Flexible film washing and dewatering device for food items
| Title: | Flexible film washing and dewatering device for food items |
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| Patent Number: | 6,200,027 |
| Publication Date: | March 13, 2001 |
| Appl. No: | 09/502,141 |
| Application Filed: | February 11, 2000 |
| Abstract: | A bag formed of flexible thinwall sheet material for washing and/or dewatering comestibles having an upper compartment and a lower compartment connected by at least one opening. The bottom of the lower compartment is formed by a zipper-type closure. The members of the closure resist separation under elevated hydrostatic pressure generated in the lower compartment by centrifugal force. The closure may include a slider for providing controlled engagement and disengagement of the members, to permit use of the bag both for washing and dewatering. |
| Inventors: | Jones, Darlene N. (River Forest, IL) |
| Claim: | What is claimed is |
| Claim: | 1. A bag formed from flexible thinwall sheet material for dewatering comestibles by use of centrifugal force, comprising |
| Claim: | an upper compartment having an unsealed open top and defined by a front wall, a back wall and a bottom formed by a discontinuous weld line joining said walls to provide one or more throats for passage of water therethrough, and |
| Claim: | a lower compartment defined by a front wall, a back wall, said discontinuous weld line, and a selectively openable and reclosable bottom closure |
| Claim: | said discontinuous weld line disposed between said upper compartment and said lower compartment |
| Claim: | said closure comprising two substantially continuous zipper type elements including a female element and an interlocking male element |
| Claim: | whereby said closure resists separation under the elevated hydrostatic pressure generated in said lower compartment by the centrifugal force of dewatering. |
| Claim: | 2. A bag in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a slider embracing said male and female elements to effect controlled engagement and disengagement thereof. |
| Claim: | 3. A bag in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bottom closure is substantially fully openable to permit unrestricted passage of water from said lower compartment, enabling said bag to be used for washing comestibles prior to dewatering. |
| Claim: | 4. A bag in accordance with claim 1 wherein said female element has a lip extending downwardly from said bottom compartment in facing relation to said male element, and wherein said male element has a lip extending upwardly toward said bottom compartment shaped to be received under and around the downwardly extending lip of said female element. |
| Claim: | 5. A bag in accordance with claim 1 wherein the volume of said lower compartment is no more than about ten percent of the volume of said upper compartment. |
| Current U.S. Class: | 383/40; 383/63; 383/64; 383/67; 383/100; 210/464 |
| Current International Class: | B65D 3022 |
| Patent References Cited: | 2163324 June 1939 Reinhold 3159096 December 1964 Tocker 4715963 December 1987 Jones 4834554 May 1989 Stetler, Jr. et al. 5380093 January 1995 Goldman 5442837 August 1995 Morgan 5851070 December 1998 Dobreski et al. |
| Primary Examiner: | Cronin, Stephen K. |
| Assistant Examiner: | Hylton, Robin A. |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery |
| Accession Number: | edspgr.06200027 |
| Database: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| Language: | English |
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