Package for perishable goods

Abstract

The present invention generally pertains to a biodegradable package for packaging perishable goods such as fruits and vegetables. More specifically, the present invention relates to a package comprising a container for receiving the food product therein, a porous membrane for closing the container while allowing gas to circulate inside and outside the container and a perforated lid for protecting the porous membrane and allowing stockpiling on numerous packages onto one another.

1 . A package adapted for packaging a perishable good, said package comprising:
 a container defining a chamber adapted for receiving therein said perishable good;   a porous membrane secured to said container for closing said chamber while allowing a gas circulation between said chamber and an environment surrounding said package;   protection means mounted to said container over said porous membrane for protecting said porous membrane against unwanted breakage thereof, said protection means comprising at least one vent hole for enabling said gas circulation.   
   
   
       2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said protection means comprises a lid. 
   
   
       3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said container, said porous membrane and said protection means is manufactured using a biodegradable material. 
   
   
       4 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein said biodegradable material comprises a transparent biodegradable material. 
   
   
       5 . The package of  claim 4 , wherein said biodegradable material comprises Polyactic Acid (PLA). 
   
   
       6 . The package of  claim 5 , wherein said package has a circular shape. 
   
   
       7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said perishable good is selected from a group consisting of a food product, a non-comestible organic matter, a non-comestible organism and an animal. 
   
   
       8 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein said food product comprises tomatoes. 
   
   
       9 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a label for marketing said perishable good. 
   
   
       10 . The package of  claim 9 , wherein said label comprises a biodegradable label. 
   
   
       11 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said porous membrane comprises a plurality of microperforations. 
   
   
       12 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein said microperforations are adapted for enabling said gas circulation while preventing the passage of a liquid. 
   
   
       13 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein each of said microperforations has a diameter ranging from about 10 micrometers to about 1 millimeter. 
   
   
       14 . The Package of  claim 13 , wherein each of said microperforations has a diameter ranging from about 20 micrometers to about 40 micrometers. 
   
   
       15 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of microperforations have a density ranging from about 0.25 microperforation per square inch to about 2000 microperforations per square inch. 
   
   
       16 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of microperforations have a density ranging from about 2.4 microperforations per square inch to about 3.7 microperforations per square inch. 
   
   
       17 . A kit for a package adapted for packaging a perishable good, said kit comprising:
 a container defining a chamber adapted for receiving therein said perishable good;   a porous membrane securable to said container for closing said chamber while allowing a gas circulation between said chamber and an environment surrounding said package;   protection means mountable to said container over said porous membrane for protecting said porous membrane against unwanted breakage thereof, said protection means comprising at least one vent hole for enabling said gas circulation.   
   
   
       18 . A method for packaging a perishable good, the method comprising:
 providing a container defining a chamber adapted for receiving therein said perishable good;   packing said perishable good in said chamber of said container;   securing a porous membrane to said container for closing said chamber of said container, said porous membrane being adapted for allowing a gas circulation between said chamber and an environment surrounding said package;   mounting a protection means to said container over said porous membrane, said protection means being adapted for protecting said porous membrane against unwanted breakage thereof and comprising at least one vent hole for enabling said gas circulation.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said securing of said porous membrane to said container comprises thermally treating said container and said porous membrane for causing adhesion of said porous membrane to said container. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said securing of said porous membrane to said container comprises gluing said porous membrane to said container.