U.S. patent application number 10/329806 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-01 for cap for vacuum container.
Invention is credited to Chen, Jen-Fu.
Application Number | 20040123916 10/329806 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32654363 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040123916 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen, Jen-Fu |
July 1, 2004 |
Cap for vacuum container
Abstract
A vacuum storage device includes a can, a cap for closing the
can, an inflatable seal for better sealing a gap between the can
and the cap and a pump for pumping air from the can to the exterior
and into the seal. The cap includes a collar and a disk formed on
an internal face of the collar, thus defining an upper space in the
collar above the disk for receiving the pump and a lower space in
the collar under the disk for receiving the seal. The cap may
include an annular rib formed on a lower side of the disk, and the
seal may be installed between the collar and the annular rib. The
annular rib may include an annular flange for retaining the seal in
position. The pump may include a first duct and a second duct. The
first duct extends through an orifice defined in the disk within
the annular rib so that air can be pumped from the can through the
duct when the cap is mounted on the can. The second duct extends
through a second orifice defined in the disk into an orifice
defined in the seal so that air can be pumped into the seal through
the second duct. A cover may be mounted on the collar for shielding
the pump in the upper space. A manual switch may be mounted on the
cover and connected with the pump. A pressure sensitive switch may
be connected with the pump and communicated with the can for
detecting the pressure in the can and controls the pump based on
the pressure in the can.
Inventors: |
Chen, Jen-Fu; (Feng Yuan
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Alan D. Kamrath
Rider, Bennett, Egan & Arundel, LLP
Suite 2000
333 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
32654363 |
Appl. No.: |
10/329806 |
Filed: |
December 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/65 ; 141/95;
220/203.19; 53/210 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 31/046
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/065 ;
141/095; 220/203.19; 053/210 |
International
Class: |
B65B 001/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vacuum storage device including: a can; a cap for closing the
can; a seal for sealing a gap between the can and the cap, the seal
being inflatable for adequate sealing; and a pump for pumping air
from the can to the exterior and into the seal.
2. The vacuum storage device according to claim 1 wherein the cap
includes a collar and a disk formed on an internal face of the
collar, thus defining an upper space in the collar above the disk
for receiving the pump and a lower space in the collar under the
disk for receiving the seal.
3. The vacuum storage device according to claim 2 wherein the cap
includes an annular rib formed on a lower side of the disk, and the
seal is installed between the collar and the annular rib.
4. The vacuum storage device according to claim 3 wherein the
annular rib includes an annular flange for retaining the seal in
position.
5. The vacuum storage device according to claim 2 wherein the pump
includes: a first duct extending through an orifice defined in the
disk within the annular rib so that air can be pumped from the
space through the duct when the cap is mounted on the can; and a
second duct extending through a second orifice defined in the disk
into an orifice defined in the seal so that air can be pumped into
the seal through the second duct.
6. The vacuum storage device according to claim 2 including a cover
mounted on the collar for shielding the pump in the upper
space.
7. The vacuum storage device according to claim 6 including a
manual switch mounted on the cover and connected with the pump.
8. The vacuum storage device according to claim 2 including a
pressure sensitive switch connected with the pump and communicated
with the can for detecting the pressure in the can and controls the
pump based on the pressure in the can.
9. The vacuum storage device according to claim 8 wherein the
pressure sensitive switch is received in the upper space and
supported on an upper side of the disk.
10. The vacuum storage device according to claim 9 wherein the
pressure sensitive switch includes a differential pressure
transducer extending through a third orifice defined in the disk
within the annular rib, a chip and a connector through which the
pressure sensitive switch can be connected with the pump.
11. The vacuum storage device according to claim 10 wherein the
differential pressure transducer includes a duct and a sensor
inserted in the duct.
12. The vacuum storage device according to claim 10 wherein when
the cap is mounted onto the can, the pressure sensitive switch
detects an increase on the pressure and accordingly sends an ON
signal to the chip, and on receiving this ON signal, the chip
actuates the pump.
13. The vacuum storage device according to claim 10 wherein when
the pressure in the can is reduced to a certain value, the
differential pressure transducer detects this phenomenon and sends
an OFF signal to the chip, and on receiving this OFF signal, the
chip stops the pump.
14. The vacuum storage device according to claim 10 wherein if air
enters the can so that the pressure in the can increases to a
certain value, the differential pressure transducer will detect
this increase on the pressure and send an ON signal to the chip,
and on receiving this ON signal, the chip will actuate the
pump.
15. The vacuum storage device according to claim 8 including a
cover mounted on the collar for shielding the pump 6 and the
pressure sensitive switch received in the upper space.
16. The vacuum storage device according to claim 15 including a
manual switch mounted on the cover and connected with the pressure
sensitive switch.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field Of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cap for a vacuum
container.
[0003] 2. Related Prior Art
[0004] Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 302897 discloses a vacuum
safe including a plurality of chambers. Each chamber includes a
doorframe and a door 21 equipped with a seal 22 for airtight
engagement with the doorframe. After the doors 21 are opened and
closed many times, the seals 22 might become deformed. When this
happens, the seals 22 will provide inadequate effect of sealing,
and a large force must be exerted on the doors 21 against such the
doorframes for quite some time before adequate vacuum occurs in the
chamber due to sufficient air pumped from the space. Forcing the
doors 21 against the doorframes is however troublesome.
