NO20190844A1 - Box for Storage of Biomasses - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a box for storage of biomasses, such as seafood, during transport and handling, said box comprising;

a baseplate or bottom, said baseplate (31) having an interior surface facing inside the box and an exterior, bottom surface; and

side walls extending upwards from the baseplate, extending along the periphery of the baseplate, forming a void inside the box, said sidewalls having an inner surface and an external surface and a top wall end surface, forming an open ended box opening. The biomass to be stored in the boxes, for example during storage or transport, may be biomass of any type, such as seafood of am\y type, fruit, vegetables, meat, etc.

Background of the invention.

Food, and especially seafood, are often transported in containers or boxes , either in fresh frozen or covered by crushed ice, the boxes often being covered by lids made of EPS (expanded polystyrene). Such containers having high insulating properties, which ensures the quality of the transported food being suitable for long distance transportation, storage of fresh or ice-covered food. In addition, due to choice of box material being light, filled boxes may be easy to handle and easy for transportation.

The containers or boxes are often adapted for transport by air, road or rail transport. The containers for road or rail transport may be provided with drain holes for drainage of fluids, such as melted water, blood or other liquids, allowing the fluids leaking out during transport. Containers for air transport are on the other hand not provided with such drain holes in order to minimizing leakages into the cargo compartments of the aircraft to prevent corrosion problems.

By providing the boxes with lids configured to close the boxes in a sealing manner, the temperature of the biomass contained in the boxes may be contained at a low temperature for prolonged periods, while the boxes also may be stacked in a stable manner, also during transportation, either strapped ad/or covered with a strong film for prevention of breakage and leakage. Containers for air transport may also as an additive measure contain absorbent devices put in for absorbing the melting fluids or liquids.

The boxes or containers are configured to be stacked both in height, length and in width. At least the lids, but preferably also the boxes may be configured to be strapped with one or more straps. The boxes with lids and straps often being lifted after the lid with vacuum or by the straps by hands.

NO 171629 B1 describes a container for fish of a foamed material, where the container in lower four corners are arranged with drainage holes leading out at the bottom side of the container a distance inside the circumferences of the outer surfaces of the container into a circumferential recess at the bottom side of the container. The container is arranged to be used with or without an extra bottom.

NO 343823 B1 describes a synthetic plastic container for transportation and storage of food, a lid for sealing the container, an assembly for transportation and/or storage of fish and a method for producing such container. The container is characterized by a dome shaped structure of the inner surface of the base of the container, with a centre area having a larger thickness than the area closer to its circumferences, wherein this centre area covers up to 40% of the total base surface area. The container having drain holes at each crossing of two sidewalls. The lid being characterized in having an inner surface of the lid with a maximum thickness in its centre area than the area closer to its circumferences, wherein these centre area covers up to 40% of the total surface area. The assembly comprises the container and the lid. The method describing the steps of manufacturing the container through moulding by feeding beads of pre-expanded synthetic plastic material into a closed mould having a shape corresponding to the shape of the box or container.

Containers for rail or road transportation constitutes by far the largest share of the market and there is a need for boxes that prevent any liquid for leaking out of the boxes during storage or transportation.

There is a need for recycling of the boxes and the lids, due stricter environmental considerations and requirements from the society and the governments. The material handling of today’s fluid-tight containers and lids with absorbents requires sorting due to absorbent being of a different material than the other components. Due to the large number of containers or boxes being transported by rail or road, there is a need to reduce the number of components in transportation of biomasses, and there is a need for the components to preferably be made of the same materials in order to eliminate or at least substantially reduce the time ad effort of sorting during recycling.

There are also a need for improved boxes and lids allowing for firm and steady positioning of stacked containers with or without lids, preventing containers or boxes from being displaced or sliding off or out of position.

Thus, there is also a need for an improved container and lid, which overcomes the above-mentioned problems and disadvantages.

Objects of the present invention

The main object of the present invention is to provide a container for transporting and storage of biomasses, such as seafood, preventing melting water from ice, blood or other excess fluids from to leaking out of the container or the box and at the same time maintaining the biomass as unaffected as possible from fluids when stored in the box or the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lidded box or container preventing water or liquid to unintentionally escape from the box or container during storage or transportation.

Another object of the present invention is to make an absorbent used in conventional containers for transporting and storage of biomasses redundant or superfluous.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container reducing bacterial growth in the container.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a product, which is recyclable as a whole, without the need to any significant degree of sorting different items for different recycling processes.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide containers and lids providing secure stacking of containers or boxes with lids on top of each other or cross stacking on top of each other.

