CA2479143C - Single-use one-way valve for food package that emits sound signal at sufficient heating - Google Patents

Single-use one-way valve for food package that emits sound signal at sufficient heating Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2479143C
CA2479143C CA002479143A CA2479143A CA2479143C CA 2479143 C CA2479143 C CA 2479143C CA 002479143 A CA002479143 A CA 002479143A CA 2479143 A CA2479143 A CA 2479143A CA 2479143 C CA2479143 C CA 2479143C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
valve
package
sound signal
adhesive layer
food
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.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA002479143A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2479143A1 (en
Inventor
Joel Haamer
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.)
Micvac AB
Original Assignee
Micvac AB
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
Application filed by Micvac AB filed Critical Micvac AB
Publication of CA2479143A1 publication Critical patent/CA2479143A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2479143C publication Critical patent/CA2479143C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D51/00Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/16Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D51/00Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/16Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas
    • B65D51/1633Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby venting occurs by automatic opening of the closure, container or other element
    • B65D51/1644Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby venting occurs by automatic opening of the closure, container or other element the element being a valve
    • B65D51/165Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby venting occurs by automatic opening of the closure, container or other element the element being a valve formed by a slit or narrow opening
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/34Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within the package
    • B65D81/3446Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within the package specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/14Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
    • B65D83/34Cleaning or preventing clogging of the discharge passage

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Package Specialized In Special Use (AREA)
  • Cookers (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Table Equipment (AREA)
  • Fish Paste Products (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention concerns a single-use valve (1) for mounting on a package (2), particularly food packages the contents of which are to be heated in a microwave oven (3). The valve (1) is arranged to open in response to an excess pressure generated inside the package (2) upon heating of said package (2). The valve comprises an opening (4) formed in the package (2), on top of which opening (4) an adhesive layer (5) is applied. The valve (1) is also arranged to emit a sound signal when subjected to said pressure load.

Description

Single-use one-way valve for food package that emits sound signal at sufficient heating Technical field of the invention The present invention relates to a single-use valve intended to be mounted on a package, particularly food packages the contents of which are to be heated in a mi-crowave oven, said valve arranged to open in response to an excess pressure generated inside the package upon heating of the latter.

Background of the invention In food packages, for example of the kind that con-tain heat-and-eat one-portion dishes and that are sold in refrigeration and freezing compartments, respectively, to be heated or cooked to ready-to-eat state in a microwave oven, the food product usually is placed in a heat-resis-tant tray covered by plastic film. When the package is to be heated, the plastic film is either removed or aper-tures are pierced therein and the entire tray is then placed inside the microwave oven. Because of the varying performance of different types of microwave ovens and be-cause the food product absorbs microwave energy differ-ently, depending on the composition and the temperature of the food product, heating times vary considerably.
Consequently, it is difficult to give recommendations to the consumer as to the exact heating times required to reach the ready-to-eat state. The consumer therefore might have to open and reopen the microwave door several times to convince himself that the dish is completely hot or completely cooked. However, it is difficult to estab-lish whether all parts of the dish are hot or if locally it is still cold, and this is due to the inherent diffi-culty of microwave ovens to heat the food product evenly.
Over-heating of the food is not either recommendable, since in this case the tray or the plastic film still po-sitioned thereon may melt locally and ruin the food, or since overheating makes the food soggy, over-cooked and unpalatable. The consumer therefore should remain beside the microwave oven during the heating in order to check when the food product has reached the ready state.
Summary of the invention An aspect of the invention provides a single-use valve for mounting on a package, said valve arranged to open in response to an excess pressure generated inside the package upon heating of the latter, wherein the valve comprises an opening formed in the package, an adhesive layer is on top of said opening, and wherein said valve is arranged to emit a sound signal when subjected to said pressure load.

The present invention relates to a single-use valve, which is intended for mounting on a package, particularly on food packages, the contents of which are to be heated in a microwave oven. The valve is arranged to open in re-sponse to an excess pressure generated in said package as the latter is being exposed to heat. The inventive valve is arranged to emit a sound signal when subjected to said pressure load. According to the teachings of the inven-tion, the valve is arranged on a package intended to hold food products that are to be cooked/heated by the con-sumer until they reach a ready-to-eat state. This kind of package is commonly used for example as single-portion packages holding lunch or dinner dishes. The valve does not open until a'predetermined water-vapor pressure is reached inside the package. Inside the package, equaliza-tion of temperature takes place as hot water-vapor con-denses on cold areas of the product (the cold-wall prin-ciple). Not until the entire product has reached about 100 C on the surface is it possible for an excess pres-sure of vapor to generate inside the package. The magni-tude of the valve-opening pressure could be determined on the basis of the resiliency of the valve material, the size of the valve opening or the melting point of the ad-hesive. The valve emits a sound signal as water vapor flows through the valve. The sound signal indicates to the user that the food product has reached the ready state. In this manner is achieved not only the even heat-ing results aimed for to ensure that some zones of the food product do not remain cold but also the user is given an audible indication that the dish is ready. The user need not open the microwave-oven door to ascertain the condition of the dish but could attend to other mat-ters in the meantime.
Alternatively, the valve is an indication of frac-ture, a slit or an aperture across which an adhesive layer is disposed. The adhesive layer is arranged in a manner ensuring that it is forced to move, when a flow of air and vapor exits through the valve, in response to which a sound signal is generated.
The valve preferably is configured as a slit formed in the package, on top'of which slit an adhesive layer is placed.
At least one part of the adhesive layer is formed with an adhesive of a kind that is suitable for use to-gether with foodstuff, since the invention is primarily intended for food packages.
It is likewise suitable that the adhesive layer is a tape, preferably of a resilient kind to allow it to adapt itself to the movements of the package material during handling and not disengage itself from the support.
The adhesive layer could likewise be a label, thus minimizing the consumption of material as well as the amount of labor required to mark the product in outlet stores.
It is advantageous if the packaging material on which the valve is provided consists of a non-directional laminate. In a directional material, a slit would cause a rent to develop in the material.
Brief description of the drawings The invention will be described in the following in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which for exemplifying purposes show presently particu-larly preferred embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:
Fig 1 is an overall view of a package having a valve in accordance with the present invention.
Fig 2 is a cross-sectional view showing two differ-ent stages of the process of heating a package having a valve in accordance with the present invention. Fig 2a shows the package in a cold state and Fig 2b the package in a heated state.

