CA1166195A - Method and apparatus for vacuum sealing containers - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for vacuum sealing containersInfo
- Publication number
- CA1166195A CA1166195A CA000360863A CA360863A CA1166195A CA 1166195 A CA1166195 A CA 1166195A CA 000360863 A CA000360863 A CA 000360863A CA 360863 A CA360863 A CA 360863A CA 1166195 A CA1166195 A CA 1166195A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- container
- lid
- valve
- chamber
- vacuum
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
- B65B31/02—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
- B65B31/025—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
- Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
Abstract
IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VACUUM
SEALING CONTAINERS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A container to be vacuum sealed provided with one or more small air passages through which air may be withdrawn from the container, a flexible sealing material being provided adjacent each such passage to permit air to be withdrawn from the container when it is placed in an evacuated chamber but which seals these passages when the air pressure in the evacuated chamber is rapidly returned to the ambient air pressure.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VACUUM
SEALING CONTAINERS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A container to be vacuum sealed provided with one or more small air passages through which air may be withdrawn from the container, a flexible sealing material being provided adjacent each such passage to permit air to be withdrawn from the container when it is placed in an evacuated chamber but which seals these passages when the air pressure in the evacuated chamber is rapidly returned to the ambient air pressure.
Description
This invention relates generally to the art of Yacuum sealing containers, particularly for the purpose of preserving a substance therein such as food.
Vacuum sealing of containers is widely employed. The air pressure within the container after filling with the substance to be preserved is reduced by at least forty percent below the ambient air pressure and the container,is then sealed against any further air transfer between the inside of the container and the outside. When it is desired to use the substance inside, the seal is then broken, which restores the ambient air pressure within the container, and the substance is then removed and used.
Existing techniques utilized to vacuum seal food products generally involve cooking the food product in the container and then sealing the container while hot, wherein the pressure within the container is reduced below ambient pressure upon cooling. A lid with a flexible gasket seal is generally held on the top of a jar or other container as a result of the difference in air pressure between the outside and inside of the container. Other suggested techniques for vacuum packing substances such as foods, without the necessity for cooking or heating in the container, include the connection of a vacuum hose through a check valve to each of the containers in turn, or a complicated manipulation of a container lid within a vacuum chamber to position it on the container while a vacuum is being maintained in the chamber.
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a simple and convenient technique and apparatus for initially vacuum packing material in containers, resealing l lfi6195 vacuum pac~ed containers after opening especially adapted for in-home use.
According to the present invention wherein, briefly and generally, a container with a substance to be preserved therein is placed within a vacuum chamber, a lid is positioned thereon but retaining small air passages into the container through which air is withdrawn in the vacuum chamber. A flexible sealing element is positioned adjacent such small passages in a manner that does not interfere with air being withdrawn from the container but which does seal the passages when the air pressure in the vacuum chamber is allowed to rapidly return to the ambient air pressure. A rapid increase in air pressure in a space surrounding the container causes an air pressure - differential between the inside and outside of the container since the passages thereinto are too small to rapidly transfer air back into the container. This pressure differential instantly causes the sealing material to close off the small passage or passages into the container, thus preserving the vacuum within the container.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a portable vacuum sealing apparatus which includes a base structure and a removable cover dimensioned to fit on the base and provide an enclosed chamber therein. A sealing element is positioned to join the base and cover when positioned together, and a vacuum pump is carried in the base and connected through an aperture of the base into the chamber in a manner to reduce . .
; the air pressure within the cham~er when the pump is operated.
An aperture is provided in the top of a cover that allows air to move into the chamber from outside the cover and a manually l ~ 66195 operated valve is carried in the aperture, the valve being normally biased closed to seal the aperture ~ut being manually operable to let air pass into the chamber to equalize any air pressure differences within and without the chamber.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided the method of vacuum sealing a container having a rigid base portion t~ith an upwardly extending rim and a rigid lid adapted to be supported by the rim with a resilient sealing material therebetween.
The method includes the steps of placing into the con-tainer material to be sealed therein, at least 10% of the volume thereof being left unfilled, and then position-ing the lid and sealing material loosely on the rim through the sealing material in a manner to be held by its own weight. The air pressure is reduced by at least 40% in a volume surrounding and significantly larger than the con-tainer and lid, thereby also reducing the air pressure within the unfilled portion of the container by removing air therefrom through spaces between the lid and rim around the sealing material. The original air pressure is restored within two seconds to the volume surrounding the container by opening a space above the lid to the atmos-phere. The lid is thus caused to firmly compress the sealing material against the rim without any physical con-tact or mechanical manipulation thereof, thereby to retain the reduced air pressure within the container and sealer.
Additional objects, advantages and features of the present invention may best be understood by referring to the l l 6619S
following description of its preferred embodiments which should be taken in conjunction with the accompanying draw-i:ngs.
_RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates in cross-sectional form a vacuum sealing apparatus with a container therein being sealed in accordance with the technique of the present nvention;
Figures 2A and 2B show an enlarged yiew of a part of the container of Figure l;
:
1 1 66~95 Figure 3 is a view o a pad upon ~hich the container of Figure 1 rests;
Figure 4 illustrates a different container lid construction than that illustrated in Figure l;
Figure 5 illustrates another lid construction tha,t is different from those of Figures 1 and 4~
Figure 6 illustrates the sealing technique of the present ;nvention utilized with an existing lid and container construction; and Figures 7A and 7B illustrate a particular technique for vacuum unsealing a vacuum sealed container.
Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of an air return valve to that illustrated previously;
Figure 9 illustrates yet a different container lid construction than shown before;
Figures 10A - 10F illustrate a method of vacuum seal-ing material using plastic bags; and Figures llA and llB show an appliance apparatus for carrying out the plastic bag sealing of Figures 10A - 10F.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM~ODIMENTS
Referring initially to Figure 1, the construction of a vacuum sealing apparatus suitable for carrying out the techniques of the present invention will be described. The apparatus of Figure 1 is designed especially as a home appliance. A base 11 of the appliance includes an upper platform 13 through which a small hole or passage 15 is provided near an outside edge of the platorm 13, the platform 13 being circular when viewed from the top. A vacuum hose 17 provides an air passage between the hole 15 and an electri-cally driven vacuum pump 19 that is positioned within the Pg/ ~ - 4 -1 ~ 661g5 base 11. Appropriate controls 21 are provided on the out-side of the base 11 and may include/ for instance, an electrical on/off switch/ a light to indicate when the vacuum pump 19 has drawn the air pressure down as far as it will go/ or a timer that may be set to operate the vacuum pump for a predetermined time.
A cover 23, made of a very strong unbreakable material and preferably transparent, îs cooperatively shaped in size for sitting on the base 11 to form a vacuum chamber 25 therein. A material very suitable for this container is polycarbonate plastic that satisfy these criteria. The`
container 23 is generally cylindrical in shape with its bottom being open and a round knob 27 at its top which permlts it to be lifted on and off of the base 11 by hand. The cover 23 is sealed to the base 11 by a sealing gasket 29 that is held within a groove 31 provided in a short vertical cylindrical surface as part of the platform 13 but having a diameter less than the inner diameter of the bottom opening of the cover 23.
The sealing ring 29 is of any suitable soft, rubber-like material that will prevent air from passing into the chamber 25 when a vacuum is being drawn therein. The ring 29 is preferably stretchable so that it may be removed from the annular groove 31 for cleaning but the groove 31 normally holds the ring 29 in place on the base 11.
The vacuum pump 19 and associated parts should be capable, at a minimum, of reducing the air pressure within the enclosed chamber 25 at least forty percent below the ambient air pressure around the appliance. This is the minimum "vacuum" required for food canning. Of course !
Pg/~
1 1 ~6~95 the lower the air pressure the better and something in excess of a seventy percent reduction in air pressure within the chamber 25 is possible with existing small vacuum pumps of the type that can be ut;lized for the pump 19. To enable long term storage of all types of food, where it is necessary to inhibit bacteria growth, an air pressure reduction in excess of 95% below the ambient air pressure is desired.
In order to return the air pressure within the chamber 25 from the reduced level to the ambient air pressure, a hand-operated valve 33 including a resilient rubber button 35 attached to an end of a rod 37 is positioned within a vertical aperture 39 that extends through the handle 27.
1 A spring 41 is p~ovide~ wit~in t~e ~landle 27 ~nd ur~cs the
Vacuum sealing of containers is widely employed. The air pressure within the container after filling with the substance to be preserved is reduced by at least forty percent below the ambient air pressure and the container,is then sealed against any further air transfer between the inside of the container and the outside. When it is desired to use the substance inside, the seal is then broken, which restores the ambient air pressure within the container, and the substance is then removed and used.
