FRUIT PACKAGING CONTAINERS

Abstract

Described herein are sealable, breathable bags for packaging, storing, and transporting fresh fruit in boxes. The bags protects the fruit from outside contaminants while maintaining a modified atmosphere environment around the fruit to preserve the freshness of the fruit. Furthermore, the bags are constructed in such a way that they have a flattened closed configuration and a fully opened configuration that allows them to efficiently fit into a generally cuboid, open-topped packaging box to be filled with fresh fruit and then seal around the fruit in the box. In one variation, the bag has a substantially trapezoidal shape with a wider mouth, or top opening, and shorter lower edge.

Description

FIELD

This application is related to bags and other packaging containers for fresh fruit, and especially commercially packaged fruit that is transported from one geographic region to another.

BACKGROUND

It can be difficult to keep fruit fresh from the time the fruit is harvested until the time is consumed. For example, some fruits are only available to be harvested in certain parts of the world during certain times of the year, but are desired for consumption all over the world and all year long. Thus, some fruits need to be kept fresh for several months while the fruit is packaged, stored, and transported around the world. When exposed to the ambient atmospheric gases and temperatures, many freshly harvested fruits will quickly ripen and then spoil in an undesirably short time. Furthermore, fresh fruit can be delicate and prone to bruising or other physical damage that devalues the fruit, and can be susceptible to pests and other contaminates that can harm the fruit. Therefore, there is a need for packaging technologies that can protect and preserve freshly harvested fruit in a way that maintains the freshness and overall quality of the fruit while it is packaged, stored, and transported.

SUMMARY

Described herein are sealable, breathable bags for packaging fresh fruit in boxes. The bags protects the fruit from pests and contaminants while maintaining a modified atmosphere environment around the fruit to preserve the freshness of the fruit. Furthermore, the bags are constructed in such a way that they have a flattened closed configuration and a fully opened configuration that allows them to efficiently fit into a generally cuboid, open-topped packaging box to be filled with fresh fruit.

Some embodiments of a sealable, breathable bag for packaging fresh fruit within an open-topped box comprise a front outer panel, a front inner panel, a rear inner panel, and a rear outer panel formed from a folded sheet of breathable polymeric material. In the flattened, closed configuration, the front outer panel transitions to the front inner panel along a first lower fold, the front inner panel transitions to the rear inner panel along an intermediate fold at upper ends of the front and rear inner panels, and the rear inner panel transitions to the rear outer panel along a second lower fold, such that the folded sheet forms a generally “W” shaped cross-sectional profile.

The four panels of the bag, along with the first and second lower folds and the intermediate fold, extend laterally along a length of the flattened bag between a first sealed side of the bag and an opposing second sealed side of the bag. The first sealed side of the bag includes a first lower sealed side and a first upper sealed side, and the second sealed side of the bag includes a second lower sealed side and a second lower sealed side. The first and second lower sealed sides comprise a joining of lateral edges of the all four panels below the intermediate fold, while the first and second upper sealed sides comprise a joining of the first lateral edges of just the front and rear outer panels above the intermediate fold.

The front and rear outer panels form an upper opening and an upper closure adjacent the upper opening. The upper closure is configured to selectively seal closed the upper opening with fresh fruit packaged within the bag such that a modified atmosphere environment can be created around the fresh fruit within the sealed bag.

The bag is in the fully open configuration when the bag is placed in an open-topped box having a rectangular lower panel, two rectangular end panels extending upward from opposing ends of the lower panel, and two rectangular side panels extending upward from opposing sides of the lower panel and extending between the two end panels. In the fully open configuration, the bag overlies an upper surface of the lower panel and inner surfaces of the two end panels and two side panels of the box, and the upper opening of the bag is spread apart with upper edges of the front and rear outer panels being positioned adjacent to or folded over upper edges of the two side panels and the two end panels of the box, such that fresh fruit can be placed inside the bag within the box.

In some embodiments, the lower sealed sides are longer than the upper sealed sides, such that the intermediate fold is closer to the upper edges of the bag than the lower end of the bag in the flattened, closed configuration.

In some embodiments, the breathable polymeric material is permeable to CO₂ and O₂.

In some embodiments, in the fully open configuration, the bag defines a generally cuboid open internal region that is generally the same size as an internal space defined by the box.

In some embodiments, in the fully open configuration, a middle portion of the intermediate fold is flattened out along the lower panel of the box such that the front inner panel and the rear inner panel of the bag overlie the lower panel of the box.

In the flattened, closed configuration, the bag can include a first interior pocket between the first outer panel and the first inner panel, between the first lower sealed side and the second lower sealed side, and above the first lower fold. The bag can also define a second interior pocket between the second outer panel and the second inner panel, between the first lower sealed side and the second lower sealed side, and above the second lower fold. In the flattened, closed configuration, an exterior pocket is also formed between the first inner panel and the second inner panel, between the first lower sealed side and the second lower sealed side, and below the intermediate fold.

