Wrapper and three-dimensional package with steam venting feature for hot food items and method

A wrapper for a hot food item, the wrapper comprising:

• a sheet material for use in forming a protective wrapping around the hot food item;
• a plurality of holes extending through the sheet material between an inner face of the sheet material adapted to contact the hot food item, and an opposite, outer face of the sheet material, each of the plurality of the holes surrounded by a plurality of spicules, each of the plurality of the spicules formed by a bent portion of the sheet material extending in a direction the inner face of the sheet material faces, wherein each of the plurality of the spicules is triangular in shape and includes a first vertex, a second vertex, a third vertex, a first side extending between the first vertex and the second vertex, a second side extending between the second vertex and the third vertex, and a third side extending between the first vertex and the third vertex, wherein the first side of each of the plurality of the spicules is formed by an edge where the corresponding one of the plurality of the spicules is bent to project away from the inner face of the sheet material, wherein the first vertex, the second vertex, and the first side of each of the plurality of the spicules define a portion of a circumference of a corresponding one of the plurality of the holes, and wherein the second side and the third side of each of the plurality of the spicules meet at the corresponding third vertex thereof at a position spaced apart from the corresponding first side thereof and the circumference of the corresponding one of the plurality of the holes;
• and
• each of the plurality of the holes having a diameter of between about 1 and 3 mm, and the sheet material having a spacing of about 2-3 holes/cm2.

A wrapped hot food product, comprising:

• a hot food item;
• a wrapper formed of a sheet material forming a protective wrapping around the hot food item, the sheet material including an inner face configured to face towards the hot food item;
• a plurality of perforations extending through the sheet material, each of the plurality of the perforations surrounded by a plurality of spicules, each of the plurality of the spicules formed by a bent portion of the sheet material, each of the plurality of the spicules defining an air gap between the hot food item and the inner face of the sheet material when each of the plurality of the spicules engages an outer surface of the hot food item to enable lateral migration of steam from the hot food item, along the air gap, and through the plurality of the perforations, wherein each of the plurality of the spicules is triangular in shape and includes a first vertex, a second vertex, a third vertex, a first side extending between the first vertex and the second vertex, a second side extending between the second vertex and the third vertex, and a third side extending between the first vertex and the third vertex, wherein the first side of each of the plurality of the spicules is formed by an edge where the corresponding one of the plurality of the spicules is bent to project away from the inner face of the sheet material, wherein the first vertex, the second vertex, and the first side of each of the plurality of the spicules define a portion of a circumference of a corresponding one of the plurality of the perforations, and wherein the second side and the third side of each of the plurality of the spicules meet at the corresponding third vertex thereof at a position spaced apart from the corresponding first side thereof and the circumference of the corresponding one of the plurality of the perforations.

A three dimensional package for a hot food item, the three-dimensional package comprising:

• a sheet material defining the three dimensional package for providing at least partial protection to the hot food item, the sheet material including an inner face configured to face towards the hot food item when the hot food item is contained in the three dimensional package;
• the three dimensional package including a plurality of perforations extending through the sheet material, each of the plurality of the perforations surrounded by a plurality of spicules, each of the plurality of the spicules formed by a bent portion of the sheet material, each of the plurality of the spicules defining an air gap between the hot food item and the inner face of the sheet material when each of the plurality of the spicules engages an outer surface of the hot food item to enable lateral migration of steam from the hot food item, along the air gap, and through the plurality of the perforations, wherein each of the plurality of the spicules is triangular in shape and includes a first vertex, a second vertex, a third vertex, a first side extending between the first vertex and the second vertex, a second side extending between the second vertex and the third vertex, and a third side extending between the first vertex and the third vertex, wherein the first side of each of the plurality of the spicules is formed by an edge where the corresponding one of the plurality of the spicules is bent to project away from the inner face of the sheet material, wherein the first vertex, the second vertex, and the first side of each of the plurality of the spicules define a portion of a circumference of a corresponding one of the plurality of the perforations, and wherein the second side and the third side of each of the plurality of the spicules meet at the corresponding third vertex thereof at a position spaced apart from the corresponding first side thereof and the circumference of the corresponding one of the plurality of the perforations.

A three dimensional package for a hot food item, the three dimensional package comprising:

• a sheet material for use in forming the three dimensional package for providing at least partial protection to the hot food item;
• a plurality of holes extending through the sheet material between an inner face of the sheet material adapted to contact the food item, and an opposite, outer face of the sheet material, each of the plurality of the holes surrounded by a plurality of spicules, each of the plurality of the spicules formed by a bent portion of the sheet material extending in a direction the inner face of the sheet material faces, wherein each of the plurality of the spicules is triangular in shape and includes a first vertex, a second vertex, a third vertex, a first side extending between the first vertex and the second vertex, a second side extending between the second vertex and the third vertex, and a third side extending between the first vertex and the third vertex, wherein the first side of each of the plurality of the spicules is formed by an edge where the corresponding one of the plurality of the spicules is bent to project away from the inner face of the sheet material, wherein the first vertex, the second vertex, and the first side of each of the plurality of the spicules define a portion of a circumference of a corresponding one of the plurality of the holes, and wherein the second side and the third side of each of the plurality of the spicules meet at the corresponding third vertex thereof at a position spaced apart from the corresponding first side thereof and the circumference of the corresponding one of the plurality of the holes;
• and
• the plurality of holes having a diameter of between about 1 and 3 mm and a spacing of about 2-3 holes/cm2.

A method of forming a wrapped hot food item, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming a wrapper sized for wrapping the hot food item that includes the steps of providing a sheet material for use in forming a protective wrapping around the hot food item;
• forming a plurality of perforations extending through the sheet material between an inner face of the sheet material adapted to contact the hot food item, and an opposite, outer face of the sheet material, wherein each of the plurality of the perforations is surrounded by a plurality of spicules, wherein each of the plurality of the spicules is formed by a bent portion of the sheet material extending in a direction the inner face of the sheet material faces, wherein each of the plurality of the spicules is triangular in shape and includes a first vertex, a second vertex, a third vertex, a first side extending between the first vertex and the second vertex, a second side extending between the second vertex and the third vertex, and a third side extending between the first vertex and the third vertex, wherein the first side of each of the plurality of the spicules is formed by an edge where the corresponding one of the plurality of the spicules is bent to project away from the inner face of the sheet material, wherein the first vertex, the second vertex, and the first side of each of the plurality of the spicules define a portion of a circumference of a corresponding one of the plurality of the perforations, and wherein the second side and the third side of each of the plurality of the spicules meet at the corresponding third vertex thereof at a position spaced apart from the corresponding first side thereof and the circumference of the corresponding one of the plurality of the perforations;
• (b) placing the hot food item on the inner face of the sheet material;
• and
• (c) folding the sheet material around the hot food item with the plurality of the spicules engaging an outer surface of the hot food item to enable lateral migration of steam from the hot food item through the plurality of the perforations.

A method of forming a three dimensional package for a hot food item, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a sheet material;
• (b) forming a plurality of perforations extending through the sheet material between an inner face of the sheet material adapted to contact the hot food item, and an opposite, outer face of the sheet material, wherein each of the plurality of the perforations is surrounded by a plurality of spicules, wherein each of the plurality of the spicules is formed by a bent portion of the sheet material extending in a direction the inner face of the sheet material faces, wherein each of the plurality of the spicules is triangular in shape and includes a first vertex, a second vertex, a third vertex, a first side extending between the first vertex and the second vertex, a second side extending between the second vertex and the third vertex, and a third side extending between the first vertex and the third vertex, wherein the first side of each of the plurality of the spicules is formed by an edge where the corresponding one of the plurality of the spicules is bent to project away from the inner face of the sheet material, wherein the first vertex, the second vertex, and the first side of each of the plurality of the spicules define a portion of a circumference of a corresponding one of the plurality of the perforations, and wherein the second side and the third side of each of the plurality of the spicules meet at the corresponding third vertex thereof at a position spaced apart from the corresponding first side thereof and the circumference of the corresponding one of the plurality of the perforations;
• and
• (c) forming the sheet material into the three dimensional package wherein the three dimensional package extends at least partially around the hot food item with the plurality of the spicules engaging an outer surface of the hot food item to enable lateral migration of steam from the hot food item and through the plurality of the perforations.