Abstract:
A vacuum packaging appliance with a sealing sub-assembly including a latching mechanism and release mechanism is described. According to certain embodiments, the release mechanism, latch and sealing sub-assembly operate in an integrated fashion such that the vacuum packaging appliance can be easily opened or sealed.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/556,225, entitled, “Vacuum Packaging Appliance with Sealing Sub-Assembly including Latch and Release Lever Mechanism” by Steven Small, filed on Mar. 24, 2004, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention generally relates to vacuum packaging appliances. More particularly, the invention is directed to vacuum packaging appliances with a sealing sub-assembly including a latch and release lever mechanisms.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]     The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation.  
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view  100  that illustrates a vacuum packaging appliance  100  with lid closed, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view  200  that illustrates the vacuum packaging appliance with lid partially open, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view  300  showing a latch mechanism and a section of the seal-assembly of the vacuum packaging appliance, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  is an exploded isometric view  450  of the latch mechanism and a section of the seal-assembly of  FIG. 3 , according to certain embodiments;  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view  500  illustrating a latch-strike mechanism and a section of the seal-assembly of the vacuum packaging appliance, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0009]      FIG. 6  is an exploded isometric view  650  of the latch-strike mechanism and a section of the seal-assembly of  FIG. 5 , according to certain embodiments;  
         [0010]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view  700  of the seal-assembly, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0011]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view  800  of the seal-assembly with cover plate removed, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0012]      FIG. 9  is an exploded isometric view  900  of the left-hand-side latch mechanism of the vacuum packaging appliance, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0013]      FIG. 10  is an exploded top plan view  1000  of the left-hand-side latch mechanism of the vacuum packaging appliance, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0014]      FIG. 11  is an exploded isometric view  1100  of the left-hand-side latch mechanism in a retracted position, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0015]      FIG. 12  is an exploded top plan view  1200  of the left-hand-side latch mechanism in a retracted position, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0016]      FIG. 13  is an exploded isometric view  1300  of the right-hand-side latch mechanism and a vacuum release assembly of the vacuum packaging appliance, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0017]      FIG. 14  is an exploded top plan view  1400  of the right-hand-side latch mechanism and the vacuum release assembly of the vacuum packaging appliance, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0018]      FIG. 15  is an exploded isometric view  1700  of the right-hand-side latch mechanism in a retracted position and the vacuum release assembly, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0019]      FIG. 16  is an exploded top plan view  1800  of the right-hand-side latch mechanism in a retracted position and the vacuum release assembly, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0020]      FIG. 17  is an exploded isometric view  1900  of the right-hand-side latch mechanism with the vacuum release mechanism in an open position, according to certain embodiments;  
         [0021]      FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19  are isometric views of the vacuum release assembly, according to certain embodiments.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]     A vacuum packaging appliance with a latch and release lever mechanisms is described. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view  100  that illustrates a vacuum packaging appliance  100  with lid closed, according to certain embodiments.  FIG. 1  shows a lid  102  in a closed position over a base  104 .  FIG. 1  also shows a control panel  106  for operating the vacuum packaging appliance.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view  200  that illustrates the vacuum packaging appliance with lid  202  in a partially open position, according to certain embodiments. Lid  202  includes a seal-assembly that is attached to the underside of lid  202 . The seal assembly includes: 1) a top portion  216  of a vacuum chamber with an elastomeric seal  216   a  around the perimeter of top portion  216  of the vacuum chamber, 2) a latch mechanism  218 , and 3) a release lever  220 . The top portion of the vacuum chamber  216  fits over a drip tray  210  which forms the bottom portion of the vacuum chamber. Drip tray  210  has an elastomeric seal  212  around its perimeter. Base  204  includes a latch-strike  222 , a sealing strip  214  and optionally includes a bag storage compartment  208 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view  300  showing the latch mechanism  350  and a section of the seal-assembly of the vacuum packaging appliance, according to certain embodiments.  