WO2022203612A1

WO2022203612A1 - A seal with an integrated valve for use with a food storage container and a container with said seal

Info

Publication number: WO2022203612A1
Application number: PCT/SI2022/050007
Authority: WO
Inventors: Branko Culig; Tomaz GORJUP; Marko CULIG
Original assignee: Status D.O.O. Metlika
Priority date: 2021-03-25
Filing date: 2022-03-02
Publication date: 2022-09-29
Also published as: SI26159A

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the field of containers and dishes for storing and transport of food, more precisely to the field of containers for storing food in vacuum and accessories thereof. The present invention relates to a seal (2) with an integrated valve (5) for use with a food storage container and a container with said seal. The essence of the invention is in that the valve for suction of air is installed in the seal and not into the lid of a container for vacuum food storage as known until now. The seal is arranged to receive the valve, as well as to fit on the container (1) and its lid (3) without the valve. The seal may also fit to two containers, one of which functions as a lid and the other as a container.

Description

A SEAL WITH AN INTEGRATED VALVE FOR USE WITH A FOOD STORAGE CONTAINER AND A CONTAINER WITH SAID SEAL

Technical field

The present invention belongs to the field of containers and dishes for storing and transport of food, more precisely to the field of containers for storing food in vacuum and accessories thereof. The present invention relates to a seal with an integrated valve for use with a food storage container and a container with said seal.

Background of the invention and the technical problem

It is well known that storing food in vacuum created with air removal is the most natural way of storage, as such storage does not require preservatives for elongation of food stability. One possible manner of vacuum storage is storage in vacuum containers. Usual vacuum containers comprise a container, a seal, a lid and a valve. All known containers have a plastic or a partially plastic lid, in which a vacuuming valve is integrated. A manual or automatic vacuum pump may be installed on said valve, wherein the pump sucks the air from the container and thus creates vacuum inside it. Several different lids from other materials are known, however, they are at least partly made of plastic material in the area of the valve. These embodiments are pricey, especially for larger containers.

Such construction or design of the container and the lid with the valve, respectively, requires demanding designs of the lid due to a negative pressure inside the container and the outer pressure on the lid. The interruption in the lid structure due to installation of the valve hampers lid structure, hence the lid has to be thicker in order to maintain vacuum inside the container. Such lids may be deformed and subsequently created vacuum may quickly be released, which decreases food durability (shelf life). The technical problem, which is solved by the present invention, is thus an alternative design of a container for storing food that will not exhibit problems with the construction of the lid, its structure and stability of the created vacuum inside the container. The aim of the invention is to enable use of various materials for manufacturing of the vacuum container and the lid in a simple and cost-efficient manner, thus also improving use versatility of the container.

Prior art

Several different embodiments of vacuum containers with lids in standard shapes are known, which are, as mentioned above, comprising a container, a seal and a lid with a valve. Such solutions are described in documents CN201133501 Y, CN205872874U, FR2796923, JPH1024966 and KR20070025354.

Patent application WO2017158591 on the other hand describes vacuum containers that allow vacuuming through the container, which differs from the present invention.

Patent US8662334 has a specific construction of the lid and the valve, which differs from the present invention in the position and the type of the valve. This solution namely comprises a container with a lid, which has an outer frame to which a flexible membrane is attached. In one corner a valve is provided, which is used to remove air from the container using a vacuum pump, wherein the membrane touches at least the upper surfaces of the contents of the container. The present invention does not use a flexible membrane in the lid, but rather relies on a different construction.

Description of the solution to the technical problem

The technical problem is solved as defined in the independent claim, wherein the preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. The essence of the present invention is in that a valve for suction of air is installed in the seal and not into the lid of a container for vacuum food storage as known until now. The seal is arranged to receive the valve, as well as to fit on the container and its lid without the valve. The seal may also fit to two containers, one of which functions as a lid and the other as a container.

The seal with the integrated valve for a container for storing food comprises a continuous profile of a sufficient thickness to receive the valve and a sufficient size of an outer edge for installation of a vacuum pump. Sufficient dimensions are obvious to a person skilled in the art based on the shape and the size of the vacuum pump used. The seal may have circular, oval, rectangular, square or any other shape, which is usually used for containers. The cross-section of the seal may have any shape arranged to fit on the edge of the container and the lid. Preferably, the cross- section of the seal has a longer outer part, which is perpendicular to a middle part and a shorter inner part, wherein the middle and the inner part are arranged to fit between the edges of the container and the lid, while the outer part is arranged to fit on outside of the container and the lid. The shape of the seal’s cross-section should prevent axial movement of the lid and the container. For this purpose, the seal may have an inner edge to prevent such movement. The seal is preferably made from a silicone profile, but it can also be made from rubber, raw food rubber, soft plastic or other suitable materials. The sufficient thickness and size of the seal means that the thickness is larger than the valve, thus ensuring good sealing properties upon installation of the valve. The suitable dimension can be easily determined by testing and adjustment of dimension with regards to the dimensions of the valve.

The seal may be further reinforced with different elements made from different materials, in order to retain the shape of the container. Suitable materials are plastics, in particular hard plastic, wire, stell inox profile and suitable hard materials, which are integrated in the seal. The seal is therefore preferably provided with a slot or a groove, into which the reinforcement is installed. In the area of the valve the seal is provided with an opening arranged to receive the valve, which has at least one channel allowing air flow. The seal is in the area of the valve also provided with at least one channel, which matches with the inner part of the valve. The valve may be constructed in any suitable manner that allows vacuuming, while the preferred embodiment is that the valve has an outer part, which passes via an optional conical part into a flat middle part, which ends with an inner part. The middle part is narrower than the inner part. When the valve is installed in the opening and the channel in the seal, the inner part is located on the inner side of the seal, i.e. , in the interior of the container closed with the lid, while the flat middle part is in the channel of the seal. The valve has at least one channel for allowing air flow. When the valve is in a closed state, the conical part of the outer part of the valve closes the channel and air cannot flow through the valve. When the valve is in an open state, air may flow through channel(s) from the container into the exterior, thus creating vacuum in the container.

The seal with the valve according to the invention is used in the following manner: the seal is installed on the lid, while the valve is set to a position for manual vacuuming or for vacuuming with a vacuum pump that is arranged to create a negative pressure in the container. The vacuum pump is installed on a receiving spot on the seal and is turned on, so that the valve transitions into the open state. When the vacuuming is finished, the pump is removed and the valve is pushed into the closed state.

The container with the described seal may be made from any material, it is only important that the shape of the container matches the shape of the seal. The container may be plastic, glass, ceramic or clay, wherein it may be used for storing food, as well as preparation of food, cooking or baking. The lid may be a lid, a flat plate or a second container having a shape that matches the shape of the seal. A cutting board or a hot dish holder may also be used as the lid. The seal according to the invention thus enables improved versatility of individual dishes and cooking accessories. The seal with an integrated valve for use with a food storage container and a container with said seal according to the invention will be further described based on exemplary embodiments and figures, which show:

Figure 1 The container with the valve according to the invention and a vacuum pump in working operation

Figure 2 Explosion view of the container components shown in figure 1 Figure 3 Cross-section of the set (container, lid, seal with the valve) in a working position

Figure 4 Reinforcement of the seal in cross-section Figure 5 The valve according to the first embodiment Figure 6 The valve according to the second embodiment Figure 7 The valve according to the third embodiment Figure 8 The valve according to the fourth embodiment

Figure 1 shows a container with the valve according to a possible embodiment comprising a container 1, a seal 2 with an integrated valve, a lid 3 and a vacuum pump 4 arranged for installation on the valve in the seal 2, so that air can be sucked from the container resulting in vacuum inside the container 1. The valve 5 is visible in figure 2 and is preferably located on the longer side of the seal 2. The seal 2 is arranged on the upper edge of the container 1 and the lid 3 is placed on top of it. In order to ensure optimal sealing, the preferred shape of the cross-section of the seal 2 is such that it has longer outer part 2a, which is perpendicular to a middle part 2b, and a shorter inner part 2c, wherein the middle part 2b and the inner part 2c are located between the edges of the container 1 and the lid 3, while the outer part 2a is located on the external side. In the area of the valve the seal is provided with a suitable opening arranged to receive the valve having at least one channel allowing air flow. The seal is in the same area of the valve provided with at least one channel that matches the shape of the inner part of the valve. The seal 2 may have an additional reinforcement, which is shown in figure 4. The reinforcement 2d has a circular cross-section and is made from hard plastic or inox profile.

Figures 5 to 8 show various embodiments of the valve 5.

The valve 5 has an outer part 5a, which passes via a conical part 5b into a flat middle part 5c, which ends with an inner part 5d. The middle part 5c is narrower than the inner part 5d, while the outer part 5a is the widest. When the valve 5 is installed in the opening and the channel in the seal 2, the inner part 5d is located on the inner side of the seal 2, i.e. , in the interior of the container 1 closed with the lid 3, the flat middle part 5c is located in the channel of the seal 2, while the conical part 5b closes the entry into the channel from the external side.

According to a first possible embodiment the middle part 5c has three air channels 5c' that match cut-outs 5d' in the inner part 5d of the valve. When the valve is in the close state, the conical part 5b closes the channel and air cannot flow through the valve. When the valve is in open state, air can flow through all channels from the container to the exterior, thus creating vacuum in the container.

According to a second possible embodiment the valve has in its middle flat part 7 and in an inner part 8 openings 8a, which are connected to an inner channel that enables air flow. The conical part is not needed, as the channel or the openings 8a, respectively, are covered with the outer part 6 of the valve. When the outer part is pulled out, the opening 8 in the middle part 7 is released and air can flow to the exterior of the container.

The third embodiment of the valve is made in the profile of the seal itself and has an opening 10 divided into two parts, which form ears 9 for vacuum release. When the vacuum pump is attached, the opening 10 is opened due to the effect of vacuum and remains open for the duration of vacuum pump operation. The vacuum is released by pulling the ears 9.

The fourth embodiment of the valve is shown in figure 8, wherein the valve comprises a first element 12 made from hard plastic, which is installed into the seal in a fixed manner, a second element 14 made from hard plastic, which matches the third element 13 made from silicon. The first element 12 has an inner part, a middle flat part and a wider outer part, which is arranged for interaction with the oval-shaped third element 13 provided with an oval opening 13a in the centre. Said opening is arranged to receive two protruding legs 14a of the second element 14, which protrude from the attachment 14c of the middle part 14b of the second element 14. An opening 12a runs through all three parts of the first element 12, the shape of said opening 12a matching the shape of an opening 13a of the third element 13. The complete assembly of elements 13 and 14 is inserted into the element 12, which is pre-installed in the seal. The attachment 14c in the closed state closes both openings 12a and 13a, so that air cannot pass from the container or into the container. In the open state enables vacuuming. Once the required vacuum is reached in the container, the vacuum pump is removed and the negative pressure inside the container automatically pulls the movable part of the valve into the closed position.

In the scope of the invention other embodiments of the seal and the valve differing from the above-described exemplary embodiments are possible, which is obvious to a person skilled in the art. The exemplary embodiments do not limit the essence of the invention as described herein and defined in the claims.

Claims

Patent claims

1. A seal for containers for storing food in vacuum, characterized in that the seal (2) is arranged to fit to a container (1) and a lid (3) without a valve, wherein the seal (2) is provided with a valve for air suction.

2. The seal according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal is designed as a continuous profile and the shape of the cross-section of the seal (2) has a longer outer part (2a) perpendicular to a middle part (2b), and a shorter inner part (2c), wherein the middle part (2b) and the inner part (2c) are arranged to fit between the edges of the container (1) and the lid (3), while the outer part (2a) is arranged to fit on the exterior of the container (1) and the lid (3).

3. The seal according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the seal (2) has a circular, oval, rectangular, square or any other shape that matches the shape of the container (1 ) for storing food in vacuum.

4. The seal according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal (2) is preferably made from a silicon profile, or may be made from rubber, raw rubber, soft plastic or any other material suitable for use in seals.

5. The seal according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal (2) has an additional reinforcement (2d) to ensure the shape matching the container (1) shape, wherein said reinforcement (2d) is made from a different material than the seal, preferably from plastic material, particularly hard plastic, steel inox profile, wire or similarly hard material that is arranged to be installed in a slot or a groove provided in the seal (2).

6. The seal according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal is provided with a suitable opening arranged to receive the valve, said valve having at least channel for allowing air flow, and the seal is in the valve area provided with at least one channel that matches the inner part of the valve.

7. The seal according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve may be any valve that allows vacuuming and has a closed and an open state, in which air suction is possible.

8. The seal according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve (5) has an outer part (5a), which passes via a conical part (5b) into a flat middle part (5c), which ends with an inner part (5d), wherein the middle part (5c) is narrower than the inner part (5d), while the outer part (5a) is the widest, and wherein the inner part (5d) is arranged to fit on the inner side of the seal (2), i.e. , in the interior of the container (1) closed with the lid (3), and the middle flat part (5c) is arranged for installation in the channel of the seal (2), and the conical part (5b) is arranged to close the entry of at least one channel for air flow from the external side.

9. The seal according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the middle part (5c) has three air channels (5c¹) that match cut-outs (5d') in the inner part (5d) of the valve.

10. The seal according to claim 8, characterized in that the valve in its middle flat part (5c, 7) and the inner part (5d, 8) is provided with two openings (8a), connected to an inner channel that allows air flow, wherein the conical part is not necessary as the channel covers the outer part (5a, 6) of the valve.

11. The seal according to any claim from 1 to 7, characterized in that the valve is provided in the profile of the seal and has an opening (10) divided into two parts forming ears (9) arranged to release vacuum, wherein the opening (10) is arranged to open upon connection of a vacuum pump, and the ears (9) are arranged to be pulled and release the vacuum.

12. The seal according to any claim from 1 to 7, characterized in that the valve comprises a first element (12) from hard plastic, which is installed in the seal (2) in a fixed manner, a second element (14) from hard plastic that matches a third element (13) made from silicon, wherein the first element (12) has an inner part, a middle flat part and a wider outer part arranged for interaction with a second element shaped as an oval and provided with an oval opening (13a) in its centre, said opening being arranged to receive two protruding legs (14a) of the second element (14), which protrude from the attachment (14c) of the middle part (14b) of the second element (14), wherein an opening (12a) runs through all three parts of the first element (12), the shape of said opening (12a) matching the shape of an opening (13a) of the third element (13) and the attachment (14c) in the closed state closes both openings (12a and 13a), so that air cannot pass from the container or into the container, while the open state enables vacuuming.

13. A container for storing food in vacuum with the seal according to any of the preceding claim.

14. The container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is made from any suitable material, preferably from plastic, glass, ceramics or clay, wherein the container may be used for food storage or for food preparation, cooking or baking.

15. The container according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that a lid of the container may be a lid, a flat plate or a second container with a shape matching to the shape of the seal.