U.S. patent application number 10/386979 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-16 for enclosure for preserving perishable goods.
Invention is credited to Kozak, Burton.
Application Number | 20040177595 10/386979 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32961791 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040177595 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kozak, Burton |
September 16, 2004 |
Enclosure for preserving perishable goods
Abstract
An enclosure 10 for preserving perishable goods 14 includes an
inner portion 12 for removably receiving perishable goods 14, an
outer portion 16 that removably receives a vacuum device 18 such as
a vacuum cleaner which removes air from the enclosure 10 after the
goods 14 have been inserted into the inner portion 12, a sealable
outer seal 20 that provides an air tight boundary between the
enclosure 10 and an end portion 22 of the vacuum device 18 to
promote the removal of air from the enclosure 10, and a sealable
inner seal 24 that provides an air tight boundary for the inner
portion 12 and the goods 14 therein after the removal of air from
the enclosure 10 and while the vacuum device 18 remains engaged
with the outer seal 20; the vacuum device 18 being separated from
the outer seal 20 after the removal of air from the inner portion
12 and the air tight sealing of the inner seal 24 whereby the
perishable goods 14 are encased in a vacuum sealed inner portion 12
of the enclosure 10 to preserve the perishable goods 14 after the
goods 14 are frozen.
Inventors: |
Kozak, Burton; (Chicago,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHERSROV AND FLAYNIK
SUITE 1447
20 N. WACKER DR.
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
32961791 |
Appl. No.: |
10/386979 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/434 ;
53/412 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 31/04 20130101;
B65D 81/2023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
053/434 ;
053/412 |
International
Class: |
B65B 031/06 |
Claims
1. An enclosure for preserving perishable goods comprising: an
inner portion for removably receiving perishable goods; an outer
portion that removably receives a vacuum device that promotes the
removal of air from said enclosure after the perishable goods have
been inserted into said inner portion; outer seal means for
providing an air tight seal between said enclosure and the vacuum
device to promote the removal of air from said enclosure; and inner
seal means for providing an air tight seal for said inner portion
and the goods therein after the removal of air from said enclosure
and while the vacuum device remains engaged with said outer seal
means, the vacuum device being separated from said outer seal means
after the removal of air from said inner portion and the air tight
sealing of said inner seal means whereby the perishable goods are
encased in a vacuum sealed inner portion of said enclosure to
preserve the perishable goods after freezing the goods.
2. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said inner and outer portions
are deformable.
3. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said inner and outer portions
include a freezer bag configuration.
4. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said inner and outer seal means
include freezer bag seals.
5. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said vacuum device includes a
vacuum cleaner.
6. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said outer seal means includes
means for receiving an air removal portion of a vacuum cleaner.
7. The enclosure of claim 6 wherein said means for receiving an air
removal portion includes means for engaging a sealed portion of
said outer seal means whereby an air tight seal is maintained
between the air removal portion of the vacuum cleaner and said
sealed portion of said outer seal means.
8. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein said engaging means includes
two substantially triangular configured members that congruently
engage the air removal portion of the vacuum cleaner and an
unsealed portion of said outer seal means when said vacuum device
is inserted into said outer portion.
9. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein said members include means for
promoting engagement between said enclosure and the air removal
portion of the vacuum cleaner.
10. The enclosure of claim 9 wherein said promotion means includes
configuring said members to extend into said outer portion a
distance that allows said inner seal means to seal and that
maintains separation between the air removal portion of the vacuum
cleaner and said outer portion irrespective of the vacuum force
generated by the vacuum device.
11. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said inner portion includes
triangular configured end walls to promote the vertical positioning
of said enclosure.
12. The enclosure of claim 11 wherein said end walls include
triangular configured seams to promote the collapsing of said end
walls upon the removing of air from said enclosure.
13. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said enclosure includes
gripping flaps.
14. The enclosure of claim 13 wherein said gripping flaps joined at
a mid-portion via an airtight seal.
