Expandable gusseted sleeve for a pouch

Abstract

A method for heating an edible product enclosed within a pouch. The method includes placing the pouch within a sleeve having a wall extending between an open first end and a second end having a sleeve gusset. The edible product within the pouch is then heated causing the pouch to bulge due to an increase in pressure within the pouch. The bulging pouch pushes against the wall of the sleeve causing the sleeve to bulge and un-fold the sleeve gusset at the second end. The increased pressure within the pouch may also unseal at least one sealed vent on the pouch. Once heated, the pouch is torn open along one or more tear lines, thereby providing access to the edible content of the pouch. In some embodiments, the sleeve is reusable and included in a kit having two or more pouches.

1 . A method for heating an edible product, comprising:
 providing at least one pouch wherein each one of said at least one pouch comprises an enclosed space containing said edible product;
 one or more tear notches on an external section of said at least one pouch; 
 one or more tear lines along at least a portion of a surface of said at least one pouch, said one or more tear lines extending from at least one of said one or more tear notches; and 
 one or more sealed vents configured to unseal in response to an increase in pressure within said at least one pouch, said one or more vents defining at least a portion of a flow path between said enclosed space of said at least one pouch and an external environment surrounding said at least one pouch; 
   providing a sleeve comprising
 opposed first and second ends, wherein
 said first end is open; and 
 said second end includes a sleeve gusset; 
 
 a wall extending between said first and said second end, said wall defined at least in part by an internal and an external surface; and 
 one or more thumb holes in said wall; 
   inserting at least a portion of said at least one pouch through said first end thereby placing said portion of said at least one pouch within said sleeve; and   heating said edible product enclosed within said at least one pouch placed within said sleeve, thereby
 bulging at least said portion of said at least one pouch placed within said sleeve in response to said increase in pressure within said enclosed space of said at least one pouch; 
 bulging at least said second end of said sleeve in response to said bulging of said at least one pouch; and 
 spreading said sleeve gusset into an un-folded position in response to said bulging of said second end of said sleeve. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising unsealing at least one of said one or more sealed vents when said pressure within said at least one pouch is greater than a predefined value. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising tearing open said at least one pouch along at least one of said one or more tear lines thereby defining an opening for accessing said edible product in said portion of said at least one pouch placed within said sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising replacing said at least one pouch placed within said sleeve with another one of said at least one pouch. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising collapsing and at least partially folding said sleeve gusset from said un-folded position prior to heating said edible product contained in said enclosed space of said at least one pouch. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising generating steam within said enclosed space of said at least one pouch by heating said edible product comprising a moisture content of at least 15 percent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising unsealing at least one of said one or more sealed vents with said steam. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising selecting said edible product from the group consisting of a pasteurized product, a refrigerated product, a thermally processed product, a shelf-stable product, a product enclosing a filling, a hot filled product, a frozen product, and any combination of one or more thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising providing a kit comprising at least one sleeve and two or more pouches. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said at least one pouch is a retort pouch comprising a pouch gusset, the method comprising positioning said pouch gusset within said sleeve proximate said sleeve gusset. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising providing said sleeve with at least one pouch pre-positioned therewithin. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pouch is a heat-in packaging comprising a doneness indicator. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising terminating the step of heating when said doneness indicator indicates or attains a predetermined condition. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising changing an intensity of heating when said doneness indicator indicates or attains a predetermined condition. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve gusset is a lockable sleeve gusset configured for being locked at any one or more of a plurality of locked stages including being locked at a folded or collapsed stage, a fully un-folded or expanded stage, and one or more stages between said folded or collapsed stage and said fully un-folded or expanded stage, said lockable sleeve gusset further configured for being un-locked from any one or more of said plurality of locked stages, said method comprising
 locking said lockable sleeve gusset at one of said plurality of locked stages; and   un-locking said lockable sleeve gusset from a locked stage.   
     
     
         16 . A package for heating an edible product, comprising:
 at least one pouch enclosing said edible product, said at least one pouch comprising an enclosed space containing said edible product;
 one or more tear notches on an external section of said at least one pouch; 
 one or more tear lines extending from said one or more tear notches; and 
 one or more sealed vents configured to unseal in response to an increase in pressure within said at least one pouch, said one or more vents defining at least a portion of a flow path between said internal volume of said at least one pouch and an external environment surrounding said at least one pouch; 
   a sleeve comprising
 opposed first and second ends, wherein said first end is open and said second end includes a sleeve gusset; 
 a wall extending between said first and said second end, said wall defined at least in part by an internal and an external surface; and 
 one or more thumb holes in said wall; 
   wherein, said sleeve is configured for
 receiving through said first end at least a portion of said at least one pouch; 
 bulging at least a portion of said sleeve at said second end in response to said increase in pressure within said at least one pouch received therewithin; and 
 spreading said sleeve gusset. 
   
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein said increase in pressure within said at least one pouch is in response to heating said edible product. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said one or more sealed vents unseals when said pressure within said at least one pouch is greater than a predefined value. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one pouch is a heat-in packaging comprising a doneness indicator. 
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein said heating is terminated when said doneness indicator exhibits a predetermined condition. 
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein an intensity of said heating is changed when said doneness indicator exhibits a predetermined condition. 
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein
 said at least one pouch is defined at least in part by first, second and third panels sealed one to another along adjacent edges; and   said at least one pouch comprises a pouch gusset defined at least in part by said third panel.   
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 22 , wherein
 said portion of said at least one pouch received within said sleeve includes said pouch gusset; and   said pouch gusset is positioned proximate said sleeve gusset.   
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one pouch is defined at least in part by opposed first and second panels sealed one to another along adjacent edges. 
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein said portion of said at least one pouch received within said sleeve includes a pouch gusset positioned proximate said sleeve gusset. 
     
     
         26 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein said enclosed space of said at least one pouch is defined by two or more panels comprising laminates suitable for use with edible products. 
     
     
         27 . The package of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of said two or more panels comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a susceptor, a shielding, and a combination of a susceptor and a shielding. 
     
     
         28 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein
 said at least one pouch is a retort pouch comprising a pouch gusset;   said portion of said at least one pouch received within said sleeve includes said pouch gusset; and   said pouch gusset is located proximate said sleeve gusset.   
     
     
         29 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein
 at least one of said one or more tear lines divides said at least one pouch into a top section and a bottom section;   said second section is said portion of said at least one pouch received within said sleeve;   said top and bottom sections are detachable from one another along said at least one tear line such that a detachment of said top and bottom sections along said at least one tear line defines an opening for accessing said edible product within said bottom section retained within said sleeve.   
     
     
         30 . The package of  claim 29 , wherein an entirety of said top section extends outwardly and away from said first end of said sleeve. 
     
     
         31 . The package of  claim 16 , comprising a kit including at least one sleeve and two or more pouches, wherein said at least one sleeve is reusable with any one of said two or more pouches. 
     
     
         32 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein said sleeve gusset is a lockable sleeve gusset configured for being locked at any one or more of a plurality of locked stages including being locked at a folded or collapsed stage, a fully un-folded or expanded stage, and one or more stages between said folded or collapsed stage and said fully un-folded or expanded stage, said lockable sleeve gusset further configured for being un-locked from any one or more of said plurality of locked stages.