EP1900649A1

EP1900649A1 - Airtight container with a vacuum valve

Info

Publication number: EP1900649A1
Application number: EP07017495A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Chang-Ho Kim
Original assignee: Lock and Lock Co Ltd
Current assignee: Lock and Lock Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-13
Filing date: 2007-09-06
Publication date: 2008-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 2027-09-06
Also published as: CN100591584C; ATE487669T1; CN101143631A; KR100774248B1; DE602007010389D1; US20080061063A1; EP1900649B1

Abstract

An airtight container (1) with a vacuum valve (4) in a double structure is disclosed, which is able to enhance an engaging force of a lid (3) by sealing an interior of the container (1) in a vacuum state, and is able to store a food for a long time period without rotting by making the interior of the container (1) vacuum by discharging air from the interior of the container (1) to the outside with the assistance of a vacuum pump (23), and a connection part (24) of the vacuum pump (23) is made in a compact size to obtain an easier storing and preventing damage.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vacuum valve type airtight container.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, in an airtight container for air-tightly storing a certain thing by covering a lid on a container body, a packing is engaged at a container lid, and a lid is covered. So, a certain gap is sealed as the packing air-tightly engages a rim of the container body. So as to enhance an engaging force of the lid, an airtight container having a locking wing is widely used.
However, in case that a lid is simply engaged with the container body, a reliable sealing force is not obtained. In case of an engaging method using a locking wing, a sealing force of the lid is good, but the locking wing is generally repeatedly opened and closed when in use, so that it is inconvenient to use.
As shown in Figure 6, in a state that a vacuum valve 31 is installed at a container lid 30, and the container lid 30 having a packing 32 is covered on the container body 33, the container lid 30 is pressed from an upper side, and the air is discharged to the outside via the vacuum valve 31 by the amount of volume decreased in the container, and the vacuum valve 31 is pressed and closely contacts with a valve seat 37, so that a communication state between the inner and outer sides is disconnected. In this state, even when the container lid is forced to be opened, since the vacuum valve 31 keeps closing a valve hole 34 of the container lid, a certain vacuum pressure is formed in the container, so that the container lid 30 is not opened. When the container lid 30 is needed to be opened, the vacuum valve 31 is lifted up from the valve seat 37, so that the inner and outer sides communicate with each other via the valve hole 34, and the container lid 30 can be easily opened in the conventional vacuum valve type airtight container.
In case that it is needed to store a certain food for a long time period, not for simply enhancing a convenience when opening and closing a container lid, it is preferred to make the interior of the container a full vacuum state by discharging the air from the interior of the container. In this case, as the container lid 30 is simply pressed, since the air is discharged to the outside via the vacuum valve 31 by the amount of volume decreased depending on the transformation of the surface of the container lid, an inner volume change of the container is smaller as compared to the whole volume of the container, so that it is effective to prevent the container lid 30 from being opened, but the air of the container may affect the food in the container, whereby it is not preferred to store the food for a long time period.
So, all the air in the container is forcibly sucked and discharged to the outside using a vacuum pump 35. In case that the air is forcibly discharged to the outside using the vacuum pump 35, since air does not remain in the interior of the container, a rotting speed may be decreased when storing a certain food for a long time period, so that it is possible to safely store the food while preventing rotting.
As shown in Figure 6, when it is needed to discharge the air from the interior of the container to the outside by using the vacuum pump 35, since a sucker shaped connection part 36 substantially surrounds the whole portions of the vacuum valve 31, a too large size connection part 36 is needed. So, the engaging connection of the connection part 36 may be limited depending on the surrounding situations of the container lid. It is impossible to manufacture a compact size vacuum pump. The silicon rubber sucker shaped connection part 36 is made much larger, so that it may be easily broken.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum valve type airtight container which overcomes the problems encountered in the conventional art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an airtight container with a vacuum valve in a double structure which is able to enhance an engaging force of a lid by sealing an interior of a container in a vacuum state, and is able to store a food for a long time period without rotting by making an interior of a container vacuum by discharging the air from the interior of the container to the outside with the assistance of a vacuum pump, and a connection part of a vacuum pump is made in a compact size for thereby obtaining an easier storing and preventing a damage.
To achieve the above objects, in an airtight container which includes a container body, and a container lid which is air-tightly engaged at the container body with a packing being disposed between them, there is provided a vacuum valve type airtight container which comprises a first valve engaging hole which is provided at the container lid; a first valve which includes a cylindrical part inserted into the first valve engaging hole and being movable in an up and down direction, a valve circular plate for disconnection a communication between the interior of the container and the outside when it is closely contacted with a surface of the container lid which operates as a valve seat at an upper side of the cylindrical part, and a flange plate which passes through the first valve engaging hole at the lower side of the cylindrical part for thereby preventing an escape of the same; a second valve engaging hole which is formed at a center portion of the first valve while passing through the same in an up and down direction and has a diameter contraction part provided with a step surface forming a valve seat at an intermediate portion; a second valve which includes a valve head disposed at the step surface for thereby disconnecting the second valve engaging hole, a valve shaft rod which is extended to a lower side of the valve head and passes through the diameter contraction part, and an escape prevention head provided at a lower side of the valve shaft rod with a certain distance from the lower surface of the diameter contraction part, so that the second calve can move in the second valve engaging hole in an up and down direction; a first air flow slit groove which is formed at an outer surface of the cylindrical part of the first valve in an up and down direction for communicating the inner and outer sides of the container for allowing air to flow when the cylindrical part moves up; and at least one second air flow slit groove which is formed at the diameter contraction part so that the air flows up and down along an axial direction when the second valve moves up.
A handle is protruded from one side of the valve circular plate of the first valve.
The handle is slanted upward like it spacially gets loose, while not contacting with a surface of the container lid.
The first and second valves are made of silicon rubbers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein;

