US 7,320,409 B2
Palletizable container for preserving and transporting agricultural or horticultural products
Jonathan Stagnetto, Gibraltar (United Kingdom)
Assigned to Galini Associates Ltd., Gibraltar (United Kingdom)
Appl. No. 10/535,505
PCT Filed Nov. 18, 2003, PCT No. PCT/IB03/05248
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date May 18, 2005,
PCT Pub. No. WO2004/045984, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 03, 2004.
Claims priority of application No. 02 14513 (FR), filed on Nov. 20, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2006/0037883 A1, Feb. 23, 2006
Int. Cl. B65D 6/28 (2006.01); B65D 8/18 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 220—4.27  [206/509] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A palletizable container for preserving and transporting, in a controlled atmosphere and under a controlled pressure, any produce requiring a particular atmosphere during storage, the container comprising:
a bottom element having wall means completely impermeable to gas and vapor,
a member controlling the flow of gas and vapor between an inside of said container and an outside, said member being integrated into said wall means,
a plurality of rigid stackable intermediate elements, each having an open upper portion, an openwork bottom, and side peripheral walls completely impermeable to gas and vapor, and each being capable of containing loose, packed or semi-packed produce,
a rigid cover element completely impermeable to gas and vapor,
connection means for fastening the bottom element, the peripheral wails, and the cover element to each other, said connection means being included in the bottom element, in the intermediate elements, and in the cover element,
means for providing a seal between the bottom element, the peripheral walls, and the cover element so that they are connected in a sealed manner,
wherein the connection means comprise a downwardly open groove formed on a lower circumference of each of the intermediate elements and of the cover element, into which an upper circumference of the element stacked immediately below one of the intermediate elements or the cover element is capable of being inserted, and the lower circumference of each of the intermediate elements and of the cover element also has, around the groove, a rib with a U shaped section and the upper circumference of each of the intermediate elements or bottom element comprises at its periphery a gutter with a U shaped section to receive the rib of the element stacked immediately above one of the intermediate elements or the bottom element.