A further object of the present invention is to provide lids securing firm ad stable stacking on top of each other for storage and transportation before use.

Summary of the invention

In the following and throughout the specification below, the following terms means:

The term “box” should be understood as a container covered by a lid.

The term “container” should be understood as a box without any lid places on top, i.e. an open topped box.

The term “biomasses” should be understood as living organisms or goods, where the biomasses comprises preferably seafood, primarily fish, but is not limited to comprise only seafood, it may also comprise other relevant elements as for example, fruits, vegetables, meat or other products to be transported.

The objective is achieved according to the invention by a container and a lid for transport of biomasses as defined in the preamble of the independent claims, having the features of the characterising portion of the independent claims.

A number of non-exhaustive embodiments, variants or alternatives of the invention are defined by the dependent claims.

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a box for storage of biomasses, such as seafood, during transport and handling, said box comprising optionally a lid, and a container, wherein said lid comprises a lower surface and an upper surface, that said container comprises a baseplate, preferably of a rectangular shape, said baseplate having a top surface and a bottom surface; at least one sidewall protruding from the outline of the baseplate straight or slightly slanted along an axis perpendicular to and projecting out of the top surface of the baseplate, said sidewall having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a top wall surface on top of said sidewall; and an opening. According to the present invention, said baseplate further comprises at least one recess at the top surface of said baseplate for accumulation of fluids from the biomasses, e.g. blood, water, etc. or excess fluids from e.g. melting water, preserving agents, etc., said recess extending from said top surface towards said outer surface of said baseplate.

According to a possible embodiment, said container further may comprise an overflow protection channel for distribution of fluids in the container to the at least one recess.

The at least one recess may extend symmetrical from and in transversal direction of a median plane in a longitudinal direction of said baseplate. Moreover, said baseplate may optionally comprise a number of recesses distributed symmetrical from and in longitudinal direction of a median plane in transversal direction of said baseplate.

According to another dependent or independent aspect of the invention, the box may be provided with a lid which may comprise at least one continuous recess on the peripheral of said inner surface and said container may comprises a track projecting up of the top surface of said sidewall of said container, where said continuous recess and said track may be fitting in a face-to face relationship for securing of lids covering and sealing an opening of said container.

Said lid may optionally comprise at least one protrusion at the upper surface fitting in a face-to-face relationship with a lid positioning recess at the lower surface of the lid or fitting in a face-to-face relationship with the positioning recess of the container.

Said at least one protrusion may optionally comprise discontinuous areas for securing and preventing the straps in different positions from sliding off the boxes during transport and handling and for drainage purposes.

The container may according to an embodiment further comprises a lip around the peripheral of the bottom surface wherein the lip comprises discontinuous areas.

The container may further as an optional feature comprise a lip around the peripheral of the bottom surface, continuous or preferably discontinuous for securing and preventing the straps in different positions from sliding off the boxes during transport and handling.

Moreover, the lid and the container may preferably be made of expanded polystyrene.

According to an optional additional feature of the present invention, the box may further comprise a sheet for covering the recesses in said baseplate of said container. Moreover, said sheet further be provided with perforations for drainage of fluids. Said may for example be made of polystyrene.

A person skilled in the art will be familiar with containers and lids made of expanded polystyrene for transporting of biomasses, such as, but not limited to, seafood, where the containers are typically filled with fish and ice or other cooling agents.

The container is preferably made of expanded polystyrene, but may also be made of other expanded plastic materials such as, but not limited to, expanded polypropylene, expanded polyethylene, expanded polyvinyl chloride etc. or even expanded biopolymers, like BioFoam, made of an organic base. Expanded plastic materials can be recycled for re-use in for example packaging or insulation purposes.

A container collecting melting water from ice, blood or other excess fluids in cavities below the biomasses during transport, makes use of an absorbent superfluous when fluid-tight containers are used. The container of the present invention shows cavities or recesses in a transversal direction of the container, but the container may also have cavities or recesses in longitudinal direction. The thickness of the baseplate of the container and thereby the depth of the recesses, defines the amount of fluids the container is able to drain away from the biomasses. A typically volume of the recesses corresponds typically to 3-4 litres of fluids.

In order to ensure an even distribution of the excess fluids between the recesses and to avoid flooding over the top of the partitions forming the recesses, an overflow protection being a channel distributing fluid to the other recesses are arranged in connection with the recesses.

