Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PRODUCE CONTAINER
FIELD OF INV ENTION
This invention relates to storage containers. particularly including
containers for
storing fresh herbs and certain vegetables.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Many people cools with fresh herbs, and recipes often call for fresh herbs as
ingredients. Many fresh herbs aye very expensive and are often purchased in a
pre-packed
quantity. The pre-packed quantity of herbs is usually more than is needed in a
recipe, leaving
leftover herbs that require storage.
Typically, fresh herbs are stored in the plastic bag or thin plastic container
that they
are purchased in. This is problematic because the leaves often sit in pools of
water or
condensation. CaLlSlllg them to decompose and 1e11der1Il~ thelTl llllflt for
consumption. The
?~ thin poly-bags are also not air-tight, exposing the herbs to ethylene gas
from other fruits and
CA 02400593 2002-08-29
vegetables. AS ~1'lth C011de11Sat1011. ethylene Qas causes the herbs to age
and decompose at a
faster rate.
There 1S 110t11111~ 011 the lllarket that is capable of keeping all types of
fresh herbs fresh
for extended periods by protecting them from condensation, air, ethylene gas.
and other
harmful refrigerator odors. The few devices presently used have many
shortcomings. For
example. there is an item called the "parsley bag" that is a double-walled
cotton cloth bag
designed to store parsley and other herbs. The bag is moistened with water,
the herbs are
placed inside. and the bag is closed with a drawstring. This bag does not
protect the herbs
from refrigerator odors or from harmful gases. The bag is also crushable. so
that if it is not
given adequate space in the refrigerator. the herbs inside will be damaged or
rot quickly due
to lack of air space.
Accordingly, there is a need for a product that can hold herbs upright,
keeping the
leaves away fiom water, while sealing out refrigerator odors and gases that
accelerate the
aging of the herbs. Preferably, such a device should be convenient to store in
the refrigerator
or on a countertop, and able to store multiple types of herbs and certain
vegetables at the
same time.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred container in accordance with the
present invention; and
30 FIGURE ? is a perspective view of a preferred container having an internal
herb
separator in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention is a container for storing fresh herbs and certain
vegetables to
retain freshness for extended periods. Though it is sometimes referred to as
an herb keeper
because it is best suited for storing herbs. it is also capable of storing
certain vegetables and
other perishables, particularly including leafy vegetables. 'Vithlll thlS
SpeClflCat1011. herbs and
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other leafy vegetables capable of storage in the container are generally
referred to as produce.
Likewise. most herbs and leafs° vegetables w°ill have a section
that is generally wleafy" and a
section that is essentially a "stem." The stem is defined as the portion of
the herb or leafy
vegetable that was attached to the stall:. while the leafy portion eltends
away from the stem.
~Uith reference to FIGURE 1, the container IO consists of three main parts: a
cap 40,
center tube 20 and base cup 30. Preferably. the center tube 20 and base cup 30
are made of
clear acrylic and the cap is made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Any of
the components
may alternatively be formed of other materials, although it is preferable to
form them from
clear materials so that the types of herbs that are stored remain visible.
The base cup 30 is a relatively shallow, substantially cylindrical cup having
a flat,
circular base 32 and generally vertical walls. The walls may also be inclined
somewhat. so
that they e:ctend radially outwardly as they extend away from the base. The
base cup includes
a marking 50 on the outside to indicate the level of water that should be
added to the base
cup 30 to keep the stored herbs fresh. The base cup 30 holds the herbs
upright, with the lower
section of the herb sterns 62 submerged in the water and the herb leaves 61
out of the water,
as with a vase of cut flowers.
The center tube 20 tlueads onto the base cup 30, although it may alternatively
be
friction, snap, or otherwise joined to the base cup 30. The center tube ?0 is
therefore
removably attached to the base cup to make it easier to add or remove herbs.
The center
tube ?0 holds the herb leaves- o~ branches upright to allow adequate air
circulation and to
keep them out of water. Preferably. the axial length of the center tube is
greater than its
diameter to produce a generally elongated shape that will hold herbs upright.
While the preferred embodiment includes a rivo-piece center tube and base cup
arrangement, the invention may also be produced by constructing these
components as a
single integrated unit. One of the advantages of the two-piece construction is
that by adding
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the herbs and water to the base unit before attaching the center tu~z, it
helps to ensure that
the water level remains low. below the leafy portion of the herbs.
The removable cap ~0 is frictionally attached to the center tube ?0. The
relatively
snug fit between the cap ~0 and the center tube ?0 produces a substantially
airtight seal.
~ Consequently, the herbs are protected from refrigerator odors and damaging
ethylene gas
produced by many fruits and vegetables. The cap =10 can be opened to insert or
remove
herbs.
Although the cap 40 is preferably friction-fitted to the center tube 20, it
can
alternatively be rernovably attached via mated threads between the cap ~0 and
the center
tube ?0, a snap-fit (e.g., annular, mating ridges}. or any other means that
will retain the
cap ~0 and substantially seal the container.
Preferably. the container 10 is made from clear materials so that the herbs
that are
stored inside are visible and readily identifiable. Other materials may also
be used, however,
such as glass, ceramic, stainless steel, or polyethylene.
As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the container 10 optionally includes an internal
divider
insert 70 to separate herbs or bLlnChes of herbs arid iiirther assist in
keeping them upright.
The insert 70 comprises two vertical wall sections 72, 74, each of which
bisects the base cup
vertically. The wall sections 72, 74 are also orthogonal to one another,
thereby dividing the
base cup into four quadrants. The divider insert 70 preferably is formed from
the same
material as the center tube ?fl urn is about the same height as the base cup
30. Preferably, the
insert is removable, although it may be permanently affixed or integrally
molded with the
base cup 30 or center tube ?0.
In alternate forms, the divider insert may extend a much shorter distance, or
may take
the form of bars extending radially across the center tube 20, so long as the
insert is capable
of I:eeping the stored herbs separated. Likewise, the internal insert may
either stop short of
the bottom of the base cup 30 or include openings in the portion of the insert
that is at the
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bottom of the base cup so that water in the base cup 30 will be shared across
the separate
sections. The insert allows the container to be divided into anv number of
internal sections.
In yet another embodiment. the container includes a plurality of spikes
extending
upward from the base cup toward or into the center tube. The spikes provide
support for the
herbs to lceep them generally upright durtn Q storage.
In mother alternative embodiment. the container is expandable in height. The
height
adjustment is preferably accomplished via an overlapping sliding friction fit
between the base
cup 30 and the center tube ?0. By sliding the center tube 20 up or down with
respect to the
base cup 30, the container becomes taller or shorter.
The herb keeper of the present invention keeps herbs fresher longer than
e;~isting
devices, and is capable of holding multiple types of herbs at the same time.
It can easily be
used in the refrigerator or on a countertop. The preferred size and shape will
fit in typical
refrigerator doors. ThOLIgh It is best suited for herbs, it is also ideal for
storing certain
vegetables such as spinach and asparagus.
I S The air-tight seal keeps delicate herbs away from ethylene gas released by
fruits and
vegetables that are typically stored in a refrigerator. When constructed from
the preferred
clear acrylic material, it allows the contents to be identified without
opening the container.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and
described,
as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the
invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the
disclosure of the
preferred embodiment.
