CONSTRUCTIVE ARRANGEMENT INTRODUCED IN A FOOD PRESERVATION DEVICE

Description

1 / 9 “CONSTRUCTIVE ARRANGEMENT INTRODUCED IN A FOOD PRESERVATION DEVICE”

[001] This utility model patent relates to a new constructive arrangement introduced in a food preservation device, belonging to the technical area of ​​household utensils aimed at the food sector. More particularly, it relates to a device that allows fruits, vegetables and greens to be preserved for longer periods inside refrigerators, cupboards and similar containers, through an arrangement in the shape of a fruit, vegetable or similar, provided with two parts, upper and lower, forming the piece, consisting of holes throughout the area, allowing the internal sachet to absorb the gas responsible for accelerating the ripening of the vegetables.

[002] This model is intended to preserve fruits and vegetables for longer, avoiding waste, reducing costs and even the need for the user to worry about frequently buying fresh food.

[003] The device consists of a stylized object, provided with two spherical parts, upper and lower, which are fitted and locked by a system of slots at the ends. They can be opened and closed manually by applying simple pressure to the sides to open and close them for placement of the sachet containing the chemical formulation with the active ingredient that performs the product's purpose.

[004] Contains strategically distributed orifices to maximize the contact area of ​​the gas with the active ingredient particles. The total area of ​​the orifices is such that the flow necessary for gas exchange occurs, so that the product functions efficiently.

[005] The sachet containing the active ingredient, which should generally be an ethylene absorber—a crystal formulation that enables the absorption of the gas responsible for the ripening of vegetables—is inserted into the inner compartment. Activated charcoal may also be used or added to absorb unwanted odors in the refrigerator or other environments. Although these are the main active ingredients proposed for the sachet, other options may also be used. Petition 870250049102, dated 12 / 06 / 2025, page 5 / 14 2 / 9 others added, provided they have an identified benefit.

[006] Once saturated, the ethylene absorber crystals have the benefit of being usable as plant fertilizers.

[007] The container has a design that prevents the sachet from coming into contact with the surface of the refrigerator, fruit bowl and vegetables, so that its surface is always in contact with the air and gases emitted by the vegetables.

[008] The established format prevents water from entering the sachet, although it is waterproof, contact with liquid is undesirable in order to keep the pores of the waterproof paper used in the sachet unobstructed.

[009] The container's shape has been carefully perfected through studies and tests. Protrusions have been incorporated into the upper and lower faces to promote the suspension of the sachet inside the piece, maintaining maximum distance from the top and bottom. If the user places the piece with the top facing down, its efficiency is not affected. If there is contact with a layer of liquid up to a few millimeters thick at the bottom of the refrigerator drawer, fruit bowl, or other environments, the sachet is not affected, maintaining its functionality. Finally, this positioning provided to the sachet by the protrusions significantly increases the absorption of the gas by the active ingredient.

[010] A simple and practical system for managing the sachet replacement time was also added to the device, in response to a critical drawback faced by users of the technology. Failure to replace the sachet leads to a reduction in the absorption capacity of ethylene gas in the environment, which in extreme cases can even lead consumers to question the product's efficiency. The dating solution cleverly uses the object's own spherical surface, consisting of engraving the 365 days of the year on the surface of one half, while the other half shows an arrow indicating the replacement date and the next replacement date. The marking is arranged similarly to a ruler, indicating the months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec) and days (1, 2, 3, 31) of the year at the top. The dates of the last replacement and the next replacement are displayed at the bottom, with arrows. Petition 870250049102, dated 12 / 06 / 2025, page 6 / 14 3 / 9 indicators. The date is adjusted by rotating the two parts of the object. The indicated period varies according to the volume of the sachet. For a 10-gram sachet of ethylene absorber, for example, the change occurs every 90 (ninety) days.

[011] The third improvement consists of introducing an optional suction cup to the device, aiming to further optimize its spatial positioning in the application environment, in order to obtain maximum absorption of the gases produced by the plants so that the product achieves the ideal efficiency desired by the user. STATE OF THE ART

[012] As part of the state of the art, we highlight some documents that will be cited below, accompanied by their abstracts.

[013] Document PI0900460-2 filed on 11 / 02 / 2009, under the title “Food preservation process.” The present invention relates to a new process for preserving different foods that guarantees the processed food a prolonged shelf life, which can extend up to five years without the addition of preservatives, and without the use of freezing or refrigeration. The said process also allows the natural characteristics of the processed food, such as flavor and texture, to be maintained. The food preservation process of the present invention comprises the following steps: a. Packaging the food; b. Heating the food-packaging system, keeping the food in contact with the atmospheric air outside the packaging; c. Altering the gaseous composition inside the packaging containing the food; d. Closing / sealing the packaging containing the food; e.Heat treatment of sealed / closed packaging containing food; and can be used for various types of food including fish, seafood, poultry, beef, cured meats, cold cuts, pâtés, pasta, cereals, legumes, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, ready meals, desserts or mixtures thereof. Petition 870250049102, dated 12 / 06 / 2025, page 7 / 14 4 / 9

[014] Document C20402955-0, filed on 04 / 01 / 2005, under the title Food protection mixture to protect and preserve cereals, fruits, and vegetables, Proligel. Certificate of addition of a product (1) to protect (2) preserve (3) food (4) cereals (5) fruits (6) vegetables (7) for late consumption (8) protect against (9) fungi (10) insects (11) preventing contamination (12) giving food protection by isolating it from contamination (13) delaying the shelf life (14) without losing the nutritional properties (15) of flavor (16) of color (17) being able to be stored (18) for longer (19) not depending on the use of pesticides (20) without using cold storage to preserve its shelf life for consumption.

[015] Document MU7401649-0, filed on 09 / 09 / 1994, under the title Improvement in a unit for food preservation. It is a container, equipped with subdivisions and piping for the circulation of hot or cold air, depending on the module being observed, where the hot air comes from the gas compression unit, intended for the refrigeration cycle of the cooling modules. The preservation unit (1) is completely closed (2), thermally insulated, equipped with access doors (3), casters (4), where the preservation modules (5) are placed and these are also equipped with independent doors (6).

[016] Document FR 2819990, published on 02 / 08 / 2002, which describes a device for controlling the ripening of fruits and vegetables comprising a packaging (1), which may be of any shape, for example: circular, rectangular, oval, with an envelope (5) with chemical agents capable of absorbing the gases produced by the respiration of the fruits or vegetables (3).

[017] And finally, document ES 2398114A1, published on 03 / 13 / 2013, reveals a device for preserving fruits and vegetables consisting of an oval-shaped plastic support (1) composed of two parts and holes (2, 2') provided with a sachet (4) with a chemical formulation and a ripening retardant principle through an ethylene oxidizing product, for preserving harvested fruits and vegetables to increase their shelf life, characterized by Petition 870250049102, dated 12 / 06 / 2025, p. 8 / 14 5 / 9 use in its manufacture of sodium permanganate, which acts as an oxidizing agent for ethylene and, due to its high solubility, can be used in high concentrations, between 20 and 60%, to be mixed with highly porous silicate substrates, preferably zeolite used as a porous silicate, with an average pore size of 3 to 10 Angstroms, which is the appropriate size to house the ethylene molecules inside, optimizing the reaction with sodium permanganate. Problems identified in the state of the art.

[018] Although the above documents sought some way to preserve food, some problems were identified in the state of the art, among which the following stand out: - Low absorption efficiency of the sachet due to improper positioning inside the household item; - Problems with containers when used in environments with liquids due to direct contact of the sachet with water / liquid at the bottom of the drawer or fruit bowl; - Difficulties and demotivation among users due to the lack of control over the time for replacing the sachet containing the active ingredient; - Lack of formats with a design studied and tested to obtain maximum efficiency of the ethylene absorber sachet in a domestic environment; - Waste of vegetables faced by most, if not all, families; - Loss of food quality and preventative health for people due to lack of time for constant replenishment of fruits, vegetables, and greens; and - Financial impact on the family budget caused by the disposal of vegetables. [ 019] In seeking to resolve the problems identified in the state of the art, we also highlight document BR202017005080-2, from the applicant itself, published on 26 / 02 / 2017, referring to “DEVICE FOR Petition 870250049102, dated 12 / 06 / 2025, p. 9 / 14 6 / 9 "FOOD PRESERVATION DEVICE," where, according to its summary, we have: FOOD PRESERVATION DEVICE. This is a product related to the food sector. The present invention refers to a device that allows food, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and other produce to be kept and preserved for longer periods, for use at home. It consists of a device with an internal chemical formulation that absorbs the gas responsible for the ripening of the vegetable. This model is intended to preserve food for longer periods in the home environment, increasing the time for consumption and avoiding waste, reducing costs and the need to go to the market frequently." [ 020] However, it was found that the subject of the respective document still presents some drawbacks, among which we highlight: - Improper placement of the sachet: which reduces the efficiency of gas absorption that accelerates the ripening of vegetables; - Unwanted contact with liquids: the sachet coming into contact with liquids that may accumulate in the refrigerator drawer or in fruit bowls compromises the functioning of the ethylene absorber; - Sachet replacement control: users often have difficulty remembering to replace the sachet on time, which can lead to a loss of device efficiency; - Inefficient construction for gas absorption: state-of-the-art devices do not consider the need for efficient distribution to maximize the absorption of ethylene gas; - Food waste and costs: the lack of efficient vegetable preservation leads to frequent waste, increasing the financial impact on families and decreasing food quality; and - Food insecurity and preventative health: with less efficient devices, users face a loss of food quality, as they are unable to preserve fresh vegetables for extended periods. Petition 870250049102, dated 12 / 06 / 2025, page 10 / 14 7 / 9 INNOVATION OBJECTIVES

[021] With the aim of offering a product that provides more practicality and ease for the daily life of the end consumer, increasing the shelf life of food in general, the product in question was developed, which presents several benefits, which can be highlighted as follows: V - Low cost; V - Convenience; V - Comfort; V - Ease of handling; V - Satisfaction; V - Time optimization; V - Reducing food waste, which, according to research, affects 8 out of 10 Brazilians; V - Significant savings for families, which, according to research, can reach more than one minimum wage per year for the average family surveyed; V - Practicality; V - Keeps food fresh for much longer; V - Encouraging a healthier society with increased consumption of quality foods; V - Sustainability, since the container is reusable and the raw material of the sachet can be used as fertilizer for plants after being saturated and discarded; V - Variety of sizes and styles; V - It can be developed in various formats; V - Its outer surfaces can be fully customized, featuring promotional slogans and messages; V - Excellent cost-benefit ratio; V - High commercialization potential; V - It can be developed in various formats and materials; V - Industrial feasibility; and Petition 870250049102, dated 12 / 06 / 2025, page 11 / 14 8 / 9 V - Innovations deserving of this patent privilege.

[022] For a perfect visualization and understanding of the constructive arrangement introduced in the food preservation device, object of the present innovation, the illustrative drawings are attached, which schematically represent:

[023] Figure 1 - perspective view of the new constructive arrangement introduced in a food preservation device;

[024] Figure 2 - perspective view of the open device;

[025] Figure 3 - perspective view of the device without the top part and with the sachet exploded;

[026] Figure 4 - exploded perspective view of the device;

[027] Figure 5 - perspective view of a constructive variant of the device;

[028] Figure 6 - perspective view of the constructive variant of the open device;

[029] Figure 7 - exploded perspective view of the constructive variant of the device;

[030] Figure 8 - perspective view of a second constructive variant of the open device; and

[031] Figure 9 - perspective view of a second constructive variant of the closed device.

[032] According to figures 1 to 4, the constructive arrangement introduced in a food preservation device, such as: fruits, vegetables, legumes and vegetables in general, which comprises a spherical body (1) with a stylized fruit, vegetable or similar shape, divided into two parts, forming a lower part (11) and an upper part (12), with external (111) and internal (121) recesses, respectively, provided internally with a sachet (3) with a chemical formulation and active principle capable of absorbing the gas responsible for accelerating the ripening of vegetables and odors produced.

[033] The lower part (11) is externally provided with holes (112) Petition 870250049102, dated 12 / 06 / 2025, page 12 / 14 9 / 9 allowing the absorption of the generated gas, and internally, in the central region, a conical protrusion (113). The upper part (12) is provided on its outer face with orifices (122), also allowing the absorption of the generated gas, and internally, in the central region, a conical protrusion (123) that coincides with the height of the conical protrusion (113), fixing the sachet (3) between them, so that it does not touch the bottom of the lower body (11).

[034] According to figures 5 to 7, in a constructive variant, the spherical body (1) will have an engraving (20) of the 365 days of the year on the surface of one of the halves: lower part (11) or upper part (12), while the other half will have an arrow (21) with the date of the change and the next replacement, where the marking is arranged similarly to a ruler, indicating the months and days of the year in the upper part. In the lower part, the dates of the last change and the next change are displayed, with indicative arrows. The date is adjusted by rotating the two parts of the object. The indicated period varies according to the volume of the sachet. For a 10-gram sachet of ethylene absorber, for example, the change occurs every 90 (ninety) days.

[035] According to figures 8 and 9, in a second constructive variant the upper part (12) of the spherical body (1) will be provided with a hole (124) in the protrusion (123) for the introduction of the suction cup rod (41) (40), aiming to further optimize its spatial positioning in the application environment, in order to obtain maximum absorption of the gases produced by the plants so that the product achieves the ideal efficiency desired by the user.

[036] The scope of this utility model patent, therefore, should not be limited to construction details, but rather only to the terms defined in the claims and their equivalents. Petition 870250049102, dated 12 / 06 / 2025, page 13 / 14

Claims

1 / 1 CLAIMS 1) “CONSTRUCTIVE ARRANGEMENT INTRODUCED IN A FOOD PRESERVATIVE DEVICE”, which comprises a stylized, bipartite spherical body (1), forming a lower part (11) and an upper part (12), with external (111) and external (121) recesses, respectively, provided internally with a sachet (3) containing a chemical formulation and active ingredient, characterized in that the lower part (11) has external orifices (112) for absorption of the generated gas, and internally, in the central region, a conical protrusion (113), and the upper part (12) has external orifices (122) also to allow absorption of the generated gas and internally, in the central region, a conical protrusion (123) that coincides with the height of the conical protrusion (113), fixing the sachet. (3) between them. 2) “CONSTRUCTIVE ARRANGEMENT INTRODUCED IN A FOOD PRESERVATION DEVICE”, according to claim 1, characterized in that, in a constructive variant, the spherical body (1) is provided with an engraving (20) of the 365 days of the year on the surface of one of the halves: lower part (11) or upper part (12), while the other half will have an arrow (21) with the date of change and the next replacement, where the marking is arranged in a manner similar to a ruler, indicating the months and days of the year on the upper part (12). 3) “CONSTRUCTIVE ARRANGEMENT INTRODUCED IN A FOOD PRESERVATIVE DEVICE”, according to claim 1, characterized in that in a second constructive variant the upper part (12) of the spherical body (1) is provided with a hole (124) in the protrusion (123) for the introduction of the suction cup rod (41) (40). Petition 870240110837, dated 12 / 27 / 2024, p. 14 / 27

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