Fruit in a bubble wrap mat
AssigneeEmpire Technology Development LLC
InventorQuentin Arthur Carl Adam
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A package for compartmentalized preservation of harvested fruit or vegetables and methods are disclosed. The package may include a first flexible polymer film, comprising integral molded or vacuum formed cups configured to hold a fruit or vegetable, wherein the integral molded or vacuum formed cups can be collapsed into a plane of the first polymer film or extended from the first polymer film; and a second flexible polymer film configured to overlay the first polymer film. In some embodiments, the cups containing the fruit or vegetable may be inflated and sealed to form protective bubbles.
Claims16
A method for packaging fruits or vegetables, the method comprising:
- unspooling a first flexible polymer film in a form of a flat sheet comprising cups, wherein each cup is configured to be expanded from a collapsed state disposed within the flat sheet to an expanded cup, comprising a depth and a circumference configured to accommodate the fruits or vegetables;
- expanding each cup from its collapsed state cup disposed within the flat sheet to an expanded cup by a flow of compressed gas;
- placing the fruits or vegetables into the expanded cup;
- unspooling a second flexible polymer film;
- overlaying the first polymer film and the expanded cup holding the fruits or vegetables with the second polymer film;
- partially bonding the second polymer film to the first polymer film, such that at least one gas conduit is formed for each cup between the first and second polymer films allowing air to flow into each expanded cup;
- inflating the expanded cups by pumping a gas through the at least one gas conduit, thereby forming inflated cups;
- and
- sealing the at least one gas conduit, thereby sealing the fruits or vegetables within each inflated cup, thereby forming a sealed package.
A method for packaging fruits or vegetables, the method comprising:
- unspooling a first flexible polymer film in a form of a flat sheet comprising cups, wherein each cup is configured to be expanded from a collapsed state disposed within the flat sheet to an expanded cup, comprising a depth and a circumference configured to accommodate the fruits or vegetables;
- expanding each cup from its collapsed state cup disposed within the flat sheet to an expanded cup by a flow of compressed gas;
- placing the fruits or vegetables into the expanded cup;
- unspooling a second flexible polymer film;
- overlaying the first polymer film and the expanded cup holding the fruits or vegetables with the second polymer film;
- partially bonding the second polymer film to the first polymer film, such that at least one gas conduit is formed for each cup between the first and second polymer films allowing air to flow into each expanded cup, wherein at least one of a gas absorbing or moisture absorbing activated pad is positioned within the at least one gas conduit;
- inflating the expanded cups by pumping a gas through the at least one gas conduit, thereby forming inflated cups;
- and
- sealing the at least one gas conduit, thereby sealing the fruits or vegetables within each inflated cup, thereby forming a sealed package.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.