The recesses being in direct contact with the biomasses may give undesired impressions or marks on the biomasses. In order to avoid such impressions or marks, and to provide a separation layer between possible fluids collected and biomasses, an intermediate layer, e.g. in the shape of a sheet, may be placed between the biomasses and the recesses at the bottom of the container. The layer should preferably comprise apertures in order to drain recess fluids through the layer, or the layer should be made in such a size that excess fluids are drained into the recesses or overflow protection channels. The layer should preferably be made in the same material as the box it selves, for eased handling not have to sort the different objects for recycling. The layer will also work as a migration barrier between contaminated fluid and the biomasses.

Fluids in contact with the biomasses during transport and handling may be a source to bacterial growth and/or generation of a bad odour. The container may be supplied with a bacterial restraining agent and/or an anti-odour agent for preventing bacterial growth and encapsulating of odour.

The container and lid are configured for stacking and positioning in relation to each other. The lid enables stacking and positioning of several lids on top of each other for reducing possible transportation volumes prior to packing, or stacking of lids on top of the containers. The new type of geometry on top of the lids is complimentary and fits within the geometry on the bottom side of the lids, enabling the securing of the lid both by storage and by transport. The geometry on top of the lids also fits with the geometry on the bottom side of the containers, enabling the positioning and securing of containers with lids while stacked on top of other containers with lids. The geometry allows aligned stacking of lids or containers with lids, but also allows for cross stacking of lids or containers with lids.

During transport and handling, the boxes are being strapped in order to keep the containers and lids together. Typically, two straps are used for transportation by rail or road, and three straps are used for transportation by air due to harder treatment of the boxes during loading or unloading. The geometry in the lid and the container allows for secure placement of both two and three straps, in such a manner that they do not destroy or provide any build-up and thus provides proper stacking abilities by means of said geometry..

Short description of diagrams

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:

Figure 1 shows schematically and in perspective a typical prior art box in exploded view, the box consisting of a container and a lid and an extra bottom, as described in NO 171629 B1;

Figure 2a-2b shows schematically and in perspective, different embodiments of a box according to the present invention, comprising a container covered by a lid strapped by means of straps; where Figures 2a and 2b show the box with the lid placed on top, facing upwards and two embodiments for strapping, while Figure 2c shows the box with its bottom facing upwards,;

Figure 3a shows schematically and in perspective a view of a preferred embodiment of a container with recesses in bottom surface according to the present invention, the container pointing its opening up.

Figure 3b shows a detail A in enlarged scale seen in Figure 3a, showing an embodiment of an overflow protection;

Figure 3c shows schematically and in perspective a view of the container as described in Figure 3a above, with its bottom facing upwards and the opening (not shown) pointing down;

Figure 4 shows schematically and in perspective the container with a sheet partly in position on top of the recesses, covering parts of recesses for the prevention of impressions from the recesses onto biomasses.

Figure 5a and 5b shows, schematically and in perspective, an embodiment of the lid and a complimentary shaped bottom according to the present invention;

Figure 6a and 6b show possible configurations of stacked boxes according to the invention; and.

Figure 7 shows stacked lids, ready for mounting on a corresponding container.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

The following description of the exemplary embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. The following embodiments are discussed, for simplicity, with regard to the terminology, method, and structure of a container and a lid for transport of biomasses. However, the embodiments to be discussed next are not limited to such embodiments, other embodiments may also be relevant.

Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

Figure 1 shows schematically and in perspective prior art of a box 10 comprising a container 30 with lid 20 and an extra bottom B in an exploded view. As shown the box has a rectangular shape and is provided with a bottom part (not shown and walls projecting upwards from the bottom. The additional bottom B is provided with upwards projecting ribs or fins, while the downwards facing surface of the bottom is provided with complimentary recesses or channels, allowing the box to rest stably on the additional bottom B. The additional bottom may also be provided with at least an upwards projecting lip L configured to be serve as a guide when setting the box on top of the additional bottom B.

Moreover, the additional bottom B is provided with upwards projecting walls, w, extending around the entire periphery of the additional bottom B, the upper surface of which being provided with a ribbed surface complimentary to a grooved surface on the bottom of the box 10, enabling stacking. Due to the upwards extending rim or walls W around the entire periphery of the additional bottom B, a storage void S is established between the upper surface of the additional bottom B and the lower surface of the box 10, positioned below the box 10, the void S being in liquid communication with the interior of the box 10 through one or more holes /(not shown) in the bottom of the box B, allowing liquid seeping out of the box to be collected. Moreover, in order to enable stacking with the additional bottom B in assembled position below the box 10, the end walls of the box may be provided with corresponding recesses for receipt of the lip(s).

