Packaging system for food articles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packaging system, in particular a packaging system for transporting foods, such as pizzas. The packaging system comprises at least three layers of material, wherein at least two adjacent layers of material are welded together thereby forming an inner system defining at least one compartment, said compartment extending around at least a part of a central area of said two adjacent layers of material, and said compartment being closed by a valve means, and wherein the at least third layer extends above or below at least the central area of the two adjacent layers.

1 . A packaging system comprising at least three layers of material, wherein at least two adjacent layers of material are welded together thereby forming an inner system defining at least one compartment, said compartment extending around at least a part of a central area of said two adjacent layers of material, and said compartment being closed by a valve means, and wherein the at least third layer extends above or below at least the central area of the two adjacent layers, and wherein the central area is capable of adapting to changes in geometry through deformation sites or through at least two holes. 
     
     
         2 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one compartment is an air channel. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one compartment is an air channel extending around the central area. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the at least one compartment, before inflation, is less than half the width of the central area. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central area comprises at least two holes arranged to allow the width of the central area to increase when the at least one compartment is inflated. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the central area is selected from the shapes of circular, oval, triangular, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal and a square, 
     
     
         7 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the third layer extends above or below the central area and the at least one compartment of the two adjacent layers. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth layer of material, wherein the third layer and the fourth layer are welded together at least at a part of their periphery, said welding being positioned so that the third and the fourth layer is capable of housing the inner system. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging system according to  claim 8 , wherein the inner system is kept in a tight fit between the third and the fourth layer. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the material of adjacent layers constituting the inner system is an elastic material. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the material of adjacent layers constituting the inner system is selected from the group consisting of polymers, co-polymers and laminates of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, polyether, paper laminate, and nylon. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the material of at least one layer of the inner system is heat stable. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the third and/or the fourth layer is less elastic than the layers of the inner system. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the material of the third and/or the fourth layer is selected from the group consisting of polymers, co-polymers and laminates of polyethylene, polyester, polyether, paper laminate, and nylon. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fifth layer of material, said fifth layer being positioned between the third layer and the inner system. 
     
     
         16 . The packaging system according to  claim 15 , wherein the fifth layer is an absorptive layer. 
     
     
         17 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the third and/or the fourth layer has a free end comprising a pocket, said pocket being positioned to extend around the edge of the inner system, when said layer is positioned above or below the inner system. 
     
     
         18 . The packaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve means is constituted by one or two flaps of material connected to the inner system, said flaps communicating with the interior of the at least one compartment, and said flaps capable of being closed after inflation.