Ozone-vacuum food storage system and method thereof

Abstract

A method of vacuuming a container having a storage cavity for storing food, and an opening communicating with the receiving opening, wherein the method includes the steps of (a) injecting a predetermined amount of ozone into the container via the opening for combating micro-organisms attached on an outer surface of the food within the storage cavity of the container; and (b) extracting air and the ozone within the container via the opening to create a vacuum environment which is sanitized by the ozone, such that the food stored within the storage cavity is capable of being preserved for an extended period of time.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a food storage system, and more particularly to an ozone-vacuum food storage system and the method thereof which are adapted to utilize ozone as a sanitary agent for killing micro-organisms within the container and extract air therefrom to create a vacuum effect.

2. Description of Related Arts

Conventional sealing equipments, such as vacuum devices, have been extensively utilized for a wide variety of purposes, such as domestic vacuum sealing of storage bag which contains food. In the absence of air within the storage bag, the amount of micro-organisms would be kept minimal and therefore the extent to which the food stored in the bag would be contaminated by such micro-organisms can also be kept minimal. Thus, the food can be preserved for a longer period of time.

In principle, it has to be admitted that this vacuuming method is good enough to preserve the food inside the storage bag for a prolonged period of time, in that two essential elements of boosting micro-organism reproduction, namely water moisture and air, are removed from the storage bag. In practices, the food stored in the vacuumed and sealed storage bag can indeed last for a longer period of time as compared with those which are not stored in a sealed and vacuumed storage bag.

But this general observation must not shield the fact that this conventional vacuuming method has its own disadvantages. Very often, these disadvantages lead to the consequence that the food stored in the bag deteriorates in such a way that nobody even notices of the deterioration.

In reality, no perfect vacuum pump has ever existed and, as a result, the ‘vacuum environment’ within the storage bag has never been perfectly ‘vacuumed’. As such, there remains residual air inside the storage bag which contains micro-organisms and these micro-organisms continue to contaminate the food. As a result, it would come to a point that the food within the storage bag has been deteriorated to such an extent that it is no longer suitable for consuming. In the worse scenario, other people may gain a wrong perception that because the food is stored within a vacuum environment, then it is safe for consuming. In fact, the food stored in the storage bag may continue to deteriorate and anyone who consumes it may eventually get sick.

From the forgoing descriptions, one skilled in the art may appreciate that if something kills the bacteria or micro-organisms in advance before vacuuming of the storage bag, then, even though the vacuuming process is not perfect in the sense that residual air my still be trapped within the bag, the food would not be contaminated as such because the micro-organism is killed in advance and that the sealing of the vacuum environment means that there is no possibility that the food will come into contact with external environment. Therefore, the food is expected to last for a prolonged period of time without fearing that it is still being contaminated.

However, the problem of ‘pre-killing’ of the micro-organism possesses great difficulty in food processing. One cannot use some sorts of poisonous agent while the vacuuming of the storage bag is far from perfect due to technical inadequacy. Thus, the safest way of killing the micro-organism (by creating a vacuum environment within the storage bag) is compromised by unsatisfactory equipment which produces a less-than-perfect vacuum environment.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide a method of vacuuming a container wherein ozone is utilized to kill micro-organisms attached on the food before the storage bag is fully vacuumed. In other words, storage bag vacuuming and ozone sanitizing work together to produce a sanitized vacuum environment for storing the food in the storage bag for a prolonged period of time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of vacuuming a container, which substantially overcomes the difficulties of conventional vacuuming method so as to ensure that the food stored in the storage bag is minimally contaminated and sealed in a vacuum environment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ozone vacuum food storage system which is adapted to vacuum a storage bag which contains food, wherein before or during the course of vacuuming, the present invention injects ozone in the storage bag for killing micro-organisms attached on the food, so that the food will not be continuously deteriorated within the storage bag should residual air is left therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ozone vacuum food storage system comprising an ozone injection device and a vacuum device which are adapted to withdraw air from and inject ozone into the storage bag respectively, wherein the zone injection device and the vacuum device are to share a single vacuum nozzle so as to minimize the size of the present invention. However, the ozone injection device and the vacuum device may also embody as connecting with a suction nozzle and an ozone injection nozzle respectively so as to fit different storage bags or containers.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a method of vacuuming a container, such as a storage bag, having an opening, comprising the steps of:

(a) injecting a predetermined amount of ozone into the container via the opening for combating micro-organisms within the container;

(b) extracting air and the ozone within the container via the opening to create a vacuum environment which is sanitized by the ozone; and

(c) sealing the opening of the container so as to isolate the vacuum environment with an exterior of the container.

Moreover, the present invention also provides an ozone vacuum food storage system for a container having a storage cavity, and an opening communicating therewith for storing food within the storage cavity. The ozone vacuum food storage system comprises:

a supporting housing;

a vacuum nozzle supported by the supporting housing and communicated with the opening of the container;

a vacuum device disposed within the supporting housing and communicated with the vacuum nozzle to generate a vacuum effect within the container via the opening; and

an ozone injection device, having an ozone chamber for storing a predetermined amount of ozone, communicated with the vacuum nozzle to controllably inject ozone into the storage cavity of the container via the opening before the vacuum device vacuums air from the storage cavity, so that the food stored in the storage cavity is pre-sanitized prior to vacuuming of the storage cavity by the vacuum device to generate the vacuum effect for prolonged preservation of the food within the storage cavity of the container.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ozone vacuum food storage system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ozone vacuum food storage system according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the vacuum device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are schematic diagrams of the operation of the vacuum pump according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the ozone injection device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a method of vacuuming a container according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an alternative mode of the ozone vacuum food storage system according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 2 of the drawings, an ozone vacuum food storage system for a container having a storage cavity and an opening communicating therewith for storing food within the storage cavity is illustrated, wherein the ozone vacuum food storage system comprises a supporting housing 10 having a suction cavity 11, a vacuum nozzle 20, a vacuum device 30, and an ozone injection device 40.

The vacuum nozzle 20 is supported by the supporting housing 10 and communicating the suction cavity 11 thereof with the storage cavity of the container via the opening.

The vacuum device 30 is disposed within the suction cavity 11 of the supporting housing 10 and communicated with the vacuum nozzle 20 to generate a vacuum effect within said storage cavity of the container via the vacuum nozzle 20 and the opening.

Moreover, the ozone injection device 40 has an ozone chamber 41 (as shown in FIG. 5) for storing a predetermined amount of ozone, and communicating with the vacuum nozzle 20 to controllably inject ozone into the storage cavity of the container via the opening before the vacuum device 20 vacuums air from the storage cavity, so that the food stored in the storage cavity is pre-sanitized prior to vacuuming of the storage cavity by the vacuum device 20 to generate the vacuum effect for prolonged preservation of the food within the storage cavity of the container.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C of the drawings, the vacuum device 30 comprises a motor assembly 31 and a vacuum pump 32 disposed in the supporting housing 10. The motor assembly 31 is operatively communicated with the vacuum pump 32 which is communicated with the vacuum nozzle 20 for extracting air in the storage cavity of the container through the vacuum nozzle 20. The motor assembly 31 comprises a motor 311 and a driving shaft 312 eccentrically extended therefrom for driving the vacuum pump 32 to extract fluid from the container.

The vacuum pump 32 thus comprises a pumping chamber 322 and a pumping piston 321 having a driving end 3211 connected with the driving shaft 312 of the motor assembly 31, and a pumping head 3212 movably received in the pumping chamber 322 in a reciprocal manner. The driving shaft 312 is driven by the motor 311 to rotate eccentrically thereabout so as to drive the pumping piston 321 moving reciprocally with respect to the pumping chamber 322 for creating pressure differentials between the pumping chamber 322 and the container so as to extract fluid therefrom.

Moreover, the vacuum pump 32 further comprises a valve unit 323 defining first and second fluid releasing cavities 3231, 3232 which communicate with the pumping chamber 322 in a controlled manner through first and second fluid control valves 3233, 3234 respectively. The second fluid releasing cavity 3232 is communicated with an exterior of the suction cavity 11 so that fluid flowing therein is arranged to be pumped out of the supporting housing 10 for continuously creating a pressure differentials between the pumping chamber 322 and the storage cavity of the container. In order to control fluid flowing into and out of the first and the second fluid releasing cavities 3231, 3232, the first and second fluid control valves 3233, 3234 are adapted to only allow unidirectional flow of the fluid to pass therethrough respectively.

