Patent ID: 7310924

Claim:
A vacuum packaging apparatus comprising: a release lever adapted to allow freedom of movement between a lid component and a base component for positioning of a package therebetween; a vacuum release paddle within said apparatus movable between a venting position and a vacuum position, wherein said vacuum release paddle is disengaged from a vacuum tube when in said venting position and is engaged with said vacuum tube when in said vacuum position, said vacuum tube in fluid communication with a vacuum pump; a latch mechanism adapted to restrict freedom of movement between said lid component and said base component during a vacuum operation of said apparatus; wherein said release lever is adapted to operatively move said vacuum release paddle into a said venting position to vent said vacuum packaging apparatus while simultaneously causing a movable latch piece of said latch mechanism to move to a retracted position for unlatching said lid component of said vacuum packaging apparatus from said base component; and wherein said release lever is attached to a cam piece, said cam piece operative to retract said movable latch cam piece during an operation of said release lever to unlatch said lid component.