US2949882A - Live fish package - Google Patents

Description

A1189 9 1960 G. L. THOMAS, JR 2,949,882

LIVE FISH PACKAGE Filed June 27, 1958 INVENTOR. GEORGE L-THOMA$ 3'2.

BY Wm WVQMM ATTORNEYS LIVE FISH PACKAGE George L. Thomas, Jr., Three Springs Fisheries, Lilypons, Md.

Filed June 27, 1958, Ser. No. 745,153

2 Claims. (Cl. 119- 3) The present invention relates to a package for live fish.

An object of the present invention is to provide a package having live fish contained therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a package for live fish which lends itself to the efiicient packaging of live fish for either storage or display without chance of spillage.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a package for live fish which is simple in construction, and one which is economically feasible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure l is an isometric view of the sack prior to filling with water and live fish;

Figure 2 is a view on an enlarged scale with the central portion broken away, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an isometric view showing the sack of Figure 1 being filled with a quantity of live fish suspended in water;

Figure 4 shows a further step in the production of the package of the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a still further step in the production of the package of the method of the present invention;

Figure 6 shows the finished package in isometric view; and

Figure 7 is an isometric view of a modified form of the package according to the present invention.

In the production for packaging live fish in a container having a life-sustaining atmosphere, first an upstanding, flat, and closed ended thermoplastic or polyethylene flexible envelope or sack 10 is provided, as shown in Figure 1. One upper end corner of the sack 10 is cut away, as at 12, to form a slit.

Next, as in Figure 3, a quantity of live fish 14 suspended in water 16 is introduced through the slit formed by the cut-away portion 12 into the sack 10 to a predetermined level.

Next, the sack 10 is manually manipulated to compress the lower end and then the upper end down toward 2,949,882 Patented Aug. 23, 1960 the water level to evacuate all or substantially all of the air contained in the sack 10 above the water 16. A tube or nozzle 18 is now introduced through the slit formed by the cut-away portion of the sack 10, the tube or nozzle '18 being connected to a source of oxygen under pressure, and the portion of the sack 10 adjacent the slit is compressed about the tube or nozzle 18 to make the slit substantially sealed about the nozzle 18. Oxygen is now admitted through the nozzle 18 to the area within the sack 10 above the water 16, as in Figure 4, whereupon the tube is withdrawn without permitting the escape of oxygen. Then a crimping tool or heating tool 20 is applied to the portion of the sack 10 below the cut-away portion '12 to seal the sack 10 with the charge of oxygen above the surface of the water providing a life-sustaining atmosphere within the sack 10. The finished sack 10 with its life-sustaining atmosphere is shown in Figure 6 ready for display or storage.

In Figure 7 a modified form of the sack is shown in which the open upper end is heat-sealed after one or more fish 14 have been introduced into the sack with a charge of water 16 and the oxygen admitted to the space above the water prior to sealing of the open upper end of the sack 10'.

Preferably, a funnel 22 is used when filling the sack with the charge of water and contained fish, although such use is optional.

The package produced by the method of the present invention may be used effectively in display of tropical fish for purposes of the sale of the same, the package having a novel appearance and attracting the attention of prospective purchasers when suitably displayed. The package produced by the method of the present invention may be stored in quantities in a larger carton without injury to the contained fish and without chance of spillage during storage or transit. The advantages of the closed package are obvious to the prospective customer and the package may be included with other parcels in the handbag or shopping bag of the customer without either danger of spillage or rupture of the package.

What is claimed is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a flexible transparent closed thermoplastic sack filled to a predetermined level with live fish suspended in water, and having the space above said level filled with oxygen.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a flexible transparent closed sack fabricated wholly of polyethylene and filled to a predetermined level with live fish suspended in water, and having the space above said level filled with oxygen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,542,957 Adams Feb. 20, 1951 2,549,040 Adams Apr. 17, 1951 2,652,807 Washburn Sept. 22, 1953

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