In some embodiments, in the fully open configuration, the first interior pocket can be divided into a first interior corner pocket adjacent a first end panel of the box and a second interior corner pocket adjacent a second end panel of the box, and the second interior pocket can be divided into a third interior corner pocket adjacent the first end panel of the box and a fourth interior corner pocket adjacent the second end panel of the box. The four interior corner pockets can be generally triangular in shape, and can each be defined in part by one of the first or second lower sealed sides. The four interior corner pockets can each have an open upper end that extends from one of the first and second sealed sides of the bag.

In some embodiments, in the fully open configuration, the exterior pocket is divided into a first exterior end pocket adjacent a first end panel of the box and a second exterior end pocket adjacent a second end panel of the box. The first and second exterior end pockets can also be generally triangular in shape. The first and second exterior end pockets can have open lower ends that extend horizontally across a majority of the length of the respective end panels of the box.

The bag can also have a sealed configuration wherein the bag encloses fresh fruit within the box with the upper closure sealing the upper opening closed above the fresh fruit between the two end panels of the box, wherein in the sealed configuration a modified atmosphere environment is created around the fresh fruit within the bag.

Other embodiments include a bag having a substantially trapezoidal configuration with a reverse, in-folded or pleated bottom to create a four-ply lower section of the bag. The bag is formed by folding a flexible, breathable material, which may be rectangular in shape, in half to create a bottom fold line, inwardly folding or pleating the bottom edge to form a four-ply lower section, trimming or cutting the size of the folded material to create a trapezoidal shape with opposed side edges converging towards the edge of the bag, and sealing the side edges of the bag. The open top of the bag material is provided with mating sealing closures or mechanisms, such as tongue in groove-type polymer fasteners used in sandwich and freezer bags.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosed technology will become more apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows an exemplary box and an exemplary sealable bag, in a flattened configuration, for packaging fresh fruit.

FIGS. 18 and 1C are horizontal cross-sectional views of the bag of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a vertical cross-sectional view of the bag of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1E is a perspective view of another exemplary sealable bag in a slightly opened configuration.

FIG. 1F is a vertical cross-sectional view of the bag of FIG. 1E.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 1A, in a partially opened configuration.

FIG. 2B is a partial cross-sectional view of a rear half of the bag in the partially open configuration of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 shows the bag of FIGS. 1A and 2A in a fully open configuration and positioned in the box of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4 shows the box and bag in the configuration of FIG. 3 with six cartons of fresh berries positioned in the bag and box.

FIG. 5 shows the bag sealed closed around the fresh berries inside the box.

FIG. 6A is a largely elevation view of an exemplary sealable bag in a slightly open configuration in accordance with an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 6B is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 6B-6B of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 6C-6C of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6D is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 6D-6D of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6E is a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 6A in a slightly opened configuration.

FIG. 6F is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 6F-6F of FIG. 6E.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view from above the bag of 6A-6F in an open configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are examples of fruit packaging containers, including sealable, breathable bags for packaging fresh fruit. The bags can be constructed in a manner that is simple to manufacture and use, provides sufficient strength and durability, protects the fruit from pests and contaminants, and maintains a desired internal gas environment around the fruit to preserve the freshness of the fruit.

FIG. 1A shows an exemplary flexible, sealable bag 2 and an exemplary open-topped box 30 for packaging and transporting fresh fruit. FIG. 2A shows the bag 2 in a partially open configuration, and FIG. 3 shows the bag 2 in a fully open configurations and placed inside the box 30 with the bag's upper open end folded over the four sides of the box. In the fully open configuration of FIG. 3, fresh fruit 80 can be placed in the bag 2 and the box 30, as shown in FIG. 4, and the bag 2 can then be sealed around the fruit, as shown in FIG. 5. In the sealed configuration of FIG. 5, the box 30 can be stacked, stored, and/or transported while maintaining desired environment around the fruit until the fruit is ready to be displayed, sold, and/or consumed.

The disclosed containers can be used for packaging any type of fresh fruit, including berries, cherries, plums, kiwis, apples, etc.

The bag 2 can be breathable. The term “breathable” as used herein means that the material of the bag is permeable to, or allows transpiration of, certain gasses while being impermeable to other substances. For example, the bag 2 can be made from sheet material that is permeable to CO₂ and O₂. Such a breathable, sealable bag can be an example of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), and can allow for the formation of a controlled gas environment, or modified atmosphere environment, when the fruit is sealed within the bag, which can help keep the fruit fresher longer and/or help control how fast the fruit ripens. The bag 2 can create a modified atmosphere environment around the fruit inside the sealed bag that comprises a different percentage of certain gases than the outside ambient air. For example, the bag 2 can create a modified atmosphere environment around the fruit with a higher percentage of CO₂ and/or a lower percentage of O₂ relative to the outside ambient air. Exemplary materials that can be used in the bag 2 include low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), nylon and nylon-based materials, high density polyethylene (HDPE), and polypropylene. One exemplary modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) material that may be used in the disclosed technology is sold under the trade name PEAKfresh®.