According to the preferred embodiment, the first fluid releasing cavity 3231 is communicated with the vacuum nozzle 20 wherein the first fluid control valve 3233 is adapted to allow unidirectional fluid flow from the first fluid releasing cavity 3231 to the pumping chamber 322. Conversely, the second fluid control valve 3234 is adapted to allow unidirectional fluid flow from the pumping chamber 322 to the second fluid releasing cavity 3232 which is then communicated to an exterior of the handheld housing 10.

The operation of the vacuum pump 32 in association with the motor 31 is as follows: referring to FIG. 4A of the drawings, it illustrates a pre-pumping position of the motor 31 and the vacuum pump 32. At this position, intake of fluid to the pumping chamber 322 ceases to exist and fluid which has already existed in the pumping chamber 322 can only be pumped out of it through the second fluid control valve 3234 to the second fluid releasing cavity 3232.

Referring to FIG. 4B of the drawings, it illustrates that the vacuum pump 32 is pumping out fluid from the pumping chamber 322. In this stage, the pumping piston 321 is driven to move towards the valve unit 323 so as to force fluid contained within the pump chamber 322 going out from the pumping chamber 322 through the second fluid control valve 3234 to reach the second fluid releasing cavity 3232, wherein the fluid is then released to the exterior of the handheld housing 10.

Referring to FIG. 4C of the drawings, it illustrates fluid intake by the vacuum pump 32 from the container. During this intake stage, the pumping piston 321 is driven away from the valve unit 323 for drawing fluid from the storage cavity of the container via the vacuum nozzle 20 to reach the first gas releasing cavity 3231. In this scenario, the fluid is allowed to pass through the first fluid control valve 3233 for receiving in the pumping chamber 322. After the pumping piston 321 is driven back to its fullest extent, the pumping cycle continues by going through the FIG. 4A to the FIG. 4C all over again.

Thus one can appreciate that by controlling a rotational speed of the motor 311, the rate of pumping and the rate of extracting fluid from the container can be effectively controlled.

Referring to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the ozone injection device 40 is preferably embodied as a corona discharge ozone generator. The ozone injection device 40 comprises a tubular ozone channel 42 and an ionizing element 43 disposed therewithin wherein the ozone channel 42 has an air sucking end 421 for sucking a surrounding air into the ozone channel 42 via a pumping device and an air discharging end 422 extended to the vacuum nozzle 20 of the supporting housing 10 in such a manner that the ionizing element 43 is capable of ionizing the air to form the flow of ozone while the air passes from the air sucking end 421 of the ozone channel 42 to the air discharging end 422 thereof. Accordingly, the supporting housing 10 further has an ozone generating inlet 12 formed thereon to communicate with the air sucking end 421 of the ozone channel 42.

Accordingly, the ionizing element 43, which is embodied as a stainless steel blush, has a terminal arranged to electrically connect to a power source wherein the ionizing element 43 has an ionizing voltage (2000 to 15000V) to ionize the air. In addition, the ozone channel 42, which is preferably constructed to have three layers, comprises an inner crystal tube 423, an outer insulating layer 424, and a reinforcing layer 425, which is made of rigid material such as brass or aluminum, disposed between the crystal tube 423 and the insulating layer 424. According to the preferred embodiment, the ionizing element 43 is embodied as a needlepoint ionization element to generate ozone, which not only is more efficient and less prone to corrosion but also produces less nitrogen oxide that is undesirable by-product of the corona discharge process.

The operation of the present invention is elaborated as follows: a predetermined amount of ozone is first injected into the container (the storage cavity) before the vacuum by the ozone injection device 40 so that the micro-organism attached on the food is substantially combated by the ozone. Then, the vacuum device 30 is turned on to withdraw air and ozone within the storage cavity so as to create the vacuum effect.

Yet an alternative operation of the present invention is that the vacuum device 30 is first turned on to partially withdraw air from the storage cavity, and then turned off for the ozone inject device 40 to operate. As such, the partially vacuum environment within the storage cavity is arranged to be injected by ozone which combats the micro-organisms attached on the food. After that, the vacuum device 30 is turned on again for fully vacuuming the storage cavity so as to achieve a vacuum effect therewithin.

