Produce Keeper Venting and Drainage for Fresh Washed Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional containers for storing cut or washed produce fail to provide optimal moisture and airflow, leading to inconvenience and potential mold and bacteria growth, as they either get other produce wet or promote moisture retention.
Innovation Solution
A container with a vessel having passages for fluid drainage, secure lids for sealing, and optional dividers for compartmentalization, along with a vent system for airflow control, allowing for efficient rinsing and storage while preventing water accumulation and ensuring freshness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If produce is washed and stored in a sealed container, then convenience is improved, but mold and bacteria growth is promoted due to moisture accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The container incorporates a moisture-absorbing material that functions as a porous structure to actively manage moisture within the container, preventing water accumulation that would otherwise promote mold and bacteria growth while maintaining the sealed container benefits
Solution Approach 2:
A separate compartment or layer is introduced as an intermediary between the produce and the bottom of the container, serving as a moisture collection zone that prevents direct contact between produce and accumulated water, thereby eliminating the harmful effect while preserving convenience
2Reliability
If produce is stored in a sealed container, then freshness is preserved, but airflow is restricted leading to moisture accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed container includes integrated porous moisture-absorbing material that passively manages moisture through capillary action and adsorption, maintaining the sealed environment for freshness while actively removing excess moisture through the porous structure
Solution Approach 2:
The container design changes the moisture management approach from passive sealing to active moisture control through material selection, using hygroscopic or porous materials that dynamically adjust moisture levels while maintaining the sealed atmosphere
3Object-affected harmful factors
If produce drawer is used for storage, then airflow is maintained, but other produce gets wet when one produce is washed
Solution Approach 1:
The solution segments the storage system by providing an individual sealed container for washed produce, isolating it from other produce in the drawer. This segmentation prevents water transfer while the container's internal moisture management system maintains appropriate airflow and humidity for the contained produce
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed container acts as an intermediary barrier between the washed produce and the rest of the produce drawer, preventing water from spreading to other produce while the container's internal design maintains proper airflow conditions for the contained produce
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 manages moisture and airflow, maintaining produce freshness and convenience by allowing for easy rinsing and storage of cut produce, preventing mold and bacteria growth while keeping other produce dry.
Implementation Method 1
A floor of the vessel has one or more passages such as slots or holes formed therein to permit fluid to pass through the floor
Implementation Method 2
A vent system for airflow control, allowing for efficient rinsing and storage while preventing water accumulation and ensuring freshness
Data Source
AI summary
A fresh produce keeper includes a vessel having a floor and upwardly extending sidewalls. Holes in the floor allow the vessel to be used as a colander or strainer to rinse produce, while a lid fits over the floor to retain water within the vessel, thereby allowing the same vessel to be used for both rinsing and service or storage. An internal divider and air vent is also provided in some examples of the invention.