US 5,989,606 AGranted

Berry pack

AssigneePlexiform Company

InventorWilliam K. Sambrailo

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Abstract

Method for the improved packing of stemmed produce in produce containers, and apparatus to perform the method. The present invention teaches a methodology based on the use of a packaging adaptor for insertion into a produce container, such as a berry basket. The adapter is formed as a substantially hollow, box-like structure having at least one and preferably a plurality of apertures defined in an upper surface thereof. The adapter, inserted into the container defines a first, lower compartment and a second, upper compartment. The adapter is inserted in the container, and the stem of the fruit, for instance a strawberry, is inserted therein. The stems are retained in the first compartment and the body of the fruit in the second compartment. In this manner, the relatively soft body of the fruit is precluded from contact with, and damage from, the relatively tough, woody stem portion of fruit.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A berry pack, the berry pack comprising in operative combination:

a stemmed berry fruit;
a berry basket member;
and
an adaptor member, the adaptor member being insertable in the berry basket member and being shaped for receiving and storing thereon particular weight and configurations of stemmed berry fruit, each configuration of stemmed berry fruit including size and shape thereof, the fruit including at least a pulpy body portion, a calyx portion and a stem portion, the adaptor member comprising an upper surface having at least one aperture for receiving the stem portion and further comprising an alignment means, in operative combination with the upper surface, for elevating the upper surface from a bottom surface of the berry basket member upon being inserted in the berry basket member and thereby forming a first compartment in the berry basket member for housing the stem portion protruding via the at least one aperture and segregating the stem portion from the pulpy body portion and calyx portion, the alignment means also forming a second compartment in the berry basket member for housing the pulpy body portion and calyx portion, the alignment means also retaining the upper surface in substantially parallel alignment with the bottom surface of the berry basket member.

1 more element

A berry pack, the berry pack comprising in operative combination:

a stemmed berry fruit;
a berry basket member;
and
an adaptor member,
the adaptor member being insertable in the berry basket member, and being shaped for receiving and storing thereon a particular weight and configuration of stemmed strawberry fruit, the configuration of the fruit including size and shape thereof, the fruit including at least a pulpy body portion, a calyx portion and a stem portion,
the adaptor member comprising a resilient upper surface having a plurality of apertures, the spacing between the several ones of the plurality of apertures being defined by the configuration of the fruit to be received thereon,
the adaptor member also comprising a plurality of sidewalls, in operative combination with the upper surface, for elevating the upper surface from a bottom surface of the berry basket member and for retaining the upper surface in substantially parallel alignment with the bottom surface of the berry basket member,
the adaptor member further comprising a rim surface in operative combination with at least one of the sidewalls, and
the adaptor member, upon being inserted within the berry basket member, defines a first and a second compartment, the first compartment defining space for receiving and isolating therein the stem portion of the fruit and the second compartment defining space for receiving and storing the body portion of the fruit, such that the calyx is supported adjacent the resilient upper surface such that the pulpy body portion is cushioned against damage enroute to an end user.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.