Patent ID: 7389629

Claim:
A portable vacuum unit for use with a resealable, evacuable container, comprising: a body, wherein a vacuum pump is housed within the body, the vacuum pump comprising an intake port and an exhaust port, wherein the body comprises a vacuum port in fluid communication with the intake port of the vacuum pump, and wherein the body further comprises an exhaust port in fluid communication with the exhaust port of the vacuum pump; an accumulator, wherein the accumulator is removably coupled to the body and in fluid communication with the vacuum port of the body, the accumulator comprising: i) a receptacle comprising a first end and a second end; and, ii) a tip comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the tip is coupled to the first end of the receptacle and in fluid communication therewith, the tip having a shape which facilitates interaction with a valve on the resealable, evacuable container, the tip comprising: (1) at least one support structure proximate to a second end of the tip; and, (2) a semi-rigid material coupled to the a second end of the tip wherein the receptacle and the tip are both rigid, and the first end of the tip is spatially coupled to the first end of the receptacle by way of a conduit.