Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bidirectional or two-way gas
flow control device for packaging any product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, various vacuum processes have been used for
conservation purposes of many food and non-food products, or simply
to reduce the volume of packaging for storage of bulky materials
during palettization, handling, storage and transport.
Moreover, a combination of a vacuum and a gas reinjection process
has also been used for conservation purposes. In this process, the
air is withdrawn completely or partially from the container
enclosing the product, then, an inert or any other active
conservation atmosphere is reinjected into the container. These
gases have many properties, such as protecting and controlling the
content's integrity and increasing its shelflife. Conventional
vacuum packaging for food and other products have heretofore
utilized a flexible container formed of plastics material. These
containers are provided with a closure device which is affixed to
the wall of same.
For example of such a closure adapted to a rigid container, please
refer to US patent no. 3,854,618 (Beghnini).
One drawback of the existing closure devices used for flexible
containers is that same tend to penetrate into the products to be
packed when the vacuum is accomplished since the portion of the
closure device provided with the gas flow openings protudes and is
not properly positioned. Moreover, due to the high pressure
existing in those processes, the product tends to clog the openings
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in the said protuded part of the closure device, thus rendering
same inoperable. Finally, the existing closure devices tend to
damage and deteriorate the product enclosed into the container due
to the protuding shape of same and the high pressure created by the
vacuum process.
The present invention to be hereinafter described provides an
efficient product packaging bidirectional gas control device which
will overcome the above described drawbacks.
OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a two-way or
bidirectional air and gas flow control device and a method of
product packaging for a container in which the surface of the
control device coming in contact with the product to be packed is
substantially plane and large.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a two-way or
bidirectional gas flow control device and a method for product
packaging capable of sustaining substantially high differential
pressure.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a two-
way or bidirectional gas flow control device and a method for
product packaging ensuring satisfactory sealing.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a two-
way or bidirectional gas flow control device and a method forproduct packaging having locking means so as to prevent inadvertent
openings once the air is withdrawn from the container and/or the
gas is reinjected into the container.
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still another object of the present invention is to provide a two-
way or bidirectional gas flow control device and a method for
product packaging which can be used for any air-contact perishable
products and materials.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a two-
way or bidirectional gas flow control device and a method for
product packaging which comprises a control device capable of being
secured to any flexible or rigid container.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a two-way or
bidirectional gas flow control device and a method for product
packaging which will be secured to any rigid container.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a two-way or
bidirectional gas flow control device which can be used as a one-
way or monodirectional gas flow control device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a two-way or
bidirectional gas flow control device and a method for product
packaging of the general type specified previously in which the
closure element allows a snap-closing without the use of excessive
force.
These and other objects of this invention will be generally
obtained by means of a two-way or bidirectional gas flow control
device for product packaging for the purpose of closing a container
from which air or gas is to be evacuated, said device comprising:
- a first member having a main portion adapted to be affixed to the
wall of the container, said main portion having a downwardly
extending section being provided with a plurality of peripherical
opening means therethrough, said openings extending generally
downwardly and outwardly of said section, said section being
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provided with a substantially flat bottom surface which is to be
supported by the product packed into said container;
- a second member for engaging and closing said downwardly
extending section; said second member being of complimentary
shape with said first member;
- gripping means secured to said second member;
wherein said downwardly extending section further comprises
peripherical filter element holding means.
These and other objects of this invention will also be generally
obtained by means of a method to protect, conserve and preserve a
product to be packaged into a container of the type provided with
a two-way or bidirectional gas flow control device comprising:
- a first member having a main portion adapted to be affixed to the
wall of the container, said main portion having a downwardly
extending section being provided with a plurality of peripherical
opening means therethrough, said openings extending generally
downwardly and outwardly of said section, said section being
provided with a substantially flat bottom surface which is to be
supported by the product packed into said container;
- a second member for engaging and closing said downwardly
extending section; said second member being of complimentary
shape with said first member;
- gripping means secured to said second member;
~ wherein said downwardly extending section further comprises
peripherical filter element holding means; said method of
protection, conservation or preservation comprising the following
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steps:
- securing said control device to the wall of the container;
- exercing a negative pressure on said first element of said
closure device and keeping said second element away from the
first element;
- closing of said control device by means of said second element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a two-way or bidirectional gas
flow control device for product packaging in flexible or rigid
containers. The device, according to the present invention,
comprises basically two elements, a first element to be affixed to
the wall of the container and a second element which will
hermetically close the control device by engagement with the first
element. The first element can be sealed by ultra-sound, ultra-
violet rays, heat, propulsion, etc..., to the walls of the
container or otherwise secured to same. The first element is
provided with a plurality of openings disposed on the periphery of
same to permit withdrawal of the air from the container. A filter
element can be placed into said first element to avoid suction of
food, liquids or light-weight products into the air withdrawal
device (not part of the invention). When used as a two-way or
bidirectional flow control device, same allows the withdrawal of
the air present into the container, then, it is possible to
reinject a protection atmosphere so as to protect, preserve or
conserve the product's integrity and/or to increase its shelflife.
When the control device is used as a one-way or monodirectional,
the air is removed from the container and the second element closes
the first element so as to keep the vacuum inside the container.
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This control device is used for conservation purposes or for
reduction of volume during storage.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be
apparent from the written description and drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment in accordance with
the present invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the control dPvice of Figure 1 in
the closed position.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a filter element for the control
device of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a bottom view of the control device of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment in accordance with
the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With respect to ~igure 1, there i5 shown the two-way or
bidirectional qas flow control device 5 for product packaging in
accordance with the present invention.
The control device 5 comprises a first member 10 and a second
member 15, said first member 10 has a main portion 25 adapted to
be affixed to the wall of a container 20. In the present
embodiment, said container 20 being a flexible wall container.
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However, it is to be understood that the control device can be
secured to a rigid container. The main portion 25 comprises a
downwardly extending annular section 30 having a substantially flat
bottom surface 35.
The annular section 30 comprises at least one lip 40 designed to
increase the sealing between the first element 10 and the second
element 15 to be described hereinafter. The flat bottom surface
35 of the annular section 30 is used as a force repartition surface
when the vacuum is created into the container 20. Thus, when the
vacuum is created inside the container 20, the surface 35 will rest
on the product (not shown) without tending to penetrate into and
damaging same. However, during flush back process, the product
will obviously not touch or be in contact with the flat bottom
surface.
The control device 5 comprises elements which are injection moulded
from a substantially rigid transparent plastics material such as
polyethylene or nylon, but it could be of polypropylene or other
thermoplastic materials.
The second member 15 comprises a first cylindrical portion 45
connected conically to a first frusto-conical portion 50 connected
itself to a second frusto-conical portion 55. The second member
ends with a domed base 60 as shown in figure 1.
The second member 15 is hingedly secured to the first member 10 by
means of a tongue 65. When the second member 15 closes or engages
the first member 10, tongue 65 is received in a recess made (not
shown) into the main portion 25 and a gripping tab 70 connected to
the second element 15 and diametrically opposite to tongue 65 is
also provided. A second recess (not shown) is provided into main
portion 25 to receive said gripping tab 70.
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The gripping tab 70 is provided with locking means 75 to engage
with recesses 80 made into main portion 25 so as to avoid unwanted
openings of the second element 15 with respect to first element 10
and therefore the control device 5 when the latter is closed.
To increase the locking effect of the first element lO, more
locking means (not shown) can be added on the periphery of the
second element 15. To increase the sealing between the first 10
and the second element 15, it is possible to provide the top
portion of said second element 15 with a connecting step (not
shown) which will extend on the entire periphery of same. This
connecting step 15A will constitute a bearing surface of the second
element with respect to the first element 10 and can be heat-sealed
or otherwise secured to the first element for permanent sealing.
The first element is stiffened at the sides by thin longitudinal
ribs (not shown) which extend diametrically from the center of the
main portion. The first or the second element can also be equipped
with any from of extension or other device which would permit
electronic or other censing device to search and find the proper
position of the bidirectional gas flow control device onto the
container moving on a line of production.
According to a preferred embodiment, the annular section 30 further
comprises a peripherical filter element holding means. Said
holding means includes a downwardly extending wall 90 to support
and firmly hold the filter element shown in figure 1. The
downwardly extending wall 90 comprises a plurality of openings 95
therethrough to allow air withdrawal and gas flush back through the
control device 5. The position of the withdrawal openings 95 on
both sides of wall 90 will permit easy withdrawal of air from
container 20 even though the area lO0 is clogged by the product
inside the container 20.
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The wall is provided with inwardly extending tongues 85 (best shown
in figure 4) to further secure the filtering element 105. An
embodiment of the filtering element 110 is shown in figure 1.
Filtering elements being well-known in the art, same will not be
described in detail.
Having described the two-way or bidirectional gas flow control
device in accordance with the present invention, the method to use
same will now be described.
When used with a flexible container, such as container 20, the
control device 5 is first heat-sealed or otherwise affixed to the
wall of same, then the product, indifferently food and non-food
product or domestic and industrial material, is put into the
container by the opened end which is then sealed. The air is
withdrawn from the container by means of a vacuum pump (not shown)
which is connected to the control device 5 by the top portion of
the first element 10. When the air has been completely or
partially removed from the container 20, the second element is then
released and automatically seals the first element and the pressure
is kept inside the container. During the vacuum process, it goes
without saying that the second element 15 is kept away from the
first element 10, in order to permit easy withdrawal of air.
However, it is to be understood that any other device can be used
to retain the second member away from the first member during
vacuuming.
To increase the sealing effect between the above described elements
10 and 15, it is possible to add further lips such as lip 40 into
the main portion of the closure device 5.
However, when re-injection of gas is necessary or desirable into
the container 20 once the vacuum has been accomplished in the
latter, the second element 15 is kept away from the first element
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10 and then the desirable gas is re-injected into the container 20.
The selection of gas depends on the product packaged, the storage
temperature, the required shelflife, etc. This gas or gas mixture
will help prevent biological degradation, bacteria, germination,
oxidation and/or water losses of the product packaged and preserves
flavors, colors, aroma, texture of the product.
Although various forms of the invention have been described in same
detail, it is to be realized that the invention is not to be
limited thereto, but is to include various modifications falling
within the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, by
"bidirectional gas flow control device", the applicant includes
also two-way gas flow control device.