Fig 3 is a perspective view, showing a microwave oven.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments The food package 2 of Fig 1 consists of a tray 7 holding a food product 8. A packaging material 6 in the form of a non-directional laminate is positioned on top of the tray 7 in order to protect the food product 8 from external manipulation during the production and distribu-tion stages. The tray 7 as well as the laminate 6 consist of heat-resistant materials, since their intended func-tion is to enclose food that is to be heated. The lami-nate 6 is welded to the tray 7 to produce a strong and impermeable seam. The valve 1 in accordance with the pre-sent invention is formed in the non-directional laminate 6. The valve 1 is an opening 4 passing through the lami-nate. A resilient tape 5 the adhesive of which is suit-able for use together with foodstuff is placed on top of the opening 4. The location of tape 5 is chosen such that the distance between the opening 4 and the longitudinal edges of the tape 5 in conjunction with the strength of the adhesive of the tape 5 ensures that an excess water-vapor pressure generated inside the package 2 as the food product contained therein is being heated, is powerful enough to force water vapor out through the opening 4 while passing between the tape 5 and the laminate and in doing so generate a sound signal owing to the vibration 5 of the tape. Alternatively, a slit may be formed in the adhesive layer/tape 5 to prevent the longitudinal edge thereof to open up in an uncontrolled manner.
Fig 2a shows the same food package 2 as Fig 1. The food product 8 is positioned in the tray 7, which is cov-ered by the laminate 6. The valve 1, in the form of open-ing 4 and tape 5, is provided in the laminate 6. This drawing`figure shows the food product 8 in the condition in which it is sold to the consumer, i.e. deep-frozen, refrigerated or stored in some other way. Fig 2b shows the food package 2 while being exposed to microwaves for heating purposes and in the state when the food product 8 is sufficiently warm for the water vapor to create an ex-cess pressure inside the package 2 that is powerful enough to open the valve 1 and generate a sound signal.
Fig 3 finally shows a microwave oven 3, in which the food package 2 may be positioned for heating of the food product 8.
As will be realized numerous modifications of the embodiment described above are possible within the scope of protection as defined in the appended claims. For ex-ample, instead of consisting of a tray 7 and a non-direc-tional laminate 6, the food package 2 could be formed en-tirely of a plastic film or some other material suitable for storage of food 8. However, some part of the package 2 should consist of a type of non-directional laminate 6 that is suitable to form the valve 1 in accordance with the invention. The food package 2 could hold for example refrigerated or deep-frozen products. The size and shape of the tape 5 or label are not restricted to the shown embodiment.
The function of the valve 1 remains the same also if an indication of fracture is impressed into the non-di-rectional laminate 6 or an etching is made therein in such a manner that the laminate 6 still is in one piece with no through-passage opening formed in the material.
The indication of fracture means that the packaging mate-rial 6 offers perfectly satisfactory protection to the contents inside the package 2 without having any contact with the adhesive layer up to the point, when the package 2 is heated. In the heating process, water vapor forms in the usual manner, and upon a predetermined excess pres-sure inside the package 2 it breaks the indication of fracture, whereby an opening 4 is formed, and vapor is forced outwards and together with the adhesive layer it generates the sound signal. The strength of the package material 6 itself is sufficient to prevent the material from bursting should an indication of fracture not have been provided. If for some reason the material should burst anyway, no sound signal would be emitted, since in all likelihood an uncontrolled rift in the material would be of a configuration that cannot produce a sound.
In addition it is possible to provide a sound-emit-ting element of a flute-like type on top of the opening 4 in the package 2. This sound-emitting element likewise would serve to indicate when the food product 8 inside the package 2 is heated to the ready. It is likewise pos-sible to give the slit in the package another shape than a straight one, for instance a V-shape.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:
1. A single-use valve for mounting on a package, said valve arranged to open in response to an excess pressure generated inside the package upon heating of the latter, wherein the valve comprises an opening formed in the package, an adhesive layer is on top of said opening, and wherein said valve is arranged to emit a sound signal when subjected to said pressure load.
2. A valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opening is in the form of a slit.
3. A valve as claimed in claim 2, wherein said slit is straight.
4. A valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one portion of the adhesive layer comprises an adhesive that is suitable for use in conjunction with foodstuffs.
5. A valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adhesive layer is a tape.
6. A valve as claimed in claim 5, wherein said tape is resilient.
7. A valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adhesive layer is a label.
8. A valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein packaging material in which said valve is provided, consists of a non-directional laminate.
9. A valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the package is a food package the contents of which are for heating in a microwave oven.
CA002479143A 2002-03-18 2003-02-27 Single-use one-way valve for food package that emits sound signal at sufficient heating Expired - Fee Related CA2479143C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0200801A SE0200801L (en) 2002-03-18 2002-03-18 One-way disposable valve for food packaging which, when sufficiently heated, emits an audible signal
SE0200801-9 2002-03-18
PCT/SE2003/000325 WO2003078266A1 (en) 2002-03-18 2003-02-27 Single-use one-way valve for food package that emits sound signal at sufficient heating

