Packaging for perishable goods

Abstract

A ventilated storage box includes a peripheral wall defining a storage space and having ventilation openings extending therethrough and a ventilation insert insertable in the storage space. The ventilation insert has walls defining at least one ventilation channel with at least one port in periphery of the ventilation insert. At least one of the at least one ventilation port is in register and in fluid communication with at least one of the ventilation openings of the peripheral wall when the ventilation insert is inserted in the storage box and defining therewith an unobstructed ventilation path in the storage space of the storage box.

1 . A ventilated storage box in combination with a single-piece ventilation insert, the ventilated storage box comprising: 
 a peripheral wall defining a storage space and having ventilation openings extending therethrough; and    the ventilation insert being insertable in the storage space and having walls defining at least one ventilation channel with at least one port in periphery of the ventilation insert, at least one of the at least one ventilation port being in register and in fluid communication with at least one of the ventilation openings of the peripheral wall when the ventilation insert is inserted in the storage box and defining therewith an unobstructed ventilation path in the storage space of the storage box.    
   
   
       2 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation insert comprises a plurality of ventilation channels extending substantially parallel to one another, the walls of two adjacent ventilation channels being spaced-apart from one another.  
   
   
       3 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the walls define a first channel extending in a first direction and a second channel extending in a second direction, the first and the second channels intersecting at an intersection and being in fluid communication at the intersection.  
   
   
       4 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the walls define a plurality of channels extending in a first direction and a plurality of channels extending in a second direction, the channels extending in the first direction and in the second direction intersecting one another and being in fluid communication for defining a grid ventilation network.  
   
   
       5 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ventilation channel is defined by at least two of the walls extending substantially parallel to one another and connected to one another along a first extended end.  
   
   
       6 . A combination as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the walls comprise a second extended end, opposed to the first extended end, at least one of the second extended ends being connected to another juxtaposed second extended end for reinforcing the ventilation insert.  
   
   
       7 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation insert comprises an aeration face with a plurality of protrusions spaced apart from one another and defining therebetween the ventilation channels.  
   
   
       8 . A combination as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein ventilation insert comprises an item supporting face, opposed to the aeration face, the item supporting face having a plurality of cavities therein, the cavities corresponding to the protrusions of the opposed aeration face.  
   
   
       9 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation insert has a periphery defining a first surface area, the first surface area being substantially equal to the surface area of the storage space defined by the peripheral wall.  
   
   
       10 . A combination as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one port of the at least one ventilation channel has a port surface area and the ventilation openings have an opening surface area, the port surface area and the opening surface area being substantially equal, the at least one port being contiguous to a respective one of the ventilation openings thereby substantially preventing obstruction of the ventilation opening when at least one item is stored in the storage space of the storage box.  
   
   
       11 . A ventilated storage container, comprising: 
 a box having wall panels with at least one ventilation opening extending therethrough, the wall panels defining a storage space in the box; and    a ventilation insert insertable in the storage space and having an item supporting face and an aeration face, opposed to the item supporting face, the aeration face having at least one depression defining at least one air flow path therein with a port in periphery of the ventilation insert, the port being in fluid communication and in register with the at least one ventilation opening when the ventilation insert is inserted in the storage space of the box.    
   
   
       12 . A ventilated storage container as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the aeration face has a plurality of elongated depressions extending in a first direction and a plurality of elongated depressions extending in a second direction, the elongated depressions defining air flow paths intersecting at intersections and being in fluid communication at the intersections.  
   
   
       13 . A ventilated storage container as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the wall panels comprise a plurality of ventilation openings lying in a ventilation plane, the at least one air flow path of the ventilation insert being coplanar with the ventilation plane when inserted in the storage space of the box.  
   
   
       14 . A ventilated storage container as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the item supporting face comprises at least one cavity juxtaposed to the at least one elongated depression of the aeration face.  
   
   
       15 . A ventilated storage container as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the ventilation insert is single-piece and is molded from polymers.  
   
   
       16 . A ventilated storage container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one cavity of the item supporting face has a nadir on the opposed aeration face, the nadir abuts a bottom panel, extending between a lower edge of the wall panels, when the ventilation insert is inserted in the storage space of the box.  
   
   
       17 . A ventilated storage container as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the ventilation insert has a periphery defining a first surface area, the first surface area being substantially equal to a surface area of the storage space defined by the wall panels.  
   
