Food container and method

Abstract

Disclosed is a food container. The food container can include a tube of thermoplastic material, the tube having an upper side and a lower side joined at a first edge and a second edge and a primary heat seal that continuously fuses the upper side and the lower side from the first edge to the second edge. In one embodiment, material of the food container defines an aperture between the primary heat seal and a closed end of the container and material disposed between the aperture and the closed end forms a handle for the container. Method of food preparation involving the container are also disclosed.

1 . A food container, comprising: 
 a tube of thermoplastic material, the tube having an upper side and a lower side joined at a first edge and a second edge; and    a primary heat seal that continuously fuses the upper side and the lower side from the first edge to the second edge, the heat seal forms a junction with the first edge at an obtuse angle defined by the first edge and an edge of the heat seal proximal an open end of the container and the heat seal forms a junction with the second edge at an obtuse angle defined by the second edge and the edge of the heat seal proximal the open end.    
   
   
       2 . The food container according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube and primary heat seal define a cavity for receiving food product through an opening defined by the container at the open end.  
   
   
       3 . The food container according to  claim 2 , further comprising a second seal to close the opening after food product has been received in the cavity.  
   
   
       4 . The food container according to  claim 3 , wherein the second seal is a heat seal that continuously fuses the upper side and the lower side from the first edge to the second edge, the heat seal forms a junction with the first edge at an obtuse angle defined by the first edge and an edge of the heat seal distal the open end of the container and the heat seal forms a junction with the second edge at an obtuse angle defined by the second edge and the edge of the heat seal distal the open end.  
   
   
       5 . The food container according to  claim 1 , wherein the material defines an aperture between the primary heat seal and a closed end of the container and material dispose between the aperture and the closed end forms a handle for the container.  
   
   
       6 . The food container according to  claim 5 , further comprising a second heat seal disposed between the aperture and the closed end, the second heat seal continuously fuses the upper side and the lower side from the first edge to the second edge.  
   
   
       7 . The food container according to  claim 5 , further comprising a heat seal disposed around a perimeter of the aperture to fuse the upper side to the lower side around the aperture.  
   
   
       8 . The food container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second heat seal disposed between the primary heat seal and a closed end of the container, the second heat seal continuously fuses the upper side and the lower side from the first edge to the second edge.  
   
   
       9 . The food container according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary heat seal has a first section forming the junction with the first edge, a second section forming the junction with the second edge and an intermediate section joining the first and second sections.  
   
   
       10 . The food container according to  claim 9 , where transitions between the first section and the intermediate section and between the second section and the intermediate section have curved transitions.  
   
   
       11 . The food container according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary seal includes a cusp that when cut defines a food dispenser for removing food product from the container.  
   
   
       12 . A food container, comprising: 
 a tube of thermoplastic material, the tube having an upper side and a lower side joined at a first edge and a second edge;    a primary heat seal that continuously fuses the upper side and the lower side from the first edge to the second edge; and    wherein the material defines an aperture between the primary heat seal and a closed end of the container and material disposed between the aperture and the closed end forms a handle for the container.    
   
   
       13 . The food container according to  claim 12 , further comprising a second heat seal disposed between the aperture and the closed end, the second heat seal continuously fuses the upper side and the lower side from the first edge to the second edge.  
   
   
       14 . The food container according to  claim 12 , further comprising a heat seal disposed around a perimeter of the aperture to fuse the upper side to the lower side around the aperture.  
   
   
       15 . The food container according to  claim 12 , wherein the tube and primary heat seal define a cavity for receiving food product through an opening defined by the container at an open end.  
   
   
       16 . The food container according to  claim 15 , further comprising a second seal to close the opening after food product has been received in the cavity.  
   
   
       17 . The food container according to  claim 12 , wherein the primary seal includes a cusp that when cut defines a food dispenser for removing food product from the container.  
   
   
       18 . A method of cook-chill food preparation, comprising: 
 a) filling a container with heated food product, the container including: 
 a tube of thermoplastic material, the tube having an upper side and a lower side joined at a first edge and a second edge; and  
 a primary heat seal that continuously fuses the upper side and the lower side from the first edge to the second edge, the heat seal forms a junction with the first edge at an obtuse angle defined by the first edge and an edge of the heat seal proximal an open end of the container and the heat seal forms a junction with the second edge at an obtuse angle defined by the second edge and the edge of the heat seal proximal the open end;  
   b) closing the open end; and    c) chilling the food product in the container while agitating the food product with respect to the container.    
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising reheating the food product in the container.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the material defines an aperture between the primary heat seal and a closed end of the container and material dispose between the aperture and the closed end forms a handle for the container and the container is hung by the handle during reheating.  
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the material defines an aperture between the primary heat seal and a closed end of the container and material dispose between the aperture and the closed end forms a handle for the container.  
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising transporting the container by grasping the handle and lifting the container thereby.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising transporting the container by a mechanical conveyor that retains the container by the handle.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the closing includes forming a second heat seal that continuously fuses the upper side and the lower side from the first edge to the second edge, the heat seal forms a junction with the first edge at an obtuse angle defined by the first edge and an edge of the heat seal distal the open end of the container and the heat seal forms a junction with the second edge at an obtuse angle defined by the second edge and the edge of the heat seal distal the open end.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the primary seal includes a cusp that when cut defines a food dispenser for removing food product from the container and further comprising removing food product from the container via the food dispenser.  
   
   
       26 . A method of cook-chill food preparation, comprising: 
 a) filling the container with heated food product, the container including: 
 a tube of thermoplastic material, the tube having an upper side and a lower side joined at a first edge and a second edge;  
 a primary heat seal that continuously fuses the upper side and the lower side from the first edge to the second edge; and  
 wherein the material defines an aperture between the primary heat seal and a closed end of the container and material disposed between the aperture and the closed end forms a handle for the container;  
   b) closing the open end; and    c) transporting the container by retaining the container by the handle.    
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein transporting the container includes hanging the container by the handle during reheating of the food product in the container.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein transporting the container includes grasping the handle and lifting the container thereby.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein transporting the container includes moving the container by a mechanical conveyor that retains the container by the handle.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein transporting the container includes hanging the container by the handle during storage of the container.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the primary seal includes a cusp that when cut defines a food dispenser for removing food product from the container and further comprising removing food product from the container via the food dispenser.