Food storage bags

Abstract

This invention provides a food storage bag that is relatively inexpensive and disposable, yet allows for easy insertion and removal from a pot without contact with the pot's surface, and maintains its self-standing structure when filled with food and sealed, making it less likely to tip over inside the pot, thus making it suitable for use in bain-marie cooking. [Solution] The food storage bag 1 of this invention has folded portions 20 formed by folding both ends of a tubular resin film 2 inward by the same folded width b2, and the opening at one end of the tubular film 2 is heat-sealed. The sum of the folded widths b2 at both ends (total folded width 2 × b2) is 78.6% or more of the width (finished width b1) of the food storage bag 1 with the folded portions 20 folded. When food is placed inside and sealed, the food storage bag 1 expands into a cylindrical shape, allowing it to be easily inserted into and removed from a pot without contacting the pot surface when used for cooking in a water bath, and also allowing it to stand upright in the pot.

Description

Technical Field

[0006]

[0001] The present invention relates to a food storage bag, and more particularly to a food storage bag suitable for use in the simmering cooking of food.

Background Art

[0002] After putting food ingredients, seasoning liquids, etc. into a plastic bag and sealing it in a state where air is removed, simmering cooking in which this food ingredient is immersed in hot water together with the bag and heated is a cooking method that is difficult to let the umami and moisture of the food escape and is easy to control the temperature, and is widespread.

[0003] Simmering cooking using such a plastic bag can reduce the washing of dishes, cooking utensils, etc., and thus is also attracting attention as a cooking method that can be used even in disaster areas where it is difficult to secure water for washing.

[0004] As the plastic bag used for simmering cooking, there are also those specially designed, but generally plastic bags commercially available as food storage bags, etc. are used. For example, food storage bags made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), etc. have the necessary heat resistance and are safe even when used for food cooking, and thus are used for the above-mentioned simmering cooking.

[0005] The above-mentioned food storage bag is manufactured by heat-sealing the bottom portion of a resin-made tubular film (inflation tube) formed by inflation molding, etc.

[0006] The food storage bag 100 manufactured in this way includes a flat bag in which one end opening of the tubular film 102 is sealed by a heat-sealing portion 110 as shown in Fig. 4(A), and folding portions 120, 120 where both ends in the width direction of the tubular film 102 are folded inward as shown in Fig. 4(B), and a gusset bag in which one end opening of this tubular film 102 is sealed by a heat-sealing portion 110. In this case, when cooking using a food storage bag 100 in a water bath, a food storage bag 100 that has heat resistance capable of withstanding the water temperature (100°C) is used.

[0007] However, even when cooking in a water bath using a food storage bag 100 that is heat-resistant to the temperature of water (100°C), if the food storage bag 100 comes into direct contact with the bottom of the pot (the inner bottom part of the pot; the same applies hereinafter) or the sides of the pot (the inner side part of the pot; the same applies hereinafter) that reach temperatures above 100°C, the food storage bag 100 may melt and develop holes. Regarding the contact of the food storage bag 100 with the bottom of the pot, it is common practice to take measures such as placing a heat-resistant plate at the bottom of the pot.

[0008] However, in many cases, no measures are taken to prevent contact between the food storage bag 100 and the pot surface, and as a result, the food storage bag 100 often melts when it comes into contact with the pot surface.

[0009] In particular, when a conventional food storage bag 100 is sealed by tying the opening with ingredients or seasoning liquid inside, it expands into an elliptical shape with the width of the food storage bag 100 as the major axis, as shown in Figure 5.

[0010] Therefore, when inserting or removing the food storage bag 100 from the pot, the ends 100a, 100b in the width direction (the direction of the major axis of the ellipse) and the surrounding areas tend to come into contact with the pot surface, which is a drawback as it makes it difficult to insert or remove the bag from the pot.

[0011] Furthermore, even if the ingredients are successfully placed into the pot, if a food storage bag 100 that does not stand on its own is used, there is a possibility that the food storage bag 100 may tip over inside the pot and come into contact with the sides of the pot.

[0012] To resolve these problems, Patent Document 1, shown below, proposes a cooking and storage holder consisting of a cylindrical body formed by connecting multiple plates. This cooking and storage holder is installed inside the pot, and food storage bags containing ingredients are placed inside the holder, thereby preventing contact between the food storage bags and the pot surface (see Patent Document 1).

