Abstract:
A system, storage bag and method for evacuating air from a convention self-sealing storage bag. An air valve assembly includes inner and outer valve members, the inner valve member being positionable within the storage bag and having a tapered piercing spout adapted to pierce through a flexible panel. The outer valve member has a housing lockingly engagable over the piercing spout protruding outwardly through the panel. A perimeter edge of the housing is sealingly engagable against the bag panel and a mating groove formed into the inner valve member. The inner valve member is configured for temporary sealing engagement against the inner surface of the bag panel as air is removed from the interior of the storage bag out through the piercing spout and housing air outlets by a vacuum pump.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0003]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates generally to storage containers of the type for storing food and other items in an airtight vacuum environment, and more particularly to a system for converting conventional plastic storage bags having a sealable opening into one which may be evacuated of air for vacuum storage of food items. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0007]    Sealable plastic storage bags or “baggies” are found in almost every kitchen in America. These inexpensive disposable plastic storage bags are convenient for preserving the freshness of food items and other goods which have a longer shelf life when stored in this manner. However, it is also well known that a completely air evacuated or vacuum environment for these food items and other goods will further enhance the shelf life and ultimate freshness of the contents stored therein. 
         [0008]    A number of prior art devices and systems are directed to creating a vacuum or airtight environment within a plastic container to accomplish this extended shelf life benefit. U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,445 to Chen discloses a vacuum pump and heat sealer combination device for evacuating air from a thermoplastic bag and sealing food inside the bag. The device is suited for home use and combines a small-scale heat sealer and a small-scale vacuum pump in a battery-powered device. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,402, Russell teaches a vacuum storage system and method in which a lid closure is punctured, a vacuum pump removes atmospheric gas from the container and the lid is sealed with a valve or thin film held in place by adhesive. 
         [0009]    A method and apparatus for vacuum sealing is discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 7,297,860 to Hughes, et al. The device is configured to remove air from zipper-sealed bags and is adapted to communicate with a vacuum source. A self-sealing storage bag includes an adhesive patch constructed as part of the bag is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,397 to Bachhuber. 
         [0010]    Maruscak teaches a household vacuum system for vacuum packing foods in bags in U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,804. The system includes a suction tube and needle valve for penetrating the wall of the container. U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,680 to Lau discloses a battery-powered, hand-held device for evacuating and sealing a plastic bag and Carcano discloses a device and method for creating a vacuum in food-holding bags in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,136. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,217 to Smith discloses a vacuum sealing method and article comprising a hand-held vacuum source for evacuating a zipper-type plastic bag and a design patent to Benedict, U.S. Pat. No. D513,924 teaches a hand-held vacuum apparatus. U.S. published application US2007/0154118 to Tilman, et al. teaches a polymeric package with resealable closure and valve and methods relation thereto. 
         [0012]    The present invention achieves the longer shelf life benefits for vacuum storage of food stuffs and other items in conjunction with a completely conventional inexpensive plastic storage bag or “baggie” on an economically selective basis which greatly enhances the economy and effectiveness of the application of this broad notion of vacuum sealing. 
         [0013]    The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    This invention is directed to a system, air valve assembly and method for evacuating air from the flexible self-sealing storage bag and for permanently maintaining the interior vacuum within the storage bag. An air valve assembly includes an inner valve member and an outer valve member, the inner valve member being positionable within the storage bag and against an inner surface of one flexible panel of the storage bag. The inner valve has a tapered piercing spout adapted to pierce through the flexible panel. The outer valve member has an outer valve housing positionable and lockingly engagable over the piercing spout as or after the piercing spout has penetrated outwardly through the flexible panel. A perimeter edge of the housing is sealingly engagable against the one flexible panel and a mating groove formed into the inner valve member around the piercing spout, the piercing spout having an air outlet in fluid communication with the interior of the storage bag for air evacuation. The inner valve member configured for temporary sealing engagement against the inner surface of the one flexible panel as air is removed from the interior of the storage bag out through the air outlet by activation of a vacuum pump through an air outlet of the housing. 
         [0015]    It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a system for converting virtually any sealable plastic or flexible paneled storage bag into a vacuum-sealed storage container for preserving the freshness of foods. 
         [0016]    It is yet another object of this invention to provide a system for vacuum sealing foods and other products within a sealable plastic storage bag which is easily storable and out of site when not in use. 
         [0017]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide a system for vacuum sealing storage bags which is easily portable and may be taken virtually anywhere while traveling, camping, hiking and the like. 
         [0018]    And yet another object of this invention is to provide a reusable storage arrangement for vacuum storing foods using conventional flexible plastic storage bags or “baggies”. 
         [0019]    The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative and not limiting in scope. In various embodiments one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference of the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention installed into a conventional sealable plastic storage container or “baggie”. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the inner valve member of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is an end elevation view of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a section view in the direction of arrows  7 - 7  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a section view in the direction of arrows  8 - 8  in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a front elevation view of the preferred embodiment of a manual air evacuation pump of the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 15  is a section view in the direction of arrows  15 - 15  in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 16  is a section view in the direction of arrows  16 - 16  in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 17  is a top plan view of a resilient sealing ring. 
           [0037]      FIG. 18  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 17 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 19  is a section view in the direction of arrows  19 - 19  in  FIG. 17 . 
       
    
    
       [0039]    Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in reference figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered to be illustrative rather than limiting. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    Referring now to the drawings, and firstly to  FIGS. 1 to 8 , the system of the invention in combination with a conventional plastic storage container or bag A is there shown generally at numeral  10 . The system  10  includes an air valve assembly  12  which includes an inner valve member  14  and an outer valve member  16  installed into the conventional plastic storage bag or container A. 
         [0041]    Initially, a food item or other storable goods D is placed within the open sealable end C of the bag A. Prior to this, the air valve assembly  12  was assembled onto one of the flexible side panels of the bag B as will be described in more detail in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . After installation of the air valve assembly  12  and insertion of the item D to be vacuum-sealed within the flexible storage bag A, the sealable end C is closed. Thereafter, a vacuum pump is utilized in conjunction with the air valve assembly  12  to evacuate substantially all air from within the sealed storage bag A, again as will be described in more detail herebelow. 
         [0042]    The inner valve member  14  includes a molded plastic piercing spout  50  molded as a unit with a base  32  and further includes a stabilizing base plate  15  generally in the shape of a semi-circular flat disc extending outwardly from the plane of the base  32 . As best seen in  FIG. 8 , after the inner valve member  14  is positioned within the flexible bag B, the piercing spout  50  is automatically positioned against an inner surface of one of the flexible bag panels E and is tapered so as to easily pierce through the panel E by manual pressure inwardly against and immediately around the piercing spout  50 . By placing the other bag panel F of the bag B against a flat surface such as a table or kitchen counter, the base plate  15  may also be manually depressed or held to stabilize the inner valve member  14  within the bag B while this piercing process is accomplished. 
         [0043]    The outer valve member  16 , also formed of molded plastic material, includes a housing  20  having a tubular outlet  30  therefor in a concentric alignment with a continuous preferably planar sealing edge  42  and an outer air chamber  48 . The housing  20  also includes a central longitudinal hole  53  which tightly engages around the cylindrical base  55  of piercing spout  50 . 
         [0044]    As the two valve members  14  and  16  are assembled together into the configuration best seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8  with the inner valve member  14  within the storage bag B, a tight sealing engagement is accomplished between the central hole  53  and the spout base  55  which is secured by an annular bead  18  which snapingly engages into the enlarged bottom of the hollow interior  31  of spout air outlet  30 . Cavities  54  enhance the inward resiliency of retaining bead  18  to facilitate installation and to resiliently enhance retentions between the inner and outer valve members  14  and  16 . 
         [0045]    The interactive dimensions between the height of housing  20  and that of retaining ring  18  are such that a substantial sealing pressure is exerted against the bag panel E between the sealing edge  42  and a sealing groove  44  formed around the piercing spout  50  to substantially trap that portion of the bag panel E therebetween. This arrangement establishes a sealed or closed airflow path from the interior of the storage bag B and the air outlet  30 . To insure that air evacuation from the bag B is complete and unencumbered, spaces between the strengthening ribs  34  of the base plate  15  and air slots  38  between spacers or legs  46  prevent the other bag panel F from blocking the airflow path to an air evacuation port  36  formed through the base  32 . Evacuation of air continues through the inner portion  48 a of the hollow interior  48  of housing  20  into an air passage  56  for exhausting through an air outlet  52  formed centrally through the piercing spout  50 . 
         [0046]    Importantly, as air is evacuated from the bag B as above described, the thin sheet flexible plastic material forming the bag B and panels E collapses inwardly from the position shown in phantom at G surrounding the base  53  of the piercing spout  50  to the position shown in phantom at H. In doing so, this portion of the panel E contacts against ridge  58  formed continuously around the spout base  55  to effect a vacuum seal therebetween. When substantially all of the air has been removed from the bag B, the greatest amount of sealing occurs at this point  58  for a time sufficient for the vacuum pump to be removed from air outlet  30  as described herebelow and for sealing cap  24 , held in spaced relation by tether  28  from housing  20 , to be flexed over upon itself and engaged over the air outlet  30 . The distal end of the air outlet  30  presses against the sealing ring  26  to effect permanent vacuum sealing of the interior of the bag B, the cap  24  being held in this position by mating retaining bead  22  within retaining groove  25 . 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9 to 16 , the preferred embodiment of the air evacuation pump of the system  10  is there shown generally at numeral  60  and includes a molded plastic pump body  62  having finger-engaging handle  64  extending laterally therefrom for activation of the pump  60 . A soft resilient elastomeric valve seat  66  held in place by mating retaining beads  68  within a retaining groove  70  formed within the pump body  62 . The valve seat  66  includes a tapered cavity  92  which matably engages over the outer surface of the air outlet  30  of the outer valve member  16  previously described. This establishes a temporary positive seal therebetween for air evacuation from the bag B as previously described. 
         [0048]    An elongated pump actuator  74  is slidably engagable within the inner bore of the pump body  62 . This relationship is made sealable by a flexible actuator seal  90  which sealingly and biasingly engages against the inner bore of the pump body  62 . An actuator stem  80  is snapably engagable over the distal end of pump actuator  74  by the resilient interengagement between the inwardly extending retaining tabs  94  best seen in  FIGS. 13 and 16  into a retaining groove  78 . Note that there is an air clearance or passageway  102  between the inner surface of the actuator stem  80  and the outer surface of the distal end portion of the pump actuator  74  for the release or discharge of air in the direction of arrow M described more completely herebelow. 
         [0049]    The pump assembly  60  also includes an elongated return spring  72  positioned at one end within a spring seat  88  formed concentrically into the proximal end of valve seat  66  while the other end of the return spring  72  is positioned within an elongated spring cavity  84  of pump actuator  74 . 
         [0050]    The actuator stem  80  also includes a longitudinally extending stem  82  fitted in spaced relationship within an elongated stem well  104  of the pump actuator  74 . A sealing or check ball  76  is floatingly positioned to sealingly engage within a sealing ball seat  98  formed at the proximal end of the stem weld  104 . When the sealing ball  76  is in the position shown in  FIG. 15 , the sealing ball seat  98  is sealed. When the pump actuator  74  is depressed inwardly in the direction of arrow K, the sealing ball  76  disengages from sealing engagement with sealing ball seat  98  and air within the pump body  62  is discharged therefrom through air passage  100  and outwardly in the direction of arrow M through the air discharge passage  102 . Note that the distal end of stem  80  is closely spaced at  86  with respect to sealing ball  76 . When pressure against the distal end of the actuator stem  80  is released, the return spring  72  forces the pump actuator  74  outwardly in the direction of arrow L and air from within the sealed storage bag A is drawn in the direction of arrow A through air conduit  96  of valve seat  66  to effect air evacuation from the sealed storage bag B. 
         [0051]    Referring now to  FIGS. 17 to 19 , another embodiment of the outer valve member  16 ′ is there shown in conjunction with the addition of a ring-shaped sealing ring  106  which is formed of resilient elastomeric material, preferably SANTOPRENE or SARLINK,  40  shore “A” derometer. In some situations, the thin flexible plastic material forming the panels E collapses inwardly as described with respect to  FIG. 8  hereinabove, but does not effect a sufficient vacuum seal against the sealing ridge  58  in  FIG. 8  as there described to allow the spout to be capped or otherwise sealed. 
         [0052]    To insure an adequate continuing seal within the vacuum bag B until the spout is sealed, the sealing ring  106  is fitted into the hollow interior of the housing  20 ′ which has slight accommodating interior modifications to receive the sealing ring  106  as shown in  FIG. 19 . The flexible sealing flange  110  contacts against the sealing ridge  116  of the base  32  and resiliently flexes to overcome the interference shown. This additional pressure against both sides of the flexible panel E enhances the temporary vacuum sealability. To further enhance the biased resiliency of the sealing ridge  114 , a collapsible cavity  112 , extending radially outwardly from the central air passage  108 , resiliently collapses slightly during the assembly of the outer valve housing  20 ′ onto the base of the spout as previously described. 
         [0053]    While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permeations and additions and subcombinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permeations, additions and subcombinations that are within their true spirit and scope.