Existing techniques utilized to vacuum seal food products generally involve cooking the food product in the container and then sealing the container while hot, wherein the pressure within the container is reduced below ambient pressure upon cooling. A lid with a flexible gasket seal is generally held on the top of a jar or other container as a result of the difference in air pressure between the outside and inside of the container. Other suggested techniques for vacuum packing substances such as foods, without the necessity for cooking or heating in the container, include the connection of a vacuum hose through a check valve to each of the containers in turn, or a complicated manipulation of a container lid within a vacuum chamber to position it on the container while a vacuum is being maintained in the chamber.
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a simple and convenient technique and apparatus for initially vacuum packing material in containers, resealing l lfi6195 vacuum pac~ed containers after opening especially adapted for in-home use.
According to the present invention wherein, briefly and generally, a container with a substance to be preserved therein is placed within a vacuum chamber, a lid is positioned thereon but retaining small air passages into the container through which air is withdrawn in the vacuum chamber. A flexible sealing element is positioned adjacent such small passages in a manner that does not interfere with air being withdrawn from the container but which does seal the passages when the air pressure in the vacuum chamber is allowed to rapidly return to the ambient air pressure. A rapid increase in air pressure in a space surrounding the container causes an air pressure - differential between the inside and outside of the container since the passages thereinto are too small to rapidly transfer air back into the container. This pressure differential instantly causes the sealing material to close off the small passage or passages into the container, thus preserving the vacuum within the container.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a portable vacuum sealing apparatus which includes a base structure and a removable cover dimensioned to fit on the base and provide an enclosed chamber therein. A sealing element is positioned to join the base and cover when positioned together, and a vacuum pump is carried in the base and connected through an aperture of the base into the chamber in a manner to reduce . .
; the air pressure within the cham~er when the pump is operated.
An aperture is provided in the top of a cover that allows air to move into the chamber from outside the cover and a manually l ~ 66195 operated valve is carried in the aperture, the valve being normally biased closed to seal the aperture ~ut being manually operable to let air pass into the chamber to equalize any air pressure differences within and without the chamber.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided the method of vacuum sealing a container having a rigid base portion t~ith an upwardly extending rim and a rigid lid adapted to be supported by the rim with a resilient sealing material therebetween.
The method includes the steps of placing into the con-tainer material to be sealed therein, at least 10% of the volume thereof being left unfilled, and then position-ing the lid and sealing material loosely on the rim through the sealing material in a manner to be held by its own weight. The air pressure is reduced by at least 40% in a volume surrounding and significantly larger than the con-tainer and lid, thereby also reducing the air pressure within the unfilled portion of the container by removing air therefrom through spaces between the lid and rim around the sealing material. The original air pressure is restored within two seconds to the volume surrounding the container by opening a space above the lid to the atmos-phere. The lid is thus caused to firmly compress the sealing material against the rim without any physical con-tact or mechanical manipulation thereof, thereby to retain the reduced air pressure within the container and sealer.
Additional objects, advantages and features of the present invention may best be understood by referring to the l l 6619S
following description of its preferred embodiments which should be taken in conjunction with the accompanying draw-i:ngs.
_RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates in cross-sectional form a vacuum sealing apparatus with a container therein being sealed in accordance with the technique of the present nvention;
Figures 2A and 2B show an enlarged yiew of a part of the container of Figure l;
:
1 1 66~95 Figure 3 is a view o a pad upon ~hich the container of Figure 1 rests;
Figure 4 illustrates a different container lid construction than that illustrated in Figure l;
Figure 5 illustrates another lid construction tha,t is different from those of Figures 1 and 4~
Figure 6 illustrates the sealing technique of the present ;nvention utilized with an existing lid and container construction; and Figures 7A and 7B illustrate a particular technique for vacuum unsealing a vacuum sealed container.
Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of an air return valve to that illustrated previously;
Figure 9 illustrates yet a different container lid construction than shown before;
Figures 10A - 10F illustrate a method of vacuum seal-ing material using plastic bags; and Figures llA and llB show an appliance apparatus for carrying out the plastic bag sealing of Figures 10A - 10F.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM~ODIMENTS
Referring initially to Figure 1, the construction of a vacuum sealing apparatus suitable for carrying out the techniques of the present invention will be described. The apparatus of Figure 1 is designed especially as a home appliance. A base 11 of the appliance includes an upper platform 13 through which a small hole or passage 15 is provided near an outside edge of the platorm 13, the platform 13 being circular when viewed from the top. A vacuum hose 17 provides an air passage between the hole 15 and an electri-cally driven vacuum pump 19 that is positioned within the Pg/ ~ - 4 -1 ~ 661g5 base 11. Appropriate controls 21 are provided on the out-side of the base 11 and may include/ for instance, an electrical on/off switch/ a light to indicate when the vacuum pump 19 has drawn the air pressure down as far as it will go/ or a timer that may be set to operate the vacuum pump for a predetermined time.
A cover 23, made of a very strong unbreakable material and preferably transparent, îs cooperatively shaped in size for sitting on the base 11 to form a vacuum chamber 25 therein. A material very suitable for this container is polycarbonate plastic that satisfy these criteria. The`
container 23 is generally cylindrical in shape with its bottom being open and a round knob 27 at its top which permlts it to be lifted on and off of the base 11 by hand. The cover 23 is sealed to the base 11 by a sealing gasket 29 that is held within a groove 31 provided in a short vertical cylindrical surface as part of the platform 13 but having a diameter less than the inner diameter of the bottom opening of the cover 23.
The sealing ring 29 is of any suitable soft, rubber-like material that will prevent air from passing into the chamber 25 when a vacuum is being drawn therein. The ring 29 is preferably stretchable so that it may be removed from the annular groove 31 for cleaning but the groove 31 normally holds the ring 29 in place on the base 11.
The vacuum pump 19 and associated parts should be capable, at a minimum, of reducing the air pressure within the enclosed chamber 25 at least forty percent below the ambient air pressure around the appliance. This is the minimum "vacuum" required for food canning. Of course !
Pg/~
1 1 ~6~95 the lower the air pressure the better and something in excess of a seventy percent reduction in air pressure within the chamber 25 is possible with existing small vacuum pumps of the type that can be ut;lized for the pump 19. To enable long term storage of all types of food, where it is necessary to inhibit bacteria growth, an air pressure reduction in excess of 95% below the ambient air pressure is desired.
In order to return the air pressure within the chamber 25 from the reduced level to the ambient air pressure, a hand-operated valve 33 including a resilient rubber button 35 attached to an end of a rod 37 is positioned within a vertical aperture 39 that extends through the handle 27.
1 A spring 41 is p~ovide~ wit~in t~e ~landle 27 ~nd ur~cs the
2 sealing button 3S up against thc underside of the top of
3 thc cover 23 to close off the l~assage 39. The spring 41
4 I pushes be.~ecn the knob 27 and a pushbutton 43 provided at S an opoosite end of the rod 37. When the pushbutton 43 is 6 ¦ depressed the button 35 moves into the chamber 25 in a 7 manner illustrated in dotted outline in Figure 1. Air then 8 is allowed to enter the chamber 25 through holes 45 through 9 the walls of the passage 39. These holes the size of the 10 I air passage 39 and the distance of travel of the button 35 11 are made sufficient so that air can pass into the chamber 12 25 therethrough fast enough to return the air pressure therein 13 to the ambient air pressure in less than 2 seconds from the i4 ¦ lowest air pressure that is possible to obtain with a lS particular vacuum pum? 19. ~s explained hereinafter this 16 rapid build up of pressure within the chamber 25 is a 17 mechanism by which a container seal is effected.
18 An air passage to restore air prcssure within the 19 chamber 25 could alternatively ~e positioned in the base 11 but the valve placement and structure of Figure 1 have 21 certain advanta~es. By makin~ the valve 33 independent of 22 the air passage 15 which feeds to the vacuum pump 19 the 23 air passa~e 15 may be made smaller since it is thus not 24 used to move large amounts of air quickly back into the chamber 25. The slower drawing of a vacuum in the chamber 26 25 by operating of the pump 19 does not cause such a large 27 I air flow since it may take 20 30 or even 40 seconds to 28 reduce the prcssure within the chamber 25 to a desired level.
29 The small passage 15 means that there is thus less ch~nce of food or other materials spilled from containers within 31 the chamber 25 of falling into the passage 15 and cloyging 32 it. Also by havin~ the valve at the top of the cham~er 25 ` - 6 -., '.
.~_ . ., , .. _ ~, " ' .
