WO2008018730A1

WO2008018730A1 - Multipurpose closure of vacuum receptacle

Info

Publication number: WO2008018730A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/003775
Authority: WO
Inventors: Younsig Park
Original assignee: Her, Nogu
Priority date: 2006-08-11
Filing date: 2007-08-06
Publication date: 2008-02-14
Also published as: JP2010500246A; JP5033877B2; KR20080014536A; CN101500901B; CN101500901A

Abstract

Disclosed is a closure of a vacuum receptacle, which forms a vacuum in an interior of the receptacle by discharging inner air through the check valve while a packing comes into tight contact with a main body of the receptacle when the closure is pushed and closed. The closure of a vacuum receptacle is a closure including a valve mounting part, an air hole, and a packing mounting groove formed in an inner side of a rim of the closure, which includes a check valve including a coupling part formed on a body part surrounding the air hole, the check valve surrounding the air hole so as to discharge interior air of the air hole and prevent outer air from flowing into the interior of the receptacle while a vacuum operation is performed, and a packing including a mounting part inserted into the packing mounting groove so as to be vacuum-mounted and a contact part extending from a lower part of the mounting part toward an inner surface of an entrance of the main body of the receptacle which being curved, the contact part coming into tight contact with the inner surface of the entrance of the main body of the receptacle as the closure moves downward, so as to form a vacuum in an interior of the receptacle. The closure has superior vacuum-performance and enables a user to identify the degree of the vacuum.

Description

Description MULTIPURPOSE CLOSURE OF VACUUM RECEPTACLE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a closure of a vacuum receptacle, and more particularly to a closure of a vacuum receptacle, which is closed on the receptacle so as to enable interior air to be discharged, so that a vacuum is formed in an interior of the receptacle. Background Art

[2] In general, as a food keeping means for preventing food from going bad and keeping food for a long period of time, a method using a cool storage technique and a method using a vacuum technique have been known. The present invention is related to the latter.

[3] Generally, articles of food and cooked foods are packed by a wrap or a vinyl paper and are stored in refrigerating machinery such as a refrigerator. However, the method using a cooling technique needs a separate refrigerating machine as well as power, thereby increasing costs. Also, there is a limitation in preventing contact between foods and air by a cooling technique, so that foods can not be effectively stored for a long period of time. Particularly, although foods can be kept in the refrigerating machinery for a predetermined period of them, in the long term view, articles of food and cooked food which are kept in the refrigerating machinery are oxidized and go bad due to air contained in an interior of a wrap thereof, so that it is impossible to keep them in the refrigerating machinery for a long period of time.

[4] Meanwhile, a conventional food receptacle has a simple structure where food is put into a storage container and a closure is closed thereon to make the container airtight. Therefore, foods in the container rot and deteriorate easily due to propagation of bacteria, so that foods in the conventional food receptacle can be kept for a long period of time.

[5] A vacuum receptacle has been developed as a method using a vacuum technique, which has a ring-shaped packing attached to a rim of soft part of a receptacle body to make contact with a closure, so as to compulsorily discharge interior air of the receptacle and form a vacuum in the receptacle.

[6] However, since the degree of vacuum of the interior of the conventional vacuum receptacle is very small, the conventional vacuum receptacle functions only as a simply airtight receptacle for preventing contact between contents kept in the receptacle and outer air.

[7] Accordingly, because of limitations as well as difficulty in keeping contents in the conventional vacuum receptacle for a long period of time, it is reality that reliability and satisfaction in using such a vacuum receptacle is less.

[8] Furthermore, when a closure is once closed so as to make such a receptacle airtight, it is not easy for a user to open the closure, and the user have to exert strong force on the closure to open it. Therefore, such a receptacle is quite inconvenient to use.

[9] The user is often injured due to carelessness while the user exerts strong force on the closure so as to open it. As such, since excessive force is exerted on the closure when opening the closure, even if the user opens the closure in such a difficult manner that the user exerts shock force or shaking force on the receptacle, foods contained in the receptacle are scattered or, what is worse, spring out from the receptacle, etc. Accordingly, the conventional vacuum receptacle can not have a function and effect with which the user can be satisfied.

[10] Also, relative to the structure of a packing having a ring-shape being mounted at a portion where a main body of the receptacle and the closure are engaged with each other so as to keep airtight, the portion on which the packing is mounted has a structure of a mounting groove and a latching jaw being connected with each other while adjoining each other, so that the packing passes the latching jaw and is inserted into the mounting groove, and the packing is locked in the latching jaw so as not be separated from the mounting groove. Therefore, it is very difficult to form a mounting portion on which the packing is mounted. Also, when a packing is once mounted thereon, the packing is not easily separated, so that it is difficult to remove alien substances held between the packing and the mounting portion.

[11] Accordingly, a receptacle which has a higher degree of a vacuum and is convenient has been developed. More particularly, since food can be kept in a vacuum state for a long period of time, a vacuum receptacle, which includes a vacuum means easily forming a vacuum in an interior of the receptacle and enables food to be kept in a vacuum state, has been recently developed and comes into the market.

