GB2300104A

GB2300104A - Bread sandwich pocket

Info

Publication number: GB2300104A
Application number: GB9608671A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Xavia Mackay
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-04-28
Filing date: 1996-04-26
Publication date: 1996-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2016-04-26
Also published as: GB9608671D0; GB2300104B; GB9508652D0

Abstract

A bread sandwich comprises a pocket formed from two flaps of bread 6,8 sealed together, e.g. along their respective edges 10,12, to define a chamber therebetween, the pocket having a mouth 14 defined by portions of the two flaps 6,8 which are not sealed together to enable a filling to be inserted into the pocket.

Description

BREAD SANDWICH POCKET This invention relates to a pocket formed from slices of bread.

A problem with known forms of sandwich is that sandwich fillings can readily fall out or be squeezed out whilst being eaten due to the open sides of the sandwich. Also, the open sides of the sandwich are an impediment to the use of certain types of filling of a more fluid nature being used generously as a result of the difficulty of the containment of the filling between the bread slices. Furthermore, the standard practice of sealing the sandwich contents in a sealed sandwich appliance restricts sandwich contents to fillings which would not be spoilt by the overall heat applied to the whole sandwich.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome such problems and to provide a pocket made with bread folded and/or sealed at the edges and filled after the formation of the pocket, enabling such fillings as salads to be used.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a pocket formed from two flaps of bread sealed together so as to form a chamber therebetween, the pocket having a mouth defined by portions of the two flaps which are not sealed together to enable a filling to be inserted into the chamber The seals between the two flaps can be located at the edges of one or both of the flaps or can be spaced inwardly of the edges. Where the seals are spaced inwardly of the seals, the portion or portions of the flap or flaps outwardly of the seals can function as handles to assist the pocket to held more easily.

The pocket may be formed from a slice of bread which is folded and the resulting two flaps then sealed together (e.g. along their edges) to form the pocket. Alternatively the pocket can comprise two slices of bread sealed together (e.g. along their respective edges) to form the pocket.

In one embodiment, a single rectangular slice of bread is folded over such that the fold constitutes a bottom edge of a pocket, the two side edges adjacent the folded bottom edge being sealed and the top edge opposite to the folded bottom edge not being sealed and constituting the mouth of the pocket.

In another embodiment, two slices of rectangular bread are sealed together along their bottom edges and each of their two adjacent side edges to form a pocket, with their top edges not being sealed and together constituting the mouth of the pocket.

In another embodiment, the two flaps of bread can be sealed together by means of an arcuate seal extending transversely across the flaps.

In order to allow more filling to be inserted into the pocket, a portion of each of the side edges may be left unsealed either side of the mouth of the pocket.

The two flaps may be of substantially the same size or they may be of different sizes. For example, one flap may be longer than the other flap. In such a case, the top edge of the longer flap can extend beyond the sealed side edges.

The bread from which the pockets of the present invention are produced may be of rectangular (eg square) cross-section, or of any other cross-section, for example of circular or oval cross-section. Where the pocket is of circular or oval form, the two flaps of bread will typically be sealed together (e.g. around their edges) over at least half of their respective circumferences, and more preferably over at least two thirds of their circumferences.

It is preferred however that the pockets are of rectangular form.

The pockets of the invention can be manufactured by cutting slices of bread from an appropriately shaped loaf and either folding a slice to the desired configuration, or superimposing two slices in the desired configuration, and then applying heat and pressure using heated metal strips at the portions (e.g. the edges) to be sealed, until the portions (e.g. the edges) are firmly sealed. This however is just one method of manufacture and other methods are conceivable.

The invention will now be illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a pocket according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the pocket shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional elevation along line I-I in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional elevation along line II-II in Figure 2; Figure 5 is an isometric view of a pocket according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a plan view of the pocket shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a sectional elevation along line III-III; Figure 8 is a sectional elevation along line IV-IV; Figure 9 is an isometric view of a pocket according to a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 10 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a sectional elevation along line V-V;; Figure 12 is a sectional elevation along line VI-VI in Figure 10; Figure 13 is a plan view of a pocket according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; and Figure 14 is a plan view of a pocket according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the figures, figures 1 to 4 illustrate a pocket according to a first embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, an elongate rectangular slice of bread 2 has been folded in half along fold line 4 to form two flaps 6 and 8. A heat sealing tool is applied to the edges 10 and 12 to seal the two flaps 14 and 15 together to form a pocket. Sandwich fillings may then be inserted into the mouth 14 at one end of the pocket.

As an alternative to forming the pocket from a single slice of bread folded over and then heat sealed, the pocket may instead be formed from two slices of bread sealed along edges 4,10 and 12.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 5 to 8. In this embodiment, a single elongate rectangular slice of bread 102 has been folded in half along fold line 104 such that the upper flap 106 and the lower flap 108 are of dissimilar lengths. As with the embodiments of figures 1 to 4, the pocket is constructed by sealing the edges 110 and 112 using a heat sealing tool. In this embodiment, a portion 116 of the lower flap 108 extends beyond the sealed edges. As with the embodiments of figures 1 to 4, rather than being formed from a single folded slice of bread, the embodiment of figures 5 to 8 could be formed by placing together two separate slices of bread and then sealing around the three edges 110,112 and 104.

A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in figures 9 to 12.

In this embodiment, the pocket is formed from a single slice 202 of bread of an elongate rectangular shape, folded about fold line 204, into two equal flaps or halves 206 and 208. As with the previous two embodiments, the pocket is formed by sealing the two flaps together along their edges 210 and 212. However, in this embodiment, the upper parts of each side edge 220 and 222 are not sealed together but instead are left unsealed so as to form a larger mouth or opening 214 into which suitable fillers can be introduced.

Figure 13 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention in which the two flaps 306, 308 of bread are of approximately semicircular shape and are sealed together along their curved edges 310, 312 with the mouth 314 being defined by the unsealed straight edges.

Figure 14illustrates afifth embodiment of the invention in which the two rectangular pieces of bread 406, 408 have been placed one on top of the other and sealed together by means of a generally semi-circular or arcuate seal 330. It has been found that the generally semi-circular chamber formed between the flaps as a result can be easier and quicker to fill than a rectangular chamber.

In each of the aforementioned embodiments of the invention, the inner surfaces of the pockets can be coated with a suitable barrier substance to prevent moisture from the fillings reaching the outer surfaces of the completed bread pocket. One suitable barrier substance is egg white. For example, the inner surfaces of the pockets can be coated with the white of a chicken egg and baked until the egg white is cooked.

Alternatively, the inner surfaces can be coated with a hydrophobic food substance such as butter or margarine.

It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations may be made to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings without departing from the principles underlying the invention and all such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.

Claims

1. A pocket formed from two flaps of bread sealed together so as to form a chamber therebetween, the pocket having a mouth defined by portions of the two flaps which are not sealed together to enable a filling to be inserted into the chamber.

2. A pocket according to claim 1 wherein the two flaps of bread are sealed together along their respective edges.

3. A pocket according to claim 1 or claim 2 which is made from a slice of bread which is folded and then sealed along its edges to form the pocket.

4. A pocket according to claim 1 or claim 2 which comprises two slices of bread sealed together along their respective edges to form the pocket.

5. A pocket according to claim 3 wherein a single rectangular slice of bread is folded over such that the fold constitutes a bottom edge of an open pocket, the two side edges adjacent the folded bottom edge being sealed and the top edge opposite to the folded bottom edge not being sealed and constituting the mouth of the pocket.

6. A pocket according to claim 4wherein two slices of rectangular bread are sealed together along their bottom edges and each of their two adjacent side edges to form a pocket, with their top edges not being sealed and together constituting the mouth of the pocket.

7. A pocket according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein a porfion of each of the side edges are left unsealed either side of the mouth of the pocket.

8. A pocket according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the two flaps of the pocket have substantially the same dimensions.

9. A pocket according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one flap is longer than the other flap.

10. A pocket according to claim 9 wherein a top edge of the longer flap extends beyond the sealed side edges.

11. A pocket according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the inner surfaces of the two flaps are coated with a barrier material which reduces or prevents the passage of moisture from the inside to the outside of the pocket.

12. A pocket according to claim 11 wherein the barrier material is cooked egg white.

13. A pocket substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. An item of food comprising a pocket as defined in any of the preceding claims containing a food filling.