PLUG FOR SEALABLE CONTAINER

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for sealing containers of various opening sizes including a plug for use with a container having a lid with a lid opening therein. The plug includes a body having distal and proximal portions. The distal portion is sized for location through the Sid opening. The body has a sealing portion for engaging the lid opening to form a seal with it. The sealing portion is located between the distal and proximal portions. A cap is connected to the proximal portion of the body. The cap is sized and shaped to surround the lid opening. The cap has a sealing edge for sealingly engaging the lid around the lid opening. The body and the cap are cooperable usable with a vacuum pump to remove air from the container.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to sealable containers such as Mason™ jars, and more particularly to a plug for use with a lid in a vacuum sealed container.

BACKGROUND

Home-made pickles, preserves, jams and the like, are typically stored in sealable containers such as Mason™ jars. Mason™ jars are ideal for storing such home-made food because the food is placed in the pre-sterilized jars and then a lid with a rubber seal around the circumference is located on the jar's rim. The level of oxygen is substantially reducing when sterilizing so that the food inside the jar can be kept for a long period of time. As the interior of the jar cools, the seal becomes stronger and remains so until the jar is opened. One of the more favorable aspects of home-made jarred goods is that they typically lack chemical preservatives and therefore are considered to be healthier than store-bought jarred foods. This is particularly true for baby food when the contamination of baby food can cause gastrointestinal problems for the baby. Once the jar is opened, however, the food inside is subject to contamination from airborne pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. Storing the opened jar in a refrigerator is often the mean used to store the opened jar, but the risk of food spoilage is still high. One drawback of sterilization is that the seal has to melt in the process to tightly secure the lid on the jar. The lid, once the jar is opened after sterilization, has a damaged seal that is generally not anymore in a condition to offer a good seal with the jar.

Thus, there is a need for an improved lid over the existing art. It is desirable the improved apparatus for sealing a container including a lid with a seal thereof that is re-usable, yet provides a quick and easy way to seal a container after it is opened or when closed for the first time during, for example, making home-made food. It is desirable to have an improved lid over the existing art that is capable of sealing jars of different opening sizes.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved apparatus for sealing a container that can be easily installed and economically manufactured.

BRIEF SUMMARY

It is one aspect of the present invention to alleviate one or more of the drawbacks of the background art by addressing one or more of the existing needs in the art. Accordingly, embodiments of this invention provide an improved apparatus for sealing a container over the existing art.

Embodiments of the invention describe means for conserving food in a container under vacuum.

One aspect of the invention provides, in accordance with at least one embodiment thereof, a unique and advantageous design for a re-usable plug that provides a simple, yet effective, way of preserving food in a container that has been opened.

It is one object of the invention provides, in accordance with at least one embodiment thereof, that the lid of the sealing apparatus is sized and designed to seal containers or jars of various opening diameters.

It is one object of the invention provides, in accordance with at least one embodiment thereof, that the lid and the plug of the sealing apparatus are distinct and assembled to each other.

It is one object of the invention provides, in accordance with at least one embodiment thereof, that the plug of the sealing apparatus has a plurality of sealing stages to ensure vacuum is going to be maintained in the container; a two sealing stages plug is embodied in the present application.

It is one object of the invention provides, in accordance with at least one embodiment thereof, that the sealing apparatus be actuated with different vacuum pumps with a pump adapter.

It is one aspect of the invention provides, in accordance with at least one embodiment thereof, that the lid of the sealing apparatus includes a positioning ridge to position the pump in a desired position for removing air from the container.

It is one aspect of the invention provides, in accordance with at least one embodiment thereof, that the pump includes a mechanism for preventing the plug to move toward the pump when vacuuming the container.

It is one aspect of the invention provides, in accordance with at least one embodiment thereof, that the lid includes an upward circular ridge and/or a downward circular ridge for respectively locating a pump adaptor and an opening of a container.

One aspect of the invention provides, in accordance with at least one embodiment thereof, that the plug has a dome-like shape with a suction cup effect.

One aspect of the invention provides, in accordance with at least one embodiment thereof, that the plug is easy to manufacture, using injection molding, with a material suitable to seal the lid that is easy to clean.

One aspect of the invention provides, in accordance with at least one embodiment thereof, an apparatus for sealing a container for keeping vacuum therein, the apparatus comprising a lid including an upper portion; a lower portion opposed to the upper portion, the lower portion covering an opening of the container when used in cooperation with a container; and a lid opening therethrough allowing air circulation from the container and the environment; a plug blocking the lid opening in a vacuumed configuration when the lid assembly is used in conjunction with a container, the plug allowing air to move from the container to the environment in an air-pumping configuration and allowing air to move from the environment to the container in a vacuum-releasing configuration, the plug comprising a plurality of sealing stages for keeping vacuum in the container when in the vacuumed configuration.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provided here is a plug for use with a container having a lid with a lid opening therein, the plug comprising a body having distal and proximal portions, the distal portion being sized for location through the lid opening, the body having a sealing portion for engaging the lid opening to form a seal therewith, the sealing portion being located between the distal and proximal portions; and a cap connected to the proximal portion of the body, the cap being sized and shaped to surround the lid opening, the cap having a sealing edge for sealingly engaging the lid around the lid opening, the body and the cap being usable with a vacuum pump so as to remove air from the container.

In one example, the proximal portion is a first cylindrical body and the distal portion is a second cylindrical body, a longitudinal body axis extending through the first and second cylindrical bodies, the sealing portion being an annular sidewall inclining inwardly towards the body axis from a tower portion of the first cylindrical body to an upper portion of the second cylindrical body. A plurality of flanges is connected to a lower portion of the second cylindrical body, the plurality of flanges extending radially outwardly from the second cylindrical body. The first cylindrical body has a first diameter, the second cylindrical body has a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter. The lid opening has a lid opening diameter. The second diameter of the second cylindrical body is smaller than the lid opening diameter to permit insertion of the second cylindrical body through the lid opening. The plurality of flanges is larger than the lid opening. The plurality of flanges is sufficiently flexible to permit the second cylindrical body to be inserted through the lid opening.

In another example, the proximal portion is a first cylindrical body and the distal portion is a second cylindrical body, a longitudinal body axis extending through the first and second cylindrical bodies; and the cap is connected to a top portion of the first cylindrical body, the cap being dome-shaped. The cap is hingedly connected to the top portion of the first cylindrical body to permit movement of the cap between a default configuration and an operable configuration. The cap is hinged with respect to the top portion of the first cylindrical body about an annular hinge, the cap having an intermediate portion located between the annular hinge and the sealing edge, the intermediate portion being wider than the annular hinge and the sealing edge. The intermediate portion of the cap is movable relative to the annular hinge and the sealing edge between the default configuration and the operable configuration. The sealing edge includes an annular wall disposed downwardly towards the lid of the container.

In another example, the plug is made from a resilient material capable of sustaining cleaning products and high cleaning temperature.

Other embodiments and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Additional and/or alternative advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, disclose preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of that described herein will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings herein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a vacuum apparatus assembly in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vacuum apparatus assembly in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 a) is an isometric view of the lid, b) is a top plan view of the lid and c) is a section view of the lid in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 a) is an isometric view of the seal, b) is a top plan view of the seal and c) is a section view of the seal in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 a) is an isometric view of the plug, b) is an isometric view of the plug, c) is a side elevation view of the plug, and d) is a bottom plan view of the plug in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 a) is an isometric view of the lid assembly, b) is an isometric view of the lid assembly, and c) is a section view of the lid assembly in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 a) is an isometric view of the adaptor, b) is an isometric view of the adaptor, c) is a bottom plan view of adaptor, d) is a side elevation view of the adaptor, e) is a section view of the adaptor in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 a) is an exploded view of the adaptor and the lid assembly, and b) is a section view of the adaptor and the lid assembly in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 a) is an elevation view of the adaptor and the lid assembly, and b) is a section view of the cooperating adaptor and the lid assembly in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevation section view of a typical vacuum pump in which is embedded the adaptor in an operating configuration with a container in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described bellow with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate a possible embodiment of a sealing apparatus 10 including a pump 14, a pump adapter 18, a seal 22 and a lid 26 with a lid seal 30. The pump 14 is used to created vacuum through the lid assembly 34. Pumps available on the market, using a reciprocal mechanism for pumping air or not, could be used in the context of the present invention. The shape, the size and the precise operating principles of the pump can vary to reach the desired result and any variations thereof is considered to remain within the scope of the present invention. Generally, a suitable pump for use with the present invention is using a manual reciprocal movement of a piston equipped with a one-way valve. Such a pump can be bought by Starfrit™ (https://www.starfrit.com/en/wine-saver). The pump 14 can use a separate pump adapter 18, or have the pump adapter 18 embedded therein without departing from the scope of the invention. Alternatively, the pump adapter 18, or a more adjusted pump adapter (not illustrated), can be used with an electrically powered vacuum machine available on the market (not illustrated) and connects the vacuum tube (not illustrated) of the vacuum machine to the lid assembly 34 to pump air from the container.

