Abstract:
The present invention generally pertains to a biodegradable package for packaging perishable goods such as fruits and vegetables. More specifically, the present invention relates to a package comprising a container for receiving the food product therein, a porous membrane for closing the container while allowing gas to circulate inside and outside the container and a perforated lid for protecting the porous membrane and allowing stockpiling on numerous packages onto one another.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application relates to U.S. provisional application No. 61/047,292 that was filed on Apr. 23, 2008, the specification of which application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a package adapted for packaging a perishable good. More specifically, the present invention relates to a package comprising a container defining a chamber for receiving the perishable good therein, a porous membrane and a perforated lid for allowing a gas circulation between the chamber and the environment surrounding the package. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Packages for packaging products come in a wide range of types, shapes and materials, ranging from the plastic bag to the square cardboard box to the metal can. Each package is adapted for a particular product and to fulfill particular needs such as, for instance, protection from compression, shocks, temperature, oxygen or microbial contaminants, for ensuring safety of the packaged product or user cross-contamination or for providing individual or predetermined portions or quantities of products. 
         [0004]    With the globalization of the markets, import and export of perishable goods such as food products have increased over the past years. The transport and handling of such food products from the producers to the grocery stores and/or their marketing to consumers requires special packaging, especially where the food is fragile such as, for instance, with fruits and vegetables, and especially with tomatoes. 
         [0005]    Currently, most of the imported fruits and vegetables are sold as bulk products in groceries. They are packed and transported in substantially large boxes, and unpacked by the grocery&#39;s clerk upon arrival for the consumer to purchase the individual items. However, inappropriate handling thereof by consumers may compromise the aesthetic aspect of the fruits and vegetables, especially when they are fragile by nature, in addition to increasing the risk of cross-contamination (i.e. contamination by a consumer handling a product later transmitted to another consumer buying the product). 
         [0006]    Further, with freshly prepared fruit or vegetable products, such as fruit salad or macedoine, some liquid may render impossible or impractical bulk sale. 
         [0007]    Therefore, some have come with containers or package for packaging fruits and vegetable products. Typically, the packages found in grocery stores consist of plastic containers closable with a plastic lid. In some instances, the package is provided with apertures or space for ensuring circulation therein and for gas produced by the packaged product to escape. Such instances include tomatoes, which are known to produce ethylene, a gas known to enhance rooting thereof and to reduce preservation time. In such case however, the apertures or openings make the package impractical to package products that may include liquids. 
         [0008]    Most of the time, the containers found in grocery stores are made of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE) a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family. While very easy and economical to manufacture, PETE and other classical plastic materials represent a threat for the environment. 
         [0009]    Therefore, it would be desirable to be provided with a package for food product that is entirely biodegradable and that allows alleviating at least one of the drawbacks associated with the prior art packages. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0010]    In order to address the above and other drawbacks, and in accordance with the present invention, there is disclosed a package adapted for packaging a perishable good. 
         [0011]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the package comprises a container defining a chamber adapted for receiving therein the perishable good; a porous membrane secured to the container for closing the chamber while allowing a gas circulation between the chamber and an environment surrounding the package; and protection means mounted to the container over the porous membrane for protecting the porous membrane against unwanted breakage thereof, the protection means comprising at least one vent hole for enabling the gas circulation. 
         [0012]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a kit for a package adapted for packaging a perishable good. The kit for the package comprises: a container defining a chamber adapted for receiving therein the perishable good; a porous membrane securable to the container for closing the chamber while allowing a gas circulation between the chamber and an environment surrounding the package; and protection means mountable to the container over the porous membrane for protecting the porous membrane against unwanted breakage thereof, the protection means comprising at least one vent hole for enabling the gas circulation. 
         [0013]    According to one aspect, the protection means comprises a lid. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect, at least one of the container, the porous membrane and the protection means is manufactured using a biodegradable material. Preferably, the container, the porous membrane and the protection means are manufactured using the biodegradable material. 
