Abstract:
Portable Vacuum Food Storage System with a housing that contains a vacuum pump, an on off power switch, a vacuum pressure switch and a plurality of rechargeable DC batteries. The top of the housing has a gripping member help the user to twist and fasten the housing onto a mating container lid. The housing has a bayonet type fastener at its lower center portion that mates to a receptacle located on the lid, the lid has a vacuum releasing member that can be pressed by the user to relieve the vacuum in the container. The vacuum housing is capable of resting on the lid in a stable manner so that the vacuum operation can take place unattended by the user. The vacuum lid is capable of fitting on standard TupperWare or Rubber Maid containers.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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   DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX 
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   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to the field of vacuum producing appliances and more specifically to a portable vacuum food storage system. 
   The idea of using a vacuum to extend the useful live of various types of foods is well known. 
   A vacuum is routinely used in the canning process to remove oxygen that can otherwise cause mold or bacteria to build up inside a food can. More recently, vacuum producing devices have been marketed that remove air from plastic bags and containers so that the user can create their own long term vacuum food storage. 
   These devices are primarily designed for use with plastic bags where a food is inserted into the bag, the open end of the bag is placed in a vacuum producing device so that the air is removed from the bag and the device then heat seals the end of the bag to trap the vacuum inside the bag. A major manufacturer of such an appliance is the Tilia Corporation of San Francisco, Calif. Their device, known as “Food Saver” also can come with a hose attachment to mate with specially designed lids and associated containers. 
   Although the Food Saver system is effective, there are certain deficiencies that the present invention addresses. First, when the user of the Food Saver System attaches the vacuum hose to a container, he or she is forced to hold the hose until the vacuum is produced. This means that either the vacuum pump must be large enough to quickly produce a vacuum or, if a small vacuum pump is used, the user must wait patiently for the vacuum to be produced. Second, the Food Saver unit and others like it tend to be powered by household voltage and therefore are required to be in close proximity to an outlet. Thirdly, a separate lid must be used for each container having a different top dimension. Fourth, The Food Saver unit and others like it are designed for long term food storage. They use heavy walled polycarbonate containers to be able to store a vacuum for long periods because there is no provision to automatically recharge the vacuum of a less expensive thinner walled container such as a polyethylene container. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The primary object of the invention is to provide a portable vacuum food storage system that provides a means to easily vacuumize plastic food containers. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum food storage system that allows the user to produce a vacuum in a container without having to be present during the vacuum operation during the entire process. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum food storage system whose lids work with standard Tupper Ware or Rubber Maid containers. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a vacuum food storage system where the vacuum in the container can be easily released by the push of a button. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum food storage system where one lid can seal a variety of sizes of containers. 
   Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum food storage system where the vacuum pump automatically turns off when the proper vacuum is reached. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum food storage system where an audible sound is created in the lid of the vacuum container when the vacuum is reached. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum food storage system where a visual indicator is placed in the lid that shows when a vacuum is present. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum food storage system where the vacuum pump portion is portable and can be recharged after each use. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a vacuum food storage system where the vacuum pump portion can remain with the container portion and can automatically recharge the vacuum in the container when the vacuum becomes reduced. 
   Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side section view of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is an underside view of the lid of the invention 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the invention with its charging stand. 
       FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the vacuum indicating portion 
       FIG. 7  is a section view of the vacuum indicating portion 
       FIG. 8  is a partial section view of an alternate embodiment of the vacuum switch assembly. 
       FIG. 9  is a partial section view of an alternate embodiment of the vacuum attachment means. 
   

   In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a Portable Vacuum Food Storage System comprising: a housing that contains a vacuum pump, an on off power switch, a vacuum pressure switch and a plurality of rechargeable DC batteries. The top of said housing having a gripping means to twist and fasten said housing onto a mating container lid. The housing having a commonly known attachment means at its lower center portion that mates to a receptacle located on said lid. Said lid having a vacuum releasing member that can be pressed by the user to relieve the vacuum in said container. Said vacuum housing capable of resting on said lid in a stable manner so that the vacuum operation can take place unattended by the user, and said vacuum lids capable of fitting in an air-tight manner on standard TupperWare or Rubber Maid base containers. Said vacuum seal and valves capable of being removed and replaced for cleaning purposes. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a portable vacuum food storage system  100  is illustrated. The portable vacuum food storage system  100  is comprised of two main assemblies, the vacuum producing unit  50  and the vacuum storage container assembly  90 . The vacuum producing unit  50  removably attaches to the lid  24  by a removable attachment means. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the removable attachment means includes a standard bayonet type fitting  14  located on the bottom center of the vacuum producing unit  50 , and the mating receptacle  42  and retaining teeth  20 ,  21  located in the center of the lid  24 . An O ring  16  insures an air tight fit between the vacuum producing unit  50  and the lid assembly  90 . 
   Referring momentarily now to  FIG. 8 , an alternate embodiment of the invention is shown with a different removable attachment means. The vacuum housing  228  has a circular ring  250  that can impinge on a rubber disk  248  located in lid  230 . Disk  248  has a central aperture  234  that allows evacuated air to pass from openings  240 ,  238 , up into center aperture  244  located on the underside of vacuum housing  228  as shown by dotted line  242 . Vacuum housing  228  locks onto lid  230  by means of a tongue and groove fastening joint  232 ,  246 . Retaining ring  246  can be removed and replaced so that the user can clean the rubber disk  248  when necessary. 
   Referring now back to  FIG. 1 , a container portion  26  attaches to lid  24  in an air tight manner so that when a vacuum is pulled by the vacuum producing unit  50  it creates a vacuum in the vacuum storage container assembly  90 . After the vacuum is achieved, the vacuum producing unit  50  can be easily removed and the container assembly  90  can be stored in a refrigerator or other remote location. 