[0013] Although this product is not intended for use in a water bath but rather for use in a microwave oven, some plastic packaging bags are designed to be self-standing, such as standing pouches. Patent Document 2, cited below, describes a packaging bag that can be repeatedly used for cooking, etc., by providing a zipper mechanism at the top opening of such a standing pouch type packaging bag and valve mechanisms that peel off due to internal pressure at the sealing portions on both sides adjacent to the zipper mechanism. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0014] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2025-37125 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-115950 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0015] Even when cooking food in a water bath using the conventional food storage bag 100 described above, if a cylindrical cooking and storage holder as described in Patent Document 1 is placed inside the pot, and the food items in the food storage bag are placed inside this cooking and storage holder, direct contact between the food storage bag 100 and the pot surface can be prevented.

[0016] However, if such a bulky device is used to prevent contact between the food storage bag 100 and the pot, the convenience of cooking in a water bath using the food storage bag 100 is lost.

[0017] On the other hand, the standing pouch-type packaging bag described in Patent Document 2 has a zipper mechanism at the top opening, allowing it to hold any food item. Therefore, it can be used for cooking in a water bath by placing food suitable for this method inside and immersing it in hot water. Furthermore, because it is self-supporting, it is thought that it can also stand upright in a pot.

[0018] However, such standing pouch-type packaging bags have a complex structure and are costly, so they are intended to be reused after washing, etc. (Patent Document 2

[0001] ), and if they are used only once and then discarded, the running costs will be high.

[0019] On the other hand, the food storage bags 100 manufactured by the aforementioned inflation molding method are inexpensive and can be easily discarded if they become soiled after use in cooking, etc. This offers significant advantages in reducing washing up and enabling easy and convenient cooking. Furthermore, they are highly effective when cooking in disaster-stricken areas where it is difficult to secure water for washing dishes and cooking utensils.

[0020] Therefore, the standing pouch-type packaging bag described in Patent Document 2 cannot replace the inexpensive, disposable food storage bag 100 as described above.

[0021] For the reasons stated above, there is a need for a food storage bag that is relatively inexpensive, disposable, and already used for cooking in a water bath, but that has a structure suitable for use in this purpose.

[0022] Therefore, this invention was made to overcome the shortcomings of the above-mentioned prior art, and aims to provide a food storage bag suitable for cooking in a water bath that is relatively inexpensive and disposable, yet can be easily put in and taken out of a pot without coming into contact with the pot's surface when used for cooking in a water bath, and also exhibits self-standing ability when food is placed inside and sealed, making it less likely to tip over in the pot.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0023] The means for solving the problems are described below together with the reference numerals used in the form for implementing the invention. This reference numeral is described for clarifying the correspondence between the description of the claims for utility model registration and the description of the form for implementing the invention, and needless to say, it is not used restrictively for interpreting the technical scope of the present invention.

[0024] In order to achieve the above object, the food storage bag 1 of the present invention In the food storage bag 1 in which one end opening of a resin tubular film 2 is sealed to define the bottom of the bag, Folding portions 20, 20 are provided by folding both ends in the width direction of the tubular film 2 inward with the same folding widths b2, b2, With respect to the finished width b1 which is the width of the food storage bag 1 in the state where the folding portions 20, 20 are folded, the total of the folding widths b2, b2 at both ends (total folding width 2b2) is made 78.6% or more, and It is characterized in that it can be used for simmering cooking (Claim 1).

[0025] [[ID=?]] For the food storage bag 1 having the above configuration, it is preferable that the length L of the food storage bag is 2.5 times or more with respect to the finished width b1 (Claim 2).

[0026] The resin constituting the tubular film 2 can be any one selected from high density polyethylene (HDPE), nylon, or polypropylene, or a combination of a plurality of types (Claim 3).

Effect of the Invention

[0027] With the configuration of the present invention described above, the following remarkable effects can be obtained with the food storage bag of the present invention

[0028] It seems there is an unclear "?" in the line number "ID=?" in the original text. I've translated it as best as possible while keeping the original structure. If you can clarify that part, it would be better for a more accurate translation.As shown in Figure 2, the total folded width b2, b2 of the folded portions 20, 20 on both sides (total folded width 2b2) is set to be 78.6% or more of the finished width b1, which is the width of the food storage bag 1 when the folded portions 20, 20 are folded. This results in a planar shape of the food storage bag 1 when the folded portions 20, 20 are unfolded that is close to a square, making the food storage bag 1 as a whole close to a square prism.

