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
  • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
  • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
  • B65D47/32—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with means for venting
• • 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
  • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
  • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
• • 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
  • B65D69/00—Articles joined together for convenience of storage or transport without the use of packaging elements

Definitions

• a variety of different containers are available for storing and preserving food items for later consumption.
• Such containers may be flexible, as in the case of plastic storage bags, or may be rigid, as in the case of plastic and glass-walled storage containers.
• An advantage of rigid storage containers is that they can maintain their shape and thereby protect the stored food items from being crushed.
• Another advantage is that rigid containers are usually easily washable and therefore can be reusable.
• rigid containers are often made as a relatively thick- walled structure of a stiff material such as PyrexTM glassware or polycarbonate plastic. Such materials, in addition to being relatively heavy, are also costly.
• the invention provides a rigid storage container having a base providing a storage cavity and a detachable lid that is connectable to the base to adequately seal the contents of the container.
• the container can include a valve element that communicates with the storage cavity.
• a valve element can interface with a vacuum device to remove air from the storage cavity, thereby placing the contents under a vacuum environment. When not interfaced with the vacuum device, the valve element normally seals the storage cavity to prevent the ingress of air.
• the base and lid of the container can be substantially formed with generally rigid thin- walls made of a suitable plastic material.
• Production of the thin- walls can be accomplished by any of the various suitable thin-walled manufacturing techniques, such as thin-walled injection molding. Such manufacturing techniques can produce parts having a thin- walled thickness of about 2.5 millimeters or less. Another characteristic of parts manufactured by thin-walled techniques is that such parts can have a flow-length-to-wall-thickness ratio of about 90 to 1 or greater. A flow-length-to-wall-thickness ratio compares the distance which plastic material must displace or move within a mold with the wall thickness of the molded part. [0005] An advantage of thin- walled vacuum storage containers is that they are generally light-weight and inexpensive as compared to prior art containers. Another advantage is that thin-walled containers are sufficiently rigid to be washable and therefore reusable.
• Figure 1 is an exploded view of a thin- walled vacuum storage container including a base and a lid with a valve element and also showing the nozzle of a vacuum device for producing a vacuum within the container.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of a vacuum storage container interfacing with the vacuum device.
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through the storage container along line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the valve element and the base-lid connection.
• Figure 4 is a detailed view of the indicated area in Figure 3 which is labeled
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of the storage container with the storage cavity appropriately evacuated.
• Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the evacuated storage container of Figure
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a vacuum storage container having a feature in the form of projecting embossments for protecting the valve element.
• Figure 8 is an elevational cross-sectional view taken through the storage container of Figure 7 along line 8-8 and showing multiple storage containers in a stacked relationship.
• Figure 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a vacuum storage container having a feature in the form of projecting fingers for protecting the valve element.
• Figure 10 is a partially exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a vacuum storage container showing another type of valve element, particularly a duck-bill valve element, and the nozzle of a vacuum device.
• Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken through the storage container of
• Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3 and Figure 11 taken of another embodiment of a storage container showing another type of valve element, particularly a diaphragm valve element, in a closed state.
• Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the storage container and diaphragm valve element of Figure 12 showing the diaphragm valve element in an open state and interfacing with the nozzle of a vacuum device.
• Figure 14 is a partially exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the storage container of Figure 12.
• Figure 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a vacuum storage container having a round or circular shape.
• Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3 taken of another embodiment of a vacuum storage container wherein the base and detachable lid are connected by a hinge.
• Figure 17 is a detailed view similar to Figure 4 taken of another embodiment of a vacuum storage container wherein the base and detachable lid are connected together by corresponding protrusions in a snap-fit relationship.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the parts of a vacuum storage container 100 including a base 102 and a detachable lid 104 that can be connected to the base.
• the base 102 is shaped to provide a void or storage cavity 106.
• the base 102 is rectangular and includes a flat, centrally located bottom panel 108 and four straight, generally upright side panels 110.
• the upright side panels can actually angle slightly outward to facilitate nested stacking of multiple bases together.
• the space opposite the bottom panel 108 and surrounded by the top edges of the side panels 110 provides an opening 112 for accessing the storage cavity.
• each of the side panels 110 are interconnected to bound the storage cavity 106, with the exception of the opening 112, and thereby provide the rectangular shape of the storage container 100.
• the storage container can have any number of base panels and side panels and can have any suitable shape including cup-shaped and/or bowl-shaped.
• FIG. 15 there is illustrated a vacuum storage container 160 having a circular shaped lid 164 detachably connected to a base 162 having a circular cross-section. Because the circular side panel 168 of the base 162 tapers, the base overall is shaped as a truncated cone.
• the containers may be in different sizes.
• the lid 104 is formed as another generally flat panel having a peripheral edge 114 that corresponds to the rectangular shape of the base 102.
• the lid can have any other suitable shape depending upon the arrangement and shape of the base.
• the base includes an upward extending projecting tongue 116 that extends continuously about a rim established by the interconnected side panels 110.
• a U-shaped groove 118 Disposed into the lid 104 continuously about the peripheral edge 114 is a U-shaped groove 118 for receiving the tongue 116 when the lid and base are connected. Improved air tightness can be realized by placing a resilient gasket 120 in the groove 118.
• the gasket 120 can be made of elastomeric material. Thus, when the base 102 and lid 104 are connected, the tongue 116 can press into gasket 120 with the gasket urging back against the tongue thereby creating a positive sealing effect.
• the gasket may be compressible.
• the gasket 120 may be eliminated, and the base 102 and lid 104 make an airtight seal, for example, by using specified tolerances, cut backs, undercuts or other techniques.
• the containers may also be vacuum tight.
• the valve element 122 is an umbrella type valve element.
• the umbrella type valve element 122 can be made from a flexible material, such as, rubber, and includes a circular flexible skirt 124 and a neck 126 projecting from approximately the center of the skirt.
• the neck 126 is inserted into the center aperture 128 to retain the valve element 122 to the lid 104 in such a manner that the flexible skirt 124 overlays the apertures.
• the lid may include one, two, four, five or more apertures.
• the center aperture may be used to retain the valve element and also allow the passage of air, such as, by a loose fit or by a groove in the neck of the valve element.
• a filter 129 can be fitted about valve element on the inside of the container.
• the filter 129 may be filter material.
• the filter may separate liquids and/or solid particles from the air.
• the tip of the nozzle 132 can include a gasket 134 that can be made from a resilient material, such as, foam to ensure a good seal between the vacuum device 130 and the storage container 100.
• a gasket 134 that can be made from a resilient material, such as, foam to ensure a good seal between the vacuum device 130 and the storage container 100.
• the lid 104 When the storage cavity 106 is under vacuum, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the lid 104 may be drawn or displaced partially into the storage cavity. Because the nozzle 132 of the vacuum device includes the gasket 134, a seal is maintained between the vacuum device and the storage container even as the lid 104 displaces. To release the vacuum, an individual can pry or lift the flexible skirt 124 of the valve element 122 with his or her fingers to expose the apertures 128 allowing air to enter the storage cavity 106. Once the vacuum has been released, the lid 104 springs back from being disposed into the storage cavity and the container 100 returns to its un-evacuated shape shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
• the storage container 100 can include a vacuum indicating feature such as a visible indicator 136.
• a vacuum indicating feature such as a visible indicator 136.
• the indicator 136 is disposed on the top of the lid 104 and can be formed as an even thinner- walled depression made into the thin- walled lid panel. Normally, when the storage cavity 106 is not under vacuum conditions, the indication blister 136 projects upwards from the lid 104. However, as illustrated in FIGS.
• the container 100 can include one or more interlocking latches 140.
• the latches 140 each include a latch plate 142 that is pivotally connected to and extends from the peripheral edge 114 of the lid 104.
• Each latch plate 142 includes an elongated slot 144 disposed therein.
• the base 102 includes corresponding latch tongues 146 that project outward from the upper edge of the side panels 110 proximate the opening 112.
• the latch plates 142 can be pivoted downward so that the latch tongue 146 is received in the slot 144.
• the latch tongue 146 can be sized slightly larger than the slot 144 or offset with respect to the slot so that the tongue is frictionally received in the slot.
• the lid may be connected to the base by using a snap fit as shown in FIG. 17 or by using threads on the base and lid.
• the lid may be positioned onto the base and held in position when the vacuum is applied to the container.
• the base 102 and lid 104 can be made from thin- walled plastic material.
• the plastic material may be a thermoplastic material, such as, for example, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalater, nylon, polystyrene, EVA, thermoplastic polyester, metallocene, or combinations thereof.
• the material may include fillers, colorants, additives, and reinforcements.
• the thickness of a substantial portion or majority of the bottom panel 108 and upright side panels 110 as indicated by dimension 148 can be about 2.5 millimeters or less.
• the substantial portion of the lid 102 can have a thickness indicated by dimension 150 of about 2.5 millimeters or less.
• the thicknesses indicated by dimensions 148 and 150 can be in a first range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, in a second range of 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, and in a third range of 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm.
• the thin-walled base and lid can be made by any suitable thin-walled manufacturing method including, for example, thin- walled injection molding, thermoforming, blow molding, vacuum molding, centrifugal molding, compression molding and combinations thereof. Another characteristic of thin- walled parts made typically by injection molding is that they can have large flow-length-to-wall-thickness ratios.
• the thin-walled parts are made by injection molding
• hot or molten plastic is inserted under pressure into a mold through a gate or injection site and flows throughout the mold filling voids and thereafter cooling and forming the finished part.
• the distance that plastic travels from the injection site to an extremity of the mold is known as flow-length.
• the average thickness of the part along the flow-length distance can be compared to the flow-length distance itself to provide the flow-length-to-wall- thickness ratio.
• the ratio can become large, for example, on the order of 90:1 or greater.
• the injection site or gate of the mold for the base 102 can correspond to the center of the bottom panel 108 at the location designated by reference number 152.
• molten plastic must move from the injection site 152 to the upper rim of the side panels 110. This distance from the injection site 152 to the rim of the side panels 110 is then compared to the average wall thickness along the distance to arrive at the flow-length-to-wall-thickness ratio.
• the flow-length-to-wall-thickness can be 90:1 or greater.
• the flow-length-to-wall-thickness ratio may be in a first range of 90: 1 to 300: 1 , in a second range of 90:1 to 200:1, or in a third range of 90:1 to 130:1.
• Another characteristic of making the containers with thin- walls is the internal vacuum pressure that can be maintained in the storage cavity.
• the stiffness and strength of the bottom panel 108 and side panels 110 is sufficient to resist collapse up to vacuum pressures of about 5 pounds per square inch absolute (“PSIA"). It is believed that at pressures of about 5 PSIA, food items can be sufficiently preserved while the container 100 can generally maintain its shape at least to the extent illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.
• FIG. 7 there is illustrated another embodiment of a vacuum storage container 200 having a feature on the lid 204 designed for protecting the valve element 222.
• the lid 204 of the present embodiment is detachably connectable to a generally rectangular base 202 to enclose a storage cavity.
• the valve element 222 is attached to a center location of the lid 204 and communicates with the storage cavity. Included as part of and protruding upwards from the lid 204 and arranged radially about the valve element 222 is a plurality of embossments 250 which rise higher above the plane of lid than the valve element. In the illustrated embodiment, four embossments 250 are arranged at right angles with each other but, in other embodiments, any suitable number and arrangements can be used. As illustrated, the embossments can each be shaped as three-dimensional parabolas. [0034] Referring to FIG.
• the embossments 250 rise above the valve element, they can protect the valve element 222 from coming into contact with other objects that could damage the valve element or otherwise unintentionally release the vacuum inside the storage container 200.
• One advantage of this function of the embossments 222 is that they allow for multiple storage containers 200 to be stacked one upon another which facilitates transportation and storage of the containers.
• the embossments 250 can be formed as hollow structures depressed into the lid 204 and with the same thin- walled thickness of the rest of the lid. However, in other embodiments, the embossments can be solid and can include other shapes and sizes. The embossments may also provide additional strength to the lid. [0035] For example, referring to FIG.
• thin narrow fingers 350 rather than wide parabolic embossments protrude from the lid 304.
• the fingers 350 are again arranged radially about the valve element 322 and at right angles with each other, but in other embodiments can have any other suitable arrangement or number.
• the fingers 350 extend higher above the plane of the lid than the valve element.
• FIGS. 10 and 11 there is illustrated another embodiment of a storage container 400 having a lid 404 with a different type of valve element 422 attached thereto.
• the lid 404 includes a centrally located depressed region 424 that deflects partly into the storage cavity 406.
• the depressed region 424 can have a rectangular shape suitably sized to accommodate the nozzle 432 of a vacuum device 430.
• the depressed region 424 can have any other suitable shape.
• the valve element 422 is located within this depressed region 424 and is generally recessed below the plane of the lid 404. Accordingly, multiple storage containers 400 can be stacked one on top of another without interfering or damaging the valve element 422. In other embodiments, the container may use the embossments noted herein to protect the valve.
• the particular valve element 422 illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 is a duckbill valve element.
• the duckbill valve element 422 can be made of any suitable resilient or flexible material and includes a tubular base portion 426 from which projects two upward projecting lips 428 that normally oppose and press against each other along a seam line 429.
• the tubular base portion 426 is attached over a hole 405 disposed through the lid 404 within the depressed region 424 for example, by adhesive or by press-fitting the tubular base portion into the hole.
• a vacuum device 430 is interfaced with the duckbill valve element 422, the lips 428 can separate thereby opening the seam line 429 and thus allowing air to be removed from the storage cavity 406.
• FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 there is illustrated another embodiment of a vacuum storage container 500 having another type of valve element, in particular, a diaphragm valve element 522.
• the diaphragm valve element 522 may be positioned in a depressed region 524 disposed into the lid 504 such that the valve element is generally recessed below the plane of the lid in order to protect the valve element. In its normally closed position, illustrated in FIG.
• the diaphragm valve 522 includes a generally planar flexible diaphragm 526 with a circular peripheral edge 528 and a central aperture 530 disposed therein. Excess material 532 in the form of a folded collar or sleeve is included within the plane of the flexible diaphragm 526 and extends annularly and concentricly about the aperture 530. To enable communication between the diaphragm valve element 522 and the storage cavity 506, one or more holes 505 are disposed at off-center positions through the depressed region 524 of the lid 504. The diaphragm valve 522 is then attached by its peripheral edge 528 to the lid 504 such that the excess material 532 can generally align over the lid holes 505. The inner portion of the flexible diaphragm 526 including the central aperture 530 adjacently overlay a solid portion of the depressed region 524. Hence, fluid communication between the lid holes 505 and the diaphragm aperture 530 is not normally possible.
• the rolling collar or sleeve 532 when the nozzle of a vacuum device 550 is interfaced with the diaphragm valve element 522 and suction applied, the rolling collar or sleeve 532 unfurls and allows the central portion of the flexible diaphragm 526 to lift away from the lid 504. Hence, air from the storage cavity 506 can move through the lid holes 544 and exit through the diaphragm aperture 530.
• the rolling collar or sleeve 532 refurls so that the central portion of the diaphragm 526 again overlies the depressed lid region 524 sealing the storage cavity 506 as illustrated in FIG. 12.
• a diaphragm valve may be used.
• the hinge 605 can be a flexible living hinge which extends between and is integrally formed with both an upright side panel 610 of the base 602 and the peripheral edge of the lid 604.
• the living hinge 605 can extend along one of the sides of the storage container 600.
• the lid 604 may pivot about the living hinge 605 away from the base 602.
• a latching mechanism 640 of the aforementioned type can be included on the container side opposite the living hinge 605.
• the base and lid may be secured using other techniques noted herein, such as, a snap fit.
• the lid 704 includes a three-sided groove 718 formed about its peripheral edge that can receive a vertically projecting tongue 716 extending from the upper edges of the base 702.
• a resilient gasket 720 can be included in the groove 718.
• a protrusion 722 can extend inwards from an outer wall of the groove 718 and a corresponding protrusion 724 can extend outwards from the vertical tongue 716.
• the protrusions 722, 724 can slide past and then interlock or "snap" behind one another.
• the protrusions 722, 724 can be placed continuously or intermittently about the peripheries of the base 702 and lid 704.

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

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=38510155

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Cited By (6)

Families Citing this family (45)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (17)

• 2007
  • 2007-03-05 CA CA002645421A patent/CA2645421A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-03-05 MX MX2008011708A patent/MX2008011708A/es unknown
  • 2007-03-05 WO PCT/US2007/063299 patent/WO2007106676A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2007-03-05 CN CNA2007800146548A patent/CN101432206A/zh active Pending
  • 2007-03-05 JP JP2009500551A patent/JP2009530193A/ja active Pending
  • 2007-03-05 ES ES07757905T patent/ES2363564T3/es active Active
  • 2007-03-05 EP EP07757905A patent/EP1993926B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-03-05 AU AU2007226721A patent/AU2007226721A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-03-05 US US12/281,857 patent/US20100200588A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-03-05 KR KR1020087024605A patent/KR20090004924A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2008
  • 2008-09-11 ZA ZA200807819A patent/ZA200807819B/xx unknown

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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