# US 5,702,743 A · Rigid reclosable bacon package > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,702,743 A - Document ID: US5702743A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/653,187 - Filed: 1996-05-24 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1994-03-31 - Assignees: Kraft Foods, Inc. - Inventors: Cindie M. Wells - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702743A ## CPC - B65D 75/32: one or both sheets or blanks being recessed to accommodate contents - B65D 43/0254: {only on the inside, or a part turned to the inside, of the mouth of the container (B65D43/0239 takes precedence)} - B65D 75/366: {and forming one compartment} - B65D 2203/02: Labels - B65D 2401/15: Tearable part of the closure (B65D2401/60 takes precedence) - B65D 2543/00194: square or rectangular - B65D 2543/00296: Plastic - B65D 2543/00425: Lids or covers welded or adhered to the container - B65D 2543/00509: Cup - B65D 2543/00546: NO contact - B65D 2543/0062: Groove or hollow bead - B65D 2543/00685: Totality - B65D 2543/00731: Groove or hollow bead - B65D 2543/00796: Totality - B65D 2543/00842: outside of the lid - B65D 2543/00944: Located only on the container, e.g. recesses - Y10S 206/815: Finger opening - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A shaped generally rigid, synthetic plastic sealed package having multiple stacks of sliced bacon is provided. A generally rigid cover is releasably hermetically secured to a rigid tray. Package walls are substantially transparent so that the consumer can readily inspect, prior to purchase, multiple entire lengths of bacon slice surfaces. At least two stacks of vertically aligned bacon slices are arranged longitudinally in side-by-side relationship to each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shaped, generally rigid synthetic plastic sealed package for packaging sliced bacon, the package being reclosable and comprising: a shaped, generally rigid tray member having a bottom panel, side panels defining a generally upstanding sidewall and an open mouth generally opposite to said bottom panel, said open mouth being defined between said generally upstanding sidewall and a tray member peripheral flange; a shaped, generally rigid cover member secured onto said tray member, said cover member having a cover panel, a cover member peripheral flange, and a peripheral inset portion joining said cover panel and said cover member peripheral flange, said peripheral inset portion being substantially parallel to the generally upstanding sidewall of the tray member, and said cover panel being spaced from said cover member peripheral flange; said bottom panel of the tray member, said sidewall of the tray member, and said cover panel of said cover member are sized and shaped to enclose therewithin at least two separate stacks of bacon strips arranged in longitudinal side-by-side relationship with each other, said bottom panel having a length substantially the same as the length of a bacon strip to be packaged therewithin and having a width substantially the same as the width of such a bacon strip multiplied by an integer of at least two, said bottom panel and generally upstanding side wall having transparency properties to permit inspection therethrough of sliced bacon within the tray member; and means for releasably hermetically sealing together said tray member peripheral flange to said cover member peripheral flange. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bacon package in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said tray member bottom panel and upstanding sidewalls are substantially transparent. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bacon package in accordance with claim 1, wherein said generally upstanding sidewall of the tray member includes a peripheral ledge portion and a peripheral end portion which further define said tray member mouth, said peripheral end portion being sized and shaped so as to matingly engage said peripheral inset portion of the cover member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The bacon package in accordance with claim 3, wherein said peripheral inset portion of the cover member includes means for interfering with at least a portion of said generally upstanding sidewall of the tray member at a location generally along said peripheral end portion of the tray member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bacon package in accordance with claim 1, wherein said generally upstanding sidewall of the tray member includes a peripheral ledge portion and a peripheral end portion which further define said tray member mouth, said peripheral end portion being sized and shaped so as to receive therewithin said peripheral inset portion of the cover member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bacon package in accordance with claim 1, further including ribs within said generally upstanding sidewall of the tray member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The bacon package in accordance with claim 6, further including at least one rib within said bottom panel of the tray member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bacon package in accordance with claim 1, further including at least one rib within said bottom panel of the tray member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bacon package in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sealed package is gas flushed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The bacon package in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said tray member peripheral flange extends beyond a corresponding portion of said peripheral flange. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The bacon package in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for releasably hermetically sealing together said tray member peripheral flange to said cover member peripheral flange includes a pull strip by which a portion of one of said peripheral flanges is peeled from the other peripheral flange and removed for unsealing said package. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The bacon package in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for releasably hermetically sealing together said tray member peripheral flange to said cover member peripheral flange includes releasable polymer at said flanges. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The bacon package in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for releasably hermetically sealing together said tray member peripheral flange to said cover member peripheral flange includes a permanent hermetic seal and a grasping member for breaking said permanent hermetic seal in order to open said package. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The bacon package in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said cover member peripheral flange extends beyond a corresponding portion of said tray member peripheral flange. ### Claim 15 A sealed package containing stacks of bacon therewithin, the package being hermetically sealed and reclosable, the package comprising: at least two stacks of bacon strips; a shaped, generally rigid tray member having a bottom panel, side panels defining a generally upstanding sidewall and an open mouth generally opposite to said bottom panel, said open mouth being defined between said generally upstanding sidewall and a tray member peripheral flange, said bottom panel and generally upstanding sidewall having transparency attributes to permit inspection therethrough of said stacks within the tray member, said bottom panel having a length substantially the same as the length of said bacon strips and having a width substantially the same as the width of said bacon strips multiplied by an integer of at least two; a shaped, generally rigid cover member secured onto said tray member, said cover member having a cover panel, a cover member peripheral flange, and a peripheral inset portion joining said cover panel and said cover member peripheral flange, said peripheral inset portion being substantially parallel to the generally upstanding sidewall of the tray member, and said cover panel being spaced from said cover member peripheral flange; said at least two separate stacks being arranged in longitudinal side-by-side relationship with each other, each said stack having a bottom bacon strip, and said bottom bacon strip of each said stack substantially engaging each other along respective longitudinal edges thereof to define an area which substantially coincides with that of said bottom panel, said separate stacks being sealed within said package such that substantial portions of each of at least two edges of each strip of bacon within each stack and a bottom surface area of each strip at the bottom are visible through respective package panels; and means for releasably hermetically sealing together said tray member peripheral flange to said cover member peripheral flange. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The packaged bacon in accordance with claim 15, wherein each of said tray member bottom panel and upstanding sidewalls are substantially transparent. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The bacon packaged in accordance with claim 15, wherein said generally upstanding sidewall of the tray member includes a peripheral ledge portion and a peripheral end portion which further define said tray member mouth, said peripheral end portion being sized and shaped so as to matingly engage said peripheral inset portion of the cover member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The packaged bacon in accordance with claim 17, wherein said peripheral inset portion of the cover member includes means for interfering with at least a portion of said generally upstanding sidewall of the tray member at a location generally on said peripheral end portion of the tray member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The packaged bacon in accordance with claim 15, wherein said generally upstanding sidewall of the tray member includes a peripheral ledge portion and a peripheral end portion which further define said tray member mouth, said peripheral end portion being sized and shaped so as to receive therewithin said peripheral inset portion of the cover member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The packaged bacon in accordance with claim 15, further including ribs within said generally upstanding sidewall of the tray member. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The packaged bacon in accordance with claim 20, further including at least one rib within said bottom panel of the tray member. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The packaged bacon in accordance with claim 15, wherein said sealed package is gas flushed. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The packaged bacon in accordance with claim 15, wherein at least a portion of said cover member peripheral flange extends beyond a corresponding portion of said tray member peripheral flange. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The packaged bacon in accordance with claim 15, wherein said means for releasably hermetically sealing together said tray member peripheral flange to said cover member peripheral flange includes a pull strip by which a portion of one of said peripheral flanges is peeled from the other peripheral flange and removed for unsealing said package. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The packaged bacon in accordance with claim 15, wherein said means for releasably hermetically sealing together said tray member peripheral flange to said cover member peripheral flange includes releasable polymer at said flanges. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The packaged bacon in accordance with claim 15, wherein said means for releasably hermetically sealing together said tray member peripheral flange to said cover member peripheral flange includes a permanent hermetic seal and a grasping member for breaking said permanent hermetic seal in order to open said package. ### Claim 27 (depends on 15) The packaged bacon in accordance with claim 15, wherein at least a portion of said tray member peripheral flange extends beyond a corresponding portion of said cover member peripheral flange.