CA2349087A1 - Liquid absorbing sheet for an exuding food product - Google Patents

Liquid absorbing sheet for an exuding food product Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2349087A1
CA2349087A1 CA 2349087 CA2349087A CA2349087A1 CA 2349087 A1 CA2349087 A1 CA 2349087A1 CA 2349087 CA2349087 CA 2349087 CA 2349087 A CA2349087 A CA 2349087A CA 2349087 A1 CA2349087 A1 CA 2349087A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
liquid
absorbing
zone
sheet
liquid absorbing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2349087
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Sylvie Lemaire
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fempro Inc
Original Assignee
Fempro Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from CA002309803A external-priority patent/CA2309803A1/en
Application filed by Fempro Inc filed Critical Fempro Inc
Priority to CA 2349087 priority Critical patent/CA2349087A1/en
Publication of CA2349087A1 publication Critical patent/CA2349087A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32BLAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B5/00Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
    • B32B5/22Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed
    • B32B5/32Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed at least two layers being foamed and next to each other

Abstract

A liquid absorbing sheet for absorbing liquids exuding from a food product disposed in a container of the type having a bottom wall provided with a furrow extending along a side wall of the container. The absorbing sheet comprises a first absorbing zone centrally located on the sheet and comprising a permeable top layer made of a liquid permeable material, an impermeable bottom layer made of a liquid impermeable layer and an absorbing mat between the top layer and the bottom layer, made of a liquid absorbing material. The sheet further comprises a second absorbing zone having an elongated and narrow configuration adapted to fit over the furrow, and comprising an impermeable top layer made of a liquid impermeable material, a permeable bottom layer made of a liquid permeable material and an absorbing mat between the top and the bottom layer, made of a liquid absorbing material.

Description

LIQUID ABSORBING SHEET FOR AN EXUDING FOOD PRODUCT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of liquid absorbing sheets used in the packaging andlor preserving of food products that fend to exude juice. More specifically, the present invention concerns a liquid absorbing sheet suitable for use in a container having a bottom wall provided with furrow extending along a side wall thereof and where liquid exuding from the food product tends to accumulate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Already known in the prior art, there are different types of liquid absorbing sheets capable of absorbing liquid exuding from food products such as meat; fish, fruits or vegetables. The known absorbing sheets are often used in the packaging of food products for individually wrapping the food.
Often, the food is packed in a shallow container made of polystyrene covered with a plastic film. In order to absorb the exuding liquids, an absorbing sheet is disposed on the bottom of the container, under the food.
Commonly used is an absorbing sheet comprising an absorbing mat sandwiched between two layers of a permeable material, such as a perforated plastic film.
Although the known absorbing sheets may be very advantageous when used with a container having a flat bottom wall, they show certain drawbacks when used with a container having a bottom wall with a relief, such as the drawers of a refrigerator or any plastic container of the type marketed by the company Tupperware* or any other type. Those containers with a relief often comprise a furrow extending along a side wall ' trademark of the container. The liquid that ends in those furrows never gets in contact with the absorbing sheet and is thus never absorbed.
There is thus presently a need for a liquid absorbing sheet suitable adapted for use with a container having a bottom wall provided with a furrow.
Examples of prior art absorbing sheets for exuding food product are given in US patents nos.: 885,778; 1,841,889; 1,871,419; 2,300,041; 4,124,116;
4,275,811; 4,676,196; 4,756,939; 4,802,574; 5,046,604; 5,556,030;
5,611,486; 5,709,897; 5,804,241; 6,015,582.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid absorbing sheet that will satisfy that need.
In accordance with the present invention, that object is achieved with a liquid absorbing sheet for absorbing liquids exuding from a food product disposed on a surface with a relief, the absorbing sheet having a top side devised to receive thereon the food product and an underside, and comprising:
a first absorbing zone comprising a permeable top layer made of a liquid permeable material, an impermeable bottom layer made of a liquid impermeable layer and an absorbing mat between the top layer and the bottom layer, made of a liquid absorbing material; and a second absorbing zone comprising:
an impermeable top layer made of a liquid impermeable material, a permeable bottom layer made of a liquid permeable material and an absorbing mat between the top and the bottom layer, made of a liquid absorbing material.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention also proposes a liquid absorbing sheet for absorbing liquids exuding from a food product disposed in a container of the type having a bottom wall provided with a furrow extending along a side wall of the container, the absorbing sheet having a top side devised to receive thereon the food product and an underside, and comprising:
a first absorbing zone centrally located on the sheet and comprising:
a permeable top layer made of a liquid permeable material, an impermeable bottom layer made of a liquid impermeable layer and an absorbing mat between the top layer and the bottom layer, made of a liquid absorbing material; and a second absorbing zone having an elongated and narrow configuration adapted to fit over said furrow, the second absorbing zone comprising:
an impermeable top layer made of a liquid impermeable material, a permeable bottom layer made of a liquid permeable material and an absorbing mat between the top and the bottom layer, made of a liquid absorbing material.
As can be appreciated, and thanks to its different absorbing zones, a liquid absorbing sheet according to the present invention allows the exuded juice that tends to accumulate in the groove or furrow of the bottom wall of a container to be efficaciously absorbed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention and its advantages will be more easily understood after reading the following non restrictive description of a preferred embodiment thereof ,made with reference to the following drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a container provided with an absorbing sheet in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the absorbing sheet of figure 1.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the liquid absorbing sheet of figure 1.
While the invention will be described in conjunction with an example embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to such embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included as defined by the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to figure 1, a piece of food product (1) such as a piece of meat, poultry, fish, vegetable or fruit or any other food product which exudes liquids, is shown disposed on a liquid absorbing sheet (10) according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, which in turn is disposed on the bottom wall (12) of a container (14), such as a drawer of a refrigerator, a Tupperware* type plastic container, or any other container with a non-flat bottom wall. Indeed, the bottom wall (12) of the container is not flat, it has a relief formed by a furrow (16) extending along the side wall (18) of the trademark container (14) and where the liquids exuding from the food products tend to accumulate.
Referring now also to figures 2 and 3, the liquid absorbing sheet (10) has a top side (20) and an underside (22), the top side (20) being devised to 5 receive thereon the food product (1). The absorbing sheet (10) further includes a first absorbing zone (24) and a second absorbing zone (26}. In the case where the absorbing sheet (10) is for use with a container (14}
having a furrow (16) extending all along the side walls (18) of the container (14}, as is usually the case with the drawer of a refrigerator or with many plastic containers of the Tupperware* type, the first absorbing zone (24) is preferably centrally located on the sheet (10) to receive thereon the food product (1) and is completely surrounded by the second absorbing zone (26).
As best shown in figure 3, the first absorbing zone (24) comprises a permeable top layer (28) made of a liquid permeable material, an impermeable bottom layer (30) made of a liquid impermeable layer and an absorbing mat (32) between the top layer (28) and the bottom layer (30), made of a liquid absorbing material. Therefore, the liquid exuding from the food product disposed on the first absorbing zone (24) crosses the top layer (20) and is absorbed by the absorbing mat (32). The exceeding liquid which is not absorbed if the absorbing mat (32) is supersaturated cannot cross the bottom layer (30} and will thus end overflowing in the furrow (18).
As for the second absorbing zone (26), it comprises an impermeable top layer (38) made of a liquid impermeable material, a permeable bottom layer (40) made of a liquid permeable material and an absorbing mat (42) between the top layer (38) and the bottom layer (40), made of a liquid absorbing material. Thus, the overflowed liquid from the first absorbing zone (24) is absorbed in the second absorbing zone (26).
The second absorbing zone (26) preferably has an elongated and narrow configuration with a concave transversal cross section adapted to fit over the furrow (16) of the container (14), as shown in figure 1.
Also preferably, a liquid barrier (44) is provided between the first and the second absorbing zone (24,26). The liquid barrier (44) is preferably obtained by a goffering process where the end of the permeable top layer (28) of the first absorbing zone (24) and the end of the impermeable top layer (38} of the second absorbing zone (24) are thermo- pressed with the end of the permeable bottom layer (40) of the second zone (24) and of the impermeable bottom layer (30) of the first zone (24).
On the top side (20) of the sheet (10), and as long as the absorbant mat (32) of the first absorbing zone (24) is not saturated, the liquid barrier (44) helps keeping the liquids in the centrally located second zone (24), and therefore, helps preventing the liquids from overflowing from the first absorbing zone (24).
The liquid permeable material used in the first zone (24) and in the second zone (26) may be different, but preferably the same material is used.
However in both cases, the liquid permeable material is preferably a wet-strength material selected from the group consisting of paper, pulp, non-woven cloth and perforated plastic film. A wet strength material means a material capable of keeping its cohesion even when wet.
The liquid permeable material in both zones also helps keeping the absorbent mat in one piece, as well as preventing the food product from contacting the cellulose fiber of the absorbing mat.
As can also be appreciated, the liquid permeable material of the surrounding second zone (26) disposed over the furrow (16) allows the trademark liquid overtlowing from the top side (20) of the sheet (10) and accumulating in the furrow (16} to be absorbed by the second absorbing zone (26).
The liquid impermeable material used in the first zone (24) and in the second zone (26} may be different, but preferably, the same material is used. However, in both cases, the liquid impermeable material is preferably selected from the group consisting of a synthetic resin film, a water proof process paper and an aluminium foil. More preferably, it is a synthetic resin film selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene.
Most preferably, propylene is used.
The liquid absorbing sheet used in the first zone (24) and in the second zone (26) may be different, but preferably, the same material is used. In both cases, it is preferably selected from the group consisting of cellulose fiber, rayon fiber and cotton fiber and it has an absorption capacity from 65 g/cm2 to 300 g/cm2. Most preferably, the absorbing mats (32,42} are made of cellulose fibers linked or not linked.
Also preferably, the liquid absorbing material includes at least one additive selected from the group consisting of retention agent, odour control agent and bacteria control agent. It may also contain a chemical agent capable of transforming the absorbed liquid into a gel.
Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