Figure 2a-2c shows schematically and in perspective, an exemplary embodiment of a box 10 according to the present invention with a container 30 covered by a lid 20 and strapped by means of straps 40, i.e. bands, belts, rubber bands, elastic straps, ropes, or the like. The container 30 and the lid 20 preferably made of the same material in order to simplify the recycling. Figure 2a-b shows the box with its lid 20 upside up and 2c shows the box 10 with its lid 20 upside down, the box 10 being strapped with two straps 40, typically for the box 10 used for rail or rod transportation and three straps 40, typically for the box 10 used for air transportation. Even though the box 10 is shown with two and three straps, it is not limited to the number of straps shown, it may have only one strap, and it may have more than three straps.

Figure 3a shows schematically and in perspective a view of a preferred embodiment of a container 30 according to the present invention with the lid removed, showing the interior of the box. The box 30 is shown with its opening 33 pointing upwards, the container comprises a baseplate 31, where said baseplate 31 is having a top surface 31’ and a bottom surface 31’’(not shown), four sidewalls 32 protruding upwards from the outline of the baseplate 31, said sidewalls 32 having inner surfaces 32’ and outer surfaces 32’’ and a top wall surface 32’’’ on top of said sidewall 32. A lip or track 36 extending from the top wall surface 32’’’ of the sidewalls 32 for receiving said lid 20, with a corresponding continuous recess 21 as shown in figure 6b for securing said lid 20 on top of said container 30, covering and sealing said container 30. An opening 33 is formed between the four sidewalls 32 extending down from the top of the lip or track 36 to the top surface 31’ of the baseplate 31. The container 30 further comprises recesses 34 at the bottom of the container 30 for accumulation of fluids from the biomasses or excess fluids from melting water, preserving agents etc., said recesses 34 extruding from the top surface 31’ towards the bottom surface 31’’ of said baseplate 31, not thoroughly through the baseplate 31. The figure shows a number of recesses extending symmetrical from and in transversal direction of a median plane in longitudinal direction of said baseplate 31 and distributed symmetrically from, in longitudinal direction of, a median plan in transversal direction of said baseplate 31. The number of recesses 34 may comprise from one recess 34 up to several recesses 34 distributed in part or the whole width and length of the top surface 31’ of said baseplate 31.

Figure 3b shows a detail A from figure 3 in enlarged scale where a continuous channel 35 at the ends of said recesses 34, extending along the longitudinal direction of the container, serving as an overflow protection for an even distribution of fluids into said recesses 34.

Figure 3c shows schematically and in perspective a view of the container 30 as described in figure 3a above, with its opening 33 (not shown) pointing down. Said bottom surface 31’’ of the base plate 31 comprising one or more positioning recesses 37 fitting with one or more protrusions 24 of the top surface 20’’ of the lid 20 shown in figure 6a enabling stacking of containers 30 covered and sealed with lids 20 on top of other containers 30 covered and sealed with lids 20 as shown in figure 2a, ensuring a firm and steady stacking and positioning of the stacked boxes 10 of containers 30 covered and sealed with lids 20. Figure 3c further shows a peripheral recess 38 extending around the circumferences of the bottom surface 31’’ of said baseplate 31, fitting onto said lip or track 36 of said container 30 when containers 30 without lids 20 are stacked on top of each other. The container 30 may further comprise a lip 39 around the peripheral of the bottom surface 31’’, being continuous or preferably with discontinuous areas 39’ for securing and preventing the straps 40 in different positions from sliding off the boxes 10 during transport and handling. Instead of or in addition to the fluid channel 35, fluid communication between the various recesses may also be established through the upwards extending partitioning walls at any level, allowing free flow between the various compartments or openings 33 in order to level out the liquid surfaces in the various compartments 33. Also the separating sheet 50 may be provided with one or more holes or perforations (not shown) allowing liquid to drain into the compartments 33 below.

Figure 4 shows the container 30 as shown in figure 3a and figure 3b, where the recesses 34 at the top surface 31’ of the base plate 31 is covered by a sheet 50 for the prevention of impressions from the recesses 34 onto biomasses.. The sheet 50 may preferably be made of the same material as the container 30 and lid 20 in order to simplify the recycling of the box 10 with the sheet 50.

