Waterless hibernated live fish packaging container and waterless hibernated live fish display case

Abstract

Waterless hibernated live fish packaging containers according to the present invention may be sealed well enough to be injected with and retain oxygen for transportation, and make it possible for live fish to be individually packaged and transported and then immediately displayed for sale in a display case. Also, a waterless hibernated live fish display case according to the present invention can interface with gas sensor units in the displayed live fish packaging containers to obtain information about the amount of gas present in an inner space, and thus an oxygen injection means can be operated to inject oxygen into each of the live fish packaging containers. The quality of products can be maintained at the highest level by supplying appropriate oxygen to each of the live fish packaging containers while maintaining an appropriate temperature.

Description

Anhydrous live fish packaging containers and anhydrous live fish display cases

[0001] The present invention relates to a live fish packaging container and a live fish display case, and more particularly, to a waterless hibernated live fish packaging container capable of packaging artificially hibernated live fish in a waterless state, and a waterless hibernated live fish display case for displaying and selling the same.

[0002] The methods of transporting live fish can be broadly divided into two: transporting live fish in a tank and transporting them in an anhydrous state.

[0003] However, when transporting live fish in a tank, there is a problem that logistics costs are high due to the weight and volume of water, so recently, a method of transporting fish that have been artificially hibernated by packaging them in an anhydrous state has been attracting attention.

[0004] In this regard, Korean Patent No. 10-2172591 discloses a live fish packaging container in the form of a square box with an open top, including a fish storage space in which two flatfish are stored without touching each other in opposite directions, and a refrigerant storage space in which refrigerant is stored, and in which oxygen inlet grooves of a certain depth and width are formed on the top of each of the four sides.

[0005] However, the live fish packaging container of the above-mentioned registered patent No. 10-2172591 is made of styrofoam material, so it has the problem of increasing in volume, and it is not easy to manufacture a packaging container with sufficient sealing power to individually inject and maintain oxygen into each packaging container.

[0006] In addition, as the waterless transportation of artificially hibernated live fish becomes more active, various display technologies are required to manage artificially hibernated live fish so that they can maintain good quality for more efficient display and sale at various stores after transportation.

[0007] [Prior Art Literature]

[0008] [Patent Document]

[0009] (1) Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-2172591 (Title: Live Fish Packaging Method and Live Fish Packaging Container, Announcement Date: November 2, 2020)

[0010] Accordingly, the present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a live fish packaging container that can be configured to have a sufficient sealing force to individually inject oxygen and maintain the injected oxygen while reducing the volume compared to conventional packaging containers made of Styrofoam.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a live fish display case that can display and sell a large number of live fish packaging containers as described above, and can also manage the quality of artificially hibernated live fish contained in each live fish packaging container to be maintained at the highest level.

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, a live fish packaging container according to the present invention comprises: a main body having an open top and an internal space so that a live fish induced to hibernate can be accommodated in an anhydrous state; a lid covering the open top of the main body; an oxygen injection unit formed in the main body or the lid to provide a passage so that oxygen can be injected into the internal space of the main body; and an oxygen discharge unit formed in the main body or the lid to discharge oxygen injected into the internal space of the main body.

[0013] The above live fish packaging container may further include one or more locking parts that are intermittently provided along the periphery of the main body and the lid to connect the main body and the lid.

[0014] The above live fish packaging container may include at least one gas sensor unit that measures the amount of gas in the internal space.

[0015] At this time, the gas sensor unit may include a sensor that measures the amount of oxygen.

[0016] The live fish display case according to the present invention is for displaying and selling a plurality of live fish packaging containers containing artificially hibernated live fish, and may include: a cooling unit for cooling the display space of the live fish display case; a display unit for visually displaying various information; a detection unit for detecting whether live fish packaging containers are displayed at each product display position, which is a position where each live fish packaging container is displayed; and a control unit for displaying information about products displayed at each product display position through the display unit based on the detection result of the detection unit.

[0017] At this time, the control unit may be configured to display, on the display unit, information on the time elapsed since the live fish packaging container was displayed at each product display location, based on the detection result of the detection unit.

[0018] The above display unit may be installed in a one-to-one correspondence with each of the product display locations, or may be configured to display information about products displayed in two or more of the product display locations together.

[0019] The above live fish display case may be configured to include one or more shelves having multiple product display positions. In this case, the shelves may be installed at an angle so that the front end is lower than the rear end.

[0020] The above live fish display case may further include a gas information acquisition unit that interfaces with a gas sensor unit of a live fish packaging container displayed at each product display location to acquire information on the amount of gas present in the internal space of the live fish packaging container.

[0021] At this time, the control unit may be configured to display the gas amount information acquired through the gas information acquisition unit on the display unit.

[0022] The above live fish display case may further include an oxygen injection means that can inject oxygen into the oxygen injection part of each live fish packaging container displayed at each product display location.

[0023] At this time, the control unit may be configured to control the oxygen injection means according to the gas amount information acquired through the gas information acquisition unit.

[0024] The live fish packaging container according to the present invention can be manufactured to have a smaller volume than a conventional packaging container made of Styrofoam material, and can be configured to have a sealing force sufficient to individually inject oxygen and maintain the injected oxygen.

[0025] Since each live fish container is transported with sufficient oxygen, the quality of artificially hibernated live fish can be maintained for a long time.

[0026] Additionally, the live fish packaging container can be configured to be transparent, so that each live fish can be individually packaged, transported, and then immediately displayed in a display case for sale.

[0027] The live fish display case according to the present invention maintains the display space at a temperature that allows the live fish contained in each live fish packaging container to remain in the best condition, and visually displays various information about the live fish contained in each live fish packaging container, thereby enabling consumers to conveniently select and purchase products.

[0028] Additionally, the live fish display case can be configured to maintain the quality of the live fish contained in each live fish packaging container at its best condition by manually or automatically supplying appropriate oxygen to each live fish packaging container.

[0029] Figure 1 is an embodiment of a live fish packaging container in which the main body and the lid are separated.

[0030] Fig. 2 is an embodiment of a live fish packaging container in which a main body and a lid are combined;

[0031] Figure 3 is an embodiment of a sealing structure of a main body and a lid.

[0032] Figure 4 is an embodiment of a live fish display case according to the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 is an example of installing a display unit at each product display location.

[0034] Figure 6 is an example of automatically injecting oxygen into each live fish packaging container.

[0035] The present invention is susceptible to various modifications and embodiments. Specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, but rather to encompass all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention. In describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related known technologies will be omitted if they are deemed to obscure the gist of the present invention.

[0036] The terminology used in this application is only used to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, it should be understood that the terms "comprise" or "have" indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but do not exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0037] Terms such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another.

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a live fish packaging container (100) according to the present invention is for packaging artificially hibernated live fish in an anhydrous state, and may include a lid portion (110), a main body portion (120), an oxygen injection portion (140-1), and an oxygen discharge portion (140-2).

[0039] In this specification, “live fish” generally refers to live fish, and “artificial hibernation” refers to fish that have been artificially hibernated. The method for artificially hibernating live fish is not particularly limited and may include various methods known in the art. For example, artificial hibernation is possible using the method described in Korean Patent No. 10-1863586 (Method for inducing artificial hibernation in fish and packaging container). In addition, “waterless hibernation” refers to hibernating in a waterless state or maintaining an artificially hibernated fish in a waterless state. In this specification, “artificial hibernation” and “anhydrous hibernation” may be used with the same or similar meanings.

[0040] The main body (120) has an internal space (121) so that artificially hibernated live fish can be accommodated in an anhydrous state, and is configured in a form in which the upper surface is open.

[0041] Here, the internal space has a volume that can accommodate artificially hibernated live fish in an anhydrous state and maintain a certain amount of air (oxygen).

[0042] The lid (110) serves to cover the open upper surface of the main body (120).

[0043] The main body (120) basically has an internal space (121), but the internal space for accommodating live fish does not necessarily have to be formed only through the main body (120), and if necessary, the lid (110) may also be configured to form an internal space.

[0044] The live fish packaging container (100) can be configured in various shapes taking into account various factors such as the type, size and characteristics of the live fish to be packaged, convenience of transportation, and design elements for display and sale at a store.

[0045] As a specific example, the live fish packaging container (100) can be configured according to the type of live fish to be packaged.

[0046] For example, if the live fish to be packaged is flounder, the exterior of the live fish packaging container (100) can be configured to have a shape similar to the exterior of the flounder.

[0047] Although FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example in which the exterior of a live fish packaging container (100) is configured in the shape of a live fish, the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0048] The number of live fish accommodated in the internal space of the live fish packaging container (100) can be configured in various ways, but if it is configured so that one live fish can be packaged in one live fish packaging container, the convenience of subsequent display and sales can be improved.

[0049] The material of the live fish packaging container (100) can be composed of various materials, and as a specific example, it can be composed using synthetic resin (plastic).

[0050] In particular, when considering display and sale at a store after transportation, it is preferable that at least the lid (110) be constructed using a transparent material so that consumers can directly see the live fish contained in the internal space.

[0051] The oxygen injection part (140-1) is formed in the lid part (110) or the main body part (120) to provide a passage through which oxygen can be injected from the outside into the internal space (121).

[0052] The oxygen discharge unit (140-2) is formed in the lid unit (110) or the main body unit (120) to discharge oxygen injected into the internal space (121) through the oxygen injection unit (140-1).

[0053] The oxygen discharge unit (140-2) is intended to allow the oxygen injected through the oxygen injection unit (140-1) to spread smoothly throughout the internal space. Without the oxygen discharge unit (140-2), oxygen injection would not occur smoothly due to internal pressure.

[0054] The oxygen injection unit (140-1) and the oxygen discharge unit (140-2) may be formed in a simple hole shape, but may be configured in various ways so that oxygen injection and oxygen discharge can be smoothly performed through the device used for oxygen injection.

[0055] For example, the oxygen injection unit (140-1) and the oxygen discharge unit (140-2) can be configured to be manually opened and closed using a stopper.

[0056] However, the oxygen injection unit (140-1) may be configured to be open when oxygen injection is performed and automatically closed when oxygen injection is not performed.

[0057] Additionally, the oxygen discharge unit (140-2) can be configured to be open when a certain pressure is applied due to oxygen injection, and automatically closed when not.

[0058] The lid (110) and the main body (120) can be configured in various ways to ensure that the internal space (121) is sealed when combined with each other. At this time, various sealing techniques known in relation to sealed containers can be applied.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 3, a packing technology that improves sealing power can be applied to the lid portion (110) and the main body portion (120).

[0060] For example, a packing groove (111) is formed in a downward direction toward the main body (120) along the edge of the lid (110), and a packing member (113) can be inserted into the inside of the packing groove (111).

[0061] And, when the main body (120) and the lid (110) are combined, the upper part of the edge of the main body (120) can be configured to be in close contact with the packing member (113).

[0062] In addition, if the inner surface (115) forming the packing groove (111) in the lid portion (110) is configured to extend a certain length downward from the upper edge of the main body portion (120), the sealing force can be further improved.

[0063] The live fish packaging container (100) may include one or more locking parts (130) that are intermittently provided along the periphery of the main body (120) and the lid part (110) to connect or release the main body (120) and the lid part (110) from being connected to each other.

[0064] FIG. 2 shows an example in which four locking parts (130) are provided, two on each of the left and right sides of a live fish packaging container (100), but the positions and number of locking parts (130) formed can be configured in various ways as needed and are not limited thereto.

[0065] An embodiment of a locking part (130) is shown in Fig. 3, and a hook (137) extending horizontally on the upper outer surface of the main body (120) is formed to protrude downwardly. In addition, a locking wing (131) is integrally formed to be rotatable by a thin hinge part (135) on the outer periphery of the lid part (110), and a hook (133) is formed to protrude on the inner side of the locking wing (131) so as to be hooked to the lower side of the hooking part (137) and to strongly couple the lid part (110) to the main body part (120).

[0066] This locking part (130) can be configured in various ways using various sealing-related technologies and is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

[0067] The live fish packaging container (100) may be configured to include one or more gas sensor units (150) that measure the amount of gas present in the internal space (121).

[0068] Here, the gas may be of various types for measuring the state of live fish contained in the internal space (121). For example, the gas sensor unit (150) may include an oxygen sensor for measuring the amount of oxygen, an ammonia sensor for measuring the amount of ammonia, etc.

[0069] The gas sensor unit (150) may be configured to process measured gas amount information in various ways. For example, the measured oxygen amount information may be visually displayed or transmitted externally via a wireless interface.

[0070] The gas sensor unit (150) can be installed in the live fish packaging container (100) in various ways.

[0071] For example, the gas sensor unit (150) may be fixedly mounted on the inner surface of the lid unit (110), but is not limited thereto.

[0072] The live fish display case according to the present invention is installed in various sales outlets to display and sell a large number of live fish packaging containers containing live fish induced into artificial hibernation.

[0073] Hereinafter, the live fish packaging container (100) containing artificially hibernated live fish will be referred to as the term ‘product’.

[0074] Fig. 4 shows one embodiment of a live fish display case (200) according to the present invention, and its exterior is configured in a rectangular shape with several shelves (210) provided in a vertical direction in a display space where products are displayed and a transparent sliding door attached.

[0075] The appearance of this live fish display case (200) is only an example to help understand the explanation, and the live fish display case according to the present invention can be configured in various shapes as needed, and is not limited thereto.

[0076] In an embodiment of a live fish display case (200) including one or more shelves (210) on which each product is displayed, the shelves (210) may be installed at an angle so that the front end is lower than the rear end.

[0077] By installing the shelf (210) at an angle in this way, the live fish contained in the live fish packaging container (100) can be more clearly seen by consumers, and light reflection due to the door of the live fish display case (200) can be suppressed to make it more clearly visible.

[0078] The live fish display case (200) according to the present invention may be configured to include a cooling unit (220), a detection unit (230), a display unit (240), a gas information acquisition unit (250), an oxygen injection means (260), a control unit (280), etc.

[0079] The cooling unit (220) cools the display space of the live fish display case (200).

[0080] The cooling unit (220) can be configured in various ways, and generally includes, but is not limited to, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, etc. for compressing, condensing, expanding, and heat exchanging a refrigerant.

[0081] Referring to FIG. 5, the detection unit (230) detects whether a product is placed at each product display location (P), which is the location where each live fish packaging container (100) is displayed.

[0082] Here, product display location (P) refers to the location where the product is displayed.

[0083] Therefore, if n products are displayed horizontally on each shelf (210) in a live fish display case (200), there are n product display positions (P) on each shelf.

[0084] The detection unit (230) can be configured to detect whether a product is placed at the product display location (P) in various ways.

[0085] For example, the detection unit (230) may be configured using a mechanical sensor, an electronic pressure sensor, an optical sensor, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0086] The display unit (240) visually displays various information related to products sold through the live fish display case (200) and can be configured in various ways.

[0087] As an example, the display unit (240) may be configured using an LED (Light Emitting Diode) panel or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel, but is not limited thereto.

[0088] The display unit (240) may be installed in a one-to-one correspondence to each product display location (P) as shown in the example in FIG. 5, and configured to display information about products displayed at the corresponding product display location (P).

[0089] Additionally, the display unit (240) may be configured to display information about products displayed in two or more product display locations (P).

[0090] For example, the display unit (240) is installed corresponding to each shelf (210) and can comprehensively display information about each product displayed on the corresponding shelf.

[0091] Additionally, the display unit (240) may be configured to display integrated information on all products displayed in the live fish display case (200).

[0092] The control unit (280) displays information about each product displayed in the live fish display case (200) through the display unit (240) based on the detection results of the detection unit (230). The product-related information displayed by the control unit (280) may be configured in various ways as needed.

[0093] For example, the control unit (280) can display information on the time elapsed since the product was displayed at each product display location on the display unit (240).

[0094] That is, when the control unit (280) detects through the detection unit (230) that a product has been placed in an empty product display location, the control unit (280) can display the elapsed time from that point on the display unit (240). Since the product is live fish contained in a dry state in a live fish packaging container (100), this elapsed time can be an important indicator of the condition and quality of the live fish.

[0095] Meanwhile, in order to maintain the quality of live fish that have been artificially hibernated and stored in an anhydrous state, not only temperature but also oxygen plays a very important role.

[0096] In this regard, the live fish display case (200) may be configured to include an oxygen injection means (260) installed around each product display location (P) to enable oxygen to be injected into the oxygen injection port (140-1) of the live fish packaging container (100).

[0097] These oxygen injection means (260) can be configured in various ways.

[0098] Referring to FIG. 6, the oxygen injection means (260) may be configured to include, but is not limited to, an oxygen tank (261) for compressing and storing oxygen, an oxygen pipe (262) connected from the oxygen tank (261) to each product display location, an oxygen injection terminal (264) that can be connected to the oxygen injection unit (140-1) of the live fish packaging container, and an injection valve (263) that opens and closes between the oxygen pipe (262) and the oxygen injection terminal (264).

[0099] The gas sensor unit (150) provided in each live fish packaging container (100) can transmit measured gas amount (e.g., oxygen amount) information to the outside via a wireless interface.

[0100] In this regard, the live fish display case (200) may include a gas information acquisition unit (250) that interfaces with the gas sensor unit (150) of the live fish packaging container (100) displayed at each product display location (P) to acquire information on the amount of gas present in the internal space of each live fish packaging container (100).

[0101] The gas amount information of each product obtained through the gas information acquisition unit (250) can be utilized in various ways.

[0102] As an example, the control unit (280) can visually display the gas amount information acquired through the gas information acquisition unit (250) on the display unit (240).

[0103] As another example, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the control unit (280) may be configured to automatically control the oxygen injection means (260) according to gas amount information acquired through the gas information acquisition unit (250).

[0104] Referring to Fig. 6, the control unit (280) can automatically open and close the injection valve (263) of the corresponding product display location according to the gas amount information of each product (100) obtained through the gas information acquisition unit (250).

[0105] That is, if the amount of oxygen remaining in the internal space of a live fish packaging container (100) is below a certain level, the control unit (280) can open the injection valve (263) of the product display location where the live fish packaging container (100) is displayed.

[0106] In addition, the control unit (280) can lock the injection valve (263) of the product display location where the live fish packaging container (100) is displayed when the amount of oxygen remaining in the internal space of the live fish packaging container (100) exceeds a certain level.

[0107] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described above with respect to specific preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be variously modified and changed without departing from the technical features or scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

[0108] [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 100: Live fish packaging container 110: Lid

[0110] 111: Packing groove 113: Packing member

[0111] 120: Main body 130: Locking part

[0112] 131: Locking wing 133: Hook

[0113] 135: Hinge 137: Hook

[0114] 140-1: Oxygen injection section 140-2: Oxygen discharge section

[0115] 150: Gas sensor section 200: Live fish display case

[0116] 210: Shelf 220: Cooling unit

[0117] 230: Detection unit 240: Display unit

[0118] 250: Gas information acquisition unit 260: Oxygen injection means

[0119] 261: Oxygen tank 262: Oxygen pipe

[0120] 263: Injection valve 264: Oxygen injection terminal

[0121] 280: Control unit

Claims

1. A main body with an open top and an internal space so that artificially hibernated live fish can be accommodated in an anhydrous state; A lid portion covering the open upper surface of the main body portion; An oxygen injection unit formed in the main body or lid to provide a passage for oxygen to be injected into the internal space of the main body; and A live fish packaging container comprising an oxygen discharge unit formed in the main body or lid to discharge oxygen injected into the internal space of the main body.

2. In paragraph 1, A live fish packaging container further comprising one or more locking parts that are intermittently provided along the periphery of the main body and the lid to connect the main body and the lid.

3. In paragraph 1, The above main body and lid are made of synthetic resin material, A live fish packaging container characterized in that the exterior of the main body and the lid are configured in the shape of a live fish.

4. In paragraph 1, A live fish packaging container, wherein the lid is made of a transparent material.

5. In paragraph 1, A live fish packaging container comprising at least one gas sensor unit for measuring the amount of gas in the internal space.

6. In paragraph 5, A live fish packaging container, wherein the gas sensor part includes a sensor for measuring the amount of oxygen.

7. A live fish display case for displaying and selling a large number of live fish packaging containers described in any one of the above clauses 1 to 6, containing live fish induced in artificial hibernation. A cooling unit for cooling the display space of the above live fish display case; A display section that visually displays various types of information; A detection unit that detects whether a live fish packaging container is displayed at each product display location, which is the location where each of the above live fish packaging containers is displayed; and A live fish display case comprising a control unit that displays information about products displayed at each product display location through the display unit based on the detection results of the detection unit.

8. In paragraph 7, A live fish display case, wherein the control unit is configured to display, on the display unit, information on the time elapsed since the live fish packaging container was displayed at each product display location, based on the detection result of the detection unit.

9. In paragraph 7, The above display section is a live fish display case installed in a one-to-one correspondence to each product display location.

10. In paragraph 7, A live fish display case in which the above display section is configured to display information about products displayed in two or more of the above product display locations.

11. In paragraph 7, Includes at least one shelf having a plurality of product display positions, A live fish display case characterized in that the above shelves are installed at an angle so that the front end is lower than the rear end.

12. In paragraph 7, A live fish display case further comprising an oxygen injection means for injecting oxygen into the oxygen injection port of each live fish packaging container displayed in each of the above product display locations.

13. In paragraph 7, A live fish display case further comprising a gas information acquisition unit that interfaces with a gas sensor unit of a live fish packaging container displayed at each of the above product display locations to acquire information on the amount of gas present in the internal space of the live fish packaging container.

14. In paragraph 13, A live fish display case, wherein the control unit is configured to display gas amount information acquired through the gas information acquisition unit on the display unit.

15. In paragraph 13, A live fish display case further comprising an oxygen injection means for injecting oxygen into the oxygen injection port of each live fish packaging container displayed in each of the above product display locations.

16. In paragraph 15, A live fish display case, wherein the control unit is configured to control the oxygen injection means according to gas amount information obtained through the gas information obtaining unit.

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