BULK PACK FOR MUSSELS

Abstract: A pack for approximately 15 kg or more of mussels comprises a plastic tray (1) having a fixed outer base (2), an inner base (3) on edges (4), which inner base is at such a distance above the fixed outer base (2) that there is a space (5) for accommodating mussel fluid between the two bases (2 and 3), and a lid (6) located a bove the inner base and facilities (12, 14; 23) arranged above one another on the tray for fixing either the lid (6) or the inner base (3) or both the lid (6) and the inner base (3) at various heights above the outer base (2).

Description: Title: Bulk pack for mussels The invention relates to a pack for mussels. It is customary to pack mussels in jute sacks. The sacks have a capacity able to take 15 kg or more of mussels. The wet sacks tauten over the mussels on drying and keep the mussels essentially closed. Nevertheless, experience shows that mussel fluid is released and this flows out from the bottom of the sacks, disseminates an unpleasant stench and pollutes the environment. The aim of the invention is to avoid this disadvantage and to provide a bulk pack which is easy to handle and transport and can be used several times, in which the mussel shells are held essentially closed and the mussel fluid is collected, so that it is not able to leak out in an uncontrolled manner. According to the invention, the pack for mussels to this end comprises: a plastic tray having a fixed outer base, an inner base which is at such a distance above the fixed outer base that there is a space for accommodating mussel fluid between the two bases, - a detachable lid located above the inner base, facilities arranged above one another on the tray in order to fix either the lid or the inner base or both the lid and the inner base at various heights above the outer base. It will be clear that the mussel shells are clamped and held closed between the detachable inner base and the lid, the height of which is adjustable, and that the mussel fluid leaking out of the shells is able to flow into the space between the two bases. The mussel contents intended for the trays can vary in weight and, as a consequence of a relative density which varies with the season, can take up a varying volume. It is for this reason that the lid has to be adjustable at various heights. Preferably, the tray has sloping walls such that it is nestable. The trays must also be stackable on one another. Non-nestable embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. In order to be able to clamp the mussel shells firmly without a risk of breaking, the inner base slopes upwards somewhat from the peripheral edges towards the middle and can be pressed down overcoming resilience, whilst the lid slopes downwards somewhat from the peripheral edges towards the middle and can be pressed up overcoming resilience. Said facilities arranged on the interior surface for detachably fixing the lid at various heights above the outer base can comprise a number of rows of openings made above one another in two opposite side walls, into which openings projecting parts of the lid are able to snap. Preferably, handling lips are arranged at the location of the projecting parts of the lid in order to be able to remove the projecting lid parts from the openings. So as to be able both to nest and to stack the trays with this embodiment, it is preferable that the rows of openings in two side walls positioned opposite one another are made in indented sections, wherein the indented sections in the one side wall are offset with respect to those in the other side wall such that the top edges of the indented sections can be used as stacking surfaces if the trays are stacked on top of one another when turned through 180° turn and turn about. In order to be able to collect the mussel fluid properly, one or more holes are made in the detachable inner base. At the edges, the detachable inner base engages essentially leak-tight with a part of the tray. The said facilities for detachably fixing the lid at various heights above the outer base can also comprise a number of barbs arranged on the interior surface of two opposite side walls, wherein the lid is provided with, on the one hand, snap-fit elements which are able to engage under the barbs and, on the other hand, handling lips in order to be able to retract the snap-fit elements from the position in which they have engaged under a barb. Two opposite side walls preferably have a maximum width of approximately 40 cm and the other two opposite side walls a maximum width of approximately 30 cm. Other dimensions and shapes are possible. The pack is preferably suitable for approximately 15 kg. Larger quantities also lie within the possibilities. The bulk pack for mussels according to the invention is suitable for repeated use and saves the environment. The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the figures. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a mussel pack without a lid, the pack being shown partially exposed for clarity. Figure 2 shows a vertical section of the mussel pack according to Figure 1 with lid and part of a similar mussel pack stacked thereon. Figure 3 shows a detail of the pack according to Figures 1 and 2, which detail relates to the detachable fixing of the lid. Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the facilities for detachably fixing the lid. Figures 5 and 6 show a vertical section through yet a further embodiment of the facilities for detachably fixing the lid. Figure 7 shows a section of a bottom part of the pack. The bulk pack for mussels shown in Figures 1 and 2 shows a plastic tray 1 having four sloping side walls, a fixed outer base 2, an inner base 3, which bears on set-back edges 4 of the tray 1 and together with the outer base 2 delimits a space 5, and a lid 6 that can be detachably fixed at various heights with respect to the outer base 2, there being a space 7 for accommodating mussels between the lid 6 and the inner base 3. The tray 1 has curled peripheral edges 8 at the top. One of the side walls 9 of the tray has two indented sections 10 and 11 which are positioned some distance away from the upright end edges of said side wall and a relatively small distance apart. A row of openings 12 mutually spaced above one another has been made in said indented sections 10 and 11. Rows of openings 14, directly opposite the rows of opemngs 12, have been made in the opposite side wall 13. Said side wall 13 also has two indented sections 15 and 16, which, however, adjoin the upright end edges of said side wall and are a relatively large distance apart. The top ends of the indented sections 10 and 11 located some distance below the edge 8 and the top ends of the indented sections 15 and 16, which are likewise located some distance below the edge 8, are indicated by 17 and 18, respectively, and serve as stacking surfaces to enable the trays to be stacked on top of one another. Figure 2 shows, in section, that the base sections of a top tray bear on the top ends 17 and 18 of a bottom tray which has been turned through 180° with respect to the top tray. It will be clear that if two trays placed on top of one another have not been turned through 180° with respect to one another, said trays can be nested as a consequence of the slope of the walls 9 and 13 and of the inward- facing walls of the indented sections 10, 11, 15, 16. The outer base 2 has a number, for example four, of truncated conical stop elements 19. The inner base 3 consists of four segments which slope upwards from the edges towards the middle of the inner base. The lid 6 has projecting lips 20 on two opposite edges, which lips snap into openings 12 and 13, respectively, which are located opposite one another, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 3. The lid 6 is made of resilient material, like the inner base 3, and bulges slightly downwards. The mussels are stored in the space 7 between the lid 6 and the inner base 3. Said mussels are pressed together between the lid 6 and the inner base 3 so that opening of the mussels is counteracted. Any mussel fluid which is released is able to flow via an opening 21 in the middle of the inner base 3 and via gaps between the edges of the inner base and the set-back edges 4 into the space 5. The height of the lid 6 with respect to the base 3 is adjustable by means of the interaction between the projecting parts 20 and the openings 12 and 14, so that the height of the space 7 can be adjusted to the quantity of mussels and to the contraction of the mussels. The projecting parts 20 can be pulled out of the openings 12 and 14 using lips 21. Figure 4 shows an embodiment in which the projecting parts 20 project upwards and are able to snap against the walls of a recess 22 in the openings 12 and 14. Figures 5 and 6 show, diagrammatically, an optionally nestable embodiment in which a row of projecting barbs 23, positioned above one another, has been arranged on two opposite walls of the tray and the lid has been provided with snap-in flanges 24 which are able to snap into the space between two barbs 23. The snap-in flanges can be pulled out of the space between two parts 23 using lips 25. Figure 7 shows that the inner base is provided at the peripheral edge with a seal 26, which prevents mussel fluid which has flowed into the space 5 from being able to flow back to the mussels in the space 7 if the tray 1 is in a sloping position. Mussel fluid flows only via the central opening 21 into the space 5. An essential feature of the invention is that a pack for mussels consists of a plastic tray which has an interior lid which can be detachably fixed at varying height above the base and has an inner base which together with the normal base of the tray delimits a leakage space for mussel fluid. The mussels can be pressed onto one another and stay closed, whilst the leakage water is able to flow into the space between the two bases. An embodiment in which the inner base has an adjustable height and the detachable lid assumes a variable or fixed height position falls within the possibilities within the scope of the invention.

