MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING WITH BASE-MOUNTED MICRO-PERMEABLE PATCH

Abstract

A rigid or semi-rigid MAP container includes a raised cavity in its bottom surface, wherein a macroscopic hole penetrating the container bottom is covered by a semi-permeable patch so as to provide limited gas exchange between the container interior and the surrounding environment. The raised cavity extends to at least one edge of the bottom surface, so that gases can be exchanged with the cavity even when the container is placed on a flat surface. In embodiments, the sides are slanted outward, so that air passages accessible to the cavities are formed between adjacent containers in a stack. The container can be re-sealable, and can include an interior sealant layer. The patch can be naturally semi-permeable, microporous, or microperforated, and can be adhered to the container bottom by an adhesive applied about a perimeter thereof that does not overlap the hole.

Claims

1. A rigid or semi-rigid container configured for modified atmosphere packaging of produce, the container comprising: a base having a bottom and at least one side joined to the bottom by a bottom edge; a lid removably engageable with the base so as to form a seal therebetween; a raised region formed in the bottom of the container base and extending to the bottom edge thereof, so that when the container bottom is placed on a flat surface the raised region and flat surface form a cavity into which air from an environment surrounding the container can enter the cavity by passing under the bottom edge; a hole formed in an upper surface of the raised region and penetrating the container bottom; and a semi-permeable patch installed over the hole and configured to permit a limited exchange of gases between an interior of the container and the surrounding environment, so that a modified atmosphere is created within the container when respiring fresh produce is contained therein.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid can be re-engaged with the base after removal thereof so as to re-establish a modified atmosphere within the interior of the container when fresh produce remains contained

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the side is slanted outward from the bottom edge, so that when the container is placed against a vertical surface or next to an adjacent container having a similar shape, a passage is formed along the side of the container through which air can flow to the bottom edge and from thence to the patch.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the patch is made from a material that is naturally semi-permeable to gases.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the patch is made from a microporous material.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the patch is made from a material that is substantially impenetrable to gases, the patch being microperforated so as to allow the limited exchange of gasses.

7. The container of claim 1, further comprising sealant layers applied to interior surfaces of the base and lid, the sealant layers being sealable to each other when the lid is engaged with the base so as to form a hermetically sealed junction therebetween.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the sealant layers comprise at least one of polyacrylonitrile resin and polyester film.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the hole is between 1 mm and 10 mm in diameter.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the patch is adhered to the upper surface of the raised region by an adhesive that is applied to a perimeter of the patch but does not overlap the hole.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein the raised region extends to a plurality of bottom edges that join a plurality of sides to the container bottom.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a semi-rigid modified atmosphere packaging container in an embodiment of the present invention shown with the lid and patch separated from the container body;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the semi-rigid modified atmosphere packaging container of FIG. 1 shown with the lid and patch installed on the container body;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of two containers as shown in FIG. 2 stacked on top of each other;

[0029] FIG. 4A is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 2, shown without the patch;

[0030] FIG. 4B is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 4A, shown with the patch;

[0031] FIG. 5 is a side view of a stack of the containers of FIG. 2; and

[0032] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a container in an embodiment wherein the MAP cavity extends to all bottom edges of the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a modified atmosphere packaging container 100 having a rigid body 102 and a rigid lid 104 is disclosed that includes a macroscopic hole 106 and MAP patch 108 that are not located on a highly visible surface and are not likely to be blocked when the container 100 is resting on a surface or included in a stack of containers. According to the present disclosure, the macroscopic hole 106 is provided on the bottom of the container body 102, and is covered by the microporous patch 108. In embodiments, the hole 106 is between 1 mm and 10 mm in diameter. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container 100 in an embodiment of the invention shown with the lid 104 removed, and the patch 108 not yet installed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 shown with the microporous patch 108 installed.

[0034] The patch 108 can include a material that is naturally gas permeable or microporous, or it can be made from a gas impervious material that has been microperforated by pins or by a laser. It can be attached to the bottom of the container body 102 by an adhesive that has been applied about a perimeter of the patch 108, so that the adhesive surrounds the hole 106 but does not interfere with gas exchange through the region of the patch 106 that is/are directly over the hole 106.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the macroscopic opening 106 and microperforated patch 108 are located in a region 110 of the container bottom that is raised as compared to the remainder of the bottom surface, such that an open space or cavity is created in the region 110 where the opening 106 and patch 108 are located. This open space or cavity 110, referred to herein as the MAP cavity 110, extends to an edge 112 of the bottom surface, so that air 200 is readily exchanged between the MAP cavity 110 and the ambient surroundings, even when the container 100 is placed on a flat surface, or stacked on top of another container as shown in FIG. 3.

[0036] FIGS. 4A and 4B are end views of the container 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2. It can be seen that the MAP cavity 110 is open to the bottom edge 112 of the container. In FIG. 4A, the container is shown without the patch 108 installed, and in FIG. 4B the container is shown with the patch 108 installed.

[0037] In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 4B, the sides 400 of the container 100 are slanted inward. With reference to FIG. 5, this slanted side configuration creates air passages 500 between the containers 100 when they are arranged in a stack. As a result, air 200 is easily exchanged between the surrounding environment and all of the MAP cavities 110 of all of the containers 100 in the stack.

[0038] In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5, the MAP cavity 110 extends only to one edge 112 of the container bottom. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the MAP cavity 110 extends to all of the bottom edges of the cavity, allowing for additional access of ambient air to the patch 108.

[0039] The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Each and every page of this submission, and all contents thereon, however characterized, identified, or numbered, is considered a substantive part of this application for all purposes, irrespective of form or placement within the application.

[0040] This specification is not intended to be exhaustive. Although the present application is shown in a limited number of forms, the scope of the invention is not limited to just these forms, but is amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. One or ordinary skill in the art should appreciate after learning the teachings related to the claimed subject matter contained in the foregoing description that many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter includes any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof, unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. In particular, the limitations presented in dependent claims below can be combined with their corresponding independent claims in any number and in any order without departing from the scope of this disclosure, unless the dependent claims are logically incompatible with each other.