Mold Inhibiting Package and Associated Methods for Fabricating and Packaging

An example mold inhibiting package and associated methods are described. The mold inhibiting package includes walls formed from an outer layer affixed to an inner layer with the inner layer being in contact with the product. At least one of the outer layer or the inner layer is infused with a mold inhibitor during formation of the respective outer layer or inner layer. The mold inhibitor activates at a predetermined temperature or humidity level to prevent mold formation within an inner chamber of the package.

BACKGROUND

Perishable products are packaged and sold in a variety of retail establishments each day. These perishable products may be intended for humans or their pets. Sometimes these products include an expiration date for the product.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a mold inhibiting package that includes a mold inhibitor infused into the walls of the package to prevent mold formation within an inner chamber of the package. The walls of the mold inhibiting package include an outer layer affixed to an inner layer. At least one of the outer layer or the inner layer is infused with the mold inhibitor during formation of the respective outer layer or inner layer. The mold inhibitor activates at a predetermined temperature and/or humidly level to prevent mold formation within the inner chamber of the mold inhibiting package.

In one embodiment, an exemplary mold inhibiting package includes an inner layer having an inner surface configured to be in contact with a product, an outer layer affixed to the inner layer, and an inner chamber formed by sealing walls created by the affixing of the outer layer to the inner layer. The inner chamber is configured and dimensioned to receive a product. At least one of the outer layer or the inner layer is infused with a mold inhibitor during formation of the respective outer layer or inner layer. The mold inhibitor activates at a predetermined temperature or humidity level to prevent mold formation within the inner chamber.

In an embodiment, a method of fabricating a mold inhibiting packaging includes forming an outer layer and an inner layer of the mold inhibiting packaging. The method includes infusing at least one of the outer layer or the inner layer with a mold inhibitor during formation of the respective outer layer or inner layer. The method includes forming walls of the mold inhibiting packaging by affixing the outer layer to the inner layer. The inner layer has an inner surface configured to be in contact with a product. The method also includes sealing the walls to form an inner chamber configured and dimensioned to receive the product. The mold inhibitor activates at a predetermined temperature or humidity level to prevent mold formation within the inner chamber.

In an embodiment, a method of packaging a product includes providing a mold inhibiting package. The method additionally includes introducing a product into a mold inhibiting packaging. The mold inhibiting packaging includes walls sealed to form an inner chamber configured and dimensioned to receive the product. The walls are formed from an outer layer affixed to an inner layer. The inner layer has an inner surface configured to be in contact with the product. The method also includes closing the mold inhibiting packaging. At least one of the outer layer or the inner layer is infused with a mold inhibitor during formation of the respective outer layer or inner layer. The mold inhibitor activates at a predetermined temperature or humidity level to prevent mold formation within the inner chamber.

It should be appreciated that combinations and/or permutations of embodiments are envisioned as being within the scope of the present invention. Other objects and features will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be understood that the relative terminology used herein, such as “front”, “rear”, “left”, “top”, “bottom”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “up” and “down” is solely for the purposes of clarity and designation and is not intended to limit embodiments to a particular position and/or orientation. Accordingly, such relative terminology should not be construed to limit the scope of the present invention. In addition, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to embodiments having specific dimensions. Thus, any dimensions provided herein are merely for an exemplary purpose and are not intended to limit the invention to embodiments having particular dimensions.

Although packages of perishable products that are being sold may include an expiration date for the product, expiration of such products can depend on the temperature and humidity levels in which the packaged product is stored. Depending on the temperature and/or humidity levels, mold formation within a package can lead to earlier than expected expiration of the product. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a mold inhibiting package that includes a mold inhibitor infused into the walls of the package to prevent mold formation within an inner chamber of the package. The walls of the mold inhibiting package include an outer layer affixed to an inner layer. At least one of the outer layer or the inner layer is infused with the mold inhibitor during formation of the respective outer layer or inner layer. The mold inhibitor activates at a predetermined temperature and/or humidly level to prevent mold formation within the inner chamber of the mold inhibiting package.

FIG. 1is a diagrammatic perspective view of an exemplary mold inhibiting package100(hereinafter “package100”) in accordance with exemplary embodiments. The package100generally includes a front wall104and a rear wall106. The front and rear walls104,106can be sealed to each other to form side edges108,110and a bottom edge112of the package100. The package100includes an opening114through which a product (e.g., an edible product, such as dog food) can be introduced into an inner chamber116of the package100. In particular, the opening114can be formed between the top edges118,120of the front and rear walls104,106.

In an embodiment, rather than including two walls sealed together, the package100can include a single, substantially continuous wall sealed together along the bottom edge112to form the inner chamber116. In an embodiment, the package100can include two or more walls sealed together along respective edges to form the inner chamber116. After the product has been introduced into the inner chamber116, the top edges118,120are sealed to prevent contamination of contents of the inner chamber116during transport of the package100to a retail establishment.

In an embodiment, after the package100has been opened by a consumer to reveal the opening114, the top edges118,120can be closed via clips for storage of the package100. In an embodiment, the package100can include a sealing or closure mechanism122at or near the top edges118,120to allow the top edges118,120to be repeatedly closed for storage of the package100. The closure mechanism122is capable of being in an open position or a closed position. In an embodiment, the closure mechanism122can be in the form of a ZIPLOC® or VELCRO® mechanism disposed along the inner surface of the top edges118,120.