15. An improved freezer bag comprising: a first portion that
removably receives food items; a second portion adjacent to said
first portion, said first and second portions being separated by
sealable first air tight seal; and a sealable second air tight seal
disposed to removably receive an end portion of an air removing
device and seal the end portion such that an air removal port is
disposed in only the second portion to ultimately remove air from
said second portion and unsealed first portion until a vacuum is
generated in said first and second portions whereupon said first
air tight seal is sealed whereby a vacuum remains in said first
portion when the end portion of the air removing device is removed
from the second portion thereby preserving the food items in said
first portion.
16. The freezer bag of claim 15 wherein said first and second
portions are deformable.
17. The freezer bag of claim 15 wherein said sealable second air
tight seal removably receives means for promoting an air tight seal
between the end portion of the air removing device and said
sealable second air tight seal.
18. The freezer bag of claim 17 wherein said promoting means
includes two substantially triangular configured members that
congruently engage the end portion of the air removing device and
an unsealed portion of said sealable second air tight seal when the
end portion is inserted into said second portion.
19. The freezer bag of claim 17 wherein said members include means
for promoting engagement between said freezer bag and the end
portion of the air removing device.
20 The freezer bag of claim 19 wherein said promoting means
includes configuring said members to extend into said second
portion a distance that allows said first air tight seal to seal
and maintain separation between the air removal port of the end
portion and said second portion of said freezer bag irrespective of
the vacuum force generated by the air removing device.
21. A method for preserving perishable goods, said method
comprising the steps of: providing a deformable enclosure having a
first portion that removably receives the perishable goods, and
having a second portion that removably receives an end portion of
an air removing device; providing a sealable first air tight seal
that separates said first and second portions of said deformable
enclosure; and providing a sealable second air tight seal that
receives the end portion of the air removing device such that an
air removal port is disposed in only the second portion of the
deformable enclosure to ultimately remove air from said second and
un-sealed first portions until a vacuum occurs in said second and
un-sealed first portions whereupon said un-sealed first air tight
seal is sealed to retain said vacuum in said first portion when the
end portion of the air removing device is removed from said second
portion whereby the perishable goods in said first portion are
preserved when frozen.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of providing a sealable
second air tight seal includes the step of providing means for
promoting an air tight seal between the end portion of the air
removing device and said sealable second air tight seal.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing promoting
means includes the step of providing two substantially triangular
configured members that congruently engage the end portion of the
air removing device and an unsealed portion of said sealable second
air tight seal when the end portion is inserted into said second
portion.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of providing two
substantially triangular configured members includes the step of
promoting engagement between said deformable enclosure and the end
portion of the air removing device.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of promoting engagement
includes the step of configuring said members to extend into said
second portion a distance that allows said first air tight seal to
seal and maintain separation between the air removal port of the
end portion and said second portion of said deformable enclosure
irrespective of the air removal force generated by the air removing
device.
26. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of providing a sealable
second air tight seal that receives the end portion of the air
removing device includes the step of providing an air removing
device that includes an oval configured tube member that engages
said second air tight seal such that air cannot seep through said
second seal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to enclosures that encase
perishable food goods such as "leftovers" from a large dinner for
freezing and more particularly, to deformable enclosures such as
freezer bags that have the air removed from an inner portion
containing the goods, then sealed air tight thereby "vacuum
packing" the goods for freezing.
[0003] 2. Background of the Prior Art
[0004] Freezer bags and other deformable enclosures are routinely
used to encase perishable goods before freezing. When freezer bags
are used, it is common practice to place the goods in the bag
without removing the air in the bag before freezing. This practice
results in the food becoming damaged when left in a frozen state
for long periods of time. There are deformable food enclosures
designed to cooperate with relatively expensive vacuum devices to
remove air from the enclosure. The problem with these food
enclosure designs is that the enclosures and device are cumbersome
to use and store, expensive and difficult to operate.
[0005] Therefore, a deformable enclosure is required that is common
and inexpensive such as a standard freezer bag, and that can
utilize a common vacuum device such as a home vacuum cleaner to
remove the air from the enclosure. Further, the portion of the
enclosure encasing the food must be capable of being sealed air
tight while the vacuum cleaner is inside the enclosure, and a
predetermined distance between portions of the enclosure proximate
to an air removal port of the vacuum cleaner must be maintained to
prevent the enclosure from being sucked into the port when the
vacuum cleaner is energized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to overcome many of
the disadvantages associated with removing air from enclosures to
preserve perishable goods.
[0007] A principle object of the present invention is to provide an
enclosure that allows a vacuum device such as a home vacuum cleaner
to remove air from the enclosure. A feature of the enclosure is
that it is deformable. An advantage of the enclosure is that an
open portion can tightly engage an end portion of the vacuum device
that includes an air removal port.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to prevent air
from entering the enclosure as the end portion of the vacuum device
is removed from the enclosure. A feature of the enclosure is inner
and outer internal seals that form inner and outer portions in the
enclosure. An advantage of the enclosure is that only the outer
seal engages the vacuum device thereby allowing the inner seal to
be closed before the vacuum device is removed from the outer seal
to maintain the vacuum in the inner portion where the perishable
goods are disposed.
[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide
sealing members that congruently engage the air removal or end
portion of the vacuum device to facilitate a tight seal between the
end portion and the outer seal of the enclosure. A feature of the
enclosure is allowing first and second ridges of the outer seal to
gradually diverge from a sealed position to ultimately engage the
periphery of the end portion. Another feature of the enclosure is
opposing planar side walls that extend from a base portion of the
sealing members to ultimately converge to form an edge that snugly
engages a sealed portion of the outer seal. An advantage of the
enclosure is that a smooth transition occurs for the outer seal
from a closed to a fully open cylindrical configuration to prevent
a small opening that would otherwise occur between the sealed
portion of the outer seal and the cylindrical end portion of the
vacuum device.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to separate the
enclosure from the air removal port of the end portion of the
vacuum device a distance that prevents the enclosure from
obstructing air removal by the vacuum device from the inner and
outer portions of the enclosure. A feature of the enclosure is to
provide sealing members with opposing inner and outer parallel side
walls separated a distance that disposes the inner side wall inside
the outer portion of the enclosure between the inner and outer
seals, and that disposes the outer side wall beyond the outer seal
between griping flaps. An advantage of the enclosure is to prevent
a portion of the enclosure from being sucked into the air removal
port of the vacuum device irrespective of the suction force
generated by the vacuum device. Another advantage of the enclosure
is to maintain vacuum in an inner portion of the enclosure by
maintaining engagement between the converging side walls and first
and second ridges of the outer seal irrespective of the vibration
generated by the vacuum device.
[0011] Briefly, the invention provides an enclosure for preserving
perishable goods comprising an inner portion for removably
receiving perishable goods; an outer portion that removably
receives a vacuum device that promotes the removal of air from said
enclosure after the perishable goods have been inserted into said
inner portion; outer seal means for providing an air tight seal
between said enclosure and the vacuum device to promote the removal
of air from said enclosure; and inner seal means for providing an
air tight seal for said inner portion and the goods therein after
the removal of air from said enclosure and while the vacuum device
remains engaged with said outer seal means, the vacuum device being
separated from said outer seal means after the removal of air from
said inner portion and the air tight sealing of said inner seal
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] These and other objects, advantages and novel features of
the present invention, as well as details of an illustrative
embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the
following detailed description and attached drawings, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an enclosure for
preserving perishable goods in accordance with the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 1 with
a vacuum device inserted between open inner and outer seals.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the device of FIG.
2.
[0016] FIG. 4 is the perspective view of FIG. 2 with perishable
goods disposed in an inner portion in accordance with the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is the perspective view of FIG. 4 with the inner seal
closed and the inner portion having substantially all air removed
therefrom in accordance with the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 6 is the perspective view of FIG. 5 with the vacuum
device removed, the inner and outer seals closed and the inner and
outer portions having substantially all air removed therefrom in
accordance with the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a cutaway side view of the inner and outer seals
of the enclosure in an open position.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a cutaway side view of the inner and outer seals
of the enclosure in a closed position.
[0021] FIG. 9 is the perspective view of FIG. 4 with sealing
members disposed inside the enclosure between the outer seal and an
end portion of the vacuum device in accordance with the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of FIG. 9 with the
perishable goods removed.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 1
with an alternative suction device inserted between open inner and
outer seals in accordance with the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of funnel and
connection members of the alternative suction device of FIG.
11.
[0025] FIG. 12a is a perspective view of an alternative design for
the funnel and connection members of FIG. 12 in accordance with the
present invention.
[0026] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternative freezer bag
in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] Referring now to the figures and in particular to FIGS. 1-6,
a transparent enclosure for preserving perishable goods is denoted
by numeral 10. The enclosure 10, which includes freezer bag
configurations, is fabricated from plastic or similar deformable
material that is light weight and relatively durable when exposed
to temperatures ranging from freezing to boiling. The enclosure 10
includes an inner or first portion 12 for removably receiving
perishable goods 14, an outer or second portion 16 that removably
receives a vacuum or air removing device 18 such as a vacuum
cleaner, which removes air from the enclosure 10 after the
perishable goods 14 have been inserted into the inner portion 12, a
re-sealable outer seal 20 that provides an air tight boundary
between the enclosure 10 and an end portion 22 of the vacuum device
18 to promote the removal of air from the enclosure 10, and an
internal, re-sealable inner seal 24 that provides an air tight
boundary for the inner portion 12 and the goods 14 therein after
the removal of air from the enclosure 10 and while the vacuum
device 18 remains engaged with the outer seal 20; the vacuum device
18 being separated from the outer seal 20 after the removal of air
from the inner portion 12 and the air tight sealing of the inner
seal 24 whereby the perishable goods 14 are encased in a vacuum
sealed inner portion 12 of the enclosure 10 to preserve the
perishable goods 14 after freezing the goods 14.
[0028] The enclosure 10 can be dimensioned to encase any perishable
goods 14, but typically ranges from a "sandwich" size to a much
larger "meal" size that is capable of holding an entire dinner. The
enclosure 10 further includes opposing gripping flaps 26 that are
integrally joined to the outer seal 20 and dimensioned to provide a
means for a person to grip the enclosure 10 and separate the outer
seal 20 after the enclosure 10 and the contents therein have been
frozen. Once the outer seal 20 has been opened, it is relatively
easy to open the inner seal 24 even when the enclosure 10 and
contents therein are frozen.
[0029] The vacuum device 18 includes, but is not limited to, a
vacuum cleaner having a hose with a tubular end portion 22 that
typically includes a cylindrical configuration with an air removal
port 28. The vacuum device 18 possesses sufficient power to
facilitate the removal of air from the enclosure 10, but not so
much power so as to result in the enclosure 10 being sucked into
the end portion 22.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the inner portion 12 is sized
to received preselected goods 14 such that when the goods 14 are
inserted into the inner portion 12, a sufficient inner portion 12
volume remains to minimize deformation and obstruction of the inner
seal 24 thereby facilitating an air tight boundary between the
inner and outer portions 14 and 18. The inner seal 24 is typical of
the seals used for single seal freezer bags and includes opposing
first and second ridges 30 and 32 integrally joined to inner first
and second walls 34 and 36 of the enclosure 10. The first ridge 30
includes two relatively firm, plastic protuberances extending
perpendicularly from the first inner wall 34, a distance that
promotes the complete insertion of the opposing relatively firm
second ridge 32, which extends perpendicularly from the inner
second wall 36, between the two protuberances of the first ridge 30
(see FIG. 8).
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the outer portion 16 is sized to
receive the end portion 22 of the vacuum device 18 such that the
air removal port 28 is disposed at substantially a central portion
of the outer portion 16 with the air removal port 28 being spaced
from the inner seal 24 a distance that facilitates the unobstructed
sealing of the inner seal 24 while the end portion 22 remains
disposed between the outer and inner seals 20 and 24. The outer
seal 20 is typical of the seals used for single seal freezer bags
and includes the same configuration as the inner seal 24. More
specifically, opposing first and second ridges 30 and 32 are
integrally joined to inner first and second walls 34 and 36 of the
enclosure 10. The first ridge 30 includes two relatively firm,
plastic protuberances extending perpendicularly from the first
inner wall 34, a distance that promotes the complete insertion of
the opposing second ridge 32, which extends perpendicularly from
the inner second wall 36, between the two protuberances of the
first ridge 30 (see FIGS. 7 and 8).
