Container for storing, displaying, and serving produce
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fresh produce is often forgotten in refrigerator drawers due to lack of visibility, leading to spoilage before it is consumed.
Innovation Solution
A container with a slotted tray, vertical extending wall, cover, and light source made of transparent material, allowing produce to breathe and moisture to be collected, while providing visibility and access, and extending shelf-life without refrigeration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If fresh produce is stored in a refrigerator drawer compartment, then the shelf-life of the produce is extended through refrigeration, but the produce becomes difficult to see and is often forgotten until it spoils
Solution Approach 1:
The container utilizes transparent or translucent materials to create visual visibility of the fresh produce stored within. The transparent walls and base allow users to see the produce without opening the container, eliminating the problem of forgotten produce while maintaining extended shelf-life through the container's moisture control and breathing capabilities.
2Reliability
If fresh produce is stored in a sealed container, then the produce is protected from contamination, but the produce cannot breathe and moisture accumulates leading to spoilage
Solution Approach 1:
The container incorporates a breathable insert made from porous or permeable material that allows air circulation and moisture evaporation while maintaining a protected environment. This breathable structure prevents moisture accumulation and enables the produce to breathe, extending shelf-life without compromising contamination protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The container uses composite construction combining transparent outer walls for visibility and protection with a breathable insert material for airflow. This composite approach integrates both protection and breathability functions in a unified container system.
3Loss of information
If fresh produce is stored in a transparent container at room temperature, then the produce is visually appealing and encourages consumption, but the shelf-life may be reduced compared to refrigeration
Solution Approach 1:
The breathable insert made from porous material allows continuous air exchange and moisture control, creating an optimal microenvironment that extends shelf-life even at room temperature. This enables the transparent container to maintain both visual appeal and extended freshness without refrigeration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The container effectively extends the shelf-life of fresh produce, encourages consumption by making it visually appealing, and allows for easy access and cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
the slotted tray, which allows the produce to breathe
Implementation Method 2
any excess moisture from the produce to be collected below the slotted tray on the bottom tray
Implementation Method 3
The light source shines light into the compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A container for storing, displaying, and serving fresh produce that extends the shelf life without refrigeration. The container includes a bottom tray, a slotted tray, a vertical extending wall, a cover, and a light source. The slotted tray sits above and nests within the bottom tray. The vertical wall removably extends from the bottom tray to form a compartment defined by the vertical wall and the bottom and slotted trays for fresh produce. The cover sits on the vertical wall enclosing the compartment. The light source shines light into the compartment.