Vacuum Sealed Container for Perishable and Non Perishable Goods

Abstract

An inventive vacuum storage container for long term storage of perishable and non-perishable items, incorporating a pump, power supply, controller, sensor, top cover, expandable seal, pressure sensor and base plate. The controller activates the pump based on signals from said sensor to maintain a vacuum state within an interior vacuum chamber formed by said top cover, expandable seal, and base plate. The container is configured to effectively maintain vacuum pressure by activating a pump when the lack of vacuum pressure is indicated.

Claims

1. A vacuum storage container for storing perishable items comprising: a top cover with a top surface and one or more side walls extending from said top surface, a valve placed upon the top surface; a base plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and one or more side walls and comprising; a vacuum pump for creating a vacuum within a vacuum chamber formed within a cavity formed by the top cover and base plate; a groove placed along the top surface of the base plate; an expandable seal placed within said groove for forming a seal against the bottom edge of said one or more side walls of said top cover; a power supply for providing power to said pump; a sensor mechanism for detecting pressure levels within said vacuum chamber; a controller for automatically said pump to maintain a vacuum within said vacuum chamber; a switch for activating said controller to maintain the vacuum within said vacuum chamber.

2. The vacuum storage container of claim 1, wherein said power supply is provided by an electrical cord.

3. The vacuum storage container of claim 1, wherein said power supply is provided by one or more batteries contained within a battery compartment within said base plate.

4. The vacuum storage container of claim 1, wherein said top surface of said base plate is rectangular and said top surface of said top cover posses four side walls extending laterally from said to surface being rectangular.

5. The vacuum storage container of claim 1, where said top surface of said base plate is circular and said top surface of said top cover is circular and possesses a side wall which extends laterally from said top surface of said top cover.

6. The vacuum storage container of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises: a diaphragm placed between the vacuum chamber and the exterior of the vacuum chamber; a second switch placed adjacent to the diagram, so that when the vacuum chamber has reached the desired vacuum level, the diaphragm makes contact with said second switch, deactivating said pump.

7. The vacuum storage container of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one of the following: a potentiometric pressure sensor, indictive pressure sensor, capacitive pressure sensor, piezoelectric pressure sensor, strain gage, or variable reluctance pressure sensor.

8. The vacuum storage container of claim 1, wherein said base plate further includes one or more clamps placed on the exterior of said one or more side walls that, when engaged, lock said top cover to said base plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0021] FIG. 1 shows the components of the preferred embodiment of the inventive vacuum sealed pastry saver.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows the base.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows the pump assembly with controller, power supply, and sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention having a square shaped top cover (10) with a top surface, four side walls extending laterally from the top surface, and a vacuum valve (11). The hollow interior of top cover (10) forms an interior cavity when placed on base (20). Base (20) possesses a top surface with grove (21). Place within the groove is expandable seal (22). Expandable seal (22) makes contact with the four side walls of top cover (10) so as to form a seal with the interior cavity. Base (20) also includes a receptacle (23) for containing a power source such as a battery pack and plug receptacle (24) for connecting a power source. Valve (25) allows for the egress of atmospheric gases from interior cavity so as to create a vacuum chamber.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows an expanded view of the bottom of base (20). Also shown is receptacle (23) for receiving the power source such as a battery pack and plug receptacle (24) for connecting a power source.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows an expanded view of the pump assembly (30) with pump (31), controller (32), a first power switch (33) activated by knob (34), a second power switch (35) activated by diaphragm (36), inlet (36), exhaust (37), and inlet valve (38). When the knob (34) is activated it actuates the first switch (33) such that controller (32) is provided with power. It will be readily understood by one of skill in the art that a number of switch designs could be used, such as a rocker switch. When power is provided to controller (32) it activates pump (31). Pump (31) is connected to inlet hose (36) which is in turn connected to inlet valve (38) which allows for the egress of atmospheric gases from sealed vacuum chamber. Pump (31) is also connected to exhaust hose (37) which allows pump to vent atmospheric gases. When turned on by controller (32), pump (31) draws atmospheric gases through inlet valve (38) and inlet hose (36) and expels said atmospheric gases via exhaust hose (37), thus removing the atmospheric gases from sealed vacuum chamber, thereby creating a vacuum within sealed vacuum chamber. Second power switch (35) rests against diaphragm (36). Diaphragm (36) is placed between the sealed vacuum chamber and the exterior atmosphere, such that diaphragm (36) extends towards the sealed vacuum chamber when the pressure inside the sealed vacuum chamber is substantially lower than the exterior atmospheric pressure, i.e., when a vacuum has been formed within sealed vacuum chamber, and extends away from sealed vacuum chamber when the pressure within sealed vacuum chamber is equal too or greater than the exterior atmospheric pressure. When the correct vacuum pressure has been achieved within sealed vacuum chamber, diaphragm (36) makes contact with and actuates second power switch (35). When second power switch (35) is actuated, it delivers a signal to controller (32) which turns off pump (31), In this manner, when the pressure levels in the sealed vacuum chamber rise due to the entry of atmospheric gases over time, the pump (31) can be activated to maintain the desired vacuum and deactivated once the desired vacuum has been achieved.