Packaged dough product and method of packaging
AssigneeGeneral Mills, Inc.
InventorBenjamin J. Huber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A packaged food product includes a container having therein a cup for a food ingredient, at least one dough product and a plastic separator interposed between the cup and the at least one dough product. The separator seats upon a rim of the cup and includes a peripheral side surface in frictional engagement with an inner sidewall of the container. The separator has a convex or dome shape when initially inserted into the container but, when the dough product(s) proof within the container, forces applied to the separator from the developed pressure cause the separator to flatten while radially expanding in order to establish an effective frictional fit with the sidewall of the container. An underside of the separator can optionally include reinforcing ribs.
Claims19
A packaged food product comprising:
- a container including an interior cavity defined between at least one sidewall and spaced ends of the container;
- a cup within the container, wherein the cup includes at least one sidewall, a bottom wall and an upper rim defining an opening, opposite the bottom wall, leading to an inner cavity of the cup;
- at least one food ingredient within the cup;
- at least one dough product within the interior cavity of the container;
- and
- a separator interposed between the cup and the at least one dough product, said separator being entirely made of plastic and including a convex upper surface, a concave lower surface, a peripheral portion downturned relative to the convex upper surface and engaging the at least one sidewall of the container, and a lower seating ring resting upon the upper rim of the cup wherein, upon increasing pressure in the interior cavity through proofing of the at least one dough product within the container, the convex upper surface is configured to deflect downward to reduce a curvature of the convex upper surface while the peripheral portion is shifted radially to establish a friction fit with the sidewall of the container, thereby firmly retaining the separator in position atop the cup and sealing the cup from any ingress of dough.
A method of packaging a food product comprising:
- inserting a cup, having an internal cavity for at least one additional food ingredient, within an interior of a container having at least one sidewall;
- closing an end of the container;
- positioning a plastic separator atop the cup, with the separator including a convex upper surface, a concave lower surface, a peripheral portion which is downturned relative to the convex upper surface and engages the at least one sidewall of the container, and a lower seating ring resting upon an upper rim of the cup;
- depositing at least one dough product into the container, with the separator being located between the at least one dough product and the cup;
- closing an opposing end of the container;
- and
- allowing the at least one dough product to proof and increase a pressure within the container whereupon the convex upper surface deflects downward to reduce a curvature of the convex upper surface while the peripheral portion is shifted radially to establish a friction fit with the sidewall of the container, thereby firmly retaining the separator in position atop the cup and sealing the cup from any ingress of dough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.