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is an exploded isometric view  450  of the latch mechanism and a section of the seal-assembly of  FIG. 3 , according to certain embodiments.  FIG. 4  shows a section of lever bar  452  and latch  454 . When lever bar  452  is lifted, the lever bar rotates upwards away from the base of the appliance. As the lever bar rotates upwards, the latch piece is retracted as described in greater detail herein with reference to  FIGS. 11, 12 ,  17  and  18 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view  500  illustrating a latch-strike mechanism  550  and a section of the seal-assembly of the vacuum packaging appliance, according to certain embodiments.  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is an exploded isometric view  650  of the latch-strike mechanism and a section of the seal-assembly of  FIG. 5 , according to certain embodiments.  FIG. 6  shows a section of release lever  652 , a latch-strike  656  protruding through a side wall  658  of base  655  of the vacuum packaging appliance.  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view  700  of the seal-assembly, according to certain embodiments.  FIG. 7  shows a cover plate  750 , release lever  752 , cam pieces  760   a ,  760   b  protruding through slot on cover plate  750 , a vacuum release paddle  764 , vacuum tube fittings  762   a,    762   b,  and top portion  716  of the vacuum chamber  717 . Cam pieces  760   a,    760   b  are attached to release lever  752 . As release lever  752  is rotated, the cam pieces are caused to rotate as explained in greater detail herein with reference to  FIGS. 11, 12 ,  17  and  18 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view  800  of the seal-assembly with cover plate  850  removed, according to certain embodiments.  FIG. 8  shows release lever  852 , cam pieces  860   a,    860   b,  a vacuum release paddle  864 , vacuum tube fittings  862   a ,  862   b , top portion  816  of the vacuum chamber  817 , and latches  866   a,  and  866   b.    
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is an exploded isometric view  900  of the left-hand-side latch mechanism of the vacuum packaging appliance, according to certain embodiments.  FIG. 9  shows:  
         [0032]     1) a release lever  952   
         [0033]     2) a left-hand-side cam piece  960   a  attached to the release lever  952 ,  
         [0034]     3) a left-hand-side latch  966   a  with slot  967  that has a sloped edge  968 ,  
         [0035]     4) stems  971   a  and  971   b;  and  
         [0036]     5) springs  970   a  and  970   b  covering stems  971   a  and  971   b,  respectively.  
         [0037]     Latch  966   a  protrudes out of the seal assembly. Springs  970   a  and  970   b  are biased against latch  966   a  to keep the latch in the protruding position. The lid is locked into a closed position when the latches on the lid travel past corresponding latch-strikes (not shown in  FIG. 9 ) on the side walls of base of the vacuum packaging appliance.  
         [0038]      FIG. 10  is an exploded top plan view  1000  of the left-hand-side latch mechanism of the vacuum packaging appliance, according to certain embodiments.  FIG. 10  shows:  
         [0039]     1) a release lever  1052   
         [0040]     2) a left-hand-side cam piece  1060   a  attached to the release lever  1052 ,  
         [0041]     3) a left-hand-side latch  1066   a  with slot  1067  that has a sloped edge  1068 ,  
         [0042]     4) stems  1071   a  and  1071   b,  and  
         [0043]     5) springs  1070   a  and  1070   b  covering stems  1071   a  and  1071   b,  respectively.  
         [0044]     Further,  FIG. 10  shows a left-hand-side vacuum tube fitting  1062   a . Vacuum tube fitting  1062   a  is attached to a vacuum sensor, according to certain embodiments.  
         [0045]      FIG. 11  is an exploded isometric view  1100  of the left-hand-side latch mechanism in a retracted position, according to certain embodiments.  FIG. 11  shows:  
         [0046]     1) a release lever  1152   
         [0047]     2) a left-hand-side cam piece  1160   a  attached to the release lever  1152 ,  
         [0048]     3) a left-hand-side latch  1166   a  with slot  1167  that has a sloped edge  1168 ,  
         [0049]     4) stems  1171   a  and  1171   b , and  
         [0050]     5) springs  1170   a  and  1170   b  covering stems  1171   a  and  1171   b,  respectively.  
         [0051]     In  FIG. 11 , left-hand-side latch  1166   a  is caused to be in a retracted position when release lever  1152  is lifted, i.e., rotated upwards away from the base of the vacuum packaging appliance. When release lever  1152  is lifted, the release lever causes cam piece  1160  to impinge against sloped edge  1168 . When cam piece  1160  impinges against sloped edge  1168 , a side force is created that causes latch  1166   a  to push against springs  1170   a  and  1170   b,  thus positioning latch  1166   a  in a retracted position.  
