Receptacle for moisture-exuding food products

• Main Author: MILLER; ALAN H
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 30.03.1982
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS,e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES,DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; CONVEYING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; PACKAGES; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; STORING; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

A receptacle is provided for containing and displaying food products which tend to exude juices or liquids, and which comprises a supporting member, such as a tray or bag, and an absorbent pad associated therewith. The absorbent pad comprises a mat of liquid absorbent material, an upper liquid impermeable plastic sheet overlying the absorbent mat, and a bottom plastic sheet underlying the absorbent mat. At least one of the sheets is perforated, and spacer means is disposed between the two sheets to maintain their separation under a compressive load, and such that the ability of the pad to absorb liquids is unimpaired when the pad is subjected to a compressive load resulting from the food product resting thereon or the like. Preferably only the bottom sheet is perforated, and when a food product is positioned upon the upper sheet of the absorbent pad, any exuded liquids will flow around the pad and enter the mat by capillary action through the perforated openings of the bottom sheet, and the liquids will be held out of contact with the food product to thereby minimize contamination of the product and maintain its appearance and improve its shelf-life.