A lid 42, illustratively made of polymer material preferably of food-grade quality and resistant to dishwasher is depicted in FIG. 3. The lid 42 is used to cover the opening of the container by locating a lower surface 46 thereof on the periphery of the container's opening, with an intervening seal 50 illustrated in FIG. 4, for closing the opening of the container. The lid 42 includes, on a lower portion 54 thereof, a downward circular ridge 58 locating the seal 50 about the central axis 62 of the lid 42 and also locating the lid 42 in respect with the container opening. A lid opening 66 preferably located about the central axis 62 of the lid 42 allows air exchange between the interior of the container and the environment. The lid opening 66 is also located in recess of the downward circular ridge 58. The upper portion 70 of the lid 42 also includes an upward circular ridge 74 protruding from an upper surface 78 of the lid 42. A plug, which is going to be discussed in further details below, is going to be centered and protected by the upward circular ridge 74 when installed in its operating position. The central surface 82 of the upper portion 70 of the lid 42 is optionally slightly curved 86 improve the seal between the plug and the lid 42, interaction that is going to be discussed with details below. The diameter of the upper circular ridge 74 could vary depending on the plug diameter that could be adapted for a variety of container's configurations.

The intervening seal 50 sized and designed to match the lower surface 46 of the lid 42 and the configuration of the downward circular ridge 58 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The intervening seal 50 is preferably of food-grade quality and resistant to dishwasher cleaning. The seal 50 is preferably made of a material capable of sealing two surfaces together with some pressure applied thereon. Silicon material could be an appropriate material given its flexibility, inert composition and tolerance to chemical products and high heat. The thickness of the seal 50 can vary on the actual configuration of the lid 26 and seal 50 arrangement.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated generally a plug 100 for use with the lid 26 for sealing the lid opening 66. In one example, the container is a glass Mason™ jar, although one skilled in the art will understand that the plug 100 will work with any container having a sealable lid. The plug 100 is made from a resilient material, such as a silicon base, a rubber base or the like material, which is sufficiently flexible to allow the plug 100 to be inserted into the lid opening 66, but sufficiently strong to maintain a seal once the air is removed from the container and pressure inside the container is lesser than the environment pressure. Broadly speaking, the plug 100 includes a body 104 and a cap 108 that is dome-shaped in the illustrated embodiment. The body 104 includes a proximal portion 112 and a distal portion 116. Both the proximal and distal portions 112, 116 are respectively first and second solid cylindrical bodies 120, 124. The first upper cylindrical body 120 is larger in diameter (volume) than the second cylindrical body 124. This diameter difference is best seen in FIG. 6. When viewed in cross section, the diameter of the first cylindrical body 120 is larger than the diameter of the second cylindrical body 124. The second cylindrical body 124 is sufficiently small for a user to locate it through the lid opening 66. A sealing portion 128 is located at the junction between the first and second cylindrical bodies 120, 124. When the second cylindrical body 124 is located in the lid opening 66 in an operable configuration (as shown in FIG. 6), the sealing portion 128 forms a secondary seal against the inner sidewall of the lid opening 66. The lid opening 66 has a lid opening diameter and the diameter of the second cylindrical body 124 is smaller than the lid opening 66 diameter, to permit insertion of the second cylindrical body 124 through the lid opening 66.

Referring now to FIG. 1 throughout FIG. 6, a longitudinal body axis 62 extends through the first and second cylindrical bodies 120, 124, which when viewed in longitudinal cross section, as seen in FIG. 6c), shows that the plug 100 is generally symmetrical about the axis 62. The sealing portion 128 is an annular sidewall 132, which tapers inwardly towards the body axis 62 from a lower portion 136 of the first cylindrical body 120 to an upper portion 140 of the second cylindrical body 124. At a lower portion 140 of the second cylindrical body 124 has an increased diameter 144, that could also be embodied as flanges (not illustrated), which extends radially outwardly from the second cylindrical body 124 and is generally orthogonal to the body axis 62. The increased diameter 144, as best seen in FIG. 6c), is wider than the lid opening 66 and prevents the second cylindrical body 124 from being inadvertently dislodged from the lid opening 66 prior to and during evacuation by a vacuum pump 14, while at the same time providing sufficient clearance (gap) between lid opening sidewall and the second cylindrical body 124 so that air being drawn from the container can flow freely between the gap. The increased diameter 144 is sufficiently flexible to allow the user to insert the second cylindrical body 124 through the lid opening 66 and dislodge the plug 100 from the lid opening 66 whenever desired.