Claims: Claims 1. Pack for mussels, comprising: a plastic tray (1) having a fixed outer base (2), - an inner base (3) which is at such a distance above the fixed outer base (2) that there is a space (5) for accommodating mussel fluid between the two bases (2 and 3), a detachable lid (6) located above the inner base (3), facilities (12, 14; 23) arranged above one another on the tray in order to fix either the lid (6) or the inner base (3) or both the lid (6) and the inner base (3) at various heights above the outer base (2). 2. Pack according to Claim 1, characterised in that the tray (1) has sloping walls such that it is nestable in another tray and in that facilities (17, 18) are arranged in the tray to enable the trays also to be stacked on top of one another. 3. Pack according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the tray (1) is of rectangular shape. 4. Pack according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the detachable inner base (3) slopes upwards somewhat from the peripheral edges towards the middle and can be pressed down overcoming resilience. 5. Pack according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lid (6) slopes downwards somewhat from the peripheral edge towards the middle and can be pressed up overcoming resilience. 6. Pack according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said facilities for detachably fixing the lid at various heights above the outer base comprise a number of rows of openings (12, 14) made above one another in two opposite side walls (9, 13), into which openings projecting parts (20) of the lid (6) are able to snap. 7. Pack according to Claim 6, characterised in that handling lips (21) are arranged at the location of the projecting parts (20) of the lid in order to be able to remove the projecting lid parts from the openings (12, 14). 8. Pack according to Claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the openings (12, 14) in the two side walls are made in indented sections (10, 11, 15, 16) of said side walls, wherein the indented sections (10, 11) in the one side wall are offset with respect to those (15, 16) in the other side wall such that the top edges of the indented sections can be used as stacking surfaces (17, 18) if trays are stacked on top of one another when turned through 180° turn and turn about. 9. Pack according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the said facilities for detachably fixing the lid at various heights above the outer base comprise a number of barbs (23) arranged on the interior surface of at least two opposite side walls and the lid is provided with, on the one hand, snap-fit elements (24) which are able to engage under the barbs and, on the other hand, handling lips (25) in order to be able to retract the snap-fit elements from the position in which they have engaged under a barb. 10. Pack according to Claim 3, characterised in that two opposite side walls have a maximum width of approximately 40 cm and the other two opposite side walls have a maximum width of approximately 30 cm. 11. Pack according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said pack is intended for a maximum of 10 - 20 kg, preferably approximately 15 kg.

Inventors: VAN DE KLUNDERT JOHANNES CORNE, VAN DE KLUNDERT LAURENTIUS FRA, VAN DE KLUNDERT LAURENTIUS HEN, VAN DE KLUNDERT, JOHANNES, CORNELIS, MARIA, VAN DE KLUNDERT, LAURENTIUS, FRANCISCUS, MARIA, VAN DE KLUNDERT, LAURENTIUS, HENDRICUS, MARIA
Applicants: KLUNDERT JOHANNES C M, KLUNDERT KUNSTSTOFFEN BV, KLUNDERT LAURENTIUS F, KLUNDERT LAURENTIUS H, VAN DE KLUNDERT KUNSTSTOFFEN OUD GASTEL B.V., VAN DE KLUNDERT, JOHANNES, CORNELIS, MARIA, VAN DE KLUNDERT, LAURENTIUS, FRANCISCUS, MARIA, VAN DE KLUNDERT, LAURENTIUS, HENDRICUS, MARIA
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B65D21
IPC codes: B65D21, B65D25, B65D81, B65D85