         [0015]    According to a further aspect, the biodegradable material comprises a transparent biodegradable material and is preferably Polyactic Acid (PLA). 
         [0016]    According to yet a further aspect, the package has a circular shape. 
         [0017]    According to an additional aspect, the perishable good is selected from the group consisting of a food product, a non-comestible organic matter, a non-comestible organism and an animal. 
         [0018]    The food product is preferably selected from a group consisting of fruits and vegetables, and more preferably the fruits comprise tomatoes, and even more preferably grape tomatoes. 
         [0019]    The non-comestible organic matter comprises fresh flowers. The non-comestible organism comprises a plant. 
         [0020]    The animal is a small-living animal, wherein the small-living animal is selected from the groups consisting of a fish, a worm and an insect. 
         [0021]    According to another aspect, the package and the kit further comprise a label for marketing the perishable good, where the label preferably comprises a biodegradable label. 
         [0022]    According to yet another aspect, the porous membrane comprises a plurality of microperforations. The microperforations are preferably adapted for enabling the gas circulation while preventing the passage of a liquid, and more preferably each microperforation has a diameter ranging from about 10 micrometers to about 1 millimeter, and even more preferably a diameter ranging from about 20 micrometers to about 40 micrometers. 
         [0023]    According to a further aspect, plurality of microperforations have a density ranging from about 0.25 microperforation per square inch to about 2000 microperforations per square inch, and preferably from about from about 2.4 microperforations per square inch to about 3.7 microperforations per square inch. 
         [0024]    According to another embodiment, there is provided a method for packaging a perishable good. The method comprises: providing a container defining a chamber adapted for receiving therein the perishable good; packing the perishable good in the chamber of the container; securing a porous membrane to the container for closing the chamber of the container, the porous membrane being adapted for allowing a gas circulation between the chamber and an environment surrounding the package; and mounting a protection means to the container over the porous membrane, the protection means being adapted for protecting the porous membrane against unwanted breakage thereof and comprising at least one vent hole for enabling the gas circulation. 
         [0025]    According to one aspect, securing the porous membrane to the container comprises thermally treating the container and the porous membrane for causing adhesion of the porous membrane to the container. 
         [0026]    According to another aspect, securing the porous membrane to the container comprises gluing the porous membrane to the container. 
         [0027]    These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the details of the invention more fully set forth below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration an illustrative embodiment thereof, and in which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a package in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, with a lid closing the container; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the package shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a top side perspective view of a container and a porous membrane in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, with the porous membrane partially detached from the container; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the container shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the container shown in  FIG. 3 , with the porous membrane removed; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a top side perspective view of a lid of one embodiment of a container; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the lid shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the lid shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  is a top side perspective view of a lid of another embodiment of a container; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart of a method for packaging a perishable good in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0039]    The description which follows, and the embodiments described therein are provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples of particular embodiments of principles and aspects of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purpose of explanation and not of limitation, of those principles of the invention. In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals. 
         [0040]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a package in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will be described using the reference numeral  20 . The package comprises a container  22 , a porous membrane  24  fixable to the container  22  for closing the same and a lid  26  for covering the porous membrane  24  and protecting the same. 
         [0041]    Now referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the container  22  will be described in accordance with one embodiment. In this embodiment, the container  22  is rounded and has the general structure of a bowl and comprises a cylindrical base portion  28  and a main circular wall  30  extending upwardly from the base portion  28  to define a chamber  29  for receiving a perishable good therein. 
         [0042]    The base portion  28  is provided with a circular, flat bottom face  32  for laying the container  22  on a surface such as a table, a shelf or a display. The base portion  28  is further provided with a base wall  34  extending upwardly along the circular edge of the bottom face  32 . The base wall  34  has a bottom edge  36  adjacent to the circular edge of the bottom face  32  and an upper edge  38 . As it will become apparent to the skilled addressee, the thickness of the base portion  28  (i.e. the distance separating the bottom and top edges  36  and  38  thereof) is adapted for the base portion  28  to engage the lid  26  of another container  22 , thereby allowing piling similar containers one onto another, which is of great advantage as will note the skilled addressee. 
         [0043]    The main wall  30  has a bottom edge  40  connected to the top edge  38  of the base portion  28  and a top end  42 . As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the top end  42  of the main wall  30  defines a semi-circular lip  44  extending outwardly from the container  22  (i.e. away from the center of the container  22 ). The lip  44  is sized and shaped for engaging the lid  26  by snapping or frictional engagement, as it will become apparent below. 
         [0044]    Still referring to  FIG. 4 , the main wall  30  defines generally semi-parabolic curve between the bottom edge  40  thereof and the top end  42 . As such, the upper diameter D 1  of the container  22  at the top end  42  is greater that than the lower diameter D 2  of the container  22  at the level of the bottom edge  40  to thereby define a tapering or funnel-like structure. 
         [0045]    A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other container configurations would be possible. For instance, a container could be provided with a generally square or rectangular shape rather than being rounded. The person skilled in the art will further appreciate that the shape of the lid  26  and of the porous membrane  24  would be adapted to such a shape. 
         [0046]    In one embodiment, the base portion  28  and the main wall  30  define a unique or integral structure. In this embodiment, the container  22  is made from a moldable, biodegradable polymer. In one embodiment, the biodegradable polymer is a relatively transparent, such as, for instance, Polyactic Acid (PLA). The person skilled in the art will appreciate that transparency of this material provides the advantage of enabling the consumers to visualize the packed product. Further, Polyactic Acid can be biodegraded within a reasonable period of time, depending on whether it is composted or disposed of in a landfill. 
         [0047]    In one embodiment, the container  22  is manufactured by injection molding using an appropriately designed mold. Other methods of manufacture may also be used to produce the container  22 . A person skilled in the art will appreciate that any suitable material, whether biodegradable or not, may be used to manufacture the container  22 . 
         [0048]    Applicable on the semi-circular lip  44  of the container  22  is the porous membrane  24  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The porous membrane  24  is preferably a flexible film made from a biodegradable material such as Polyactic Acid and comprises a generally circular portion  46 . In one embodiment, the porous membrane further comprises a tab  48  extending from the circular portion  46 . As it will become apparent below, the tab  48  is adapted for facilitating removal of the porous membrane  24  from the container  22  for the consumer to access the perishable good packed therein. The diameter D 3  of the circular portion  46  generally corresponds to the diameter D 1  of the upper end  42  of the container  22  for enabling the porous membrane  24  to be bounded to the container  22  for closing the same, as it will become apparent below. 
         [0049]    In one embodiment, the porous membrane or film  24  is provided with a plurality of microperforations  50  (shown in enlarged view for clarity purposes). In this embodiment, the size of the microperforations  50  (i.e. the diameter thereof) and the density of such micro-perforations (i.e. the number of micro-perforation per square inch) are adapted for enabling gas exchange between the chamber  29  of the container  22  and the environment surrounding the package  20  when the porous membrane  24  is closing the chamber  29  of the container  22 . In other words, the microperforations  50  are adapted for enabling “breathing” of the package content. For instance, ripening tomatoes are known to produce ethylene at low rate, which may induce or enhance further ripening and prematurely reduce the freshness or shelf-life of the product if not properly vented from the container. 
         [0050]    In one embodiment, the diameter of the microperforations  50  is adapted for enabling the passage of gas while preventing the passage of a liquid. In this embodiment, each microperforation  50  has a diameter ranging from about 10 micrometers to about 1 millimeter and the density of such microperforations on the film ranges between about 0.04 microperforations per square centimeter and 310 microperforations per square centimeter (i.e. between about 0.25 microperforations per square inch and 2000 microperforations per square inch). In one embodiment, the porous membrane  24  has a diameter of 13 centimeters (5.1 inches) and comprises between about 50 to about 75 microperforations (i.e. a density of about 0.4 and 0.6 microperforations per square centimeter), each microperforation having a diameter ranging between about 20 micrometers and about 40 micrometers. 
