Patent ID: 7197861

Claim:
A vacuum packaging appliance for use with a bag, the appliance comprising: a housing having a width from a left edge to a right edge and a length from a front edge to a back edge, the housing including; a base; a cover pivotally coupled to the base; wherein the cover and the base are adapted to receive an open end of the bag there between when the cover is pivoted relative to the base to an open position and adapted to cooperatively capture the open end of the bag when the cover is pivoted relative to the base to a closed position; wherein the ratio of the width to the length is at least 1:4; further comprising a vacuum chamber portion on the base and/or the lid for receiving directly an open end of the bag; further comprising a vacuum pump operably coupled to the vacuum chamber portion for removing gas from the vacuum chamber portion; wherein the vacuum chamber portion is on the base, and wherein: the appliance further comprises first and second heating elements carried by the base and arranged so that the vacuum chamber portion is positioned between the first and second heating elements.