Fruit ripening ethylene gas storage and dispensing system and container therefor

摘要

A fruit ripening system (100) is provided for ripening fruit with ethylene gas (30). The fruit ripening system (100) includes an outer housing (110) having a frontal wall (112) pivotedly coupled to side wall (120) by a hinge (114). Interior to housing (110) there is provided an interior resilient support member (132) having a plurality of cutout portions (136, 140, 142) for respective receipt of portions of ethylene storage and dispensing assembly (150). Shoulder portions (138, 144 and 146) are provided for engaging recess portions formed in ethylene storage and dispensing assembly (150) for securely engaging assembly (150) within the cutout portions formed in resilient member (132). A resilient cover member (134) coupled to the frontal wall member (112) is provided to provide a resilient closure for the cutout openings (136, 140 and 142). Ethylene storage and dispensing assembly (150) is provided with a flow control assembly (160) which is preadjusted to provide a predetermined flow rate through a funnel shaped nozzle (172) sealingly engaged with a through opening (148) formed in resilient member 134 and axially aligned with a through opening (116) formed in frontal wall member (112) for dispensing of the ethylene gas therethrough.