Controlled atmosphere shipping/storage system and method

A method of positioning and arranging a product in a manner to provide a controlled atmosphere environment for the product, said method comprising:

• a) placing a quantity of said product in a controlled atmosphere container to provide a controlled atmosphere shipping unit comprising said controlled atmosphere container with said quantity of product therein;
• b) locating said shipping unit in a containing region of a transport container;
• c) positioning a gas source of controlled atmosphere gas in, or in proximity with, said transport container, so that said gas source is operatively connected to or positioned and arranged to be operatively connected to, said shipping unit, so that controlled atmosphere gas is directed into, or is able to be directed into said controlled atmosphere container to provide a desired controlled atmosphere environment for the quantity of product;
• whereby said transport container is able to travel to a destination location, with said shipping unit therein, while maintaining the desired controlled atmosphere environment in the containing unit by directing said controlled atmosphere gas from said gas source into the shipping unit.

A method for receiving and disposition of a perishable product that is in a transport container having a containing region, where the product comprises a quantity of said product which is positioned in a controlled atmosphere container in the form of a controlled atmosphere shipping unit comprising said controlled atmosphere container with said quantity of product therein, located in said containing region, and there is (or has been) a gas source of controlled atmosphere gas in, or in proximity, the containing region of the transport container to direct controlled atmosphere gas into said controlled atmosphere container to provide a desired controlled atmosphere environment for the quantity of product, said method comprising:

• a) ascertaining an expected future handling of the quantity of the product and a time frame within which the handling is to take place, to classify the quantity of product as:
• i. a first category of a quantity of product not reasonable requiring a controlled atmosphere environment;
• ii. a second category of a quantity of product requiring continued presence of a controlled atmosphere environment;
• b) for a quantity of product in the first category, removing the quantity of product from the controlled atmosphere container;
• c) for a quantity of product in the second category maintaining the quantity of product in a controlled atmosphere container.

A shipping assembly for transporting a perishable product in a manner to provide a controlled atmosphere environment for the product, said assembly comprising:

• a) a transport container having a containing region;
• b) a controlled atmosphere container and a quantity of said product positioned in said controlled atmosphere container to provide a controlled atmosphere shipping unit comprising said controlled atmosphere container with said quantity of product which is located in said containing region;
• c) a gas source of controlled atmosphere gas, which is in, or in proximity with, said containing region to direct controlled atmosphere gas into said controlled atmosphere container to provide a desired controlled atmosphere environment for the quantity of product
• whereby said shipping assembly is arranged to travel from a first location to a destination location, with said shipping unit therein, or to have traveled to a destination location, while maintaining the desired controlled atmosphere environment in the shipping unit.

A portable controlled atmosphere shipping container to contain a quantity of a perishable product so as to form a shipping unit with a controlled environment containing chamber, which shipping unit can be transported in a containing region of a transport container in a manner to provide a controlled atmosphere environment for the quantity of the product, said portable shipping container comprising:

• a) a containing section comprising a base and a surrounding side wall having an upper side wall portion with an upper perimeter edge portion defining an access opening, said containing section defining a controlled atmosphere containing chamber to contain the quantity of perishable product;
• b) said containing section having a controlled atmosphere gas inlet to receive controlled atmosphere gas directed into said chamber;
• c) said containing section having a controlled atmosphere gas outlet through which gas in the containing chamber is able to be discharged from said containing chamber;
• d) the upper side wall portion of the containing section having a closure section by which the upper side wall portion can be closed to contain the controlled atmosphere gas,
• whereby controlled atmosphere gas can be introduced into the chamber to displace gas through the outlet to maintain a desired controlled atmosphere environment in the shipping container.