[0029] As a result, the food storage bag 1 can be opened wide, making it easy to put in even large food items. Furthermore, when the opening is tied and sealed with food items and seasoning liquid inside the food storage bag 1, as shown in Figure 3, the food storage bag 1 is pushed outwards by the food items and seasoning liquid, causing the food storage bag 1 to expand into a cylindrical shape overall.

[0030] In conventional food storage bags 100, as shown in Figure 5, when food is placed inside and sealed, the bag expands into an elliptical shape with the width as its major axis. This makes it easy for the ends 100a and 100b in the width direction of the food storage bag 100 to come into contact with the sides of the pot, which is generally round.

[0031] In contrast, the food storage bag 1 of this invention expands into a cylindrical shape corresponding to the internal shape of a typical pot, as shown in Figure 3, making it easy to insert and remove the food storage bag 1 without it coming into contact with the pot's surface.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the cylindrical shape of the food storage bag 1 allows it to stand on its own, preventing it from tipping over or otherwise coming into contact with the pot, even when used for cooking in a water bath.

[0033] Furthermore, by widening the folded widths b2, b2 of the folded portions 20, 20 of the food storage bag 1 of this invention, the finished width b1 can be made narrower compared to existing flat bags and gusset bags of similar capacity. As a result, the packaging box and packaging bag that contain the food storage bag 1 of this invention can be made smaller.

[0034] By making the packaging boxes and bags smaller in this way, they do not take up much storage space, and it is possible to store the food storage bags of this invention in small dead spaces, such as in the kitchen.

[0035] In a configuration where the length L of the food storage bag 1 is 2.5 times or more the finished width b1, it is possible to easily store long food items such as leafy vegetables, thus expanding the range of items that can be stored or cooked by boiling.

[0036] Furthermore, by increasing the length L of the food storage bag 1, it was possible to leave more room for tying and sealing the opening of the food storage bag 1, thereby improving the workability when sealing the opening. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0037] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram of the food storage bag of the present invention, where (A) is a front view and (B) is a cross-sectional view of (A) along line BB. [Figure 2] A perspective view of the food storage bag of this invention with the folded portion unfolded. [Figure 3] An explanatory diagram showing the state of use (sealed state) of the food storage bag of this invention. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram of conventional food storage bags, where (A) is a flat bag and (B) is a gusseted bag. [Figure 5] An explanatory diagram showing the usage (sealed state) of conventional food storage bags. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0038] The food storage bag 1 of this invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0039] [Overall composition of food storage bags] The food storage bag 1 of this invention has folded portions 20, 20 at both ends in the width direction of a tubular resin film 2, and the bottom of the bag is formed by heat-sealing the opening at one end of the tubular film 2 in this state. This corresponds to a type of bag called a "U-shaped bag (gusset bag)" in JIS Z 1711 (1994).

[0040] The aforementioned tubular film 2 can be manufactured by various known methods, and for example, an inflation tube manufactured by inflation can be suitably used as the aforementioned tubular film 2.

[0041] The material of the food storage bag 1 of this invention is not particularly limited, and various materials can be used as long as they are heat-resistant resins that can be used for cooking in a water bath. High-density polyethylene (HDPE, heat resistance temperature approximately 90-110°C), nylon (heat resistance temperature approximately 100°C), polypropylene (heat resistance temperature approximately 120-140°C), etc., can be used as materials for the food storage bag 1 of this invention, and one of these materials may be used alone, or a combination of multiple materials may be used.

[0042] Furthermore, if the food storage bag 1 of this invention is used only for cooking in a water bath at relatively low temperatures, low-density polyethylene (LDPE, heat-resistant temperature of approximately 70-90°C) can also be used.

[0043] However, due to its relatively high heat resistance and cost advantages compared to nylon, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) can be suitably used as the material for the food storage bag 1 of this invention, and the food storage bag 1 can be suitably manufactured using a tubular film (inflation tube) obtained by inflation molding of HDPE.

