US2631439A

US2631439A - Refrigerating shipping container for frozen foods

Info

Publication number: US2631439A
Application number: US141008A
Authority: US
Inventors: David L Feigenbaum
Original assignee: LITTLE AMERICA FROZEN FOODS IN
Current assignee: LITTLE AMERICA FROZEN FOODS IN; LITTLE AMERICA FROZEN FOODS Inc
Priority date: 1950-01-28
Filing date: 1950-01-28
Publication date: 1953-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1970-03-17

Description

March 17, 1953 D. L. FEIGENBAUM REFRIGERATING SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR FROZEN FOODS Filed Jan. 28, 1950 2-SHEETSSHEET l m m% 1 M y W "7 m a 5 F 5 5 L 1 4 W a a n w ,5 2 1 A n \M M g w z, 2 w "m w a A 0 m w 2 m 5 5 w F w n J 4 T 5 M. .2 i w w in F L 5,

March 17, 1953] D, FEIGENBAUM 2,631,439

REFRIGERATING SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR FROZEN FOODS INVENTOR preparation schedules.

Patented Mar. 17, 1953 7.

UNITED VASTATESU PATENT OFFICE:

REFRIGERATING SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR FROZEN FOODS David L. Feigenbaum, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Little America Frozen Foods, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 28, 1950, Serial No. 141,008

Claims. (01. 62-915) This invention relates to a refrigerating shipping container especially useful for the shipment of perishable frozen foods. relates to such a container having superior shipping and refrigeration qualities. time, thecontainer maybe made from relatively inexpensive materials.

More particularly, it

At the same Prior devices used for the shipment" and reffrigeration-of perishable. food products have usually-provided acentral 0r enveloping refrigerant ,containing zone relative to the food containing I, space.

I A central refrigerant containing zone is open to the objection that uniform refrigeration isdifficult to obtain by such means and the peripherally located food in the device tended to 1 be difficult to keep at temperatures below those deleterious to the particular product. In the case of some foods, such as ice cream, there is a narrow range which is relatively critical and in which if the temperature should exceed the proper presersuch prior devices, is relatively expensive and the usual-rule-of-thumb usage thereof in excessive amounts to insure avoidance of deterioration represents aneconomic loss of consequence. Further, the substantial enveloping of food products with a refrigerant commonly makes the product so hard that the thawing thereof takes appreciable time and can disrupt cooking and food In addition, such prior devices are frequently made of expensive container materials or of expensive construction to withstand hard usage during transportation and possible damage.

In the container of this invention using a solid refrigerant, such as solid carbon dioxide, inexpensive and lightweight container materials can be employed and assembled in an inexpensive manner. At the same time, the perishable food preferably in separate containers rather than in bulk is enabled to occupy a relatively larger prostructure is 80 positioned that it does not substantially envelope the food to be preserved and 2 at the same time achieves uniform cooling without requiring excessive amounts of the refrigerant. Moreover, the container of this invention has some flexibility in relation to the volume of food to be shipped in any particular size of container and the parts thereof are fitted to an extent which obtains effective and efficient refrigeration during use. The closure structure of the container is such also that it can withstand all ordinary and even extraordinary shocks and blows during shipment without ceasing to be an effective refrigerating shipping container which may be reused. At the same time, the shipping container of this invention resists any damaging movement of gas or air out of the container or of air into the container during shipment, thereby obtaining efiicient sealing. Moreover, by correlation of the pertinent factors involved in such shipments, the refrigeration effective in the new shipping container of this invention can be relav tively closely regulated, thereby avoiding wastage of refrigerant. 7

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and the drawings, which are illustrative only, in

which:

Figure 1 is a View in front elevation of a container made in accordance with this invention which is packed and ready for shipment;

Figure 2 is a top view of the container shown in Figure l; I a

Figure 3 is a view in cross section of the same container taken along line III--III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a layout View of the corrugated paper' board blank used to make the top part of the container shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a layout view of the corrugated paper board blank used to make the bottom or lower part of the container shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a layout view of the corrugated paper board blank used as a refrigerant containing tray in the container shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a view in elevation and cross section of the tray in Figure 6 in assembled form;

Figure 8 is a view in front elevation of a corner piece used in the new container structure of this invention; I

Figure 9 is a view in side elevation of the piece shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a view in front elevation of a modified container made in accordance with'thisinvention which is packed and ready for export shipment; 1

Figure 11 is a view in cross section of corner the conand the fiaps If.

necessary overlap for stapling or adhesive fasten-1 3 tainer shown. in Figure 10 taken parallel to the plane of the drawing of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a plan view of the pallet used in the container assembly of Figure 10; and

Figure 13 is a view in cross section of the pallet shown in Figure 12 taken along line XIIIXIII of Figure 12.

The container assembly IQ of this invention comprises an inner or lower telescoping part II and an outer or upper telescoping part !2. Parts H and I2 slidably fit together in a telescoping arrangement and together form a complete enclosure in the form of a fibre box or corrugated paper board container. The height of the two parts I I and I2 is substantially the same so as to provide around the interior space I3 thereof a double thickness of the relatively inexpensive fibrous material from which the enclosure in theassembly I0 is made. The blank for top part I2 is illustrated in Figure 4 in layout fashion. This blank is suitably scored along the line is and 5 to provide respectively the vertical panels It A side fiap i8 provides the ing along, the opposed edge l9 when the blank is assembled into the part i2 and the flaps I'i folded over to complete the top part of the telescoping enclosure. Similarly, the lower part II is scored at 2!] and 2'! to form the vertical panels 22 and the

flaps

28 and 24. The vertical panels 22 are substantially the same height as panels It of upper part 12 except that they are somewhat narrower so that the two parts when t-elescoped have a frictional fit therebetween. The blanks for parts I! and I2 are of predetermined 1 size for the particular service in which they are to be used, although a moderate range of sizes can be constructed which. will serve all of the usual needs of food shippers. A side flap 25 is also provided to be stapled to or adhesively affixed along edge 26 when the lower part of the enclosure is completed with the fiaps being folded over. It will be noted that flaps 24 are of double the normal length to provide added strength at the bottom of the complete enclosure.

A fibre board or corrugated paper board blank 21 is scored at 28 inrelatively precise conformity in shape and dimension to the horizontal crosssectional area of lower part. I I. When the fiaps 29 of blank 21 are folded up as shown in Figure t, a. tray or platform is made which separates the food containing. space in the container assembly I0: from the. refrigerant. carrying space or compartment. Sill. A series of perforations 3I. extend through the bottom of the tray and prov-i-de circulation openings between the food containing and the refrigerant containing spaces in the. interior space IS.. The fit in lower part II provided by the flaps 29 of the tray make it slidable. up and, down along the inside surfaces of lower part II in the event that for particular journeys and the character of goods shipped, relatively less food containing spaceand more refrigerant containing space is desired, and, vice versa. Moreover, to the extent that there is any slight change in the volume of the goods being shipped in the container ID, the sliding tray 21 made from blank 2? permits that change in volume without causing any substantial bulging of the sides of the enclosure formed by parts II and I2.

In the construction of this new container assembly IE, a pad 32 of insulation material, such as fibre glass or rock wool, is made to fit. the inside of part I I and is placed on the bottom thereof. A fibre board or corrugated paper board separator 33 also having dimensions and a shape corresponding to the inside horizontal cross section of part II rests on top of pad 32 and furnishes a base for perishable foods such as frozen bakery goods in separate, rectangular, cardboard boxes 34. Boxes 34 are stacked in regular rows to substantially fill the food containing space in interior I3. Even though the boxes 34 are relatively tightly packed, there is sufilcient space between and among the various boxes to provide satisfactory ventilating passages for the circulation of the cooling gases between the food containing space and the refrigerant carrying space 30.

Another insulating pad 34 fits the inside of lower part II and closes the top of the tray 21. Another separator 35 similar to separator 33' fits on top of pad 34 and is preferably about flush with the top edges of lower part I I. With lower part [I so prepared and packed, the corresponding upper part I2 is fitted over lower part II and moved downwardly to complete the fibre board enclosure shown in assembly III. The fit between the lower and upper parts II and I! prevents any ready access of gas or exterior air to space I3. At the same time, the fit is not so tight nor the sealing so complete that gas given off by a refrigerant, such as solid carbon dioxide, cannot escape between parts I I and I2 before any excessive pressure is built up within. the enclosure. Before that stage is reached, moreover, it would seem that when the assembly I0 is completed, the refrigerant and also the frozen foods first chill any warmer contained air in the package as a consequence of the packing operation. Such chilling would seem. to tend to drop the pressure within the container assembly II] at least until gas given off by the refrigerant commenced to counteract any such tendency.