Figure 1 is a front cross sectional view illustrating a vacuum valve type airtight container according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view illustrating a first valve of a vacuum valve type airtight container according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a plane view illustrating a first valve of a vacuum valve type airtight container according to the present invention;
Figure 4 is a bottom view illustrating a first valve of a vacuum valve type airtight container according to the present invention;
Figure 5 is a view illustrating a structure of a second valve of a vacuum valve according to the present invention; and
Figure 6 is a view illustrating a conventional container.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a front cross sectional view illustrating a vacuum valve type airtight container according to the present invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view illustrating a first valve of a vacuum valve type airtight container according to the present invention. Figure 3 is a plane view illustrating a first valve of a vacuum valve type airtight container according to the present invention. Figure 4 is a bottom view illustrating a first valve of a vacuum valve type airtight container according to the present invention.
Figure 5 is a view illustrating a structure of a second valve of a vacuum valve according to the present invention.
The airtight container 1 according to the present invention comprises a container body 2 made by injecting a plastic material, a container lid 3 and a vacuum valve 4 which is made of a silicon rubber material. The container lid 3 is air-tightly engaged at the container body 2 with the packing 5 being disposed between them.
The vacuum valve 4 comprises a first valve 6 and a second valve 7. The first valve 6 comprises a cylindrical part 8, and a valve circular plate 9 integrally provided at an upper side of the cylindrical part 8 and being formed in a large circular plate shape. A flange plate 10 is provided at a lower side of the cylindrical part 8 for preventing an escape of the same.
The cylindrical part 8 of the first valve 6 is inserted into a first valve engaging hole 11 formed at the container lid 3 and is movable in up and down directions. While contracting or expanding, the silicon rubber flange plate 10 flexibly passes through a first valve engaging hole 11 having a diameter smaller than the silicon rubber flange plate 10, so that it is not escaped from the first valve engaging hole 1 unless a certain external force is applied thereto.
In addition, a first air flow slit groove 12 with a narrow width is formed on the cylindrical part 8 and the flange plate 10 in an up and down direction. In a state that the valve circular plate 9 closely contacts with a surface of the container lid 3, all air communication is disconnected between the inner and outer sides of the container. When the valve circular plate 9 moves up and is spaced apart from the surface of the container lid 3, the first air flow slit groove 12 is exposed to the outside, and the inner and outer sides of the container communicate with each other along the groove 12, so that air communicates.
A handle 13 is protruded from one side of the valve circular plate 9 for the use when the vacuum state is removed. The handle 13 has an inclination gradually rising up in an outward direction and spacially gets loose all the time from the surface of the container lid 3.
A second valve engaging hole 14 is formed at a center of the first valve 6 and passes through the same in an up and down direction. A diameter contraction part 16(an intermediate portion of the hole is narrower than the upper and lower sides of the same) having a step surface 15 is formed at an intermediate portion of the second valve engaging hole 14 and operates as a valve seat. The second valve 7 is inserted via the second valve engaging hole 14.
Here, the second valve 7 is made of a silicon rubber having a good elastic and adhering property and comprises a valve shaft rod 17 passing through the diameter contraction part 16, a valve head 18 which is formed at an upper side of the valve shaft rod 17 and contacts with the step surface 15 which forms the valve seat, and an escape prevention head 19 which is formed at a lower side of the valve shaft rod 17. When the escape prevention head 19 passes through the inner diameter of the diameter contraction part 16 and is exposed through the expanded hole, the lower step surface 20 catches the same. In this case, it is impossible to allow the escape prevention head to escape from the hole without a certain external force. The valve shaft rod 17 is longer than the up and down height of the diameter contraction part 16 protruded into an inner side of the hole, so that the second valve 7 can move up and down.
At least one second air flow slit groove 21 having a narrow width is formed at the diameter contraction part 16 in an up and down direction. The second air flow slit groove 21 is not covered even when the escape prevention head 19 of the lower side is closely contacted with the lower step surface 20, so that it is exposed via its up and down sides all the time.
In the present invention, when a certain food is stored in the container body 2, and the container lid 3 is engaged at the container body 2, the packing 5 is closely contacted with the inner wall surface 22 for thereby sealing the gap of the contact surfaces. In this state, the first valve 6 of the vacuum valve 4 is pressed, and the valve circular plate 9 is closely contacted with the surface of the container lid 3, and the connection part 24 of the vacuum pump 23 is connected with the upper hole 14a of the second valve engaging hole 14. When the vacuum valve 23 is driven, the second valve 7 moves up by means of a suction force, and the valve head 18 is spaced apart from the step surface 15 which corresponds to the valve seat. The air of the interior of the container is sucked via the second air flow slit groove 21, the upper hole 14a, the connection part 24 and the vacuum pump 23, so that the air is removed from the interior of the container, and the interior of the same becomes vacuum.
In this state, when the connection part 24 is separated, the second valve 7 is sucked by means of a vacuum pressure of the interior of the container and is closely contacted with the valve seat 15, so that an air communication is disconnected. So, the air is substantially removed from the interior of the container, so that the food can be stored for a long time period.
When the container lid 3 is opened, the first valve 6 is lifted in an upward direction while holding the handle 13 of the first valve 6. The first valve 6 is moved up. When the valve circular plate 9 is spaced apart from the surface of the container lid 3, it contacts with the first valve engaging hole 11 of the container lid 3 at the upper side of the first air flow slit groove 12 or is exposed toward an upper side. So, the inner and outer sides of the container communicate with each other via the first air flow slit groove 12. The air is inputted into the interior of the container via the first air flow slit groove 12 communicating with the outside having a relatively higher atmospheric pressure as compared to the interior of the container, so that the vacuum state is removed. As the suction force of the container lid 3 is removed, the container lid 3 can be easily uncovered from the container body 2.
As described above, the second valve is provided at the center of the first valve so that the air is removed from the interior of the container for generating a vacuum state in the interior of the container with the assistance of the vacuum pump. A vacuum valve is provided in a double structure. So, it is possible to make the vacuum pump compact-sized. The suction force of the air is enhanced, and the life span of the connection part can be extended.
As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

