The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 18, 1995
Filed:
Nov. 30, 1993
Gustavo Raudalus, San Pedro Sula, HN;
Raul Fernandez, San Jose, CR;
Franklin Sanabria, San Jose, CR;
Rodrigo Barsallo, San Jose, CR;
Solomon Chong, San Pedro Sula, HN;
Chiquita Brands, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
A container system for the shipping and storing of product such as bananas, comprising: (a) a substantially rigid outer container having at least one ventilation opening; (b) a closable inner container positioned within the outer container for receiving the product, the inner container having a bottom portion and a top portion; and (c) means attached to the top portion of the inner container for opening the inner container so as to provide increased ventilation to the product. The inner container preferably comprises a flexible bag having a sealed bottom as its bottom portion, an open top adjacent the top portion, and a perforation extending about at least a portion of the bag, so that the opening means opens the bag by severing the bag at the perforation. The opening means may comprise a cord attached to the top portion of the bag. A method of packing, shipping and storing product, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an inner and outer container for the product at a first location, the outer container being of a substantially rigid construction, and having at least one ventilation opening, and wherein the inner container has a top portion, a bottom portion, and an open end adjacent the top portion; (b) placing the inner container within the outer container; (c) placing the product inside the inner container; (d) providing a means attached to the top portion for opening the inner container; (e) closing the inner container so that the inner container is substantially sealed at the top portion to thus containerize the product; (f) shipping the containerized product to a second location; (g) opening the inner container using the opening means, so as to provide increased ventilation to the product within the inner container through the at least one ventilation opening; and (g) storing the containerized product at the second location. The inner container may comprise a flexible bag having a perforation between the top and bottom portions, so that the opening step severs the bag at the perforation, preferably removing the top portion of the bag, thereby providing the increased ventilation. The opening means may comprise a cord affixed to the top portion of the bag, so that the opening step comprises pulling the cord to remove the top portion of the bag.