1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to storage containers for storing foods and other products that bear liquids which are likely to be exuded from the products. More particularly, the present invention relates to food storage containers incorporating a reservoir which contains absorbent material for collecting and absorbing excess liquids which exude from food, etc., in the form of biofluids, marinades, saline, juices, water, etc., so that the liquids and their associated microorganisms are held separate from the food while contained in the storage containers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Excess moisture within food storage containers can cause premature spoilage of food products which are stored in the containers because the moisture provides a favorable environment for the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. Excess moisture in a storage container also can lead to leakage of fluids from the storage container which can cause contamination of other foods and items about the container. Attempts at controlling excess moisture in food storage containers, such as trays (rigid and flexible) and bags, have met with some success. These prior art devices include: (1) pre-formed trays configured for the insertion of absorbent pads or absorbent sheets with the food products resting on the absorbent pad; (2) trays with built-in reservoirs arranged to trap excess moisture exuded from the products, with some of the trays including a cover which allows fluids to drain from the product into the reservoir but which partially restricts the fluids from reemerging past the cover following shaking or movement of the tray; and (3) trays or packs made from multiple layers of material with one layer being liquid impervious, the second layer being formed with perforations to allow fluids to enter, and an absorbent media sandwiched between the two layers to absorb and retain the entering fluids.
Several aspects of the prior art food containers with absorbent media limit the overall effectiveness of the containers and thereby fail to adequately address the need for absorbing excess liquids exuded from food products stored in containers. Particularly, a pad of absorbent material, typically formed of paper or a fluff-pulp structure, absorbs fluids but can not retain a great quantity of fluids when the pad is under pressure, such as when food is placed directly upon the pad or when food is placed on an upper layer of a tray which incorporates a pad sandwiched below the upper layer. In these configurations, the weight of the food upon the upper layer or directly on the absorbent pad compresses the pad and reduces the capacity of the pad to absorb liquids. Additionally, the amount of paper or fluff that would be required to produce a pad with sufficient absorbency to absorb and retain high levels of liquid is likely to require the pad to be too large for practical use. Furthermore, the prior art food storage trays usually have not incorporated reservoirs of a sufficient size to hold high levels of excess fluid without physically weakening the trays, thereby increasing the tendency of the trays to crack and leak fluids.
Therefore, there exists a need for devices and methods that address these and other shortcomings of the prior art.
Briefly stated, the present invention relates to storage containers for storing foods and other products that bear liquids which are likely to be exuded from the products. In a preferred embodiment, the storage container includes a base that defines an interior, and a lid that defines a reservoir. The lid is configured to engage the base so that food products placed within the interior may be retained therein. An absorbent material is arranged within the reservoir of the lid and is retained therein by a cover formed of liquid permeable material. The cover permits liquid exuded from the food products to enter the reservoir so that the absorbent material may absorb the liquid, such as when the storage container is inverted.
In some embodiments, the storage container includes a base defining an interior which is adapted to receive food products. Additionally, means for engaging the base and means for absorbing liquid exuded from the food products are provided.
Other embodiments of the present invention may be construed as providing methods for storing food products. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a storage container having a base and a lid, the base defining an interior; placing food products within the interior of the storage container when the base is oriented in a substantially upright configuration; engaging the base with the lid such that the food products are retained within the storage container; inverting the storage container such that the lid is disposed substantially beneath the base; and enabling liquid from the interior of the storage container to permeate into the lid such that the liquid is substantially removed from the interior and retained by the lid.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.