Abstract:
The present invention relates to a vacuum sealable container system comprising a container and a lid assembly having a movable valve insert. The valve insert includes a vacuum indicator for informing the user when a vacuum is present in the container. The valve insert is pneumatically movable within a chamber by way of a pump assembly to open and close a fluid communication between the container and the exterior of the container to remove fluid to form the vacuum. The vacuum indicator collapses into an opening formed in the lid assembly to inform the user of the vacuum as well as reinforce the seal formed by the valve insert.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/536,627, filed Sep. 20, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to sealable food storage containers. More particularly, this invention relates to selectively sealing the food storage container and removing an amount of fluid from the container to keep food in the container under vacuum. Specifically, this invention relates to a food storage container having a lid assembly for removably receiving a valve insert having a vacuum indicator for visually indicating when a vacuum is present in the container. 
     2. Background Information 
     It is well known that food storage can be improved by keeping food in a container under vacuum. Keeping the food in a container under vacuum helps to prevent the food from spoiling as quickly as the food normally would under normal pressure. This is particularly important when dealing with infant food as a baby&#39;s digestive system and overall immunity has not developed to the point of having sufficient biological defenses pertaining to mildly oxidized or spoiled food. Thus, not only is it extremely important to provide a way to prevent baby food spoilage, it is also extremely important to ensure that the pieces and parts within such a container have been properly cleaned and sterilized as they may hold contaminants or particles of food which would be ingested along with the unspoiled food if the container is not properly cleaned. In addition, it is often not possible for the user to recognize when the desired vacuum is still present in the storage container. As such, a parent may believe a vacuum is present in a container when in fact the food in the container is not under vacuum. 
     Previous methods have been designed for keeping the food in the container under vacuum. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,195,427; 6,725,632; and 7,721,771 all propose devices using a vacuum pump for removing air pressure from a food storage container. However, the devices in this patent all are operated using a power supply for powering the vacuum pump. However, designs of this type have been found to be less desirable in that an electrical power outlet is constantly required to remove pressure from the container. Thus, it has been found that powered vacuum pumps and containers related to these devices are less desirable due to the inconvenience of powering the vacuum pump. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,546,997; 5,955,127; 6,035,769; 6,789,690; 7,048,136; 7,140,402; and 7,198,047 all describe food storage containers with a pressure release valve structure or method incorporated into the device for equalizing pressure within the container with respect to the outside of the container. This pressure release element allows a user to equalize pressure or release a vacuum without removing a lid from the container. However, including such a structure is costly as it adds complicated mechanical elements and materials to the overall structure of the container. Furthermore, this pressure release valve structure necessarily adds internal elements to the container itself, which increases the surface area and pockets for bacteria or other undesirable microorganisms to reside and oxidize, thus leading to quicker spoilage of the food and possible health complications. Therefore, a pressure release valve structure incorporated into a container has been shown to be an overall complicated and undesirable feature. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,982 describes a first valve and a second valve in the container lid for aiding in expelling air from the container. As described above, an additional valve or additional elements add to the complexity, expense, and safety to the overall container device. Thus, multiple valves within a container lid has been shown to be undesirable. 
     Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,753 describes another container evacuation system. This document shows a vacuum jar apparatus, including a bell jar and a vacuum pump lid, which both closes and seals the jar and pumps air out of the sealed jar. The lid includes a lower lid portion in the form of a sealing disk having a disk lower face covered with a sealing gasket material for extending across and sealing the jar upper rim. The lid lower portion also includes a downwardly extending circumferential lip for receiving the jar upper rim to center the lid on the jar. The vacuum jar apparatus of this document further includes a pumping mechanism for evacuating air in the form of either a wedge-shaped box having check valves and which permits air to be drawn from within the jar and exit the wing structure as a user turns the lid. A user wishing to permit air to enter the jar so that the lid can be removed from the jar pulls a finger engaging ring upward to sufficiently pull a cable taut, which then pulls the connected valve wall upward to emit air outside the apparatus through a vacuum release passageway into the jar. While this overall lid structure is encased in an outer shell, shown in  FIG. 1 , the internal mechanisms are elaborate and complex. As such, as described above, this complex valve mechanism coupled with a pressure release system is undesirable. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a vacuum sealable container system comprising: a container having a rim portion and a storage portion adapted to receive and store foodstuffs therein; a lid assembly having a base portion, wherein the lid assembly is removably attachable to the rim portion; an opening defined by the base portion; a valve wall proximate the opening and defining a pair of apertures therethrough; a seat defined by the base portion and the valve wall; a valve insert having a pair of tabs, wherein the valve insert is removably secured in the seat by each tab extending into the corresponding aperture, wherein the valve insert is movable within the seat between and open position and a closed position, and wherein the valve insert forms a seal on the opening when the valve insert is in the closed position; a vacuum indicator on the valve insert, wherein the vacuum indicator is adapted to move into the opening to reinforce the seal when a vacuum is present in the storage portion and the valve insert is in the closed position; and a removable pump assembly connectable with the lid, wherein the pump assembly is configured to simultaneously draw the valve insert into the open position while withdrawing fluid from the storage portion through the opening to create the vacuum in the storage portion; and wherein the valve insert moves into the closed position when the pump assembly ceases to withdraw fluid from the storage portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the food storage container having the lid and vacuum pump attached thereto; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the lid of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the upper end of the food storage container, the lid, and the vacuum pump having the handle in the down position; 
         FIG. 5  is a similar view to  FIG. 4 , however the handle of the pump is in the up position; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the area indicated in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the upper end of the food storage container, the lid, and the vacuum pump having the handle in the down position; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of the vacuum indicator; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross sectional elevational view shown with the pump disconnected from the lid; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of three food storage containers having lids attached and a vacuum indicator in the down position. 
     
    
    
     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The food storage device of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-10  and is indicated generally at  1 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 , food storage device  1  is generally comprised of three main elements, a container  3 , a lid assembly  5 , and a pump assembly  7 . 
     Container  3  extends from a lower end  9  to an upper end  11 , and generally includes a storage portion  8 , a rim portion  10 , an exterior  4  and an interior  6 . Rim portion  10  includes an annular lip  13  disposed proximate upper end  11 . Annular lip  13  defines a container opening  15 , whereby an amount of food  12  may be placed therethrough to fill storage portion  8  of container  3 . Rim portion  10  further includes a plurality of threads  17  disposed on an outer surface  19  extending outwardly away therefrom. Outer surface  19  runs generally perpendicularly around the periphery of a generally flat upper surface  20 . As commonly used in the art, a set of indicia  14  or other graduated markings may be displayed on a portion of container  3  to indicate the amount of food  12  contained therein. An inner surface  18  extends downwardly from upper surface  20  on annular lip  13  towards storage portion  8  of container  3 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , lid assembly  5  is comprised of three main parts, an outer cap  21 , a valve insert  23 , and a base portion  25 . The exterior of outer cap  21  is formed in a general dome or skirt-like shape, with an outer wall  27  extending outwardly and downwardly from an inner wall  29  which terminates and forks into a horizontal lip  31  and a vertical lip  33 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , inner wall  29  and horizontal lip  31  define an opening  32 . Outer wall  27  includes an outer surface  35  and an opposed inner surface  37 . An attachment flange  39  extends outwardly away from inner surface  37  and defines a plurality of thread receiving recesses  41  which are aligned and generally complementary formed to receive threads  17  on container  3 . Outer surface  35  complements the exterior shape of container  3  along the longitudinal direction by tapering downwardly to generally align in parallel with container  3  proximate a lower end  43  of outer wall  27 . A pocket  45  is defined where outer wall  27  and attachment flange  39  meet. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , base portion  25  includes a back wall  47  having a first annular flange  49  and a second annular flange  51  extending outwardly away therefrom. First annular flange  49  extends into pocket  45  when base portion  25  and outer cap  21  are connected to rim portion  10 . Likewise, second annular flange  51  firmly abuts inner surface  18  when base portion  25  is connected to rim portion  10 . Thus, first annular flange  49  and second annular flange  51  removably secure base portion  25  to outer cap  21 . 
     Base portion  25  further includes large annular wall  53  extending upwardly from back wall  47  and having an notch  55  defined therein, formed to mate and receive horizontal lip when base portion  25  and outer cap  21  are connected. Base portion  25  further includes an angled wall  57  extending from large annular wall  53  and having a cam surface  59  and a front wall  61  which defines an opening  63  therein. A valve wall  65  extends upwardly from front wall  61  and includes a pair of apertures  67  therethrough. Front wall  61  and valve wall  65  define a seat  69  therebetween and generally aligned with opening  63 . 
     Lid assembly  5  includes valve insert  23 , shown particularly in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  6 . Valve insert  23  includes a pair of tabs  71 , wherein valve insert  23  is removably secured in seat  69  by each tab  71  extending into the corresponding aperture  67 . Valve insert  23  further includes a vacuum indicator  73 , which may be made from a flexible elastomeric material. Vacuum indicator  73  is movable within valve insert  23  from an up position or default state ( FIG. 6 ) to a down position or depressed state ( FIG. 7 ) to indicate when a vacuum is present in storage portion  8 . Vacuum indicator  73  is generally similar in shape to opening  63 , wherein when vacuum indicator  73  is in the down position, at least a portion of vacuum indicator may extend into opening  63 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 , pump assembly  7  is removably connectable with lid assembly  5 , generally about angled wall  57  and valve wall  65 . Pump assembly  7  includes an outer wall  75 , an inner wall  79 , and a top wall  77  extending therebetween to connect outer wall  75  and inner wall  79 . A pair of grip cutouts  81  are disposed at the intersection of outer wall  75  and top wall  77 , whereby outer wall  75  angled inward slightly to disrupt the vertical nature of outer wall  75  and create an area for the user to grip pump assembly  7 . Inner wall  79  extends from top wall  77  downwardly to a lower portion  80 . Lower portion  80  is sized to abut cam surface  59  of angled wall  57  when pump assembly  7  is connected with lid assembly  5 . Thus, the entirety of inner wall  79 , or lower portion  80  in particular, may be formed of an elastomeric or non-ridged material for facilitating elastic abutment between lower portion  80  and cam surface  59 . Inner wall  79  defines a chamber  85  therebetween. 
     Pump assembly  7  further includes a piston assembly  83 . Piston assembly  83  includes a handle  87  connected to a stopper  91  by a series of shafts  89  extending therebetween. Stopper  91  is movable within chamber  85  and is sized and configured to firmly abut inner wall  79  to prevent fluid or air from moving past stopper  91  towards shafts  89 . Piston assembly  83  is movable between an up position ( FIG. 5 ) and a down position ( FIG. 7 ). As piston assembly  83  moves from the down position to the up position, fluid is pulled into chamber  85  as stopper  91  recedes from chamber  85 . Likewise, as piston assembly  83  moves from the up position to the down position, fluid is expelled from chamber  85  as stopper  91  plunges through chamber  85  from proximate top wall  77  to proximate lower portion  80  of inner wall  79 . 
     The method of forming a vacuum within storage portion  8  of container  3  is now described herein. As desired, a user places pump assembly  7  with piston assembly  83  in the down position against lid assembly  5  such that lower portion  80  of inner wall  79  firmly abuts cam surface  59  of angled wall  57 . This aligns chamber  85  with seat  69  and opening  63 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the user then manually pulls handle  87  in the direction of Arrow A to move piston assembly  83  from the down position to the up position. The user may position the user&#39;s fingers to grasp handle  87  conveniently at grip cutouts  81 . As such, stopper  91  recedes in chamber  85 , moving from proximate lower portion  80  to proximate top wall  77 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the receding motion of stopper  91  and the fluid-tight nature of piston assembly  83  pneumatically moves valve insert  23  within seat  69  from the closed position to the open position, in the direction of Arrow D. When valve insert  23  is in the open position, a fluid channel  93  ( FIG. 6 ) is created, allowing fluid communication between storage portion  8  and chamber  85 . In addition to pneumatically moving valve insert  23  from the closed position to the open position, the receding motion of stopper  91  further withdraws fluid from storage portion  8  into chamber  85  through fluid channel  93 , as shown by Arrows B and C. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , after an effective amount of fluid has been withdrawn from storage portion  8  into chamber  85  by way of moving piston assembly  83  from the down position to the up position, the user then manually presses handle  87  in the direction of Arrow E. As piston assembly  83  moves from the up position to the down position, valve insert  23  pneumatically moves from the open position to the closed position due to the vacuum within storage chamber  8  and the fluid pressure from piston assembly  83 . This movement of valve insert  23  to the closed position effectively seals off storage portion  8  from chamber  85  and closes fluid channel  93  to prevent fluid communication between storage portion  8  and chamber  85 . As a consequence, a vacuum is formed in storage portion  8 . In addition to pneumatically moving valve insert  23  from the open position to the closed position, the motion of stopper  91  further expels fluid from chamber  85 . Inasmuch as fluid channel  93  is closed as valve insert  23  moves from the open position to the closed position, the fluid in chamber  85  is expelled in the direction of Arrows F. As shown in  FIG. 8 , fluid is pushed out of piston assembly  83  at the junction between lower portion  80  and cam surface  59 . 
     It is a primary feature of the present invention that when a vacuum is formed in storage chamber  8  by way of the above method, vacuum indicator  73  moves from the up position or default state ( FIG. 6 ) to a down position or a depressed state ( FIG. 7 ) to indicate when a vacuum is present in storage portion  8 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , vacuum indicator  73  moves in the direction of Arrow G to move into opening  63 . While this movement into opening  63  provides visual indication to the user that a vacuum is formed in storage portion  8 , vacuum indicator  73  also occludes opening  63  such that the seal between valve insert  23  and lid assembly  5  is reinforced. Thus, it is a primary feature of the present invention that vacuum indicator  73  not only provides a visual indication to a user that a vacuum is present in storage chamber  8 , vacuum indicator  73  further provides a structure reinforce opening  73  and the overall seal between valve insert  23  and lid assembly  5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , after a vacuum is formed in storage chamber  8 , pump assembly  7  may be withdrawn in the direction of Arrow H to remove pump assembly  7  from container  3  and lid assembly  5 . Thus, pump assembly  7  is free to form a vacuum in other containers or for storage and later use. As shown in  FIG. 10 , several containers  3 A,  3 B,  3 C, and several lid assemblies  5 A,  5 B,  5 C, respectively, may be utilized at one time, while reusing a single pump assembly  7 . 
     Inasmuch as food particles may reside or become trapped in pockets or hard to clean areas within food storage container  1 , it is another primary feature of the present invention that valve insert  23  may be removed from seat  69 , and base portion  25  may be removed from outer cap  21 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , tabs  71  of valve insert  23  allow a user to pinch or deform valve insert  23  to withdraw tabs  71  from apertures  67 , thereby releasing valve insert from base portion  25 . Likewise, the press-fit connection between outer cap  21  and base portion  25  allow horizontal lip  31  to be removed from notch  55 , and first annular flange  49  to be removed from pocket  45  to release base portion  25  from outer cap  21 . After valve insert  23  is separated from base portion  25 , and base portion  25  is separated from outer cap  21 , the user may then conveniently wash these individual elements separately to remove food particles more thoroughly. 
     Conversely, after outer cap  21 , valve inset  23 , and base portion  25  are separated and cleaned, these elements are easily re-assembled to form lid assembly  5 . A user grasps valve insert  23  and pinches the overall shape to bend tabs  71  inward. This allows the user to place valve insert  23  to into seat  69 . As valve insert  23  is released, tabs  71  move into apertures  67  to secure valve inert  23  into seat  69 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , after valve insert  23  is secured to base portion  25 , the user aligns base portion  25  and outer cap  21  such that camming surface  59  of angled wall  57  moves through opening  32  on base portion  25 . The user then presses base portion  25  again outer cap  21  to dispose large annular wall  53  in opening  32 . This pressing movement extends horizontal lip  31  into notch  55  and firmly abuts vertical lip  33  against back wall  47  and large annular wall  53 . First annular flange  49  rides over thread receiving recesses  41  to fit into pocket  45  thereby positioning second annular flange  51  to abut inner surface  18 . This firmly secures outer cap  21  and base portion  25  together for use with container  3 . 
     Container  3  is shown as having a particular shape and size, however, any common shape of size of container  3  is encompasses by the present invention. Further, lid assembly  5  may be formed to connect with standard size “off-the-shelf” baby food jars. Thus, a user can connect lid assembly  5  to standard baby food jars and practice the inventive features of the present invention therewith. After use, the standard baby food jars may be discarded and a new standard baby food jar may be connected to lid assembly  5 . Thus, it is another primary feature of the present invention that lid assembly  5  may be sized to fit onto standard size off-the-shelf baby food jars. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.