Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1 3 66195
This invention relates generally to the art of Yacuum
sealing containers, particularly for the purpose of preserving
a substance therein such as food.
Vacuum sealing of containers is widely employed. The
air pressure within the container after filling with the
substance to be preserved is reduced by at least forty percent
below the ambient air pressure and the container,is then sealed
against any further air transfer between the inside of the
container and the outside. When it is desired to use the
substance inside, the seal is then broken, which restores the
ambient air pressure within the container, and the substance
is then removed and used.
Existing techniques utilized to vacuum seal food
products generally involve cooking the food product in the
container and then sealing the container while hot, wherein
the pressure within the container is reduced below ambient
pressure upon cooling. A lid with a flexible gasket seal is
generally held on the top of a jar or other container as a
result of the difference in air pressure between the outside
and inside of the container. Other suggested techniques for
vacuum packing substances such as foods, without the necessity
for cooking or heating in the container, include the connection
of a vacuum hose through a check valve to each of the containers
in turn, or a complicated manipulation of a container lid
within a vacuum chamber to position it on the container while
a vacuum is being maintained in the chamber.
It is the principal object of the present invention
to provide a simple and convenient technique and apparatus for
initially vacuum packing material in containers, resealing
l lfi6195
vacuum pac~ed containers after opening especially adapted for
in-home use.
According to the present invention wherein, briefly
and generally, a container with a substance to be preserved
therein is placed within a vacuum chamber, a lid is positioned
thereon but retaining small air passages into the container
through which air is withdrawn in the vacuum chamber. A flexible
sealing element is positioned adjacent such small passages in a
manner that does not interfere with air being withdrawn from
the container but which does seal the passages when the air
pressure in the vacuum chamber is allowed to rapidly return to
the ambient air pressure. A rapid increase in air pressure in
a space surrounding the container causes an air pressure
- differential between the inside and outside of the container
since the passages thereinto are too small to rapidly transfer
air back into the container. This pressure differential instantly
causes the sealing material to close off the small passage or
passages into the container, thus preserving the vacuum within
the container.
According to one aspect of the present invention there
is provided a portable vacuum sealing apparatus which includes a
base structure and a removable cover dimensioned to fit on the
base and provide an enclosed chamber therein. A sealing element
is positioned to join the base and cover when positioned together,
and a vacuum pump is carried in the base and connected through
an aperture of the base into the chamber in a manner to reduce
. .
; the air pressure within the cham~er when the pump is operated.
An aperture is provided in the top of a cover that allows air to
move into the chamber from outside the cover and a manually
l ~ 66195
operated valve is carried in the aperture, the valve being
normally biased closed to seal the aperture ~ut being
manually operable to let air pass into the chamber to
equalize any air pressure differences within and without
the chamber.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention there is provided the method of vacuum sealing
a container having a rigid base portion t~ith an upwardly
extending rim and a rigid lid adapted to be supported by
the rim with a resilient sealing material therebetween.
The method includes the steps of placing into the con-
tainer material to be sealed therein, at least 10% of
the volume thereof being left unfilled, and then position-
ing the lid and sealing material loosely on the rim through
the sealing material in a manner to be held by its own
weight. The air pressure is reduced by at least 40% in a
volume surrounding and significantly larger than the con-
tainer and lid, thereby also reducing the air pressure
within the unfilled portion of the container by removing
air therefrom through spaces between the lid and rim
around the sealing material. The original air pressure is
restored within two seconds to the volume surrounding the
container by opening a space above the lid to the atmos-
phere. The lid is thus caused to firmly compress the
sealing material against the rim without any physical con-
tact or mechanical manipulation thereof, thereby to retain
the reduced air pressure within the container and sealer.
Additional objects, advantages and features of the
present invention may best be understood by referring to the
l l 6619S
following description of its preferred embodiments which
should be taken in conjunction with the accompanying draw-
i:ngs.
_RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates in cross-sectional form a
vacuum sealing apparatus with a container therein being
sealed in accordance with the technique of the present
nvention;
Figures 2A and 2B show an enlarged yiew of a part
of the container of Figure l;
- 3A -
:
1 1 66~95
Figure 3 is a view o a pad upon ~hich the
container of Figure 1 rests;
Figure 4 illustrates a different container lid
construction than that illustrated in Figure l;
Figure 5 illustrates another lid construction tha,t
is different from those of Figures 1 and 4~
Figure 6 illustrates the sealing technique of the
present ;nvention utilized with an existing lid and container
construction; and
Figures 7A and 7B illustrate a particular technique
for vacuum unsealing a vacuum sealed container.
Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of an air
return valve to that illustrated previously;
Figure 9 illustrates yet a different container lid
construction than shown before;
Figures 10A - 10F illustrate a method of vacuum seal-
ing material using plastic bags; and
Figures llA and llB show an appliance apparatus for
carrying out the plastic bag sealing of Figures 10A - 10F.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM~ODIMENTS
Referring initially to Figure 1, the construction of
a vacuum sealing apparatus suitable for carrying out the
techniques of the present invention will be described. The
apparatus of Figure 1 is designed especially as a home
appliance. A base 11 of the appliance includes an upper
platform 13 through which a small hole or passage 15 is
provided near an outside edge of the platorm 13, the platform
13 being circular when viewed from the top. A vacuum hose
17 provides an air passage between the hole 15 and an electri-
cally driven vacuum pump 19 that is positioned within the
Pg/ ~ - 4 -
1 ~ 661g5
base 11. Appropriate controls 21 are provided on the out-
side of the base 11 and may include/ for instance, an
electrical on/off switch/ a light to indicate when the
vacuum pump 19 has drawn the air pressure down as far as it
will go/ or a timer that may be set to operate the vacuum
pump for a predetermined time.
A cover 23, made of a very strong unbreakable
material and preferably transparent, îs cooperatively shaped
in size for sitting on the base 11 to form a vacuum chamber
25 therein. A material very suitable for this container is
polycarbonate plastic that satisfy these criteria. The`
container 23 is generally cylindrical in shape with its bottom
being open and a round knob 27 at its top which permlts it to
be lifted on and off of the base 11 by hand. The cover 23 is
sealed to the base 11 by a sealing gasket 29 that is held
within a groove 31 provided in a short vertical cylindrical
surface as part of the platform 13 but having a diameter less
than the inner diameter of the bottom opening of the cover 23.
The sealing ring 29 is of any suitable soft, rubber-like
material that will prevent air from passing into the chamber
25 when a vacuum is being drawn therein. The ring 29 is
preferably stretchable so that it may be removed from the
annular groove 31 for cleaning but the groove 31 normally
holds the ring 29 in place on the base 11.
The vacuum pump 19 and associated parts should be
capable, at a minimum, of reducing the air pressure within
the enclosed chamber 25 at least forty percent below the
ambient air pressure around the appliance. This is the
minimum "vacuum" required for food canning. Of course !
Pg/~
1 1 ~6~95
the lower the air pressure the better and something in
excess of a seventy percent reduction in air pressure
within the chamber 25 is possible with existing small
vacuum pumps of the type that can be ut;lized for the
pump 19. To enable long term storage of all types of
food, where it is necessary to inhibit bacteria growth,
an air pressure reduction in excess of 95% below the
ambient air pressure is desired.
In order to return the air pressure within the
chamber 25 from the reduced level to the ambient air
pressure, a hand-operated valve 33 including a resilient
rubber button 35 attached to an end of a rod 37 is positioned
within a vertical aperture 39 that extends through the handle
27.
