Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02291604 1999-12-O1
BP #9973-009
BERESKIN & PARR UNITED STATES
Title: DISPLAY PACKAGING FOR FRUITS OR VEGETABLES
Inventor(s): Emmett M. Flynn
CA 02291604 1999-12-O1
-1-
Title: DISPLAY PACKAGING FOR FRUITS OR VEGETABLES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to packaging of food products, and in
particular, to display packages for fresh fruits and vegetables.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is a need to display fresh fruits and vegetables in
packaging which make them attractive to prospective consumers in a
market setting. There is also a need to protect fresh fruits and vegetables
from excess handling which can cause bruising and spoilage leading to
short shelf-life.
Fresh fruits and vegetables such as cherry tomatoes,
blueberries and apricots are typically packaged in one-pint plastic clamshell
containers, or in plastic wire mesh or cardboard baskets. These prior art
containers reduce the amount of human handling, and allow for visual
inspection of the contents. However, such containers are typically
discarded once the contents has been consumed, which is wasteful.
There is accordingly a need for a more ecologically friendly
mode of packaging fresh fruits and vegetables for display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is directed to a display package,
comprising a reusable food storage container placed on top of a lid for the
container, and a sheet of transparent, flexible, breathable material
overwrapping and securing together the container and the lid, wherein
once the sheet is removed, the container and the lid may be used together
to form an airtight enclosure for storing various food products.
One aspect of the invention is a display package for fruits and
vegetables, comprising a container suitable for reuse as a fruit storage
container, the container having an open top and a capacity selected to
contain a predetermined amount of fruits or vegetables, a lid for the
CA 02291604 1999-12-O1
-2-
container, the container being positioned on top of the lid, the lid being
shaped to be capable of releasably sealably enclosing the top of the
container, thereby providing an airtight enclosure for storing various food
products, once the fruits or vegetables are removed from the container,
and a sheet of flexible material sized for overwrapping the container and
the lid such edge portions of the sheet overlap underneath the lid, the
edge portions being coupled together so as to secure the lid against the
container during handling and display, the material having a composition
which allows for visual inspection of the fruits or vegetables and escape of
gases generated by the fruits or vegetables.
The sheet of material is preferably a clear breathable PVC
film. The overlapping ends of the film are preferably heat sealed. The
container and lid are preferably commercially available reusable food
storage containers.
The subject invention also relates to a method for packaging
fruits or vegetables, comprising the steps of:
(a) placing the fruits or vegetables in a container suitable
for use as a food storage container;
(b) placing the container on the top of a reusable lid for
the container;
(c) overwrapping the container and the lid with a sheet of
flexible material sized to extend under and cover the bottom of the lid, the
material being suitable to display the fruits or vegetables and to allow gases
generated thereby to escape from the containers;
(d) folding the film underneath the lid such that edge
portions of the film overlap; and
(e) coupling the overlapping portions of the film together
so as to secure the lid against the container during handling and display.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention, and to
' CA 02291604 1999-12-O1
-3-
show more clearly how it may be carried out in practice, reference will
now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display package made in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the subject display package;
Fig. 3A is a perspective view of the container component of
the package shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3B is a perspective view of the lid component of the
subject package; and
Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the lid
enclosing the container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, illustrated therein is a display
package 10 made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
invention. Package 10 comprises a plastic container 20 for holding fruits
or vegetables 25 such as cherry tomatoes, a lid 30 positioned underneath
the container 20, and a sheet of clear plastic film 40 for overwrapping and
securing together container 20 and lid 30.
As best shown in Figure 2, container 20 has an open top 22
defined by rim 24 having a circumferential ridge 26, side walls 28 and
closed bottom 32. Container 20 is selected to have a capacity for containing
a predetermined amount of fruits or vegetables, typically one pint in the
case of cherry tomatoes 25.
Lid 30 is shaped to releasably enclose top 22 of container 20.
Lid 30 comprises a circumferential groove 35 sized to fit over ridge 26 of
container 20, so as to provide an airtight seal between lid 30 and container
20. Lid 30 also includes handle 37 which assists a use in removing lid 30
from container 20.
Container 20 and lid 30 are preferably commercially available
CA 02291604 1999-12-O1
-4-
reusable plastic food storage containers and lids, such as those made by
ZIPLOK, GLADWARE or TUPPERWARE. When lid 30 is placed on
container 20, an airtight enclosure is created, which is suitable for storage
of leftovers or other food products. Container 20 and lid 30 are preferably
made of a microwave-safe plastic material.
Sheet of plastic film 40 is sized to fit over container 20 and lid
30 and to extend under and completely cover the bottom of the lid such
that the edge portions 42 of film 40 overlap. Edge portions 42 are then heat
sealed, such that the film secures lid 30 and container 20 together during
handling and display. Alternatively, the edge portions of film 40 could be
gathered together and secured by a suitable closure.
Plastic film 40 is made of a clear material which enables
consumers to view the contents of package 10 when it is on display in a
fruit market or a supermarket. Film 40 is preferably a PVC (polyvinyl
chloride) or other breathable film, which allows ethylene and other gases
generated by cherry tomatoes or other fruits or vegetables to escape from
container 20. Film 40 also inhibits bacteria from entering container 20,
thereby slowing down the decay process. Alternatively, the film could be
made of other plastic material having a high rate of gas permeability, or
the film could be a non-breathable plastic film having perforations.
Referring now to Figures 3A, 3B and 4, once display package
10 is purchased by a consumer, and film 40 and fruits or vegetables 25 are
removed, container 20 can be used together with lid 30 to store leftovers or
the like, instead of being thrown away. Leftovers or other food products 45
can be stored in a conventional fashion, by placing them in container 20,
and positioning lid 30 in place on container 20, by snapping ridge 26 of
container 20 into groove 35 of lid 30.
Display package 10 is preferably assembled using a package
wrapping machine. After container 20 is hand-loaded with fruits or
vegetables, filled container 20 is placed on top of lid 30 on a conveyor belt,
which moves the filled container/lid sub-assembly into an elevator
station. An elevator then pushes this sub-assembly up into a film web,
CA 02291604 1999-12-O1
-5-
thereby stretching the film over the sides of the container and the lid. The
film is then folded underneath lid 30 by movable underfolders, and the
film is cut to size by knives, such that the edges of film 40 overlap
underneath lid 30. The assembly is then placed on a hotplate, where the
overlapping edge portions 42 of film 40 are heat sealed together.
Alternatively, display package 10 could be hand assembled.
While the material used to overwrap and secure the
container to the lid is preferably a plastic film, it could comprise a plastic
mesh bag secured by a bread clip or wire clip. Also, while the drawings
depict a round food storage container suitable for holding about a pint of
cherry tomatoes, the container could be larger or smaller, and it need not
be round. For example, the container could be a larger container sized to
hold two pounds of kiwi fruit, or a square plastic sandwich container sized
to hold a twin pack of tomatoes.
It should therefore be apparent to persons skilled in the art
that various modifications and adaptations of the preferred embodiments
described herein are possible without departure from the present
invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.