Still referring to FIG. 1 throughout FIG. 6, the illustrated dome-shaped cap 108 is connected to a top portion 148 of the first cylindrical body 120. it should be noted that although the examples illustrated show a dome-shaped cap 108, one skilled in the art will recognize that the shaped of the cap 108 can be changed depending on the ease of manufacture, the application and the materials chosen for the manufacture of the plug 100. The shape of the cap 108 also depends on the type of vacuum pump 14 being used to evacuate the container. The air from the container could be more easily extracted via axial slots 152 depending on the selected configuration. A vacuum-releasing member 154 can be appreciated from the Figures. The vacuum-releasing member 154 can be pulled by a user to remove the vacuum in the container and release the lid assembly 34 from the container's opening. Vacuum cancellation is done in two steps given the two sealing stages provided by the plug 100. A first sealing stage is performed by the sealing edge 156 of the plug 100 in contact with the lid 26, and the second sealing stage is achieved between the sealing portion 128 of the plug 100 body 104 in contact with the lid opening 66. Pulling on the vacuum-releasing member 154 is disconnecting the sealing edge 156 of the plug in a first time and further pulling on the vacuum-releasing member 154 is going to disengage the sealing portion 128 from the lid opening 66.

The cap 108 is sized and shaped to surround the lid opening 66 within the upper circular ridge 74 of the lid 42 to ensure optimal sealing of the plug 100 to the lid 42. The cap 108 has a sealing edge 156 to sealingly engage the lid 42 around the lid opening 66, and therefore form a primary seal between the plug 100 and the lid 42. Together, the body 104 and the cap 108 cooperate with the vacuum pump 14 so as to allow air removal from the container. The cap 108 is flexibly (hingedly) connected to the top portion 148 of the first cylindrical body 120 to permit movement of the cap 108 between an assembled configuration 160, as seen in FIG. 6, and the vacuumed configuration when the sealing portion 128 is moved lower in contact with the lid opening 66 and the sealing edge 156 is in contact with the central surface 82 when the container is vacuumed and the body 104 is pulled inside the lid opening 66. The cap 108 is hinged with respect to the top portion 148 of the first cylindrical body 120 about an annular hinge 164. The cap 108 has an intermediate portion 168 located between the annular hinge 164 and the sealing edge 156. The intermediate portion 168 is wider in cross section than the annular hinge 164 and smaller than the peripheral sealing edge 156. The annular hinge 164 and the sealing edge 156 allow the intermediate portion 168 to move relative thereto, between the assembled configuration 160 configuration and the vacuumed configuration. The sealing edge 156 can include an optional annular wall 172 that is disposed downwardly towards the lid 42.

Moving now to FIG. 7 illustrating a pump adaptor 18. The pump adaptor 18 is generally hollowed and includes a lid-contacting side 176 and a pump-contacting side 180 preferably molded in a material offering some flexibility that would ensure proper seal between the lid 26 and the pump 14. The lid-contacting side 176 is embodied as a lid contacting portion 184 configured to fit inside the upward circular ridge 74 and contact the lid 26 to prevent air circulation therebetween. The thickness and the shape of the contacting portion 184 can have different configurations to work with lid assembly 34 using design variations. On the other axial side, the pump-contacting side 180 includes a pump contacting portion 188 configured to cooperate with the pump 14 with a junction thereof that prevents air circulation therebetween to create the desired vacuum in the container. The thickness and the shape of the pump contacting portion 188 can have different configurations to work with pumps 14 having design variations.

Another feature in embedded in the pump adaptor 18 to axially maintain the plug 100 in its operating position in respect with the lid 26. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, one can appreciate the pump adaptor 18 includes a plug stopper 192 axially located at a distance 196 to slightly contact, or having a slight play with the plug 100, to prevent the plug to be aspired by the pump 14 when the pump is actuated and air is channeled from the container to the environment through the pump 14 actuation. Openings 200 in the plug stopper 192, that is embodied between semi-circular cross-like members 204 configured to stop the plug 100, allow air transmission through the plug stopper 192. The plug stopper 192 is housed in a cavity 208 sized and designed to encompass the plug 100 without interfering with its optimal operation. The lid assembly 34 and the pump adaptor 18 are illustrated in FIG. 9 in a possible operating configuration.