In some embodiments, the bag 2 can comprise a non-breathable material and/or a material not specifically designed to create a modified atmosphere environment. For example, some embodiments of the bag 2 can be used primarily for moisture retention.

The bag 2 can be formed from a single, four-sided (e.g., rectangular) sheet of material that is folded and permanently sealed along its lateral sides, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1D. The bag 2 includes a upper opening 4 between two upper edges 6 that extend laterally across the length of the bag, two lower folds 8 that extend laterally across the length of the bag, an intermediate fold 18 that extends laterally across the length of the bag, upper sealed side 10 and lower sealed side, or gusset, 14 of the one lateral end (left side of FIG. 1), and upper sealed side 12 and lower sealed side, or gusset, 16 on the opposite lateral end (right side of FIG. 1). The single sheet of material is folded in a generally “W” shaped pattern, as illustrated in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1D, forming a rear outer panel 20, front outer panel 22, front inner panel 24, and rear inner panel 26, such that all four panels extend across the entire length of the bag.

The lower end of the outer rear panel 20 transitions to the lower end of the inner rear panel 24 at one of the lower folds 8, while the lower end of the outer front panel 22 transitions to the lower end of the front inner panel 26 at the other lower fold 8. The upper ends of the rear inner panel 24 transitions to the upper end of front inner panel 26 at the intermediate fold 18. FIG. 1B shows a horizontal cross-section take above the intermediate fold 18 and looking upwardly, such that only the outer panels 20 and 22 are visible, while FIG. 1C shows a horizontal cross-section take below the intermediate fold 18 and looking upwardly, such that all four panels 20, 22, 24, 26 and the fold 18 are visible. FIG. 1C illustrates that all four panels are joined together at their lateral ends to form the lower gussets 14, 16 that reinforce the ends of the bag.

The point at which the intermediate fold 18 intersects the left-hand edges of the panels is labeled at point 50 and the point at which the intermediate fold 18 intersects the right-hand edges of the panels is labeled at point 52. The portions of the lateral edges above the points 50 and 52 form the upper sealed sides 10 and 12 and include the joining of only the outer panels 20 and 22, as shown in FIG. 1B. The portions of the lateral edges below the points 50 and 52 form the lower sealed sides 14 and 16 and include the joining of all four of the outer panels 20, 22, 24, 26, as shown in FIG. 1C. The lower ends of the lower sealed sides 14, 16 are labeled with points 54 and 56. The points 54, 56 also represent the juncture of the lower folds 8 with the lower sealed sides 14 and 16.

As shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, in the flattened configuration the bag 2 can form two generally rectangular internal pockets 60 extending laterally between the lower sealed sides 14 and 16 and vertically between the intermediate fold 18 and the lower folds 8. One internal pocket 60 is between the rear outer panel 20 and the rear inner panel 24, while the other internal pocket 60 is between the front outer panel 22 and the front inner panel 26. As also shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, in the flattened configuration the bag 2 can form a generally rectangular external pocket 64 that is between the two internal pockets 60 and extends laterally between the lower sealed sides 14 and 16 and vertically between the intermediate fold 18 and the lower folds 8.

The side-to-side length of the bag 2 can be sized to allow the upper opening to be folded over the upper perimeter of a particular box, such as the box 30 (see FIG. 3). Thus, the length of the bag (or at least the upper end of the bag) can be greater than one-half of the perimeter of the upper edges of the box (e.g., greater than the length plus the width of the box). For example, a bag with a length of 24 inches or greater can be suitable for use with a box having a length of 16 inches and a width of 8 inches (perimeter of 48 inches). This allows the upper opening the bag to fold over all four upper corners of the box, as shown in FIG. 3. In other embodiments, the bag can have a length of at least 12 inches, at least 16 inches, at least 18 inches, at least 20 inches, at least 22 inches, or at least about 30 inches.

The height of the bag can be selected to allow the bag to fit around whatever objects (e.g., cartons of fresh fruit) are being packed in the bag and remain easy to manipulate and seal the upper opening. Thus, the height can be greater than the height/depth of the box. Significant extra height can be provided to the bag to allow excess material to allow the bag to comfortably extend around the objects being packed inside the bag. In various embodiments, the bag can have a height of at least 6 inches, at least 7 inches, at least 8 inches, at least 9 inches, at least 10 inches, or at least about 12 inches. The bag 2 in FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary bag having a length of about 24 inches and an overall height of about 9 inches.

The height of the gusseted lower portion of the bag can have any ratio relative to the overall height of the bag. For example, the lower sealed sides 14, 16 can be about equal in height (linear length of the seam) to the height of the upper sealed sides 10, 12. In other embodiments, the lower sealed sides 14, 16 can have a height that is greater than or less than the height of the upper sealed sides 10, 12. For example, in some embodiments, the lower sealed sides 14, 16 can have a height that at least one-third or at least one-fourth of the overall height of the bag. The sum of the heights of all four panels of the bag (e.g., two times the overall height plus two times the gusset height) can determine how far the bag can extend around the objects being packed in the bag in the width and height dimensions. For example, the sum of the heights of all four panels can be greater than the sum of two times the width of the box plus two times the height of the box. Since the upper closure 28 (see next paragraph) is located a distance below the upper edges of the bag, the heights described herein can be calculated based on the height of the upper closure 28 instead of the upper edges of the bag, to ensure the two sides of the closure can reach each other and seal together over the fruit.

The bag 2 can have an internal volume that varies based on the configuration of the bag. The minimum volume can be zero when in the flattened closed state. The maximum volume can be selected based on the size of the box and/or the volume and configuration of fruit desired to be packed inside the bag. The bag can have a maximum volume that is greater than the volume of the fruit to allow excess material such that the box can conform the shape of the box and seal above the fruit without being unduly stretched or strained. In some examples, the bag can have a volume of at least 5.6 quarts.

The bag 2 comprises an upper closure 28 that includes a longitudinal strip extending across both of the outer panels 20, 22 between the upper sealed sides 10, 12, which allows the upper portions of the outer panels to be selectively sealed together and unsealed, in order to manually open and close the bag around the fruit. The upper closure 28 can comprise, for example, a zipper, slider, Ziplock®-type structure, tongue-and-groove type structure, or similar structure. In other embodiments, the upper closure 28 can be permanently sealable, such as using a pressure-sensitive adhesive or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the box 30 can have any shape and size commensurate with the shape and size of the bag 2. The box 30 has a lower panel 32, end panels 34 and 36, side panels 38 and 40, and an open top. The box 30 can be comprised of corrugated paperboard, polymeric materials, metallic materials, and/or other materials sufficient to provide a rigid structure to support the fruit for stacking, storage, and transportation. The box 30 can optionally also comprise vents, drain holes, hand holes, stacking tabs, and/or other features. The box 30 and bag 2 can be sized to receive a particular volume of smaller packaging containers, such as the six blueberry containers 80 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Prior to placing the smaller fruit containers 80 in the box 30, the bag 2 is placed in the box in the open configuration shown in FIG. 3. In this configuration, the upper edges 6 of the bag 2 are folded over the four vertical panels 32-38 of the box and out of the way so that the fruit containers 80 can be placed inside the bag 2 and the box 30 at the same time.

In some embodiments, the bag 2 can include permanent creases along the folds 8 and 18, while in other embodiments the folds 8 and 18 can simply comprise elastically bent regions that are not visible when the folds are unfolded. For example, when the bag 2 is opened up and placed into the box 30, as shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate fold 18 can flatten out along the bottom panel 32 of the box and no longer be visible. In other embodiments, a fold line or crease remains visible even when the fold is opened and laid flat. For this reason, the unfolded, flat portion 18A of the intermediate fold 18 is shown with a dashed line in FIGS. 2A and 3, while the lateral ends 18B of the fold 18 can remain partially folded and are shown with a solid line. In reality, the degree of folding can vary gradually over the fold 18, such that the fold 18 becomes gradually flatter moving inwardly from the points 50, 52 at the sealed sides to the fully flattened out portion 18A extending along the flat bottom panel 32 of the box. In the open configuration of FIG. 3, the lateral ends 18B of the intermediate fold 18 can curve gradually upwardly, or transition to a more vertical direction, moving from the flat portion 18A up to the end points 50 and 52, which can be located near the upper edge of the end panels 34 and 36.

A similar quality can also be true for the lower folds 8 of the bag. When the bag 2 is opened, the lower folds 8 flatten out, or unfold, along their middle portions 8A, which can be positioned near the junctures of the bottom panel 32 with the side panels 38 and 40 of the box 30. These middle portions 8A are shown with solid lines in FIG. 2A to indicate that in the open position the bag can remain partially folded, or can be curved, as the bag transitions from the more horizontal inner panels 24, 26 of the bag to the more vertical outer panels 20, 22 of the bag at the folds 8A. The lateral ends of the lower folds 8 are joined with the lower side seals 14 and 16 at the points 54 and 56, such that the lateral end portions 8B of the lower folds 8 gradually become more unfolded moving inwardly from the lateral end points 54, 56. In the open configuration of FIG. 3, the lateral end portions 8B of the lower folds 8 can extend along, or adjacent to, the juncture of the bottom panel 32 of the box and end panels 34, 36 of the box, such the lateral end portions 8B can be generally perpendicular to the middle portions 8A of the lower folds 8. Together, the two lower folds 8 can form a general rectangle extending around, or near to, the perimeter of the bottom panel 32 of the box 30.

