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The present invention concerns a clip for releasably sealing a bag made of an air-tight material. Moreover, the invention pertains to a kitchen appliance comprising at least one such clip, and to a method for vacuum packing a content of a bag made of an air-tight material.
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Properties and qualities of many materials and products change when they are exposed to air. To prevent such process or to at least slow it down, the respective material may be stored in a closed container. To even improve the effect, air may be made to escape from a such container. In particular, by means of appropriate valves, vacuum pumps may be configured to suck air out of the container.
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For instance, in the field of food conservation, a respective comestible may be filled in a closable container comprising a valve. The container may be a box, a tin or a plastic bag, for example. A vacuum pump of a kitchen appliance can then be connected to the valve, so as to remove air through the valve out of the container, thereby generating therein an underpressure (i.e., a negative pressure relative to an environment of the bag). After detaching the vacuum pump from the container, the valve prevents that air re-enters the container. By such vacuum packing procedure, a storage life of the comestible within the container can be extended.
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It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique simplifying the protection of materials and/or products, in particular of comestibles, against detrimental influence of air.
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The object is achieved by a clip according to claim 1, by a kitchen appliance according to claim 5, and by a method according to claim 6. Advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.
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A clip according to the present invention serves to seal a bag made of an air-tight material, in particular a plastic bag. The clip comprises a clamp part and a valve part, the valve part comprising a pipe and a valve configured to be detachably connected to a vacuum pump for sucking air through the pipe. Therein, the clamp part is configured to enclose and hermetically seal, in a closed state of the clip, the bag around the pipe extending through the clamp part into the bag.
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Accordingly, the clamp part is configured to selectively be shut or opened, and to separate, when shut, an opening of the bag from a ground region thereof by encompassing a portion of the bag. Therein, in the closed state of the clip, the pipe extends through the shut clamp part (e.g., through a passage formed in the clamp part) and thus connects the interior region of the bag with the environment thereof. Due to the hermetical sealing the clamp part provides, air is prevented from flowing between an exterior surface of the pipe and the bag, such that an underpressure can be generated in the bag by means of a vacuum pump when this is detachably connected to the valve. To achieve the hermetical sealing, the clamp part may be configured to in particular press, when shut, at least a portion of the bag against an outer surface of the pipe. Additionally, the clamp part may advantageously be configured to press, when shut, at least a portion of the bag against a further surface of the clip, and/or against another portion of the bag.
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The valve preferably comprises a sealing preventing that the vacuum (i.e., the underpressure) within the bag is inadvertently released by detaching the vacuum pump from the valve.
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The present invention thus advantageously facilitates that a vacuum can easily be applied to almost all bags (of an appropriate size) made of an air-tight material, in particular to almost every common plastic bag. In particular, no special container is needed for protecting a respective content against undesired impacts of air. Moreover, the clip can be reused for various vacuum packing procedures with the same or a substituted bag.
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Preferably, the clip is configured to permit, when the clamp part is opened, that air bypasses the valve part, in particular the pipe, so as to enter the bag. Accordingly, the vacuum may be easily released by a user simply opening the clamp part. In particular, no special releasable seal is needed for the valve.
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According to advantageous embodiments of the present invention, the clamp part of the clip comprises two arms which are connected to each other by a hinge. Accordingly, the arms are pivotable with respect to each other. Such clamp part is easy to shut and close, and particularly effective for enclosing the bag. When the clamp part is shut (in particular in a closed state of the clip), such arms preferably extend parallel along each other.
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In such embodiments, one or both of the arms may have a (respective) clearance configured to edge at least a portion of the pipe inserted therein. In particular, such clearance(s) may form at least a portion of a passage possibly formed in the clamp part and configured to enclose the pipe.