[0032] In operation, a freezer bag type enclosure 10 is selected to
receive perishable goods 14 having a predetermined size and
quantity. The outer and inner seals 20 and 24 are opened to allow
the goods 14 to be disposed in an inner portion 12 of the enclosure
10. Next, an end portion 22 of a vacuum device 18 is positioned
between the outer and inner seals 20 and 24 such that an air
removal port 28 is disposed at a central portion of an outer
portion 16 of the enclosure 10. The outer seal 20 is then closed
such that the periphery of the end portion 22 of the vacuum device
18 is tightly and continuously engaged by the outer seal 20 to
maintain an air tight seal even with the end portion 22 of the
vacuum device 18 protruding through the outer seal 20. The vacuum
device 18 is then energized to remove all air from the inner and
outer portions 12 and 16 of the enclosure 10 thereby forcing the
enclosure to collapse upon the goods 14 as depicted in FIG. 5,
whereupon, the inner seal 24 is closed to provide an air tight
barrier between the inner and outer portions 12 and 16 resulting in
vacuum packed perishable goods 14. The end portion 22 of the vacuum
device 18 is then removed from the outer portion 16 and the outer
seal 20 is closed to provide a second barrier to air that might
engage the perishable goods 14. The enclosure 10 and its contents
are then frozen to preserve the goods 14 until the enclosure 10 is
unsealed and the goods 14 removed for consumption.
[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, two sealing members 40 are
depicted congruently engaging an air removal or end portion 22 of
the vacuum device 18 to facilitate a tight seal between the end
portion 22 and the outer seal 20 of the enclosure 10 by allowing
the first and second ridges 30 and 32 of the outer seal 20 to
gradually diverge or separate from a sealed position to engagement
with respective inclined converging side walls 46 of the sealing
members 40 and also with the periphery of the end portion 22. The
gradual diverging of the ridges 30 and 32 provides a smooth
transition for the outer seal 20 from a closed to an open
configuration that seals about a small portion of the end portion
22 of the vacuum device 18. Without the two sealing members 40, a
tight outer seal 20 would be difficult to achieve due to the
cylindrical configuration of the periphery of the end portion 22,
resulting in small openings between the sealed portion of the outer
seal 20 and the end portion 22.
[0034] The sealing members 40 are fabricated from a relatively firm
material such as rubber. The sealing members 40 have a relatively
triangular configuration that includes an arcuate base portion 42
that congruently engages a cylindrically configured outer side wall
44 of the end portion 22 of the vacuum device 18. The sealing
members 40 further include opposing planar side walls 46 that
extend from the base portion 42 and ultimately converge to form an
edge 48 that snugly engages a sealed portion 50 of the outer seal
20. The converging side walls 46 have a lateral dimension that
separates opposing inner and outer parallel side walls 52 and 54 a
distance that disposes the inner side wall 52 inside the outer
portion of the enclosure a distance that prevents the outer portion
16 of the enclosure 10 from being sucked into the air removal port
28 of the end portion 22 of the vacuum device 18 irrespective of
the air removal force generated by the vacuum device 18; and that
disposes the outer side wall 54 sufficiently beyond the outer seal
20 between the gripping flaps 26 to maintain engagement between the
converging side walls 46 and the first and second ridges 30 and 32
of the outer seal 20 irrespective of the vibration generated by the
vacuum device 18.
[0035] Referring now to drawings 11 and 12, an alternative hand
held vacuum or suction device for removing air from the freezer bag
10 in conformance with the present invention, is denoted as numeral
70. The alternative device 70 includes a hand held vacuum portion
72, well known and commercially available, that includes an end
portion 74 with an orifice (not pictured), a funnel member 76 that
is joined to a connection member 78 which is secured to the end
portion 74 via a securing strap 80 made from velcro or similar self
locking material, and a tube member 82 having a sufficient
longitudinal dimension to dispose an orifice 84 within the outer
portion 16 of the bag 10 while the funnel member is disposed beyond
the gripping flaps 26.
