The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 23, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 05, 2000
Glenda J. Cahill, Florence, SC (US);
James W. Lowry, Florence, SC (US);
Sonoco Development, Inc., Hartsville, SC (US);
Abstract
A tubular container for expansible food products is provided according to the present invention that includes a flexible liner having opposed end portions secured to respective ends of a tubular body wall. The tubular body wall has opposed ends and inner and outer surfaces and comprises a wound strip of material having opposed side edges. An end closure is secured to each end of the tubular body wall and can hermetically seal the container. A vent hole may be formed through the body wall and the label by way of a laser for allowing the passage of air therethrough. The flexible liner is secured to the respective ends of the tubular body wall by way of an adhesive band between the liner and the inner surface of the tubular body wall. The flexible liner thus has a free medial portion between the end portions which moves inwardly against the expansible food product when a vacuum is applied during packaging, and which also then moves outwardly against the inner surface of the tubular body wall as the product expands. The liner preferably comprises a flexible and stretchable liner formed of at least one polymeric layer without foil and paper layers.