FIG. 2is a diagrammatic, cross-sectional view of a wall200of the package100(e.g., the front or rear wall104,106). In particular,FIG. 2illustrates the structure of each of the walls200of the package100. The wall200includes an outer layer202affixed or secured to an inner layer204. In an embodiment, the outer layer202can be fused to the inner layer204(e.g., with laminate adhesive, or the like). In an embodiment, the wall200can include a layer206affixed or secured to the outer layer202(e.g., a paint or laminate layer with graphics). In an embodiment, the inner layer204can be a polypropylene mesh. In an embodiment, the outer layer202can be a reverse-printed polyethylene film laminated to the inner layer204.

An outer surface208of the outer layer202(or the layer206if the layer206is included in the structure of the wall200) defines the surface visible to the consumer which is not in contact with the product within the package100. The inner layer204defines an inner surface210configured to be in contact with the product. In particular, the inner surface210faces the inner chamber212within the package100. In an embodiment, the inner layer204is infused with a mold inhibitor216that assists in preventing or mitigating mold formation within the inner chamber212.

In an embodiment, the outer layer202is infused with a mold inhibitor214during formation of the outer layer202. Alternatively, in an embodiment, the inner layer204is infused with a mold inhibitor216during formation of the inner layer204. In another embodiment, both the outer layer202and the inner layer204are infused with the respective mold inhibitor214,216during formation of the outer layer202and inner layer204. In an embodiment, the mold inhibitor214,216can be infused into the outer layer202and/or inner layer204on a molecular level during formation of the respective outer layer202and/or inner layer204. For example, the mold inhibitor214,216can be in the form of a pelletized additive melted together with a resin during formation of the respective outer layer202and/or inner layer204. As a further example, the mold inhibitor214,216can be in the form of ⅛ inch diameter pellets added to a resin during formation of the respective outer layer202and/or inner layer204. It should be appreciated that other techniques not specifically discussed herein may also be used to infuse the mold inhibitor214,216into the outer and/or inner layer202,204without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The mold inhibitor214,216activates at a predetermined temperature and/or humidity level to prevent or mitigate mold formation within the inner chamber212, thereby preventing spoilage of the product within the package100. For example, upon reaching a predetermined temperature and/or humidity level, at least a portion of the mold inhibitor214,216can be released from the outer layer202and/or the inner layer204by passing through the respective outer layer202and/or inner layer204and into the inner chamber212. The outer surface208can be formed from a material that prevents the mold inhibitor214,216from passing out of the outer surface208to the exterior environment outside the package100, thereby guiding the mold inhibitor214,216in the direction of the inner chamber212. In an embodiment, the activated mold inhibitor214,216provides desiccant-like behavior to remove moisture from the inner chamber212to prevent feeding of the mold, thereby preventing mold growth within the inner chamber212while also creating a chemical reaction that actively kills mold spores to prevent their replication.

In an embodiment, the predetermined temperature at which the mold inhibitor214,216is activated can be equal to or above approximately 70° F. In an embodiment, the predetermined temperature and/or humidity at which the mold inhibitor214of the outer layer202activates can be different from the predetermined temperature and/or humidity at which the mold inhibitor216of the inner layer204activates, thereby allowing for a multi-stage release of the mold inhibitor214,216.

FIG. 3is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process300of fabricating a mold inhibiting packaging. To begin, at step302, an outer layer and an inner layer of the mold inhibiting packaging are formed. At step304, at least one of the outer layer or the inner layer is infused with a mold inhibitor during formation of the respective outer layer or inner layer. The mold inhibitor activates at a predetermined temperature or humidity level to prevent mold formation within the inner chamber of the mold inhibiting packaging. In an embodiment, the outer layer and/or the inner layer can be infused with the mold inhibitor on a molecular level during formation of the respective outer layer and/or inner layer.

At step306, the walls of the mold inhibiting packaging are formed by affixing the outer layer to the inner layer. In an embodiment, the outer layer can be fused to the inner layer. The inner layer has an inner surface configured to be in contact with the packaged product. At step308, the walls are sealed to form the inner chamber configured and dimensioned to receive the product, such as, for example, dog food.

FIG. 4is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process400of packing a product. To begin, at step402, a mold inhibiting package is provided, for example a mold inhibiting package formed as described herein. At step404the product is introduced into a mold inhibiting packaging, as described herein. In particular, the mold inhibiting packaging includes walls formed from an outer layer and an inner layer, at least one of the outer layer or the inner layer being infused with a mold inhibitor. At step406, the mold inhibiting package is closed or sealed for transport to a retail establishment.

Thus, the exemplary mold inhibiting package prevents and mitigates mold formation within the inner chamber during storage of the product. For example, during fluctuations in temperature and/or humidity in the storage location of the product, the mold inhibitor activates to prevent and mitigate mold formation within the packaging. Expiration of the product can thereby be delayed, ensuring a more satisfied customer.

In another embodiment, instead of the mold inhibitor being infused into the outer or inner layer the mold inhibitor may be sprayed or applied as a coating to the inner layer. Alternatively, in a further embodiment, the mold inhibitor may be provided via an adhesive component affixed to the inner layer.