~ "~ '`` (~ i 66~95 ` `i the air ru~hing into the cl)amber ur(~cs a lid of the contàiner 2 to its desired se~ling position where, on ~he other hand, air ~3 rushing up fro~ the bottom of the chamber 25`tends to want to 4 blow a container lid held only by gravity off of the container.
A container base 47 is loaded with food or other 6 material 49 and covered wi~h a lid 51. At least ten and 7 preferably twenty percent or more of tlle volume within the 8 container 47 is unfilled in order to leave enough room for 9 la sufficient lid sealing vacuum to be drawn. Solid food 10 ~rlaterial may be placed near the top of the container 47 ll since, depending upon the particular food, there is likely 12 to be significant air between the solid particles. Liquid 13 or semi-liquid food, however, cannot be filled up to the 14 too of the container 47 but must leave enough.air space to pro~ide a satisfactory vacuum seal by the seaiing technique 16 to be described hereina~ter.
17 ~h~ container 47 rests on the platform 13 that is 18 provided with a circular shape rubber mat 53 (Figure 3) l9 tllat contains a olurality of slots 55 extending radially from ~he outside towards the inside of the mat 53. The 21 grooves 55 provid~ an air path underneath the container 47 22 which can be important when, in the case of the container 23 ¦shown in Figure 1, there is an air passage provided by an 24 upward curving bottom surface of the container 47. If the 25 air passage slots 55 are not provided, a drawing of a 26 vacuum in a chamber 25 can adhere the container to the 27 mat 53 or other surface provided on the platform 13 when 28 the air pressure within the chamber 25 is rcturned to 29 ambient pressure. This may occur if air is not permittcd 30 to re-enter the soace under the container 47 when the air 31 pressure is returned in the chamber 25 to a~bient pressure.
32 The slots 55, however, allow such an air pressure return _ 7 _ .
..,_,___ ! ` i ( i 1166~95`
., 1 and permits rec rer~oval of ~he containér 47 from the chamber 2 25 when the sealing opcration is concluded.
3 ~he container lid 51 of Figure 1 is particularly 4 designed, accordins to one àspect of the present invention,
18 An air passage to restore air prcssure within the 19 chamber 25 could alternatively ~e positioned in the base 11 but the valve placement and structure of Figure 1 have 21 certain advanta~es. By makin~ the valve 33 independent of 22 the air passage 15 which feeds to the vacuum pump 19 the 23 air passa~e 15 may be made smaller since it is thus not 24 used to move large amounts of air quickly back into the chamber 25. The slower drawing of a vacuum in the chamber 26 25 by operating of the pump 19 does not cause such a large 27 I air flow since it may take 20 30 or even 40 seconds to 28 reduce the prcssure within the chamber 25 to a desired level.
29 The small passage 15 means that there is thus less ch~nce of food or other materials spilled from containers within 31 the chamber 25 of falling into the passage 15 and cloyging 32 it. Also by havin~ the valve at the top of the cham~er 25 ` - 6 -., '.
.~_ . ., , .. _ ~, " ' .
~ "~ '`` (~ i 66~95 ` `i the air ru~hing into the cl)amber ur(~cs a lid of the contàiner 2 to its desired se~ling position where, on ~he other hand, air ~3 rushing up fro~ the bottom of the chamber 25`tends to want to 4 blow a container lid held only by gravity off of the container.
A container base 47 is loaded with food or other 6 material 49 and covered wi~h a lid 51. At least ten and 7 preferably twenty percent or more of tlle volume within the 8 container 47 is unfilled in order to leave enough room for 9 la sufficient lid sealing vacuum to be drawn. Solid food 10 ~rlaterial may be placed near the top of the container 47 ll since, depending upon the particular food, there is likely 12 to be significant air between the solid particles. Liquid 13 or semi-liquid food, however, cannot be filled up to the 14 too of the container 47 but must leave enough.air space to pro~ide a satisfactory vacuum seal by the seaiing technique 16 to be described hereina~ter.
17 ~h~ container 47 rests on the platform 13 that is 18 provided with a circular shape rubber mat 53 (Figure 3) l9 tllat contains a olurality of slots 55 extending radially from ~he outside towards the inside of the mat 53. The 21 grooves 55 provid~ an air path underneath the container 47 22 which can be important when, in the case of the container 23 ¦shown in Figure 1, there is an air passage provided by an 24 upward curving bottom surface of the container 47. If the 25 air passage slots 55 are not provided, a drawing of a 26 vacuum in a chamber 25 can adhere the container to the 27 mat 53 or other surface provided on the platform 13 when 28 the air pressure within the chamber 25 is rcturned to 29 ambient pressure. This may occur if air is not permittcd 30 to re-enter the soace under the container 47 when the air 31 pressure is returned in the chamber 25 to a~bient pressure.
32 The slots 55, however, allow such an air pressure return _ 7 _ .
..,_,___ ! ` i ( i 1166~95`
., 1 and permits rec rer~oval of ~he containér 47 from the chamber 2 25 when the sealing opcration is concluded.
3 ~he container lid 51 of Figure 1 is particularly 4 designed, accordins to one àspect of the present invention,
5 to make vacuum sealina possible without any mechanical
6 valve manipulation, connection of vacuum hoses or the movement of the lid 51 in order to effect a seal. The 8 lid 51 includcs as a principal element a solid piece 57, 9 preferably made of polycarbonate plastic. The piece 57 is ciroular in plan view and contains a downwardly 11 dependina circular portion having a diameter that is 12 lcss than the diameter o~ the opening of the container 13 47 for which the lid 51 is designed to mate. Within the 14 depending cylindrical portion is provided an annular groove 59 which serves to hold a sealing rina 60. Sealing ring 16 60 is made of flexible rubber-like material and is 17 preferably slightly sticky on its outside surfaces.
18 The ring 60 can be removed from the lid 51 for cleaning 19 if it is stretchable to be removed from the annular groove 59.
21 An aperture 61 is provided from the bottom side 22 of the lid through the main portion 57 and out of a side 23 wall in which a plug 63 is frictionally held. The plug 63 24 has a narrow passase 65 through its entire length and its ?5 outer most segment includes a length of thin walled tubing 26 67 made of a flexible rubber-li~e sealing material that 27 itself is also preferably somewhat stic~y on at least its 28 inside surface along the passage 65.
29 The plug 63 serves as a one-way valve which operates in a unique manner. When the air pressure within the 31 chamber 25 is being reduced below ambient pressure, air 32 will be drawn from the inside 49 of the container 47 ..
.,, _._.
: `` ` 116~195 ` I
` '~
1 throu~h t~le passages 61 and 65 and into the chamber 25 area 2 for cvacuation th~ough the vacuum pump 19. Some air will 3 also be withdr3wn around the` seal 60 and the top of the 4 container 47 since the lid Sl is merely sitting on top of the container 47 without any force applied between them 6 j or any mechanical connection. Thcse air flows are indicated
18 The ring 60 can be removed from the lid 51 for cleaning 19 if it is stretchable to be removed from the annular groove 59.
21 An aperture 61 is provided from the bottom side 22 of the lid through the main portion 57 and out of a side 23 wall in which a plug 63 is frictionally held. The plug 63 24 has a narrow passase 65 through its entire length and its ?5 outer most segment includes a length of thin walled tubing 26 67 made of a flexible rubber-li~e sealing material that 27 itself is also preferably somewhat stic~y on at least its 28 inside surface along the passage 65.
29 The plug 63 serves as a one-way valve which operates in a unique manner. When the air pressure within the 31 chamber 25 is being reduced below ambient pressure, air 32 will be drawn from the inside 49 of the container 47 ..
.,, _._.
: `` ` 116~195 ` I
` '~
1 throu~h t~le passages 61 and 65 and into the chamber 25 area 2 for cvacuation th~ough the vacuum pump 19. Some air will 3 also be withdr3wn around the` seal 60 and the top of the 4 container 47 since the lid Sl is merely sitting on top of the container 47 without any force applied between them 6 j or any mechanical connection. Thcse air flows are indicated
7 I by solid arrows in Figure l. Once the pressure within the
8 chamber 25 has been reduced to a desired level, usually as
9 much as the vacuum pump l9 is able, then the ope-^ator of the appliance rapidly pushes the knob 43 of the valve 33 11 down\~ard in order to o~en up the ~assages for air to 12 return into the vacuum chamber 25. These air flo~is are 13 shown by the dotted arrows in Figure l within the chamber 14 25. If the air pressure in the chamber 25 is returned to ambient air pressure fast enough, preferably in less 16 than 2 seconds, the tube 67 of the plug 63 will collapse 17 and seal the container before any substantial amounts of 1~ air are allowed into the container through the ~assaye 19 61. Figure 2A sho~s the plug 63 in its starting shape and ~igure 2B shows the plug with its tube 67 collapsed 21 in accordance with the container sealing procedure just 22 outlined. Slight amounts of air will tend to pass back 23 into the container 49 through the small passages left at 24 the junction of the seal 60 and the top of the contaner .