The assembly III is completed by corner pieces 3% and baling straps or tapes 3T. Corner pieces 3e are in the shape of angles preferably made of metal and punchedor perforated at 38 on both flanges. The perforations 38 are preferably made so that the metal 39. surrounding theperforations is relatively jagged and sharp forming inwardly gripping or clinching spikes which bite into the corners of the complete enclosure when the pieces 35 are placed in the positions that are shown in Figure 1. Moreover, the corner pieces alongv the bottom edges of assembly It hold the lowermost edges of upper part I2 in clinched engagement to the bottom of lower part II, thereby assisting in the sealing of the telescoping parts. The tapes 31 which are usually of steel may be applied by a conventional baling tape machine and are placed around the assembly I0 so that they rest on corner pieces 36 where the tapes 31 bend around each corner of the enclosure formed by parts I I and I2. In this way, the corner pieces 36 are further driven into clinched engagement with the parts II. and I2 and there held by the respective tapes 3! which cannot cliafe the fibre board parts of container assembly Iii nor permit assembly It to' be opened en route with the consequent impairment of the refrigerating provision. If desired, gummed

adhesive strips

20 and 41 may be usedv around the edges of the box and to seal. the edges: at the joints of the flaps to further increase the sealing characteristic of the container of this invention. On the other hand, for relatively local fpermit the escape of gas sublimated from the shipments strips 40 and 4| may be used in place of tapes 31and corner pieces 36. However, if

strips 4| are used, a gap 42 may be provided to refrigerant during the trip.

By means of this invention it has also been discovered that the factors of weight of refrigerant, temperature at which the goods are to lated with the individual insulation of the refrigerant, which is preferably solid carbon dioxide, commonly called dry ice, to obtain determinable regulation of temperature without U either excessive refrigeration and wastage of refrigerant or failure of refrigeration and preservation. Thus, for example, in the shipment of blueberry mufi'ins in 8-ounce packages in a container of'this invention capable of holding 144 such packages, the following regulation may be obtained:

Arrival Temperature, Degrees Sheets of Newsprint Insulation Pounds of Refrigerant Shipment Period, Hours (Dry Ice) About .1. About 2. About 3. About3. About 4. About; 4. About 5. About 6. About 8.

These figures are based on an ambient tempera-' ture of about 70 F. and a product temperature of 0 F. at the time of packing in a container of this invention having the approximate dimensions of x 22 /2" x 23 /2". The newsprint used is'standard newsprint individually wrapped about units of the refrigerant which should prefconstruction, purpose and function are correspondingly numbered with the addition of being primed. Moreover, container It! is provided with an additional tray 21' forming an additional refrigerant containing compartment at the bottom of the food containing space. In most, if not all cases, this lower tray and the refrigerant it is adapted to accommodate may be omitted. Further, the food packed in the food containing space of assembly I0 is contained in cardboard cylinders 43 rather than in boxes such as boxes 34. For export or other arduous transportation journeys container assembly I 0' has been provided with continuous corner strips 44 extending between and beyond the respective binding tapes 31. In other respects and in their function the corner strips 44 correspond to the corner pieces 36. A wooden pallet 45 is also provided for such export or arduous transportation usage and is more fully illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. This pallet conforms in its dimensions to the horizontal dimensions of assembly I0 and is supportably held thereto by the binding tapes 31. In this way, an extraordinarily strong container is obtained using be kept, length of the trip to be undertaken, and K outside or ambient temperature may be corre- 6 generally inexpensive effectively functioning materials.

Various modifications may be made in the practices and constructions illustrated in the foregoing description without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A refrigerating shipping container for frozen foods, comprising in combination, upper and lower parts forming a complete enclosure, said parts being in telescoping relation and generally equal in height, the central inside portion of which defines a food containing zone, a refrigerant holding tray frictionally fitting the inner of said parts and slidably mounted therein so as to be movable to bound said food containing zone, said tray supporting a refrigerant containing compartment and being perforated to facilitate circulation of the atmosphere within said enclosure through said zone and said compartment, means for insulating the top and bottom of said enclosure outwardly of said zone and tray, said means substantially filling the space remaining in said enclosure, sealing strips substantially covering the exposed edges of said parts of said enclosure, said sealing strips being discontinuous to permit escape of gas, whereby an inexpensive, lightweight package is obtained for the effective shipment and refrigeration of frozen foods.

2. A refrigerating fibre shipping container for frozen foods, comprising in combination, upper and lower parts adapted to be telescoped to form a complete enclosure, said parts being generally equal in height, the central inside portion of which from side to side of the inner of said parts defines a food containing zone, a fibre tray fitting the inner of said parts and frictionally gripping the same so as to be slidable therein, said tray being perforated and defining a refrigerant containing compartment on the side thereof away from said zone, said perforations being adapted to facilitate circulation of the atmosphere within said enclosure through said zone and within said compartment, a pad of insulation fitting said inner part and the side of said compartment away from said zone, a further pad of insulation on the opposite side of said zone away from said compartment, a relatively stiff fibrous member between said further pad of insulation and said zone, sealing strips substantially covering the exposed edges of said parts of said enclosure, corner members for gripping the edges of said enclosure, and at least one binding strap encircling the periphery of said enclosure and said corner members, said binding strap defining a plane parallel to the direction of movement of said parts in forming said enclosure, whereby a strong package is obtained for the eifective shipment and refrigeration of frozen foods.

3. A refrigerating fibre shipping container for frozen foods, comprising in combination, upper and lower fitted parts adapted. to be telescoped to form a complete enclosure, said parts being generally equal in height, the central inside portion of which enclosure defines from side to side thereof a food containing zone, a pair of fibre trays fitting the inner of said parts and frictionally gripping the same so as to be slidable therein, said trays being perforated and adapted to bound the upper and lower surfaces of said food containing zone and generally defining a refrigerant containing compartment on each side of said zone, said perforations being adapted to facilitate circulation of the atmosphere within said enclosure through said zone, a pad of insulation fitting said inner part and said compartments and adapted to close said compartments, corner members in the form oi metal angles extending along the binding edges of said enclosures, said metal angles having the flanges thereof inwardly punched to enable said metal angles to be pushed into gripping engagement with said enclosure,

' said metal angles further being on opposite corners of said enclosure, and at least one steel binding tape encircling the periphery of said enclosure and pressing against said respective metal angles, whereby a strong package is obtained Without crushing for the effective shipment and refrigeration of frozen foods.

t. A refrigerating shipping container for frozen foods, comprising in combination, upper and lower parts forming a complete enclosure, said parts being in telescoping relation and generally equal in height, the central inside portion of which defines a food containing zone, a refrigerant holding tray frictionally fitting the inner of means for insulating the top and bottom of said enclosure outwardly of said zone and tray, said means substantially filling the space remaining in said enclosure, corner members for piercing and gripping said upper and lower parts at those exposed edges where said parts are so exposed, and means for holding said corner members in place, whereby an inexpensive, lightweight package is obtained for the effective shipment and refrigeration of frozen foods.

5. A refrigerating shipping container for frozen foods, comprising in combination, upper and lower parts forminga complete enclosure, said parts being in telescoping relation and generally equal in height, the central inside portion of which defines a food-containing zone, at least one refrigerant holding tray frictionally fitting the interior of said parts and slidably mounted therein so as to be movable to bound one of the top and bottom sides of said food-containing zone, said tray comprising a refrigerant-containing compartment on the side away from said food-containing zone, said tray further being perforated to facilitate circulation of the atmosphere within said enclosure through said zone and said compartment, and means for insulating the top and bottom of said enclosure outwardly of said zone and tray, said means substantially filling the space remaining in said enclosure, whereby a relatively inexpensive lightweight package is obtained for the effective shipment and refrigeration of frozen foods.

DAVID L. FEIGENBAUM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,707,836 Wright Apr. 2, 1929 1,843,038 McIlvain Jan. 26, 1932 1,865,688 Hannaford July 5, 1932 1,935,923 Thoke Nov, 21, 1933 2,108,600 King Feb. 15, 1938 2,108,608 King Feb. 15, 1938 2,210,946 Moore Aug. 13, 1940 2,278,782 Harvey Apr. 7, 1942 2,382,859 Clerk Aug. 14, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 281,479 Italy Jan. 14, 1931