The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below illustration only, and thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements.
The features of the invention can be clearly understood with reference to the drawings and the detailed description of embodiments.
Please refer to
As shown in the drawings, the disclosed vacuum food container includes a cover 1 and a base 2 in tight connection with the cover 1 to form a box 3 for food storage. A snap down lock 4 is provided between the cover 1 and the base 2. The base 2 is disposed with a motor vacuum pump, a vacuum detector, connection pipes, and an electronic control circuit (not shown). The snap down lock 4 is made of two snapping components in connection. Its upper snapping component 41 uses its claw 411 to hold a groove 11 on the cover 1. The lower snapping component 42 is connected to the upper snapping component 41 with a pin. Whether the upper snapping component 41 is lifted or pushed down determines whether the claw 411 of the upper snapping component 41 holds the groove 11 of the cover 1.
As shown in
A retractable spring switch 7 is disposed on the base 2 opposite to a lifter 423 of the lower snapping component 42. The spring switch 7 is used to start the motor pump (not shown). When the snap down lock 4 is closed, the lifter 423 of the lower snapping component 42 depresses the spring switch 7 and starts the motor vacuum pump to draw the air inside the box 3 out to the vacuum detector (not shown). When the box 3 is detected to achieve vacuum, the motor vacuum pump is automatically shut down. This part of the invention is well known in the prior art and is not further described.
Please refer to
When the lifter 423 of the lower snapping component 42 is opened outward, the square block 421 rotates counterclockwise. The corner 422 that originally depresses the plug 5 and the spring 6 moves downward, so that the planar part 424 faces the plug 5. The depression on the plug 5 and the spring 6 is thus removed. The restoring force of the spring 6 pushes the plug 5 out of its sealing position of the vent 22. The box 3 is thus in connection with the atmosphere via the vent 22. In this case, the cover 1 can be readily opened. The lifter 423 of the lower snapping component 42 also departs from the position of depressing the spring switch 7.
In summary, the invention provides a snap down lock and a release valve control mechanism for a vacuum food container. When one opens the snap down lock, the release valve departs from its sealing position for the pressures inside the box and of the atmosphere to reach a balance. In this case, the cover can be readily opened. When one closes the snap down lock, the motor vacuum pump is turned on to draw out the air inside.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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095215881 | Sep 2006 | TW | national |