Devices, systems, and methods for transporting live insects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12114647-B2
Application number	US-202117447585-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2021
Priority date	Sep 14, 2020
Publication date	Oct 15, 2024
Grant date	Oct 15, 2024

Abstract

An insect container for transportation of live insects including a first and second container portion. The first and second container portions are configured to be coupled together to enclose a volume. Each of the first and second container portions include a backing plate defining a set of vent holes. The backing plate is rotatable when the insect container is in an open configuration. Each of the first and second container portions include a wall defining a container perimeter and including a non-rotating coupling feature, in which the backing plate and the wall together define a cavity. The non-rotating coupling features of the first and second container portions enable the container portions to couple together to fully enclose a volume to prevent relative rotation of the first and second container portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An insect container, comprising;
a first container portion and a second container portion, the first container portion configured to be coupled to the second container portion to enclose a volume, each of the first and second container portions comprising:
a backing plate, wherein:
the respective backing plate defines a plurality of vent holes providing a conduit for air to travel through the backing plate to provide air to insects when the insects are stored in the insect container; and
the respective backing plate is rotatable about a respective axis of rotation perpendicular to the backing plate when the insect container is in an open configuration; and

a wall extending from a first surface of the respective backing plate in a direction parallel to the respective axis of rotation, the wall defining a container perimeter and including a non-rotating coupling feature at a distal end of the wall from the backing plate, wherein:
the backing plate and the wall together define a cavity;
the non-rotating coupling feature of the first container portion comprises a continuous perimeter of male interfaces or a continuous perimeter of female interfaces;
the non-rotating coupling feature of the second container portion comprises a continuous perimeter of corresponding female interfaces or a continuous perimeter of corresponding male interfaces; and
the non-rotating coupling feature of the first container portion and the non-rotating coupling feature of the second container portion enable the first and second container portions to couple together to fully enclose a volume comprising the cavity and prevent relative rotation of the first and second container portions.

2. The insect container of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of vent holes have a cross-sectional dimension less than a size of representative insect to be stored inside the insect container.

3. The insect container of claim 1 , wherein each backing plate comprises an engaging surface at a perimeter of the respective backing plate, and wherein the respective engaging surface defines a set of protrusions extending in a plane defined by the backing plate radially away from a center of the backing plate, and wherein the set of protrusions are configured to engage with a rotating mechanism at the respective engaging surface to rotate the respective first or second container portion.

4. The insect container of claim 3 , wherein the set of protrusions comprises gear teeth around the perimeter of the respective backing plate, and wherein each respective backing plate is circular.

5. The insect container of claim 1 , wherein the container perimeter forms a circular shape and wherein the container perimeter is concentric with the perimeter of the backing plate.

6. The insect container of claim 1 , wherein the container perimeter has a first diameter and the backing plate has a second diameter, the first diameter smaller than the second diameter.

7. The insect container of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first container portion or the second container portion comprises a compressible foam insert.

8. The insect container of claim 7 , wherein the compressible foam insert comprises an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion concentric with the outer portion with the inner portion having a first height and the outer portion having a second height, the second height greater than the first height.

9. The insect container of claim 1 , wherein:
the continuous perimeter of male interfaces or the continuous perimeter of female interfaces of the non-rotating coupling feature of the first container portion are first scalloped surfaces; and
the continuous perimeter of corresponding female interfaces or the continuous perimeter of corresponding male interfaces of the non-rotating coupling feature of the second container portion are second scalloped surfaces.

10. An insect container, comprising;
a first container portion, comprising:
a first circular backing plate; and
a first raised wall extending from a first surface of the first circular backing plate, an edge of the first raised wall opposite the first circular backing plate including a first profile comprising a continuous perimeter of male interfaces or a continuous perimeter of female interfaces;

a second container portion, comprising:
a second circular backing plate; and
a second raised wall extending from a second surface of the second circular backing plate, an edge of the second raised wall opposite the second backing plate including a second profile comprising a continuous perimeter of corresponding female interfaces or a continuous perimeter of corresponding male interfaces, wherein the first profile and the second profile mate together to:
releasably interlock the first container portion and the second container portion; and
prevent rotation of the first container portion with respect to the second container portion; and

wherein the first container portion and the second container portion define an interior volume configured to retain a population of insects when interlocked with each other.

11. The insect container of claim 10 , wherein each of the first circular backing plate and the second circular backing plate comprise teeth formed around respective perimeters thereof, and wherein the teeth formed in the first circular backing plate and the second circular backing plate each comprise a series of gear teeth that enable rotation of the first circular backing plate and the second circular backing plate when engaged with a rotating mechanism having mating teeth.

12. The insect container of claim 10 , wherein the first profile and the second profile each comprise a scalloped profile.

13. The insect container of claim 10 , wherein the first profile comprises a male connector and the second profile comprises a female connector, wherein the male connector and the female connector releasably couple together to secure the first container portion and the second container portion together.

14. The insect container of claim 10 , further comprising a retaining device comprising a flexible band to maintain the first container portion and the second container portion in contact with one another along the edge of the first raised wall and the second raised wall, respectively.

15. The insect container of claim 10 , further comprising a foam insert, wherein an outer perimeter of the foam insert matches an inner perimeter of the first raised wall of the first container portion, and wherein the foam insert comprises a raised edge around the outer perimeter of the foam insert such that the foam insert defines an insect support cavity.

16. The insect container of claim 10 , wherein the first circular backing plate and the second circular backing plate each define a plurality of vent holes providing a conduit between the first surface and a second third surface of the first circular backing plate and the second surface and a fourth surface of the second circular backing plate.

17. The insect container of claim 16 , wherein the vent holes each have a cross-sectional dimension less than a cephalothorax diameter of an insect.

18. The insect container of claim 10 , wherein each of the first circular backing plate and the second circular backing plate comprise teeth formed around respective perimeters thereof, and wherein the teeth of the first circular backing plate and the teeth of the second circular backing plate extend beyond an outer perimeter of the first raised wall and the second raised wall, respectively.

Assignees

• Verily Life Sciences Llc

Inventors

• Massaro Peter
• Behling Charles
• Wasson Brian

Classifications

• B65D81/2084

  in a flexible container · CPC title

• B65B31/00

  Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers · CPC title

• B65D85/50

  for living organisms, articles or materials sensitive to changes of environment or atmospheric conditions, e.g. land animals, birds, fish, water plants, non-aquatic plants, flower bulbs, cut flowers or foliage · CPC title

• B65B2220/16

  Packaging contents into primary and secondary packaging · CPC title

• B65D81/3825

  rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container with one or more containers located inside the external container · CPC title