Supports – Supporting base
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-29
2001-07-10
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Supporting base
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257540
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to separator and a method using a separator for storing fresh fruits and vegetables. The separator supports the fruit and vegetables within a suitable environment in a container, so that the fruits and vegetables retain their moisture without coming in contact with water in the bottom of the container, thereby reducing spoilage and keeping fruit and vegetables fresh and crisp.
2. Description of Related Art
By their nature, fresh fruits and vegetables are highly perishable. The tendency of fresh fruits and vegetables to spoil is increased by contact with water. In recent years, retail customers have become more aware of the dangers poised by pesticide residues and of the need to carefully remove the residues. The resulting washing exposes the fruits and vegetables to water. Subsequent storage of the wet fruits and vegetables promotes spoilage if they are stored in contact with residue water from washing which tends to collect in the bottoms of containers.
Although contact with water promotes spoilage, the absence of water is also detrimental to certain fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly to lettuce and other vegetables that lack a relatively impervious outer skin. The absence of water results in the fruit or vegetable becoming desiccated and as not being “fresh.” To avoid desiccation, it is desirable to maintain fruits and vegetables in an environment of high humidity, as in a closed plastic bag, or any container that comes with a top or that can be covered with plastic wrap, which are readily available in many stores.
The present invention uses an article for separating the fresh fruit or vegetables from the bottom of its container. The invention prevents contact between the fruit or vegetable with water in the container, while allowing circulation of high-humidity air. The result is that spoilage is reduced, while freshness or the fruit or vegetable is maintained.
The prior art contains various devices to drain water from objects. An example is the familiar soap dish, with raised members to hold a bar of soap above the surface of water drained from soap. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,575,843 to H. Semrow, issued Mar. 14, 1946.
Other examples include dish drainers, as in U.S. Pat. No. 1,017,455 to A. Otto, issued Feb. 13, 1912; U.S. Pat. No. 347,665 to M. Vail issued Aug. 17, 1886 and U.S. Pat. No. 423,740 to C. Koons issued Mar. 18, 1890.
Prior art teaches using a soap holder to dry soap in the open air, and specifically teaches the necessary aspect of drying the moisture in the soap. Indeed, soap gets soggy and difficult to use in a humid environment. The current method uses a similar separator in a method that keeps the moisture in the fruits and vegetables so that such moisture will keep such fruits and vegetables fresh longer. The primary function in prior art is draining water in order to promote drying of the objects. The method shown in this invention calls for separation of fruits or vegetables from direct contact with water in bottom of container, while retaining the humidity and moisture in the fruit and vegetables, rather than drying them.
In addition to the notion that fruits and vegetables stay crisp and fresh under humid environment, a positive environment for them, bacteria and rot damage is hindered when using the separator and keeping any water that collects in the bottom of the container away from the fruits and vegetables. The separation of fruits and vegetables from such standing water that collects in the bottom of the container prevents such bacteria and other rot producing agents from contaminating the fruits and vegetables and prolongs their freshness.
The prior art does not teach or suggest the use of a separator having raised cleats to separate fresh fruits and vegetables from water in containers to reduce spoilage of the fruits and vegetables. The prior art does not teach or suggest the use of elastomeric materials for the cleats or base of a separator to spread the weight of a relatively heavy fruit or vegetable among additional cleats to prevent bruising or puncturing of the fruit or vegetable. The prior art does not teach or suggest the use of cleats of varying lengths to support fruits or vegetables of different weights while preventing damage to the fruits or vegetables.
The prior art does not teach the use of a portable separator that can accommodate various size containers and can be transferred into various size containers, such separator is easily washable, and used to keeps fruits and vegetables fresh.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide a separator and a method using a separator which allows storage of fruit or vegetables in a container while preventing contact between the fruit and vegetables and water which may be present in the bottom of the container, while retaining a humid environment for the fruits and vegetables so they would stay fresh and crisp.
Normally, we wash fruits and vegetables, allow them to be drained of the water, and then keep them in the refrigerator in plastic bags or containers, some closed with a lid or plastic wrap. Some water tends to collect in the bottom of the container from continued drainage over time. This water tends to promote some adverse conditions on the bottom layer of the fruits and vegetables, such as rot or spoilage. This residue of water at the bottom of the container provides a bed for bacteria to grow which can then be in contact with the fruit or vegetables resting in it, resulting in contamination or spoilage.
Under this invention, washed fruits or vegetables are placed on top of a separator inside a container. This separator, while supporting fruits or vegetables, allows residue water to continue to drain into the container, but such water is kept separated from the fruit and vegetables. The fruits and vegetables, resting on the separator within the container, are stored, preferably covered, in a suitable environment, such as a refrigerator. The high-humidity air allows fruits or vegetables to stay crisp, while spoilage is reduced, due to lack of contact with direct water in the bottom of the container.
The invention is a method for keeping fresh fruits or vegetables crisp and fresh, using a separator. Such separator rests on the bottom of a container in which one wishes to store fresh fruits or vegetables. Fruits or vegetables, preferably washed, are placed inside the container, on top of the separator. For best results, place fruits or vegetables in such a way as to allow as much of the residue water to drain out of them as they are placed on top of the separator. For example: In the case of lettuce, it would be best to set the open area near the cut-out stem of the lettuce on the bottom touching the upper cleats of the separator, so any residue water collected in the leaves can drain down into the bottom of the container. Washing fruits or vegetables, in addition to removing pesticides, dirt, and bacteria, also exposes the various surfaces of the fruits and vegetables to water that replenishes any desiccation or wilting that has occurred by the transport of the fruit and vegetables from harvest to home. However, we wish to drain such water as well as we can, and store such fruits or vegetables without direct contact with water, to minimize rot.
We then create a humid environment by creating a closed environment, such as by covering the container. The air inside the closed container becomes humid, since evaporation that results from the water molecules leaving the various surfaces of the fruits and vegetables has little or no exit outside the container, therefore is not lost from this closed environment. The humid air helps keep the fresh fruits and vegetables crisp and fresh. The reason the humid environment is helpful to keep fresh fruits or vegetables fresh is that water from fruits or vegetables is lost much more slowly into air already laden with water vapor, so the fruits and vegetables hold their crispness, turgidity, much more readily in an environment that does not promote mu
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