U.S. patent application number 11/079691 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-14 for evacuable container having one-way valve with filter element.
Invention is credited to Georg Domenig.
Application Number | 20060201576 11/079691 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36969558 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060201576 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Domenig; Georg |
September 14, 2006 |
Evacuable container having one-way valve with filter element
Abstract
A one-way valve allows air to be drawn from an air tight
container using a vacuum source. When the vacuum source is removed,
the one-way valve prevents air from re-entering the container. A
pump evacuates air from the container including a housing
cooperatively engaging the housing for filter and cap assembly of
the one way valve assembly. A seal isolates the pump housing from
the cap sealing housing, and a handle is provided to withdrawably
evacuate the air from the container.
Inventors: |
Domenig; Georg;
(Kernersville, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles Y. Lackey
PO Box 5871
Winston-Salem
NC
27113-5871
US
|
Family ID: |
36969558 |
Appl. No.: |
11/079691 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/65 ;
383/103 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 31/047 20130101;
B65D 81/2038 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/065 ;
383/103 |
International
Class: |
B65B 31/04 20060101
B65B031/04 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a flexible air tight container having an
opening for receiving an item to be stored in the container; an
air-tight seal across the opening; a one way valve assembly
installed in a surface of the container wherein the assembly allows
air to pass out of the container but prevents air from entering the
container, the assembly having a filter and cap assembly housing
secured to a surface of the container, a cap sealer housing secured
to the filter and cap assembly housing, a vacuum sealer valve
sealing the container closed when air is removed from the
container, and a support sleeve snap-on securing and retaining the
vacuum sealer valve in a closed air-tight condition.
2. A receiving container having a body portion, a sealing edge
disposed along an opening in the body portion, and an airtight
valve at a selective position on the body portion comprising: a
housing for filter and cap assembly fixedly secured to the body
portion; a cap sealer housing releasably secured to the housing for
filter and cap assembly; a vacuum sealer valve sealing the
container closed when air is removed from the container; and a
support sleeve snap-on securing and retaining the vacuum sealer
valve in a closed air-tight condition.
3. The one way valve assembly as claimed 1 further comprising: a
pump for evacuating air from the container including a housing
cooperatively engaging the housing for filter and cap assembly of
the one way valve assembly, sealing means sealably isolating the
pump housing from the cap sealing housing, and a handle
withdrawably movable to evacuate the air from the container.
4. The airtight valve as claimed in claim 2 further comprising: a
pump for evacuating air from the container including a housing for
the filter and cap assembly of the one way valve assembly, sealing
means sealably isolating the pump housing from the cap sealing
housing, and a handle withdrawably movable to evacuate the air from
the container.
5. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one way valve
assembly is integrally formed in the surface of the container
during the formation of the container.
6. The container as claimed in claim 5 wherein the surface of the
container is a lid.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to the field of
evacuable containers for storing air sensitive food and medicine as
well as storing compressible articles such as clothing.
[0003] 2. Background of the Prior Art
[0004] Storage containers typically include an air-tight bag, an
opening through which to put an article in the bag, and a fixture
through which to evacuate excess air. A user places an article into
the bag through the opening, seals the opening, and then evacuates
the air in the bag through the fixture. With the bag thus
evacuated, the article contained therein may be significantly
compressed so that it is easier to transport and requires
substantially less storage space.
[0005] Evacuable storage containers are beneficial for reasons in
addition to those associated with compression of the stored
article. For example, removal of the air from the storage container
inhibits the growth of destructive organisms, such as moths,
silverfish, and bacteria, all of which requiure oxygen to survive
and propogate. Moreover, such containers, being impervious to
moisture, inhibit the growth of mildew.
[0006] Large, compressible items such as clothing may be stored in
a collapsible, evacuable storage container. For example, it may be
desirable to store bulk items made of small particles, such as
powders or granulated resins, in an evacuated container. One
situation that commonly occurs is that a particular bulk item is
shipped in a large, rigid container such as a drum. Bulk items may
be moisture sensitive and are sealed against moisture during
shipment. But many times a user does not need to use the entire
contents of the large container, and so once exposed to air the
remaining bulk contents quickly become unusable are thus
wasted.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A flexible container has a body portion, a sealing edge
disposed along an opening in the body portion and an airtight at a
selective position on the body portion. The valve has a housing for
filter and cap assembly secured to the surface of the container and
a cap sealer housing secured to the filter and cap assembly. A
vacuum sealer valve seals the container closed when air is removed
from the container, and a support sleeve snap-on secures and
retains the vacuum sealer valve in a closed air-tight
condition.
[0008] The invention also includes a pump for evacuating air from
the container including a housing cooperatively engaging the
housing for filter and cap assembly of the one way valve assembly.
A sealing device isolates the pump housing from the cap sealing
housing, and a handle is withdrawably movable to evacuate the air
from the container
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side elevational , sectional view of the
air-tight valve comprising a major feature of the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side elevational and sectional view of the pump
secured to the valve illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side elevational outline view of the pump shown
in FIG. 2 rotated 90 degrees;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a flexible bag forming the
container;
[0013] FIG. 5 is perspective view of a rectangular plastic box
forming the container;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a circular receptacle
forming the container;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a flat, circular package
forming the container;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a butter receptacle forming
the container;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a glaze package forming the
container;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a paint can forming the
container;
[0019] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a soda bottle forming the
container;
[0020] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a milk carton forming the
container;
[0021] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a orange juice carton
forming the container;
[0022] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a self-sealing bag holding
food wherein air flows into the package just before it is
sealed;
[0023] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the food package of FIG. 14
with air trapped inside the package after it is sealed;
[0024] FIG. 16 is a food package like that shown in FIGS. 14 and 15
except it has a one-way nozzle heat-sealed into the bag closure
element; and
[0025] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the food package of FIG. 16
wherein air inside the package has been removed by the vacuum pump
and the one-way nozzle is closed to seal the bag without any air
trapped inside the bag.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 4, a
pouch/container shown generally as 10 has a first end 12 openable
and closable by a zipper 14. A one-way valve and filter mechanism
16 is positioned in a side 18 of pouch 10. Mechanism 16 is made up
of a housing for filter and cap assembly 20 (FIG. 1) which is
formed around an opening 22 in pouch 10. A sealer 24 is placed on
both the inside and outside of pouch 10, and assembly 20 is secured
in place by a washer 26.
[0027] A cap sealer housing 28 is threadably connected to assembly
20 and engages washer 26 to secure all members to pouch 10 and
against each other. A vacuum sealer valve 30 is positioned to open
when air is removed from pouch 10 and close when air is evacuated
from pouch 10. A support sleeve snap-on mechanism 32 holds sealer
valve 30 in a pouch closed positioned after air has been removed. A
filter 34 is positioned in the interior of assembly 20 as shown in
FIG. 1.
[0028] A pump shown generally as 36 in FIG. 2 has a housing 38
extending downwardly and over cap sealer housing 28 including
support sleeve snap-on 32. The lower end 40 of pump 36 extends to
engage the lip 42 of washer 26 which serves to sealably secure pump
36 in place. An O-ring 44 reinforces the sealed condition of pump
36 with respect to housing 28, and a V-ring 46 ensures smooth
cooperation between pump handle 50 and pump housing 38.
[0029] When pump 36 is operated to remove air from pouch 10, pump
housing legs 52 can be squeezed toward each other and dislodge legs
52 from underneath the flange of washer 26 and thereby release pump
36 from its connection with housing 28.
[0030] A number of other containers can be used for storage in an
air free condition such as the rectangular container 54 shown in
FIG. 5 and the round container 56 shown in FIG. 6. Other acceptable
containers include plastic cartons 58, 60 such as those used for
milk and juices and other product specific containers 62, 64, 66
used for example with food, medicine and paint. Larger cartons can
be used when articles made of fabric or other materials are to be
stored to protect them from moths or bacteria.
[0031] A pictorial illustration of the operation of the present
invention is included herein as FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 17. Air flows
into a bag with food and is trapped therein when the bag is sealed.
It eventually will cause the packaged food to spoil. When a one-way
nozzle is used, the vacuum pump draws out the air and the nozzle
becomes a part of the bags seal.
[0032] From the preceding description, it can be seen that an
evacuable storage container has been provided that will meet all
the advantages of prior art devices and offer additional advantages
not heretofore achievable. With respect to the foregoing invention,
the optimum dimensional relationship to the parts of the invention
including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and
manner of operation, use and assembly are deemed readily apparent
to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed herein.
[0033] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Numerous modifications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, and it is not
desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described. All suitable modifications and
equivalents that fall within the scope of the appended claims are
deemed within the present inventive concept.
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