[0005] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at
least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0006] It is the primary objective of the present invention to
provide an adequate vacuum storage device.
[0007] According to the present invention, a vacuum storage device
includes a can, a cap for closing the can, an inflatable seal for
better sealing a gap between the can and the cap and a pump for
pumping air from the can to the exterior and into the seal.
[0008] The cap includes a collar and a disk formed on an internal
face of the collar, thus defining an upper space in the collar
above the disk for receiving the pump and a lower space in the
collar under the disk for receiving the seal. The cap may include
an annular rib formed on a lower side of the disk, and the seal may
be installed between the collar and the annular rib. The annular
rib may include an annular flange for retaining the seal in
position.
[0009] The pump may include a first duct and a second duct. The
first duct extends through an orifice defined in the disk within
the annular rib so that air can be pumped from the can through the
duct when the cap is mounted on the can. The second duct extends
through a second orifice defined in the disk into an orifice
defined in the seal so that air can be pumped into the seal through
the second duct.
[0010] A cover may be mounted on the collar for shielding the pump
in the upper space. A manual switch may be mounted on the cover and
connected with the pump.
[0011] A pressure sensitive switch may be connected with the pump
and communicated with the can for detecting the pressure in the can
and controls the pump based on the pressure in the can.
[0012] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the attached
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention will be described through detailed
illustration of embodiments referring to the attached drawings
wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum storage device
including a can and a cap according to the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but showing the cap in a cutaway
view.
[0016] FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the vacuum
storage device shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1.about.4, according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, a vacuum storage device
includes a can 2, a cap 4, a pump 6, a pressure sensitive switch 8,
a power unit 9 and a seal 10.
[0018] The can 2 defines a space 21 for storing articles. The can 2
includes a closed lower end and an open upper end.
[0019] The cap 4 can be mounted on the can 2. The cap 4 includes a
collar 40 and a disk 41 formed on an internal face of the collar
40. An upper space 42 is defined in the collar 40 above the disk
41, and a lower space 43 is defined in the collar 40 under the disk
41. An annular rib 44 is formed on a lower side of the disk 41. The
annular rib 44 includes an annular flange.
[0020] The seal 10 is installed between the collar 40 and the
annular rib 44. The seal 10 is retained in position by means of the
annular flange of the annular rib 44. The seal 10 is hollow and
inflatable.
[0021] The pump 6 is received in the upper space 42 and supported
on an upper side of the disk 41. The pump 6 includes a first duct
61 and a second duct 62. The first duct 61 extends through an
orifice defined in the disk 41 within the annular rib 44. When the
cap 4 is mounted on the can 2, air can be pumped from the space 21
through the duct 61. The second duct 62 extends through a second
orifice defined in the disk 41 between the collar 40 and the
annular rib 44 into an orifice defined in the seal 10. Thus, air
can be pumped into the seal 10 through the second duct 62.
[0022] The pressure sensitive switch 8 is received in the upper
space 42 and supported on an upper side of the disk 41. The
pressure sensitive switch 8 includes a differential pressure
transducer 81 extending through a third orifice defined in the disk
41 within the annular rib 44, a chip 82 and a connector 83 through
which the pressure sensitive switch 8 can be connected with the
pump 6. The differential pressure transducer 81 includes a duct 84
and a sensor 85 inserted in the duct 84.
[0023] A cover 7 is mounted on the collar 40 for shielding the pump
6 and the pressure sensitive switch 8 received in the upper space
42. A manual switch 71 is mounted on the cover 7. The manual switch
71 is connected with the pressure sensitive switch 8 through a
cable (not numbered).
[0024] The power unit 9 includes a cable 91 and a plug 92. The
cable 91 extends through a hole defined in the collar 40. The cable
91 includes an end in connection with the pressure sensitive switch
8 and an opposite end at which the plug 92 is formed.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the cap 4 is mounted on the can
2. The cap 4 is moved toward the can 2. The air in the space 21 is
compressed so that the pressure thereof is increased. The pressure
sensitive switch 8 detects this increase on the pressure and
accordingly sends an ON signal to the chip 82. On receiving this ON
signal, the chip 82 actuates the pump 6 in order to suck air from
the space 21 through the first duct 61. Moreover, the pump 6 blows
into the seal 10 through the second duct 62. The seal 10 is
inflated for better engagement with the open upper end of the can 2
regarding sealing.
[0026] When the pressure in the can 2 is reduced to a certain
value, the differential pressure transducer 81 detects this
phenomenon and sends an OFF signal to the chip 82. On receiving
this OFF signal, the chip 82 stops the pump 6.
[0027] If air enters the can 2, the pressure in the can 2 will
increase, and the differential pressure transducer 81 will detect
this increase on the pressure and sends the ON signal to the chip
82. On receiving this ON signal, the chip 82 actuates the pump 6,
and repeats the foregoing process.
[0028] The present invention has been described through detailed
illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art
can derive many variations from the preferred embodiment without
departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the
preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present
invention. The scope of the present invention is defined in the
attached claims.
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