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
  • 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
• • 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
  • B65D79/00—Kinds or details of packages, not otherwise provided for
  • B65D79/005—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting
  • B65D79/0087—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting the deformable part being located in a closure, e.g. in caps or lids
• • 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
  • B65D51/1672—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby venting occurs by manual actuation of the closure or other element
  • B65D51/1683—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby venting occurs by manual actuation of the closure or other element by actuating a separate element in the container or closure
• • 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
  • B65D81/2015—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 in an at least partially rigid container

Definitions

• the invention relates to a pressure indicator for a food storage container according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
• a certain type of visual inspection is possible with a container lid according to WO 88/00560. It describes an opening mechanism for a plastic beverage can.
• the beverage can has a plastic lid which, if there is a corresponding excess pressure in the interior of the container, has a bulge outwards. It is not possible to make a quantitative statement about how great the overpressure inside the container is.
• CH 304 374 discloses a closure lid for a sterilization vessel made of aluminum, which has an essentially circular shape and is placed on a cylindrical aluminum container. A rubber seal is placed between the edge of the lid and the top of the container. In the middle of the container lid there is an additional opening, which is covered by a rubber cap. The rubber cap is used for visual inspection to indicate whether there is a vacuum inside the container. As long as there is a corresponding negative pressure inside the container, the rubber cover cap bulges inwards accordingly. As the vacuum diminishes, this curvature subsides continuously. It is therefore difficult for the observer to decide whether the negative pressure inside the container is still sufficient to ensure the freshness of the food inside the container.
• the present invention has for its object to provide an improved pressure indicator for a storage container for food available, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art described.
• the pressure indicator according to the invention has the advantage that it is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. Such a pressure indicator simplifies the evacuation process, since the operator can immediately see when a sufficient negative pressure has been reached in the storage container.
• the pressure indicator according to the invention provides an optically and haptically detectable signal for the corresponding pressure condition in the interior of the storage container.
• the optical effect of the membrane which is made, for example, of an elastomeric plastic material, can be further increased by appropriate color design in a signal color.
• a corresponding haptic effect can be achieved which also allows visually impaired users to record the pressure condition inside the storage container.
• An advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides the features of claim 2. At ambient pressure in the storage container, the membrane of the pressure indicator protrudes outwards.
• a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides the features of claim 3.
• a clear signal position of the pressure indicator is achieved.
• the membrane When a predefined negative pressure in the interior of the container is reached, the membrane "snaps" inwards. If the spring is selected accordingly, it is ensured that the membrane snaps back into its starting position when a minimum negative pressure in the storage container is exceeded, ie there are only two clear pressure indicator positions: sufficient negative pressure in the Storage container (pressure indicator is snapped) / insufficient vacuum or ambient pressure (pressure indicator is located) in its initial position).
• the spring element can be formed, for example, by appropriately selecting a resilient plastic material for the membrane of the pressure indicator or by inserting a spring metal into the membrane of the pressure indicator.
• a further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides the features of claim 4. This makes it possible to store the storage container and its contents in a freezer and then thaw them in a microwave oven.
• a further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides the features of claim 5.
• the integration of the pressure indicator in the valve device creates a component with multiple functions.
• a material is preferably selected which has both sufficient rigidity and the required sealing properties.
• This component can be inexpensively manufactured as an injection molded component and simply mounted on the storage container.
• patent claim 8 result in a particularly clearly visible pressure indicator which clearly shows the pressure state.
• the pressure indicator can be folded up particularly smoothly since the side wall does not rub appreciably against one another when rolled up. Due to the features of claim 11, the pressure state can be determined particularly easily because, as soon as the vacuum is too low, the pressure indicator penetrates the display opening, whereas, if the vacuum is sufficient, the pressure indicator does not penetrate the display opening.
• FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional illustration of a first embodiment of a valve device with a pressure indicator according to the invention for a container lid of a storage container for foodstuffs when there is insufficient vacuum in the storage container,
• FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the valve device with the pressure indicator according to FIG. 1, with a sufficient vacuum in the storage container,
• FIG. 3 shows the valve device according to FIG. 1, but after the vent opening has been released through the opening tab, so that atmospheric pressure is again in the storage container,
• FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned perspective view of a second embodiment of a pressure indicator according to the invention for a storage container for foodstuffs when the vacuum in the storage container is insufficient;
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a food storage container with a pressure indicator according to FIG. 4.
• the same or similar components are identified below with the same reference symbols. In order to avoid repetitions, the same position numbers and the same functions and modes of action must be assigned.
• FIGS. 1 to 3 show a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of a pressure indicator 6 according to the invention for a storage container 15 (Fig. 4) for food.