As the bag 2 is opened from the flattened configuration of FIGS. 1A-1D to the open configurations of FIGS. 2A and 3, the two internal pockets 60 and the external pocket 64 (shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D) open up and flatten out along the middle portions 8A and 18A of the folds 8 and 18. At the same time, the lateral ends of the pockets 60 and 64 remain closed at the lower side seams 14 and 16, which cause the internal pockets 60 to divide into two left internal corner pockets 61 near the left lower side seam 14 and two right internal corner pockets 62 near the right lower side seam 16, and causes the external pocket 64 to divide into a left external pocket 65 and a right external pocket 66. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the two left internal corner pockets 61 are formed on either side of the left lateral portion 18B of the intermediate fold 18, while the two right internal corner pockets 62 are formed on either side of the right lateral portion 18B of the intermediate fold 18.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the left exterior pocket 65 (and similarly for the right external pocket 66) is defined generally between the lower side seam 14 and the sloping left end portion 18B of the intermediate fold 18. The left interior pockets 61 have a similar triangular profile as the left exterior pocket 65, but are closed on the lower side at 8B and are open on the sloped upper side.

When the bag 2 is in the fully open position of FIG. 3, the pockets 61, 62, 65, and 66 are generally flattened against the side ends 34, 36 of the box, with the two left internal pockets 61 being sandwiched between the left external pocket 65 and the left end panel 34, and the two right internal pockets 62 being sandwiched between the right external pocket 66 and the right end panel 36. Each of the internal pockets 61, 62 can cover about half the area of each of the external pockets 65, 66.

In the fully open configuration of FIG. 3, two diagonal folds 9 are created at either lateral side of the bag 2, each of which extends downwardly at an angle from the points 50 and 52 to the lower folds 8 (e.g., to the points where 8A and 8B meet and/or near the four internal corners of the box 30). These diagonal folds 9 define the upper sloped sides of the both the internal pockets 61, 62 and the external pockets 65, 66. For the four internal pockets 61, 62, the four folds 9 define the four openings of the pockets, while for the two external pockets 65, 66 the four folds 9 (in two groups or two) define the peaked upper limits of the two pockets.

In the configuration of FIG. 3, the bag 2 defines an internal region that closely matches the shape of the box 30, which can be a cuboid or close to a cuboid. The folds 8, 9, and 18 along with the sealed edges 10, 12, 14, 16 allow the bag 2 to assume such a cuboid shape with minimal wrinkling or overlapping material (except the triangular overlap areas around the pockets 61, 62, 65, 66 at the ends), thereby making efficient use of the bag material and maximizing the space remaining inside the box 30 for loose fruit or fruit containers such as the containers 80 shown in FIG. 4.

Once the fruit is placed inside the bag 2 in the box 30, the upper edges 6 of the bag can be lifted up over the fruit and the upper closure 28 can be used to join the panels 20 and 22 together to fully enclose the fruit inside the bag 2, as shown in FIG. 5. The upper portions of the closed bag can then optionally be folded over the top of the fruit or left extending over the end panels 34, 36 of the box. In some embodiments, several of the boxes 30 with bag-enclosed fruit can be stacked on top of each other, such as by utilizing the stacking tabs on the side panels 38, 40. Later, the upper closures 28 can be reopened to access the fruit for display or consumption. While the bag 2 is closed, the breathability of the bag material can maintain a modified atmosphere while allowing the fruit to respire, preserving the freshness of the fresh fruit, slowing the ripening process or slowing the fruit's metabolism/respiration rate, blocking contaminates and pests from entering or exiting the bag, limiting odors and other unwanted gases from escaping, and maintaining moisture in the bag to reduce fruit weight loss (limit dehydration) and to preserve fruit firmness for prolonged shipping transit or storage times.

FIGS. 1E and 1F illustrate another exemplary bag 100 for packaging fresh fruit inside a box such as the box 30. The bag 100 can be similar to the bag 2 in all respects, except that the lower sealed sides, or gussets, 14 and 16 are each divided apart into two separate lower sealed sides, or gussets, 14A, 14B, 16A and 16B. Lower fold 8A extends between the lower ends 54A, 56A of gussets 14A and 16A, while lower fold 8B extends between the lower ends 54B, 56B of gussets 14B and 16B. The left-hand gussets 14A, 14B are joined at their upper ends at point 50, where they also join with the upper sealed side 10. Similarly, right-hand gussets 16A, 16B are joined at their upper ends at point 52, where they also join with the upper sealed side 12. As the bag 100 opens and the outer panels 20, 22 spread apart, the gussets 14A and 16A can pivot apart from the gussets 14B and 16B about the points 50 and 52, allowing the gussets to become more horizontally oriented and less vertically oriented. At the same time, the middle of the intermediate fold 18 flattens out (unfolds) and can bow downwardly from its end points 50 and 52 to allow the inner panels 24, 26 to spread apart from the outer panels 20, 22 and create an open volume inside the bag. When placed in a generally cuboid open-topped box, like the box 30, the lower ends 54A, 54B, 56A, 56B of the four gussets can extend to or near the four interior corners of the box, and the two lower folds 8A and 8B can be positioned along or near the junctures of the side panels 38, 40 with the lower panel 32, which allows the bag to efficiently cover the inside the box and allows the bag and box to be efficiently filled with fresh fruit.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A to 7, FIG. 6A shows a flexible sealable bag 2t for packaging and transporting fruit and the like. The profile/elevation view of FIG. 6A shows the bag in a slightly open (i.e., unsealed) and mostly flat condition. In this flat condition, the bag has a substantially trapezoidal shape, and includes an upper opening 4t between two upper edges 6t that extend laterally across the length of the bag, an internal intermediate fold 18t that extends laterally across the length of the bag, upper sealed sides 10t, 12t, lower sealed sides or gussets 14t, 16t, opposed gusset junctures 50t, 52t at the junctures of sides 10t, 14t and 12t, 16t, and mating upper closures 28t for selectively sealing the opening 4t.

