Resealable, Reusable Plastic Storage Container and Lid With Gas-Permeable Membranes for Modified Storage of Food and Perishables

• Main Authors: LIM LOONG KENG, LEE KEE ENG
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.09.2010
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATERTREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT; CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS,e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES,DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; CONVEYING; FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HUMAN NECESSITIES; PACKAGES; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRESERVING, e.g. BY CANNING, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, FRUIT,VEGETABLES, EDIBLE SEEDS; STORING; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; THE PRESERVED, RIPENED, OR CANNED PRODUCTS; THEIR TREATMENT, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES; TRANSPORTING

A system and reusable plastic container for preserving the quality of a range of fruits and vegetables are provided. The container independently maintains modified atmospheres and relative humidity within the range of 1% to 50% carbon dioxide plus 1% to 15% oxygen and relative humidity of 75% RH and 100% RH. For produce highly susceptible to mould, yeast and/or bacterial growth at RH of 75% to 80% will result in optimum quality retention. The container includes a plastic body, plastic lid and a gas permeable film membrane hermetically sealed between the lid and the container. The plastic body and lid can be polyamide (nylon 6, 11, 12, or 66 and blends thereof), polycarbonate, polyethylene, polyethyleneterepthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, and mixtures thereof. The lid can be macro-perforated for a three piece application or micro-perforated for a two piece application. The film membranes can have different oxygen and carbon dioxide permeability rates for specific package volumes and specific produce respirations.