[12] Such a vacuum receptacle includes a vacuum receptacle having a valve for discharging air mounted in a closure. The vacuum receptacle has a complicated structure including: the first depression groove which is formed at a closure and has the first vent formed by perforating a lower surface so as to communicate with the atmosphere; an absorption pad which is positioned at the first depression groove and has a separate protrusion part formed at an upper surface thereof so as to enable the first vent to be opened and closed; a vacuum release button having a drawing groove for being engaged with the separate protrusion part so as to draw the separate protrusion part; and an elastic member is disposed between the vacuum release button and the absorption pad. Such a conventional vacuum receptacle has a complicated structure of a plurality of components being assembled with each other while being coupled and connected with each other, thereby causing manufacturing and assembling processes to be complicated. Therefore, productivity in assembly decreases.

[13] Furthermore, since a large number of components are constituted in a structure of the valve, the unit cost in manufacturing a vacuum receptacle is high so that price competitiveness decreases.

[14] Furthermore, the conventional vacuum receptacle does not have a device for identifying if the receptacle is in a vacuum or not, and it is thus difficult for the user to identify if the receptacle is in a vacuum state. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[15] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the present invention provides a multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle having a simple structure of a valve disposed in the closure.

[16] Also, the present invention provides a multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle including a check valve formed as a single component and a packing vacuum-mounted in a soft part of the closure, so that competitiveness in price increases by improving efficiency in assembling and reducing the unit cost of manufacturing.

[17] Furthermore, the present invention provides a multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle, which forms a vacuum by discharging interior air through a check valve while a packing comes into tight contact with a main body of the receptacle when the user only pushes the closure, so that convenience can be secured.

Technical Solution

[18] According to the present invention, there is provided a multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle, which opens and closes an entrance of a main body of the receptacle having a space for containing contents, including: a closure body opening and closing the entrance of the main body of the receptacle, the closure body having a valve mounting part, an air hole, and a packing mounting groove formed in an inner side of a rim of the closure body; a check valve including a coupling part formed on a body part surrounding the air hole so as to be coupled to the valve mounting part, the check valve surrounding the air hole so as to discharge interior air of the main body of the receptacle through the air hole while a vacuum operation of is performed and preventing outer air from flowing into the interior of the receptacle; and a packing including a mounting part inserted into the packing mounting groove so as to be mounted and a contact part extending from a lower part of the mounting part toward an entrance part of the main body of the receptacle, the contact part coming into tight contact with the entrance part of the main body of the receptacle, according to a downward movement of the closure body, so as to form a vacuum in an interior of the receptacle.

[19] The check valve further includes a vacuum display part which is protruded from the body part, and depressed so as to display a vacuum state as vacuum operation is performed in the interior of the vacuum receptacle.

[20] It is preferable that the multipurpose closure of the vacuum receptacle further includes a date display part marked as numeric signs on the closure body while surrounding a periphery of the check valve, and a date indicator protruded from or marked on a surface of the body part of the check valve so as to indicate a corresponding storage date of contents, which is shown on the date display part, wherein the check valve is rotated about the coupling part so as to enable the date indicator to indicate the storage date.

[21] It is also preferable that an elastic protuberance is formed upward near an end of the contact part of the packing, a contact surface is formed in an inner side of the closure body corresponding to the elastic protuberance and allows the elastic protuberance to make tight contact with the contact surface, and when the closure becomes airtight, the elastic protuberance enables the closure body to be left while being reverted back after making tight contact with the contact surface so as to be pressed on the contact surface.

[22] It is also preferable that the contact surface has a contact protuberance which makes contact with the contact part of the packing as the closure body is moved downward, so as to prevent outer air from flowing into an empty space between the packing and the closure body.

[23] The vacuum display part may include one or both of a low vacuum display part for displaying a low vacuum of an interior of the receptacle and a high vacuum display part for displaying a high vacuum of the interior.

[24] The multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle may include a handle protruding from the body part of the check valve while having a cylindrical shape.

[25] It is preferable that the closure body includes a valve mounting recess formed in a center of the closure body so as to allow the check valve to be safely seated and mounted, and a central protrusion part protruding from a bottom of the valve mounting recess so as to enable the check valve to be spaced a small interval from the bottom of the valve mounting recess and support the check valve to be smoothly rotated and to move in upper and lower directions, wherein the valve mounting part is formed in a center of the central protrusion part and the air hole is formed along a side surface of the central protrusion part while making a linear-shape.

[26] It is also preferable that the check valve is formed as a single component so that the body part, the coupling part, the low vacuum display part, and the high vacuum display part are integrally formed.

[27] Material of the check valve and the packing may be silicon. [28] The pressurized protrusion part having a hook-shape is preferably formed in an end of the mounting part of the packing.

Advantageous Effects

[29] As mentioned above, a multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle according to the present invention includes a check valve formed as a single component and a packing which is vacuum-mounted in a lower part of a soft part of the closure, so that it is easily assembled. Therefore, efficiency in assembling and productivity can be improved. This provides effects to reduce the unit cost of manufacturing so as to raise competitiveness in price.