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The clip may comprise fixation means configured to fix, in the closed state of the clip, the clamp part and the valve part to each other. In particular, the clamp part and the valve part may have, in at least one respective region, complementary surface profiles configured to engage with each other in the closed state of the clip. For instance, the valve part may form at least one recess configured to receive a protrusion of the clamp part, and/or the valve part may comprise at least one protrusion configured to be inserted in a respective recess the clamp part may form. In particular, the pipe and edges of a corresponding passage (through which the pipe extends in the closed state of the clip) formed in the clamp part may have such complementary surface profiles. By such complementary surface profiles, the clamp part and the valve may be fastened together in the closed state of the clip, and the hermetical sealing of the bag extending between the complementary surface profiles can be achieved (in this region).
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Preferably, the clamp part comprises at least one lock element configured to sustain the clip in its closed state. Such lock element may comprise at least one component of a snap-fit.
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According to advantageous embodiments, the clamp part comprises at least one bending means configured to bend, in particular to corrugate the bag in the closed state of the clip. Thereby, a particularly effective hermetical sealing of the bag may be achieved. The bending means may comprise complementary profiles in two regions of the clamp part which are configured to engage with each other when the clamp part is shut, in particular in a closed state of the clip. For instance, if the clamp part comprises two arms as mentioned above, at least one of the arms may comprise at least one fin and/or protrusion configured to engage, in a closed state of the clip and while a portion of the bag is in-between, with a groove or other depression the respective other arm may form.
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Additionally or alternatively, the clamp part may comprise at least one component of an elastic material (such as a rubber bar or a silicone bar), which component is configured to be compressed, in the closed state of the clip, in contact with a portion of the bag. By such elastic component, a particularly good hermetical sealing of the bag may be achieved.
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A kitchen appliance according to the present invention comprises a vacuum pump and one or more clips according to a common or various embodiments of the present invention. Therein, the valve of the respective valve part of each clip is adapted to be detachably connected with the vacuum pump.
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Such kitchen appliance advantageously facilitates vacuum packing of comestibles. Its vacuum pump may be a dedicated vacuum pump, or it may be a component of a hand blender, a hand mixer, or a multi-purpose kitchen appliance, for example.
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A method according to the present invention serves for vacuum packing a content of a bag made of an air-tight material (such as a plastic bag); in particular, said content may be a comestible. According to the method, a portion of the bag is positioned in a gap the clamp part of a clip according to an embodiment of the present invention forms (only) when it is open. Moreover, according to the method, the valve part of the clip is positioned so as to extend, with its pipe, through the clamp part into an interior the bag, and the clip is then closed by shutting the clamp part so as to enclose and hermetically seal the bag around the pipe. The method further comprises detachably connecting the valve of the valve part to a vacuum pump, and sucking, with the vacuum pump, air through the pipe out of the bag.
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In what follows, advantageous embodiments of the present invention are explained with respect to the accompanying drawings. As is to be understood, the various elements and components are depicted as examples only, may be facultative and/or combined in a manner different than that depicted. Reference signs for related elements are used comprehensively and not defined again for each figure.
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Shown is schematically in
- Fig. 1:
- a clip according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view and an open state; and
- Fig. 2a - 2c:
- steps of utilising the clip of Figure 1 to seal a bag made of an air-tight material.
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In Figure 1, a clip 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in a perspective view. The clip 1 comprises a clamp part 10 and a valve part 20 which in Figure 1 are shown in a state in which they are separated from each other. The clamp part comprises a first arm 11 and a second arm 12, which are connected to each other by a hinge 13, such that the arms 11, 12 are pivotable with respect to each other. In Figure 1, the arms 11, 12 form a positive angle at the hinge 13 and, therewith, a gap inbe-tween; in this situation, the clamp part 10 thus is swung open. In particular, Figure 1 depicts the clip 1 (and in particular the clamp part 10) in an unclosed, thus open state.
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The clamp part 10 forms a passage P configured to receive a pipe 21 comprised by the valve part 20, the passage P formed by respective clearances C1, C2 in each of the arms 11, 12. To close the clip 1, the clamp part 10 is to be shut, by pivoting the second arm 12 so as to extend along the first arm 11, with the pipe 21 extending through the passage P. A snap mechanism, which in the present case comprises a lock element 14 (configured to engage with a mating element provided in the second arm 12 and not visible in Figure 1) then serves to hold the arms 11, 12 together, thereby sustaining the clip 1 in the closed state.
