Abstract:
A hand operated pump for evacuating air from a vacuum container having: (1) a barrel defining a conduit therethrough; (2) a plunger having a hand at one end and a piston at the opposite end, the plunger mounted within the barrel and capable of moving reciprocatingly within the plunger; (3) a cap closing a first end of the barrel and having an opening to receive and guide the plunger; and (4) an adapter connected to a second end of the barrel for engaging a valve on a vacuum container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/899,513 filed on Feb. 5, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made a part hereof. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Technical Field 
         [0004]    The present invention provides an interface on a pump for docking to a fitment of a vacuum storage container and pumps for use with vacuum storage containers. Vacuum storage containers come in numerous shapes, styles and sizes and include flexible bags, semi-rigid and rigid type containers. 
         [0005]    2. Background Art 
         [0006]    Collapsible, evacuable storage containers typically include a flexible, fluid-tight bag, an opening through which to place an article or food item in the bag, and a fixture through which to evacuate excess air. A user places an article into the enclosure through the opening, seals the opening, and then evacuates the fluid through the fixture. With the chamber thus evacuated, the article contained therein may be significantly compressed, so that it is easier to transport and requires substantially less storage space. For articles of food, storage life can be increased by removing air from the container and by maintaining this reduced oxygen environment. 
         [0007]    Collapsible, evacuable storage containers are beneficial for reasons in addition to those associated with compression of the stored article. For example, removal of the air from the storage container inhibits the growth of destructive organisms, such as moths, silverfish, and bacteria, which require oxygen to survive and propagate. Moreover, such containers, being impervious to moisture, inhibit the growth of mildew. 
         [0008]    One such container was developed by James T. Cornwell (U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,458). That patent described a disposable, evacuable container for sealing and compressing contaminated surgical garments for ease of storage and transportation prior to disposal. 
         [0009]    Another such container is described in a patent to Akihiro Mori and Ichiro Miyawaki (Japanese Pat. No. 1767786). In that device, the opening through which the stored article is placed requires the application of a heat source, such as a home iron, to form an effective seal. 
         [0010]    United States Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0209326 A1 discloses an evacuable, food storage container having a one way valve for access by an electric vacuum pump. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. Application No. 7,178,555 B2 discloses a pressure relief valve for flexible storage containers. 
         [0012]    Commonly owned, United States Patent Publication No. 2006/0131328 A1 discloses evacuable vacuum storage containers having a fitment with a moveable cap and a diaphragm for use with a vacuum pump. 
         [0013]    Vacuum storage containers also include multiple piece containers including a bottom part providing a storage compartment and a top part for releasably attaching to the bottom part and to provide an air tight seal. These containers can be rigid or semi-rigid. The top or bottom part can include a fitment or a one-way valve mechanism for docking to a pump to evacuate air from the container. 
         [0014]    These and other aspects and attributes of the present invention will be discussed with reference to the following drawings and accompanying specification. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of a hand operated pump; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a hand operated pump; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a hand operated pump; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a proximal end portion of a hand operated pump; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a barrel of a hand operated pump; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an adapter of the hand operated pump for interfacing with generally flat pressure release valves; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a plunger of a hand operated pump; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an alternative embodiment of a hand operated pump for having a liquid collector; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of a barrel of the pump of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of an evacuable, recloseable vacuum container having a fitment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an evacuable, recloseable vacuum container having a fitment generally coplanar with a wall of the container; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 12-15  are various views of a generally flat, pressure relief valve for attachment to an evacuable, recloseable vacuum container; 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an adapter having a liquid connector for connecting to a valve shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is side view in partial cross-section showing the adapter of  FIG. 16 ; and 
           [0029]      FIGS. 18 and 19  show a perspective view of a cutaway of a one way valve respectively in an open and a closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 1-4  show a hand operated pump  10  having a plunger  12 , a barrel  14 , a cap  16  and an adapter  18 . The pump  10  has a proximal end  20  and a distal end  22 . The hand operated pump  10  is useful in evacuating excess air from a vacuum storage container, such as those shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , to increase the shelf life of food within the container.  FIG. 2  shows the hand operated pump  10  in a disassembled state. The plunger  12  has a handle  30  at a proximal end, a piston  32  at a distal end and a stem  39  therebetween. The piston  32  has annular recess  33  about a circumferential portion thereof that is dimensioned to receive an elastomeric O-ring  34 . The O-ring  34  when mounted in the annular recess slidingly engages an inner wall  36  of the barrel  14  to pressurize a chamber of the barrel  14 . The cap  16  has a male half  16   a  and a female half  16   b.    
         [0032]      FIGS. 2 and 6  show the adapter  18  having an annular wall  35  defining an opening  36  and the wall having a flared distal end to define a flange  37 . The opening is dimensioned to form an interference fit with a portion of the distal end  18  of the barrel  14 . The adapter  18  is preferably made from a material having elastomeric properties such as synthetic or natural rubber. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-shaped member  40  spanning an opening  42  at the distal end  22  of the barrel  14  and a screen member  44  that spans an entire diametrical dimension of the opening  42 . The screen  44  and the cross-shaped member  40  prevent a container wall from entering the barrel and blocking the evacuation of air from a vacuum container.  FIG. 5  also shows an outer wall  46  having a reduced thickness portion  47  and an annular stop  48 . The reduced thickness portion  47  is dimension to receive the annular wall  35  of the adapter  18  and the annular stop  48  abuts a top annular surface  49  of the adapter  18  when the adapter  18  is properly fitted to the barrel. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show an alternative embodiment of the hand operated pump  10  like numbers will refer to like parts. In this embodiment the adapter  18  is configured to form a fluid tight seal, or in other words dock, to a fitment  100  shown in an open position in  FIG. 18  and a closed position in  FIG. 19 . The adapter  18  can be integrally molded with the barrel  14 , overmolded or two shot molded to the barrel, or otherwise attached to the barrel by snap fitting, interference fit or by threaded engagement. In a preferred form of the invention the adapter will be releasably attached to the barrel for ease of cleaning followed by reassembly for reuse. 
         [0035]      FIG. 10  shows a resealable, evacuable vacuum storage container  60  having a fitment  100  as shown in detail in  FIGS. 18 and 19  and is as disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0131328 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made a part hereof. The fitment  100  has a valve body  120 , a plunger body  122  and a diaphragm  124 . The valve body  120  has an annular flange  122  with a centrally positioned axially extending, upstanding cylindrical wall  124 . The container has a portion of the wall  62  removed to define an opening in which is inserted the valve body such that the annular flange  122  is positioned on an inside surface of the container and sealed thereto with the upstanding wall  124  extends outward through the opening and provides fluid access to the interior chamber of the container when the valve is in an open position as shown in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0036]    The plunger body  122  is rotatably mounted to the valve body  120  through a set of mating threads to move the valve between open and closed positions,  FIGS. 18 ,  19  respectively. The plunger body  122  has a first, interior annular wall  150  circumjacent a fluid flow path  152 , and a second, exterior annular wall  154  defining an annular gap  156  between the first and second annular walls. The upstanding cylindrical wall  124  is positioned in the annular gap  156  and the interior annular wall  150  extends into a chamber  158  defined by the upstanding cylindrical wall  124 . When in the closed position the interior annular wall  150  presses the diaphragm  124  against a valve seat  130  of the upstanding wall  124  thereby sealing an opening  132  that provides fluid communication to the interior of the container. When the plunger body  122  is moved to an open position the diaphragm can be moved by pressure upward away from the valve seat into contact with a distal end of the interior annular wall  150  and provide a fluid pathway marked with an arrow  140  around the diaphragm, through a portion of the plunger body  124  and then upward through a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes  134 . 
         [0037]    The diaphragm  124  is dimensioned to fit within the valve body and has a generally uniform thickness across its entire diametric dimension. The diaphragm is preferably fabricated from a material that has a density that allows it to be moved in response to a suction applied by the pump through passageway  152 . Suitable materials for the diaphragm include paper, plastic, rubber, cork or metal. In another preferred form of the invention, the diaphragm will have a density of less than about 1.2 g/cc. In yet another preferred form of the invention, the diaphragm will be fabricated from silicone or polyvinyl chloride. 
         [0038]      FIG. 11  shows a resealable, evacuable vacuum storage container  60  having a fitment  100  that is essentially coplanar with a wall  62  of the container. The container has a zipper  64  for repeated opening and closing of the container. One suitable vacuum storage container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,660 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0209326 A1, each of which are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference and made a part hereof. The pump having the adapter  18  shown in  FIG. 6  is adapted to form a fluid tight seal with a “flat” or low profile fitment  100  such as the one shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0039]    Another suitable valve that can be affixed to a sidewall of a flexible container is shown in  FIGS. 12-15  and is sold by Plitek and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,555 B2 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made a part hereof. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 16 and 17  show the adapter  18  that is suitable for use with the fitment  100  shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 .  FIG. 17  shows the adapter docked to the fitment  100  in the open position. The adapter  18  has a first annular wall  200 , a second annular wall  202 , of lesser diametrical dimension than the first annular wall, and a tapered wall  204  connecting the first and second annular walls  200 ,  202 . The first annular wall defines a chamber  206  that is dimensioned to attach to a distal end of a pump barrel  14  either through an interference fit or by a threaded connection. The second annular wall  202  is dimensioned to fit about the fitment  100  and a sealing ring  207  forms a fluid tight seal between the pump and the container. 
         [0041]    The adapter  18  has a through hole  210  through which a suction can be applied with the pump to draw any excess air from the container. To reduce the amount of liquid that may be entrained in the air flow  140  an air gap  212  is provided between a top surface  222  of the plunger member and a bottom surface  224  of the adapter. 
         [0042]    It should be understood that any of the adapters  18  disclosed herein could be used with an electric powered pump or batter powered pump in addition to the manual pumps disclosed herein. 
         [0043]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.