[30] Also, since a check valve is formed as a single component, there is no concern about trouble and damage in being used. Furthermore, in an assembling structure of a packing, the packing is mounted by using vacuum force without a latching jaw, so that the packing is easily mounted and separated. Therefore, efficiency in assembling can be improved and cleaning is also easy. Also, flowing and discharging of air can be easily checked.

[31] As such, according to the present invention, when the user pushes the closure, the packing comes into tight contact with the main body of the receptacle so that interior air is discharged through the check valve to form a vacuum. Therefore, the user easily and simply keeps contents in a vacuum state and takes them out, thereby increasing convenience in using. As a result, this effectively provides the user with satisfaction and reliability in being used.

[32] Also, a closure of a vacuum receptacle according to the present invention includes a low vacuum display part and a high vacuum display part which are disposed at a check valve. Therefore, it is possible to display a low vacuum as well as a high vacuum according to a vacuum state of an interior of the receptacle, so that the contents can be kept in a proper vacuum state according to kinds of contents in the receptacle, and a state of the contents can be easily checked.

[33] Additionally, the present invention includes a check valve also having a function for displaying a date, so that there is advantage in that a storage date can be displayed so as to allow the user to easily check the date.

[34] Also, by employing a vacuumizing apparatus invented by the present inventor, the high- vacuum is simply formed in an interior of the receptacle so that food requiring a high degree of a vacuum can be kept.

[35] In the present invention having the above-mentioned advantages, foods such as foods for a side dish are contained in a receptacle and interior air of the receptacle is discharged so as to keep a vacuum state, thereby keeping contents for a long period of time without deterioration and rot. Brief Description of the Drawings

[36] Exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and it is to be noted that the same elements are indicated with the same reference numerals throughout the drawings. The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[37] FIGs. 1 and 2 are perspective and exploded perspective views illustrating an embodiment of a multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle according to the present invention;

[38] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the A-A line of FIG. 1;

[39] FIGs. 4 and 5 are views illustrating the operation of the present multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle while being vacuum-airtight;

[40] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the operation of the present multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle while being opened;

[41] FIGs. 7 and 8 are views illustrating a method for mounting a packing in the present multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle;

[42] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a date indicator of a check valve in the present multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle while being used;

[43] FIG. 10 is a top plan view illustrating a date display part of a check valve shown in

FIG. 9;

[44] FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating another embodiment of a check valve in a multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle according to the present invention;

[45] FIG. 12 is a sectional view illustrating a vacuum receptacle employing a multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle according to the present invention while being used so as to be a high- vacuum state by means of a vacuumizing apparatus;

[46] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle according to the present invention;

[47] FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the B-B line of FIG. 13;

[48] FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle according to the present invention;

[49] FIG. 16 is a sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention; and

[50] FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle shown in FIG. 16 in which the closure of a vacuum receptacle is pressed. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[51] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[52] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a vacuum receptacle employing a multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle according to the present invention, in which the vacuum receptacle is assembled, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1. Also, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the A-A line of FIG. 1.

[53] In the present embodiment, the vacuum receptacle having a shape of a rectangular box is described, and the shape of the vacuum receptacle may be a shape of a polygonal box, such as a triangular box, a hexagonal box, and octagonal box, or a cylindrical box. The present invention has no limitation in shape.

[54] As shown, the closure of a vacuum receptacle includes a closure body assembled with an opened entrance part 12 of a main body 10 of the receptacle, which has a space in which contents, e.g. foods are contained, so as to enable the entrance part 12 to be opened and closed, and also includes a check valve 30 mounted on the closure body 20 so as to control flow and discharge of air, and a packing 40.

[55] The main body 10 of the receptacle has a shape of a rectangular box, and preferably has a section which is gradually increases from the bottom toward an upper direction. The main body 10 is made of solid material which is resistant under vacuum pressure, and material of the main body 10 may preferably be material based on plastic having a superior pressure-resistance property, or glass.

[56] The closure body 20 has a central part which is depressed so as to have a valve seating recess 22, and a coupling hole 22-1 for allowing a check valve 30 to be assembled is formed at the center of the valve seating recess 22. The valve seating recess 22 is preferably a form which is depressed while making a circular shape having an area in which check valve 30 can be received, and a coupling hole 22- 1 is formed at a center of a central protrusion part 22-2 protruding from a bottom surface of the valve seating recess 22 up to a predetermined elevation. The coupling hole 22-1 is a valve assembling part for allowing the check valve 30 to be assembled, and can be easily modified to another shape such as a protuberance-shape, etc. This is because it is enough that the coupling hole 22-1 has a shape only for allowing the check valve 30 to be assembled with the closure body 20 so as to perform its own function.

[57] The central protrusion part 22-2 has a function for enabling the check valve 30 to be left from a bottom surface of the valve seating recess 22 up to a predetermined elevation and supporting the check valve 30. Accordingly, elastic movement of the check valve 30 can be easily performed in lower and upper directions according to operating pressure. Particularly, the central protrusion part 22-2 has an air hole 24 formed at a side surface thereof. Therefore, when the closure is airtight, interior air of a receptacle 1 is discharged through the air hole 24 so as to form a vacuum in the receptacle 1, and when the closure is opened, outer air flows through the air hole 24 so as to release the vacuum of the receptacle 1. This operation will be described in more detail with a description of the operation of the present closure of the vacuum receptacle.