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Recesses R are formed in the pipe 21 and configured to receive respective protrusions 15 (only one of which is visible in Figure 1) of the clamp part 10 when the pipe 21 is positioned in the passage P. Thereby, the pipe 21 is prevented from sliding out of the passage P. Moreover, if a bag is positioned between the pipe 21 and edges of the passage P (not shown in Figure 1), the bag is corrugated by the protrusions 15 engaging with the recesses R. As a consequence, a hermetical sealing is produced in this region.
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Figures 2a to 2c illustrate an utilisation of the clip 1 to seal a bag 30 made of an air-tight material, and therewith, steps of a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
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In Figure 2a, a bag 30 (which in particular may be a plastic bag) is depicted as being positioned, with a portion thereof, in a gap G formed by the open clamp part 10; in the exemplary case depicted, the gap G is a sector between the first arm 11 and the second arm 12 of the clamp part 10.
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As indicated in Figure 2a by double arrows, the valve part 20 is devised to be attached to the clamp part 10 by inserting the clamp part 20 into an opening O of the bag 30 and introducing the pipe into the passage P.
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Figure 2b shows the valve part 20 thus combined with the clamp part 10 with a foil of the bag 39 in-between.
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As further referenced in Figure 2b, the first arm 11 comprises parallel fins 16, 17, 18 limiting grooves g in-between. In the exemplary case depicted, three fins and two grooves are provided; as is to be understood, the first arm of a clamp part may comprise another number of fins and/or another number of grooves.
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The second arm 12 advantageously has a profile (not visible in the figures) which is complementary to the profile formed by the fins 16, 17, 18 and the grooves g. Such complementary profile may comprise one or more protrusions and a trench, the protrusions configured to enter a respective one of the grooves g and the trench configured receive the centre fin 17 when the arms 11, 12 are pivoted for shutting the clamp part 10. As a consequence, when the arms 11, 12 are folded together, the bag 30 bent, even is corrugated by the fins 16, 17, 18, the grooves g and the complementary profile of the second arm 12, which thus serve as bending means providing for a hermetical sealing of the bag 30 in this region.
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In Figure 2c, the clip 1 is shown in a closed state, in which the clamp part 10 is shut with the valve part 20 attached thereto. Thereby, the bag 30 is hermetically sealed. By connecting the valve 22 with a vacuum pump 100 and operating the vacuum pump, air can be sucked, through the pipe 21, out of the bag 30. In particular, a (not shown) content of the bag 30 can thus conveniently be vacuum packed, such as to increase its storage life. In particular, the vacuum pump may be a dedicated vacuumiser or may form part of a kitchen appliance, such as of a hand blender, a hand mixer, or a multi-purpose kitchen appliance.
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Disclosed is a clip 1 for sealing a bag 30 made of an air-tight material, in particular a plastic bag. The clip 1 comprises a clamp part 10 and a valve part 20 with a pipe 21 and with a valve 22 configured to be detachably connected to a vacuum pump 100 for sucking air through the pipe 21. Therein, the clamp part 10 is configured to enclose and hermetically seal, in a closed state of the clip 1, the bag 30 around the pipe 21 extending through the clamp part 10 into the bag 30.
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Further disclosed is a kitchen appliance comprising both a vacuum pump 100 and at least one such clip 1. Moreover, a method for vacuum packing a content of a bag 30 made of an air-tight material by means of such clip 1 is disclosed.
Reference signs
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- 1
- clip
- 10
- clamp part
- 11
- first arm
- 12
- second arm
- 13
- hinge
- 14
- lock element
- 15
- protrusion
- 16, 17, 18
- fin
- 20
- valve part
- 21
- pipe
- 22
- valve
- 30
- bag
- 100
- vacuum pump
- C1
- clearance in first arm 11
- C2
- clearance in second arm 12
- G
- gap
- g
- groove
- O
- opening of the bag 30
- P
- passage
- R
- recess
