Abstract:
An apparatus for evacuation of a storage bag is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a case, a flange mounted on the case, a fan, and a motor operatively arranged to drive said fan.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to the evacuation of storage bags. More specifically it relates to a portable apparatus for the evacuation of plastic storage bags. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to a hand-held apparatus for the evacuation of plastic storage bags having a one-way valve.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Flexible plastic bags can be used to protect objects stored for extended periods of time. However, these bags can cause the storage space taken up by the object to increase. One solution is to evacuate the air from the bag so that the bag fits closely over the surface of the object. In fact, if the object is compressible like clothing, an evacuated bag will take up less space than the object alone. Various bags have been designed to allow air to be evacuated therefrom after an object is secured therein.  
         [0003]     For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,408,872, 6,357,915, 6,116,781, 5,931,189, and 5,480,030 and United States Patent Application Nos. 20020117215, 20020079242, 20020009240, and 20020090151 all disclose bags with one-way valves for storing objects therein. Each of the bags is arranged to be evacuated by physical pressure on the outside of the bag, or by attachment of a conventional vacuum cleaner to the one-way valve. Neither of these evacuation means are satisfactory for a traveler trying to increase the amount of clothing carried in a suitcase. Evacuation by physical pressure tends to wrinkle the clothing therein. Evacuation by attachment of a conventional vacuum cleaner can be done at home, but a vacuum cleaner compatible with the valve may not be available when the traveler is repacking.  
         [0004]     Clearly, then, there is a longfelt need for a hand-held, portable apparatus for evacuation of storage bags.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention broadly comprises a method and apparatus for the evacuation of storage bags. The apparatus comprises a case, a flange mounted on the case, a fan, and a motor operatively arranged to drive the fan.  
         [0006]     A general object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for evacuation storage bags.  
         [0007]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a hand-held, portable apparatus.  
         [0008]     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of the invention in view of the drawings and claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention with the case opened;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the open case of an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a bag having a flange operatively arranged to couple with the flange of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a valve operatively arranged to couple with a flange of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a valve operatively arranged to couple with a flange of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a side schematic view showing the present invention evacuating a bag; and,  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention and a bag to be evacuated. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]     It should be appreciated that, in the detailed description of the invention which follows, like reference numbers on different drawing views are intended to identify identical structural elements of the invention in the respective views.  
         [0020]     An illustration of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  and designated  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , apparatus  10  comprises case  12 , containing batteries  14 , motor  16 , and fan  18 , and flange  20 . Handle  11  of case  12  allows the invention to be held by a user. In the embodiment shown, case  12  is disassembled by separating case members  12 A and  12 B. In the embodiment shown, receptacles  32  in case member  12 A receive fasteners, such as screws, extending through holes  34  in case member  12 B shown in  FIG. 4 . However, it should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that other means of securing the case are possible, and these modifications are within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. Also in the embodiment shown, batteries  14  comprise 3 1.2 V Ni—Cd sub C size rechargeable batteries. However, it should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that other power sources such as rechargeable batteries having different sizes, non-rechargeable batteries, or an AC power connection could be used, and these modifications are within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.  
         [0021]     Flange  20  is located on face  13  of case  12 . Flange  20  is operatively arranged to be coupled with one-way valve  40  on storage bag  50 . Examples of such valves are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,408,872, 6,357,915, 6,116,781, 5,931,189, and 5,480,030 and United States Patent Application Nos. 20020117215, 20020079242, 20020009240, and 20020090151, all of which are incorporated by reference herein. In one embodiment, the flange is operatively arranged to lock with the valve when the valve is rotated with respect to the flange. This is achieved by the insertion of member  36  located on flange  20  ( FIG. 2 ) into slot  46  of valve  40  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). When the valve is rotated with respect to the flange, member  36  slides under member  44  of valve  40 , locking valve  40  and flange  20  together in a coupled configuration. At the same time, member  48  of valve  40  depresses switch  22  of the present invention, located proximate flange  20  ( FIG. 2 ). It should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that the valve does need to be locked to the flange, as the valve will be drawn to the flange due to the suction created by fan  18 . Modifications wherein the valve is not locked to the flange are possible, and these modifications are within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.  
         [0022]     Switch  22  activates motor  16 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , switch  22  is operatively arranged to be activated by the valve when the valve is coupled to the flange. However, embodiments wherein the switch is manually activated by a user are possible, and these modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.  
         [0023]     When switch  22  is activated, current from batteries  14  flows through motor  16 . Motor  16  then rotates fan  18 .  
         [0024]     Fan  18  is operatively arranged to draw air from outside the case through opening  21  of flange  20 . When a valve is coupled to flange  20 , air is drawn through the valve, evacuating the bag. Air vents  24  allow the air drawn through flange  20  to exit the case.  
         [0025]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , AC cord adaptor  26  receives AC cord  30 . When AC cord  30  is plugged into an AC outlet, batteries  14  are recharged. When batteries  14  are recharging, indicator  28  is lit. When the batteries are fully charged, indicator  28  is not lit. In a preferred embodiment, indicator  28  is a light emitting diode (LED).  
         [0026]     To operate apparatus  10 , valve  40  of sealed bag  50  is coupled to flange  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Valve  40  activates switch  22 . This activates motor  16 , which rotates fan  18 . Fan  18  draws air out of bag  50 , through valve  40  and through opening  21  of flange  20 . The air exits the inside of case  12  through vents  24 . When bag  50  is evacuated, the valve  40  is decoupled from flange  20 , deactivating switch  22 . Motor  16  stops rotating fan  18 .  
         [0027]     Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, and these modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.