Method of molding a food product

Abstract

A method of in-molding a food item in a package defining at least one cavity for holding the food item and having an opening for accessing the food item. Liquid food product is introduced into the at least one cavity and allowed to solidify to form a solid food product, which is then unseated.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of in-molding a food item in a package defining at least one cavity for holding the food item and having an opening for accessing the food item, the method comprising:
 introducing a liquid food product into a mold provided in the at least one cavity;   applying a closure element to the package to close the opening;   allowing the liquid food product to solidify to form a solid food product within the mold; and   unseating the solid food product from the mold while the closure element closes the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the introducing the liquid food product into the mold comprises introducing the liquid food product into a mold integrally formed in with the package. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the introducing the liquid food product into the mold comprises introducing the liquid food product into a mold forming at least a portion of the at least one cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the applying the closure element to the package comprises mounting a lid to the package. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the applying the closure element to the package comprises applying a plate to the package. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein unseating the solid food product comprises deflecting a portion of the package. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the deflecting a portion of the package comprises deflecting a portion of the package forming the cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the deflecting a portion of the package forming the cavity comprises deflecting the portion of the package forming the cavity into the cavity to reduce the height of the cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the applying the closure element to the package comprises mounting a lid to the package. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the deflecting a portion of the package forming the cavity comprises moving at least a portion of the mold into the cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the deflecting a portion of the package forming the cavity comprises over-centering the portion of the package forming the cavity relative to the mold. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein unseating a portion of the package forming the cavity comprises moving at least a portion of the mold into the cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the moving a portion of the package forming the cavity comprises over-centering the portion of the package forming the cavity relative to the mold. 
     
     
         14 . A method of in-molding a food item in a package defining at least one cavity with an integral mold for holding the food item and having an opening for accessing the food item, the method comprising:
 introducing a liquid food product into the mold;   allowing the food product to solidify to form a solid food product;   deflecting a portion of the package forming the cavity into an over-center position relative to the mold to unseat the solid food product from the mold; and   retaining the solid food product in the cavity with said portion of the package in the over-center position either before or after said deflecting step to enclose the molded solid food product within the cavity.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the deflecting a portion of the package forming the cavity comprises deflecting the portion of the package forming the cavity into the cavity to reduce the height of the cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the retaining the solid food product in the cavity comprises applying a closure element to the package comprises mounting a lid to the package. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the deflecting a portion of the package forming the cavity comprises moving at least a portion of the mold into the cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the applying the closure element to the package comprises mounting a lid to the package.