Abstract:
A portable vacuum unit for use with a resealable, evacuable container, comprising a vacuum pump housed within a body, an accumulator removably coupled to the body and in fluid communication with a vacuum port of the body, the accumulator comprising a receptacle, a tip, wherein a first end of the tip is coupled to a first end of the receptacle and in fluid communication therewith, the tip having a shape which facilitates interaction with a valve on the resealable, evacuable container, the tip comprising at least one support structure and a semi-rigid material coupled to a second end of the tip.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/566,377 which claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/862,396, filed Oct. 20, 2006, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/186,131, filed Jul. 20, 2005, which is related to and claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60/590,858, 60/602,685, and 60/609,920, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
       [0002]    This application includes material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       FIELD 
       [0003]    The instant disclosure relates to the field of vacuum pumps for use with flexible containers, and more particularly, for hand-held vacuum pumps for use with resealable, disposable, evacuable plastic bags. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    Plastic materials have several characteristics that make them advantageous for use in a wide variety of applications. For example, many plastic materials are relatively inert, and can thus be used to store a variety of materials, including foodstuffs. Plastics also have a relatively high strength to weight ratio, can be made opaque or transparent, and can be made water and/or air tight. Because of these characteristics, plastics are used in almost every aspect of modern life. 
         [0005]    One such use of plastics is as storage containers, and especially food storage bags. Because plastic is inert, plastic food storage bags can be used to store acidic foods, such as those containing tomato sauces, vinegars, and the like, for extended periods of time without concern that the bag will break down. The food storage bags can also be made essentially transparent, thereby permitting a user to easily see what is stored inside the bag. The high strength to weight ratio also means that the bag can store relatively heavy foods, such as meats, dense vegetables, and the like, without fear of the bag breaking while the bag and its contents are being moved. In addition, given the waterproof nature of such plastic bags, they are ideal for containing both solids and liquids. 
         [0006]    One problem with plastic food storage bags is that they trap air inside the bag with the food. Such air provides oxygen, water, and other chemicals needed by bacteria and other microorganisms to facilitate breaking down (i.e. spoiling) of the bag&#39;s contents. The air also allows ice crystals to form on the food when the bag is placed in a freezer. Such ice crystals can cause “freezer burn”, which is undesirable for consumers. 
         [0007]    Some in the prior art, such as the Food Saver line of plastic food storage bags and related equipment distributed by Jarden Corporation of Rye, N.Y., have addressed this by creating a bag whose open end is placed into a specialized apparatus. The apparatus draws the air from the bag though the open end, and then electronically welds the plastic bag closed. Although such a system is advantageous, the bags are essentially one-time-use products, are sometimes awkward to handle, and cannot be resealed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/168,131, assigned to the assignee of the instant disclosure, describes, in one embodiment, a resealable, evacuable bag for storing food and the like comprising a valve incorporated into the wall of the bag, a stand-off structure which facilitates airflow within the bag, and a resealable closure. The instant disclosure relates to a portable vacuum pump unit for use with such bags and other containers that facilitates opening the valve and drawing air, liquids, and/or other fluids from the bag. Accordingly, the instant disclosure is directed to a portable vacuum pump unit that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
         [0009]    Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from this disclosure or may be learned by practice thereof. The objectives and other advantages will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in this written description, including any claims contained herein and the appended drawings. 
         [0010]    An embodiment of portable vacuum unit for use with a resealable, evacuable container, comprises a body, wherein a vacuum pump is housed within the body, the vacuum pump comprising an intake port and an exhaust port, wherein the body comprises a vacuum port in fluid communication with the intake port of the vacuum pump, and wherein the body further comprises an exhaust port in fluid communication with the exhaust port of the vacuum pump; an accumulator, wherein the accumulator is removably coupled to the body and in fluid communication with the vacuum port of the body, the accumulator comprising: a receptacle comprising a first end and a second end; and, a tip comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the tip is coupled to the first end of the receptacle and in fluid communication therewith, the tip having a shape which facilitates interaction with a valve on the resealable, evacuable container, the tip comprising: at least one support structure; and, a semi-rigid material coupled to a second end of the tip. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment, an adhesive may couple the semi-rigid material to the second end of the tip. In an embodiment, suitable semi-rigid material can include, without limitation, black nitrile (Buna-N) elastomer with a nominal 70 durometer hardness, neoprene, silicone, or other lower durometer flexible material, and may take the form of an O-ring. In an embodiment, the O-ring may be press-fit into a channel in the tip. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment, the tip may comprise a plurality of support structures. Such support structures may include, but are not limited to, a plurality of ribs. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment, the accumulator may further comprise a liquid separator, wherein the liquid separator is in fluid communication with the tip and the vacuum port of the pump body. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, the first end of the tip can be coupled to the first end of the receptacle by way of a flexible conduit. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, the vacuum pump can be powered by one or more rechargeable and/or disposable batteries, which can be stored within the pump body. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, manufacturing efficiencies can be realized by adding the semi-rigid material to the pump tip, rather than to the valve, because only a single application of the semi-rigid material is necessary on the pump tip. By contrast, essentially the same quantity of semi-rigid material must be added to each valve on each bag. Although such manufacturing efficiencies can present a significant cost savings, in an embodiment, the semi-rigid material may be applied as a surface treatment or adhered to the valve, thus obviating the need for such material on the pump tip. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosed portable vacuum pump unit and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of at least one embodiment of the disclosed portable vacuum pump unit. 
           [0018]    In the drawings: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary vacuum pump unit embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of an exemplary vacuum pump unit embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a top view of an exemplary vacuum pump unit embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top view of an exemplary resealable, evacuable container embodiment. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an exemplary accumulator embodiment. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the exemplary accumulator embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosed vacuum pump interface, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary vacuum pump unit embodiment  100 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  provide bottom and top views thereof. The illustrated vacuum pump unit  100  comprises a pump body  110 . In an embodiment, vacuum pump unit  100  may be battery powered, and pump body  110  may comprise a removable cover  115  such that a user can change the batteries stored within pump body  110 . In an alternative embodiment, vacuum pump unit  100  may utilize one or more rechargeable batteries, and pump body  110  may be sealed to reduce the likelihood that external contaminants may enter pump body  110  and impact the performance of such batteries. In an embodiment, the lower pump surface, illustrated as part of cover  115  in  FIG. 3 , may be flat or slightly concave, thereby permitting vacuum pump unit  100  to stand on such surface. This can permit the vacuum pump unit to be stored on a countertop or other such location without taking up as much space as if the vacuum pump unit were stored on its side. 
         [0027]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , pump body  110  may also comprise one or more vacuum pumps of traditional design (not shown). Such vacuum pumps generally have an intake port and an exhaust port. The intake port is the source of the vacuum created by such a pump, and receives gases or liquids (referred to herein generally as “fluids”) from a desired source. The received gases or liquids are expelled by the vacuum pump through the exhaust port. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , pump body  110  comprises an intake port  118  which is in fluid communication with the vacuum pump intake port. Pump body  110  may also comprise exhaust port  112  which is in fluid communication with the vacuum pump exhaust port. 
         [0028]    Vacuum pump unit  100  further comprises accumulator  120 . Accumulator  120  can be removably coupled to pump body  110 . This allows accumulator  120  to be cleaned, and permits access to intake port  118  in the event intake port  118  becomes clogged. 
         [0029]    In the illustrated embodiment, accumulator  120  comprises a tip  130 , which is in fluid communication with receptacle portion  126  of accumulator  120 . As a vacuum is drawn, such as by the user pressing button  116 , fluid enters vacuum pump unit  100  through tip  130 , and is drawn through receptacle  126  and into intake port  118 . In an embodiment, tip  130  may be connected to receptacle  126  by way of a flexible conduit  124 . The flexibility of conduit  124  can help tip  130  maintain a proper orientation with respect to any resealable, evacuable containers on which the tip is placed, despite changes in the angle of vacuum pump unit  100  as a whole. In an embodiment, conduit  124  can permit pump body  110  to be moved through approximately one hundred eighty degrees relative to tip  130 , without causing tip  130  to become unseated. 
         [0030]    After fluid enters tip  130 , it may pass through liquid separator  122  prior to reaching intake port  118 . Liquid separator  122  can help separate liquids from air or other gases in the fluid, thereby limiting the amount of such liquids that can enter intake port  118 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary resealable, evacuable container embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , container  400  comprises a resealable closure  420 . Such a seal may comprise a plurality of interlocking members, such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/186,131, which is incorporated by reference herein. Container  400  may also comprise at least one valve  410 , and at least one stand-off structure  430 , such as the stand-off structures described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/186,131. Valve  410  can be a one-way valve, which permits fluid to be evacuated from container  200 . In an embodiment, valve  410  may be operable only when an external vacuum is exerted thereon. 
         [0032]    Stand-off structure  430  can comprise a plurality of interconnected ridges and/or valleys, and can allow fluid to pass from the storage portion of container  400  through valve  410 . Stand-off structure  430  can permit such fluid movement despite the shape of any material stored in container  400 , and may retain its shape even under vacuum, thereby permitting the sides of container  400  to be drawn tight under vacuum, even proximate to valve  410 . Although illustrated as extending across only a portion of container  400 , alternative stand-off structure embodiments may be substituted therefor without departing from the spirit or the scope of the disclosed portable vacuum pump. By way of example, without limitation, the stand-off structure may extend from the top of container  400  to the bottom (i.e. “vertically”), rather than horizontally as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Similarly, stand-off structure  430  may have a small surface area relative to that of container  400 , such as, without limitation, a patch of stand-off structures which are adhesively bonded to container  400  proximate to valve  410 . In an embodiment, stand-off structure  430  may comprise a plurality of holes or other perforations through which fluid can pass. 
         [0033]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , tip  130  may comprise a plurality of ribs or other structural supports  132 . Such supports can enable tip  130  to maintain a desired shape, even as a vacuum is drawn. This can allow tip  130  to activate valve  410  of  FIG. 4  and to continue such activation as the vacuum is drawn. Supports  132  can also reduce the likelihood that portions of valve  410  will obstruct tip  130 . 
         [0034]    Tip  130  may also comprise O-ring  134  or other, similar semi-rigid material. The semi-rigid material can extend slightly from tip  130 , and thus provide a deformable interface between valve  410  and tip  130 . The use of a semi-rigid material on tip  130  can thus permit tip  130  to form a tight seal with valve  410 . In an embodiment, O-ring  134  may comprise black nitrile (Buna-N) elastomer with a nominal 70 durometer hardness, silicone, neoprene, or other flexible material, and may be adhesively bonded to tip  130  (as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) or may be press-fit into a channel in or near the end of tip  130  (as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 ). In an embodiment, O-ring  134  may be replaced by laminating or otherwise coating at least the end of tip  130  with a semi-rigid material, such as, without limitation, silicone. In an embodiment, the semi-rigid material should be FDA approved as food safe. In an embodiment, the semi-rigid material may be slightly tacky or have an light adhesive applied thereto, thereby helping tip  130  to remain properly positioned proximate to valve  410 . In an embodiment, O-ring  134  should fit within tip  130  in a manner which reduces the formation of hidden and/or inaccessible crevices or other openings within tip  130  that might trap any fluids that pass through tip  130 . 
         [0035]    While detailed and specific embodiments of the vacuum pump interface have been described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the vacuum pump interface. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover these modifications and variations provided they come within the scope of any appended claims and/or their equivalents.