47 but this oPerates in a similar ~anner; that is, the 26 passages are not large enough to carry air to the intèrior 27 1 of the container 49 fast enough to cquali~e the pressure 28 so that an instantaneous pressure differential recults 29 between the inside of the container 49 and the remaining space within the vacuum chamber 25. This pressure differential 3 causes the lid 51 to be pushed tightly against the container 32 1 47 ~nd th~ 1 6 closes off any air p=ssqes that might ...,. ___ , ~ 9 5 ,, 1 have exi~ted~ To open the con~ainer again, tlle plug 63 is 2 removed by hand. Air then rushes in through the passage 61 3 to cquali~e the pressure within and without the container 47.
4 The lid 51 is then easily removed.
Other specific forms of a one-way valve used according 6 to the present invention are shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6.
7 In each case, the sealing technique is the same; that is 8 the evacuation of the chamber 25 to reduce the air pressure 9 ¦ by at least forty percent and then the air pressure is allowed to suddenly return to the ambient prcssure fast enough 11 to exclusively cause the seal to close off passages into the 12 Icontainer, a time period that is usually less than 2 seconds.
13 Small air passage(s) through or around the flexible rubber-like 14 seal(s) described permit air to be slowly withdrawn from inside the container as the air pressure in a space surrounding the 16 container is reduced but are not sufficient to allow enough 17 air to pass back into the container as the surrounding air 18 pressure is rapidly increased, thereby to create a pressure 19 differential that compresses the seal and closes off the passage(s). The lid in each case is not mechanically 21 attached to the bottom container but rather is held thereon 22 only by its own weight before sealing and by the differential 23 air pressure inside and outside the container after sealing.
24 The embodiments of Yigures 1 and 4 could have their lids previously sealed, if desired or some reason, because an 26 additional one-way valve exists which could operate alone 27 in the manner described to seal the container; but it is 28 simpler to use the ~ids as shown and described herein. In 29 each of the Figures 4, 5 and 6, corresponding but di~ferent elements of the containers among themselves or to those of 31 the Figure 1 container are given the same reference characters 32 but with a prime (') added.
' - 10 -. ~ ,.
_ 1 Referring to Fit3ure 4, the lid ~olid L~iece 57` has 2 a vertical hole 69 therein. During the vacuum sealing 3 operation, a piece of flexible rubber-like sealing material 4 71 that is somewhat sticky on at least its bottom side is S lai,d on the top of the lid. The sticXiness on the bottom 6 side of the seal 71 prevents it from movins around on the 7 I lid due to any vibration that is created in the apvliance as 8 ~ the motor driven vacuum pump is operated. The seal 71 is 9 I mllch larger is diameter than the diameter of the hQle 69 and is made thick enough so ~hat it is not drawn down into 11 Ihe hole 69 w`nen the container is sealed. As a vacuum 12 is drawn in the chamber 25 during the sealing opcration, air 13 escapes from the container through the hole 69 and around 14 the top of the container 47 at the seal 59'. ~hen the air pressure is suddenly allowed to return to the ambient air 16 pressure, this seal 71 is pushed firmly down against the 17 top of the lid in accordance ~ith the air pressure differential 18 mechanism that has been described before. ~hen the container 19 is to be opened, the sealing material 71 is stripped of r the top of the lid to allow air to enter the container through 21 the passage 69. That then releases a physical seal at the 22 seal 59' and the lid is then easily lifted off. The 23 ¦ embodi~lent of Fiyure 1 has an advantase that the containers 24 may be stac~ed one on top of another while the embodiment o Figure 4 suffers from the disadvantage of interferring 26 ~ith such stacking. ~lso, the open pa~sage 65 in the plug 27 63 allows air to be drawn out of the container aster in 28 the embodiment of Figure 1 than in the embodiment of 2 Figure 4 wherein the air passages for this purpose are much 333l smaller.
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` ~ 1366195 1 Rererring to Figure 5, the lid 51 is the same as 2 ! that described with respect to Figure 1 except that a solid 3 plug 63' has been substituted for the plug 63 of Figure 1.
4 I This lid structure can rcsult in more time ~eing taken to evacuate the interior of the container since the only air 6 j passages for that purpose are around the top of the container 7 i 47 l~hen the container is to be opened, the plug 63` is 8 removed by hand and air enters through the passage 61 to 9 release the lid 51.
Referring to Figure 6, a standard canning lid is 11 shown sitting on a container 73. The lid inc~udes a thin 12 metal circular piece 75 having a soft rubber-like plastic 13 sealing ring 77 attached to its underside. As in the 14 Figure 5 case, air escapes around the top of the container 73 under the seal 77 when the space around the container 16 is evacuated. I~hen the air pressure suddenly increases 17 from an evacuated state, the seal 77 i5 pushed ,ightly 18 I aaainst the top of the container 73 as in other embodiment 19 2escribed previously.
20 ~ Several specific embodiments have thus been described 21 cf a container and a sealing technique that is convenient 22 ¦ and economical as an alternative to home c~nning techniques 23 presently being used. Containers can even be opelled and 24 reclosed according to thcse techniques a number of times.
This extcnds t:he storase life of foods and other peris`nable 26 products. The lids and containers can be re-used a number 27 ¦ of times.
28 Referring to Fiaures 7A and 7B, the use of the 2 vacuum scaling apparatus of Figure 1 is illustrated for 3 unsealing a jar 79 with a scre~-type lid 81 having a 3 scaling ring on the inside thereof. This containcr will 32 be recognized as a popular type of food sold in grocery stores.
I' , ~
" 1166195 1 The lids are o~ten hard to remove because the containars 2 have been vacuumed sealed. But that vacuum seal is broXen l:
3 if the space surrounding the container 79 is ~evacuated to 4 a pressure in the vicinity of or lower than the pressure S within the container 79. Once such evacuation has taken olace, the air pressure in the space surrounding the container is permitted to slowly increase by just slightly de~ressing 8 Ithe knob 43 to allow air to re-enter the vacuum chamber 25 9 ¦and raise its pressure back to ambient pressure. It hàs
47 but this oPerates in a similar ~anner; that is, the 26 passages are not large enough to carry air to the intèrior 27 1 of the container 49 fast enough to cquali~e the pressure 28 so that an instantaneous pressure differential recults 29 between the inside of the container 49 and the remaining space within the vacuum chamber 25. This pressure differential 3 causes the lid 51 to be pushed tightly against the container 32 1 47 ~nd th~ 1 6 closes off any air p=ssqes that might ...,. ___ , ~ 9 5 ,, 1 have exi~ted~ To open the con~ainer again, tlle plug 63 is 2 removed by hand. Air then rushes in through the passage 61 3 to cquali~e the pressure within and without the container 47.
4 The lid 51 is then easily removed.
Other specific forms of a one-way valve used according 6 to the present invention are shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6.
7 In each case, the sealing technique is the same; that is 8 the evacuation of the chamber 25 to reduce the air pressure 9 ¦ by at least forty percent and then the air pressure is allowed to suddenly return to the ambient prcssure fast enough 11 to exclusively cause the seal to close off passages into the 12 Icontainer, a time period that is usually less than 2 seconds.
13 Small air passage(s) through or around the flexible rubber-like 14 seal(s) described permit air to be slowly withdrawn from inside the container as the air pressure in a space surrounding the 16 container is reduced but are not sufficient to allow enough 17 air to pass back into the container as the surrounding air 18 pressure is rapidly increased, thereby to create a pressure 19 differential that compresses the seal and closes off the passage(s). The lid in each case is not mechanically 21 attached to the bottom container but rather is held thereon 22 only by its own weight before sealing and by the differential 23 air pressure inside and outside the container after sealing.
24 The embodiments of Yigures 1 and 4 could have their lids previously sealed, if desired or some reason, because an 26 additional one-way valve exists which could operate alone 27 in the manner described to seal the container; but it is 28 simpler to use the ~ids as shown and described herein. In 29 each of the Figures 4, 5 and 6, corresponding but di~ferent elements of the containers among themselves or to those of 31 the Figure 1 container are given the same reference characters 32 but with a prime (') added.
' - 10 -. ~ ,.