         [0052]      FIG. 12  is an exploded top plan view  1200  of the left-hand-side latch mechanism in a retracted position, according to certain embodiments.  FIG. 12  shows:  
         [0053]     1) a release lever  1252   
         [0054]     2) a left-hand-side cam piece  1260   a  attached to the release lever  1252 ,  
         [0055]     3) a left-hand-side latch  1266   a  with slot  1267  that has a sloped edge  1268 ,  
         [0056]     4) stems  1271   a  and  1271   b , and  
         [0057]     5) springs  1270   a  and  1270   b  covering stems  1271   a  and  1271   b,  respectively.  
         [0058]      FIG. 13  is an exploded isometric view  1300  of the right-hand-side latch mechanism and a vacuum release assembly of the vacuum packaging appliance, according to certain embodiments.  FIG. 13  shows:  
         [0059]     1) a release lever  1352   
         [0060]     2) a right-hand-side cam piece  1360   b  attached to the release lever  1352 ,  
         [0061]     3) a right-hand-side latch  1366   b  with slot  1367  that has a sloped edge  1368 ,  
         [0062]     4) stems  1371   c  and  1371   d,    
         [0063]     5) springs  1370   c  and  1370   d  covering stems  1371   c  and  1371   d , respectively,  
         [0064]     6) a vacuum release paddle  1372  with an elastomeric pad  1374 ;  
         [0065]     7) stems  1376 ,  1378  attached to vacuum release paddle  1372 ;  
         [0066]     8) springs  1377  and  1370   c  covering stems  1376  and  1378 , respectively,  
         [0067]     9) right-hand-side vacuum tube fitting  1362   b  with aperture  1363 . Vacuum tube fitting  1362   b  is attached to a vacuum pump, according to certain embodiments.  
         [0068]      FIG. 13  shows the vacuum release paddle  1372  in a default position where elastomeric pad  1374  closes aperture  1363  of vacuum tube fitting  1362   b.  Such a default position is caused by spring  1377 . Spring  1377  is biased against the vacuum release paddle  1372  and pushes the vacuum release paddle against aperture  1363  of vacuum tube fitting  1362   b.    
         [0069]      FIG. 14  is an exploded top plan view  1400  of the right-hand-side latch mechanism and the vacuum release assembly of the vacuum packaging appliance, according to certain embodiments.  FIG. 14  shows:  
         [0070]     1) a release lever  1452   
         [0071]     2) a right-hand-side cam piece  1460   b  attached to the release lever  1452 ,  
         [0072]     3) a right-hand-side latch  1466   b  with slot  1467  that has a sloped edge  1468 ,  
         [0073]     4) stems  1471   c  and  1471   d,    
         [0074]     5) springs  1470   c  and  1470   d  covering stems  1471   c  and  1471   d,  respectively,  
         [0075]     6) a vacuum release paddle  1472  with an elastomeric pad  1474 ;  
         [0076]     7) stems  1476 ,  1478  attached to vacuum release paddle  1472 ;  
         [0077]     8) springs  1477  and  1470   c  covering stems  1476  and  1478 , respectively,  
         [0078]     9) right-hand-side vacuum tube fitting  1462   b  with aperture  1463 . Vacuum tube fitting  1462   b  is attached to a vacuum pump, according to certain embodiments.  
         [0079]      FIG. 15  is an exploded isometric view  1700  of the right-hand-side latch mechanism in a retracted position and the vacuum release assembly, according to certain embodiments.  FIG. 17  shows:  
         [0080]     1) a release lever  1752   
         [0081]     2) a right-hand-side cam piece  1760   b  attached to the release lever  1752 ,  
         [0082]     3) a right-hand-side latch  1766   b  with slot  1767  that has a sloped edge  1768 ,  
         [0083]     4) stems  1771   c  and  1771   d,    
         [0084]     5) springs  1770   c  and  1770   d  covering stems  1771   c  and  1771   d,  respectively,  
         [0085]     6) a vacuum release paddle  1772  with an elastomeric pad  1774 ;  
         [0086]     7) stems  1776 ,  1778  attached to vacuum release paddle  1772 ;  
         [0087]     8) springs  1777  and  1770   c  covering stems  1776  and  1778 , respectively,  
         [0088]     9) right-hand-side vacuum tube fitting  1762   b  with vent aperture  1763 .  
         [0000]     Vacuum tube fitting  1762   b  is attached to a vacuum pump, according to certain embodiments.  
         [0089]      FIG. 15  shows the vacuum release paddle  1772  in a vacuum release position where elastomeric pad  1774  is pulled away from vent aperture  1763  of vacuum tube fitting  1762   b.  Vent aperture  1763  vents to the atmosphere outside the vacuum packaging apparatus. Such a vacuum release position is caused by lifting release lever  1752 . When release lever  1752  is lifted, the release lever causes cam piece  1760   b  to impinge against sloped edge  1768 . When cam piece  1760  impinges against sloped edge  1768 , a side force is created that causes latch  1766   b  to push against springs  1770   c  and  1770   d . The release lever causes cam piece  1760   b  to impinge against sloped edge  1768 . In other words, when cam piece  1760   b  impinges against sloped edge  1768 , a side force is created that causes latch  1766   b  to compress the springs  1770   c  and  1770   d , thus positioning latch  1766   b  in a retracted position. When latch  1766   b  is in a retracted position, the stem  1771   c  pushes against the stem  1778 , thus pushing the vacuum release paddle  1772  and corresponding elastomeric pad  1774  away from vacuum tube fitting  1762   b.    
         [0090]      FIG. 16  is an exploded top plan view  1800  of the right-hand-side latch mechanism in a retracted position and the vacuum release assembly, according to certain embodiments.  FIG. 16  shows:  
         [0091]     1) a release lever  1852   
         [0092]     2) a right-hand-side cam piece  1860   b  attached to the release lever  1852 ,  
         [0093]     3) a right-hand-side latch  1866   b  with slot  1867  that has a sloped edge  1868 ,  
         [0094]     4) stems  1871   c  and  1871   d,    
         [0095]     5) springs  1870   c  and  1870   d  covering stems  1871   c  and  1871   d , respectively,  
         [0096]     6) a vacuum release paddle  1872  with an elastomeric pad  1874 ;  
         [0097]     7) stems  1876 ,  1878  attached to vacuum release paddle  1872 ;  
         [0098]     8) springs  1877  and  1870   c  covering stems  1876  and  1878 , respectively,  
         [0099]     9) right-hand-side vacuum tube fitting  1862   b  with aperture  1863 . Vacuum tube fitting  1862   b  is attached to a vacuum pump, according to certain embodiments.  
         [0100]      FIG. 17  is an exploded isometric view  1900  of the right-hand-side latch mechanism with the vacuum release mechanism in an open position, according to certain embodiments.  FIG. 17  shows:  
         [0101]     1) a release lever  1952   
         [0102]     2) a right-hand-side cam piece  1960   b  attached to the release lever  1952 ,  
         [0103]     3) a right-hand-side latch  1966   b  with slot  1967  that has a sloped edge  1968 ,  
         [0104]     4) stems  1971   c  and  1971   d,    
         [0105]     5) springs  1970   c  and  1970   d  covering stems  1971   c  and  1971   d,  respectively,  
         [0106]     6) a vacuum release paddle  1972  with an elastomeric pad  1974 ;  
         [0107]     7) stems  1976 ,  1978  attached to vacuum release paddle  1972 ;  
         [0108]     8) springs  1977  and  1970   c  covering stems  1976  and  1978 , respectively,  
         [0109]     9) right-hand-side vacuum tube fitting  1962   b  with aperture  1963 . Vacuum tube fitting  1962   b  is attached to a vacuum pump, according to certain embodiments.  
         [0110]      FIG. 17  shows the vacuum release paddle  1972  in a vacuum release position where elastomeric pad  1974  is pulled away from aperture  1963  of vacuum tube fitting  1962   b  when latch  1966   b  is in the retracted position.  
         [0111]      FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19  are isometric views of the vacuum release assembly.  FIG. 18  shows vacuum release paddle  2072  with elastomeric pad  2074 , rear stem  2076  and fore stem  2078 .  FIG. 19  shows vacuum release paddle  2172  with elastomeric pad  2174 , rear stem  2176  and fore stem  2178 .  
         [0112]     In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to numerous specific details that may vary from implementation to implementation. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.