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2479143A1 CA2479143A1 (en) 2003-09-25
CA2479143C true CA2479143C (en) 2009-09-15

Family

ID=20287290

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002479143A Expired - Fee Related CA2479143C (en) 2002-03-18 2003-02-27 Single-use one-way valve for food package that emits sound signal at sufficient heating

Country Status (18)

Country Link
US (1) US20050199630A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1485303B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2005520743A (en)
KR (1) KR20040108665A (en)
CN (1) CN100354189C (en)
AT (1) ATE323652T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2003217099B2 (en)
BR (1) BR0308516A (en)
CA (1) CA2479143C (en)
DE (1) DE60304691T2 (en)
DK (1) DK1485303T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2262986T3 (en)
IS (1) IS2067B (en)
NO (1) NO20044270L (en)
PT (1) PT1485303E (en)
RU (1) RU2304075C2 (en)
SE (1) SE0200801L (en)
WO (1) WO2003078266A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4582077B2 (en) * 2003-11-28 2010-11-17 東洋製罐株式会社 Packaging container for microwave oven
AT502142B1 (en) * 2005-04-21 2007-07-15 Mondi Packaging Ag MICROWAVE-SUITABLE PACKAGING
SE0600306L (en) * 2006-02-10 2006-12-05 Micvac Ab Valve system for a package
US8020723B2 (en) 2006-11-17 2011-09-20 Stull Technologies, Inc. Removable locking container lid with outer skirt
US8610039B2 (en) 2010-09-13 2013-12-17 Conagra Foods Rdm, Inc. Vent assembly for microwave cooking package
CA2914235C (en) 2007-01-08 2018-01-30 Conagra Foods Rdm, Inc. Microwave popcorn package; methods and product
USD671012S1 (en) 2011-06-14 2012-11-20 Conagra Foods Rdm, Inc. Microwavable bag
USD703547S1 (en) 2011-06-14 2014-04-29 Conagra Foods Rdm, Inc. Microwavable bag
US10588445B2 (en) 2014-11-04 2020-03-17 Micvac Ab Method and oven for vacuum cooking
SE538970C2 (en) 2015-02-12 2017-03-07 Micvac Ab Method and means for cooking and sterilization
ES1214089Y (en) 2018-05-10 2018-09-13 Garcia Pedro Terron Timed valves with warning system

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4640838A (en) * 1984-09-06 1987-02-03 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Self-venting vapor-tight microwave oven package
JPS63260510A (en) * 1987-04-18 1988-10-27 株式会社 中村屋 Flute playing container for food cooked by heating
JP3062468B2 (en) * 1998-01-23 2000-07-10 日清食品株式会社 Food packaging for microwave cooking

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IS7459A (en) 2004-09-17
BR0308516A (en) 2005-02-01
DE60304691D1 (en) 2006-05-24
ES2262986T3 (en) 2006-12-01
NO20044270L (en) 2004-10-08
CN100354189C (en) 2007-12-12
EP1485303B1 (en) 2006-04-19
JP2005520743A (en) 2005-07-14
EP1485303A1 (en) 2004-12-15
DE60304691T2 (en) 2007-03-29
SE0200801D0 (en) 2002-03-18
RU2304075C2 (en) 2007-08-10
PT1485303E (en) 2006-08-31
AU2003217099A1 (en) 2003-09-29
DK1485303T3 (en) 2006-07-31
CA2479143A1 (en) 2003-09-25
IS2067B (en) 2005-11-15
KR20040108665A (en) 2004-12-24
CN1642819A (en) 2005-07-20
AU2003217099B2 (en) 2006-03-02
RU2004130498A (en) 2005-04-10
US20050199630A1 (en) 2005-09-15
SE520355C2 (en) 2003-07-01
SE0200801L (en) 2003-07-01
WO2003078266A1 (en) 2003-09-25
ATE323652T1 (en) 2006-05-15

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