   The base of the vacuum producing unit  50  rests completely on the top center surface  22  of lid  24  so that the vacuum operation can take place unattended by the user after the user activates the unit  50  by pushing “on” switch button  10 . The top of the vacuum producing unit  50  has a curved raised portion  4  making it easy for the user to grab the top portion  4  and twist it a quarter of a turn to engage or disengage the vacuum producing unit  50  from the lid  24 . A rubberized cushion  6 ,  8  makes the gripping and twisting action even more secure. Vertical ribs  3  allow the user to grip the entire diameter of the housing  2  to provide an additional method of twisting and removing or replacing the vacuum producing unit. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an exploded view of the invention is illustrated. The vacuum housing  2  is comprised of a top cover  11  and a bottom cover  12 . Enclosed within the vacuum housing  2  are a vacuum pump  28 , an on-off switch  10 , a vacuum switch  30 , and a plurality of batteries  32 . The vacuum pump  28  is connected to the fitting  36  via hose  33 . T fitting  35  also connects vacuum hose  33  to fitting  36 . 
   When a user presses the on-off switch  10  to the “on” position, the vacuum pump starts and continues to operate until the proper vacuum is reached and the vacuum switch  30  automatically turns off the vacuum pump  28 . This feature has two benefits. One is that the user does not have to stand and wait for the vacuum to reach its desired strength and therefore can do other things while the vacuum is being produced. This means that it is not necessary to use a powerful and expensive vacuum pump for the purpose of producing a vacuum quickly because the user is not inconvenienced by the waiting period. Second, because the vacuum sensing switch  30  automatically turns off the vacuum, the user can decide to leave the vacuum producing unit  50  on the lid  24  indefinitely and when the vacuum inside container  26  becomes depleted, it can automatically be replenished by the vacuum sensing switch  30  automatically turning on the vacuum pump  28 . The advantage here is that the container  26  can be constructed of inexpensive materials such as polyethylene. In the past, vacuum containers had to be manufactured from heavy walled expensive materials such as polycarbonate because they held the vacuum for longer periods. But, if the vacuum can be automatically replenished as needed, less expensive thin walled containers can be used. The lid assembly  90  is comprised of a main lid  24 , rubber flap  42 , vacuum release lever  18 , and top plate  22 . 
   The top plate  24  has a pair of teeth  20 ,  21  that interact with bayonet bottom  36  located on pump housing bottom  12 . Main lid portion  24  has a recessed portion  54  that includes a through hole  56 . The depression  54  also has an elongated portion that can retain vacuum release lever  18 . Vacuum release lever  18  is pinned to a fulcrum portion in lid  24  by pins  46 ,  47  and receptacles  44 ,  45 . Rubber flap  42  is placed on top of release lever  18  so that when lever  18  is pushed down by the user, flap  42  lifts off vacuum hole  56  thereby breaking the vacuum. Cover plate  22  is fixedly attached to lid  24  by pins  40  engaging with apertures  38  and being ultrasonically welded or the like. In the embodiment shown, O ring  36  interfaces with plastic ring  54  making an air tight seal. A alternate embodiment for the seal portion can be seen in  FIG. 8  and has been described previously in this description. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. In this view it can be seen that the lid  24  can have a plurality of retaining means so that a plurality of different sized containers  26 ,  62 ,  64  can be attached to the same lid  24 . Rubber gaskets  66 ,  68 ,  70  are inserted into inverted U shaped cavities  72 ,  74 ,  76  and the top lips of the containers  26 ,  62 ,  64  fit snuggly into the gaskets so that a vacuum can be held. This configuration allows the user to choose what sized container to use and have one lid size to accommodate different sized containers. The Gasket portions can be sized to fit standard TupperWare or Rubber Maid containers, or specially sized containers can be sold with the lids. 
     FIG. 4  shows a clear view of the underside of lid  24  showing the concentric grooved retaining portions  72 ,  74 ,  76  that can retain a plurality of matching container bottoms. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a charging stand  80 , the vacuum producing unit  50 , and a zip lock type plastic bag  192  are illustrated. The vacuum producing unit  50  can be inserted into the charging stand  80  to recharge the rechargeable batteries  32  (see  FIG. 2 ) by interfacing with metal contacts  194  and  196 . The charging stand  80  plugs into a standard wall outlet by means of line cord  84 , AC to DC transformer  101  and plug  82 . Alternatively, the charging stand  80  can be plugged into a twelve volt DC system such as provided by a vehicle or boat, for example. Additionally, the charging stand  80  includes a flat plenum  190  that allows the vacuum created by the vacuum unit  50  to be used to remove air from the zip lock type plastic bags  192  before sealing them. 
   Reference is now made to  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  FIG. 6  shows a partial perspective view of the lid  24 .  FIG. 7  shows a side cross-sectional view of a deformable diaphragm  94  and a metal clicking unit  96 . The flexible diaphragm  94  can be depressed when a vacuum is drawn. An attached vertical pin  93  is also drawn in a downward fashion causing thin metal member  96  to bend and ultimately create a clicking noise. Additionally, the top disk  92  is drawn down, giving the user a visual indication that the vacuum is in force. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 9 , an alternate embodiment of a vacuum switch  30 ′ is illustrated. In this version, when a vacuum is produced, flexible diaphragm  224  is drawn down as shown by dotted line  226 . This causes post  215  to be drawn down thereby causing metal contacts  210 ,  212  to separate thereby breaking the circuit to the vacuum pump  28 . 
   While the portable vacuum food storage system  100  was shown and described as having a vacuum producing unit  50  and a vacuum storage container assembly  90 , in an alternate embodiment of the portable vacuum food storage system, the vacuum producing unit  50 , including the vacuum pump  28  and the associated housing  2 , is built into the container lid  24 .