  to engage mating projections within a cooking appliance.  
         [0041]     As seen in  FIG. 15 , a series of interconnected bags  110 J can be formed from an elongated tube  166  in a manner similar to rolled lengths of plastic bags commonly used at grocery store produce and bagging locations. Sealed sections  132 J form the bottom edge of each bag and bonds  144 J define trap areas  142 J and cooking compartments  119 J. Transverse perforations  170  allow the individual bags  110 J to be separated from tube  166  which may be formed into a roll for dispensing.  
         [0042]      FIGS. 16 through 19  show alternate bag constructions with bonded edges. In  FIGS. 16 and 17  the side edges  130 K are bonded together along adhesive bond line  172 K. A single panel  174 K is folded over along a bottom fold line  176 K prior to forming the adhesive bond lines  172 K.  
         [0043]     In  FIGS. 18 and 19  a single vertical bond line  172 L can be formed along an overlapped interior portion of the panel  126 L. A single bottom weld or bond  172 L may also be formed along bottom portion  132 L. A silicone based food grade adhesive  182 L can be used for forming bonds in bag  110 L and Silidor parchment and wax paper can be used for panels  126 L. Cooking parchment with a cooking oil or other food release coating or agent can also be used for panels  126 L.  
         [0044]      FIGS. 20, 21 ,  22 , and  23  show further bag embodiments according to the invention.  
         [0045]      FIGS. 24 and 25  show another embodiment of the invention wherein bag  110 M is provided with a closure flap  134 M having a peel-off strip  180  covering a strip of tacky adhesive  182 . Strip  180  may be peeled away to uncover the underlying adhesive  182 . Closure flap  134  may then be folded downwardly along fold line  186  in the direction of arrows  88  to form a liquid or air-tight seal on bag  110 M. Adhesive  182  may be of the gummy reusable type, allowing flap  134  to be opened and effectively resealed several times.  
         [0046]     Similar releasable adhesive  90  ( FIG. 25 ) may be provided on side flaps  192  and bottom flap  194  to allow these flaps to be peeled from the front side panel  126 MF so as to release and remove the front side panel  126 MF from the rear side panel  126 MR. This allows frozen food to be easily removed, as well as heated food. The front panel  126 MF may be repositioned over the rear panel  126 MR and resealed by flaps  190 ,  194  and  134 M.  
         [0047]      FIGS. 26 through 28  show another embodiment of the invention in the form of bag  110 N, which is similar to bag  110 F of  FIGS. 6 and 7  except that side panel  126 N is rolled upon itself to seal the bottom of the bag along its bottom edge  132 N, as shown in  FIG. 28 . Bottom edge  132 N and bond line  172 N may be bonded by adhesive  182 N or some other known means.  
         [0048]     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above bags are merely representative of the many possible embodiments of the invention and that the scope of the invention should not be limited thereto, but instead should only be limited according to the following claims.