Sealed Crisper Venting With Humidity Membrane to Limit Condensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional crisper designs for storing fruits and vegetables in high humidity environments often lead to condensation buildup, which can cause physical or microbiological damage due to excess moisture, necessitating a solution to control humidity levels effectively.
Innovation Solution
A crisper with a humidity control unit featuring a membrane that allows controlled release of humid air, maintaining optimal humidity levels within the sealed environment without external intervention, using a Tyvek membrane sized appropriately for the crisper volume to minimize condensation risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the crisper is sealed to maintain high humidity, then humidity control is improved, but condensation buildup occurs causing physical or microbiological damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a humidity control membrane with specific porosity characteristics that allows water vapor to pass through while blocking liquid condensation. The membrane's porous structure enables selective permeability based on phase state, permitting controlled humidity exchange while preventing harmful condensation accumulation inside the crisper.
Solution Approach 2:
The humidity control membrane acts as an intermediary element between the sealed crisper interior and the external environment. It mediates the exchange of water vapor while maintaining the sealed condition, allowing the crisper to remain closed for humidity retention while enabling controlled moisture release through the membrane's selective properties.
2Reliability
If the crisper is completely sealed, then humidity is maintained, but no external control is needed which conflicts with condensation prevention
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves self-regulating humidity control through the membrane's inherent properties. The membrane automatically responds to humidity gradients by permitting vapor transmission when internal humidity exceeds external levels, eliminating the need for active control mechanisms while preventing excess moisture accumulation through passive osmotic balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane's permeability parameters are specifically selected to change effectiveness based on humidity differential. The membrane allows vapor passage when the humidity gradient favors outward diffusion, but restricts flow when gradients reverse, dynamically adjusting to maintain optimal humidity without active control.
3Reliability
If a humidity control membrane is added, then humidity can be controlled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a thin-film humidity control membrane that integrates into the crisper structure with minimal added complexity. The membrane's flexible, thin-film nature allows it to be incorporated into existing crisper designs without requiring substantial structural modifications, maintaining simplicity while adding controlled permeability functionality.
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 crisper maintains optimal humidity levels, reducing condensation and promoting fresh preservation of fruits and vegetables by automatically regulating humidity through controlled air exchange, ensuring the produce remains fresh and crisp.
Implementation Method 1
The membrane is designed to allow water vapor to pass through from the inside of the sealed crisper to the outside of the sealed crisper. The crisper is vented to the environment at a rate to control the humidity inside the crisper.
Implementation Method 2
The membrane is designed to allow water vapor to pass through from the inside of the sealed crisper to the outside of the sealed crisper
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a crisper for preservation of food. The crisper (10) comprises a box (12) and a top (14)—When the crisper (10) is in a closed position the box (12) is air tight sealed to the top (14). A humidity control unit (16) is provided and adapted to allow humid air to exit the crisper via a 5 humidity control membrane (26) located in the humidity control unit (16).