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Vacuum storage container with integrated pump

Vacuum storage container with integrated pump description/claims

This invention relates to a storage container and more particularly to a container for storing goods with an integrated evacuating pump.

Many products are stored in substantially non-porous containers such as plastic bags, plastic sacks and plastic containers. Often there is a need to remove as much air from such containers for several reasons. When food is stored in such containers, it is beneficial to evacuate as much air as possible to retard spoilage. Often, the user will try and remove excess air by squeezing the container before sealing or capping with a lid. This is often very difficult because the user must use one hand to compress the contents while using the other to seal the container.

This need has been addressed in the past by adjunct devices that evacuate air from the container. There have been several kitchen devices that evacuate a plastic bag, then heat seal the bag to prevent outside air from entering. This system works in some situations, but requires a separate device to evacuate the bag and does not work well for solid containers such as Tupperware® type containers.

Another reason for evacuating air from a container is to reduce storage space. For example, when storing clothing, much of the volume that is being stored is air. If the air is evacuated to any degree, the amount of space (volume) is considerably reduced, requiring less storage space. One example of this are SpaceBags® from New West Products, Inc. Space Bag vacuum-seal storage packs compress bulky items through vacuum sealing. Vacuum-sealing is performed by attaching a vacuum cleaner to a one-way valve on the SpaceBags®. Unfortunately, these devices require a vacuum to operate. At times, there is no vacuum available such as when storing items in an attic or when camping, etc., making it difficult to reseal such bags.

Another example of a storage bag is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,736 to Kawamura and is hereby incorporated by reference. This patent describes a plastic bag with an evacuation port for attaching an external vacuum. This storage bag requires an external vacuum that is not always convenient or easily located.

What is needed is a storage device that seals its contents from air and has an integrated vacuum pump for evacuating air from the storage device after the storage device is sealed.

In one embodiment, a container with integrated vacuum pump is disclosed including a non-porous sealable enclosure with walls and an aperture in a first of the walls. A vacuum pump is affixed to the first of the walls of the non-porous sealable enclosure. The vacuum pump has an inflow port that is interfaced to the aperture so that the vacuum pump is adapted to evacuate air from the non-porous sealable enclosure through the aperture.

In another embodiment, a method of evacuating air from material held in a non-porous sealable container is disclosed including providing the non-porous sealable container with walls and an aperture in a first of the walls and also including a vacuum pump affixed to the first wall. An inflow port of the vacuum pump is interfaced to the aperture and the vacuum pump to evacuate air from the non-porous sealable enclosure through the aperture. The method continues with opening a seal of the non-porous sealable container and placing the material to be stored in the non-porous sealable container then sealing the seal of the non-porous sealable container. Next, the steps of compressing the vacuum pump, blowing air from the vacuum pump to an outside environment and releasing the vacuum pump, pulling air from the non-porous sealable container through the aperture in the first wall are repeatedly performed until sufficient air is evacuated from the non-porous sealable container.

In another embodiment, a container with integrated vacuum pump is disclosed including a non-porous sealable enclosure with walls and an aperture in a first of the walls. A device adapted to pull air out of the non-porous enclosure is affixed to the first wall and is adapted to evacuate air from the non-porous sealable enclosure through the aperture.

The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a storage device of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a storage device of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of a valve of a bellow pump of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of a bellows pump of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of a bellows pump of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a plan view of a bellows pump hinged at one end of the present invention.

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• Utility Patent

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