US1828179A

US1828179A - Refrigerated produce package

Info

Publication number: US1828179A
Application number: US398179A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel J Gallagher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1929-10-08
Filing date: 1929-10-08
Publication date: 1931-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 1948-10-20

Description

OC- 20, 1931. s. J. GALLAGHER 1,828,179

REFRIGERATED ,PRODUCE PACKAGE Filed 0G15. 8, 1929 Patented Oct, 20, 193i UNITED STATES PA'TENT* orrlca SAMUEL J'. GALLAGHEB, OFBBAWLEY, CALIFORNIA l nnrnrennarnn Pnonncn PACKAGE Application led 0ctober'8, 1929. Serial No. 338,179.

This invention relates to an improved means and method for packing produce and Athe like, and has for one of its principal objects the provision of a ship ing container eliminate discoloring and spoiling of the v product, and which will further eliminate the possibility of bruising while at the same time keeping it in good condition over a maximum shipping perlod. l Still another and further important object of this invention is to provide a means and method of packing and shipping lettuce andy similar vegetables which will be slightly, if any, more expensive than the ordinary methods now in use while at the same time enabling the shipper to consistently secure a. top market price for the product.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the dis# closures in the accompanying drawing and following specification.

The inventlon, 1n a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter .more

' fully described.

In the drawing :I

The figure is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing' a crate of head lettuce packed.

in accordance with the of this invention. i

As shown in the drar\7in,g`sf\`v The reference-numeral 10 indicates generally the bottom of a-wooden crate or the improved principles l like such as is ordinarily used for shipping lettuce and similar produce. The crate is provided with end members 12 and sides 14, and has 4fitted thereinto the usual removable top 16, preferably having a cleat 18 forming a portion thereof. .This insures a farlytight fit between the top edges of the crate and Y. the lid.

In use, the bottom ofthe crate is first covered with a lining of paper, cardboard, or

pasteboard, the thickness or weight of which may be varied as occasion requires. Upon this lining is placed a layer of some absorbent leliminating much of the tendency to bruise.

Another layer of cellu-cotton or similar packed lettuce whereupon a further layer of,` heads of lettuce 24.- is placed in the crate,and again covered with crushed ice 26. This process is repeated until ithe interior has been built up to approximately the level of the top of the crate whereupon a layer or liner of paper or cardboard 28 is placed on top just underneath the cover 16.

The absorbent fabric of cellu-cotton or the like as shown at 22 acts to both retain pracvabsorbent material 22 is then placed over the s tically all of the water drippings from the ice and also to cushion the lettuce. This eliminates ,the necessity of re-icing lthe package while enroute, as the layers of absorbent material are preferably watersoaked. before being placed in the crate. They are then kept moist during transit by drippings from the melting ice, the`dripp1ngs gravitating over the lettuce and then being absorbed and retained by the pads. This absorbent material is inherently of such a nature that avery considerable amount, if not all, of the drippings from the meltingl ice will be ab orbed and then evaporated on account of the circulation of air through the cellsof the material, and in 'and -around the package itself.. Thlscon- -Stant evaporation measurably, 1f not com- I which the circulatory system of the vegetable springs, is continuously in contact with the somewhat water-soaked absorbent materlal,

and a certain amount of this water is accordinglydrained into the vegetable, thereby aiding in keeping it fresh. This provides thorough refri eration from both above and below the proc uce, and additionally the absorbent qualities of the cellu-cotton retain practically all of the water from the melting ice instead of allowing the same `to run ofi` through the bottom of the crate, this result being noticeable even in very hot weather. Any consequent evaporation of the absorbed water will also tend to keep down the teinperature of the package, thereby rendering the melting of the ice more slow.

Further, the cushioningvv effect of the absorbent pads prevents the striliin of the lettuce against the crushed icc whereby bruising eliminated, and the fact that the cushioning pads are absorbent allows the water from one layer to drip down through the pads into the butts of the lettuce in the next layer, thereby the butts are kept moist and discoloration prevented.

It will be seen that herein is provided a novel and useful means and method of packing and shipping lettuce and similar produce, which even though slightly more expensive at the outset, will save its cost many times over in that the necessity for re-icing during shipment is eliminated, and further the fact that the product will almost invariably reach its destination in prime condition, enabling the shipper to command the top market price.

Again the consumer is assured ofaa much more superior product wherein any spoiling or tendency to spoil has been positively prevented.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a. wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as' my invention:

1. A refrigerated package Jfor shipping vegetable products, comprising a crate, layers of non-absorbent material at the top and bottom of the crate, a layer of cella-cotton onhthe bottom layer of non-absorbent material, a layer of vegetable products on the cellu-cotton, and crushed ice filling the interstices between the vegetable products.

2. A refrigerated package for shipping vegetable products, comprising a crate, layers of non-absorbent material at the top and bottom of the crate, a layer of cellu-cotton on the bottom layer of non-absorbent mal terial, a layer of vegetable products on the cellu-cotton, and crushed ice filling the interstices between the vegetable products, a further layer of cellu-eotton above the layer of 1 vegetable products, and another layer of vegetables products and crushed ice above the said cellu-cotton layer.

Lezaivo SAMUEL J. GALLAGHER.