Figure 5a and 5b shows, schematically and in perspective, a preferred embodiment of the lid 20 according to the present invention, figure 5a showing a top view of the lid 20 and figure 5b showing a bottom view of the lid 20. The lid comprising a bottom surface 20’ (shown in figure 5b) and a top surface 20’’ (shown in figure 5a). Said bottom surface 20’ comprising a continuous recess 21 extending around the circumferences of the lower surface 20’of the lid 20, fitting onto said lip or track 36 of said container 30 for securing and sealing the lid 20 on top of the container 30. Figure 5a shows lid drainage recesses 23 extending at the upper surface 20’’ towards the corners of the lid 20 in order to lead fluids accumulated on top of the lid 20 away and down from the lid 20. Figure 5a further shows a number of protrusions 24 fitting with one or more lid positioning recesses 22 at the bottom surface 20’ as shown in figure 5b enabling stacking of lids 20 on top of each other in order to ensure a firm and steady stack and positioning of lids 20 on top of each other. The geometry of the protrusions 24 on top of the lid as shown in figure 6a, is not limited to such geometry, other geometries of protrusions 24 may also be accepted, corresponding with the positioning recesses 37 at the bottom surface of the baseplate 31’’ the container 30 and the lid positioning recesses 22 at the lower surface 20’ of the lids 20. The geometry of the protrusions 24 shall preferably not make up any closed surfaces.

Figure 6a-b shows stacking of containers 30 with lids 20. Figure 6a shows containers 30 with lids 20 stacked in aligned position. Figure 6b shows containers 30 with lids 20 stacked in crosswise positions. The geometry in form of protrusions 34 on top of the lid 20 enables positioning and stable stacking by intervention with the tracks 36 of the bottom of the containers 30.

Figure 7 shows stacking of lids 20. The geometry in form of protrusions 34 on top of the lid 20 enables positioning and stable stacking by intervention with the lid positioning recesses 22 in the bottom of the lid 20.

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Table 1

Claims (1)

1. A box (10) for storage of biomasses, such as seafood, during transport and handling, said box (10) comprising a lid (20) and a container (30), wherein said lid (20) comprises

- a lower surface (20’) and an upper surface (20’’),

said container (30) comprises

- a baseplate (31), preferably of a rectangular shape, said baseplate (31) having a top surface (31’) and a bottom surface (31’’),

- at least one sidewall (32) protruding from the outline of the baseplate (31) straight or slightly slanted along an axis perpendicular to and projecting out of the top surface (31’) of the baseplate (31), said sidewall (32) having an inner surface (32’), an outer surface (32’’), and a top wall surface (32’’’) on top of said sidewall 32, and

- an opening (33),

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said baseplate (31) further comprises at least one recess (34) at the top surface (31’) of said baseplate (31) for accumulation of fluids from the biomasses, e.g. blood, water, etc. or excess fluids from e.g. melting water, preserving agents, etc., said recess (34) extending from said top surface (31’) towards said outer surface (32’) of said baseplate (31).

2. Box (10) according to claim1, wherein said container (30) further comprises an overflow protection channel (35) for distribution of fluids in the container (30) to the at least one recess (34).

3. Box (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one recess (34) is extending symmetrical from and in transversal direction of a median plane in a longitudinal direction of said baseplate (31).

4. Box (10) according to any of the claims 1-3, wherein said baseplate (31) comprises a number of recesses (34) distributed symmetrical from and in longitudinal direction of a median plane in transversal direction of said baseplate (31).

5. Box (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said lid (20) further comprises at least one continuous recess (21) on the peripheral of said inner surface (20’) and said container (30) comprises a track (36) projecting up of the top surface (32’’) of said sidewall (32) of said container (30), where said continuous recess (21) and said track (36) are fitting in a face-to face relationship for securing of lids (20) covering and sealing an opening (33) of said container (30).

6. Box (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said lid (20) further comprises at least one protrusion (24) at the upper surface (20’’) fitting in a face-toface relationship with a lid positioning recess (22) at the lower surface (20’) of the lid or fitting in a face-to-face relationship with the positioning recess (37) of the container (30).

7. Box (10) according to claim 6, wherein said at least one protrusion (24) comprises discontinuous areas for securing and preventing the straps (40) in different positions from sliding off the boxes (10) during transport and handling and for drainage purposes.

9. Box (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container further comprises a lip (39) around the peripheral of the bottom surface (31’’) wherein the lip (39) comprises discontinuous areas (39’).

The container (30) may further comprise a lip around the peripheral of the bottom surface (31’’), continuous or preferably discontinuous for securing and preventing the straps (40) in different positions from sliding off the boxes (10) during transport and handling.

10. Box (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lid (20) and the container (30) are preferably made of expanded polystyrene.

12. Box (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said box (10) further comprises a sheet (50) for covering the recesses (34) in said baseplate (31) of said container (30).

13. Box (10) according to claim 12, wherein said sheet (50) further comprises perforations (41) for drainage of fluids.

14. Box (10) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said sheet (50) is preferably made of polystyrene.