Produce packaging system enabling improved drainage for hydrocooling
AssigneeSambrailo Packaging, Inc.
InventorsAnthony Cadiente, Mark Sambrailo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A produce packaging system incorporates a container having ample top ventilation enabling efficient ingress of cooling water into container to cool produce contained inside. The container also having a sloped bottom for draining water toward a bottom vent and out of the container during hydrocooling. The system also includes a cooling box configured for holding the containers in an upright orientation enabling inflow of cooling water into the containers and out of the box.
Claims35
A produce container comprising:
- a basket body having a bottom end and a top end and two sides;
- a lid for covering the basket body;
- a latch for securing the lid to said basket body;
- and
- the bottom end configured to enable fluid drainage out of the container;
- and
- the top end including an upper ventilation surface that includes apertures configured to enable fluid to enter the container in a manner that allows the fluid to contact substantially all of the contents of the container.
2-4. (canceled)
6-12. (canceled)
17-27. (canceled)
A method for packaging and hydrocooling produce products, the method comprising:
- providing a produce product contained within a produce packaging container having a body with a top surface and a bottom surface, and a closed lid configured such that an upper ventilation surface has openings formed therein, the openings configured to enable a cooling fluid to enter the containers in a manner that allows the fluid to contact substantially all of the produce within the container during a hydrocooling process and a bottom surface enables excess cooling fluid to drain out of the bottom of the container, wherein the container is arranged with other similar containers within a cooling box capable of holding a plurality of produce filled packaging containers in an upright orientation thereby enabling the cooling fluid to enter the containers cooling the produce and enabling the cooling fluid to drain out of the bottom of the containers and box;
- and
- directing the cooling fluid onto the top of the box such that the fluid enters each of the containers placed in the box through the openings in the upper ventilation surface of the containers thereby contacting substantially all of the produce within each container to effectuate hydrocooling of the produce.
45-51. (canceled)
A produce container comprising:
- a plastic container including a top and bottom and at least a first side and a second side,
- a substantially enclosed basket body having a top opening and a bottom surface, the top opening arranged to receive therein contents to be inserted into the container;
- a substantially enclosed lid for attachment to the basket body arranged to close the container using at least one latch to secure the lid to said basket body, the lid and basket body shaped to form an opening between the basket and the lid on at least the first and second sides when the lid is closed;
- the first side of the basket configured with openings to enable fluid to easily and rapidly enter the container when closed thereby enabling the fluid to contact substantially all of the contents of the container;
- and
- the second side having a support surface formed thereon, the support configured to securely support the container in a stable position when set upon the second side, while in this stable position the inner surfaces of the lid and basket slope downwardly toward the opening between the lid and basket of the second side thereby enabling drainage of fluid inside the container out of the container through the opening between the lid and basket of the second side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.