Abstract: A food tray has a lower tray containing a first food product and an upper tray nested stably at least partly inside the lower tray, with the upper tray containing a second food product. An air permeable interface is provided between the upper tray and lower tray to allow venting of steam from the lower tray during cooking. A cover is provided for the food tray. Each of the lower tray and the upper tray are formed of a material that is suitable for use in a microwave or conventional oven. Various constructions may be used to create the air permeable interface, such as lugs, ledges and lips. The upper tray may sit above the lower tray. The trays are nested loosely for case of removal of the upper tray from the lower tray. Various configurations of cover may be used such as a sleeve, carton or lid. The upper tray may contain the higher value food product.

Abstract: A storage container system comprising an arrangement for adjustable ventilation intended for storing at least one article that is thermally sensitive and/or requires ventilation to the ambient atmosphere. The device includes at least one door and at least one aperture ventilation assembly. The aperture ventilation assembly includes a planar wall aperture array and a corresponding planar shutter aperture array, wherein the sliding relationship between the two arrays results in a plurality of ventilation levels, including a fully open state, and a closed state capable of substantially sealing off the contents of the container from the ambient atmosphere. Certain preferred embodiments include a plurality of storage compartments configured within the container's inner volume wherein each compartment is sealed from one another and possesses its own aperture ventilation assembly for ventilation adjustments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connector device suitable for connecting an enteral administration set to a laminated paper packaging system comprising enterally administrable medical or nutritional food.

Abstract: An atmosphere controlled, resealable foodstuff container includes a base tray and a cover. The cover and base tray are constructed of a substantially gas impermeable material. The cover and base tray include resealing members. When connected, the cover and base tray define a generally enclosed and sealed interior space for foodstuffs. The container includes at least one atmosphere control member, such as a membrane, which controls the flow of gases through an opening in the container. The member may be located over a recessed opening in the cover to permit the containers to be stacked without gas flow interference. A label extends over the recess, thus obscuring the membrane from view to the purchaser without affecting the membrane atmosphere control function. The base tray may be opaque for use as a serving tray and the cover transparent to permit viewing of the product.

Abstract: A field ration packaging assembly includes a ration housing and a food tray. The ration housing includes a lid panel having at least one air exhaust vent and a wall panel having at least one intake vent. The food tray may be positioned above a heat source. The at least one air exhaust vent and at least one air intake vent may be in fluid communication such that upon activation of the heat source, air enters the ration housing through the at least one air intake vent, passes over the heat source and exits the ration housing at the at least one exhaust vent by natural convection.

Abstract: A food and food-plate warming device includes a base plate that has a planar top surface and has an outwardly beveled edge provided with laterally stepped ridges concentrically spaced from the top surface center. A cover plate is positioned on the base plate and has an outer lip that is nested on one of the stepped ridges. Handles are conjoined to the outer lip for receiving at least four contiguous metacarpals therethrough. A mechanism is included for heating the base plate top surface such that the food and food-plate interfitted between the base plate and the cover plate can be heated. The heating mechanism includes a heating element intercalated between the top and bottom surfaces of the first base plate. An automatic shut off switch is coupled to the heating element for interrupting power to the heating element when an interior temperature of the device reaches a maximum threshold temperature.

Abstract: A valve assembly is provided for venting pressurized gases generated from within an enclosed package during a heating of the package. The valve assembly has a membrane element, a tubular body and a retaining member. The tubular body has an open end, a closed end and a recess defined therebetween. The closed end has an aperture for venting the pressurized gases therethrough. The recess is operative to receive and support the membrane element adjacent the closed end. The retaining member is operative for snap-fit engagement with the tubular body for retaining the membrane element within the recess.

Abstract: A vented container for produce having a base and a cover which are at least substantially impervious to gas transfer. The base includes a base panel and side walls. Preferably two vent apertures are formed through the side wall, and a plug is provided for each vent aperture, to permit the vent apertures to be selectively opened. The plugs may be mounted upon vent toggles, such that manual pivoting of the vent toggles will open or close the associated vent aperture. The selective opening of the vent apertures permits gas exchange between the interior of the container and the ambient atmosphere, providing improve storage for produce. Maintaining the vent apertures closed permits the container to be used as a normal sealed food storage container. The base panel preferably includes an alternating series of hills and troughs to segregate condensate within the container. The troughs may be downward concave to further subdivide the condensate within each trough.