In an exemplary typical use of the apparatus for sealing a container, a user would align the plug 100 along the axis 66 of the lid opening 66. Once the body 104 increased diameter 144 is manipulated to insert the second cylindrical body 124 through the lid opening 66, the vacuum pump 14 with the pump adapter 18 is located over the plug 100 and pressed down onto the lid 26 of the container to ensure a good seal around the plug 100. As a vacuum pump piston 220 is actuated along direction shown by arrow 224, a piston head 228 moves rearwardly by the user pulling on the piston 220 relative to the cylinder 232. This action draws the air out of the container along the exemplary pathway 236 shown by the solid arrows. At the same time, the plug stopper 192 extending from the adapter 18 above the top portion 148 of the first cylindrical body 120 prevents the plug 100 from being displaced by the air suction. Once the optimal internal negative pressure is achieved inside the container, the cap intermediate portion 168 moves outwardly about the hinge 164 so that the sealing portion 128 sealingly engages the lid opening 66 inner sidewall and the sealing edge 156 sealingly contacts the lid 26. The vacuum pump 14 is then removed from the plug 100. To release the plug 100, the user applies a force on the vacuum-releasing member 154 to locally lift the sealing edge 156 such that the seals are broken and the air flows back into the container. The plug 100 is then removable from the lid 26 for cleaning. Once the contents of the container are removed, the container can then be re-sealed by repeating the steps described above.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments and elements, but, to the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications, combinations of features, equivalent arrangements, and equivalent elements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, the dimensions of features of various components that may appear on the drawings are not meant to be limiting, and the size of the components therein can vary from the size that may be portrayed in the figures herein. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of the invention, provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sealing a container for keeping vacuum therein, the apparatus comprising: a lid including an upper portion;a lower portion opposed to the upper portion, the lower portion covering an opening of the container when used in cooperation with a container; anda lid opening therethrough allowing air circulation from the container and the environment;a plug blocking the lid opening in a vacuumed configuration when the lid assembly is used in conjunction with a container, the plug allowing air to move from the container to the environment in an air-pumping configuration and allowing air to move from the environment to the container in a vacuum-releasing configuration, the plug comprising a plurality of sealing stages for keeping vacuum in the container when in the vacuumed configuration.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sealing stages includes a first sealing stage provided by a first seal with the lid and a second sealing stage provided by a second seal with the lid.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first sealing stage provided by a first seal is made with the upper portion of the lid and the second sealing stage is made with an axial engagement with the lid opening.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plug is made of a flexible polymer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower portion includes a downward circular ridge.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper portion includes an upward circular ridge.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plug includes a suction-cup-like upper portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pump adaptor for creating a vacuum in the container with a pump, the pump adaptor being disposed between the lid and the pump.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plug includes a suction-cup-like upper portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lid opening is located about a central axis of the lid.

11. A plug for use with a container having a lid with a lid opening therein, the plug comprising: a body having distal and proximal portions, the distal portion being sized for location through the lid opening, the body having a sealing portion for engaging the lid opening to form a seal therewith, the sealing portion being located between the distal and proximal portions; anda cap connected to the proximal portion of the body, the cap being sized and shaped to surround the lid opening, the cap having a sealing edge for sealingly engaging the lid around the lid opening, the body and the cap being cooperable with a vacuum pump so as to remove air from the container upon actuation of the vacuum pump.

12. The plug of claim 11, wherein the proximal portion is a first cylindrical body and the distal portion is a second cylindrical body, a longitudinal body axis extending through the first and second cylindrical bodies, the sealing portion being an annular sidewall inclining inwardly towards the body axis from a lower portion of the first cylindrical body to an upper portion of the second cylindrical body.

13. The plug of claim 12, wherein a plurality of flanges is connected to a lower portion of the second cylindrical body, the plurality of flanges extending radially outwardly from the second cylindrical body.

14. The plug of claim 12, wherein the first cylindrical body has a first diameter, the second cylindrical body has a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter.

15. The plug of claim 14, wherein the lid opening has a lid opening diameter, the second diameter of the second cylindrical body being smaller than the lid opening diameter to permit the insertion of the second cylindrical body through the lid opening.

16. The plug of claim 13, wherein the plurality of flanges is larger than the lid opening.

17. The plug of claim 13, wherein the plurality of flanges is sufficiently flexible to permit the second cylindrical body to be inserted through the lid opening.

18. The plug of claim 11, wherein the proximal portion is a first cylindrical body and the distal portion is a second cylindrical body, a longitudinal body axis extending through the first and second cylindrical bodies, and the cap is connected to a top portion of the first cylindrical body, the cap being dome-shaped.

19. The plug of claim 18, wherein the cap is hingeably connected to the top portion of the first cylindrical body to permit movement of the cap between a default configuration and an operable configuration.

20. The plug of claim 19, wherein the cap is hinged with respect to the top portion of the first cylindrical body about an annular hinge, the cap having an intermediate portion located between the annular hinge and the sealing edge, the intermediate portion being wider than the annular hinge and the sealing edge.