Patent · US Expired

Press-on, pry-off closure for microwavable vacuum sealed container

US5443853A · kind A · utility

41Cited by
10References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 1, 1994
Grant dateAug 22, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 1, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65D2401/35
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Disclosed are vacuum-packed food packages (10) having enlarged head spaces (56) under high vacuum, which enable food products (58) to be retorted after sealing, with resulting improved flavor, color, texture, and/or nutrient retention. Easily removable press-on, pry-off closures (13) having movable insert disks (16) in an outer shell (14) are also disclosed. Pressing the shell upward to remove it from a container (11) first pries a protrusion (28) inside the shell over a snap rib (22) around the container, then moves the shell upward relative to the disk until the snap rib engages the edge of the disk and lifts the disk to break the seal. A tamper evidencing band (22), if included, is broken before the shell is pried off or the disk is lifted. Food packages which automatically open when heated in microwave ovens are also disclosed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.