5A -
6 19 5
1 A spring 41 is p~ovide~ wit~in t~e ~landle 27 ~nd ur~cs the
2 sealing button 3S up against thc underside of the top of
3 thc cover 23 to close off the l~assage 39. The spring 41
4 I pushes be.~ecn the knob 27 and a pushbutton 43 provided at
S an opoosite end of the rod 37. When the pushbutton 43 is
6 ¦ depressed the button 35 moves into the chamber 25 in a
7 manner illustrated in dotted outline in Figure 1. Air then
8 is allowed to enter the chamber 25 through holes 45 through
9 the walls of the passage 39. These holes the size of the
10 I air passage 39 and the distance of travel of the button 35
11 are made sufficient so that air can pass into the chamber
12 25 therethrough fast enough to return the air pressure therein
13 to the ambient air pressure in less than 2 seconds from the
i4 ¦ lowest air pressure that is possible to obtain with a
lS particular vacuum pum? 19. ~s explained hereinafter this
16 rapid build up of pressure within the chamber 25 is a
17 mechanism by which a container seal is effected.
18 An air passage to restore air prcssure within the
19 chamber 25 could alternatively ~e positioned in the base
11 but the valve placement and structure of Figure 1 have
21 certain advanta~es. By makin~ the valve 33 independent of
22 the air passage 15 which feeds to the vacuum pump 19 the
23 air passa~e 15 may be made smaller since it is thus not
24 used to move large amounts of air quickly back into the
chamber 25. The slower drawing of a vacuum in the chamber
26 25 by operating of the pump 19 does not cause such a large
27 I air flow since it may take 20 30 or even 40 seconds to
28 reduce the prcssure within the chamber 25 to a desired level.
29 The small passage 15 means that there is thus less ch~nce
of food or other materials spilled from containers within
31 the chamber 25 of falling into the passage 15 and cloyging
32 it. Also by havin~ the valve at the top of the cham~er 25
` - 6 -
., '.
.~_ . ., , .. _
~, " '
.
~ "~ '`` (~ i
66~95
` `i
the air ru~hing into the cl)amber ur(~cs a lid of the contàiner
2 to its desired se~ling position where, on ~he other hand, air
~3 rushing up fro~ the bottom of the chamber 25`tends to want to
4 blow a container lid held only by gravity off of the container.
A container base 47 is loaded with food or other
6 material 49 and covered wi~h a lid 51. At least ten and
7 preferably twenty percent or more of tlle volume within the
8 container 47 is unfilled in order to leave enough room for
9 la sufficient lid sealing vacuum to be drawn. Solid food
10 ~rlaterial may be placed near the top of the container 47
ll since, depending upon the particular food, there is likely
12 to be significant air between the solid particles. Liquid
13 or semi-liquid food, however, cannot be filled up to the
14 too of the container 47 but must leave enough.air space to
pro~ide a satisfactory vacuum seal by the seaiing technique
16 to be described hereina~ter.
17 ~h~ container 47 rests on the platform 13 that is
18 provided with a circular shape rubber mat 53 (Figure 3)
l9 tllat contains a olurality of slots 55 extending radially
from ~he outside towards the inside of the mat 53. The
21 grooves 55 provid~ an air path underneath the container 47
22 which can be important when, in the case of the container
23 ¦shown in Figure 1, there is an air passage provided by an
24 upward curving bottom surface of the container 47. If the
25 air passage slots 55 are not provided, a drawing of a
26 vacuum in a chamber 25 can adhere the container to the
27 mat 53 or other surface provided on the platform 13 when
28 the air pressure within the chamber 25 is rcturned to
29 ambient pressure. This may occur if air is not permittcd
30 to re-enter the soace under the container 47 when the air
31 pressure is returned in the chamber 25 to a~bient pressure.
32 The slots 55, however, allow such an air pressure return
_ 7 _
.
..,_,___
! ` i (
i 1166~95`
.,
1 and permits rec rer~oval of ~he containér 47 from the chamber
2 25 when the sealing opcration is concluded.
