The present invention relates to the field of storage technology. More particularly, the present invention relates to accessories for a vacuum appliance for consumer and industrial applications.
Consumer products involving vacuuming and sealing plastic bags have grown in popularity over the years. The basic model available includes a seal wire that seals the length of the bag and a vacuum pump which pumps air out of the bag prior to sealing. This model works well enough to have sold and inspired imitation.
Unfortunately, the model described provides vacuum capability only for plastic bags. Much food and similar material is better stored in jars. Jars with a lid having an aperture or one-way vent of some form may be vacuumed through use of a hose, but cannot be inserted into a slit-shaped opening for this purpose. Moreover, it may be useful to adapt basic jars for use with vacuum applications.
Similarly, some foods may be easily stored in plastic bags with little fuss. However, other foods may be placed on a tray, with the food and the tray stored in a vacuum-sealed bag together. Moreover, storing food with a tray may allow for easier reheating of frozen food. Accordingly, adapting a tray for use with vacuum applications may be useful. In general, it may be useful to integrate the food storage methodology with the container in which the food is stored, potentially increasing efficiency and effectiveness of the method and the packaging.
A method and apparatus for a rigid container with vacuum channel walls is illustrated and described. In one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus for use with a vacuum appliance. The apparatus includes an inner wall formed of a material suitable for contact with food. The apparatus also includes an outer wall formed of a material suitable for contact with storage locations, with the outer wall joined to the inner wall in at least one area. The apparatus further includes a channel defined by the outer wall and the inner wall. The channel includes space between the inner wall and the outer wall. Moreover, the apparatus includes a valve through one of the inner wall and the outer wall, the valve positioned to allow communication between the channel and an external atmosphere.
In an alternate embodiment, the invention is a method of storing food. The method includes placing the food in a tray. The method further includes evacuating a cavity defined by walls of the tray. The method also includes placing the tray in a plastic bag. Moreover, the method includes evacuating the plastic bag.
In another alternate embodiment, the invention is a tray for use with a vacuum appliance. The tray includes an inner wall formed of a material suitable for contact with food. The tray also includes an outer wall formed of a material suitable for contact with storage locations. The outer wall is joined to the inner wall in at least one area. The tray further includes a channel defined by the outer wall and the inner wall, with the channel including space between the inner wall and the outer wall. The tray also includes a valve through one of the inner wall and the outer wall, the valve positioned to allow communication between the channel and an external atmosphere.
In yet another alternate embodiment, the invention is a method of storing food in a jar. The method includes placing the food in an inner chamber of the jar. The method also includes evacuating a cavity defined by walls of the jar. In still another alternate embodiment, the invention is a jar for use with a vacuum appliance. The jar includes an inner wall formed of a material suitable for contact with food. The jar also includes an outer wall formed of a material suitable for contact with storage locations. The outer wall is joined to the inner wall in at least one area. Additionally, the jar includes a channel defined by the outer wall and the inner wall, the channel including space between the inner wall and the outer wall. Moreover, the jar includes a valve through one of the inner wall and the outer wall, with the valve positioned to allow communication between the channel and an external atmosphere. The jar may further include a lid having a lower surface and an upper surface. The lower surface is formed to fit atop the jar. The lid also includes a valve positioned to pierce the upper surface and the lower surface.
In still another embodiment, the invention is a method of using food. The method includes placing the food in a tray. The method also includes evacuating a cavity defined by walls of the tray. The method further includes placing the tray in a plastic bag. The method also includes evacuating the plastic bag.
The method may further include sealing and freezing the plastic bag. The method may also include unsealing the plastic bag. Moreover, the method may include reheating the food in the tray.
In yet another embodiment, the invention is an apparatus for use with a vacuum appliance. The apparatus includes a means for containing food. The apparatus also includes a means for insulating food within the means for containing. The apparatus may further include means for sealing the means for containing. The apparatus may also include means for evacuating the means for containing.
A method and apparatus for a rigid container with vacuum channel walls is illustrated and described. In one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus for use with a vacuum appliance. The apparatus includes an inner wall formed of a material suitable for contact with food. The apparatus also includes an outer wall formed of a material suitable for contact with storage locations, with the outer wall joined to the inner wall in at least one area. The apparatus further includes a channel defined by the outer wall and the inner wall. The channel includes space between the inner wall and the outer wall. Moreover, the apparatus includes a valve through one of the inner wall and the outer wall, the valve positioned to allow communication between the channel and an external atmosphere.
