Fruit ripening display
First Claim
1. An apparatus for fruit ripening and display whereby fruit ripening is substantially accelerated comprisinga) two or more display parts whereinthe size of said two or more display parts permits them to fit entirely on a countertop two feet long by two feet wide when combined;
- b) one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts whereini) at least one of said one or more of the chambers has one or more walls comprising gas impermeable material and is ventilated by at least two vents sufficient for one or more of the chambers to retain an effective amount of ripening gas a day after one or more of the chambers are filled substantially full of ripening gas-producing fruit whereby fruit ripening is substantially accelerated;
ii) at least one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas are substantially hemispherical or substantially ellipsoidal; and
c) two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit whereini) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of one of the two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit;
ii) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of another of the two or more support surfaces for ripening;
iii) at least one of the aforesaid support surfaces for ripening fruit is enclosed inside one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts;
iv) at least one of the one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit is located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts;
v) at least one of the one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts is at least in part concave and at least in part inwardly sloped.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for ripening and displaying fruit are provided. Methods of making those apparatuses are also disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatuses and methods employ multiple platforms and other features for ripening fruit that increase fruit ripening speed, improve fruit flavor, reduce fruit bruising, and accommodate different ripening rates of different fruit. Other aspects and features disclosed herein further help achieve those goals, and particularly help fruit consumers to ripen store bought fruit.
92 Citations
47 Claims
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1. An apparatus for fruit ripening and display whereby fruit ripening is substantially accelerated comprising
a) two or more display parts wherein the size of said two or more display parts permits them to fit entirely on a countertop two feet long by two feet wide when combined; -
b) one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts wherein i) at least one of said one or more of the chambers has one or more walls comprising gas impermeable material and is ventilated by at least two vents sufficient for one or more of the chambers to retain an effective amount of ripening gas a day after one or more of the chambers are filled substantially full of ripening gas-producing fruit whereby fruit ripening is substantially accelerated; ii) at least one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas are substantially hemispherical or substantially ellipsoidal; and c) two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit wherein i) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of one of the two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit; ii) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of another of the two or more support surfaces for ripening; iii) at least one of the aforesaid support surfaces for ripening fruit is enclosed inside one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts; iv) at least one of the one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit is located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts; v) at least one of the one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts is at least in part concave and at least in part inwardly sloped. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for fruit display whereby fruit ripening is substantially accelerated comprising
a) two or more display parts wherein the size of said two or more display parts permits them to fit entirely on a countertop two feet long by two feet wide when the display parts are combined; -
b) one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas wherein i) one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts ii) at least one of said one or more of the chambers has one or more walls comprising gas impermeable material and is ventilated sufficient for one or more of the chambers to retain ripening gas a day after one or more of the chambers are filled substantially full of ripening gas producing fruit whereby fruit ripening is substantially accelerated; c) two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit wherein i) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of one of the two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit; ii) at least one support surface for ripening fruit is enclosed inside one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas when the one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts; iii) one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed by at the combination of two or more of the display parts; iv) one or more of the support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts are at least in part concave and at least in part inwardly sloped; and v) one or more of the support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by two or more of the display parts comprises vents for one or more of the chambers. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for fruit display comprising
a) two or more display parts wherein the size of said two or more display parts permits them to fit entirely on a countertop two feet long by two feet wide when the display parts are combined; -
b) one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas wherein i) one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts ii) at least one of said one or more of the chambers has one or more walls comprising gas impermeable material and is ventilated sufficient for one or more of the chambers to retain ripening gas for substantially accelerated fruit ripening a day after one or more of the chambers are filled substantially full of ripening gas producing fruit; c) two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit wherein i) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of one of the two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit; ii) at least one support surface for ripening fruit is enclosed inside one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas when the one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts; iii) one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed by at the combination of two or more of the display parts; iv) one or more of the support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts are at least in part concave and at least in part inwardly sloped; and v) one or more of the support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by two or more of the display parts comprises a vent insert that comprises vents for one or more of the chambers.
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27. An apparatus for fruit display comprising
a) two or more display parts wherein the size of said two or more display parts permits them to fit entirely on a countertop two feet long by two feet wide when the display parts are combined; -
b) one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas wherein i) one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts ii) at least one of said one or more of the chambers has one or more walls comprising gas impermeable material and is ventilated sufficient for one or more of the chambers to retain ripening gas for substantially accelerated fruit ripening a day after one or more of the chambers are filled substantially full of ripening gas producing fruit; c) two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit wherein i) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of one of the two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit; ii) at least one support surface for ripening fruit is enclosed inside one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas when the one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts; iii) one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed by the combination of two or more of the display parts; iv) one or more of the support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts are at least in part concave and at least in part inwardly sloped; v) and one or more of the support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by two or more of the display parts comprises vents for one or more of the chambers where the vents are on the same level as their surrounding support surface area, and further comprises a fruit guide. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus for fruit display comprising
a) two or more display parts wherein the size of said two or more display parts permits them to fit entirely on a countertop two feet long by two feet wide when the display parts are combined; -
b) one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas wherein i) one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts ii) at least one of said one or more of the chambers has one or more walls comprising gas impermeable material and is ventilated sufficient for one or more of the chambers to retain ripening gas for substantially accelerated fruit ripening a day after one or more of the chambers are filled substantially full of ripening gas producing fruit; c) two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit wherein i) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of one of the two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit; ii) at least one support surface for ripening fruit is enclosed inside one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas when the one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts; iii) one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed by at the combination of two or more of the display parts; iv) one or more of the support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts are at least in part concave and at least in part inwardly sloped; v) one or more of the support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by two or more of the display parts comprises vents for one or more of the chambers; and vi) wherein the chamber is ventilated such that the ripening gas in the chamber is greater than 4 parts per million of ethylene one day after one or more of the chambers is substantially filled with fruit that gives off ripening gas and kept at an average room temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit and an average relative humidity of about 70%, and wherein the chamber is ventilated with at least one vent insert.
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32. An apparatus for fruit display comprising
a) two or more display parts wherein the size of said two or more display parts permits them to fit entirely on a countertop two feet long by two feet wide when the display parts are combined; -
b) one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas wherein i) one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts ii) at least one of said one or more of the chambers has one or more walls comprising gas impermeable material and is ventilated sufficient for one or more of the chambers to retain ripening gas for substantially accelerated fruit ripening a day after one or more of the chambers are filled substantially full of ripening gas producing fruit; c) two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit wherein i) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of one of the two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit; ii) at least one support surface for ripening fruit is enclosed inside one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas when the one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts; iii) one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed by at the combination of two or more of the display parts; iv) one or more of the support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts are at least in part concave and at least in part inwardly sloped; v) one or more of the support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by two or more of the display parts comprises vents for one or more of the chambers; vi) and wherein at least one chamber is ventilated such that the ripening gas in the chamber is greater than 4 parts per million of ethylene one day after one or more of the chambers is substantially filled with fruit that gives off ripening gas and kept at an average room temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit and an average relative humidity of about 70%, wherein two or more display parts are made substantially out of glass, wherein at least one outside and inside support surfaces are different, and wherein at least one chamber is ventilated by at least one vent insert.
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33. An apparatus for fruit ripening and display whereby fruit ripening is substantially accelerated comprising
a) two or more display parts wherein the size of said two or more display parts permits them to fit entirely on a countertop two feet long by two feet wide when combined; -
b) one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas are formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts wherein i) at least one of said one or more of the chambers has one or more walls comprising gas impermeable material and is ventilated by at least two vents sufficient for one or more of the chambers to retain an effective amount of ripening gas a day after one or more of the chambers are filled substantially full of ripening gas-producing fruit whereby fruit ripening is substantially accelerated; ii) at least one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas are substantially hemispherical; and c) two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit wherein i) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of one of the two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit; ii) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of another of the two or more support surfaces for ripening; iii) at least one of the aforesaid support surfaces for ripening fruit is enclosed inside one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts; iv) at least one of the one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit is located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts; v) at least one of the one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts is at least in part concave and at least in part inwardly sloped. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An apparatus for fruit ripening and display whereby fruit ripening is substantially accelerated comprising
a) two or more display parts wherein the size of said two or more display parts permits them to fit entirely on a countertop two feet long by two feet wide when combined; -
b) one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts wherein i) at least one of said one or more of the chambers has one or more walls comprising gas impermeable material and is ventilated by at least two vents sufficient for one or more of the chambers to retain an effective amount of ripening gas a day after one or more of the chambers are filled substantially full of ripening gas-producing fruit whereby fruit ripening is substantially accelerated; ii) at least one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas are substantially spheroidal; and c) two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit wherein i) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of one of the two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit; ii) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of another of the two or more support surfaces for ripening; iii) at least one of the aforesaid support surfaces for ripening fruit is enclosed inside one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts; iv) at least one of the one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit is located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts; v) at least one of the one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts is at least in part concave and at least in part inwardly sloped. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An apparatus for fruit ripening and display whereby fruit ripening is substantially accelerated comprising
a) two or more display parts wherein the size of said two or more display parts permits them to fit entirely on a countertop two feet long by two feet wide when combined; -
b) one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas formed at least in part by the combination of two or more of the display parts wherein i) at least one of said one or more of the chambers has one or more walls comprising gas impermeable material and is ventilated by at least two vents sufficient for one or more of the chambers to retain an effective amount of ripening gas a day after one or more of the chambers are filled substantially full of ripening gas-producing fruit whereby fruit ripening is substantially accelerated; ii) at least one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas are substantially ellipsoidal; and c) two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit wherein i) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of one of the two or more support surfaces for ripening fruit; ii) one or more of said two or more display parts comprise at least part of another of the two or more support surfaces for ripening; iii) at least one of the aforesaid support surfaces for ripening fruit is enclosed inside one or more chambers for retaining fruit ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts; iv) at least one of the one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit is located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts; v) at least one of the one or more support surfaces for ripening fruit that are located outside of the one or more chambers for retaining ripening gas when one or more of the chambers are formed at least in part by combination of two or more of the display parts is at least in part concave and at least in part inwardly sloped. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification