Copyright © Françoise Herrmann
Titled Clamshell raspberry container, the scope of the US patent, US9469458B2*, assigned to Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc., extends well beyond raspberries. According to the patent, the clamshell invention extends to “such as various berries, grapes or other fruit or produce items”. Indeed, this is quite a recognizable clamshell container, at least on most of the large US supermarket displays.
Considering the notable fragility of berries and the extra careful handling they require, Driscoll’s clamshell invention was structurally designed to further protect produce during shipping and transport, and to enhance freshness. Protection was designed using a divider that both prevents the closed lid of stacked containers from collapsing and the containers from twisting or bending, which would damage the produce. Enhanced freshness involves a series of vents on the periphery of the lid and the bottom of the clamshell, essentially designed to allow air to continuously flow through, thereby keeping the produce cool in a cooled environment, while preventing the accumulation of too much condensation. Otherwise, the container snaps shut at corners, and a hinged spine connects the lid to the body on one side of the clamshell container. The preferred shape of the clamshell is rectangular, and is fabricated of molded plastic.
The patent Figure 1, included below, is a top plan perspective view of a closed stackable clamshell container, according to the invention. The Figure 1 depicts the top lid 24 perforated side vents 4, and two corner snaps 20. The top lid 24 is connected pivotally to the container with a spine 12 extending on the full length of one side. On the periphery of the container bottom 26, there are also side vents 34. In between each of the bottom vents 34, there are inwardly curved indentations 7 designed to push fruit away from the bottom vents 34, to prevent obstruction of the vents and/or laceration of the fruit. The top surface of the center divider 6 contacts the lid when it is closed to prevent collapsing and crushing of the fruit. The center divider has two lower shoulders 8, on each side of the center 6, designed to enable airflow. The extended center divider is also connected to the full height of the side walls, to strengthen the tray and prevent torsion. Additional airflow windows 2 enable air circulation above the container’s curved side walls 28.
The patent abstract is included below.
A container that includes a tray having a base bottom portion and one or more sidewalls having a volume for holding a product; a lid that is attachable to the tray to protect the product in the tray when attached thereto; and a divider for providing a plurality of compartments with a predetermined volume in the tray, the divider configured, dimensioned and positioned to provide support to the lid, air flow between the compartments and torsional rigidity to the tray. The most preferred container of the invention is a rectangular clamshell container as described herein that includes a spine which is pivotally hinged to the base bottom portion via the lid. This preferred container also includes a plurality of snap-locking members for attaching the lid to the tray for retaining contents therein. [Abstract US9469458B2]
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Note
*The patent was awarded to the following four California inventors: Malkeet Singh Padda (US); Craig R. Snedden (US); Gandhi B. Sifuentes (US); Cesar Ramirez (US).
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