   
       18 . A ventilated storage container as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the port of the at least one air flow path has a port surface area and the ventilation openings have an opening surface area, the port surface area and the opening surface area being substantially equal, the port being contiguous to a respective one of the ventilation openings thereby substantially preventing obstruction of the ventilation opening when at least one item is stored in the storage space of the box.  
   
   
       19 . An item storage container, comprising: 
 a box having a peripheral wall defining a storage space therein, the peripheral wall having ventilation openings extending therethrough; and    a ventilation insert having walls defining at least one ventilation channel with at least two ports in periphery of the ventilation insert, the ventilation insert being insertable in the storage space of the box with the ports in register and in fluid communication with a respective one of the ventilation openings defining a continuous ventilation path in the storage container, the ventilation insert preventing at least partially obstruction of the ventilation openings when at least one item is stored in the storage space and the walls preventing obstruction of the at least one ventilation channel by the at least one item stored in the storage space.    
   
   
       20 . An item storage container as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the ventilation insert comprises a plurality of ventilation channels extending substantially parallel to one another, the walls of two adjacent ventilation channels being spaced-apart from one another.  
   
   
       21 . An item storage container as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein at least a first ventilation channel extends in a first direction and at least a second ventilation channel extends in a second direction and intersects the at least first ventilation channel extending in the first direction at an intersection, the at least first and second ventilation channels being in fluid communication at the intersection.  
   
   
       22 . An item storage container as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the ventilation openings lie in a ventilation plane coplanar with the at least one ventilation channel of the ventilation insert when inserted in the storage space of the box.  
   
   
       23 . An item storage container as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the at least one ventilation channel is defined by at least two of the walls extending substantially parallel to one another and connected to one another along a first extended end.  
   
   
       24 . An item storage container as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the walls comprise a second extended end, opposed to the first extended end,at least one of the second extended ends being connected to another juxtaposed second extended end for reinforcing the ventilation insert.  
   
   
       25 . An item storage container as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the ventilation insert comprises an aeration face with a plurality of protrusions spaced apart from one another and defining therebetween the at least one ventilation channel.  
   
   
       26 . An item storage container as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the ventilation insert comprises an item supporting face, opposed to the aeration face, the item supporting face having a plurality of cavities therein, the cavities corresponding to the protrusions of the opposed aeration face.  
   
   
       27 . An item storage container as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the ventilation insert is single-piece and has a periphery defining a first surface area, the first surface area being substantially equal to the surface area of the storage space defined by the peripheral wall.  
   
   
       28 . An item storage container as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the at least two ports have a port surface area and the ventilation openings have an opening surface area, the port surface area and the opening surface area being substantially equal, the ports being contiguous to a respective one of the ventilation openings thereby substantially preventing obstruction of the ventilation openings when at least one item is stored in the storage space of the box.  
   
   
       29 . A method for enhancing heat transfer in an item storage container, the method comprising: 
 inserting, in a storage space of the storage container, a single-piece ventilation insert having walls defining ventilation channels therein with ventilation ports in periphery of the ventilation insert;    aligning the ventilation ports in register and in fluid communication with ventilation openings provided in a peripheral wall of the storage container; and    storing at least one item in the storage space of the container, the walls of the ventilation insert preventing obstruction of the ventilation channels and at least partial obstruction of the ventilation openings.    
   
   
       30 . A method as claimed in  claim 29  comprising inserting the ventilation insert in the storage space prior to storing the at least one item in the storage space.  
   
   
       31 . A storage container comprising: 
 a wall-like structure around an internal space, the wall-like structure having one or more air flow openings allowing air to flow into and out of the internal space and having a transfer opening through which items can be inserted into and removed from the internal space;    a single-piece insert structured to be inserted into the internal space through the transfer opening; the insert being supported by the wall-like structure and having an upper surface; the insert dividing the internal space into an item containing space extending above the upper face and an aeration space extending below the insert, the insert being shaped to permit sufficient air flow into and out of the aeration space through the air flow openings; and    at least one item stored in the item containing space onto the upper surface of the single piece insert.    
   
   
       32 . A method for storing a product comprising: 
 inserting a single-piece insert in an internal space of a container, the single-piece insert having walls defining an air flow path therein, the air flow path being in being in fluid communication with air flow openings in a peripheral wall of the container allowing air to flow into and out the internal space;    inserting the product into the internal space, the walls of the single-piece insert preventing obstruction of the air flow path by the product; and    submitting the container and the product stored therein to an environment having a temperature T 1 , air flowing into and out the internal space through the air flow openings and into the air flow path providing an adjustment of the product temperature towards the temperature T 1  by heat transfer.