GB2298639A - Valved food storage container; hand evacuating pump - Google Patents
Valved food storage container; hand evacuating pump Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2298639A GB2298639A GB9504820A GB9504820A GB2298639A GB 2298639 A GB2298639 A GB 2298639A GB 9504820 A GB9504820 A GB 9504820A GB 9504820 A GB9504820 A GB 9504820A GB 2298639 A GB2298639 A GB 2298639A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- container
- hand pump
- food storage
- air
- apertures
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
- B65D51/16—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas
- B65D51/1633—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby venting occurs by automatic opening of the closure, container or other element
- B65D51/1644—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby venting occurs by automatic opening of the closure, container or other element the element being a valve
-
- 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
- B65B31/04—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied
- B65B31/046—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied the nozzles co-operating, or being combined, with a device for opening or closing the container or wrapper
- B65B31/047—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied the nozzles co-operating, or being combined, with a device for opening or closing the container or wrapper the nozzles co-operating with a check valve in the opening of the container or wrapper
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
- B65D81/18—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient
- B65D81/20—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
- B65D81/2007—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas under vacuum
- B65D81/2038—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas under vacuum with means for establishing or improving vacuum
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Description
Food Storage Arrangements
This invention relates to food storage arrangements and, more particularly, to arrangements for prolonging the life of food when in storage.
It is well-known to use air-tight storage containers for storing food. However, air trapped within the containers often causes food to deteriorate. It has been proposed to use electric pumps for creating a vacuum within food storage containers: however, such pumps are expensive and inconvenient to store. Also, the containers which have been proposed previously have had valves of complicated and therefore expensive construction. I have now devised arrangements which overcome the problems outlined above.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hand pump for removing air from a container, the hand pump comprising an outer casing and a plunger which is biased upwardly, said plunger comprising an elongate stem, a lower portion of which extends into said outer casing, and a piston provided at the lower end of said stem, said piston comprising a one-way valve forming an air-tight seal within said outer casing which is destroyed when downward pressure is applied to said plunger.
The piston may comprise a solid disc having at least one aperture formed therethrough: the one-way valve then comprises a flexible flap which is provided across the upper surface of the disc such that the at least one aperture is sealed. In use, when the plunger is pushed downwardly, the volume of air below the piston decreases and the air pressure therefore increases, thereby forcing the flexible flap upwards away from the at least one aperture thus destroying the airtight seal within the outer casing and permitting any air contained therein to be expelled.
Alternatively, the one-way valve may comprise a flexible flap which forms an air-tight seal against the inner walls of the outer casing. In this case, when the plunger is pushed downwardly, the air pressure below the piston causes the edges of the flexible flap to be forced away from the inner walls of the outer casing, thereby destroying the air-tight seal and permitting any air contained within the hand pump to be expelled.
When the plunger is released, in both cases, a biasing mechanism, preferably a spring, forces the plunger upwardly: the volume of air below the piston is increased and the air pressure is thus decreased: an air-tight seal is therefore once again created by the one-way valve. As the plunger moves upwardly, air is drawn into the hand pump. Air may thus be removed from a container by means of a single-handed pumping action.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a food storage container, having at least one aperture formed therein, said at least one aperture being sealed by a one-way valve comprising a flexible flap.
Preferably the aperture is formed in the lid of the container. Preferably a well is formed in the container, the at least one aperture being formed at a lower end of the well.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a food storage arrangement for prolonging the life of food being stored, the arrangement comprising a hand pump as defined above in combination with a food storage container also as defined above, said hand pump is adapted such that it co-operates with the food storage container to remove air from said container.
Preferably the lower end of the hand pump is adapted such that it may be inserted into a well formed in the container, thereby forming an air-tight seal across the at least one aperture formed therein.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a hand pump in accordance with the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a view of the lower end of the hand pump of
Figure 1;
FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a food storage container in accordance with the present invention;
FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the food storage container of Figure 3; and
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the food storage container and hand pump, showing the manner in which the hand pump co-operates with the container to remove air from within the latter.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a hand pump in accordance with the present invention comprises a generally cylindrical outer casing 10 and a plunger 12, the plunger 12 having a handle 14 formed at the upper end thereof.
