HUMIDITY CONTROL FOR PRODUCT IN A REFRIGERATOR

• US 20100018236A1
• Filed: 07/28/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multisorb Technologies Incorporated (FGI Equity LLC)
• Original Assignee: Multisorb Technologies Incorporated (FGI Equity LLC)
• Inventors: Powers, Thomas H., McKedy, George E., Crump, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,057,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/271
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/042 Air treating means within refrigerated spaces air conditioning in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/04131 Control means therefor

Abstract

The invention provides a produce preserving article comprising a mixture of humectant and silica gel sorbent.

Claims

1. A produce preserving article comprising a mixture of humectant, and silica gel sorbent.

2. The produce preserving article of claim 1 wherein said humectant comprises an alkali metal salt.

3. The produce preserving article of claim 2, wherein said metal salt comprises at least one member selected from the group of potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

4. The produce preserving article of claim 1 wherein said humectant comprises potassium sulfate.

5. The produce preserving article of claim 1 wherein said article is further provided with an oxygen absorber.

6. The produce preserving article of claim 1 wherein said silica gel, comprises a wide pore silica gel.

7. The produce preserving article of claim 1 herein said preserving article comprises activated carbon

8. The produce preserving article of claim 1, further comprising, an ethylene absorber.

9. The produce preserving article of claim 8 wherein the ethylene absorber comprises potassium permanganate.

10. The produce preserving article of claim 8 wherein the ethylene absorber comprises calcium peroxide.

11. The produce preserving article of claim 9 wherein the ethylene absorber comprises activated carbon coated with an ethylene absorber.

12. The produce preserving article of claim 8 wherein said ethylene absorber comprises a mercaptan or a thiol.

13. The produce preserving article of claim 1 wherein said sorbent is present in an amount of between 4 and 10 parts by weight and the humectant is present in an amount of between 0.5 and 1.5 parts by weight.

14. The produce preserving article of claim 1 wherein the mixture is contained in a moisture vapor permeable sachet.

15. A refrigerator comprising a produce drawer wherein the produce drawer is provided with a produce preserving article comprising a mixture of humectant and sorbent.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15 wherein said humectant comprises an alkali metal salt.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the alkali metal salt comprises at least one member selected from the group of potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

18. The refrigerator of claim 15 wherein said humectant comprises potassium sulfate.

19. The refrigerator of claim 15 wherein said sorbent comprises silica gel.

20. The refrigerator of claim 19 wherein said silica gel, comprises a wide pore silica gel.

21. The refrigerator of claim 15 herein said sorbent comprises activated carbon

22. The refrigerator of claim 15 further comprising an ethylene absorber.

23. The refrigerator of claim 22 wherein the ethylene absorber comprises potassium permanganate.

24. The refrigerator of claim 22 wherein the ethylene absorber comprises calcium peroxide.

25. The refrigerator of claim 22 wherein the ethylene absorber comprises activated carbon coated with an ethylene absorber.

26. The refrigerator of claim 25 wherein said ethylene absorber comprises a mercaptan or a thiol.

27. The refrigerator of claim 15 wherein said sorbent is present in an amount of between 4 and 10 parts by weight and sorbent and the humectant is present in an amount of between 0.5 and 1.5 parts by weight.

28. The refrigerator of claim 15 wherein the mixture is contained in a moisture permeable sachet.

29. The refrigerator of claim 15 wherein the drawer is provided with a seal.

30. The refrigerator of claim 15 wherein there is air circulation in the drawer.

31. The refrigerator of claim 15 wherein the produce drawer has a vented to the drawer pocket or a place to put the produce preserving article.