US 12,396,397 B2Granted

Lining picking containers

AssigneeVelcro IP Holdings LLC

InventorsJerry G. Hodsdon, Michael J. Perkins, Gregory Cole Winters, Gregory K. Kopanski, Joseph Mark Buhl

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A picking container liner sleeve in the form of a sheet or tube of resin is placed inside a produce picking container and held in place by releasably engaging cooperative touch fasteners on the rim of the picking container and the upper end of the liner sleeve. The liner sleeve is sized to line the container in use to inhibit contact between picked produce and an interior surface of the produce picking container with the lower end of the produce picking container in a closed position, but to allow picked produce to fall through the lower end of the produce picking container with the lower end of the produce picking container in an open position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of lining a produce picking container, the method comprising:

placing a liner sleeve inside a produce picking container, the container having a releasably closable lower end and an open upper end with a rim, the liner sleeve having an open upper end and lower end configured to allow produce to fall from the liner with the lower end of the liner unsupported by the lower end of the container;
securing the upper end of the liner sleeve to the rim of the produce picking container with releasable touch fasteners, a first part of the touch fasteners being carried on the liner sleeve and a cooperating second part of the touch fasteners being carried on the rim of the produce picking container;
wherein the liner sleeve is sized to line the produce picking container in use to inhibit contact between picked produce and an interior surface of the produce picking container with the lower end of the produce picking container in a closed position, while the lower end of the liner sleeve allows picked produce to fall through the lower end of the produce picking container with the lower end of the produce picking container in an open position;
wherein the liner sleeve is in sheet form, with opposite longitudinal edge regions;
and
wherein placing the liner sleeve inside the produce picking container comprises overlapping the longitudinal edge regions of the liner sleeve;
further comprising separating the liner sleeve from an adjacent sheet of liner sleeve material, prior to placing the liner sleeve inside the produce picking container.

4 more elements

A method of lining a produce picking container, the method comprising:

placing a liner sleeve inside a produce picking container, the container having a releasably closable lower end and an open upper end with a rim, the liner sleeve having an open upper end and lower end configured to allow produce to fall from the liner with the lower end of the liner unsupported by the lower end of the container;
securing the upper end of the liner sleeve to the rim of the produce picking container with releasable touch fasteners, a first part of the touch fasteners being carried on the liner sleeve and a cooperating second part of the touch fasteners being carried on the rim of the produce picking container;
wherein the liner sleeve is sized to line the produce picking container in use to inhibit contact between picked produce and an interior surface of the produce picking container with the lower end of the produce picking container in a closed position, while the lower end of the liner sleeve allows picked produce to fall through the lower end of the produce picking container with the lower end of the produce picking container in an open position;
wherein the produce picking container is adapted to be worn by a produce picker;
and wherein securing the upper end of the liner sleeve to the rim of the produce picking container comprises:
first securing a first portion of the upper end of the liner sleeve to a portion of the rim of the produce picking container on a side of the produce picking container adapted to face the produce picker, and then securing a second portion of the upper end of the liner sleeve to a portion of the rim of the produce picking container on a side of the produce picking container adapted to face away from the produce picker;
and
wherein securing the first portion of the upper end of the liner sleeve to a portion of the rim of the produce picking container on a side of the produce picking container adapted to face the produce picker comprises securing the first portion of the upper end of the liner sleeve to an inner surface of the rim of the produce picking container, and wherein securing a second portion of the upper end of the liner sleeve to a portion of the rim of the produce picking container on a sider of the produce picking container adapted to face away from the produce picker comprises securing a second portion of the upper end of the liner sleeve to an outer surface of the rim of the produce picking container.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/119,411Filed 9 Mar 2023 · us provisional application
Priority: 18 Mar 2022
Published: US 2023/0292668 A121 Sep 2023
Granted: 26 Aug 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

A01D 46/22
Picking of fruits, vegetables, hops, or the like; Devices for shaking trees or shrubs: baskets or bags attachable to the picker
B65D 25/16
Linings or internal coatings: loose, or loosely-attached, linings
B65D 2231/001
Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents: the container being a bag
A01D
Harvesting