US942318A - Refrigerating-package. - Google Patents

Description

A. W.,FOL$0M. REFRIGBRATING PACKAGE. APPLICATION FILED vr213. 1a, 1909.

942, 8 l 8, Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

ANDREW W. FOLSOM, OF SHERMAN, TEXAS.

REFRIGERATING-PAGKAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

Application filed February 15, 1909. Serial No. 477,990.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW W. FoLsoM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sherman, in the county of Grayson and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Refrigerating-Package, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to refrigerating packages.

One object of the invention is to provide an article of this character adapted more particularly for shipping shucked oysters long distances, in the use of which contamination of the product by contact with the ice or ice water is prevented, thereby insuring the preservation of the article in the best possible condition for use.

A further object is to utilize not only all the refrigerating properties of the ice, but also that of the ice water, whereby a pronounced saving is secured and a more even application of the refrigerant to the receptacle containing the product than would result from employing merely broken or crushed ice.

A further object is to facilitate the reicing of the package, and to render unnecessary the removal of the ice to permit the retailer to exhibit the oysters or dispense them from the original package.

A further object is in an automatic manner to maintain the ice water at a predetermined level in the package while in transit, and at the same time preclude entrance of air, thereby to prevent passage of the water to the product, and also to secure an additional conservation of the refrigerant.

A further object is to hold the inner receptacle firmly in place a ainstshifting and the lid or cover thereof positively sealed under any conditions of handling to which the package may be subjected.

A further object is to check any tendency of the inner receptacle to float and capsize when a portion of its contents is removed, and thus obviate danger of loss to the merchant, or of contaminating the'produot by immersion in unclean water.

A further object is to insure full measure or count to the purchaser, to prevent loss from pilfering while the package is in the hands of transportation companies, and to guarantee to the purchaser a product that is clean, wholesome and thoroughly sanitary.

A further object is to provide a package capable of securing all of the above objects, and that shall be simple of construction, eiiicient and durable in use, and cheap and easy to manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists, generally stated, in a shipping or refrigerating package comprising an outer inverted, truncated, cone-shaped ice-holding receptacle provided with a cover, and an inner truncated cone-shaped food holding receptacle provided with a cover engaged by the receptacle cover to hold the former firmly closed.

The invention consists further in a shipping or refrigerating package comprising an outer inverted truncated cone-shaped iceholding receptacle provided with a cover, and an inner truncated cone-shaped food holding receptacle provided with a coneshaped cover to be engaged by the receptacle cover to hold the former firmly closed.

The invention consists further in a shipping or refrigerating package comprising an outer inverted truncated cone-shaped iceholding receptacle provided with a cover, and an inner truncated cone-shaped food holding receptacle provided with a coneshaped cover to be engaged by the receptacle cover to hold the former firmly closed, thereby anchoring the inner receptacle against movement when a part of its contents is removed, whereby to prevent capsizing and thus spoilage of the product.

The invention consists further in the various novel details of construction of a refrigerating package, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a refrigerating package constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view of a slightly modified form of ice-hold ing receptacle.

The article shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consists of an inverted truncated cone-shaped ice-holding receptacle 1, provided with an imperforate bottom 2, and with an imperforate cover 3 secured to the receptacle in any suitable manner, as by a hinge 4:. The

cover is provided with a hasp 5 that engages with a staple 6 carried by the receptacle 1 in order to hold the cover temporarily closed, and to prevent accidental separation of the hasp and staple, the latter is engaged by a snap hook 7 carried by a length of strap 8 secured to the receptacle. Arranged within the ice-holding receptacle is the food holding receptacle 9 which, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, is truncated cone-shaped, and is provided with an imperforate bottom 10, and a coneshaped imperforate cover 11, the edge of the cover being extended to provide a marginal flange 12 to bear upon the beaded edge 13 of the receptacle. The cover is also provided with a sleeve 14 designed to fit tightly within the mouth of the receptacle, and thereby secure the same against ingress of water or the like. As above pointed out, the cover 11 is held firmly closed, when the package is in transit, by means of the cover 3, and this is secured by making the cover 11 of such height that its apex will contact with the under side of the cover 3, as shown in Fig. 2. As the top 11 is cone-shaped, the pressure applied thereto by the cover 3 will be trans mitted equally in all directions to the sleeve 1 1, and will act to force said sleeve and the flange 12 downward, so as to form a tight joint with the body of the receptacle throughout the upper edge of the same and efiectually prevent loosening of the top or access of the ice, water, or impurities to the oysters. Furthermore, this cone-shaped formation of the top provides space for packing of the refrigerant over the receptacle. In order to secure circulation around the bottom of the receptacle 9, the bottom of the receptacle 1 has secured to it any desired number of spaced battens 15, three being shown in this instance.

As stated, one of the objects of the invention is to prevent the inner receptacle from floating when a portion of the contents thereof has been removed, thus obviating any tendency to capsizing which might deposit its contents within the water contained in the receptacle 1. To secure this result, two hooks 16 are provided, which are suitably secured to the inner side of the receptacle 1. The bills of the hooks are designed to engage resilient bails or hand-holds 17 pivotally connected with the receptacle 9 adjacent to its upper edge, and in order that the connection between the hooks and bails be of stable character, the hooks are made somewhat shorter than the distance between their bills and the bails, so that the latter members to firmly bind the receptable 9 upon the bottom 2 of the receptacle 1, and thus hold it against movement. In order to retain the liquid or ice water in the receptacle 1 at a predetermined height, there is provided a discharge opening 18, which is located at such a point as to permit the effective cooling of the contents of the receptacle 9, without any danger of the same becoming contaminated by the ice water.