• the pressure indicator 6 is connected to a valve device 1 which is attached to a container lid 2.
• An opening tab 7 is integrally connected to the container lid 2 via a film hinge 32.
• the opening tab 7 and the container lid 2 are made as an injection molded component from temperature-resistant thermoplastic.
• the opening tab 7, which is essentially an oval plate in plan view, has a connection device 9 for a suction connection of a vacuum pump, which is essentially formed by a smooth annular surface 18 on the outside 24 of the opening tab 7 and one or more suction openings 17 within the annular surface 18.
• a sealing tongue 3 made of elastomeric plastic is arranged below the connecting device 9 in FIGS. 1 to 6.
• the sealing tongue 3 is fastened to the opening tab 7 via an annular web 19 and is designed as a disc-shaped component.
• the web 19 has an air passage 30.
• the opening tab 7 is inserted into an essentially rectangular recess 20 in the container lid 2 of the storage container 15 which is adapted to the opening tab 7.
• a vent opening 4 is provided in the container lid 2.
• the ventilation opening 4 establishes the connection between the atmosphere and the interior 22 of the storage container 15.
• the ventilation opening 4 is closed airtight by the sealing tongue 3.
• the vent 4 forms with the sealing tongue 3 a check valve 40 closing in the direction of the storage container 15.
• a measuring opening 5 is arranged in the container lid 2 according to FIGS. 1 to 6.
• the measuring opening 5 is airtightly covered from above by a plastic membrane 29 of the pressure indicator 6 from above.
• the pressure indicator 6 extends essentially perpendicularly to the plane of the container lid 2 and, according to FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5, has an essentially cup-shaped, slightly curved side wall 23 in the improperly vacuum-sealed state, which tapers upwards and ends with a horizontally extending circular bottom 24.
• the diameter D of the base 24 is smaller than the diameter d of the opening 25 at the foot section 25 of the pressure indicator 6, as is shown in particular in FIG. 4.
• the design of the pressure indicator 6 as described ensures that the side wall 23 of the pressure indicator is at a vacuum when applied 6 similar to how a rolling membrane pulls into its cavity 26, as shown in FIG. 2.
• the pressure indicator 6 is made of an elastomeric plastic and preferably in a signal color, in the present case in red.
• the pressure indicator 6 according to FIGS. 1 to 3 is stiffened by a spring element 12, which preferably consists of a resilient material, such as spring plate or elastomeric plastic, and lies flat against the inside 34 of the pressure indicator 6.
• the part of the opening tab 7 near the edge has an actuating surface 10.
• the end of the opening tab 7, starting from the bending edge 35, is slightly beveled upwards.
• the container lid 2 has the recess 20 so that, since the opening tab 7 is spaced from the bottom 37 of the recess 20 by ribs 29, 36, the actuating surface 10 of the opening tab 7 is comfortably gripped between the fingers and thumb of a user's hand (not shown) and after can be pulled up.
• a bracket 11 is shown, which presses the elastomeric plastic material of the flat foot portion 25 of the pressure indicator 6 to the container lid 2.
• the bracket 11 is supported on the walls of the container lid 2, not shown in the drawing.
• the pot-shaped pressure indicator 6 is thus connected in one piece to the foot section 25, so that the pressure indicator 6 is sealingly connected to the container lid 2 in the clamped state by the retaining bracket 11.
• Figures 4 to 6 show a partially sectioned perspective view of a second embodiment of a valve device 1 with the pressure indicator 6 according to the invention for a storage container 15 for food.
• the opening tab 7 is connected in one piece to the container lid 2 via the film hinge 32.
• the sealing tongue 3 arranged under the connecting device 9 of the opening tab 7 is connected to the opening tab 7 via a driver 13.
• Both the sealing tongue 3 as the driver 13, the foot portion 25 and the pressure indicator 6 are made from a single elastomeric plastic part which is attached as an insert to a bead 21 in the recess 20 of the container lid 2.
• the plastic material used for the pressure indicator 6 has spring properties, so that the snap effect on the pressure indicator 6 also occurs here if either too little or too little vacuum is present.
• FIGS. 4 to 6 essentially consists in the fact that, in FIGS. 4 to 6 these parts are formed by a single elastomeric component, the sealing tongue 3 of which is partially cut out of the foot section 25 and thus forms a gap 28.
• a circumferential seal 14 is provided on the edge of the container lid 2 according to FIGS. 4 and 5, which enables an airtight closure with respect to the storage container 15.
• a seal 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, so that the lid 2 itself forms a tight seal with the storage container 15.
• the foot part 25 is pressed by the circumferential rib 29 against the bottom 37 of the container lid 2 and thus sealed.
