Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/365,031, filed on Aug. 2, 1999 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a system for packaging edible bean sprouts having the roots removed therefrom and, more particularly, to a trapezoid-configured package of soybean sprouts having the heads thereof and elongated stems located in a cluster and positioned with the heads facing the lower interior of a bag, respectively, for storing the soybean sprouts in the bag and facilitating the cooking operation. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the past, soybean sprouts were indiscriminately packaged, so that stems extended in all directions in a package, with roots at the ends of the stems being displayed throughout the package. Also, the heads of the sprouts were exposed to light passing through transparent walls of the packages, causing the sprouts to quickly change color, from yellow to greenish. As a result, the packaged product became unsightly, requiring the heads to be cut from the bean sprouts. Also, the user had to slowly and painstakingly remove the roots from the ends of the sprout stems after removal from the package, and reorient the stems, prior to cooking. Thus, there is need for overcoming these problems and difficulties, so that soybean sprouts may be more appealingly displayed in packages, and made more quickly usable for cooking purposes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for packaging edible soybean sprouts, which eliminates the above-mentioned problems encountered in conventional bean sprout packages. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved soybean sprout display package containing soybeans which are positioned in the bag so as to make the bag self-supporting. A quantity of soybean sprouts having elongated stems are clustered together with the heads facing the bottom of the bag and the severed ends of the bean sprouts facing the top of the bag. Since the heads of the soybean sprouts are wider than the cut stems, the heads clustered together and facing the bottom of the bag form a wide base, making each bag self-supporting and capable of standing independently. Also, since the cut stems do not face the bottom of the bag where moisture collects, there is eliminated the possibility of roots growing from the ends of the cut stems due to moisture. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a system for packing soybean sprouts which further includes an opaque bag wall panel at the bottom of the bag to protect them from direct exposure to light. The top of the bag can be provided with a transparent side wall portion which is located to permit viewing or observation of the stems. 
     Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the package of the present invention filled with soybean sprouts having stems which are located in the upper interior of a bag and are visible through a transparent portion of the bag, and soybean heads which are located in the lower interior of the bag; 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational view that shows growth of soybean sprouts in a tub; 
     FIG. 3 is an elevational view that shows soybean sprouts removed from the tub of FIG. 2, and rinsed in a second tub; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view that illustrates cutting off the root ends of soybean sprouts laid on a cutting board; and 
     FIG. 5 shows adding the root cut soybean sprouts to a bag. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, the system for packing soybean sprouts as shown in FIG. 1 includes a bag  10  having an open portion, at the top of the bag  11 ; a retainer or clip  12  for closing the top of the bag; and multiple soybean sprouts  13  clustered in the bag  10 . The soybean sprouts have elongated stems  14  extending substantially in the upper direction of the bag so that they can be grasped as a bundle by the user when the bag is opened. The stems  14  terminate as severed ends  14   a , with such ends positioned at or near the top of the bag  10 , as shown in FIG.  1 . The soybean sprouts are thus ready to be removed as in bunches from the bag  10  for cooking. 
     The soybean sprouts  13  have bead-like heads  15  which are disposed at the bottom wall  16  of the bag  10 . The bag  10  containing the soybean sprouts  13  with stems  14  and heads  15  adopt a trapezoid-like configuration and an almost rectangular bottom surface  16  which facilitates storage on a shelf or in a refrigerator, or the like. 
     Because the stems  14  are located in the upper interior of the bag, the stem ends stay dry, eliminating the possibility of roots growing from the ends of the stems. Since the space occupied by the heads  15  is larger than the space occupied by the ends  14   a  of the stems  14 , the bag  10  sits in a stable manner. 
     The bag  10  preferably consists of a flexible film plastic material, and has an opaque side portion  17 , and a transparent side portion  18 , or panel, located for viewing the stems  14 , extending in substantially parallel relationship. The opaque bag side portion  17  preferably has a yellow coloring, which in general matches the yellow color of the heads  15  of the soybean sprouts  13 , when fresh. 
     It will be noted that the side wall portion  17  includes a vertical band  17   a  immediately adjacent the lower edge  18   a  of the transparent sidewall portion. Edge  18   a  is just above the level of the heads  15 , so that the heads  15  of the soybean sprouts  13  are substantially concealed from view, by the opaque band  17   a . Therefore, any change in color, for example, darkening of the heads  15  is for the most part concealed, and such change in color due to light entering through the panel or portion  17  will be slowed due to the use of band  17   a.    
     Reference will now be made to the steps involved in preparation of the package as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Referring first to FIG. 2, it shows soybean sprouts  13  being grown in a vessel or tray  19 , the soybean sprouts  13  having their heads  15  above the level of the nutrient substance  20  into which the root ends  14   b  of the stems extend. String-like roots  14   c  grow in the nutrient substance  20 . In FIG. 3, the soybean sprouts  15  have been removed from the tray  19 , inverted, and placed in a rinsing vessel  21  containing water  22  in which the soybean sprouts  13  are rinsed, by shaking in the water  22 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the rinsed soybean sprouts  14  are positioned on a cutting board  24  in the direction indicated by arrow (A), as shown, so that the stems  13  generally extend in parallel relationship. The ends  14   b  of the stems  14  from which the roots are growing are cut-off as along a line  26 , using a cutter shown as element  27 . This step produces the severed ends  14   a  of stems  14 . 
     FIG. 5 shows the soybean sprouts  13  being placed at  28  into the opened bag  10  in the direction indicated by arrow (B). Therefore, the stems  14  of the soybean sprouts  13  will extend upright in registration with the transparent panel  18 , when the bag is closed. 
     The basic steps of the method of providing a system for packaging soybean sprouts  13  includes a bag  10  having an open end portion and a closed end portion, multiple soybean sprouts  13  clustered together in the bag  10 , with the sprouts  13  having elongated cut stems  14 , facing in the upper direction where they can be grasped as a bundle by a user when the bag  10  is opened. When the bag containing the soybean sprouts is sealed or closed, the cut stems face the top of the bag and the heads of the soybeans face the bottom of the bag. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included in the scope of the following claims.

Technology Category: 7