US4235750A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container for prevention of postharvest decay, maturation and senescense of harvested crops
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1979-03-07
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Granted: 1980-11-25
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Expires: 1999-03-07
Abstract
Abstract The present disclosure is directed to, in its preferred and illustrated embodiment, both an apparatus and method which prevents postharvest decay, maturation and senescense. The apparatus is a structure which contains adsorbing and oxidizing materials which include activated carbon, finely ground to have a surface area of not less than 1450.0 square meters per gram, potassium permanganate impregnated by drying onto an activated alumina extrudate pellet or carrier, a molecular seive having a surface area of note less than 350.0 square meters per gram and a silica gel having a surface area of not less than approximately 850.0 square meters per gram. One form of the apparatus is placement of granulated or particulate ingredients in cavities of a molded or extruded plastic framework open on two faces and covered by a heat sealed filter media having air-exposed pores of about 300.0 microns or larger to enable airborne particles and vapors to pass into the cavities. An alternate form is a pouch or pocket with ingredients in the pouch. The pouch is formed of porous paper or the like. The method and apparatus contemplate placing the respiring fruit near the specified materials as, for example, in a truck, refrigerator or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael F. Cazalet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:19
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/70; A23B2/704; A23B2/708; A23B2/712; A23B7/00; A23B7/14; A23B7/144; A23B7/148; A23B7/152; A23B7/153; A23B7/157; B; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/24; B65D81/26; B65D81/266
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A container for retarding decay, maturation and senescense of perishables, including fruits, vegetables and florals, in postharvest circumstances which comprises: (a) an air-exposed first granulated adsorbent material having at least 350.0 square meters surface area per gram of material and having deposited thereon a permanganate salt for oxidation of airborne evolutionary gases from postharvest perishables; (b) an air-exposed second, adsorbent, granulated material having a surface area of not less than 1450.0 square meters per gram of material; (c) an air-exposed third adsorbent material in granulated form having a surface area of not less than 850.0 square meters per gram of material which material is a water-holding silica gel; (d) an air-exposed fourth adsorbent having a surface area of not less than 350.0 square meters per gram of material for removal of carbon dioxide from the evolutionary gases of fruit; (e) means for holding said first, second, third and fourth adsorbent, said means permitting air exposure of each of said adsorbents so that each of said air adsorbents is exposed to the near atmosphere; (f) wherein said first granulated adsorbent incorporates a granulated substrate in particulate form; (g) wherein said second adsorbent includes activated carbon in particulate form; and (h) wherein said fourth adsorbent includes a molecular sieve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A container for retarding decay, maturation and senescense of perishables, including fruits, vegetables and florals, in postharvest circumstances which comprises: (a) an air-exposed first granulated adsorbent material having at least 350.0 square meters surface area per gram of material and having deposited thereon a permanganate salt for oxidation of airborne evolutionary gases from postharvest perishables; (b) an air-exposed second, adsorbent, granulated material having a surface area of not less than 1450.0 square meters per gram of material; (c) an air-exposed third adsorbent material in granulated form having a surface area of not less than 850.0 square meters per gram of material which material is a water-holding silica gel; (d) an air-exposed fourth adsorbent having a surface area of not less than 350.0 square meters per gram of material for removal of carbon dioxide from the evolutionary gases of fruit; (e) means for holding said first, second, third and fourth adsorbent, said means permitting air exposure of each of said adsorbents so that each of said air adsorbents is exposed to the near atmosphere; (f) wherein said first granulated adsorbent incorporates a granulated substrate in particulate form; (g) wherein said second adsorbent includes activated carbon in particulate form; and (h) wherein said fourth adsorbent includes a molecular sieve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The container of claim 1 wherein said first and second adsorbent materials are physically separated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The container of claim 2 including a porous material surrounding each of said adsorbents to permit air and airborne evolutionary gases from postharvest produce to pass therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The container of claim 1 wherein the first and second chemical adsorbing constituents are utilized in a 3:1 ratio by weight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The container of claim 1 including a package means holding said four adsorbents with separate facilities for the first and second adsorbents.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The container of claim 1 wherein said permanganate is obtained from an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The container of claim 6 wherein said potassium permanganate is deposited onto an aluminum oxide substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 including a framework of rigid material having a plurality of adsorbent receiving pockets therein, said rigid material having the form of a framework defining therewithin said pockets and which pockets are closed on at least one side thereof with a porous membrane confining said adsorbents in said pockets and which porous membrane passes water, carbon dioxide and evolutionary gases into said pockets for interaction with said adsorbents.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2439538A
Cited
US4113652A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-11-25 | 1984-05-26 | 1984-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-25 | 1988-05-26 | 1988-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-25 | 1992-05-26 | 1992-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |