Abstract:
The present invention provides an improved automatic suction structure of a vacuum container. The structure includes a pumping unit, a power supply, a vacuum releaser and a vacuum detector. The structure allows for automatic air suction, automatic detection, safety power disconnection and continuous vacuuming as well as easy operation. The present invention guarantees improved quality and convenient operation.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not applicable. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to an improved automatic suction structure of a vacuum container, and more particularly to an automatic suction structure of vacuum container which comprises of a power supply, a pumping unit, a vacuum detector and a vacuum releaser. The container allows for automatic air suction, automatic detection, safety power disconnection and continuous vacuuming as well as easy operation. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Conventional airtight containers are commonly used to accommodate food products or precision devices. While a vacuum pump extracts air from the container via a one-way valve, a negative pressure for reliable adsorption of container is formed. However, since it is difficult for a vacuum pump to maintain air tightness with the container during the actual sealing and operation, the air suction effect is often poor, or leads to failure due to air leakage. 
   For a typical structure of the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,870, entitled “Automatic Suction Structure of a Vacuum Container” is shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . The suction device  20  comprises a motor  21 , a deceleration gear set  22  driven by the motor  21 , a connection rod  23  actuated by the deceleration gear set  22 , a suction pump  24 , a piston rod  25  disposed slidably in the suction pump  24  such that one end of the piston rod  25  is fastened with the connection rod  23 , a piston  26  fastened with other end of the piston rod  25 , and an air-exhausting valve  27 . 
   Problems are found from such a prior art structure during actual application. First, due to complexity of the air extractor structure and assembly procedure of deceleration gear set  2  and coupled actuating arm  3 , the assembly requires a time-consuming and tedious process. Time is wasted and costs the favor of the operators. 
   Since the air extractor is equipped with continuously-running deceleration gear sets  2 , the swinging motion of gear sets will lead to defects in the air extractor  8 . 
   Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve the efficacy. 
   To this end, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   There are shortcomings in the prior art as discussed herein. The present invention is a suction structure of a vacuum container  90  comprising a pumping unit  60 , power supply  50 , vacuum releaser  80  and a vacuum detector  70 . Thus, container  90  allows for automatic air suction, automatic detection, safety power disconnection, continuous vacuuming, as well as easy operation. Another benefit of the present invention is that the suction pump  63  extracts air in the container via a suction pipe  61  and a check valve  62 , thereby achieving easy operation with a simple structure. 
   Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of the operation of the conventional suction device. 
       FIG. 2  shows another schematic view of the operation of the conventional suction device. 
       FIG. 3  shows an exploded perspective view of the suction structure of a vacuum container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the suction structure of a vacuum container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  shows an exploded perspective view of the vacuum detector of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the vacuum detector of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  shows an exploded perspective view of the vacuum releaser of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the vacuum releaser of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  shows a partial sectional and elevation view of the pumping unit of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  shows a sectional view of the operation of the vacuum detector of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  shows another sectional view of the operation of the vacuum detector of the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  shows a sectional view of the operation of the vacuum releaser of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  shows another sectional view of the operation of the vacuum releaser of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIGS. 3-13  depict preferred embodiments of an automatic suction structure of vacuum container of the present invention, which are provided only for explanatory purposes. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  9 , the present invention comprises a vacuum container  10 , which has an open end  11  facing upwards. 
   There is a container  90 , which is comprised of a middle container  20 , an upper container  30  and a lower plate  40 . The container  90  is mounted into open end  11  of vacuum container  10 . A power supply fixer  21  is placed at a preset location of middle container  20 , and a suction pump fixer  22  is placed at the other side. A suction hole  23  is placed at one side of suction pump fixer  22 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . A discharge hole  25  and a detection hole  24  are separately placed at one side of middle container  20 , while locking parts  27  are arranged around the bottom of middle container  20 . Linking parts  26  are arranged around the top. Liner locks  36  are arranged around an inner surface of upper container  30 , such that the linking parts  26  are mounted onto the middle container  20 . A discharger fixer  32  is mounted onto a preset location of upper container  30 . The discharger fixer  32  is fitted with a discharger  33 , at bottom of which there is a slideway  34 . A vacuum detection punch hole  31  is mounted onto a preset location of upper container  30 , and a lower plate  40  is rightly installed at the bottom of middle container  20 . There is a hole  41  at the center of lower plate  40 , and some snappers  42  are arranged around the lower plate  40  to match locking parts  27  of middle container  20 . 
   A power supply  50  is located in the power supply fixer  21  of the middle container  20 . The power supply  50  may be a battery. A power supply side cover  35  is mounted onto a location of upper container  30  matching the power supply  50 . 
   A pumping unit  60 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , is located onto a suction pump fixer  22  of the middle container  20 . The pumping unit  60  comprises a suction pump  63 , a suction pipe  61  and a check valve  62 . Suction connector  64  of the suction pump  63  is air-tightly linked to suction hole  23  of middle container  20  via a suction pipe  61  and a check valve  62 . Suction pump  63  electrically activates or deactivates pumping unit  60  through a power supply  50 . 
   A vacuum detector  70 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  9 , is mounted into detection hole  24  of the middle container  20 . The vacuum detector  70  comprises a vacuum detector unit  71 , a flexible pressure cylinder  74 , a spring  75 , a base  76  and a circuit breaker  79 . The circuit breaker  79  is located at middle container  20  to switch-on/off the power supply  50 . The base  76  is fitted into detection hole  24  of middle container  20 , and retractable part  77  of base  76  is provided with a guide hole  78 , which is smoothly linked to the detection hole  24 . A spring  75 , a flexible pressure cylinder  74  and a vacuum detector unit  71  are sequentially sleeved into preset locations corresponding to the base  76 . At the end of vacuum detector unit  71  is a retractable end  73 , which can be inserted into vacuum detection punch hole  31  of upper container  30 . At one side of vacuum detector unit  71 , there is an actuating end  72 , which permits flexible pressure cylinder  74  to generate downward suction via inner vacuum pressure of detection hole  24 . The flexible pressure cylinder  74  is closely fastened into vacuum detector unit  71 , such that actuating end  72  of vacuum detector unit  71  can move downwards to activate circuit breaker  79 . 
   A vacuum releaser  80 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  9 , is located between discharger  33  of upper container  30  and discharge hole  25  of middle container  20 . The vacuum releaser  80  comprises an interlock  81 , a switch  88 , a sealer  86  and a return spring  87 , of which a guide groove  82  is located at top of interlock  81  opposite to slideway  34  of discharger  33 . With the knob of discharger  33 , slideway  34  at the bottom of discharger  33  can swing downwards and apply an oblique force to guide groove  82  of interlock  81 , such that the interlock  81  moves downwards. At one side of interlock  81 , there is a trigger unit  83  corresponding to switch  88 . The switch  88  is located on middle container  20  and is used to switch-on/-off power supply  50 . At the bottom of interlink, there is a guide post.  84 , which can be rightly guided into discharge hole  25  of middle container  20 . A circular groove  85  is fixed at a preset location of guide post  84 , where a sealer  86  can be located. A return spring  87  is sleeved into the guide post  84  as a support around discharge hole  25 . When the discharger  33  is pressurized downwards, the sealer  86  of interlock  81  will separate from discharge hole  25 . The return spring  87  enables interlock  81  to move upwards, such that the sealer  86  of guide post  84  of interlock  81  is returned into discharge hole  25  for an air-tight state. With the swinging control of discharger  33 , the vacuum releaser  80  could open or close air-tight discharge hole  25 , and switch-on/-off the power supply  50 . 
   Based upon above-specified structural design, the present invention is operated as described herein. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 9-11 , when pumping unit  60  is activated by power supply  50 , the pumping unit  60  is linked to one end of suction pipe  61  via a suction connector  64 , check valve  62 , and suction hole  23  of middle container  20  at the other end of suction pipe  61 . As such, air within vacuum container  10  is extracted upwards via hole  41  of lower plate  40 . When air flows through suction hole  23 , a check valve  62  of suction hole  23  permits only a one-way air extraction. When pumping unit  60  continuously operates to generate a saturated vacuum within the vacuum container  10 , the detection hole  24  within vacuum detector  70  will generate a vacuum suction force. With the help of vacuum suction force, the guide hole  78  at retractable part  77  of base  76  will drive flexible pressure cylinder  74  for downward suction. And, one end of flexible pressure cylinder  74  is tightly fastened into the vacuum detector unit  71 , such that flexible pressure cylinder  74  can move synchronously with vacuum detector unit  71 . Since retractable end  73  at the end of vacuum detector unit  71  is extended into vacuum detection punch hole  31  of upper container  30 , the users can identify easily vacuum state within vacuum container  10  via the retractable end  73 . Moreover, an actuating end  72  is extended from the lateral flange of vacuum detector unit  71 . In the case of saturation within vacuum container  10 , the flexible pressure cylinder  74  will suck air continuously via vacuum suction force. Meanwhile, the vacuum detector unit  71  moves downwards, and actuating end  72  will trigger the circuit breaker  79  to switch off power supply  50  for higher energy efficiency. In the absence of vacuum and vacuum suction force of the vacuum container  10 , the flexible pressure cylinder  74  is returned to a normal state, and the spring  75  will support a flexible pressure cylinder  74  and a coupled vacuum detector unit  71  (as shown in  FIG. 11 ). In such case, actuating end  72  of vacuum detector unit  71  has moved upwards, and also is separated from circuit breaker  79 , such that the power supply  50  enables the pumping unit  60  to run continuously and maintain vacuum state of vacuum container  10 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 9 ,  12 , and  13 , when a user intends to open the container  90 , the user must release the vacuum pressure due to the vacuum state of vacuum container  10 . First, the user shall manually pull the discharger  33  of upper container  30  for bottom swinging. Then, the swinging discharger  33  will obliquely press down on the interlock  81 . The guide post  84  of interlock  81  is provided with a sealer  86 , which is tightly fitted into discharge hole  25  of middle container  20 . When the discharger  33  presses down on the interlock  81 , and guide post  84  of interlock  81  forces down, the sealer  86  on guide post  84  is separated from inner wall of discharge hole  25 , such that the vacuum pressure of vacuum container  10  is released. And, when interlock  81  forces down, the trigger unit  83  of interlock  81  will trigger the switch  88  to cut off the power supply  50  of pumping unit  60 . When the container  90  is covered, the discharger  33  can be manually rotated into an original state, such that the slideway  34  at the bottom of discharger  33  is horizontally placed. When the return spring  87  supports the interlock  81 , the sealer  86  of interlock  81  will be tightly fitted into inner wall of discharge hole  25 , such that vacuum container  10  is placed in an airtight state. Since the interlock  81  supports upwards, the trigger unit  83  of interlock  81  is separated from switch  88 , such that power supply  50  can continue to drive pumping unit  60  for a normal operation.