[0044] [Names and dimensional symbols for each part of a food storage bag] Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of the food storage bag 1 of the present invention. In Figure 1, "b1" represents the "finished width" of the food storage bag 1, indicating the width of the food storage bag 1 when the folded portion 20 is folded. Furthermore, "b2" represents the folding width of each folded section 20, 20, and "2b2", which is the sum of the folding widths b2 of the folded sections 20, represents the total folding width of the food storage bag 1.

[0045] Furthermore, "b" is the total width of the food storage bag 1 when the folded sections 20, 20 are unfolded, and the sum of the finished width b1 and the total folded width 2b2 is the total width b of the food storage bag 1 (b = b1 + 2b2).

[0046] In Figure 1(A), L represents the length of the food storage bag 1, and the hatched area in Figure 1(A) is the heat-sealed portion 10 that defines the bottom of the food storage bag 1.

[0047] Of the heat-sealed sections 10, the central section with normal hatching is a flat seal section 12 where the front and back films are heat-sealed, while the left and right sections with cross-hatching are gusset seal sections 11 where the front and back films and the folded section 20 are heat-sealed together to form a single unit.

[0048] In the food storage bag 1 of this invention, the folding widths b2, b2 of each of the aforementioned folded portions 20, 20 are made large, and the folded portions 20 are provided such that the total folding width 2b2 is 78.6% or more of the finished width b1.

[0049] Here, the larger the ratio of the total folded width 2b2 to the finished width b1, the closer the planar shape of the food storage bag with the folded parts 20, 20 unfolded becomes to a square, and the food storage bag 1 as a whole becomes closer to a square prism (see Figure 2).

[0050] Therefore, when the opening of the food storage bag 1 is tied and sealed with ingredients and seasoning liquid inside, the film of the food storage bag 1 is pushed outwards by the ingredients and seasoning liquid, causing it to bulge and expand into a roughly cylindrical shape as shown in Figure 3.

[0051] As a result, the food storage bag 1 of this invention, when filled with ingredients and sealed, has a shape that makes it easy to put in and take out of pots, which generally have a circular inner circumference, and makes it difficult for the food storage bag 1 to come into contact with the surface of the pot when putting it in or taking it out.

[0052] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the food storage bag 1 of this invention, which expands into a cylindrical shape when food is placed inside, exhibits self-standing ability, thus eliminating the problem of it tipping over inside a pot and coming into contact with the pot's surface.

[0053] Furthermore, by making the total folded width 2b2 of the food storage bag 1 of this invention wider, the finished width b1 can be made significantly narrower compared to food storage bags of similar capacity. As a result, the packaging box or packaging bag that houses the food storage bag 1 of this invention can be made smaller, saving space when stored in the kitchen or elsewhere.

[0054] While the upper limit of the ratio of the total folded width 2b2 to the finished width b1 can theoretically be increased to 100%, approaching 100% of this ratio increases the occurrence of production defects. Therefore, although it varies depending on the size of the food storage bag 1 being manufactured, the ratio of the total folded width (2b2) ​​to the finished width b1 is capped at approximately 95%.

[0055] The length of the food storage bag 1 of this invention is not particularly limited, and various lengths can be used. However, in the food storage bag 1 of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the length L is longer than that of a typical food storage bag. For example, the length L is 2.5 times or more the finished width b1 mentioned above. With this configuration, the food storage bag 1 of the present invention can be suitably used for storing long foods such as leafy vegetables and for boiling.

[0056] Furthermore, by increasing the length L of the food storage bag 1, it was possible to have a longer knot when tying the opening to seal it, making it easier to seal the food storage bag 1. [Examples]

[0057] The results of a comparative test between the food storage bag of the present invention (example) and the comparative food storage bag are shown below. [Test Example 1]: Test results using a prototype (1) Purpose of the examination Determine the ratio of the total folded width 2b2 to the finished width b1 of a food storage bag suitable for use in a water bath.

[0058] (2) Test method Multiple food storage bags with different ratios of total folded width 2b2 to finished width b1 [(2b2 / b1) × 100 (%)] were created as samples, and it was confirmed how the self-supporting ability and external shape of the inflated food storage bags changed with changes in the ratio (%) of total folded width 2b2 to finished width b1. For the test, each sample was inflated with air, and the bag was sealed by tying the opening. The self-standing test was performed by placing each sealed, inflated sample on a horizontal surface and checking whether it could stand on its own.

[0059] Independent living was assessed by performing the test three times for each sample. Samples that were independent all three times were rated "○", those that were independent once or twice out of three times were rated "△", and those that were not independent at all were rated "×". Changes in the external shape of each sample were observed by visually inspecting the shape of each sample after it was inflated with air and then sealed.

[0060] (3) Test results The results of the above test are shown below.

[0061] [Table 1]

[0062] As a result, the ratio (%) of the total folded width 2b2 to the finished width b1 increased, and as the total folded width 2b2 approached the finished width b1, the self-standing ability improved. In all samples (Examples 1-3), which accounted for 78.6% or more, the material remained self-standing in all three tests, confirming stable self-standing ability.

[0063] Furthermore, visual inspection of the shape changes revealed that when the ratio (%) of the total folded width 2b2 to the finished width b1 was small, the planar shape of the inflated food storage bag became an ellipse as shown in Figure 5. The smaller the ratio (%) of the total folded width 2b2 to the finished width b1, the greater the flattening ratio of the ellipse, and therefore the more flattened the shape became compared to a circle.

[0064] As the ratio (%) of the total folded width 2b2 to the finished width b1 increased, the planar shape of each sample approached a circular shape from an ellipse, and all samples with a ratio of 2b2 to b1 exceeding 78.6% were approximately circular.

[0065] These observations confirmed that products with a ratio of total folded width 2b2 to finished width b1 exceeding 78.6% not only exhibit stable self-supporting properties but also bulge into a circular (cylindrical) shape, making them easy to insert and remove from pots while avoiding contact with the pot's surface.

[0066] [Test Example 2]: Comparative test with commercially available food storage bags (1) Purpose of the examination We will confirm that the results of the aforementioned Test Example 1, conducted using a prototype, also apply to the relationship with commercially available food storage bags from various companies. (2) Test method We obtained commercially available food storage bags (all made of polyethylene) from various companies and compared their self-standing ability and external shape with a prototype (Example 4) created by the inventor.

[0067] The dimensions of each part of commercially available products and prototypes (Example 4) from each company were measured, and the ratio (%) of the total folded width 2b2 to the finished width b1 was determined. In addition, each food storage bag was tested for self-standing ability in the same manner as in Test Example 1, and differences in external shape were observed visually.

[0068] (3) Test results The test results for the above test example 2 are shown below.

[0069] [Table 2]

[0070] Based on these results, the only sample that showed good self-standing ability was the sample from Example 4, where the ratio of the total folded width 2b2 to the finished width b1 was 83.3%. Commercial products from other companies with a ratio of less than 78.6% to the total folded width 2b2 to the finished width b1 all failed to exhibit any self-standing ability (failed to stand upright even once in the three tests).

[0071] Furthermore, visual inspection revealed that the food storage bag in Example 4 was roughly circular (roughly cylindrical) when inflated, while commercially available products from various companies were still oval-shaped, making it easier for the food storage bag to come into contact with the pot's surface when inserting or removing it from the pot.

[0072] Based on the above results, the test results obtained with the aforementioned prototype are also applicable to products currently on the market from various companies, and it has been confirmed that the numerical limitation of 78.6% or more for the ratio (%) of the total folded width 2b2 to the finished width b1 in this invention is a critically significant value that is extremely effective for food storage bags used for bain-marie cooking. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1,100 Food storage bags 100a, 100b Ends in the width direction of food storage bags 2,102 tubular film 10,110 Heat seal section 11. Gusset seal section 12 Flat seal section 20,120 Folded section b1 Finished width of food storage bag (width of the bag when the folded portion is folded) b2 Fold width of each folded section 2b2 Total folded width b. The total width of the food storage bag when the folded portion is unfolded (b = b1 + 2b2)

Claims

1. In a food storage bag in which the bottom of the bag is defined by sealing the opening at one end of a tubular film made of resin, The tubular film is provided with folded portions at both ends in the width direction, each folded inward with the same fold width. With respect to the finished width, which is the width of the food storage bag when the aforementioned folded portion is folded, the sum of the folded widths at both ends shall be 78.6% or more, A food storage bag characterized by its suitability for use in cooking via bain-marie.

2. The food storage bag according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of the food storage bag is 2.5 times or more the finished width.

3. The food storage bag according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the resin constituting the tubular film consists of one or more types selected from high-density polyethylene, nylon, or polypropylene.

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