3 ~he container lid 51 of Figure 1 is particularly
4 designed, accordins to one àspect of the present invention,
5 to make vacuum sealina possible without any mechanical
6 valve manipulation, connection of vacuum hoses or the
movement of the lid 51 in order to effect a seal. The
8 lid 51 includcs as a principal element a solid piece 57,
9 preferably made of polycarbonate plastic. The piece 57
is ciroular in plan view and contains a downwardly
11 dependina circular portion having a diameter that is
12 lcss than the diameter o~ the opening of the container
13 47 for which the lid 51 is designed to mate. Within the
14 depending cylindrical portion is provided an annular groove
59 which serves to hold a sealing rina 60. Sealing ring
16 60 is made of flexible rubber-like material and is
17 preferably slightly sticky on its outside surfaces.
18 The ring 60 can be removed from the lid 51 for cleaning
19 if it is stretchable to be removed from the annular groove
59.
21 An aperture 61 is provided from the bottom side
22 of the lid through the main portion 57 and out of a side
23 wall in which a plug 63 is frictionally held. The plug 63
24 has a narrow passase 65 through its entire length and its
?5 outer most segment includes a length of thin walled tubing
26 67 made of a flexible rubber-li~e sealing material that
27 itself is also preferably somewhat stic~y on at least its
28 inside surface along the passage 65.
29 The plug 63 serves as a one-way valve which operates
in a unique manner. When the air pressure within the
31 chamber 25 is being reduced below ambient pressure, air
32 will be drawn from the inside 49 of the container 47
- 8 -
..
.,, _._.
: `` ` 116~195 ` I
` '~
1 throu~h t~le passages 61 and 65 and into the chamber 25 area
2 for cvacuation th~ough the vacuum pump 19. Some air will
3 also be withdr3wn around the` seal 60 and the top of the
4 container 47 since the lid Sl is merely sitting on top
of the container 47 without any force applied between them
6 j or any mechanical connection. Thcse air flows are indicated
7 I by solid arrows in Figure l. Once the pressure within the
8 chamber 25 has been reduced to a desired level, usually as
9 much as the vacuum pump l9 is able, then the ope-^ator of
the appliance rapidly pushes the knob 43 of the valve 33
11 down\~ard in order to o~en up the ~assages for air to
12 return into the vacuum chamber 25. These air flo~is are
13 shown by the dotted arrows in Figure l within the chamber
14 25. If the air pressure in the chamber 25 is returned
to ambient air pressure fast enough, preferably in less
16 than 2 seconds, the tube 67 of the plug 63 will collapse
17 and seal the container before any substantial amounts of
1~ air are allowed into the container through the ~assaye
19 61. Figure 2A sho~s the plug 63 in its starting shape
and ~igure 2B shows the plug with its tube 67 collapsed
21 in accordance with the container sealing procedure just
22 outlined. Slight amounts of air will tend to pass back
23 into the container 49 through the small passages left at
24 the junction of the seal 60 and the top of the contaner .
47 but this oPerates in a similar ~anner; that is, the
26 passages are not large enough to carry air to the intèrior
27 1 of the container 49 fast enough to cquali~e the pressure
28 so that an instantaneous pressure differential recults
29 between the inside of the container 49 and the remaining
space within the vacuum chamber 25. This pressure differential
3 causes the lid 51 to be pushed tightly against the container
32 1 47 ~nd th~ 1 6 closes off any air p=ssqes that might
...,. ___
,
~ 9 5
,,
1 have exi~ted~ To open the con~ainer again, tlle plug 63 is
2 removed by hand. Air then rushes in through the passage 61
3 to cquali~e the pressure within and without the container 47.
4 The lid 51 is then easily removed.
Other specific forms of a one-way valve used according
6 to the present invention are shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6.
7 In each case, the sealing technique is the same; that is
8 the evacuation of the chamber 25 to reduce the air pressure
9 ¦ by at least forty percent and then the air pressure is allowed
to suddenly return to the ambient prcssure fast enough
11 to exclusively cause the seal to close off passages into the
12 Icontainer, a time period that is usually less than 2 seconds.
13 Small air passage(s) through or around the flexible rubber-like
14 seal(s) described permit air to be slowly withdrawn from inside
the container as the air pressure in a space surrounding the
16 container is reduced but are not sufficient to allow enough
17 air to pass back into the container as the surrounding air
18 pressure is rapidly increased, thereby to create a pressure
19 differential that compresses the seal and closes off the
passage(s). The lid in each case is not mechanically
21 attached to the bottom container but rather is held thereon
22 only by its own weight before sealing and by the differential
23 air pressure inside and outside the container after sealing.
24 The embodiments of Yigures 1 and 4 could have their lids
previously sealed, if desired or some reason, because an
26 additional one-way valve exists which could operate alone
27 in the manner described to seal the container; but it is
28 simpler to use the ~ids as shown and described herein. In
29 each of the Figures 4, 5 and 6, corresponding but di~ferent
elements of the containers among themselves or to those of
31 the Figure 1 container are given the same reference characters
32 but with a prime (') added.
' - 10 -
. ~ ,.
_
1 166195
1 Referring to Fit3ure 4, the lid ~olid L~iece 57` has
2 a vertical hole 69 therein. During the vacuum sealing
3 operation, a piece of flexible rubber-like sealing material
4 71 that is somewhat sticky on at least its bottom side is
S lai,d on the top of the lid. The sticXiness on the bottom
6 side of the seal 71 prevents it from movins around on the
7 I lid due to any vibration that is created in the apvliance as
8 ~ the motor driven vacuum pump is operated. The seal 71 is
9 I mllch larger is diameter than the diameter of the hQle 69
and is made thick enough so ~hat it is not drawn down into
11 Ihe hole 69 w`nen the container is sealed. As a vacuum
12 is drawn in the chamber 25 during the sealing opcration, air
13 escapes from the container through the hole 69 and around
14 the top of the container 47 at the seal 59'. ~hen the air
pressure is suddenly allowed to return to the ambient air
16 pressure, this seal 71 is pushed firmly down against the
17 top of the lid in accordance ~ith the air pressure differential
18 mechanism that has been described before. ~hen the container
19 is to be opened, the sealing material 71 is stripped of r
the top of the lid to allow air to enter the container through
21 the passage 69. That then releases a physical seal at the
22 seal 59' and the lid is then easily lifted off. The
23 ¦ embodi~lent of Fiyure 1 has an advantase that the containers
24 may be stac~ed one on top of another while the embodiment
o Figure 4 suffers from the disadvantage of interferring
26 ~ith such stacking. ~lso, the open pa~sage 65 in the plug
27 63 allows air to be drawn out of the container aster in
28 the embodiment of Figure 1 than in the embodiment of
2 Figure 4 wherein the air passages for this purpose are much
333l smaller.
.. ~
. . .
` ~ 1366195
1 Rererring to Figure 5, the lid 51 is the same as
2 ! that described with respect to Figure 1 except that a solid
3 plug 63' has been substituted for the plug 63 of Figure 1.
4 I This lid structure can rcsult in more time ~eing taken to
evacuate the interior of the container since the only air
6 j passages for that purpose are around the top of the container
7 i 47 l~hen the container is to be opened, the plug 63` is
8 removed by hand and air enters through the passage 61 to
9 release the lid 51.
Referring to Figure 6, a standard canning lid is
11 shown sitting on a container 73. The lid inc~udes a thin
12 metal circular piece 75 having a soft rubber-like plastic
13 sealing ring 77 attached to its underside. As in the
14 Figure 5 case, air escapes around the top of the container
73 under the seal 77 when the space around the container
16 is evacuated. I~hen the air pressure suddenly increases
17 from an evacuated state, the seal 77 i5 pushed ,ightly
18 I aaainst the top of the container 73 as in other embodiment
19 2escribed previously.
20 ~ Several specific embodiments have thus been described
21 cf a container and a sealing technique that is convenient
22 ¦ and economical as an alternative to home c~nning techniques
23 presently being used. Containers can even be opelled and
24 reclosed according to thcse techniques a number of times.
This extcnds t:he storase life of foods and other peris`nable
26 products. The lids and containers can be re-used a number
27 ¦ of times.
28 Referring to Fiaures 7A and 7B, the use of the
2 vacuum scaling apparatus of Figure 1 is illustrated for
3 unsealing a jar 79 with a scre~-type lid 81 having a
3 scaling ring on the inside thereof. This containcr will
32 be recognized as a popular type of food sold in grocery stores.
I'
- 12 -
, ~
" 1166195
1 The lids are o~ten hard to remove because the containars
2 have been vacuumed sealed. But that vacuum seal is broXen l:
3 if the space surrounding the container 79 is ~evacuated to
4 a pressure in the vicinity of or lower than the pressure
S within the container 79. Once such evacuation has taken
olace, the air pressure in the space surrounding the container
is permitted to slowly increase by just slightly de~ressing
8 Ithe knob 43 to allow air to re-enter the vacuum chamber 25
9 ¦and raise its pressure back to ambient pressure. It hàs
10 ¦been found that this rise in pressure should be accomplished
11 in no less than 7 seconds in order to prevent the container
12 from resealing. Once back to ambient pressure, the container
13 79 is removed and the lid 81 is unscrewed from it. Of course,
14¦ the same tecnnique of evacuation and then slowly allowing
the air pressure to return to the ambient pressure can be
16 used for unsealing any of the other containers illustrated -?
17 and discussed hereinabove.
18
19
221 '
2223 . . .
, 241 .
2267 .~
28
29
.
31
32
. ' .
- 13 -
... . ___ . __
1 166195
Referring to Fisure 8, an air return valve structu.e
is illustrated ~hat is different than the valve structure 33
shown in the previous fisures. The same reference ch2racters
are used in Fisure 8 to identi'y correspondins parts ?reviously t
illustrated but with a prime (') added .hereto to dis._nguish
them. The principal change is in a lower valve seat 35' of the
valvc structure 33'. The spring loaded valve seat is shown in
Figure 8 as being depressed by hand force in order to provide
openinss through which air rushes into the evacuated cr.amber 25'.
10 The shape of the valve seat 35' is conical ~ith a matching sur.ace
~ 40 so that a normal rest position causes the t~o conical sur'aces
to exactly mate and prevent air from normally entering the
char~er 25'. An angle of the conical surfaces 35' and 40 that is
made with a vertical line is preferably less than 40, in one
embodiment about 30, in order to direct the incoming rush of air
down against a top of a container that is positioned ~ithin the
chamber 25'. An advantage to the shape of Figure 8 is that this
rush of air is directed in a manner to quickly press thc lid against
,
-14-
.
: . ;
1 1 66195
.
the top of the containcr and form a scal thèrcaround bcforc thc 1`
air pressure within the container is allowed to increase
significantly.
Referring to Figurc 9, anothcr lid structure is illus-
trated in cross section for use on the container 4i. A circular
piece of plastic 85, shown in cross section in Figure 9, forms
the main portion of the lid structure. In a~ annular groove
provided in its bottom surface is permanently glued a silicon
rubber sealing ring 87 for contactins and sealing aaain the ~op 1~
wall edge o' the container 47. During evacuation of the chamber
in whicll the container 47 is placed, air is withdrawn from the
container around the seal 87 as the lid loosely fits on top o'
the container. As previously described, the seal &7 is compressed
as the air pressure is rapidly increased in the region above the
lid, therebv to preserve the contents of the container 47.
On the top surface of the lid plastic piecc 85 is a boss
89 that is circular in cross section and provided with threads on
its outside cylindrical surface. ~ cap 91 contains mating threads
on its inside cylindrical surface to permit loosening and
i_ .
tightening of the cap 91 by an appropria,e rotation.
A vertical aperture 93 is provided all the way throush
thc top lid portion 85 and the boss 89 in a manner that would
permit air to move therethrough if the cap 91 is not in place.
The cap seals off the passage 91 from the surroundings, however,
through its contact with a pointed annular ring 9S e~tending
~pward on top of the boss 89. In order to rclicvc tlle pressurc
1 ~6fi~95
within the container when it is desired to remove the lid,
one or more vertical slots 97 axe provided in the outside
suxface of the boss 89 into its grooves~ With one or more
slots 97, a slight loosening of the cap 91 ~ill break the
seal from the underside of the cap and the pointed annular
ring 95, thereby allowing air to enter under the cap 91,
through the slot 97 and down into the container through the
passage 93. The cap and boss structure of Figure 9 has an
advantage as a controllable sealing mechanism of provi~ding
a very good seal for a long period of time until it is
desired to open the contaîner. The pointed annular sealing
ring 95 is most conveniently formed as a unitary structure
with the lid 85 by injection molding the entire piece at
once.
Figure 10, in its six views, illustrates a sequential
method of vacuum sealing food or other material within flexible
plastic bags using an appliance of the type previously illus-
trated with respect to Figure 1. A flexible plastic bag 101
is illustrated in Figure 10A. The bag lQl is made of a heavy
material that can withstand the forces created by large pressure
differential between the inside and the outside of the bag.
Three sides of the bag are closed but a fourth side 103
remains open. One face of the bag is conveniently marked
.
with lines 105, 107 and 109 positioned as shown in Figure 10A,
the purpose of these markings being explained later. A hole
111 is provided in that same surface of the bag 101 and is
used in the vacuum sealing process. Alternatively to pro-
viding the hole 111, a marking may be applied and the user of
r - 16 -
~ ~ 6619~
the bag may make the hole at the mark.
The remainin~ illustrations of ~igure 10 show how
the bag 101 is used to vacuum seal material~ Food or other
material 113 is placed in the bag through its open end 103
and the opened end is then sealed by application of heat
and pressure along the line 105 to form a weld llS, as
shown in Figure lOB.
The next step is to attach a one-way air valve
structure 117 to the bag 101, as~ shQwn in Figure lOC~
Valve 117 includes a bottom structural plate 119 having a
rigid box-like structure 121 attached. An opening 123 is
provided for a valve beam 125 having a valve member 127
attached at one end and a spring 129 in compression between
its other end and the bottom plate 119. An adhesive layer
131 is carried by an underside of the bottom plate 119. The
adhesive layer 131 can be a double adhesive tape or other
material adapted for many uses or designed for a single
adhering use to be replaced when the valve 117 is used again.
A hole 133 is provided through both the plate 119 and adhesive
layer 131 and is aligned with the hole 111 of the bag 101
when the valve 117 is used. The valve member 127 is
positioned to close off the opening 133 in its rest position
as urged by the spring 129.
pg/J)~ - 17 -
I 1 ~6195
The case 121 includes a plurality of apertures
135 to make sure that the air pressure within and without
the case 121 is substantially equal as the valve 117 is
used to seal the bag 101. Within this compartment is an
air-filled balloon member 137. Its relatiye size as shown
in ~igure lOC is with the valve 117 outside the vacuum
chamber and thus under normal atmospheric pressure. Enough
air is placed in the balloon 137 for it to function by
expansion during the sealing operation, as explained here-
inafterj but not so much air that it would interfere with
the normal closed valve 127 as biased by the spring 129.
The balloon element 137 need not be attached to any of the
other structure of the valve 117, but could be if preferred,
so long as the case 121 holds it in position over the beam
125 for use in sealing.
After the valve 117 is adhered to a surface of the
bag 101 as shown in Figure lOC, the entire structure is
placed within the vacuum chamber 25 of the appliance illus-
trated in Figure 1. The air pressure within the chamber 25
is reduced, as described previously. As this happens, the
balloon 137 with its captured volume of air expands to fill
up the inside of the case 121 of the valve 117, as shown
in Figure lOD. The force of the air pressure within the
balloon 137 pushes down on the beam 125 and overcomes the
force of the spring 129, thereby to open the valve 127 to
allow air to be withdrawn from within the bag 101. Since
the bag 101 is flexible, withdrawal of most of the air causes
the bag to shrink around the-material 113 within it.
pg/~ 18 -
.
l l 66195
After the air has been so removed by drawing
the maximum vacu~l within the chamber 25~ the button 43
at the top of the appliance of Figure 1 is pushed in a
manner described previously to allow the air pressure
within th.e chamber 25 to return rapidly to an am~ient
pressure. As the pressure within the chamber 25 increases,
the size of the balloon element 137 decreases, as shown
in Figure 10E. The result is that the spring 129 causes
the valve 127 to close again to seal the ~ag 101. When
the pressure within the chamber 25 has returned to the
initial atmospheric pressure, the balloon 137 returns to
the size initially illustrated in Figure 10C.
Once the pressure within th.e ch.amber 25 is so
returned to that of its surroundings, the bag 101 and the
valve 117 attached thereto are removed from the chamber 25.
Another heat sealing operation is then performed along the
line 109 (Figure 10A) and is marked for that purpose on a
surface of the bag. Once sealed in this manner, the valve
117 can be removed by breaking the adh.esive attachment to
the bag 101. The excess bag material may then optionally
be removed by cutting along the line 107, resulting in a
vacuum sealed bag 101 which preserves the material 113
therein. Removal of the material 113 is accomplished by
tearing into the bag 101 and the bag is thereafter discarded.
Pg/1' - lg -
l l 66195
Referring to Figures llA and llB! a modification
of the appliance of Figure 1 is illustrated wherein the base
structure 11 is modified to include the plastic bag sealing,
cutting and punching tools that are used in the process just
described with respect to Figure lQ. These tools are conVen-
iently provided for use adjacent the vacuum sealing appl~ance
but yet in a manner that they can be pushed into the base
portion 11, out of the way, when not in use.
Referring to Figures llA and llB, a door 141 is
hinged at its bottom and shaped to form a continuous smooth
surface in the base portion 11 when closed. When the door
141 is opened, a button 143 provided on the underside Qf the
base 11 causes, when pushed by a user, a spring-loaded rack
structure 145 to move out from the base 11 into the p4sition
shown in Figures llA and llB for use. Attached to the rack
145 are two wheels 147 and 149 in a manner th.at they can freely
rotate when motion is applied. The wheels are held in a journal
relationship to the rack 145 in a manner to leave a small gap
151 therebetween through which the bag 101 of Fi.gure lQ may
~e drawn across its width along one of the lines 105 and 109
to effect a desired heat sealing of the plastic bag materi.al.
The heat is applied by an electrical element within the wheel
149 (not s~own) to which electrical power is provided by a
pair of brushes 153 and 155.
pg/~ 20 -
1 1 66~95
Attaclled to the top of the rack 1~5 is a plastic
hole punch 157 that is carried by a leaf spring 159. If the
bags 101 of Figure lOA are provided the user ~ithout the hole
111 but rather with a mark showing where the hole is to be
placed, the punch 157 may be manually operated by the user
to form the hole 111 as an initial step in use of a bag.
Similarly, a knife 161 is provided on the top of
the rack 45, having two stationary sharp edges 163 and 165,
The bag 101 may be cut across its marked line 107 by the
knife 161 in practicing the method of Figure 10. The knife
161 is rotatably carried by the rack 145 through a journalled
connection 167. This permits the user to position the knife
in the most convenient position for use.
When a sealing operation is completed, the rack 145
is manually pushed back into the base structure 11 against a
spring that tends to urge the rack 145 to its extended
position shown in Figure 11. A latch (not shown) holds it in
place until the button 143 is again pushed by the user to
release the latch. The door 141 is also closed to restore
the ~ase to the original condition.
It will be understood that although the Yarious
aspects of the present invention have been described with
respect to its specific preferred embodiments, the invention
is entitled to protection within the full scope of the
appended claims.
- 21 -