[58] As shown in FIG. 2, the air hole 24 is formed along a side surface of the central protrusion part 22-2 while having a rough linear shape, and has a structure similar to a structure of a human s mouth. Therefore, a specific sound is generated in the air hole 24 while air flows in and flows out.

[59] The closure body 20 has a shape of a spherical surface formed from the valve seating recess 22 to an outer periphery thereof. Particularly, a spherical surface part 26 includes a central part adjacent to the valve seating recess 22, which has a swollen protrusion- shape in comparison with the side of the outer periphery thereof. As such, the closure body 20 is formed in a spherical shape so as to have a superior pressure- proof property allowing the closure body 20 to be resistant under a high vacuum state of an interior of the receptacle. The spherical surface part 26 has a rim 28 formed at an outer periphery thereof while extending.

[60] As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 3, the rim 28 of the closure body 20 is curved downward while making a wing-shape so as to cover a predetermined part of the entrance part 12 of the main body 10 of the receptacle. Particularly, the packing 40 is mounted in an inner side of the rim 28 of the closure body 20, so that packing 40 comes into tight contact with an inner surface of the entrance part 12 of the main body 10 of the receptacle so as to keep an airtight state when the receptacle is made airtight.

[61] Since the receptacle 1 has a shape of a rectangular box, the packing 40 has a shape corresponding to the entrance part 12, with which the packing 40 comes into tight contact, of the main body 10 of the receptacle, i.e., a shape of a rectangular belt or a rectangular ring. The packing 40 includes a mounting part 42 having a perpendicular inner surface and a contact part 44 extending from the mounting part 42 outward in an approximate transverse direction while being curved so as to make tight contact with an inner surface of the entrance part 12 of the main body 10 of the receptacle. The contact part 44 has a thickness which gradually becomes thinner toward the end thereof, so as to have superior elastic force and flexibility. Therefore, the contact part 44 can make tight contact with the inner surface of the main body 10 of the receptacle.

[62] Furthermore, an elastic protuberance 44- 1 protrudes from a periphery of an end of the contact part 44 in an upper direction. Therefore, the elastic protuberance 44-1 is compressed by the descending closure body 20 when the closure is made airtight, and is also compressed in a state where the user pushes the closure. Meanwhile, when the operation force of the user is removed, the elastic protuberance 44-1 is restored a little to the original state while making the descended closure move upward a little, so that interior air of the receptacle can be expanded. Accordingly, the elastic protuberance 44- 1 plays a role in forming a vacuum in the interior of receptacle. The elastic protuberance 44- 1 is formed on the contact part 44 at a predetermined interval while having a cone-shape or a horn-shape. At least one elastic protuberance is preferably formed at each surface of the packing 40 having a shape of a rectangular belt, and additionally, an elastic protuberance can be formed in a belt-shape while rounding the packing 40. A flat contact surface 28-2 is formed on an inner surface which corresponds to the elastic protuberance 44- 1 of the closure body 20, so as to allow the elastic protuberance 44- 1 to be more smoothly operated and easily make tight contact with the contact surface 28-2.

[63] Meanwhile, a pressurized protrusion part 42-1 having a hook-shape is formed at an end part of the mounting part 42 of the packing 40. While being inserted into a packing mounting groove 28-1, this pressurized protrusion part 42-1 of a hook-shape increases elastic force so as to secure better contact force, thereby raising a vacuum degree. As such, the packing mounting groove 28-1 is formed at an inner side of the rim 28 of the closure body 20 so as to allow the packing 40 to be mounted.

[64] As shown in FIG.3, the packing mounting groove 28-1 is a shape opened downward.

Therefore, when the mounting part 42 of the packing 40 is pushed upward to be inserted, it can be easily mounted with the packing mounting groove 28-1. At this time, when the mounting part 42 of the packing 40 is completely inserted into the packing mounting groove 28-1, the mounting part 42 comes into tight contact with an inner surface of the packing mounting groove 28-1 and air of the packing mounting groove 28-1 is completely discharged so as to form a vacuum state, thereby keeping strong coupling force by vacuum pressure. According to such a vacuum mounting, when pressure causing the packing 40 to be separated from the packing mounting groove 28-1 is equally applied to the packing 40, the packing 40 is not easily separated from the packing mounting groove 28-1. Meanwhile, when the user draws a portion of the packing 40 by his/her fingers so as to release a vacuum state and then gradually separates the packing 40 from the packing mounting groove 28-1, the packing 40 can be easily separated from the packing mounting groove 28-1.

[65] Therefore, in usual operation of opening and closing the closure on the main body 10 of the receptacle, pressure is equally applied to whole area of the packing 40 so that separation of the packing 40 does not occur. When the user needs to separate the packing 40 from the packing mounting groove 28-1, for example, when the user wants to clean it up, the user draws a portion of the packing 40 by his/her fingers so as to exert pressure on one point thereof so that the user can easily separate the packing 40 from the packing mounting groove 28-1, and can clean it. This is equal to the principle of a suction tray, and is thus easily appreciable by one skilled in the art from the attachment and detachment of the suction tray.

[66] The above-described check valve 30 has a shape similar to a rough umbrella- shape, and a coupling protuberance 34, which is inserted into and is engaged with a coupling hole 22- 1 of the closure body 20 protruding from a center of the body part 32 of a spherical shape, is inserted into and is engaged with a coupling hole 22- 1 of the closure body 20. The coupling protuberance 34 functions as a coupling part to be coupled with a valve coupling part, such as the coupling hole 22-1, and can be variously modified to a shape such as a hole or a groove, etc., according to a shape of the valve coupling part. A slanted latching jaw 34-1 is formed at a lower part of the coupling protuberance 34. The slanted latching jaw 34-1 protrudes toward a circumferential direction and is tapered in such a manner that a diameter of the latching jaw 34-1 becomes smaller toward a lower end thereof in a longitudinal direction (an inserting direction), so that the latching jaw 34-1 can be easily inserted.

[67] The check valve 30 is made of elastic material, and, is preferably made of silicon or rubber, etc. More preferably, it is made of silicon without discoloration or corrosion which is caused by outer air. As such, since the check valve 30 is made of material having a superior contact property, in a state that the body part 32 of a hemispheric shape surrounds the air hole 24, a soft part of the body part 32 makes tight contact with a corresponding surface of the closure body 20 so as to prevent air from flowing. As such, the body part 32 of the check valve 30 surrounds the air hole 24, so that air is discharged through the air hole 24 while pushing the soft part of the body part 32 making tight contact with the closure body 20.

[68] For additional description, due to a structure of the check valve 30, interior air of the receptacle pushes the body part 32 so that a soft part of a side of the body part 32, which makes tight contact with the closure body 20, is left up, and the air is discharged through a gap formed by the left soft part. Meanwhile, pressure exerted on the body part 32 by outer air is applied toward the side of the closure body 20 so that the body part 32 is increasingly forced against the closure body 20, thereby preventing inflow of outer air. Accordingly, the check valve 30 allows air to flow in one direction (in such a direction that interior air is discharged), and prevents air from flowing (inflow of outer air) in a direction opposite to the direction. Therefore, so as to separate the closure from the airtight receptacle in a vacuum state, the user compulsorily lifts the check valve 30 a little so as to release vacuum pressure by allowing outer air to flow into the interior of the receptacle. As a result, the closure can be easily opened.

[69] The check valve 30 includes a low vacuum display part 36a and a high vacuum display part 36b, which are formed at the body part 32 of a hemispheric shape. The low vacuum display part 36a protrudes from a surface of the body part 32 while forming a hemispheric shape having a low height. When a vacuum is formed in the interior of the main body 10 of the receptacle by closing the closure, a low vacuum hemispherical surface part 36a- 1 is sucked inside so as to be changed to a recess-shape. Therefore, the user can easily identify if the interior of the receptacle is in a low vacuum by checking this changed shape.

[70] Of course, when the vacuum of the interior of the receptacle is released, the low vacuum hemispherical part 36a- 1 of the low vacuum display part 36a, which has been sucked, is reverted back while making the original protrusion-shape. Meanwhile, the high vacuum display part 36b has a pillar-shape which is closed by a hemisphere- shaped upper surface thereof and has an empty interior, and preferably protrudes while having a pillar-shape of which a diameter is smaller than that of the low vacuum display part 36a. When a high vacuum is formed in the airtight interior of the receptacle, a state of a high vacuum hemispherical part 36b- 1 of the upper surface thereof being sucked is kept.

[71] Of course, when a vacuum of the interior of the receptacle is released, the high vacuum hemispherical part 36b- 1 of the high vacuum display part 36b, which has been sucked, is reverted back while making the original protrusion-shape. The high vacuum display part 36b having such a function includes a side wall 36-2 of a cylindrical shape, which is formed while having a large thickness and a hard property at a certain degree. Therefore, so as to compulsorily make outer air flow into the interior of the receptacle, the high vacuum display part 36b can be doubly used as a handle that the user uses for lifting the check valve 30.

[72] On the other hand, in a receptacle in which a low vacuum is enough and a high vacuum is not necessary, the high vacuum display part 36b can be used only as a handle by completely filling up the interior thereof. A date indicator 38 for indicating a storage date is formed at the body part 32 of the check valve 30. The date indicator 38 protrudes from a surface of the body part 32 while having a triangular shape. Additionally, the date indicator 38 can protrude while having an arrow-shape or a point- shape, etc., or can be displayed as those shapes, so that the user can identify it. As the check valve 30 is rotated about the coupling protuberance 34, the date indicator 38 indicates a corresponding date shown on the date display part 29 formed at the closure body 20 in a periphery of the check valve 30 while having a ring-shape.

[73] As such, the user rotates the check valve 30 so as to enable the date indicator 38 to indicate a storage date shown in the date display part 29. As a result, the user can easily identify how long foods in the receptacle 1 have been kept.

[74] Meanwhile, it is preferable that the main body 10 of the receptacle or a member in at least one side of the closure includes handles (not shown) corresponding to surfaces of both sides thereof so as to allow the user to conveniently catch the handles. Mode for the Invention

[75] FIGs. 4 and 5 are views illustrating operation of the present closure of a vacuum receptacle while being vacuum- airtight. Particularly, FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a state of the vacuum receptacle being closed by the closure, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a state of the vacuum receptacle being vacuum-airtight by pushing the closure in the state of FIG. 4.

[76] In a state where contents, e.g. foods (not shown) are contained in the interior of the main body 10, when the user closes the closure on the entrance part 12 of the main body 10 of the receptacle and pushes the closure body 20 downward, as shown in FIG. 4, the contact part 44 of the packing 40 comes into contact with the entrance part 12 of the main body 10 of the receptacle and an outer end of the contact part 44 is curved upward. Therefore, the closure is moved downward so that interior air of the main body 10 of the receptacle is discharged through the air hole 24. At this time, while the air is discharged through the air hole 24, a unique sound is generated as air flows out.

[77] When the user hears the sound, the user can identify if vacuum operation is being performed through the sound. As such, the air discharged through the air hole 24 flows out of the receptacle 1 while lifting up the check valve 30 which has made contact with the upper surface of the closure body 20. When the pushing force of the user is removed, the closure moved downward is left up a little by elastic restoration force of the packing 40. Therefore, interior air can be expanded so as to make a vacuum in the interior of the receptacle. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the packing 40 is curved while having a shape corresponding to an inner surface of the entrance part 12 of the main body 10 of the receptacle, and makes tight contact with the inner surface, so as to completely close an entrance of the main body 10 of the receptacle. The low vacuum hemispherical part 36a- 1 of the low vacuum display part 36a of the check valve 30 is depressed inside so as to allow the user to identify the fact that the receptacle 1 is in a low vacuum state.

[78] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the operation of the closure of the vacuum receptacle while being opening. So as to refer this drawing, the operation of opening the above- mentioned closure of the vacuum receptacle will be described in detail.

[79] So as to open a vacuum receptacle in which foods are vacuum-packed and cook the foods as shown in FIG. 5, when the user catches and lifts the high vacuum display part 36b functioning a handle by his/her hand as shown in FIG. 6, a side of the check valve 30 is spaced from a surface of the closure body 20 making contact with the side of the check valve 30, so that a gap is formed between them, and outer air flows inside through the gap. As a result, outer air flows into the interior of the main body 10 of the receptacle through the air hole 24 of the closure body 20 so that the vacuum of the receptacle 1 is released. Accordingly, as the closure is moved upward from the main body 10 of the receptacle, the packing 40 mounted on the rim 28 of the closure body 20 is separated from the entrance part 12 of the main body 10 of the receptacle. Simultaneously, the low vacuum hemispherical part 36a- 1 of the low vacuum display part 36a of the check valve 30 protrudes so as to be reverted back from the recess-shape to the original protrusion-shape. In this state, when the user lifts up the closure, the closure is easily separated from the main body 10 of the receptacle.

[80] FIGs. 7 and 8 are views illustrating a method for mounting a packing on the present closure of the vacuum receptacle. FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state before a packing is mounted in a packing mounting groove, and FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a state of the packing being mounted in the packing mounting groove.

[81] As shown in FIG. 7, when the mounting part 42 of the packing 40 is positioned toward the packing mounting groove formed inside of the rim 28 of the closure body 20 and is pushed in the X direction, air in the packing mounting groove 28-1 is discharged and the packing 40 having silicon material is completely inserted into the packing mounting groove 28-1 by elastic force while coming into tight contact with the packing mounting groove 28-1. At this time, the pressurized protrusion part 42-1 having a hook-shape is inserted into the packing mounting groove 28-1 while being elastically changed, thereby increasing contact between the pressurized protrusion part 42- 1 and an inner wall of the closure body 20, which forms the packing mounting groove 28-1. Therefore, vacuum mounting force increases. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the mounting part 42 of the packing 40 makes tight contact with the inner wall of the closure body 20, which forms the packing mounting groove 28-1 to make contact with the mounting part 42, so as to be coupled with the inner wall in a vacuum, thereby securing strong coupling force enabling the mounting part 42 not to be easily separated from the inner wall, even though a latching jaw does not exist in a separation direction. Since this is also equal to a principle of a suction tray, a large amount of pressure is easily applied to the whole area of the packing 40 having a shape of a square belt so that the packing is not separated. When the user wants to clean it up, the user separates one portion of the packing 40 from the closure body so as to allow air to flow, and then gradually separates the remaining portion of the packing 40 from the portion. As a result, the packing 40 is easily separated.

[82] Meanwhile, a contact protuberance 28-3 is formed along an inner end of the contact surface 28-2 so as to make tight contact with the contact part 44 in an inner side of the elastic protuberance 44- 1 while performing a vacuum-mounting, so that outer air cannot flow into an empty space between the packing 40 and the closure body 20. Therefore, when a high vacuum is formed in the interior of the main body 10 of the receptacle, it is preferable to reduce the difference in pressure between the empty space and the interior of the main body 10 of the receptacle so as to prevent the packing 40 from being disassembled from the packing mounting groove 28-1.

[83] When outer air flows into the empty space between the packing 40 and the closure body 20, atmospheric air is contained in this empty space. Accordingly, a difference between the pressure in the empty space and negative pressure in the interior of the receptacle increases, so that strong force is exerted on the packing 40 in a lower direction. In this case, if the packing 40 is not tightly mounted in the packing mounting groove 28-1, the packing 40 can be released from the packing mounting groove 28-1.

[84] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a date indicator of the present closure of the vacuum receptacle while being used, in which a corresponding part of the date indicator is selected, and FIG. 10 is a top view of the date indicator shown in FIG. 9.

[85] As shown, the check valve 30 is disposed in the valve seating recess 22 formed on the closure body 20 in such a manner that the check valve 30 can be rotated about the coupling protuberance (not shown). The date display part 29 is formed on a surface, which is adjacent to the check valve 30, of the closure body 20 while surrounding the check valve 30. Therefore, the user rotates the check valve 30 so as to enable the date indicator 38 to indicate a corresponding date of the date display part 29 formed on the closure body 20, thereby specifying storage date.

[86] For example, if it has been two days since foods were first kept in the vacuum receptacle, the user rotates the check valve 30 so as to enable the date indicator 38 to indicate the number "2" of the date display part 29 displayed on the closure body 20, thereby notifying that today is the second day. Also, in tomorrow, the date indicator 38 of the check valve 30 is rotated to indicate the number "3", so that the user can identify the fact that it has been three days since foods were first kept.

[87] FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating another embodiment of a check valve in a closure of a vacuum receptacle according to the present invention.

[88] In a check valve 30' when a low vacuum is enough for the vacuum receptacle and high vacuum is not necessary, so as to allowing a high vacuum display part to be used only as a handle 36b', the high vacuum display part is formed in such a manner that an interior of a cylindrical part thereof is completely molded by silicon resin. Then, the handle 36b' becomes stronger and can be efficiently used. In this case, it is enough that only the low vacuum display part 36a' is formed. Of course, the remaining structure of the check valve 30' is equal to the above-described embodiment.

[89] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a vacuum receptacle on which a closure according to the present invention is mounted while being used, in which a high-vacuum is formed in the vacuum receptacle by means of a vacuumizing apparatus. A method for forming a high- vacuum in the receptacle 1 according to the present invention by means of the vacuumizing apparatus 200 will be described below. [90] An extension protuberance 213a extending toward a lower direction of the first receptacle body 210 of the vacuumizing apparatus 200 is inserted into the valve seating recess 22 of the closure body 20 so as to surround the check valve 30. In a state of the extension protuberance 213a making tight contact with the closure, a pressed body 240 is pressed so that the second receptacle 230 moves downward. Then, negative pressure is applied to the second chamber 231. Accordingly, negative pressure is also applied to the periphery of the check valve 30 so that the check valve 30 is left upward. As a result, interior air of the receptacle 1 is discharged, thereby increasing the degree of the vacuum of the interior of the receptacle 1. By repeatedly performing such an operation, interior air of the receptacle 1 is discharged so that a high- vacuum is formed in the interior of the receptacle 1. Then, the high vacuum hemispherical part 36b- 1 of the high vacuum display part 36b of the check valve 30 is depressed so as to allow the user to realize the fact that the interior of the receptacle 1 is in a vacuum state.

[91] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a closure of a vacuum receptacle according to the present invention, and FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the B-B line of FIG. 13.

[92] In the present embodiment, a closure of a vacuum receptacle has a circular plate- shape modified from the rectangular- shape of the above-described closure of a vacuum receptacle will be described. Herein, configurations and coupling structures of the check valve 30" and the packing 40" are equal to the above-described embodiment. Therefore, a detailed description of them will be omitted. Merely, in the present embodiment, an exterior shape of a vacuum receptacle 1" is a cylindrical shape, so that a packing 40" has a ring-shape.

[93] Furthermore, the present circle-shaped closure of a vacuum receptacle has no wing- shaped part equal to the above-described embodiment at a rim 28". Therefore, the closure is designed in such a manner that the rim 28" of a closure body 20" does not cover a side surface of an entrance part 12" of the main body 10" of the receptacle, and the closure is exactly assembled with the entrance part 12" of the main body 10" of the receptacle. Of course, the present closure of a vacuum receptacle may include a wing- shaped part curved downward at the rim 28" so as to cover a predetermined portion of a side surface of the entrance part 12" of the main body 10"of the receptacle.

[94] The above-described closure of a vacuum receptacle according to present invention can be mounted on a main body of a typical receptacle which has various sizes and shapes so as to vacuumize an interior of the receptacle.

[95] FIG. 15 is a view illustrating another embodiment of a multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle. As shown, in the present closure manufactured in a small size, a packing 40'" of the present closure body 20'" is attached to a glass 7 (or, a mirror, a tile, etc.) and is vacuum-attached by the above-described principle, so that it can be used as a suction tray. As such, the present closure is attached to the glass 7 so as to be used for allowing an article to be hung on or be attached to the glass.

[96] FIG. 16 is a sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the closure of a vacuum receptacle shown in FIG. 16 in which the closure is pressed.

[97] As the case may be, a central protuberance 22-3 as a valve coupling part is formed on the closure body 20, and a central hole 34-2 as a coupling part is formed on the check valve 30 so as to install a check valve 30.

[98] Also, a contact protuberance 28-3 is formed on a contact surface 28-2 so as to come into tight contact with the contact part 44 of the packing 40 as shown in FIG. 17 when pressure is exerted, thereby preventing outer air from flowing into an empty space between the packing 40 and the closure body 20. Therefore, when a high vacuum is formed in an interior of the main body 10 of the receptacle, a difference of pressure between the empty space and the interior of the main body 10 of the receptacle is reduced so as to prevent the packing 40 from being released from the packing mounting groove 28-1. The remaining structure of the closure is equal to the above- description with reference to FIGs. 1 to 3.

[99] While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and exemplary embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment and the drawings, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Industrial Applicability

[100] As can be seen from the foregoing, a multiple closure of a vacuum receptacle according to the present invention is easily assembled, thereby improving efficiency in assembling and productivity thereof.

[101] Furthermore, a closure of a vacuum receptacle according to the present invention has no concern of having trouble and being damaged while being used and also has an advantage to be easily assembled and disassembled, thereby improving efficiency in assembling. Furthermore, the closure can be easily cleaned up and can be used for checking inflow and discharge of air in an easy manner.

[102] Additionally, the closure of a vacuum receptacle according to the present invention enables a user to keep contents in a vacuum and take them out, thereby increasing convenience thereof.

[103] Furthermore, a low vacuum as well as a high vacuum can be displayed on the closure of a vacuum receptacle according to the present invention, depending on a vacuum state of an interior of the receptacle, so that the closure can keep contents in a proper vacuum state according to kinds of the contents in the receptacle, and is used for enabling the user to easily check the state of contents. [104] Additionally, the present invention is used for displaying a storage date so as to enable the user to easily identify it. [105] Also, the present invention can be used for keeping foods requiring a certain degree of a high- vacuum by simply forming a high- vacuum in the interior of the receptacle.

Claims

[1] A multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle, which opens and closes an entrance of a main body of the vacuum receptacle having a space for containing contents, comprising: a closure body opening and closing the entrance of the main body of the vacuum receptacle, the closure body having a valve mounting part, an air hole, and a packing mounting groove formed in an inner side of a rim of the closure body; a check valve including a coupling part formed on a body part surrounding the air hole so as to be coupled with the valve mounting part, the check valve surrounding the air hole so as to discharge interior air of the main body of the vacuum receptacle through the air hole while an vacuum operation is performed and preventing outer air from flowing into the interior of the vacuum receptacle; and a packing including a mounting part inserted into the packing mounting groove so as to be mounted and a contact part extending from a lower part of the mounting part toward an entrance part of the main body of the vacuum receptacle, the contact part coming into tight contact with the entrance part of the main body of the vacuum receptacle, according to a downward movement of the closure body, so as to form a vacuum in an interior of the vacuum receptacle.

[2] The multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the check valve further includes a vacuum display part which is protruded from the body part and depressed so as to display a vacuum state as vacuum operation is performed in the interior of the vacuum receptacle.

[3] The multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a date display part marked as numeric signs on the closure body while surrounding a periphery of the check valve, and a date indicator protruded from or marked on a surface of the body part of the check valve so as to indicate a corresponding storage date of contents on the date display part, wherein the check valve is rotated about the coupling part so as to enable the date indicator to indicate the storage date.

[4] The multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein an elastic protuberance is formed upward near an end of the contact part of the packing, a contact surface is formed inside of the closure body corresponding to the elastic protuberance and allows the elastic protuberance to make tight contact with the contact surface, and when the closure becomes airtight, the elastic protuberance enables the closure body to be left while being reverted back after making tight contact with the contact surface so as to be pressed on the contact surface.

[5] The multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the contact surface has a contact protuberance which makes contact with the contact part of the packing as the closure body is moved downward, so as to prevent outer air from flowing into an empty space between the packing and the closure body.

[6] The multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the vacuum display part includes one or both of a low vacuum display part for displaying a low vacuum of an interior of the vacuum receptacle and a high vacuum display part for displaying a high vacuum of the interior.

[7] The multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a handle protruding from the body part of the check valve while having a cylindrical shape.

[8] The multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure body includes a valve mounting recess formed in a center of the closure body so as to allow the check valve to be safely seated and mounted, and a central protrusion part protruding from a bottom of the valve mounting recess so as to enable the check valve to be spaced a small interval from the bottom of the valve mounting recess and support the check valve to be smoothly rotated and moved in upper and lower directions, wherein the valve mounting part is formed in a center of the central protrusion part, and the air hole is formed along a side surface of the central protrusion part while making a linear shape.

[9] The multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the check valve is formed as a single component so that the body part, the coupling part, the low vacuum display part, and the high vacuum display part are integrally formed.

[10] The multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle as claimed in claim 9, wherein a material of the check valve and the packing may be silicon.

[11] The multipurpose closure of a vacuum receptacle as claimed in claim 10, wherein a pressurized protrusion part having a hook-shape is formed in an end of the mounting part of the packing.