• the pressure inside the container 22 of the storage container 15 corresponds to the ambient pressure.
• the pressure indicator 6 therefore protrudes due to its spring preload through the display opening 8 through the opening tab 7 to the outside.
• the pressure indicator 6 is therefore sucked into the cavity 26 in the direction of the interior 22 of the container; it is in the folded or snapped state. In this state, the pressure indicator 6 does not or only insignificantly protrude beyond the outer contour of the opening tab 7.
• the pressure indicator 6 folds like a rolling membrane.
• the ratio of the diameter D to d as a function of the wall thickness f and the elastic material of the pressure indicator 6 is chosen such that the pressure indicator 6 folds up suddenly from a certain negative pressure, as shown in FIG. 2. If the vacuum in the interior of the container 22 decreases, a point is also reached here where the pressure indicator 6 suddenly moves outwards. This has the advantage of a clear display.
• the user When used in a household, the user can first of all find out about the pressure in the interior 22 of the container based on the position of the pressure indicator 6 with the container lid 2 closed. If the bottom of the pressure indicator 6 protrudes outwards through the display opening 8, this means that the pressure inside the container 22 is not sufficient to ensure the storage of foodstuffs under vacuum conditions (see FIGS. 1, 4 and 6).
• the storage container 15 is evacuated according to Figures 1, 3 and 6.
• a suction connection with a circumferential sealing lip of a vacuum pump (not shown) is placed on the connection device 9 of the valve device 1.
• the vacuum pump is started.
• the vent 4 of the valve device 1 opens automatically, since the suction effect allows the sealing tongue 3 to be lifted off the vent 4 and the air contained in the storage container 15 is sucked out by the vacuum pump.
• air is passed laterally via the ventilation opening 4 past the sealing seat 38 of the sealing tongue 3, around the sealing tongue 3, through which Air passage 30 and suctioned through the connection device 9 to the vacuum pump.
• the container lid 2 can now be removed from the storage container 15 without any significant effort. Since the sealing tongue 3 according to FIGS. 4 and 5 is partially separated from the rest of the flat foot part 25 by the essentially U-shaped gap 28, that is to say it is only connected to the rest of the foot section 25 in the left rear area 39, it falls due to its Gravity as a check valve repeatedly on the vent 4, so that vacuuming is not a problem. But it is also conceivable that the opening tab 7 can be snapped onto the container cover 2 by means of clip connections, so that in the closed state the sealing tongue 3 thereby closes the vent opening 4. In FIG. 3, when the opening tab 7 is pivoted about the film hinge 32, the sealing tongue 3 is lifted upwards because it is attached to the opening tab 7 with play to fulfill the check valve function.
• FIG. 6 shows a perspective illustration of a storage container 15 for foodstuffs made of thermoplastic material with a valve device 1 according to FIG. 4.
• the storage container 15 has a cuboid-shaped container body 16 and a container lid 2 with a peripheral rim 27 which is essentially rectangular in plan view.
• the valve device 1 is arranged in a recess 20 on one of the narrow sides of the container lid 2.
• the actuating surface 10 of the opening tab 7 closes approximately with the outer surface 33 of the container lid 2. Only the pressure indicator 6 protrudes vertically upward from the display opening 8 of the opening tab 7 when the vacuum is insufficient.
• the circular connection device 9 with the smooth annular surface 18 and the suction opening 17 can be seen, from which the driver 13 projects with its brim 27.
• the brim 27 serves to better carry the driver 13 when the opening tab 7 is pivoted upwards. Due to the leverage that is formed by the distances R and r (FIG. 5), a relatively small hand force F (FIG. 4) on the gripping surface 10 is sufficient to lift the sealing tongue 3 from the sealing seat 38 when there is still vacuum inside the container 22 is available. The smaller the distance r and the greater the distance R, the easier it is to open the valve device 1.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Measuring Fluid Pressure (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Related Child Applications (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=7666237

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2000
  • 2000-12-08 DE DE10060995A patent/DE10060995A1/de not_active Ceased
• 2001
  • 2001-11-14 WO PCT/EP2001/013148 patent/WO2002046061A1/de active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-11-14 AT AT01990412T patent/ATE319631T1/de active
  • 2001-11-14 ES ES01990412T patent/ES2256320T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-14 EP EP01990412A patent/EP1339619B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-14 DE DE50109182T patent/DE50109182D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-11-14 CN CNB018201539A patent/CN100420612C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-11-14 AU AU2002229550A patent/AU2002229550A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2004
  • 2004-01-30 HK HK04100648A patent/HK1059422A1/xx not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (4)

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