In an alternate embodiment, the invention is a method of storing food. The method includes placing the food in a tray. The method further includes evacuating a cavity defined by walls of the tray. The method also includes placing the tray in a plastic bag. Moreover, the method includes evacuating the plastic bag.
In another alternate embodiment, the invention is a tray for use with a vacuum appliance. The tray includes an inner wall formed of a material suitable for contact with food. The tray also includes an outer wall formed of a material suitable for contact with storage locations. The outer wall is joined to the inner wall in at least one area. The tray further includes a channel defined by the outer wall and the inner wall, with the channel including space between the inner wall and the outer wall. The tray also includes a valve through one of the inner wall and the outer wall, the valve positioned to allow communication between the channel and an external atmosphere.
In yet another alternate embodiment, the invention is a method of storing food in a jar. The method includes placing the food in an inner chamber of the jar. The method also includes evacuating a cavity defined by walls of the jar. In still another alternate embodiment, the invention is a jar for use with a vacuum appliance. The jar includes an inner wall formed of a material suitable for contact with food. The jar also includes an outer wall formed of a material suitable for contact with storage locations. The outer wall is joined to the inner wall in at least one area. Additionally, the jar includes a channel defined by the outer wall and the inner wall, the channel including space between the inner wall and the outer wall. Moreover, the jar includes a valve through one of the inner wall and the outer wall, with the valve positioned to allow communication between the channel and an external atmosphere. The jar may further include a lid having a lower surface and an upper surface. The lower surface is formed to fit atop the jar. The lid also includes a valve positioned to pierce the upper surface and the lower surface.
In still another embodiment, the invention is a method of using food. The method includes placing the food in a tray. The method also includes evacuating a cavity defined by walls of the tray. The method further includes placing the tray in a plastic bag. The method also includes evacuating the plastic bag.
The method may further include sealing and freezing the plastic bag. The method may also include unsealing the plastic bag. Moreover, the method may include reheating the food in the tray.
In yet another embodiment, the invention is an apparatus for use with a vacuum appliance. The apparatus includes a means for containing food. The apparatus also includes a means for insulating food within the means for containing. The apparatus may further include means for sealing the means for containing. The apparatus may also include means for evacuating the means for containing.
Turning to the Figures,
While a jar has potential applications for storage of food where a bag cannot be used, a tray may be used in conjunction with a bag or to complement a bag.
Moreover, the food may be heated on the tray 400, such as through use of a microwave oven. Tests have shown that the use of an evacuated tray such as tray 400 enhances heating of the food placed thereon, allowing for quicker or more efficient heating. This is particularly true when the tray sits on legs as the microwaves are believed to become more focused on the tray and thus the product. Moreover, using the tray in the bag potentially provides a more convenient and portable package for food, as a plate or similar item is not necessary when the food is consumed.
As with the tray of
As with the jar, the tray of
The method of
Preferably, the jar of
A flexible plastic tube 85 is attached between connector 82 and an opening or connector 86, formed through the top panel of appliance 20 (
Referring to
In particular, a plastic disc 91 is “loosely” mounted within thumbnut 88 and forms a valve element that openly communicates the vacuum drawn in tube 85 (
A plurality of radially and circumferentially spaced hook-like fingers or retention members 94 are formed integrally with the disc in upstanding relationship thereon to extend through a mounting hole and overlie a flange 95 defined on the thumb-nut for retention purposes. The retention members are sufficiently flexible and resilient to permit a snapping-out of the members from their mounting hole, formed centrally through the thumbnut. In
This detent arrangement will releasably retain the thumb nut is in its illustrated “vacuum” position in
After the container has been evacuated, connector 82 is removed and thumb nut 88 is turned-down to its “closed” position illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 to compress the flat underside of disc 91 against an O-ring seal 98, mounted on neck 89 to surround passage 93. When the connector is removed, the vacuum in the container will pull disc 91 against seal 98 to retain the vacuum until the thumbnut is turned-down. An annular bead 99 is formed beneath flange 95 of the thumbnut to engage the upper side of disc 91 to compress it against the seal. Diametrically extending and narrow slot 92 will not interfere with this closing function.
When the user chooses to release the vacuum in the container, thumbnut 88 is released to its
While a detailed and complex valve has been described with respect to
With respect to
Both embodiments of
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. In some instances, reference has been made to characteristics likely to be present in various or some embodiments, but these characteristics are also not necessarily limiting on the spirit and scope of the invention. In the illustrations and description, structures have been provided which may be formed or assembled in other ways within the spirit and scope of the invention. Similarly, methods have been illustrated and described as linear processes, but such methods may have operations reordered or implemented in parallel within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.