Claims (19)

1. A liquid absorbing sheet for absorbing liquids exuding from a food product disposed on a surface with a relief, the absorbing sheet having a top side devised to receive thereon the food product and an underside, and comprising:
a first absorbing zone comprising:
a permeable top layer made of a liquid permeable material, an impermeable bottom layer made of a liquid impermeable layer and an absorbing mat between the top layer and the bottom layer, made of a liquid absorbing material; and a second absorbing zone comprising:
an impermeable top layer made of a liquid impermeable material, a permeable bottom layer made of a liquid permeable material and an absorbing mat between the top and the bottom layer, made of a liquid absorbing material.
2. A liquid absorbing sheet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first absorbing zone is centrally located on the sheet.
3. A liquid absorbing sheet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second absorbing zone is elongated and narrow.
4. A liquid absorbing sheet as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second absorbing zone has a concave transversal cross section.
5. A liquid absorbing sheet for absorbing liquids exuding from a food product disposed in a container of the type having a bottom wall provided with a furrow extending along a side wall of the container, the absorbing sheet having a top side devised to receive thereon the food product and an underside, and comprising:
a first absorbing zone centrally located on the sheet and comprising:
a permeable top layer made of a liquid permeable material, an impermeable bottom layer made of a liquid impermeable layer and an absorbing mat between the top layer and the bottom layer, made of a liquid absorbing material; and a second absorbing zone having an elongated and narrow configuration adapted to fit over said furrow, the second absorbing zone comprising:
an impermeable top layer made of a liquid impermeable material, a permeable bottom layer made of a liquid permeable material and an absorbing mat between the top and the bottom layer, made of a liquid absorbing material.
6. A liquid absorbing sheet as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the second absorbing zone has a concave transversal cross-section.
7. A liquid absorbing sheet as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second absorbing zone surrounds the first absorbing zone.
8. A liquid absorbing sheet as claimed in claim 7, comprising a liquid barrier between the first and second absorbing zone.
9. A liquid absorbing sheet as claimed in claim 8, wherein the liquid barrier is obtained by a calendering process.
10 10. A liquid absorbing sheet as claimed in claim 5, wherein the liquid permeable material used for the first zone and for the second zone is the same.
11. A liquid absorbing sheet as claimed in claim 10, wherein the liquid permeable material is a wet-strength material.
12. A liquid absorbing material as claimed in claim 11, wherein the wet-strength material is selected from the group consisting of paper, pulp, non-woven cloth and perforated plastic film.
13. A liquid absorbing material as claimed in claim 5, wherein the liquid impermeable material used for the first zone and for the second zone is the same.
14. A liquid absorbing material as claimed in claim 13, wherein, the liquid impermeable material is selected from the group consisting of a synthetic resin film, a water proof process paper and an aluminium foil.
15. A liquid absorbing sheet as claimed in claim 14, wherein the synthetic resin film is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene.
16. A liquid absorbing sheet as claimed in claim 5, wherein the liquid absorbing material used for the first zone and for the second zone is the same.
17. A liquid absorbing sheet as claimed in claim 16, wherein the liquid absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of cellulose fiber, rayon fiber and cotton fiber.
18. A liquid absorbing sheet as claimed in claim 17, wherein the liquid absorbing material has an absorption capacity from 65 g/cm2 to 300 g/cm2.
19. A liquid absorbing sheet as claimed in claim 16, wherein the liquid absorbing material includes at least one additive selected from the group consisting of retention agent, odour control agent and bacteria control agent.
CA 2349087 2000-05-31 2001-05-30 Liquid absorbing sheet for an exuding food product Abandoned CA2349087A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2349087 CA2349087A1 (en) 2000-05-31 2001-05-30 Liquid absorbing sheet for an exuding food product

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002309803A CA2309803A1 (en) 2000-05-31 2000-05-31 Food blotter
CA2,309,803 2000-05-31
CA 2349087 CA2349087A1 (en) 2000-05-31 2001-05-30 Liquid absorbing sheet for an exuding food product

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2349087A1 true CA2349087A1 (en) 2001-11-30

Family

ID=25681838

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2349087 Abandoned CA2349087A1 (en) 2000-05-31 2001-05-30 Liquid absorbing sheet for an exuding food product

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2349087A1 (en)

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