In an airtight container which includes a container body, and a container lid which is air-tightly engaged at the container body with a packing being disposed between them, a vacuum valve type airtight container, comprising:
a first valve engaging hole which is provided at the container lid;

a first valve which includes a cylindrical part inserted into the first valve engaging hole and being movable in an up and down direction, a valve circular plate for disconnection a communication between the interior of the container and the outside when it is closely contacted with a surface of the container lid which operates as a valve seat at an upper side of the cylindrical part, and a flange plate which passes through the first valve engaging hole at the lower side of the cylindrical part for thereby preventing an escape of the same;

a second valve engaging hole which is formed at a center portion of the first valve while passing through the same in an up and down direction and has a diameter contraction part provided with a step surface forming a valve seat at an intermediate portion;

a second valve which includes a valve head disposed at the step surface for thereby disconnecting the second valve engaging hole, a valve shaft rod which is extended to a lower side of the valve head and passes through the diameter contraction part, and an escape prevention head provided at a lower side of the valve shaft rod with a certain distance from the lower surface of the diameter contraction part, so that the second calve can move in the second valve engaging hole in an up and down direction;

a first air flow slit groove which is formed at an outer surface of the cylindrical part of the first valve in an up and down direction for communicating the inner and outer sides of the container for allowing air to flow when the cylindrical part moves up; and

at least one second air flow slit groove which is formed at the diameter contraction part so that the air flows up and down along an axial direction when the second valve moves up.
The container of claim 1, wherein a handle is protruded from one side of the valve circular plate of the first valve.
The container of claim 2, wherein said handle is slanted upward like it gets loose, while not contacting with a surface of the container lid.
The container of one among claims 1 through 3, wherein said first and second valves are made of silicon rubbers.