_ 1 Referring to Fit3ure 4, the lid ~olid L~iece 57` has 2 a vertical hole 69 therein. During the vacuum sealing 3 operation, a piece of flexible rubber-like sealing material 4 71 that is somewhat sticky on at least its bottom side is S lai,d on the top of the lid. The sticXiness on the bottom 6 side of the seal 71 prevents it from movins around on the 7 I lid due to any vibration that is created in the apvliance as 8 ~ the motor driven vacuum pump is operated. The seal 71 is 9 I mllch larger is diameter than the diameter of the hQle 69 and is made thick enough so ~hat it is not drawn down into 11 Ihe hole 69 w`nen the container is sealed. As a vacuum 12 is drawn in the chamber 25 during the sealing opcration, air 13 escapes from the container through the hole 69 and around 14 the top of the container 47 at the seal 59'. ~hen the air pressure is suddenly allowed to return to the ambient air 16 pressure, this seal 71 is pushed firmly down against the 17 top of the lid in accordance ~ith the air pressure differential 18 mechanism that has been described before. ~hen the container 19 is to be opened, the sealing material 71 is stripped of r the top of the lid to allow air to enter the container through 21 the passage 69. That then releases a physical seal at the 22 seal 59' and the lid is then easily lifted off. The 23 ¦ embodi~lent of Fiyure 1 has an advantase that the containers 24 may be stac~ed one on top of another while the embodiment o Figure 4 suffers from the disadvantage of interferring 26 ~ith such stacking. ~lso, the open pa~sage 65 in the plug 27 63 allows air to be drawn out of the container aster in 28 the embodiment of Figure 1 than in the embodiment of 2 Figure 4 wherein the air passages for this purpose are much 333l smaller.
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` ~ 1366195 1 Rererring to Figure 5, the lid 51 is the same as 2 ! that described with respect to Figure 1 except that a solid 3 plug 63' has been substituted for the plug 63 of Figure 1.
4 I This lid structure can rcsult in more time ~eing taken to evacuate the interior of the container since the only air 6 j passages for that purpose are around the top of the container 7 i 47 l~hen the container is to be opened, the plug 63` is 8 removed by hand and air enters through the passage 61 to 9 release the lid 51.
Referring to Figure 6, a standard canning lid is 11 shown sitting on a container 73. The lid inc~udes a thin 12 metal circular piece 75 having a soft rubber-like plastic 13 sealing ring 77 attached to its underside. As in the 14 Figure 5 case, air escapes around the top of the container 73 under the seal 77 when the space around the container 16 is evacuated. I~hen the air pressure suddenly increases 17 from an evacuated state, the seal 77 i5 pushed ,ightly 18 I aaainst the top of the container 73 as in other embodiment 19 2escribed previously.
20 ~ Several specific embodiments have thus been described 21 cf a container and a sealing technique that is convenient 22 ¦ and economical as an alternative to home c~nning techniques 23 presently being used. Containers can even be opelled and 24 reclosed according to thcse techniques a number of times.
This extcnds t:he storase life of foods and other peris`nable 26 products. The lids and containers can be re-used a number 27 ¦ of times.
28 Referring to Fiaures 7A and 7B, the use of the 2 vacuum scaling apparatus of Figure 1 is illustrated for 3 unsealing a jar 79 with a scre~-type lid 81 having a 3 scaling ring on the inside thereof. This containcr will 32 be recognized as a popular type of food sold in grocery stores.
I' , ~
" 1166195 1 The lids are o~ten hard to remove because the containars 2 have been vacuumed sealed. But that vacuum seal is broXen l:
3 if the space surrounding the container 79 is ~evacuated to 4 a pressure in the vicinity of or lower than the pressure S within the container 79. Once such evacuation has taken olace, the air pressure in the space surrounding the container is permitted to slowly increase by just slightly de~ressing 8 Ithe knob 43 to allow air to re-enter the vacuum chamber 25 9 ¦and raise its pressure back to ambient pressure. It hàs
10 ¦been found that this rise in pressure should be accomplished
11 in no less than 7 seconds in order to prevent the container
12 from resealing. Once back to ambient pressure, the container
13 79 is removed and the lid 81 is unscrewed from it. Of course,
14¦ the same tecnnique of evacuation and then slowly allowing the air pressure to return to the ambient pressure can be 16 used for unsealing any of the other containers illustrated -?
17 and discussed hereinabove.
221 ' 2223 . . .
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2267 .~
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... . ___ . __ Referring to Fisure 8, an air return valve structu.e is illustrated ~hat is different than the valve structure 33 shown in the previous fisures. The same reference ch2racters are used in Fisure 8 to identi'y correspondins parts ?reviously t illustrated but with a prime (') added .hereto to dis._nguish them. The principal change is in a lower valve seat 35' of the valvc structure 33'. The spring loaded valve seat is shown in Figure 8 as being depressed by hand force in order to provide openinss through which air rushes into the evacuated cr.amber 25'.
10 The shape of the valve seat 35' is conical ~ith a matching sur.ace ~ 40 so that a normal rest position causes the t~o conical sur'aces to exactly mate and prevent air from normally entering the char~er 25'. An angle of the conical surfaces 35' and 40 that is made with a vertical line is preferably less than 40, in one embodiment about 30, in order to direct the incoming rush of air down against a top of a container that is positioned ~ithin the chamber 25'. An advantage to the shape of Figure 8 is that this rush of air is directed in a manner to quickly press thc lid against , .
: . ;
.
the top of the containcr and form a scal thèrcaround bcforc thc 1`
air pressure within the container is allowed to increase significantly.
Referring to Figurc 9, anothcr lid structure is illus-trated in cross section for use on the container 4i. A circular piece of plastic 85, shown in cross section in Figure 9, forms the main portion of the lid structure. In a~ annular groove provided in its bottom surface is permanently glued a silicon rubber sealing ring 87 for contactins and sealing aaain the ~op 1~
wall edge o' the container 47. During evacuation of the chamber in whicll the container 47 is placed, air is withdrawn from the container around the seal 87 as the lid loosely fits on top o' the container. As previously described, the seal &7 is compressed as the air pressure is rapidly increased in the region above the lid, therebv to preserve the contents of the container 47.
On the top surface of the lid plastic piecc 85 is a boss 89 that is circular in cross section and provided with threads on its outside cylindrical surface. ~ cap 91 contains mating threads on its inside cylindrical surface to permit loosening and i_ .
tightening of the cap 91 by an appropria,e rotation.
A vertical aperture 93 is provided all the way throush thc top lid portion 85 and the boss 89 in a manner that would permit air to move therethrough if the cap 91 is not in place.
The cap seals off the passage 91 from the surroundings, however, through its contact with a pointed annular ring 9S e~tending ~pward on top of the boss 89. In order to rclicvc tlle pressurc 1 ~6fi~95 within the container when it is desired to remove the lid, one or more vertical slots 97 axe provided in the outside suxface of the boss 89 into its grooves~ With one or more slots 97, a slight loosening of the cap 91 ~ill break the seal from the underside of the cap and the pointed annular ring 95, thereby allowing air to enter under the cap 91, through the slot 97 and down into the container through the passage 93. The cap and boss structure of Figure 9 has an advantage as a controllable sealing mechanism of provi~ding a very good seal for a long period of time until it is desired to open the contaîner. The pointed annular sealing ring 95 is most conveniently formed as a unitary structure with the lid 85 by injection molding the entire piece at once.
Figure 10, in its six views, illustrates a sequential method of vacuum sealing food or other material within flexible plastic bags using an appliance of the type previously illus-trated with respect to Figure 1. A flexible plastic bag 101 is illustrated in Figure 10A. The bag lQl is made of a heavy material that can withstand the forces created by large pressure differential between the inside and the outside of the bag.
Three sides of the bag are closed but a fourth side 103 remains open. One face of the bag is conveniently marked .
with lines 105, 107 and 109 positioned as shown in Figure 10A, the purpose of these markings being explained later. A hole 111 is provided in that same surface of the bag 101 and is used in the vacuum sealing process. Alternatively to pro-viding the hole 111, a marking may be applied and the user of r - 16 -~ ~ 6619~
the bag may make the hole at the mark.
The remainin~ illustrations of ~igure 10 show how the bag 101 is used to vacuum seal material~ Food or other material 113 is placed in the bag through its open end 103 and the opened end is then sealed by application of heat and pressure along the line 105 to form a weld llS, as shown in Figure lOB.
