Food packaging closure apparatus

Abstract

A food packaging closure apparatus comprising a tubular body and a removable lid is designed to be positioned on a food product that is packaged in tightly-wrapped packaging when the food product has been opened by cutting through the packaging and a portion of the food product, exposing a surface of the food product. The tubular body is designed to be attached in a sealing engagement on the exterior surface of the food product packaging, surrounding the exposed surface of the food product. The lid is removably attachable to the tubular body to seal over the exposed surface of the food product.

1 ) A food packaging closure apparatus comprising: 
 a tubular body having a length with opposite first and second ends, the second end of the tubular body being adapted for attachment to a food product; and,    a lid that is removably attachable to the first end of the tubular body.    
   
   
       2 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the second end of the tubular body being removably attachable around a food product.    
   
   
       3 ) The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 the tubular body having a first opening at the first end of the tubular body, and the tubular body having a second opening at the second end of the tubular body.    
   
   
       4 ) The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 the first opening being larger than the second opening.    
   
   
       5 ) The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a hollow interior bore extending through the tubular body from the first end to the second end of the tubular body.    
   
   
       6 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the second end of the tubular body being resilient and engageable around the food product to attach the tubular body to the food product.    
   
   
       7 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the tubular body having an exterior surface and the tubular body having a rim extending around the first end of the tubular body and projecting outwardly from the tubular body exterior surface.    
   
   
       8 ) The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 the lid having a lip that engages over the rim of the tubular body to removably attach the lid to the first end of the tubular body.    
   
   
       9 ) The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 the lid being completely removable from the tubular body.    
   
   
       10 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the tubular body having a circular cross section.    
   
   
       11 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the tubular body having a rectangular cross section.    
   
   
       12 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the tubular body having a tapering configuration as the tubular body extends from the first end to the second end.    
   
   
       13 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the tubular body having a tubular wall that extends the length of the tubular body, the tubular wall has a first wall thickness at the tubular body first end and a second wall thickness at the tubular body second end, and the first wall thickness is larger than the second wall thickness.    
   
   
       14 ) A method of preserving a food product in food packaging that has a food packaging opening, the method comprising: 
 providing a tubular body that has a length with opposite first and second ends;    positioning the second end of the tubular body on the food product so that the tubular body extends around the food packaging opening;    providing a lid that is removably attachable to the first end of the tubular body; and    removably attaching the lid to the first end of the tubular body.    
   
   
       15 ) The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 providing the tubular body of a resiliently stretchable material; and    resiliently stretching the second end of the tubular body around the food product.    
   
   
       16 ) The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 positioning the second end of the tubular body on the food product extending around the packaging of the food product.    
   
   
       17 ) The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 providing the lid where the lid is completely removable from the tubular body.    
   
   
       18 ) The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 providing the tubular body with a first opening at the tubular body first end, a second opening at the tubular body second end, a hollow interior bore extending through the tubular body from the first end to the second end, and the first opening being larger than the second opening.    
   
   
       19 ) The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 providing the tubular body with a circular cross section configuration.    
   
   
       20 ) The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 providing the tubular body with a rectangular cross section configuration.