Container with gas and/or liquid permeable membrane

Abstract

A food storage container is provided that may be used to increase shelf life of produce stored therein. The food storage container is preferably used to contain produce that is often not refrigerated, and thus subject to increased humidity levels when stored inside a sealed container. The container preferably includes each of a container portion and a lid member and a container portion, wherein the lid member may be attached and removed to the container portion. The lid member may include upper and lower lid members that are also selectively engageable with one another. A water vapor permeable membrane layer is preferably secured between the upper and lower lid members to help control humidity levels within the container portion. In some embodiments, a gas permeable membrane layer may be present between the upper and lower lid members for controlling gas flow into and out of the container portion as well.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food storage container, the food storage container comprising:
 A first container portion;   a second container portion selectively engageable with the first container portion, the second container portion comprising:
 an upper member including a plurality of apertures; 
 a lower member including a plurality of apertures. The lower member selectively engageable with the upper member; and 
 a water vapor permeable membrane layer secured between the upper member and the lower member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein an interior bottom portion of the first container portion is dimpled. 
     
     
         3 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the water vapor permeable membrane is a thin, non-woven fabric substrate packed with a micro-porous polyethylene film and coated with a sulfonated styrene block copolymer. 
     
     
         4 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein a second gas vapor permeable membrane layer is secured between the upper member and the lower member. 
     
     
         5 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the upper member and the lower member is provided with a support structure. 
     
     
         6 . The food storage container of  claim 5 , wherein the support structures of the upper member and the lower member align with one another when the upper member and the lower member are engaged with one another. 
     
     
         7 . The food storage container of  claim 5 , wherein the support structures of the upper member and the lower member are honeycomb-shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , the apertures of the upper member and the lower member are shaped as rounded squares. 
     
     
         9 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein a grid member is provided between the upper member and the lower member to increase the seal strength between the upper member and the lower member. 
     
     
         10 . The food storage container of  claim 9 , wherein the grid member includes a plurality of apertures that allow air to pass through the grid member. 
     
     
         11 . A food storage container, the food storage container comprising:
 a container portion;   a lid member selectively engageable with the container portion, the lid member comprising:
 an upper lid member including a plurality of apertures; 
 a lower lid member including a plurality of apertures. The lower lid member selectively engageable with the upper lid member; 
 a water vapor permeable membrane layer secured between the upper lid member and the lower lid member; and 
 a grid member provided between the upper lid member and the lower lid member to increase the seal strength between the upper lid member and the lower lid member. 
   
     
     
         12 . The food storage container of  claim 11 , wherein an interior bottom portion of the container portion is dimpled. 
     
     
         13 . The food storage container of  claim 11 , wherein the water vapor permeable membrane is a thin, non-woven fabric substrate packed with a micro-porous polyethylene film and coated with a sulfonated styrene block copolymer. 
     
     
         14 . The food storage container of  claim 11 , wherein a second gas vapor permeable membrane layer is secured between the upper lid member and the lower lid member. 
     
     
         15 . The food storage container of  claim 11 , wherein each of the upper lid member and the lower lid member is provided with a support structure. 
     
     
         16 . The food storage container of  claim 15 , wherein the support structures of the upper lid member and the lower lid member align with one another when the upper lid member and the lower lid member are engaged with one another. 
     
     
         17 . The food storage container of  claim 15 , wherein the support structures of the upper lid member and the lower lid member are honeycomb-shaped. 
     
     
         18 . The food storage container of  claim 11 , the apertures of the upper lid member and the lower lid member are shaped as rounded squares. 
     
     
         19 . The food storage container of  claim 11 , wherein the grid member includes a plurality of apertures that allow air to pass through the grid member. 
     
     
         20 . The food storage container of  claim 11 , wherein the grid member includes a plurality of standoff members that extend upwardly from the grid member to distance the upper lid member from the grid member.