This embodiment is the same in principal and construction as the embodiments described above, unless described otherwise, and like the foregoing embodiments can be used to transport fruit and the like in a breathable, flexible bag that is supported or nested within a box or crate 30 (FIG. 1A). In contrast, however, the bag of FIGS. 6A to 7 has tapered sides which provide less material at the bottom ends of the bag, where such material can bunch in the bottom corners of the box. The substantially trapezoidal shape removes excess plastic and allows the bag to fit better in the box.

The bag 2t can be formed from a single four-sided (e.g. rectangular) sheeted material as described above that is folded in half to create a folded material (preferably substantially rectangular in shape) having unsealed top and side edges and a fold line along the bottom. The bottom fold is then reverse-folded (or in-folded) like a pleat to provide the internal intermediate fold 18t, which is located between the two outside panels/sides of the bag. As so folded, the bag has a generally “W” shaped cross section when the bag is substantially flat. The depth or height of the intermediate fold relative to the overall height of the bag can vary depending on desired specification, volume, and type of fruit to be shipped to suit the particular application. For example, the intermediate fold height can be about 1/10, ⅛, 1/7, ⅙, ⅕, ¼ or ⅓ of the overall height of the bag. The intermediate fold 18t gives the bag (when flat) a two-ply thickness at an upper section of the bag above intermediate fold 18t, and a four-ply thickness below the intermediate fold 18t. The corners of the folded, pleated bag then are trimmed or cut to give the bag a trapezoidal profile with tapering, converging side edges. For example, substantially triangular corner sections may be cut, trimmed, or removed from the folded bag. Alternatively, the sheeted material may be cut first and to have a configuration such that, when folded and pleated, the above described substantially trapezoidal bag (with lower 4-ply and upper 2-ply sections) is created. The degree of taper may vary depending on the particular application of the bag, and may include sides which join the bottom edge (when flat) at an obtuse angle of about 100 to 135°, such as about 100°, 110°, 120°, 130°, or 135°. The open sides of the bag (whether trimmed before or after folding/pleating) then are sealed by heat sealing or using other conventional sealing techniques to create sealed gussets along lower side edges of the bag and sealed sides above the gussets.

FIG. 6B is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 6B-6B of FIG. 6A, above intermediate fold line 18t and looking upwardly. In this view, only outer panels 20t, 22t are visible. FIG. 6C is a horizontal cross section taken along line 6C-6C of FIG. 6A, below intermediate fold line 18t and looking upwardly, such that outer panels 20t, 22t, and inner panels 24t, 26t are visible. Inner panels 24t, 26t lie on opposite sides of intermediate fold line 18t. FIG. 6C also illustrates that all four panels are joined at their lateral ends to form the lower gussets 14t, 16t that reinforce the ends of the bag.

FIG. 6D is a vertical section taken along line 6D-6D of FIG. 6A, with the bag slightly open at the top and in a largely flat condition, and illustrates the “W” shape profile of the bag at the four-ply lower portion below the intermediate fold line 18t. It will be appreciated that fold line 18t is a bit of a misnomer since the bag is made of a flexible material that can open and expand to receive fruit, and conform to the shape of the box in which it rests. Thus, the fold line 18t is a recognizable fold and edge in close proximity to gusset junctures 50t, 52t but becomes progressively less defined as line 18t moves away from the junctures when the bag is in the open or fruit-filled condition. Thus, the central portion of the bag when open and filled with fruit can create a flat bottom that conforms to the bottom of the box and has no discernible fold or “ridge” line. However, even when the bag is fully open, the “bottom” of the bag becomes progressively less flat as the bottom of the bag approaches the gusset junctures where the inner panels 24t, 26t are captured and more restricted in their ability to separate or widen from each other. Thus, the bottom of the bag is capable of spreading to its widest expanse in a central area of the bag and becomes more restricted as the side panels approach the sealed side edges/gussets of the bag.

FIG. 6D illustrates that the bag has two pairs of internal pockets or recesses 60t on each side of the fold line 18t and proximate to side edges 14t, 16t of the bag. These pockets progressively diminish and dissipate as fold line 18t moves away from each side edge when the bag is opened and its bottom flattened. FIG. 6D also illustrates that the bag has single, opposed external pockets or recesses 64t proximate to each side edge 14t, 16t due to the bag's pleated configuration. Similarly, external pockets 64t progressively diminish and dissipate away from the side edges when the bag is opened and the bottom flattened.

