1 SOFT BERRY STORAGE CONTAINER AND METHOD OF STORING SOFT BERRIES Technical Field [0001] This invention relates to a soft berry storage container and a method of storing soft berries. The invention has particular application to a soft berry storage container for storing strawberries and a method of storing strawberries, and reference will be made herein to such application. However, the invention may also be used for storage of other soft berries, particularly ones which are prone to putrefaction if stored in contact with one another. Background Art [0002] Strawberries are often sold in punnets in which the strawberries are stacked randomly on one another substantially to the capacity of the punnet. However, pressure bruising of strawberries in the punnet can result in putrefaction by mould and/or bacteria, one example being Botrytis cinerea, commonly known as grey mould. Consumers are normally advised to discard strawberries which exhibit putrefaction because adjacent strawberries will often also rapidly deteriorate. As a result, consumers are normally advised to consume all of the strawberries in the punnet within a day or two of purchase. Other berries which may suffer from similar problems due to bruising when stacked upon or in contact with one another include, for example, raspberries, blackberries and mulberries. Such berries are referred to herein as soft berries. [0003] In this specification, terms such as upper, lower, top and bottom are used to describe the invention in a typical orientation. However, it will be appreciated that such terms do not limit the invention to any particular orientation. Summary of Invention [0004] In one aspect, the present invention resides broadly in a soft berry storage container including: an outer container portion having a base and sidewalls extending upwardly from the base to define a storage space with an open top; IP Australa No. 4 1 1 SEP 2013
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2 an inner container portion adapted to be suspended in the outer container and having a floor substantially commensurate with the base; and a lid portion hinged or attachable to one or more of the sidewalls for substantially enclosing the storage space; and wherein the base and the floor are substantially planar and include support formations extending into the storage space, and the base and the floor include one or more apertures. [0005] Soft berries stored in the container of the present invention tend to make less contact with each other than do berries stored in existing punnets. The container of the present invention affords greater protection of fragile soft berries by limiting movement of the berries relative to each other during transport and handling, and by distributing the berries' weight more evenly. These factors can greatly reduce bruising of the berries and their subsequent putrefaction. Firstly, in the soft berry storage container of the present invention, the soft berries are not necessarily stacked on top of each other because the inner container portion provides a second level in the container. Thus, the stacked weight of berries is much less (and may even be non-existent) than is the case in more conventional containers. Secondly, the support formations on the base and the floor strengthen the container and also support the berries whist limiting movement between adjacent berries (which helps prevent side impact of the berries against each other). Even if adjacent berries do make some contact with each other, they are not pressed so hard against each other that bruising occurs, nor are they able to rub against each other. Finally, the support formations and apertures cooperate to enable a flow of air through the container and provide a path via which moisture can escape the container. The inventor of the invention the subject of the present application has found that supporting soft berries in this manner during storage, whilst also enabling air to flow through the container and moisture to evaporate or drain from the container such that it does not remain in contact with the stored berries, results in lower amounts of putrefaction, and hence spoilage, of stored berries than is the case for berries stored in existing containers. [0006] The base and the floor are substantially planar and include support formations extending into the storage space. The support formations may have any structure that enables them to support soft berries contained within the storage container. For example, the support formations may be provided in the form of ridges along the base and floor. Alternatively, the support formations may be provided in the form of raised portions that are separated by channels along the base and floor. Such raised portions may advantageously help separate the soft berry from any moisture in the container (which would tend to collect in, and drain from, the channels).