The plunger 12 generally comprises an elongate stem 16, a lower portion of which extends into the outer casing 10 via an aperture 18 formed at its upper end, the aperture 18 being of a shape and size suitable for slidably retaining the plunger 12 within the outer casing 10. A piston 20 is provided at the lower end of the elongate stem 16, the piston 20 comprising a solid disc 24 having apertures 26 formed therein. A resiliently flexible flap 22 is provided across the upper surface of the disc 24 such that the apertures 26 are sealed: corresponding apertures are formed through the flexible flap 22, the disc 24, and these members are affixed to the stem 16 of the plunger 12 by means of a screw 30. A spring 28 is provided below the piston 20 such that, under normal circumstances, the plunger 12 is biassed upwardly.A generally tubular nozzle 32 is formed around an aperture 34 formed in the lower end of the outer casing 10.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, a food storage container in accordance with the present invention comprises a generally cup-shaped container 36 having a lid 38.
The lid 38 has an upstanding rim 42 formed on its underside with a groove for receiving the top edge of the container 36 in an air-tight manner. A generally cylindrical well 44 is formed in the main portion 40 of the lid 38, the bottom wall of the well 44 being provided with a central aperture 46 and with a number of air flow orifices 49. A one-way valve is formed by a flap 48 of flexible material positioned over the bottom wall of the well 44: a protrusion 50, having a flange 52 formed around it, is provided on the lower surface of the flap 48, and the flap 48 is fixed in position by insertion of protrusion 50 through the aperture 46. A ridge 54 is formed around the top of the well 44.
Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, a hand pump 56 as described above is used to withdraw air from within a food storage container having a lid 38. Food to be stored is placed in the food storage container which is then sealed by the lid 38. The tubular nozzle 32 of the hand pump 56 is inserted into the well 44 formed in the lid 38 such that an air-tight seal is formed between the hand pump 56 and the well 44. Referring back to Figure 1 of the drawings, the plunger 12 is pushed downwardly and this action compresses the air within the pump below the piston, and so forces the edges of the flexible flap 22 upwardly, thereby uncovering the apertures 26 in the disc 24 and forcing the air out of the outer casing. During the above-described stroke, the spring 28 has become compressed.
Then, when the plunger 12 is released, spring 28 forces it upwards. The volume of air below the piston is increased and the pressure of that air is thus reduced such that when the piston 20 returns to its original position, the flap 22 is returned to its position across the apertures 26 and an airtight seal is once again created across the outer casing 10.
As the plunger 12 travels upwards, the one-way valve in the lid of the food storage container is forced open and air is drawn from within the container into the hand pump. When the plunger 12 is then pushed downwards, the air pressure created by this action forces the one-way valve in the lid to close and the air is expelled from the hand pump as described above.
Thus, air may be removed from the container by a single-handed action, and the life of the food being stored may be prolonged. When sufficient air has been removed from the container, the hand pump may simply be removed and stored until it is required once again: the one-way valve in the lid of the container creates an air-tight seal when it is closed such that air cannot re-enter the container.
It will be appreciated that the well in the container and the nozzle of the hand pump may be adapted according to specific requirements.
Claims (11)
1) A food storage container, having one or more apertures formed therein, said aperture or apertures being sealed by a one-way valve comprising a flexible flap.
2) A container as claimed in claim 1, in which said aperture or apertures are formed in a lid of said container.
3) A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which a well is formed in a wall of said container and said aperture or apertures are formed in an inner end wall of said well.
4) A container as claimed in claim 3, in which said flexible flap is positioned over said inner end wall of said well.
5) A food storage container substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
6) A hand pump for removing air from a container, the hand pump comprising an outer casing and a plunger which is biased upwardly, said plunger comprising an elongate stem, a lower portion of which extends into said outer casing, and a piston provided at the lower end of said stem, said piston comprising a one-way valve forming an air-tight seal within said outer casing which is destroyed when downward pressure is applied to said plunger.
7) A hand pump as claimed in claim 6, in which the piston comprises a sold disc having one or more apertures formed therethrough and the one-way valve of the pump comprises a flexible clap provided across the upper surface of the disc to seal said aperture or apertures.
