Asparagus shipping container assembly and method of packing asparagus for transport

Abstract

An asparagus shipping container assembly and method of packing asparagus. The asparagus shipping container includes a body, preferably coated by a fluid impervious material, and a movably mounted access segment selectively disposable between opened and closed positions. The access segment, when moved to the open position defines an access opening in the body that is disposed, dimensioned and configured to facilitate both visual and physical access to the interior of the body as well as a laterally directed, rapid and space saving positioning of the asparagus therethrough into the interior of the body, while reducing the possibility of physical damage being done as with vertically directed placement and removal of the products through an open top of a conventional container. A closure assembly may then be disposed atop the body to maintain the access segment in its closed orientation for easy transport and if desired, passage through a spray wash. Once the filled asparagus container has arrived at an un-packing location, the closure assembly may be removed to permit easy movement of the access segment into its open position, and thereby to allow facilitated access to the asparagus contained inside the container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An asparagus shipping container assembly comprising: 
 a) a body having a hollow interior and including a sidewall assembly disposed in at least partially surrounding relation to said hollow interior;    b) said sidewall assembly including a plurality of sidewalls;    c) said body further including a base connected to said sidewall assembly and disposed in covering relation to one end of said hollow interior;    d) an access segment defined in one of said side walls, said access segment hindegly connected to said body and structured to be disposable between an opened position and a closed position;    e) said access segment defining an access opening in said side wall which communicates with an open interior of said body;    f) said access opening disposed and dimensioned to facilitate lateral positioning of an asparagus stalk into and out of said hollow interior therethrough; and    g) a cover assembly structured to be disposed atop said body, said cover assembly segment including at least one downwardly depending flange structured to overlap said sidewall in which said access segment is defined and at least a portion of said access segment so as to maintain said access segment disposed in said closed position.    
     
     
         2 . An asparagus shipping container assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said access segment includes a pair of peripheral edges, said peripheral edges being angled so as to at least partially taper said access segment towards said base.  
     
     
         3 . An asparagus shipping container assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said access segment is hingedly connected to said base.  
     
     
         4 . An asparagus shipping container assembly as recited in  claim 3  wherein said body and said cover assembly are coated by a fluid impervious material.  
     
     
         5 . An asparagus shipping container assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein said body comprises a plurality of apertures defined therein and structured to permit fluid flow therethrough into and out of said hollow interior.  
     
     
         6 . An asparagus shipping container assembly as recited in  claim 5  wherein said cover assembly comprises a plurality of apertures defined therein and structured to permit fluid flow therethrough into said hollow interior.  
     
     
         7 . An asparagus shipping container assembly comprising: 
 a) a body having a hollow interior and including a sidewall assembly disposed in at least partially surrounding relation to said hollow interior;    b) said sidewall assembly including a plurality of sidewalls;    c) said body further including a base connected to said sidewall assembly and disposed in covering relation to one end of said hollow interior;    d) an access segment defined in one of said side walls, said access segment hindegly connected to said body and structured to be disposable between an opened position and a closed position;    e) said access segment defining an access opening in said side wall which communicates with an open interior of said body;    f) said access opening disposed and dimensioned to facilitate lateral positioning of an asparagus stalk into and out of said hollow interior therethrough;    g) said access segment structured to be maintain in said closed position subsequent to position of said asparagus stalk into said hollow interior through said access opening;    h) said body coated by an at least temporarily fluid impervious material; and    i) said body including a plurality of apertures defined therein and structured to permit fluid flow therethrough into and out of said hollow interior.    
     
     
         8 . A method of packing asparagus for transport comprising: 
 a) hingedly moving an access segment on a side wall of an asparagus container into an open position to define an access opening;    b) laterally introducing at least one bunch of asparagus into a hollow interior of the container through said access opening;    c) vertically positioning said asparagus bunch in said hollow interior of said container;    d) moving said access segment into a closed position which contains said asparagus bunch in said hollow interior of said container;    e) securing said access segment in said closed position;    f) transporting said asparagus container containing said asparagus bunch to an unpacking location;    g) un-securing said access segment from its closed position;    h) moving said access segment to expose said access opening; and    i) accessing said asparagus bunch through said access opening and removing said asparagus bunch from said asparagus container.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising passing said asparagus container containing said asparagus bunch through a spray wash after said access segment is secured in said closed position.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein securing said access segment in said closed position comprises positioning a closure assembly atop said container to secure said access segment in said closed position.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein un-securing said access segment from said closed position comprises removing said closure assembly from atop said container to release said access segment from said closed position.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising passing said asparagus container containing said asparagus bunch through a spray wash after said closure assembly is positioned atop said container.