3 [0007] The support formations may also help to strengthen the container. As will be appreciated, ridges and channels provided on otherwise relatively planar surfaces of a container will increase the structural integrity of the container (which in turn can help to further protect the soft berries stored therein). In some embodiments, different types and configurations of support formations may be provided in the container of the invention to even further increase its structural integrity. This would be especially advantageous if multiple containers of the invention are intended to be stacked on top of each other. [0008] In some embodiments, support formations may also be provided on other portions of the container of the invention, such as the sidewalls and lid portion. These support formations can further improve the airflow/moisture drainage around the soft berries, assist in limiting relative movement of the berries and further increase the strength of the container. [0009] The base and floor also include one or more apertures. Preferably, the apertures in the base and the floor are in the form of perforations of substantially circular section. More preferably, the apertures are also provided through the side walls and/or the lid portion. Preferably, the apertures in the base and floor align with the support formations in order to allow the best possible airflow into and out of the container, as well as the best possible moisture drainage. [0010] In a preferred form, the base is rectilinear, being either a square or a rectangle in shape, thereby providing that the container according to the present invention has either a square or a rectangular footprint. It is also preferred that the sidewalls are substantially square or rectangular, but having tapered sides to accommodate the outward extending of the sidewalls for stacking of the outer portion when empty. [0011] The inner container portion is adapted to be suspended in the outer container (e.g. on the sidewalls of the outer container). In a preferred form, the inner container portion includes inner sidewalls extending upward from its floor to terminate at an upper periphery. Preferably, the inner sidewalls include support formations for supporting the inner container portion on complementary support formations formed onto or into the sidewalls of the outer container portion. In such a form, the complementary support formations are of a height above the base such that the floor of the inner portion is supported with a predetermined spacing above the base. In one form, the support formations are provided in the form of tabs or projections and the 4 complementary support formations are provided in the form of slots. In such form, there may be several slots provided for each tab at selected spacings above the base whereby the floor may be supported at different spacings above the base to accommodate a range of different sizes of soft berry to be stored in the container. In this form, a plurality of inner container portions could be supported within the outer container (e.g. when the berries are relatively small). In another form, the support formations are provided in the form of a rim that projects outwardly from the uppermost part of the inner sidewalls, the rim being adapted to engage and be supported on complementary support formations on the outer container portion in the form of a flange which is located on top of the sidewalls of the outer container. Again, a plurality of inner container portions could be supported within the outer container in this form by providing inner containers having sidewalls of different heights. [0012] As noted above, in some embodiments, more than one inner container portion may be provided in order to provide a storage container having more than two levels. This may be advantageous if soft berries which are smaller than strawberries are to be stored within the container. [0013] Preferably the lid portion includes a top and lid side walls extending downwardly from the top to define an open bottom. In a preferred form, the lower edge of one of the lid side walls forms a hinge connection with the upper edge of a corresponding side wall of the outer container, and the side walls and lid side walls include closure and complementary closure formations for closing the lid portion on the outer container portion. Preferably, the closure and complementary closure formations are provided on all of the side walls and lid side walls. In such form, the closure formation and complementary closure formations are in the form of an outwardly extending and curling lip, the complementary closure formation of the lid portion being sized to provide an interference, self-latching fit into the closure formation of the outer container portion. [0014] Preferably, a top of the lid portion includes support formations extending into the storage space. These support formations can provide additional strength to the lid portion. The support formations on the lid portion may be orientated at right angles to the support formations on the base of the container in order to provide the greatest possible strength to containers stacked on top of one another.
0015. Where the soft berries to be stored are strawberries, the predetermined height is typically selected such that it is sufficient for the strawberries to be stored upon their stalk ends, R is also preferred that the base and floor be provided with an absorbent material for absorbing iquid which may exude from the strawberries. The absorbent material will relatively rapidly dry out due to the extensive airflow withi the container. [0016} Preferably, the container according to the invention is stackable with other containers according to the inventioi. [001 7. Also disclosed herein is a method of storing soft berries including: providing a support surface having one or more support formations extending upwardly from the support surface; providing a plunality of soft berries on said support surface; orienting each soft berry substantially the same as every other soft berry supported by said support surface and packed side-by-side against one another; and encapsulating the soft berries with side walls and a iid. [00 18] Preferably, the method includes stacking the soft berries in two orniore layers by providing a complementary plurality of the support surfaces as hereinbef ore described. Preferably, the soft berry is orientated such that its stem contacts the support surface (the stem prr.on of a sot berry is often least suscetible to bruising), in a preferred form, the method includes providing a soft berry storage container as herein described, Brief Description of Drawings [001 9 In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, exemplary embodinents of the present invention wil now be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: [0020 Fig, I is a perspective view of an inner container portion and an outer container portion and lid portion of a soft berry storage container according to a first embodiment of the invention; 6 [0021] Fig. 2 is a side view of two soft berry storage containers similar to those of Fig. I stacked on top of each other; [0022] Fig. 3 is a top view of the soft berry container of Fig. 1; [0023] Fig. 4 is cross-sectional view of the soft berry container of Fig. 3 through the line A-A; [0024] Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the hinge portion Z of the soft berry container of Fig. 4; and [0025] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an inner container portion and an outer container portion of a soft berry storage container according to a second embodiment of the invention. Description of Embodiments [0026] The soft berry storage container 10 illustrated in Figs. I to 5 has an outer container portion 12, an inner container portion 14 and a lid portion 16. The materials that would typically be used to form the components of the soft berry storage container would be transparent plastics material approved for food contact use. [0027] The outer container portion 12 has a substantially square base 18 and four side walls, shown typically as 20, that extend upwardly from the base 18 from four rounded bottom corner edges shown typically as 22. Three of the four side walls 20 of the outer container portion 12 have a flange 24 along their upper edges (see Figs. 4 and 5). The upper edge of the fourth side wall has a hinge formation 26 which integrates the outer container portion 12 with the lid portion 16, as will be described below. [0028] The lid portion 16 has a top 28 and four side walls, referred to hereinafter as curtain walls and shown typically as 30 to avoid confusion with the side walls 20 of the outer container portion 12. In similar fashion to the outer container portion 12, the curtain walls 30 extend downward from the top 28 from four upper rounded corner edges shown typically as 32. Three of the four curtain walls 30 have an outer lip 34 along their lower edges. The lower edge of the fourth curtain wall is joined to the hinge formation 26 to become integral with the outer container portion 12, as will be described below.
7 [0029] The inner container portion 14 has a square floor 36 and four side walls, referred to hereinafter as tray walls 38 to avoid confusion with the side walls 20 of the outer container portion 12. In similar fashion to the outer container portion 12, the tray walls 38 extend upward from the floor 36 from four rounded intermediate corner edges shown typically at 40. The upper edges of the tray walls 38 have an annular rim 42 extending outwardly from the tray walls 38. The annular rim 42 is of a width which permits a close fit onto the corresponding flange 24 of the outer container portion 12. [0030] It can be seen from the drawings that the example illustrated has the inner container portion 14 being a close or snug fit into the outer container portion 12. However, it will be appreciated that other forms of the inner container portion may be smaller whilst still fitting as an inner container portion commensurate with the respective outer container portion. [0031] The base 18 of outer container portion 12, the base 36 of inner container portion 14 and the top 28 of lid portion 16 all have support formations in the form of raised platforms 44 separated by channels 46. The base 36 has two channels 46, 46 running across the base 36 at right angles to three other channels 46, 46, 46, which can provide greater stacking strength if the containers 10 are stacked on top of each other in a manner whereby the channels 46 on the top 28 of the lower container do not align with the channels 46 on the base 18 of the upper container. Although not shown in the Figs., the base 18 of outer container portion 12 is similar to the base 36 of inner container portion 14. The configuration of the channels 46 and raised platforms 44 enables soft berries contained within the storage container to be held in a relatively stable arrangement (i.e. where relative movement is limited) against one another. [0032] A plurality of apertures shown typically as 48 are provided in the walls 20, 30, the bases 18, 44 and the top 28 of the lid portion 16. As will be appreciated, by providing apertures 48 in the lower parts of the container 10 and in alignment with the channels 46, the apertures 48 are less likely to be blocked by berries, thus enabling a greater flow of air and moisture through the container 10. The channels 46 also help separate the soft berry from any moisture in the container (which would tend to collect in, and drain from, the channels 46) [0033] As can best be seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the outer container portion 12 and lid portion 16 are joined via hinge formation 26. The hinge formation 26 is defined by a continuation of one of the curtain walls 30 and a continuation of one of the side walls 20, with the annular rim 42 of the inner container portion 14 being releasably retained therebetween. Hinge formation 26 also 8 has a biasing portion 50 which urges the lid portion 16 into a closed position with respect to the outer container portion 12 in the absence of an opening force applied by a user. [0034] A thin absorbent layer (not shown in Figs. I to 5) may be provided above the base 18 and the floor 44 in order to soak up and wick away any moisture present in the container 10. As will be appreciated, the presence of moisture is one of the contributing factors to putrefaction. [0035] As can be seen in Fig. 2, when two (or more) containers are stacked on top of one another, the bottom 18 of the upper container overhangs 50 the top 28 of the lower container. This prevents any seepage from apertures 48 of the upper container from entering into apertures 48 of the lower container and potentially contaminating soft berries in the lower container. [0036] Referring now to Fig. 6, the outer container portion 112 and inner container portion 114 of an alternate embodiment of a container 110 of the invention is shown. Many of the features of container 110 are similar to those described above in respect of container 10 and will not be described again here. [0037] Three of the four side walls 120 of the outer container portion 112 have an inner lip 116 along their upper edges. Each of side walls 120 have a slot 118 penetrating each side wall (only one of which is visible in Fig. 6). The upper edge of the fourth side wall has a hinge formation 122, which integrates the outer container portion 112 with a lid portion but is not shown in detail in Fig. 6. [0038] The inner container portion 114 has a square floor 124 and four side walls, referred to hereinafter as tray walls and shown typically at 126 to avoid confusion with the side walls 120 of the outer container portion 112. The floor 124 has two corrugations shown typically at 128 running across the floor 124. The upper edges of the tray walls 126 have an intermediate lip shown typically at 130 extending outwardly, and four tab protrusions 132 extending further outwardly from the intermediate lip 130 substantially centrally intermediate the corners of the tray walls 126. The tabs 132 are of a width which permits a close fit into the corresponding slots 118 in the side walls 120 of the outer container portion 112. [0039] The base 134 of the outer container portion 112 also has two corrugations shown typically at 136 running across the base. A plurality of apertures are provided in the side walls 120, and bases 124, 134 as indicated typically at 138. As will be appreciated, by providing 9 apertures 138 in the lower parts of the container and below the corrugations 128, 136, the apertures 138 are less likely to be blocked by berries, thus allowing a greater flow of air and moisture through the containers. [0040] In alternate embodiments (not shown), corrugations running across the top of the container 110 may be configured at right angles to the corrugations 136 in the base 134. In such embodiments, the adjacent corrugations of containers stacked on top of one another (i.e. corrugations at the bottom of an upper container against corrugations at the top of a lower container) are at right angles to each other, which provides for a stronger stacking configuration. [0041] A thin absorbent layer 140 is provided above the base 134 and the floor 124 and will soak up and wick away any moisture present in the container. As will be appreciated, the presence of moisture is one of the contributing factors to putrefaction. [0042] In use, a soft berry container according to the invention may be provided in moulded rigid clear plastics material suitable for food contact. Typically, ventilation holes are provided along the rounded edges of the floor and side walls of the outer container portion for ventilation and/or moisture release. The support formations add strength to the containers (e.g. to prevent buckling if the container is formed of light plastic materials) and aid in the distribution of weight when the punnets are stacked in trays, typically with the formations of each container being arranged in an offset configuration (e.g. at right angles to the corrugations of the container above and/or below). Furthermore, in such an offset configuration, a channel is provided through which air can flow between stacked punnets, thereby facilitating an even greater airflow during storage. [0043] The perforations are typically provided at the lowest point of the floor and base, thereby enhancing airflow which decreases moisture accumulation. A paper insert, such as unsized absorbent paper, can be provided as an insert for both the outer container portion or base and the inner container portion or tray. The approximate thickness and consistency or absorbency of the paper towel may be provided by doubling the insert over if required. [0044] Strawberries stored in accordance with the method and storage container of the invention have been found to have a shelf life of at least nine days when stored at a recommended temperature for storage, that is, with refrigeration. Further, even when a strawberry stored in the 10 container of the present invention did putrefy, it was surprisingly found that strawberries adjacent to that strawberry did not immediately putrefy. [0045] It has been found to be beneficial to store the strawberries with their stems downward, with two or more green leaves being left on the strawberries, as this is the strongest and least easily bruised area. Strawberries stored this way are also more stable and less likely to roll during handling and transport, further reducing side pressure between adjacent strawberries. Similarly, other soft berries can be orientated to minimise the risk of damage during storage. [0046] It is also suggested that the leaves be left on the strawberries until they are ready to be consumed, and at which time the strawberries may be washed. Washing the strawberries before storage introduces additional moisture into the container, which can lead to more rapid putrefaction. Similar comments apply to other soft berries. [0047] The size of the container according to the invention is preferably selected to conform to current standard sizing so that the containers may still be used in current transport systems and/or configurations. [0048] Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific example, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth and defined by the following claims.