8) A hand pump as claimed in claim 6, in which the one-way valve thereof comprises a flexible flap which forms an airtight seal against the inner walls of the outer casing.
9) A hand pump for removing air from a container, the hand pump being substantially as herein described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
10) A food storage arrangement, comprising a food storage container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in combination with a hand pump for removing air from the container.
11) A food storage arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9504820A GB2298639A (en) | 1995-03-10 | 1995-03-10 | Valved food storage container; hand evacuating pump |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9504820A GB2298639A (en) | 1995-03-10 | 1995-03-10 | Valved food storage container; hand evacuating pump |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9504820D0 GB9504820D0 (en) | 1995-04-26 |
| GB2298639A true GB2298639A (en) | 1996-09-11 |
Family
ID=10770950
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9504820A Withdrawn GB2298639A (en) | 1995-03-10 | 1995-03-10 | Valved food storage container; hand evacuating pump |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2298639A (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0839734A1 (en) * | 1996-09-20 | 1998-05-06 | Ewald Jassmann | Re-usable container |
| GB2378697A (en) * | 2001-06-22 | 2003-02-19 | Jokari Us Inc | Depressurizing pump assembly and closure assembly for a beverage container |
| EP1447037A1 (en) * | 2003-02-11 | 2004-08-18 | Man-Hyun Kwon | Vacuum container to preserve food |
| ES2254036A1 (en) * | 2005-11-10 | 2006-06-01 | Esteban Espuña, S.A. | Package joint for nutritional products, has valve with rotating cap seated about outer wall of package body |
| CN1328128C (en) * | 2003-07-09 | 2007-07-25 | 权万铉 | Food preservation vacuum container |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3129835A (en) * | 1962-04-30 | 1964-04-21 | William S Collens | Food preservation |
| GB1183368A (en) * | 1966-04-26 | 1970-03-04 | Michel Weber | Improvements in or relating to Lids for Containers |
| US4278114A (en) * | 1978-05-19 | 1981-07-14 | Zyliss Zysset Ag | Kitchen appliance for storing perishable goods |
| EP0234607B1 (en) * | 1986-01-20 | 1989-04-12 | Bernardus Johannes Josephus Augustinus Schneider | Stopper for a container and a pump connectable thereto |
| US4890637A (en) * | 1988-12-12 | 1990-01-02 | Flavorcoffee Co. Inc. | One way valve |
-
1995
- 1995-03-10 GB GB9504820A patent/GB2298639A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3129835A (en) * | 1962-04-30 | 1964-04-21 | William S Collens | Food preservation |
| GB1183368A (en) * | 1966-04-26 | 1970-03-04 | Michel Weber | Improvements in or relating to Lids for Containers |
| US4278114A (en) * | 1978-05-19 | 1981-07-14 | Zyliss Zysset Ag | Kitchen appliance for storing perishable goods |
| EP0234607B1 (en) * | 1986-01-20 | 1989-04-12 | Bernardus Johannes Josephus Augustinus Schneider | Stopper for a container and a pump connectable thereto |
| US4890637A (en) * | 1988-12-12 | 1990-01-02 | Flavorcoffee Co. Inc. | One way valve |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0839734A1 (en) * | 1996-09-20 | 1998-05-06 | Ewald Jassmann | Re-usable container |
| GB2378697A (en) * | 2001-06-22 | 2003-02-19 | Jokari Us Inc | Depressurizing pump assembly and closure assembly for a beverage container |
| GB2378697B (en) * | 2001-06-22 | 2004-09-29 | Jokari Us Inc | Depressurizing pump assembly and closure for beverage containers |
| AU783809B2 (en) * | 2001-06-22 | 2005-12-08 | Jokari/Us Inc. | Depressurizing pump assemblies and closure for beverage containers |
| EP1447037A1 (en) * | 2003-02-11 | 2004-08-18 | Man-Hyun Kwon | Vacuum container to preserve food |
| CN1328128C (en) * | 2003-07-09 | 2007-07-25 | 权万铉 | Food preservation vacuum container |
| ES2254036A1 (en) * | 2005-11-10 | 2006-06-01 | Esteban Espuña, S.A. | Package joint for nutritional products, has valve with rotating cap seated about outer wall of package body |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9504820D0 (en) | 1995-04-26 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |