Patent Publication Number: US-2019185307-A1

Title: Vacuum release apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to the release of contents in vacuum sealed containers and, more particularly, to apparatus and methods for equalizing pressure between an ambient pressure and a container pressure to enable contents in the container to be removed. 
     Vacuum sealed containers are frequently used to store food contents. Often, the containers are made of a metal, such as tin-coated steel or aluminum. When the contents are to be used or consumed, a lid can be removed. 
     However, the contents in the container are often vacuumed against the opposite lid. Thus, the contents will not easily release itself from the container. 
     The user is then relegated to shaking the container in an upside down orientation, squeezing the sides of the container, spooning out the contents, or the like. 
     This can lead to frustration and wasted time by the user. 
     Apparatus used in the past to release contents from a vacuumed container is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,328,731. Pre-loading of a spring to move a piercing device is employed. A trigger pin, trigger block and trigger hole allow the spring to move the piercing device towards the container. The number of components is many and subject to deterioration and failure. There is also difficulty in cleaning. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for improved apparatus and methods for equalizing pressure between an ambient pressure and a container pressure to enable contents in the container to be removed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a vacuum release apparatus comprises a compressible housing; and a puncture component in the housing; wherein the puncture component is configured to move as the housing is compressed. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for releasing contents from a container comprises a housing configured to move between an activated position and a non-activated position; and a puncture component stationarily fixed in the housing. 
     In a further aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for equalizing pressure between an ambient pressure and a container pressure consists of a housing; a piercing element having a piercing portion that is configured to move between a piercing position and a non-piercing position; wherein the piercing element is configured to move in the absence of a spring and piston. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vacuum release apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a housing of a vacuum release apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side, planar view of a housing of a vacuum release apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a housing of a vacuum release apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a puncture component of a vacuum release apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side, planar view of a puncture component of a vacuum release apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of a puncture component of a vacuum release apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8A  is a side, planar view of the vacuum release apparatus in a non-activated position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8B  is a side, planar view of the vacuum release apparatus in an activated position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or may only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below. 
     Broadly, the present invention provides apparatus and methods for equalizing pressure between an ambient pressure and a container pressure to enable contents in the container to be removed. The present invention provides a vacuum release apparatus that can include a housing and a puncture component. 
     Generally, in accordance with the present invention, upon an external application of force to the housing, the housing may compress from a non-activated position to an activated position. Concurrently, the puncture component may move from a non-puncture position to a puncture position. In the puncture position, the puncture component may puncture a container having contents therein. 
     The puncture of the container may enable the pressure inside of the container to equilibrate with the ambient pressure outside of the container. Thereby, contents in the container may be released from an otherwise existent vacuum between the contents and the container surface that was punctured. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a vacuum release apparatus  100  according to the present invention. The apparatus  100  may extend along a longitudinal axis  101 . The apparatus  100  may consist of only a housing  200  and a puncture component  300 . In other words, the apparatus does not rely on additional components, such as a spring or piston, to operate. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , in embodiments, the housing  100  may be a one-piece integral component. The housing  100  may have a generally frusto-conical shape having a longitudinal centerline  207  that lies along the longitudinal axis  101 . The housing  200  may include, at one end thereof, an interfacing portion  202  with a peripheral edge  202   a  and a substantially planar surface  202   b . The interfacing portion  202  can be configured to interface and contact a surface of a container, as further described below. 
     The housing  200  may further include, at an opposite end thereof, an impact portion  203  with a peripheral edge  203   a  and a substantially planar surface  203   c . In embodiments, the peripheral edge  203   a  and the peripheral edge  202   a  may be defined by respective circumferences. In embodiments, the circumference of the peripheral edge  203   a  may be larger than the circumference of the peripheral edge  202   a.    
     In embodiments, the impact portion  203  may optionally include an extended component  203   b . The extended component  203   b  may have a ring-like shape. 
     The housing  200  may additionally include a body portion  201  with a peripheral side  201   a . In embodiments, the peripheral side  201   a  may be angled relative to the longitudinal axis  101   a  and defined by a changing circumference. In embodiments, the changing circumference may be from about the circumference of the peripheral edge  202   a  and transition to about the circumference of the peripheral edge  203   a.    
     In embodiments, the housing  200  may be made of a compressive material, such as rubber. In other embodiments, the housing  200  may be made of a flexible material, such as rubber. In further embodiments, the housing  200  may be made of a non-compressive and/or non-flexible material, such as wood. 
     In  FIGS. 5-7 , the puncture component  300  may be fixed in and substantially stationary relative to the housing  200 . That is, the puncture component  300  does not rotate about the longitudinal axis  101  relative to the housing  200 , does not rotate within and relative to the housing  200 , and does not translate along the longitudinal axis  101  relative to the housing  200 . 
     The puncture component  300  may include a piercing element  302  configured to pierce a surface of a container, such as the lid of a container. Moreover, the piercing element  302  may include a piercing portion  302   a  ( FIG. 1 ) that extends out of the housing  200  and is configured to puncture a hole in the surface or lid of the container. 
     The puncture component  300  may further include a first support  301   a . In embodiments, the first support  301   a  may have a disk shape with a peripheral edge  301   c . In embodiments, the peripheral edge  301   c  may be defined by a circumference substantially equal to an interior circumference of the housing  200  near or at the impact portion  203 . 
     The puncture component  300  may additionally include a second support  301   b  that directly interfaces the first support  301   a . In embodiments, the second support  301   b  may have disk shape with a peripheral edge  301   d . In embodiments, the peripheral edge  301   d  may be defined by a circumference less than the circumference of the peripheral edge  301   c.    
     In embodiments, one or both of the first and second supports  301   a ,  301   b  may be made of a compressible and/or flexible material. Thereby, the first and second supports  301   a ,  301   b  may be inserted into the housing  200 . So inserted, the peripheral edges  301   c ,  301   d  may abut the interior surface of the housing  200 . Thereby, the peripheral edges may stationarily fix the puncture component  300  in the housing  200  and position the piercing element  302  (particularly, the piercing portion  302   a ) outside of the housing  200 . 
       FIGS. 8A-B  depict the apparatus  100  in use. In  FIG. 8A , the apparatus  100  is shown adjacent to a container surface  400 , such as the lid of a container. The housing  200  is in a non-activated position. The puncture component  300  is in a non-puncture position which can include the piercing element  302  (in particular, the piercing portion  302   a ) in contact with the surface  400 . As seen in  FIG. 8A , when the housing  200  in the non-activated position, the piercing portion  302   a  extends outside of the housing  200 . 
     In  FIG. 8B , an external application of force to the apparatus  100  may be applied. In embodiments, the applied force may be parallel to and/or along the longitudinal axis  101 . In embodiments, the applied force may be from a user&#39;s hand and/or an instrument such as a mallet. 
     The applied force may then cause the housing  200  to compress and/or flex. In embodiments, the housing  200  may be configured to compress parallel to and/or along the longitudinal axis. The housing may be further configured to enable the compression to move the housing  200  towards the surface  400 , and from the non-activated position to an activated position. Accordingly, such movement is accomplished in the absence of an additional component, such as a spring or piston. 
     Concurrently, the compression of the housing  200  may move the puncture component  300  towards the surface  400 . Moreover, the housing  200  may be configured to move the puncture component  300  (in particular, the piercing component  302 ) from the non-piercing position to a piercing position, in the absence of an additional component, such as a spring or piston. In the piercing position, the piercing portion  302   a  (which is outside of the housing  200 ) has pierced the surface  400 . A resulting hole in the surface  400  allows ambient pressure to equilibrate with interior pressure of the container. Consequently, contents previously vacuumed to the surface  400  are readily released from the surface  400 . 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.