[0036] The connection member 78 is fabricated from plastic or
similar material and functions as an interfacing device for the
suction device 70 and the funnel member 76, also fabricated from
plastic. The connection member 78 is tightly secured to the suction
device 70 by the strap 80 upon snugly sliding an end portion 81 of
the connection member 78 upon a cooperating portion of the device
70. The connection member 78 slidably receives the funnel member 76
by snugly inserting an end portion 83 of the funnel member 76 into
a relatively larger receiving end 86 of the connection member
78.
[0037] The tube member 82 is integrally joined to the funnel member
76 and is ultimately disposed such that the orifice 84 is
positioned between the outer and inner seals 20 and 24 thereby
facilitating the removal of air from the inner portion 12 of the
bag 10. The tube member 82 is fabricated from plastic and, when
taking an end view, configured in the shape of an oval with a
substantially larger longitudinal axis relative to a lateral axis
thereby providing a substantially "flattened" tube that facilitates
a tight outer seal 20 when the first and second ridges 30 and 32
are separated to engage the tube member 82 when removing air from
the inner portion 12 of the bag 10. The orifice 84 has a relatively
small cross-sectional area thereby limiting the vacuum capability
of the vacuum portion 72 to prevent the inner portion 12 of the bag
10 from being drawn into the tube member 82 when using a relatively
powerful vacuum portion 72.
[0038] Referring now to FIG. 12a, an alternative design for the
suction device 70 in accordance with the present invention, is
depicted and denoted as numeral 90. The alternative design 90
includes a connecting member 92 configures to snugly insert into a
suction orifice in the vacuum portion 72, and an extension tube 94
integrally joined to the connecting member 92. The extension tube
94 is substantially longer than the tube 82 of the alternative
suction device 70 to allow an operator to grasp the tube 94 while
removing air from the inner portion 12 of a bag 10 via an orifice
96 which includes the same cross-sectional configuration as the
alternative device tube member 82.
[0039] Referring now to FIG. 13, an alternative bag or food
enclosure in accordance with the present invention, is depicted and
denoted as numeral 100. The alternative bag 100 is designed to
stand upright while removing air from within thereby promoting the
removal of air without drawing the bag 100 into the vacuum suction
port. The bag 100 includes an inner portion 102, an outer portion
106, an outer seal 108, an inner seal 110, gripping flaps 112, a
bottom wall 114, two side walls 116 and two end walls 118. The
inner and outer portions 102 and 106 cooperate with a vacuum
portion 72 to remove air from the inner portion 102 by disposing
the orifice 84 of the vacuum portion 72 between the outer and inner
seals 108 and 110. Upon removing the air from the inner portion
102, the inner seal 10 is closed, the tube member 82 of the vacuum
portion 72 removed, and the outer seal closed to prevent air from
seeping into the bag 100. An added seal 120 is provided in the
gripping flaps 112 to further restrict air from seeping into the
bag 100. Outer portions 122 of the gripping flaps 112 are
sufficiently sized to grasp and forcibly open the added seal 120
and ultimately the outer and inner seals 108 and 110 to gain access
to the frozen contents inside the bag 100.
[0040] The upright stance of the bag 100 is accomplished by
incorporating a triangular configuration into the end walls 118.
Triangular configured seams 124 are included in the end walls 118
to promote the collapsing of the end walls 118 as air is forcibly
sucked from the bag 100. As air is removed from the bag 100, the
end walls 118 start collapsing inward at a central point 126 in the
seams 124. The end walls 118 continue to collapse until the central
points 126 engage the food goods to be frozen, whereupon, the
bottom and side walls 114 and 116 are drawn inward until engaging
the food goods and the end walls 118. The initial collapsing of the
end walls 118 of the bag 100 prevents the side walls 114 from first
collapsing and being drawn into the orifice 84 of the vacuum
portion 72 before the air has been removed from the bag 100 thereby
promoting a complete vacuum of the bag 100 and the preservation of
the food goods therein.
[0041] The foregoing description is for purposes of illustrating
only and is not intended to limit the scope of protection accorded
this invention. The scope of protection is to be measured by the
following claims, which should be interpreted as broadly as the
inventive contribution permits.
* * * * *