FIG. 6E is similar to FIG. 6A, but provides a different perspective of the bag in a slightly open condition. FIG. 6F is similar to FIG. 6D, but shows the bag in a more expanded (but still not fully opened) condition. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bag in a fully opened condition with the central bottom portion in a full expanded, substantially flat condition.

As described above, the bag can be sized so that its mouth, or opening, can be folded over the upper perimeter of the box 30 (see FIG. 3) to facilitate the placement of fruit in the bag. The maximum length of the bag at its top can be greater than one-half of the perimeter of the upper edges of the box. The height of the bag can be greater than the height/depth of the box. Similarly, the bag can have other specifications, properties, characteristics, dimensions and volumes, as described above.

The foregoing design and substantially trapezoidal shape allows the bag to be more easily manipulated and fit better in the box. It also removes excess plastic that can bunch in the bottom corners of the box. Yet, a large opening or mouth is maintained to allow the bag to be draped over the upper edges of the box to facilitate placement of fruit in the bag before the opening is sealed.

For purposes of this description, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the embodiments of this disclosure are described herein. The disclosed methods, apparatuses, and systems should not be construed as limiting in any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directed toward all novel and nonobvious features and aspects of the various disclosed embodiments, alone and in various combinations and sub-combinations with one another. The methods, apparatuses, and systems are not limited to any specific aspect or feature or combination thereof, nor do the disclosed embodiments require that any one or more specific advantages be present or problems be solved.

Any of the features or characteristics described herein in relation to any one or more of the described embodiments can also be used with or included in any of the other described embodiments where possible, even if such features or technologies are not specifically mentioned in direct connection to a specific embodiment.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, materials, or other descriptors provided in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Although the operations of some of the disclosed methods are described in a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation, it should be understood that this manner of description encompasses rearrangement, unless a particular ordering is required by specific language. For example, operations described sequentially may in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently. Moreover, for the sake of simplicity, the attached figures may not show the various ways in which the disclosed methods can be used in conjunction with other methods.

As used herein, the terms “a”, “an”, and “at least one” encompass one or more of the specified element. That is, if two of a particular element are present, one of these elements is also present and thus “an” element is present. The terms “a plurality of” and “plural” mean two or more of the specified element. As used herein, the term “and/or” used between the last two of a list of elements means any one or more of the listed elements. For example, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means “A”, “B,”, “C”, “A and B”, “A and C”, “B and C”, or “A, B, and C.” As used herein, the term “coupled” generally means physically coupled or linked and does not exclude the presence of intermediate elements between the coupled items absent specific contrary language.

In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the disclosed technology may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments are only examples and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the disclosure. Rather, the scope of the disclosure is at least as broad as the following claims. We therefore claim all that comes within the scope of these claims.

Claims

1. A sealable bag for packaging fresh fruit within an open-topped box, the bag comprising: a front outer panel, a front inner panel, a rear inner panel, and a rear outer panel formed from a folded sheet of polymeric material;wherein the bag has a flattened, closed configuration wherein: the front outer panel transitions to the front inner panel along a first lower fold, the front inner panel transitions to the rear inner panel along an intermediate fold at upper ends of the front and rear inner panels, and the rear inner panel transitions to the rear outer panel along a second lower fold, such that the folded sheet forms a generally “W” shaped cross-sectional profile;the front outer panel, the front inner panel, the rear inner panel, the rear outer panel, the first and second lower folds, and the intermediate fold extend laterally along a length of the bag between a first sealed side of the bag and an opposing second sealed side of the bag;the first sealed side of the bag includes a first lower sealed side and a first upper sealed side, and the second sealed side of the bag includes a second lower sealed side and a second lower sealed side;the first lower sealed side comprises a joining of first lateral edges of the front outer panel, the front inner panel, the rear inner panel, and the rear outer panel below the intermediate fold, and the second lower sealed side comprises a joining of opposing second lateral edges of the front outer panel, the front inner panel, the rear inner panel, and the rear outer panel below the intermediate fold;the first upper sealed side comprises a joining of the first lateral edges of the front outer panel and the rear outer panel above the intermediate fold, and the second upper sealed side comprises a joining of the second lateral edges of the front outer panel and the rear outer panel above the intermediate fold;the front outer panel and the rear outer panel form an upper opening between the first upper sealed side and the second upper sealed side, and the front outer panel and the rear outer panel include an upper closure adjacent the upper opening, the upper closure configured to selectively seal closed the upper opening with fresh fruit packaged within the bag such that a modified atmosphere environment is created around the fresh fruit within the sealed bag;wherein the bag has a fully open configuration when the bag is placed in the open-topped box, the box having a rectangular lower panel, two rectangular end panels extending upward from opposing ends of the lower panel, and two rectangular side panels extending upward from opposing sides of the lower panel and extending between the two end panels;wherein in the fully open configuration, the bag overlies an upper surface of the lower panel and inner surfaces of the two end panels and two side panels of the box, and the upper opening of the bag is spread apart with upper edges of the front and rear outer panels being positioned adjacent to or folded over upper edges of the two side panels and the two end panels of the box, such that fresh fruit can be placed inside the bag within the box; andwherein the first and second sealed sides converge in a direction away from the upper opening to give the bag a substantially trapezoidal configuration.