The next step is to attach a one-way air valve structure 117 to the bag 101, as~ shQwn in Figure lOC~
Valve 117 includes a bottom structural plate 119 having a rigid box-like structure 121 attached. An opening 123 is provided for a valve beam 125 having a valve member 127 attached at one end and a spring 129 in compression between its other end and the bottom plate 119. An adhesive layer 131 is carried by an underside of the bottom plate 119. The adhesive layer 131 can be a double adhesive tape or other material adapted for many uses or designed for a single adhering use to be replaced when the valve 117 is used again.
A hole 133 is provided through both the plate 119 and adhesive layer 131 and is aligned with the hole 111 of the bag 101 when the valve 117 is used. The valve member 127 is positioned to close off the opening 133 in its rest position as urged by the spring 129.
pg/J)~ - 17 -I 1 ~6195 The case 121 includes a plurality of apertures 135 to make sure that the air pressure within and without the case 121 is substantially equal as the valve 117 is used to seal the bag 101. Within this compartment is an air-filled balloon member 137. Its relatiye size as shown in ~igure lOC is with the valve 117 outside the vacuum chamber and thus under normal atmospheric pressure. Enough air is placed in the balloon 137 for it to function by expansion during the sealing operation, as explained here-inafterj but not so much air that it would interfere with the normal closed valve 127 as biased by the spring 129.
The balloon element 137 need not be attached to any of the other structure of the valve 117, but could be if preferred, so long as the case 121 holds it in position over the beam 125 for use in sealing.
After the valve 117 is adhered to a surface of the bag 101 as shown in Figure lOC, the entire structure is placed within the vacuum chamber 25 of the appliance illus-trated in Figure 1. The air pressure within the chamber 25 is reduced, as described previously. As this happens, the balloon 137 with its captured volume of air expands to fill up the inside of the case 121 of the valve 117, as shown in Figure lOD. The force of the air pressure within the balloon 137 pushes down on the beam 125 and overcomes the force of the spring 129, thereby to open the valve 127 to allow air to be withdrawn from within the bag 101. Since the bag 101 is flexible, withdrawal of most of the air causes the bag to shrink around the-material 113 within it.
pg/~ 18 -.
l l 66195 After the air has been so removed by drawing the maximum vacu~l within the chamber 25~ the button 43 at the top of the appliance of Figure 1 is pushed in a manner described previously to allow the air pressure within th.e chamber 25 to return rapidly to an am~ient pressure. As the pressure within the chamber 25 increases, the size of the balloon element 137 decreases, as shown in Figure 10E. The result is that the spring 129 causes the valve 127 to close again to seal the ~ag 101. When the pressure within the chamber 25 has returned to the initial atmospheric pressure, the balloon 137 returns to the size initially illustrated in Figure 10C.
Once the pressure within th.e ch.amber 25 is so returned to that of its surroundings, the bag 101 and the valve 117 attached thereto are removed from the chamber 25.
Another heat sealing operation is then performed along the line 109 (Figure 10A) and is marked for that purpose on a surface of the bag. Once sealed in this manner, the valve 117 can be removed by breaking the adh.esive attachment to the bag 101. The excess bag material may then optionally be removed by cutting along the line 107, resulting in a vacuum sealed bag 101 which preserves the material 113 therein. Removal of the material 113 is accomplished by tearing into the bag 101 and the bag is thereafter discarded.
Pg/1' - lg -l l 66195 Referring to Figures llA and llB! a modification of the appliance of Figure 1 is illustrated wherein the base structure 11 is modified to include the plastic bag sealing, cutting and punching tools that are used in the process just described with respect to Figure lQ. These tools are conVen-iently provided for use adjacent the vacuum sealing appl~ance but yet in a manner that they can be pushed into the base portion 11, out of the way, when not in use.
Referring to Figures llA and llB, a door 141 is hinged at its bottom and shaped to form a continuous smooth surface in the base portion 11 when closed. When the door 141 is opened, a button 143 provided on the underside Qf the base 11 causes, when pushed by a user, a spring-loaded rack structure 145 to move out from the base 11 into the p4sition shown in Figures llA and llB for use. Attached to the rack 145 are two wheels 147 and 149 in a manner th.at they can freely rotate when motion is applied. The wheels are held in a journal relationship to the rack 145 in a manner to leave a small gap 151 therebetween through which the bag 101 of Fi.gure lQ may ~e drawn across its width along one of the lines 105 and 109 to effect a desired heat sealing of the plastic bag materi.al.
The heat is applied by an electrical element within the wheel 149 (not s~own) to which electrical power is provided by a pair of brushes 153 and 155.
pg/~ 20 -1 1 66~95 Attaclled to the top of the rack 1~5 is a plastic hole punch 157 that is carried by a leaf spring 159. If the bags 101 of Figure lOA are provided the user ~ithout the hole 111 but rather with a mark showing where the hole is to be placed, the punch 157 may be manually operated by the user to form the hole 111 as an initial step in use of a bag.
Similarly, a knife 161 is provided on the top of the rack 45, having two stationary sharp edges 163 and 165, The bag 101 may be cut across its marked line 107 by the knife 161 in practicing the method of Figure 10. The knife 161 is rotatably carried by the rack 145 through a journalled connection 167. This permits the user to position the knife in the most convenient position for use.
When a sealing operation is completed, the rack 145 is manually pushed back into the base structure 11 against a spring that tends to urge the rack 145 to its extended position shown in Figure 11. A latch (not shown) holds it in place until the button 143 is again pushed by the user to release the latch. The door 141 is also closed to restore the ~ase to the original condition.
It will be understood that although the Yarious aspects of the present invention have been described with respect to its specific preferred embodiments, the invention is entitled to protection within the full scope of the appended claims.
17 and discussed hereinabove.
221 ' 2223 . . .
, 241 .
2267 .~
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. ' .
... . ___ . __ Referring to Fisure 8, an air return valve structu.e is illustrated ~hat is different than the valve structure 33 shown in the previous fisures. The same reference ch2racters are used in Fisure 8 to identi'y correspondins parts ?reviously t illustrated but with a prime (') added .hereto to dis._nguish them. The principal change is in a lower valve seat 35' of the valvc structure 33'. The spring loaded valve seat is shown in Figure 8 as being depressed by hand force in order to provide openinss through which air rushes into the evacuated cr.amber 25'.
10 The shape of the valve seat 35' is conical ~ith a matching sur.ace ~ 40 so that a normal rest position causes the t~o conical sur'aces to exactly mate and prevent air from normally entering the char~er 25'. An angle of the conical surfaces 35' and 40 that is made with a vertical line is preferably less than 40, in one embodiment about 30, in order to direct the incoming rush of air down against a top of a container that is positioned ~ithin the chamber 25'. An advantage to the shape of Figure 8 is that this rush of air is directed in a manner to quickly press thc lid against , .
: . ;
.
the top of the containcr and form a scal thèrcaround bcforc thc 1`
air pressure within the container is allowed to increase significantly.
Referring to Figurc 9, anothcr lid structure is illus-trated in cross section for use on the container 4i. A circular piece of plastic 85, shown in cross section in Figure 9, forms the main portion of the lid structure. In a~ annular groove provided in its bottom surface is permanently glued a silicon rubber sealing ring 87 for contactins and sealing aaain the ~op 1~
wall edge o' the container 47. During evacuation of the chamber in whicll the container 47 is placed, air is withdrawn from the container around the seal 87 as the lid loosely fits on top o' the container. As previously described, the seal &7 is compressed as the air pressure is rapidly increased in the region above the lid, therebv to preserve the contents of the container 47.
On the top surface of the lid plastic piecc 85 is a boss 89 that is circular in cross section and provided with threads on its outside cylindrical surface. ~ cap 91 contains mating threads on its inside cylindrical surface to permit loosening and i_ .
tightening of the cap 91 by an appropria,e rotation.
A vertical aperture 93 is provided all the way throush thc top lid portion 85 and the boss 89 in a manner that would permit air to move therethrough if the cap 91 is not in place.
The cap seals off the passage 91 from the surroundings, however, through its contact with a pointed annular ring 9S e~tending ~pward on top of the boss 89. In order to rclicvc tlle pressurc 1 ~6fi~95 within the container when it is desired to remove the lid, one or more vertical slots 97 axe provided in the outside suxface of the boss 89 into its grooves~ With one or more slots 97, a slight loosening of the cap 91 ~ill break the seal from the underside of the cap and the pointed annular ring 95, thereby allowing air to enter under the cap 91, through the slot 97 and down into the container through the passage 93. The cap and boss structure of Figure 9 has an advantage as a controllable sealing mechanism of provi~ding a very good seal for a long period of time until it is desired to open the contaîner. The pointed annular sealing ring 95 is most conveniently formed as a unitary structure with the lid 85 by injection molding the entire piece at once.
Figure 10, in its six views, illustrates a sequential method of vacuum sealing food or other material within flexible plastic bags using an appliance of the type previously illus-trated with respect to Figure 1. A flexible plastic bag 101 is illustrated in Figure 10A. The bag lQl is made of a heavy material that can withstand the forces created by large pressure differential between the inside and the outside of the bag.
Three sides of the bag are closed but a fourth side 103 remains open. One face of the bag is conveniently marked .
with lines 105, 107 and 109 positioned as shown in Figure 10A, the purpose of these markings being explained later. A hole 111 is provided in that same surface of the bag 101 and is used in the vacuum sealing process. Alternatively to pro-viding the hole 111, a marking may be applied and the user of r - 16 -~ ~ 6619~
the bag may make the hole at the mark.
The remainin~ illustrations of ~igure 10 show how the bag 101 is used to vacuum seal material~ Food or other material 113 is placed in the bag through its open end 103 and the opened end is then sealed by application of heat and pressure along the line 105 to form a weld llS, as shown in Figure lOB.
The next step is to attach a one-way air valve structure 117 to the bag 101, as~ shQwn in Figure lOC~
Valve 117 includes a bottom structural plate 119 having a rigid box-like structure 121 attached. An opening 123 is provided for a valve beam 125 having a valve member 127 attached at one end and a spring 129 in compression between its other end and the bottom plate 119. An adhesive layer 131 is carried by an underside of the bottom plate 119. The adhesive layer 131 can be a double adhesive tape or other material adapted for many uses or designed for a single adhering use to be replaced when the valve 117 is used again.
A hole 133 is provided through both the plate 119 and adhesive layer 131 and is aligned with the hole 111 of the bag 101 when the valve 117 is used. The valve member 127 is positioned to close off the opening 133 in its rest position as urged by the spring 129.
pg/J)~ - 17 -I 1 ~6195 The case 121 includes a plurality of apertures 135 to make sure that the air pressure within and without the case 121 is substantially equal as the valve 117 is used to seal the bag 101. Within this compartment is an air-filled balloon member 137. Its relatiye size as shown in ~igure lOC is with the valve 117 outside the vacuum chamber and thus under normal atmospheric pressure. Enough air is placed in the balloon 137 for it to function by expansion during the sealing operation, as explained here-inafterj but not so much air that it would interfere with the normal closed valve 127 as biased by the spring 129.
The balloon element 137 need not be attached to any of the other structure of the valve 117, but could be if preferred, so long as the case 121 holds it in position over the beam 125 for use in sealing.
After the valve 117 is adhered to a surface of the bag 101 as shown in Figure lOC, the entire structure is placed within the vacuum chamber 25 of the appliance illus-trated in Figure 1. The air pressure within the chamber 25 is reduced, as described previously. As this happens, the balloon 137 with its captured volume of air expands to fill up the inside of the case 121 of the valve 117, as shown in Figure lOD. The force of the air pressure within the balloon 137 pushes down on the beam 125 and overcomes the force of the spring 129, thereby to open the valve 127 to allow air to be withdrawn from within the bag 101. Since the bag 101 is flexible, withdrawal of most of the air causes the bag to shrink around the-material 113 within it.
pg/~ 18 -.
l l 66195 After the air has been so removed by drawing the maximum vacu~l within the chamber 25~ the button 43 at the top of the appliance of Figure 1 is pushed in a manner described previously to allow the air pressure within th.e chamber 25 to return rapidly to an am~ient pressure. As the pressure within the chamber 25 increases, the size of the balloon element 137 decreases, as shown in Figure 10E. The result is that the spring 129 causes the valve 127 to close again to seal the ~ag 101. When the pressure within the chamber 25 has returned to the initial atmospheric pressure, the balloon 137 returns to the size initially illustrated in Figure 10C.
Once the pressure within th.e ch.amber 25 is so returned to that of its surroundings, the bag 101 and the valve 117 attached thereto are removed from the chamber 25.
Another heat sealing operation is then performed along the line 109 (Figure 10A) and is marked for that purpose on a surface of the bag. Once sealed in this manner, the valve 117 can be removed by breaking the adh.esive attachment to the bag 101. The excess bag material may then optionally be removed by cutting along the line 107, resulting in a vacuum sealed bag 101 which preserves the material 113 therein. Removal of the material 113 is accomplished by tearing into the bag 101 and the bag is thereafter discarded.
Pg/1' - lg -l l 66195 Referring to Figures llA and llB! a modification of the appliance of Figure 1 is illustrated wherein the base structure 11 is modified to include the plastic bag sealing, cutting and punching tools that are used in the process just described with respect to Figure lQ. These tools are conVen-iently provided for use adjacent the vacuum sealing appl~ance but yet in a manner that they can be pushed into the base portion 11, out of the way, when not in use.
Referring to Figures llA and llB, a door 141 is hinged at its bottom and shaped to form a continuous smooth surface in the base portion 11 when closed. When the door 141 is opened, a button 143 provided on the underside Qf the base 11 causes, when pushed by a user, a spring-loaded rack structure 145 to move out from the base 11 into the p4sition shown in Figures llA and llB for use. Attached to the rack 145 are two wheels 147 and 149 in a manner th.at they can freely rotate when motion is applied. The wheels are held in a journal relationship to the rack 145 in a manner to leave a small gap 151 therebetween through which the bag 101 of Fi.gure lQ may ~e drawn across its width along one of the lines 105 and 109 to effect a desired heat sealing of the plastic bag materi.al.
The heat is applied by an electrical element within the wheel 149 (not s~own) to which electrical power is provided by a pair of brushes 153 and 155.
pg/~ 20 -1 1 66~95 Attaclled to the top of the rack 1~5 is a plastic hole punch 157 that is carried by a leaf spring 159. If the bags 101 of Figure lOA are provided the user ~ithout the hole 111 but rather with a mark showing where the hole is to be placed, the punch 157 may be manually operated by the user to form the hole 111 as an initial step in use of a bag.
Similarly, a knife 161 is provided on the top of the rack 45, having two stationary sharp edges 163 and 165, The bag 101 may be cut across its marked line 107 by the knife 161 in practicing the method of Figure 10. The knife 161 is rotatably carried by the rack 145 through a journalled connection 167. This permits the user to position the knife in the most convenient position for use.
When a sealing operation is completed, the rack 145 is manually pushed back into the base structure 11 against a spring that tends to urge the rack 145 to its extended position shown in Figure 11. A latch (not shown) holds it in place until the button 143 is again pushed by the user to release the latch. The door 141 is also closed to restore the ~ase to the original condition.
It will be understood that although the Yarious aspects of the present invention have been described with respect to its specific preferred embodiments, the invention is entitled to protection within the full scope of the appended claims.
Claims (20)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A portable vacuum sealing apparatus, comprising:
a base structure, a removable cover dimensioned to fit on said base and provide an enclosed chamber therein, a sealing element positioned to join the base and cover when positioned together, a vacuum pump carried in said base and connected through an aperture of the base into said chamber in a manner to reduce the air pressure within said chamber when the pump is operated, an aperture in the top of said cover that allows air to move into said chamber from outside said cover, and a manually operable valve carried in said aperture, said valve being normally biased closed to seal said aperture but being manually operable to let air pass into said chamber to equalize any air pressure differences within and without of said chamber.
a base structure, a removable cover dimensioned to fit on said base and provide an enclosed chamber therein, a sealing element positioned to join the base and cover when positioned together, a vacuum pump carried in said base and connected through an aperture of the base into said chamber in a manner to reduce the air pressure within said chamber when the pump is operated, an aperture in the top of said cover that allows air to move into said chamber from outside said cover, and a manually operable valve carried in said aperture, said valve being normally biased closed to seal said aperture but being manually operable to let air pass into said chamber to equalize any air pressure differences within and without of said chamber.
2. The vacuum sealing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said vacuum pump is capable of reducing the air pressure within said chamber by at least forty percent.
3. The vacuum sealing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said aperture is of such a size and said valve of such a construction as to permit sufficient air to enter through the aperture into the chamber to restore in less than two seconds the ambient air pressure therein from an initial air pressure created by the vacuum pump that is less than forty percent of said ambient air pressure.
4. The vacuum sealing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said cover contains a handle extending above its top surface on the outside thereof with said aperture extending through said handle and the top wall of said cover.
5. The vacuum sealing apparatus according to Claim 1, which additionally comprises:
a container for food or other material to be stored, said container being rigid and open at its top to form a circular lip, and a lid carrying a soft rubber-like sealing material in the shape of a ring positioned within an annular groove of the lid, said sealing ring and groove being shaped to receive the top lip of said container.
a container for food or other material to be stored, said container being rigid and open at its top to form a circular lip, and a lid carrying a soft rubber-like sealing material in the shape of a ring positioned within an annular groove of the lid, said sealing ring and groove being shaped to receive the top lip of said container.
