PACKAGING FOR A FOOD PRODUCT

Abstract

A packaging or wrapping for a food product, capable of resisting to high temperatures and of eliminating the overpressure generated by the water vapour inside the packaging due to temperature rise, without the same packaging having any aperture communicating its inside and the outside environment. The packaging is also adapted to restrain/reduce the emission of odor-generating substances that are generated during the heating or baking of the packaged food product, with respect to what occurs in the absence of a packaging, or with a packaging provided with apertures.

Claims

1.-22. (canceled)

23. A polymeric adhesive composition comprising, and preferably consisting of: a thermally activable liquid adhesive phase capable of adhering to a cellulosic material, preferably including one or more of the following: sodium silicate, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethylcellulose, acrylic resins, polyurethane resins, vinyl resins; and a thermosetting polyester powder or resin, preferably including one or more of the following: carboxylated polyester resin, polylactic acid powder, caprolactam epoxy resin powder.

24. The composition according to claim 23, wherein said liquid phase has a solid content comprised in a range of 10%-70% of total weight, and a powder or resin comprised in a range of 1:0.05-1:5 with respect to the dry matter content of the employed carrier liquid.

25. (canceled)

26. A continuous sheet of cellulosic material having a weight150 g/m.sup.2 and a coating of a polymeric composition according to claim 23.

27. A wrapping for a food product made from the continuous sheet of claim 26.

28. (canceled)

29. A method of making a wrapping or a packaging for a food product by sealingly connecting a first and a second surface, which method comprises the steps of: providing a polymeric composition according to claim 23, which is preferably pre-applied upon one or both surfaces to be connected together; placing the two surfaces in mutual contact; supplying heat so as to activate an adhesive property of said liquid phase and a thermoresistant property of said polyester powder or resin.

30. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] Reference will be made to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein:

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a food container in the form of a dish or tray according to a first preferred embodiment;

[0058] FIG. 2A is a side view of a food container in the form of glass or cup of a second preferred embodiment;

[0059] FIG. 2B shows a side view of the container of FIG. 2A in an open configuration;

[0060] FIG. 3A shows a side view of a food container in the form of a multi-compartment pan according to a third preferred embodiment;

[0061] FIGS. 3B and 3C refer to the container of FIG. 3A, showing respectively a plan view from below and a plan view from above, the latter in an open configuration; and

[0062] FIG. 3D shows the container of FIG. 3A in a different, reclosed configuration downstream of the heating or baking of a food received therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0063] With reference to the above figures, some preferred embodiments will now be described, which mainly concern the conformation of the aforementioned main portion and closure portion.

[0064] The materials of which the packages are made, and the modes of joining the cover element onto the main portion have already been illustrated above.

[0065] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a package, or container, made according to a first preferred embodiment is denoted globally by 1. It comprises a rigid main portion 11 intended to receive a food and shaped like a pan or plate, in particular having a circular profile in plan view, and a cover portion 12 applied at a perimetral rim 10 of the pan or plate.

[0066] FIG. 1 also shows an outer casing 100 of packaging 1 which is removed before introduction into the oven.

[0067] With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a packaging or container made according to another preferred embodiment is denoted globally by 2. It comprises a rigid main portion 21 for receiving a food and shaped as a cup or cup, in particular having a circular profile in plan view, and a covering portion 22 applied at a peripheral rim 20 of the glass or cup.

[0068] With reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C, a packaging, or container, made according to a further preferred embodiment is globally denoted by 3. It comprises a rigid main portion 31 for receiving a food and shaped as a multi-compartment pan, in particular having a polygonal shape, e.g. a squared shape, in plan view. The main portion 31 defines an inner space subdivided into a first compartment 33 and a second compartment 34 separated by an intermediate septum 35. In the present example, the first compartment 33 has a capacity lower than that of the second compartment 34.

[0069] Packaging 3 also comprises a cover portion 32 applied at, and adhered to, a peripheral rim 30 of main portion 31 and preferably also at the upper edge of septum 35.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 3, after the packaging 3 has been placed in the oven and the baking of the product received therein has been carried out, the lid portion or cover 32 is peeled and the main portion 31 is folded, at an angular margin of the first compartment 33, onto the opposite portion, so as to form a clamshell constituted by two half-shells 31 and 31 arranged one above the other. Packaging 3 may have locking elements, for example in the form of protrusions/projections, and corresponding seats, to lock the two half-shells 31 and 31 one onto the other.

[0071] This embodiment is particularly advantageous for optimally heating sandwiches with burgers or with a different hot stuffing.

[0072] In fact, if the heating took place with the two sandwich portions overlapped and the burger at the center, it would not be possible to get the effect of crunchy bread also at the center, because the water vapor released by the meat would not allow it to dry. On the contrary, by placing on one side, in particular in the first compartment 33, the slice of bread with the inside upward and on the other part, particularly in the second compartment 34, the meat not in contact with the upper sandwich portion, a perfect browning of the product is obtained. After baking, by folding the tray portion 31 onto itself, the sandwich is composed in its standard shape. This situation is exemplified in FIG. 3, wherein the two parts of the sandwich are denoted by P1 and P2.

[0073] The main portion 31 has an inner surface 36 in contact with the food product which can be treated or coated so as to be impermeable to liquid and grease.

[0074] The main portion 31 has a surface 36 in contact with the food product which may extend according to discontinuous planes at the part facing the oven baking or heating plane.

[0075] The present disclosure has been presented so far with reference to preferred embodiments. It is intended that there may be other embodiments which refer to the same inventive concept as defined by the scope of the following claims.