US 2017/0259951 A1 · SHAPE MEMORY MEAT PACKAGING

Abstract

Techniques and technologies are generally described herein for providing shape memory polymer packaging for meat products from sheets or films of shape memory polymer material. Shape memory polymers are a class of smart materials which have the ability to return to their original or trained state from a deformed or temporary state when a stimulus is provided. The stimulus is typically a temperature change. The stimulus may also be exposure to an electric or magnetic field, exposure to light, or even exposure to a particular atmosphere, e.g., water. Shape memory polymers now include many materials, including both thermoplastic materials and thermoset materials (covalently cross-linked). The memory effect of the shape memory polymer is used to shape a meat product and to make the meat product more attractive to a consumer.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method for shaping a food item, the method comprising:

providing a shape memory packaging material;
stretching the shape memory packaging material around a mold of a desired shape;
programming the shape memory packaging material to take the shape of the mold;
and
stretching the programmed material into a temporary shape.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/064,388Filed 8 Mar 2016

Published

14 Sep 2017

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification21 codes

B65B 61/24
Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages: for shaping or…
A22C 7/00
Apparatus for pounding, forming, or pressing meat, sausage-meat, or meat products
A22C 17/0093
Other devices for processing meat or bones: handling, transporting or packaging pieces of meat
A23B 4/002
Preservation of meat, sausages, fish or fish products: preservation in association with shaping

Shape memory meat packaging

Life of this patent

Shape memory meat packaging

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25