         [0051]    The porous membrane  24  may be produced by submitting a strip of non-perforated film to perforation steps such as those known the art, including needles, pins, laser, high pressure air, open flame or high pressure water jet microperforation, and further cutting the strip into multiples porous membranes using a die or a punch. 
         [0052]    Now referring to  FIGS. 6 to 8 , the lid  26  will be described. The lid  26  defines a plate-like structure and comprises a top portion  52  and a lower cylindrical portion  54  for removably engaging the container  22 , as best described below. The top portion  52  comprises a circular top face  56  defining an annular, generally flat portion  58  and a curved portion  60  extending radially and downwardly from the annular portion  58  to define a bottom, circular edge  62 . As best shown in  FIG. 7 , the cross-section of the curved portion  60  has a quadrant of a circle shape. The top portion  56  further comprises a circular recess  64  concentrically defined on the flat portion  58 . The diameter D 4  and the depth of the recess  64  are adapted for receiving therein the base portion  28  of one container  22 . This configuration enables piling multiple containers  22  onto one another and provides stability against lateral movement thereof. 
         [0053]    Further, the circular recess provides a circular space for receiving a label (not shown) for marketing the product. In one embodiment, the label is a self-adhesive, circular label having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter D 4  and is adapted to be fixed to the circular top face  56 , in the recess  64 . In one further embodiment, the label is entirely made from biodegradable material, such as, for instance, biodegradable paper or support and biodegradable ink. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that such a biodegradable label does not necessarily needs to be placed in the recess  64  and that multiple label positions are possible on the package  20 . 
         [0054]    Provided on the flat portion  58  is a plurality of vent holes  66 . Together with the microperforations  50 , the vent holes  66  enable the circulation of gas inside and outside the package  20  (i.e. between the chamber  29  and the environment surrounding the package  20 ) when the porous membrane  24  and the lid  26  are positioned on the container  22 . A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the vent holes  66  may be positioned at other locations on the lid  26 . 
         [0055]    Extending radially and downwardly from the bottom edge  62  of the curved portion  60  is the cylindrical portion  54  of the lid  26 . The cylindrical portion  54  comprises a top annular wall  68  having an inner edge  70  adjacent to the bottom edge  62  of the curved portion  60  and an outer edge  72 . Extending downwardly from the outer edge  72 , perpendicular to the annular wall  68 , is a curved wall  74 . In one embodiment, the diameter D 5  of the curved wall  74  is sized slightly smaller than the outer diameter D 1  of semi-circular lip  44  of the container  22 . This configuration enables snap engagement of the lid  26  on the container  22 . The cylindrical portion  54  is further provided with a tab  76  extending radially from the curved wall  74  for facilitating removal of the lid  26  from the container  22  by a consumer. 
         [0056]    In one embodiment, the lid  26  is made from a moldable, biodegradable thermoplastic, such as, for instance, Polyactic Acid. Similarly to the container  22 , the lid  26  can be manufactured by injection molding using an appropriately design mold, or by any other suitable process. 
         [0057]    A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the lid  26  provides protection against unwanted fissuring or breakage of the porous membrane  24 , which may be attributable to piling of packages  20  one onto another for storage, transport of display or improper manipulation of the package  20  by customers. Accordingly, the term “lid” must be understood broadly as including any protection means that would prevent unwanted fissuring or breakage of the porous membrane  24 . A skilled addressee will thus appreciate that lids may have different configurations. For instance, a lid in accordance with another embodiment is shown in  FIG. 9  is shown using reference numeral  100 . 
         [0058]    In this embodiment, the lid  100  comprises a circular top face  102  and a lower cylindrical portion  104  for removably engaging the container  22 , similar to cylindrical portion  54  of lid  26 . A plurality of radiuses  106  connects the top face  102  to the cylindrical portion  104 , thereby providing a plurality of openings  108  for allowing gas exchange or circulation between the chamber  29  of the container  22  and the environment surrounding the package  20 . 
         [0059]    While in the above described embodiments the package  20  has a generally circular configuration, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other package configurations are possible. For instance, the container  22 , the porous membrane  24  and the lids  26  or  100  may have a rectangular shape and the label may be sized and shape to fit such a rectangular shape. 
         [0060]    Having described the general elements of the package  20 , its use will now be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . A perishable good producer or a distributor is provided with containers  22 , porous membranes  24  and lids  26  (step  202 ). The perishable good to be packed is preferably washed and sterilized before packaging thereof, preferably using eco-friendly methods (e.g. chlorine- and detergent-free water). The producer or distributor places a specific amount of the perishable good in the container  22  and positions the porous membrane  24  on the semi-circular lip  44  to close the chamber  29  (step  204 ). 
         [0061]    The term “perishable good” should be intended broadly to encompass any food product, such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, meats, candies and the like. The package  20  is particularly suitable for fragile vegetables and fruits such as, for instance, tomatoes. In one embodiment, the container is used for packaging grape tomatoes. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the biodegradability of the package  20  and its relatively low cost can also make it appealing for packaging traditionally non-comestible organic matters or organisms such as, for instance, fresh flowers and plants. The presence of the porous membrane  24  allowing gas circulation in the chamber  29  may further enables transport of small living animals such as fishes, worms, insects and the like, which may be particularly useful where such small animals are transported towards remote areas (e.g. remote fishing areas) where disposal facilities are rare. 
         [0062]    The container  22  and the porous membrane  24  are then subjected to a thermal treatment for causing adhesion of the porous membrane  24  on the container  22  (step  206 ). As person skilled in the art will appreciate that such a thermal treatment is adapted for sealing or adhering the porous membrane  24  on the container  22  without comprising the integrity or freshness of the packaged food. Alternatively, the porous membrane  24  could be secured on the container  22  using a biodegradable, non-toxic glue, or by cling engagement where the porous membrane  24  material makes it possible. 
         [0063]    Once the porous membrane  24  is properly adhered or secured to the container  22 , the lid  26  is positioned and snapped on the container  22  to complete the package  20 . Subsequent packages  20  are prepared as described above (step  208 ). The distributor then prepares shipment of the packages  20 . To do so, a first package  20  is placed in a carton or a box designed for receiving therein a specific number of packages  20 . A second package  20  is then placed on the first package  20 , the base portion  28  of the container  22  of the second package engaging the recess  64  defined on the lid  26  of the first package. Subsequent packages  20  are then placed in the carton or box until the same is packed, and the carton is shipped to the grocery store. As it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the presence of the lid  26  covering the porous membrane  24  prevents unwanted breakage thereof and limits lateral movement of the packages  20  relative to one another during transport. 
         [0064]    Upon reception, the staff of the grocery store unpacks the carton and places the packages  20  on display shelves. Where space is limited, the grocery employee may pile multiple packages  20  one onto another, as described above. 
         [0065]    Due to transparency of the Polyactic Acid, consumers desirous of purchasing the product are capable of visualizing the same. However, the present of the porous membrane  24  properly adhered to the container  22  prevents direct contact of the consumer with the perishable good, thereby reducing cross-contamination. Further, the presence of the lid  26  over the porous membrane  24  contributes to reduce unwanted fissuring or breakage of the porous membrane  24  attributable to improper manipulation of the package by customers. 
         [0066]    For consuming the perishable good contained in the package  20 , the consumer removes the lid  26  by pulling the tab  76 . The consumer then partially or completely removes the porous membrane  24  by gently pulling the tab  48 . Once the porous membrane  24  has been removed, the fruits, vegetables or other products contained in the package  20  are accessible for consumption. Where only a portion of the package content has been taken from the container  22  and the consumer is desirous of preserving the remaining portion, the lid  26  may be placed back on the container  22  and snap thereon. 
         [0067]    Although the foregoing description and accompanying drawings relate to specific preferred embodiments of the present invention as presently contemplated by the inventor, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and adaptations may be made.