Abstract: A temperature insulated lunch box having an upwardly open heated food chamber and an upwardly open unheated food chamber. A cover closes the food chambers. The heated food chamber has a nestable container having a closure. The lunch box includes an electrical circuit including a heating element which is optionally a radiant heating element, a battery, a switch controlling power to the heating element, an externally accessible connector for receiving AC power and a power converter which charges the battery from the AC source. The lunch box has a downwardly open chamber located beneath the food chambers. The downwardly open chamber contains legs which fold out to support the lunch box on an environmental surface, and a tray having pockets for storing cloths and retainers for retaining flatware. The tray is releasably held to the walls of the downwardly open chamber by a spring biased fastener.

Abstract: A container for a soap bar is provided which container is formed of first and second mating sections which are hollowed to form a soap-bar-receiving chamber when the sections are mated. The chamber recess in the first section is formed so as to control the position of the soap bar therein to control the contact area of a wet soap bar with the walls of the chamber in the first section so as to minimize sticking of the soap bar to the chamber walls and to facilitate air flow through the chamber. An opening is provided in the first section to permit the soap bar to be pushed out therefrom with a users fingers and to, in conjunction with an opening in the upper section, further facilitate air flow through the container for soap bar drying. A lip or other suitable element may be provided to prevent water drippage from the openings or the openings may be otherwise designed to inhibit water from flowing therethrough.

Abstract: Packaging for foodstuffs comprising a device for automatic closure at the end of cooking. The automatic closure device (15) comprises a first chamber (38) communicating with the outside and enclosing a valve and second chamber (40) communicating with the first chamber and enclosing a block of thermofusible material, such second chamber communicating with the interior of the packaging by a channel of small cross section (41). During cooking, the gases can leave freely from the packaging and, at the onset of cooling, the valve prevents air from penetrating the packaging while the thermofusible material solidifies in the channel of small cross section.

Abstract: A heating and cooling lunch box which can preserve meals at a suitable temperature for taste a long time depending the type of meals. The lunch box has an outer container, an inner container for forming a heating and heat insulating container and a cooling container engaged with the outer container, heat source and cooling source for heating and/or cooling the heating and heat insulating container and the cooling container, and a cover for covering the upper surface of the inner container. The heat source is adjacent to the heating and heat insulating container, and an air opening for flowing intake air is perforated in the side wall of the outer container. The air opening communicates with a heat source containing chamber for containing the heating composition which produces heat in the presence of said flowing intake air in the heat source containing chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying, storing and cooking a dinner in a microwave oven including assembling the meal in upside-down fashion in a compartmentalized lid, equipped with vent holes sealed with adhesive tape to prevent escape of the food with a foil covering over the lid to protect the frozen meal during the storage which when the meal is ready to be cooked, the lid is inverted over a reusable microwavable dish with such that the food drops into the dish, the sealing tape is removed from the vents and the unit placed in a microwave oven.

Abstract: A metal fire and smoke emergency kit of generally rectangular cross section having a hinged front. Its contents enable one to extinguish a small fire, provide temporary first aid, provide emergency clothes and breathing apparatus to evacuate an area threatened by fire or fumes and attract attention enabling rescuers to locate people in danger of being trapped. Emergency instructions on the outside and inside of the hinged front are also provided. Only a fire extinguisher is mounted on the exterior of the case. The contents are protected from theft by a lead seal lock or optional room key.

Abstract: A nestable stackable food container for the temporary storage of items, particularly food items, characterized by the provision of interengageable tray-like members having a channeled interior bottom surface and vent means leading outwardly of the tray members, with the tray members including a bottom, a top, which is nestably associated with the bottom, for containing a single food item; and a plurality of intermediate tray members which may be stacked in vertical tandem for containing a plurality of food pieces in a unitary stacked carton arrangement.