6. The vacuum sealing apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein said lid additionally comprises:
an upwardly extending boss from a top surface of said lid, an aperture extending completely through said lid and said boss, a pointed annular ring carried by the top of said boss and extending around a top end of said aperture, and a cap adapted for threaded attachment to the out-side of said boss to push an underside surface thereof a-gainst said annular ring when desired to seal said passage.
an upwardly extending boss from a top surface of said lid, an aperture extending completely through said lid and said boss, a pointed annular ring carried by the top of said boss and extending around a top end of said aperture, and a cap adapted for threaded attachment to the out-side of said boss to push an underside surface thereof a-gainst said annular ring when desired to seal said passage.
7. The vacuum sealing apparatus according to Claim 1 which additionally comprises a flexible plastic bag in which food or other material may be vacuum sealed and a one-way valve adapted for removable attachment to said bag, said valve being characterized by opening an aligned aperture into said bag when placed in said vacuum chamber and the air pressure therein re-duced below a given level, said valve further characterized by closing said mating aperture when the air pressure within the chamber returns to said given level.
8. The vacuum sealing apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein said valve comprises:
a valve seat surrounding an aperture adapted to be aligned with an ap-erture in said plastic bag, a layer of adhesive carried by said valve to hold it in place with said apertures aligned, a valve stem carried by said valve structure and operable against said valve seat to close off said aperture and to be removed therefrom to open said aperture, a resilent element carried by said valve in a manner to hold said valve stem normally against said valve seat to close off said aperture, and means carried by said valve for overcoming said resilient means when the surrounding air pressure falls below a given level, whereby said valve is caused to open under such a low pressure situation.
a valve seat surrounding an aperture adapted to be aligned with an ap-erture in said plastic bag, a layer of adhesive carried by said valve to hold it in place with said apertures aligned, a valve stem carried by said valve structure and operable against said valve seat to close off said aperture and to be removed therefrom to open said aperture, a resilent element carried by said valve in a manner to hold said valve stem normally against said valve seat to close off said aperture, and means carried by said valve for overcoming said resilient means when the surrounding air pressure falls below a given level, whereby said valve is caused to open under such a low pressure situation.
9. The vacuum sealing apparatus according to Claim 8 wherein said means for overcoming the force of the resilient element comprises a balloon-like element containing some air and held in an enclosed volume so that its expansion causes the countervailing force to be applied.
10. The vacuum sealing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said base additionally comprises:
a rack carried in a manner to be slid into and out of said base by an operator, and means carried by said rack for applying heat and temperature to plastic bags to seal them.
a rack carried in a manner to be slid into and out of said base by an operator, and means carried by said rack for applying heat and temperature to plastic bags to seal them.
11. The vacuum sealing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said manu-ally operable valve and said aperture in the top of said cover are cooperatively conically shaped in a manner to form a seal when the valve is in its closed position.
12. The vacuum sealing apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein the volume within the enclosed chamber is significantly greater than the volume occupied by said con-tainer.
13. The vacuum sealing apparatus according to Claim 1 which additionally comprises an upright container having an opening and a lid adapted to be loosely fit over said opening and held there by gravity, said lid containing a compressible sealing material shaped to be held under the lid between it and said container opening when the lid is resting on the container, whereby a sudden rush of air from the aperture in the top of the cover downward against the lid compresses the sealing material and quickly forms an initial seal of the container after a vacuum has been drawn in the chamber.
14. The vacuum sealing apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein said manually operable valve and said aperture in the top of said cover are cooperatively conically shaped, thereby to control the paths of air entering the chamber through the opened valve.
15. The vacuum sealing apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein the volume within the enclosed chamber is signi-ficantly greater than the volume occupied by said container.
16. A method of vacuum sealing a container having a rigid base portion with an upwardly extending rim and a rigid lid adapted to be supported by the rim with a resilient sealing material therebetween, comprising the steps of:
placing into said container material to be sealed therein, at least 10% of the volume thereof being left unfilled, positioning the lid and sealing material loosely on said rim through said sealing material in a manner to be held by its own weight, reducing by at least 40% the air pressure in a volume surrounding and significantly larger than said container and lid, thereby to also reduce the air pressure within the unfilled portion of the container by removing air therefrom through spaces between the lid and rim around the sealing material, and restoring within 2 seconds the original air pressure to the volume surrounding said container by opening a space above the lid to the atmosphere, whereby said lid is caused to firmly compress said sealing material against said rim without any physical contact or mechanical manipulation thereof, thereby to retain the reduced air pressure within said container and seal it.
placing into said container material to be sealed therein, at least 10% of the volume thereof being left unfilled, positioning the lid and sealing material loosely on said rim through said sealing material in a manner to be held by its own weight, reducing by at least 40% the air pressure in a volume surrounding and significantly larger than said container and lid, thereby to also reduce the air pressure within the unfilled portion of the container by removing air therefrom through spaces between the lid and rim around the sealing material, and restoring within 2 seconds the original air pressure to the volume surrounding said container by opening a space above the lid to the atmosphere, whereby said lid is caused to firmly compress said sealing material against said rim without any physical contact or mechanical manipulation thereof, thereby to retain the reduced air pressure within said container and seal it.
17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of reducing the air pressure includes providing an enclosed vacuum chamber formed of a base and cover resting on said base through sealing material, a container, lid and seal-ing material being positioned within said chamber, a vacuum pump being connected through a passage to said chamber.
18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the step of suddenly restoring the original air pressure includes the opening of a passage into such chamber without disconnecting the vacuum pump therefrom.
19. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of positioning the lid includes positioning a lid having an aperture therethrough fitted with a valve that is closeable, thereby to provide a sealed container that may be unsealed by opening the valve to restore within the con-tainer through the opening in the lid the ambient air pressure.
20. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of positioning the lid and sealing material on said rim(in-cludes holding said sealing material in the form of a rim) includes holding said sealing material in the form of a ring on the underside of said lid in an annular groove pro-vided on the outside of a cylindrical downward protrusion of the lid that is sized to fit within the rim of the container base.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR8024279A FR2490592A1 (en) | 1980-09-23 | 1980-11-14 | Vacuum sealing of preserve container - involves fitting sealed jointed lid under partial vacuum from pump |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US8165879A | 1979-10-04 | 1979-10-04 | |
| US081,658 | 1987-08-04 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1166195A true CA1166195A (en) | 1984-04-24 |
Family
ID=22165553
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000360863A Expired CA1166195A (en) | 1979-10-04 | 1980-09-23 | Method and apparatus for vacuum sealing containers |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5657624A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU6296780A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR8006155A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1166195A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3036396A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2061891B (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2139595A (en) * | 1983-05-09 | 1984-11-14 | Ray Gannon | Containers for perishable material |
| US4779398A (en) * | 1987-02-06 | 1988-10-25 | W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn., Cryovac Div. | Method and apparatus for making gas flushed packages |
| DE29503717U1 (en) * | 1995-03-04 | 1995-06-22 | Ristau Harald | Receptacle |
| US5720618A (en) * | 1996-05-06 | 1998-02-24 | Scarpetti; Darlene | Vacuum teaching device |
| DE19907517C2 (en) * | 1999-02-22 | 2001-05-31 | Buerger Heinz Dieter | Device for evacuating a container and operating method therefor |
| TR201914388A2 (en) * | 2019-09-23 | 2021-04-21 | Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi | Cooling device incorporating a vacuuming device. |
| DE102022125556A1 (en) | 2022-10-04 | 2024-04-04 | Leonhard Burmester | Device and method for creating a vacuum inside disposable or reusable containers or other containers |
-
1980
- 1980-09-23 CA CA000360863A patent/CA1166195A/en not_active Expired
- 1980-09-25 BR BR8006155A patent/BR8006155A/en unknown
- 1980-09-26 DE DE19803036396 patent/DE3036396A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1980-10-01 GB GB8031651A patent/GB2061891B/en not_active Expired
- 1980-10-03 AU AU62967/80A patent/AU6296780A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1980-10-03 JP JP13863880A patent/JPS5657624A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2061891B (en) | 1984-06-06 |
| GB2061891A (en) | 1981-05-20 |
| DE3036396A1 (en) | 1981-04-09 |
| BR8006155A (en) | 1981-05-19 |
| JPS5657624A (en) | 1981-05-20 |
| AU6296780A (en) | 1981-04-16 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |