US20050199630A1 - 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
US20050199630A1
US20050199630A1 US10/506,818 US50681805A US2005199630A1 US 20050199630 A1 US20050199630 A1 US 20050199630A1 US 50681805 A US50681805 A US 50681805A US 2005199630 A1 US2005199630 A1 US 2005199630A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
valve
package
sound signal
adhesive layer
opening
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
US10/506,818
Other languages
English (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
Assigned to MICVAC AB reassignment MICVAC AB ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HAAMER, JOEL
Publication of US20050199630A1 publication Critical patent/US20050199630A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS 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
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/16—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS 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
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/16—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas
    • B65D51/1633—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby venting occurs by automatic opening of the closure, container or other element
    • B65D51/1644—Closures 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
    • B65D51/165—Closures 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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS 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
    • B65D81/00—Containers, 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
    • B65D81/34—Containers, 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
    • B65D81/3446—Containers, 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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS 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
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/14—Containers 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
    • B65D83/34—Cleaning or preventing clogging of the discharge passage

Definitions

  • 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 microwave oven, said valve arranged to open in response to an excess pressure generated inside the package upon heating of the latter.
  • the food product In food packages, for example of the kind that contain 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-resistant tray covered by plastic film. When the package is to be heated, the plastic film is either removed or apertures 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 because the food product absorbs microwave energy differently, 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.
  • Over-heating of the food is not either recommendable, since in this case the tray or the plastic film still positioned 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.
  • the object of the present invention therefore is to remove this problem.
  • 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 response 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.
  • the valve is arranged on a package intended to hold food products that are to be cooked/heated by the consumer 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.
  • 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 adhesive.
  • 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 heating 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 matters in the meantime.
  • the valve is an indication of fracture, 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 together with foodstuff, since the invention is primarily intended for food packages.
  • 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.
  • the packaging material on which the valve is provided consists of a non-directional laminate.
  • a slit would cause a rent to develop in the material.
  • 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 different stages of the process of heating a package having a valve in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 a shows the package in a cold state and
  • FIG. 2 b the package in a heated state.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view, showing a microwave oven.
  • 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 distribution stages.
  • the tray 7 as well as the laminate 6 consist of heat-resistant materials, since their intended function is to enclose food that is to be heated.
  • the laminate 6 is welded to the tray 7 to produce a strong and impermeable seam.
  • the valve 1 in accordance with the present invention is formed in the non-directional laminate 6 .
  • the valve 1 is an opening 4 passing through the laminate.
  • a resilient tape 5 the adhesive of which is suitable 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 of the tape.
  • 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. 2 a shows the same food package 2 as FIG. 1 .
  • the food product 8 is positioned in the tray 7 , which is covered by the laminate 6 .
  • the valve 1 in the form of opening 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. 2 b 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 excess 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 .
  • the food package 2 could be formed entirely of a plastic film or some other material suitable for storage of food 8 .
  • 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-directional 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 material 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 pressure 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.
  • a sound-emitting 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 possible to give the slit in the package another shape than a straight one, for instance a V-shape.

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)
  • Fish Paste Products (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
  • Table Equipment (AREA)
US10/506,818 2002-03-18 2003-02-27 Single-use one-way valve for food package that emits sound signal at sufficient heating Abandoned US20050199630A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0200801-9 2002-03-18
SE0200801A SE0200801L (sv) 2002-03-18 2002-03-18 Envägsventil av engångstyp för livsmedelsförpackning vilken vid tillräcklig uppvärmning avger ljudsignal
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 (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20050199630A1 true US20050199630A1 (en) 2005-09-15

Family

ID=20287290

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/506,818 Abandoned US20050199630A1 (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 (sv)
EP (1) EP1485303B1 (sv)
JP (1) JP2005520743A (sv)
KR (1) KR20040108665A (sv)
CN (1) CN100354189C (sv)
AT (1) ATE323652T1 (sv)
AU (1) AU2003217099B2 (sv)
BR (1) BR0308516A (sv)
CA (1) CA2479143C (sv)
DE (1) DE60304691T2 (sv)
DK (1) DK1485303T3 (sv)
ES (1) ES2262986T3 (sv)
IS (1) IS2067B (sv)
NO (1) NO20044270L (sv)
PT (1) PT1485303E (sv)
RU (1) RU2304075C2 (sv)
SE (1) SE0200801L (sv)
WO (1) WO2003078266A1 (sv)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007091951A1 (en) * 2006-02-10 2007-08-16 Micvac Ab Package valve system
US8020723B2 (en) 2006-11-17 2011-09-20 Stull Technologies, Inc. Removable locking container lid with outer skirt

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4582077B2 (ja) * 2003-11-28 2010-11-17 東洋製罐株式会社 電子レンジ用包装容器
AT502142B1 (de) * 2005-04-21 2007-07-15 Mondi Packaging Ag Mikrowellengeeignete verpackung
MX2009007377A (es) 2007-01-08 2009-07-21 Conagra Foods Rdm Inc Empaque para palomitas de maiz de microondas, metodos y producto.
US8610039B2 (en) 2010-09-13 2013-12-17 Conagra Foods Rdm, Inc. Vent assembly for microwave cooking package
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
ES2691552T3 (es) 2014-11-04 2018-11-27 Micvac Ab Método para cocinar al vacío
SE538970C2 (sv) 2015-02-12 2017-03-07 Micvac Ab Method and means for cooking and sterilization
ES1214089Y (es) 2018-05-10 2018-09-13 Garcia Pedro Terron Válvulas temporizada con sistema de alerta

Citations (1)

* 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

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS63260510A (ja) * 1987-04-18 1988-10-27 株式会社　中村屋 加熱して調理する食品用笛鳴り容器
JP3062468B2 (ja) * 1998-01-23 2000-07-10 日清食品株式会社 電子レンジ調理用食品包装体

Patent Citations (1)

* 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

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007091951A1 (en) * 2006-02-10 2007-08-16 Micvac Ab Package valve system
US20090166362A1 (en) * 2006-02-10 2009-07-02 Gunnar Olsson Package Valve System
US8020723B2 (en) 2006-11-17 2011-09-20 Stull Technologies, Inc. Removable locking container lid with outer skirt

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2003078266A1 (en) 2003-09-25
DE60304691D1 (de) 2006-05-24
ATE323652T1 (de) 2006-05-15
DE60304691T2 (de) 2007-03-29
AU2003217099A1 (en) 2003-09-29
PT1485303E (pt) 2006-08-31
IS7459A (is) 2004-09-17
AU2003217099B2 (en) 2006-03-02
EP1485303B1 (en) 2006-04-19
JP2005520743A (ja) 2005-07-14
RU2304075C2 (ru) 2007-08-10
NO20044270L (no) 2004-10-08
ES2262986T3 (es) 2006-12-01
SE520355C2 (sv) 2003-07-01
CN100354189C (zh) 2007-12-12
CN1642819A (zh) 2005-07-20
DK1485303T3 (da) 2006-07-31
EP1485303A1 (en) 2004-12-15
RU2004130498A (ru) 2005-04-10
SE0200801D0 (sv) 2002-03-18
CA2479143C (en) 2009-09-15
CA2479143A1 (en) 2003-09-25
IS2067B (is) 2005-11-15
BR0308516A (pt) 2005-02-01
SE0200801L (sv) 2003-07-01
KR20040108665A (ko) 2004-12-24

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: MICVAC AB, SWEDEN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HAAMER, JOEL;REEL/FRAME:016499/0344

Effective date: 20040923

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION