Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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''~TTL~ : C~~TirrIN~R ASSEI~RIrY ~IAYZ~ifx ~ G~S~'~R ~~P FROV~I~F~I7
KITH A. ~'M~T~- PB~~-P 3~~R F~1~E?~ ~
~or~TAZr~~R
~~rr..n of T~~ z~r~zor~
°~°h~s iwut~ntian ~eiate~ ~.~ a c~ntairie~ assembly.
more part~iculaxl~ t.o a coata.ine~° asseml~~.y having a
container and a ~cwe~ cap provided with a putn~r mercrber
to pump out a~.x ~rom the ~antairie=.
a~.cR~RO~ og THE s~~~o~T
1~ P. corwentiQnal -Erac~t~rt Gr~atai~.er a~~~~ccbl~r ge~:eral7,Y
includes a. can,te~in.~r that defiraes a s~.orixa~ apace
therein and that bas a t~ap~ c~p~-n ewd ~or ac-oeas .~xzt~
the ~.to~in~ space and a t~xp ogsr~~.rzg ~efiraet~ by the top
ogen nnci. .~ cover cap i.s mot~r~tecc tin the top open ex~.d
IS o~ the container so as to clase the. t.og apenin.g. A
eepara,te gump c~~mbe;~ i~ ~s.ed- ts~- dray gut th-a a3x ~ro
tie ~~or3n~ space in order tc~ p~es~r-u a the foodstazf ~
str~r~d in ~a ~~-ntai.n~~'.
zxt tht-~ oonveritional vacuu.~ corztainer assembly,
20 si.rtve the pump edember is rtc~rmall~r stored ~epa~-ate~,~r
~rk~.e~, nat ~.n use, it te~xe~s t~ t~ri~~rlac~e~ after ~xs~ _
t~o~eo~uer ~ the oonvent~.o~al ~rae~,~,m cc~xztain~~ assembly
req~eires both hands of the user to pump out the a~.r
frQrn the ec~ntazner_
2~ SITMMARY O~' fiFI~ 7CI~81~TI~~3
The Fnai,n, obj act o.~ this ~.nver~tior~ is to prc~trar~e ~,
container assemY~ly which has a contaa.ner and- a coue-r
CA 02440971 2006-04-10
2
cap provided with a pump member to pump out air from the
container and which can avoid the aforesaid drawbacks
encountered during use of the conventional container
assembly.
In accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a container assembly which includes a hollow
container, a cover cap, a pump member, an urging member, a
first check valve, a second check valve, and an air-inlet
valve.
to The container defines a storing space, and has a top open
end and a top opening defined by the top open end for access
into the storing space. The cover cap is mounted detachably
and sealingly on the top open end of the hollow container so
as to cover the top opening. The cover cap has a pump-
mounting wall portion of a U-shaped cross section that
defines a pump-receiving chamber, an inlet formed in the
pump-mounting wall portion and in fluid communication with
the pump-receiving chamber and the storing space, and a
valve-mounting wall portion that extends outwardly from the
2o pump-mounting wall portion and that is formed with an opening
which is in fluid communication with the storing space and
the atmosphere.
The pump member is disposed movably and sealingly in the
pump-receiving chamber, and is movable toward and away from
the inlet so as to vary pressure in the pump-receiving
chamber by virtue of change in volume of the pump-receiving
chamber. Further, the pump member has an outlet in fluid
communication with the pump-receiving chamber and the
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3
atmosphere. The urging member urges the pump member away
from the inlet.
The first check valve is mounted on the cover cap for
closing the inlet of the pump receiving chamber. The inlet is
capable of being opened when pressure in the storing space is
greater than that in the pump-receiving chamber, thereby
permitting fluid flow from the storing space into the pump-
receiving chamber. The inlet is capable of being closed by
the first check valve when the pressure in the pump-receiving
to chamber is greater than that in the storing space upon
movement of the pump member toward the inlet against urging
action of the urging member.
The second check valve is mounted on the pump member for
closing the outlet of the pump-receiving chamber. The outlet
t5 is capable of being opened when the pressure in the pump
receiving chamber is greater than the atmosphere upon
movement of the pump member toward the inlet against the
urging action of the urging member, thereby permitting fluid
flow from the pump-receiving chamber into the atmosphere.
2o The outlet is capable of being closed by the second check
valve and the inlet is capable of being opened when the
pressure in the pump-receiving chamber is less than the
atmospheric pressure and the pressure in the storing space
upon movement of the pump member away from the inlet by
25 virtue of the urging action of the urging member.
The air-inlet valve is mounted on the valve-mounting wall
portion for closing the opening in the cover cap. The air-
inlet valve is capable of being manually operated to uncover
the opening in the cover cap when desired.
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3A
In addition, the cover cap has a peripheral wall portion
surrounding the valve-mounting wall portion and is formed
with a downwardly facing seal-receiving groove therein, the
container assembly further comprising a seal member that is
fitted in the seal-receiving groove and that abuts against
the top open end of the container so as to establish a
hermetically sealing effect between the cover cap and. the
top open end of the container.
Further, the pump-mounting wall portion has a bottom
to confining a bottom side of the pump-receiving chamber, the
inlet being formed in the bottom of the pump-mounting wall
portion, the cover cap further including an annular wall
which is disposed in the pump-receiving chamber, which
extends upwardly from the bottom of the pump-mounting wall
portion, and which is formed with a plurality of angularly
spaced apart limiting slots therein and a plurality of
engaging faces that confine top sides of the limiting slots,
the pump member having a top wall opposite to the bottom of
the pump-mounting wall portion and confining a top side of
2o the pump-receiving chamber, and a plurality of angularly
spaced apart engaging tongues extending downwardly from the
top wall into the limiting slots and engaging the engaging
faces, respectively, when the pump member moves upwardly away
from the inlet so as to restrict range of movement of the
pump member in the pump-receiving chamber and so as to
prevent removal of the pump member from the pump-receiving
chamber.
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4
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TFIE DRAWINGS
These and other features and advantages of this
invention will become apparent in the following
detailed description of the preferred embodiment of
this invention, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded view of a preferred
embodiment of a container assembly according to the
present invention;
1o Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of the
preferred embodiment in a normal state;
Figure 3, illustrates how a pump member extends
into a pump-receiving chamber of the preferred
embodiment when an external force is applied thereto
so as to expel air in the pump-receiving chamber into
the atmosphere;
Figure 4 illustrates how the pump member withdraws
outwardly from the pump-receiving chamber of the
preferred embodiment upon release of the applied
external force so as to draw air from a container
into the pump-receiving chamber;
Figure 5 illustrates the preferred embodiment in
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vacuum state;
Figure 6 iilustrat~~ ho~~ the preferred emhadime~c
retuxras ~c~ ~h~ formal ~~~~e upon ;~.~~,ua~io~~ c~~ an
air-inlet vaI°t~e ~t~ur~~~d th.er~G~xaa
Figuz'e '~ shovas an ~~plo~~d view of a ~~~tifi~d
assemble ~f a c~ve~- cep end a pump m~mb~~° fog ~.~~ in
the p~~ f erred en~bodi~te~t s~C~~~1 ~.~ ~'igur~ ~ ; arid
Fic~ur~ 8 is a s~~ti~ri:a~ visa ~-i tY~~ assembiy~ ~: t~r~
cn~-er cap and t.ha pump ~~;~b~r f car use ~.rt the pry f ~rren
1a embodiment s~v~~ ~.z~ Rign~~- ~ a
D~T~,I~'~D n~~~~I3~'~'z~ar~ ~~ TFiE ~~E~~~~t,~F~ F~E~ODTMENT
D~fQr~ Gh~ present i.~ventzara, i~ d~~~x~:~~r~~ in
c~~e.~ta~r d.etaa~l ~~w~b, ~~f~ren~e 'qty the ft531o~irzc~
preferred errbodirnents, a4 sh~uid be noted that s~.me
~5 r~ieren~e numexals h~.v~ ~~er~ used tc~ ~~~ate ~~:m.~ia~
elements thxougho~t the spe~~.fi~ati~n.
Referring ~~ ~~g~~°e~ 1 a~~ 2, tie ,~ref~x~r~
~mhs~dim~nt ~f a ~~~~ai~er a~~e~'~~~ according '~o
preset ~nv~nticaza i~ s~.~w~, t~ ine~.~~l~ a h.alla~r
2~ c~x~f.a:ir~er ~, a cover cap 3, a ~unctg ~rt~~h~-r ~, ate ur-g~:~a~
memher 4~P a first oheo~ v~.Ive ~.1, a secvz~d ck~.ecl~ ~alv~
a3, arid ~r~ aa~°-if2~et :rai~s~
~s illustrat~c~, th,~ ~~rr_~a~.rzar ~ d~f ~.~zas a storing
space 23 , and has ~. bottc~rn wali ? 1, a~2t~ ~ g~riphwral
25 ~ wa~,3 2~ that ~.xtenc~s ~xp~a~rc~~~ f'xc~m t~r~ ~attarrr ~a~Z ~2
anal t hat has a top open egad ~ 3 i3 a~r.d a top ~p~~xi~g ~~ 1
defined by the top open end X30 for access iz-~~t~ the
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storing ~pac~ 23.
T~~e cs~v~r cap 3 is ~nountad detaahably and ~~a~:ir~gl~r
on the t~g open Aid ~~~ c~f ~.h~ ~antai~~~° 2 s~ as to
cozr~r tJl~~: tcp op~rs~,ng 23i. The ao~r~r cap 3 has
pump-mc°mnti~.c~ wail portion 34 ref a L1-s~2ap~d
s~ectiori that def in~~ a pomp-r~c~i. Bring ~~hamb~r ~~.
inlet 3g3 formed ~.n the p~~rpYrz~aurr.tir~g wml3 port s.crrz 3~
~nc~ in fJ.ui.d Communication with, the pump-r~~c~iving
ohamber ~5 and the ~'~ori.nc~ spare 23 , anc~ a ~r~lve-
mounting ~ra:~1 part.io~. 35 t~a~ o~ct~n:d.~ c~z,~~r~~dl.y arr,~
radially from the pump-tnc~ua~ting wall porticos ~~ ars.+~
that i~ f~rrn~d with an opining ~SEI t~rhi~rh i~ iz2 fluid
oc~ittmunica~,s,car3 vaith t~~ ~t~ri zz~ ~pae~e ~~ ~rrc~ tlzw
atmo~ph~r~v
i5 The pu~;~ men~b~r ~ ~~ di~os~d ovahl~- azzd ~~alin~-iy-
in the pur~~a-~eceivl~g eh~er 45, ~a~~1 i~ a~ac~vab3.~
tc~~rard and away from th.~ inlet ~~3 so a~ ~t~ very the
pr~ss~.t~~ in ~17,~ p~a~pd~'CC~i~ring ~Gh~trib~r ~x~ b~ v1rtu~
of ~ha.n~e in ~rc~Ic~~e ref the pump-~eaezv~n~ ~~te-r- ~v .
'the pump member ~ hay ~.n ta-~.tlet ,~~.~. in f3.~z.ad
c.~mm~xnicat~.c~n ~azith the- p-~:~~5-reaei vir~g c~h~mber 45 and
the atmosphere _ ~referab:~~r, a rr~~r~s~r ~~al-r-ia~g ~~ i~
disgosed in an annular g~~av°~ triat i~ formed a.ra are
e~ut~r surface oaf the pump r~c~~~tbe:~ ~ . The peal-ring ~~
fric~.~,ar~ally ~.~,d sli.dably enc~age~ an ~.nner suxf~.~~ of_
the pump-mourz!tir_g wall portion 34 to ~rcwia.e a
leak-proof elect ~~aen the p~zrnp m~rrc3~er ~ mavc~s ire Cha
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pump-receivir~g ~h~rnb~r ~5.
The urging mer~her ~~ i~ e~z~posed an the p~a~p_
receiving chamber ~5 for ur~~,n~ the giimp ~tembe;r ~ ~~ay'
fgc~m thg inlet 34~ in the pazmp-mount:i.ng gall pt~rtic~n
34.
The f~rs~ ~he~'_:~ va~~re ~l i~ rnaun.t~ed on the cwr
cap ~ fQr blowing the inlet 3~3 in a r~~rma.l oeanditi~rn.
The first check v~l~e 31 i~ actuated tc perm~.t o~~rrix~~
of the in.~.et 343 when ;he prc~seur~ ia~ the atc~r~.x~~ sg~~,oe
23 i~ greatrzr ~.han tl~~t ice; tl~~ purn~-~-~aeivirl.~ chamber
tk~~:~e3~~r gera~itti~~ ~3uid flog zrom ~h.~ st~::s.r~g
spice ~3 into the pump-r~~eiva~~g eh~n~er ~~ ~s~ee ~~.ga
4 ) ~ Th.e inlet 3~-3 a~ ca~~hle: ~.L heza~r~ overseen b~ the
~'irst eheak valve 3~. w~.e~. the pressure in ~th.~
l~ pump-reaeivi~3g ~~az~~rer 4~ .ice greater th~.rz that ~:n ~~z~
s.tarin~ s~aace 23 up~r~ ~oveme~zc~f t~.a pump ;~emher 4
tourard the inlet ~.~~ against the ~.rga.ng aot~.~z~ of vhe
u.r~:.ng membez ~! ~ ~ set ~'ig
The ~eco.nd ohe~l~. v~7ve 43 is ~tc~'ttz~ted on the p~.r~~
r~em~er a for cl,os~nt~ the ou~l~'t 411. ~°he second ah~~k
valve 43 i~ a~t~aat~~; to permit ~~~nirgg of the outl:~t
421 when the pressure ~,n the ;dump-r~~ce~.~-in~ chamber
as c~re~.t~r than. ~.he atmasph~ric~ pressure upon
Movement a~ ~~la g~.ur..~p n~~~b~r 4. tn~a-rd the in-~:e-t
2~ ~:g~:itat the ~:rgir~.g ~c~,icn ~rf the u~:yinc~ rn.emb~r
thereby permitting gLuid f7.aw~ froth tYzar pump-recei~cring
c~:amber g5 into the atma~gher~, a~ hr~s't shown in ~~.gure
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3. The o~at~.~t X12 is capable of b~in~ ~lc~ss~d ~r~r tl'1e
~e~o~.~ checl~ valve 43 end the aa~et 3.~3 ~.~ ~~pab~.~ a~
being opened wL~~s~ ~h~ p e~~ur~ ~.~. ~lz~ p~~np--~e~ea.~zn~.
~h~m~~x ~5 i~ Ir~ss thaw t~.e ~'~-~o~pheric: pre~~uxe and
the pres'~ure ~.z3: the staring ~p~ce ~3 ~pc~n movement Qf
the pump member 4 a~ra~ f ~-tarn the inlet ~ ~. ~ by virtue
~f the ~.~rgi~~ aCtagn of the urging member ~~, t~z~~'eb'~
pertnitt~.ng fl~~aid flog frog. the storing space ~3 i~~~
the p,at'~~-re.ceiva.n~ eh~~b~r ~.5, as ~rs:~t ~~z~~rn igi r ~.gt~z'e
~Q
"The ,sir-~irr~et v~ive 32 ~.~ ~cs~untec~ c~~a. the v~,~ve~
m~t~nt_inc~ vaall, por~~.~n a~ fc~r ~losi~ag the crper~i~g 3~D
of the cover cap 3 . ~'~c~ure ~ ~1'~.~'srttS tie gutt~~-receiv~.rs~
cham3~e~ ~~ ~~.c~: ~h~ ~tor~.ng ~~aee ~~ irt a ~aWci'ut'et ~ta~:~P
1~ result~.~c~ Pram ~~~tin~.e~ re~i.prc~cats.a~~ a~r~ments ~f
the pt~rnp ~ae~beo 4 ~.n the put~~~re~eavi~g ci~amber 4~ .
In the tr~~~aum. ~t~te, t~~xe ~r~~z~~ m,~mber 42 is ~~t~pr~~~e~3
lair the atmospheric pxessur~ a.n.d the inlet ~~3 i~ ~l~s~c1
'b~ the f a.r~t. ~h~~'~ vaive 3 ~ . To remove the cover ~~p
29 ~ f~-on the container ~, t~~ air-inlet v~.lve 32 can b~
pu~.~.ed up~w~rd- .way from tie ~~~r~~.ng .~~4, a~ b~~v ~~r~n
in ~°~,gure 5, .~o ae tc~ ~aa~oover the ~per~in~ 3~t~~ thereb~a
permitting flow of air mrt~r~ tyke a~tm~~phe:~~ into the
~tc~ring space a3 of th:e carxta~rae:r ~ Y ~la~ era rG~tx~ts- x~
~5 actuation of the first c~aeci~ ~~lve fix, opening of the
inLe~ 343, and flaw of air from the stc~ririg ~pa~~ 2~
anti the pump-receiving chamber 4~ via the inlet 343..
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s
The ~zxging member 4~ ~,~ ~ub~~qu~r~tly restored from the
~s~m~r~ssed state ~~a a ne~r_-c~mpre~~~d ~~~t~ when t~a~
pressure in the pu~r~p-r~~p~~r~.n~ ~han~~~ 4~ toc~~ther
~r~.th the urging aotion of the urging m~:z~ber 4~ owercom~
the atmos~sher~.~ p~°~t~sa~.re. ITnder t~~:;~ co~rB.dition, t~e~
c-~~~r cap ~ pan be removed with ea~~ frr~m tea contai~.er
~rhen desired.
Referring aga.ir_. to Figures ~, and 2, t~~ ~~v~~- c~~
3 has a ~a~riph~r~.l ~aali ~c~rti~ri, 33 ~~.arround.i~g t-h~
~~,l~e-mounting wa3:l ~ort~ on 35 anc! fr~~rtted with ~.
da~r~v~ardly .acing anr~ui~.r ~~a~.-~~cez~ri~~ grwc~u~~
therein which i~ e~~f~.a~~~, bar ~ grao~~-~c~nf~.n~..nc~ wall
Ari ~nnu3,ar ~.e~:l member ~~~ ~.~ f ttt~d In the
s~~l-re~~.ivi~~ ~~re 3~~, ~bzd a~st~t~ as~air~t 't~t~ toy
a~aen end ~~(~ o~ the corita~~.~~ ~ ~~ a~ to est~Ialis~ a
l~erm~t~.~~11~= s~a~i~2~ ~Lf~~t ~r,~twe~ra the oov~r- yap 3
arid. the t,o~ opera er~d ~3t~ of the ooa~ta~.~~r 2. the ~~a,?
cn~mb~~ 3b ~r~f~ral~ly has twr~ sgaeed~agar~ ar~rxu2~.r
an~h.c~r~ng portions. 3~3~ a~xohpred ire twQ ~~~.ent~.v~a
xa ~~.Qt~ ~s~. t~~~ ~r~ ~~~~.~d ~.~ ~~~ ~~~~-~~~~-z~~~:~ ~~::~~
352 of the s~ea,l-x~c~i~rin~ ~~oo~sre ~~,i, an anxz~,y'~~.r
~.nt~rmediat~ a:b~tm:~t gort~:c~~ 3a3 t~~~:~ 3;~2~~~~eri~tt~~~~
lavaer ends of the an~~.~red ~cr~ti~ns 3C~2 and that a~t,~ts
against t.l~~ toga op.~ri en:d ~~ 0 of t~Z~ c~~r~taircet° 2 f arid
~.n annular ~.nn~x ~~~ti~x~ ~~l tl~~~, pwo~~c~~ downward
from cane of tho ari.Ch.ored pc~rtiarl.s 3fl~ ~r~d that ah~t~
against a~ ir~n~r sa;~r~~~e of the ~aerip$Z~z~~xl ~aa~ 22 ref
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t
the container ~ and the grc~c~ve~confinit~c~ ura.ll X52.
Each of the f~rs~. and ~~ear~c~ cheok valves 3~. r
~.rd the air-inlet va~v~ 3~ y~ ~L~~~ide~3 w~.~~. ~ m.ou~afir~
post. 31~, 4Z3 f 323 that sl~di~:gl~ ana nr~n~r~~to~abl.y
~ric~ages the ~SUmp-mounting vaa.Ll port~aora 3~ r tl~
~ralv~-mount~n~ vaall po~'t i~~ 35 a.~d the ~wump meter ~ ,
respoctively.
Re~~rring to Fic~~~-es~ ~ and ~, a modi~iod assemk~l~r
of the cover cap 3 arld th:e pump ct~embr~r ~ i.s ~~aaw~ tt~
1Q h~~e a str~,~~t~re ~irz~ilar tc~ that. ~mplt~y~d in the
preferred embodiment . The main ~3if:~er~noe x~o~,ides ~.x~
that, i~ tho tttgdif? ~d ~:s~emb~g~~ th~z~a;~;~ttp-~aur~~,~~1~-~i~i~:
portion 34 has a ~o~~~~ ~~,~, co~fia~.l~.g a hc~ttotll ~it~~
c~~ t-h~ pump- :~o~iving ~harctboz' 45 . '~'h~ l.r~:le~. 543 i~
1~ farmed $z~ the bott.r~m 3~~. of the pump-mounting wall
pc~rtiox~ 34 . The cover e~.p 3 fu.rth~r srielude~ an annuL~.r.
wall 3~ wh:ich i~ d~~po~~d ~r~ the pump-r~~el~~r~g
charn~er 45, ~rhioh ox,'t~lxti.s upwardly fxoin the 3~ott~~n 3~1
~f tk~o pumg-mC~ix~.ti~xg wall porta.or~ 34 , ar_d whseh i,~
Z~U formed with a p~tzrallty e~~ angu~:ax°l~ ~pacod apart
limits ng slog 3~~. therein and a ~al~a~al~:ty caf e~gag~;t~g
fares ~6~ that cor~iine tour ~~.de~ of tl~e ~,~tttiting ~lc~ts
3~1. The pump rr~em~aer ~ ~,~~ a. top will 4~, opposite to
the b4ttom 34I of the pump-~~~,g~~,ing wail p9rtion 34
2~ a.r~d eQnf ~.nln~s a top' side of the ~r~t~tp-re~~,~~ing cl!amb~r
~5, and a ps,ural~:ty ox angularlyr spaced apart engaging
tongue ~~1 e~ter~d~.r.~g da~s,~~v~ard3y from t'~~~ top ura~:2 ~
CA 02440971 2003-09-15
into t~h.~ limit~.r~g slobs 361. The engaging ~~rigues 4~1
~mgag~ ~h~ engaging iac~~ 3~~ of the ~.nn.ular ~aa~7, 36,
respect~.v'ely~ v~~Y: t~~ p;~~t~ Fttetttb~x~ 4 ttlt~~eS up~nta~'d~y
away from the inlet 343 by vix~~~ ~f t~.~ ~xging a~t~.c~n
a~ the u~°gin~ mem~ex~ ~2 s~ as ~o restrict r~.rg~e c~~
movement of the purnp member ~ in the pump-receiving
~hamher 45 and ~o ~.~ ~~ prevent r~mc~vaJ. ~f the
manger ~ foam the pump-rece~.v~.ng eh~~ber 4s.