It may be desirable to seal the receptacle 1 positively against the entrance of air and in order to secure this result, the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 is employed. wherein the cover 3 has attached to it a gasket 1%,), of felt, rubber, or any other material suited to the purpose, and which is designed to bear upon the upper edge of the receptacle 1. Instead of securing the gasket to the cover, the same may be attached to the upper edge of the receptacle, or in lieu thereof, a sheet of any suitable material may be employed for the purpose. The exclusion of air is secured by means of an ordinary gooseneck seal 20 threaded or otherwise secured in the opening 8, which, as will be obvious, will permit the escape of water, but prevent entrance of air. The latter described form of receptacle will be found of peculiar ad vantage where oysters are to be shipped for long distances, as the refrigerant can be made to last a much longer time than would. otherwise be possible.

In the use of this receptacle, after the oysters have been placed, in their natural liquor, in the inner receptacle, the hasp 21 of the cover 11 is brought into engagement with a staple 22 carried by the receptacle, and a seal 28 is then secured to the staple. hen the bucket reaches its destination, the dealer should place it in a convenient position to display and sell, previous to which, however, it is advisable to lift the cover of the outer receptacle and re-ice, in order to retain the product in the best possible condition.

Owing to the fact that two reversely truncated cone-shaped vessels are employed, the ice space between them is large at the top, and runs to a point at the bottom, which makes the work of re-icing comparatively easy, and saves ice on account of the largest pieces being at the top where most exposed to air. As the ice melts, the ice water, which is just as valuable for refrigerating purposes under these conditions, rises around the inner receptacle, near the top, but the surplus passes out through the orifice 18, or through the seal 20 so that there will never be any danger of the water passing into the product in the inner receptacle.

Oysters shipped in these receptacles are always clean, and pure, because they are kept ice cold in nothing but their own natural liquor, being entirely free from preservatives, sloppy ice water or other impurities that have been heretofore common in the old form of oyster-shipping buckets. By reason of the fact that there is no naked ice placed in the receptacle containing the oysters, the purchaser will be assured a full count, as if the inner receptacle be made to hold say three gallons when full, and if upon inspection the container is not full, the purchaser will have positive evidence that he has been cheated.

The improvements herein described while simple in character, will be found thoroughly efficient for the purpose designed, and will result in the presentation of a highly durable, eflicient, and sanitary form of oyster shipping package.

I am aware that refrigerating shipping packages are not broadly new and I make no claim broadly to such a device. In my device, the shape of the inner and outer receptacles is such as to provide a downwardly-tapered space around the food-holding receptacle in which ice may be packed. The only curvature in the sides of the receptacle is the annular or horizontal curvature, and, consequently, as the ice melts it will move unobstructedly to the bottom so that the larger lumps which may have lodged in the outer upper corners of the outer receptacle may move closer to the lid of the inner receptacle, the result being that re-icing is necessary only at long intervals. It will, furthermore, be observed that in my device, the food receptacle is entirely surrounded by the refrigerant inasmuch as a space is provided below said receptacle for the circulation of ice Water and the conical formation of the cover of said receptacle permits the ice to be packed thereover While, at the same time, the said cover may be held firmly in position by the direct pressure of the outer cover. Were the cover of the inner receptacle flat and ice packed upon the same, the presence of the ice would prevent the application of holding pressure by the outer cover except through the ice and, consequently, as the ice melted the pressure would be removed and the inner cover would be freed of restraint so that it might become disengaged from the receptacle. Furthermore, with a flat inner cover accuracy of construction will be needed in order to provide perfect engagement of the two covers inasmuch as the inner receptacle will be tilted unless there is contact between the two covers throughout the surface of the inner cover, whereas in my device it is only necessary that the apex of the inner cover be engaged by the outer cover, the pressure upon the inner cover is the same whether the ice is or is not present and tilting of the inner receptacle cannot occur. My device is very simple in its construction throughout and is free of complicated fastenings so that when a shipment is received by the consignee he may raise the covers and sell directly from the original package.

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerating package comprising an inner truncated cone-shaped receptacle provided with resilient bails, an outer reversely truncated receptacle provided with hooks to engage the balls, means for holding the inner receptacle spaced from the bottom of the outer receptacle, and imperforate covers carried by the two receptacles, and being designed to engage with each other, whereby to retain the cover of the inner receptacle firmly seated.

2. A refrigerating package comprising an inner receptacle provided with resilient bails, an outer receptacle provided with hooks to engage the bails, means for holding the inner receptacle spaced from the bottom of the outer receptacle, andimperforate covers carried by the two receptacles, and being designed to engage with each other, whereby to retain the cover of the inner receptacle firmly seated.

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

- ANDREW W. FOLSOM.

Witnesses:

RAY M. HUTT, RUFUS G. HALL.

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