2. The bag of claim 1, wherein the front outer panel, rear outer panel, front inner panel and rear inner panel are sealably joined to the first and second lower sealed sides.

3. The bag of claim 1, further comprising a bottom edge defined when the panels are in a substantially flat condition, the first, and second sealed sides and bottom edge defining an angle of about 100 to 135 degrees.

4. The bag of claim 1, wherein the first lower sealed side is longer than the first upper sealed side, and the second lower sealed side is longer than the second upper sealed side.

5. The bag of claim 1, wherein the first lower sealed side is shorter than the first upper sealed side, and the second lower sealed side is shorter than the second upper sealed side.

6. The bag of claim 1 wherein the bag further has a sealed configuration wherein the bag encloses fresh fruit within the box with the upper closure sealing the upper opening closed above the fresh fruit between the two end panels of the box, wherein in the sealed configuration a modified atmosphere environment is created around the fresh fruit within the bag.

7. The bag of claim 1 wherein the bag comprises a breathable polymeric material that is permeable to CO2 and O2 and configured to create a modified atmosphere environment around the fruit within the bag when the bag is sealed closed.

8. The bag of claim 1 wherein, in the flattened, closed configuration, a first interior pocket is defined between the first outer panel and the first inner panel, between the first lower sealed side and the second lower sealed side, and above the first lower fold; and a second interior pocket is defined between the second outer panel and the second inner panel, between the first lower sealed side and the second lower sealed side, and above the second lower fold.

9. The bag of claim 8 wherein, in the fully open configuration, the first interior pocket is divided into a first interior corner pocket adjacent a first end panel of the box and a second interior corner pocket adjacent a second end panel of the box; and the second interior pocket is divided into a third interior corner pocket adjacent the first end panel of the box and a fourth interior corner pocket adjacent the second end panel of the box.

10. A sealable bag for packaging fresh fruit for transportation and storage, the bag comprising: a front outer panel and a rear outer panel which together define a central interior space therebetween, the front and rear outer panels each having free upper ends with respective mating sealing mechanisms to allow the upper ends to be selectively joined to one another to seal the upper ends of the front and rear outer panels or separated to open the bag, the front and rear outer panels each being joined at opposed first and second lateral edges, the lower end being foldable into the central interior space to a distance less than the overall height of the bag to create a “W” shaped cross-sectional profile, the profile including a lower portion of the front outer panel, a lower portion of the rear outer panel, a front inner panel created by the fold, and a rear inner panel created by the fold;a laterally opposed first pair of gussets, each sealingly joining the lower portion of at least one of the front and rear outer panels to at least one of the front and rear inner panels; andwherein the laterally opposed first pair of gussets converge towards one another to give the bag a substantially trapezoidal configuration.

11. The bag of claim 10 wherein the bag comprises a breathable polymeric material that is permeable to CO2 and O2 and configured to create a modified atmosphere environment around the fruit within the bag when the bag is sealed closed.

12. The bag of claim 10 wherein the first pair of gussets each sealingly joins together opposed lateral edges of the lower portion of the rear outer panel, lower portion of the front outer panel, and front and rear inner panels.

13. The bag of claim 10 wherein the height of the first pair gussets is at least about one-half of the overall height of the bag when the bag is in a flattened condition.

14. A method of making a sealable bag for packaging fresh fruit comprising: forming a bag from a breathable polymer material that is permeable to CO2 and O2 and configured to create a modified atmosphere environment when the bag is sealed;folding the bag in half to create a fold along a bottom edge;folding the bottom fold inwardly to create a pleat having an intermediate fold such that the bag has first and second outer panels and smaller first and second inner panels;sealing side edges of the first and second outer panels and first and second inner panels, andproviding a top edge of the outer panels with a mating closure device to allow the bag to be selectively sealed and opened.

15. The method of claim 14 including joining opposed sides of the first inner panel to respective lower opposed sides of the first outer panel, joining opposed sides of the second inner panel to respective lower opposed sides of the second outer panel, and joining upper opposed sides of each one of the first and second outer panels to one another.

16. The method of claim 14 including joining respective opposed sides of the first and second inner panels to opposed lower sides of the first and second outer panels, and joining respective first and second upper sides of the first and second outer panels to one another.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein prior to the sealing step, removing opposed corners of the bag such that the bag when folded has a substantially trapezoidal configuration.

18. The method of claim 16 including removing the corners after the folding steps.