AU2004100806A4 - Fresh produce container - Google Patents

Description

EDITORIAL NOTE There are 5 pages of description.

0 c P/00/01I Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT JOHN VELLA JOHN VELLA CALLINAN LAWRIE, 711 High Street, Kew, Victoria 3101, Australia FRESH PRODUCE CONTAINER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 23/09/04,a 14060. innovaion speci,2 FRESH PRODUCE CONTAINER

O

O

Technical Field of the Invention This invention relates to containers for packaging and storing fresh produce, M 5 including fruit and vegetables and like produce.

IN Background of the Invention

O

0 The harvesting, distribution and retailing of fruits and vegetables is subject to a

O

o variety of problems. For example, during harvesting, vegetables are often placed in large j- 10 containers for transport to distributors. The distributors then clean the edible materials, as

O

O necessary, and transport those edible materials to various retail outlets. At the retail outlet, the vegetables are sometimes packaged into smaller disposable containers but are sometimes offered for sale as loose items.

Containers which have been used for fruits and vegetables generally are not resealable and do not offer a physical structure to protect individual and groups of perishable fruit and vegetables during handling, transit, and retail sale. Typically, these containers are in the form of crates and corrugated boxes, and the fruit or vegetables are not protected when displayed in retail outlets.

At the point of retail sale, a variety of packaging systems are used. Frequently, vegetables are displayed in a loose condition so that a purchaser can select the individual items. In this instance, the purchaser typically uses a plastic bag to hold the items during the remainder of the shopping trip and until the items arrive at the shopper's home and there is increasing environmental pressure to reduce and phase out the use of plastic bags in supermarkets and other retail outlets.

These bags do not protect the vegetables from physical damage during transportation to the ultimate destination, the home. Furthermore, the bags do not offer storage capability at the shopper's home.

There are more recent packagings such as sleeves utilised to package fresh produce. However, they still have the disadvantages of being non-resealable and do not provide physical protection to their contents.

To preserve vegetables after retail purchase, the consumer typically refrigerates them. With the common domestic frost-free refrigerators, further problems occur which adversely affect these edible materials. For example, frost-free refrigerators continually circulate air through the refrigeration compartment which dehydrates vegetables.

23/09/04,at 14060.innovation speci,2 Additionally, frost-free refrigerators, as well as older non-frost-free refrigerators, allow o food odours to permeate other foods stored in the refrigerator. These problems of drying and odour absorption deleteriously affect the useful life of edible materials, especially leafy vegetables such as lettuce. Further problems can arise because of the exposure of the Mf 5 fresh fruit and vegetables to air bornie and hand transferred contaminants such as germs and Nx microbes from coming into contact with the pre-washed product. Another problem with IND conventional methods is that certain fruit and vegetables can release significant amounts of 00 ethylene. These levels of ethylene in the refrigerator can be sufficiently high to adversely O deteriorate other fruits and vegetables stored in the refrigerator.

-zt 10 In U.S. 5,354,569, a method of packaging lettuce is proposed where a large O number of lettuces are packaged in an octagonal-shaped cardboard container with a plastic liner. The atmosphere in the liner may be evacuated or replaced with a modified atmosphere that precludes oxidation and deterioration of the lettuce. This invention prevents water absorption into the outer cardboard packaging by means of the plastic liner.

However, the packaging of lettuce by the invention does not address the problem of display, handling and transport of lettuce from the retailer to the consumer's home.

Polystyrene foam containers are also used for packaging lettuce. While these avoid the problem of water absorption and consequent bacterial and fungal growth, they are relatively expensive and again do not address the problem of transport and storage from the retailer to the consumer's home.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved fresh produce container.

Summary of the Invention This invention provides in one form a plastic fresh produce container that includes a molded body portion and a molded closure portion that cooperatively seal so that, in use, in the closed position an atmosphere is provided where water vapour is at a higher level within the container compared to immediately outside the container, wherein the molded body portion further includes in a lower portion thereof a disc.

Preferably, the disc is an absorbent disc.

Preferably, the molded body portion is adapted to retain the disc in a fixed position.

Preferably, the disc is positioned so that when a leafy vegetable is stored in the container, a cut stalk of the leafy vegetable in the container is in contact with the disc.

Preferably the leafy vegetable is a lettuce.

23109104.atl 4060.innovation speci.3 Preferably, the disc comprises a cellulosic material.

O Preferably, the disc includes a lettuce preservative material.

In an alternative form, the disc has an opening that, in use, is adapted to separate the root mass of a growing plant from the aerial parts of a growing plant and to prevent Cl 5 growing media from being inadvertently transferred from the root mass to the aerial parts of the growing plant.

0 00 Brief Description of the Drawings 0 o Figure 1 is a perspective view of a molded body portion.

.4t 10 Figure 2 is a plan view of a molded body portion.

Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will be further described by reference to a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings. Referring to Figure 1, the molded body portion I is generally circular in cross-section but has scalloped portions 2, 3, 4 which are aesthetic. The upper portion 5 of the body portion 1 forms a mating fit with a complementary scalloped surface from the closure portion (not shown). The closure portion is generally similar in shape to the base portion 1 but has a height approximately 70% of the body portion 1. However, it will be appreciated that this percentage can change significantly from this figure without affecting the working of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 2, the body portion 1 has locating protrusions 6 which locate an absorbent disc 7. The disc 7 is made of water absorbent cellulose paper material or other suitable material compatible with food. The disc is approximately 30 to 40 mm in diameter and 2 to 5 mm. thick.

In use, a cut lettuce head is placed in the body portion I with its cut stalk in contact with the disc 7. The disc 7 may absorb up to approximately 10 ml of water. The disc 7 hence is able to absorb excess water from the recently washed lettuce. The disc 7 also serves to regulate the moisture content in the atmosphere of the container when the container is sealed. In some applications we have found it desirable that the container should allow a small amount of water vapour to be removed. A small opening may be provided in the container to achieve this. In practice we have found that small openings formed between the upper rim of the body of the container and the closing lid provides sufficient venting. In many cases a complete seal is desired as this means the container is leak-proof. This feature is especially preferred by consumers.

fl/0904,a1 14060 mnnonation pei,4 The disc may also be impregnated with natural or synthetic preservatives that may O extend the life of the lettuce. For example, anti-oxidants may also be used. The disc may also contain nutrient sources such as organic metabolites, sugar or nitrogenous materials.

Suitable examples are glucose, fructose, phosphate sugars, amino acids, organic acids such Cl 5 as citric acid and acetic acid, The disc may also contain non-toxic anti-fungal and antibacterial agents (preservatives) that are acceptable for use with fresh vegetables. The disc IND may also contain ethylene absorbing agents to remove unwanted ethylene in order to 00 extend the shelf life of various products.

0 o The container may be formed by blow molding procedures. The container may be 10 made from polyethylene, polypropylene or other suitable thermoplastic polymers. As well O as frictional fit between the base and the lid, a hinged closure mechanism may also be used. A screw-threaded means of attachment between the base and the lid may also be used.

While the present invention is particularly suitable for lettuce, it may also be used for other leafy vegetables such as bok choi. It may also be used for wongbok where a freshly cut stem is in contact with the disc. The container may also be used for processed lettuce, fruit requiring preservation of the calyx tomatoes and strawberries), fresh and dried herbs as well as other various gourmet fruit and vegetables.

In an alternative form, the disc with the opening may be secured into the desired position by undercuts formed in the side wall of the container. The disc may also be secured by a circular rim formed into the wall of the container or by other means. The disc may be comprised of two interlocking parts. The disc would also help to prevent the transfer of soil/potting media to aerial parts of the plant should the container become disoriented from its normal upright position. This alternative form of the present invention is particularly suitable for fresh and growing herbs.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may be readily effected by persons skilled in the art, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described, by way of example, hereinabove.

23/09104, 8 L1I4D60innovation

Claims (4)

1. A plastic fresh produce container that includes a molded body portion and a Vmolded closure portion that cooperatively seal so that, in use, in the closed position an n 5 atmosphere is provided where water vapour is at a higher level within the container compared to immediately outside the container, wherein the molded body portion further IO includes in a lower portion thereof a disc. 0 00 0 o

2. A plastic fresh produce container as defined in claim 1 wherein the molded body portion is adapted to retain the disc in a fixed position. 0

3. A plastic fresh produce container as defined in claim 2 wherein the disc has an opening that, in use, is adapted to separate the root mass of a growing plant from the aerial parts of a growing plant and to prevent growing media from being inadvertently transferred from the root mass to the aerial parts of the growing plant.

4. A plastic fresh produce container as defined in claim I or claim 2 wherein the disc is an absorbent disc and the disc is positioned so that when a leafy vegetable is stored in the container, a cut stalk of the leafy vegetable in the container is in contact with the disc. A plastic fresh produce container as defined in any one of claims I to 4 when used to store leafy vegetables, especially lettuce. DATED this 2 3 rd day of September, 2004 JOHN VELLA By his Patent At CALLINAN LA' 2310904,a 14060 innovation speci.6