It is worth mentioning that the vacuum nozzle 20 may comprises a suction nozzle 21 and an ozone nozzle 22 provided on the supporting housing 10 and connected with the vacuum device 30 and the ozone injection device 40 respectively, wherein the suction nozzle 21 and the ozone nozzle 22 are both communicated with the container in such a manner that the withdrawal of air (vacuuming) is performed via the suction nozzle 21, while the injection of ozone is performed via the ozone nozzle 22. In other words, the suction nozzle 21 is extending from said vacuum device for withdrawing air from the storage cavity, while the ozone nozzle 22 is extending from the ozone device 30 for injecting ozone into the storage cavity, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

As such, the vacuum device 30 and the ozone device 40 are disposed in the supporting housing 10 side-by-side while the suction nozzle 21 and the ozone nozzle 20 are spacedly formed on a top panel of the supporting housing 10.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the ozone vacuum food storage system further comprises a control circuit 51 electrically connecting between the vacuum device 30 and the ozone device 40 to selectively activate one of the vacuum device 30 and the ozone device 40 to operate. Thus, the ozone vacuum food storage system further comprises a control panel 50 operatively provided on the supporting housing 10 and electrically connected with, via the control circuit 51, the motor assembly 31 and the ozone injection device 40 for controlling an operation of the motor assembly 31, such as on-off or the rate of extraction, and coordinating a sequence of operation of the vacuum device 30 and the ozone injection device 40.

Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, a method of vacuuming a container is illustrated, wherein the container has a storage cavity for storing food, and an opening communicating with the storage cavity. According to the preferred embodiment, the method comprises the steps of:

(a) injecting a predetermined amount of ozone into the container via the opening for combating micro-organisms attached on an outer surface of the food within the storage cavity of the container; and

(b) extracting air and the ozone within the container via the opening to create a vacuum environment which is sanitized by the ozone, such that the food stored within the storage cavity is capable of being preserved for an extended period of time.

As mentioned earlier, the operation of the ozone vacuum food storage system may be varied to accommodate different requirements in different circumstances. Thus, the method of vacuuming the container may be varied accordingly.

Specifically, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises a step before step (a) of withdrawing air within the storage cavity of the container such that the ozone is effectively killing micro-organisms on the food without being diluted.

Moreover, as an attempt to achieve an optimal performance of the present invention, step (a.1), step (b) and step (c) may be repeated for several times for ensuring significant removal of micro-organism within the storage cavity and at the surface of the food.

For effective preservation of the food, the method further comprises a step of sealing the opening of the container after the food is sanitized and stored in the vacuum environment so as to retain the vacuum environment within the container.

Referring to FIG. 7 of the drawings, an alternative mode of the ozone vacuum food storage system according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment except that the supporting housing is crafted and designed to be portable, i.e. handheld.

As a result, the supporting housing 10′ is made to be handheld wherein the vacuum nozzle 20′, the vacuum device 30′ and the ozone injection device 40′ are disposed within the suction cavity 11′.

As such, the vacuum nozzle 20′ comprises a three-way nozzle body 23′ having a suction opening 231′ extending from the vacuum device 30′ for withdrawing air from the storage cavity, an ozone opening 232′ extending from the ozone device 40′ for injecting the ozone into the storage cavity, and a nozzle opening 233′ adapted for communicating with the storage cavity of the container at the opening thereof.

It is worth pointing point out that according to the alternative mode of the present invention, the ozone vacuum food storage system is meant to achieve outdoors portable use, as well as indoors use. Thus, it may further comprise a power supply unit received in the handheld housing 10′ and electrically connected with the motor assembly 31 and the control panel 50 so as to provide electrical power to the vacuum device 30′ for its operation. The power supply unit is preferably embodied as a rechargeable battery which is adapted to be recharged through a power inlet provided on the handheld housing 10′ for independent use in a portable manner. Alternatively, the power supply unit may be connected with an external AC power source for real time acquisition and utilization of electrical power.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An ozone vacuum food storage system for storing food in a container having a storage cavity and an opening communicating therewith, wherein said ozone vacuum food storage system comprises:

a supporting housing;

a vacuum nozzle supported by said supporting housing for communicating with said storage cavity of said container at said opening thereof;

a vacuum device disposed within said supporting housing and communicated with said vacuum nozzle for generating a vacuum effect within said storage cavity said container via said opening; and

an ozone device comprising an ozone generator supported in said supporting housing for generating a predetermined amount of ozone to communicate said vacuum nozzle, wherein said ozone is guided for flowing into storage cavity through said vacuum nozzle to sanitize said food in said container prior to vacuuming of said storage cavity by said vacuum device so as to prolong preservation of said food within said storage cavity of said container.

2. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said vacuum nozzle comprises a suction nozzle extending from said vacuum device for withdrawing air from said storage cavity and an ozone nozzle extending from said ozone device for injecting said ozone into said storage cavity.

3. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 1, further comprises a control circuit electrically connecting between said vacuum device and ozone device to selectively activate one of said vacuum device and ozone device to operate.

4. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 2, further comprises a control circuit electrically connecting between said vacuum device and ozone device to selectively activate one of said vacuum device and ozone device to operate.

5. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 2, wherein said vacuum device comprises a motor assembly and a vacuum pump which is electrically connected to said motor assembly and is communicated with said vacuum nozzle for extracting air in said container through said vacuum nozzle.

6. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 4, wherein said vacuum device comprises a motor assembly and a vacuum pump which is electrically connected to said motor assembly and is communicated with said vacuum nozzle for extracting air in said container through said vacuum nozzle.

7. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 4, wherein said ozone generator comprises a tubular ozone channel having an air sucking end and an air discharging end extended to said vacuum nozzle, and an ionizing element disposed within said ozone channel for ionizing air sucking from said air sucking end to form a flow of said ozone injecting into said storage cavity of said container.

8. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 6, wherein said ozone generator comprises a tubular ozone channel having an air sucking end and an air discharging end extended to said vacuum nozzle, and an ionizing element disposed within said ozone channel for ionizing air sucking from said air sucking end to form a flow of said ozone injecting into said storage cavity of said container.

9. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 2, wherein said vacuum device and said ozone device are disposed in said supporting housing side-by-side while said suction nozzle and said ozone nozzle are spacedly formed on a top panel of said supporting housing.

10. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 6, wherein said vacuum device and said ozone device are disposed in said supporting housing side-by-side while said suction nozzle and said ozone nozzle are spacedly formed on a top panel of said supporting housing.

11. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 8, wherein said vacuum device and said ozone device are disposed in said supporting housing side-by-side while said suction nozzle and said ozone nozzle are spacedly formed on a top panel of said supporting housing.

12. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said vacuum nozzle comprises a three-way nozzle body having a suction opening extending from said vacuum device for withdrawing air from said storage cavity, an ozone opening extending from said ozone device for injecting said ozone into said storage cavity, and a nozzle opening adapted for communicating with said storage cavity of said container at said opening thereof.

13. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 12, further comprises a control circuit electrically connecting between said vacuum device and ozone device to selectively activate one of said vacuum device and ozone device to operate.

14. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 13, wherein said vacuum device comprises a motor assembly and a vacuum pump which is electrically connected to said motor assembly and is communicated with said vacuum nozzle for extracting air in said container through said vacuum nozzle.

15. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 12, wherein said ozone generator comprises a tubular ozone channel having an air sucking end and an air discharging end extended to said vacuum nozzle, and an ionizing element disposed within said ozone channel for ionizing air sucking from said air sucking end to form a flow of said ozone injecting into said storage cavity of said container.

16. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 14, wherein said ozone generator comprises a tubular ozone channel having an air sucking end and an air discharging end extended to said vacuum nozzle, and an ionizing element disposed within said ozone channel for ionizing air sucking from said air sucking end to form a flow of said ozone injecting into said storage cavity of said container.

17. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 12, wherein said supporting housing is shaped and sized to form an elongated handheld structure that said vacuum device, said ozone device and said nozzle body are aligned within said supporting housing for enabling portable use of said ozone vacuum food storage system.

18. The ozone vacuum food storage system, as recited in claim 16, wherein said supporting housing is shaped and sized to form an elongated handheld structure that said vacuum device, said ozone device and said nozzle body are aligned within said supporting housing for enabling portable use of said ozone vacuum food storage system.

19. A method of storing food in a container having a storage cavity and an opening, comprising the steps of:

(a) injecting a predetermined amount of ozone into said storage cavity said container via said opening for combating micro-organisms on a surface of said food in said container; and

(b) extracting air with said ozone in said container via said opening to create a vacuum environment for said food so as to prolong preservation of said food within said storage cavity of said container.

20. The method, as recited in claim 19, before step (a), further comprising a step of withdrawing air within said storage cavity of said container such that said ozone is effectively combating micro-organisms on said food without being diluted.

21. The method, as recited in claim 19, further comprising a step of sealing said opening of said container after said food is sanitized and stored in said vacuum environment so as to retain said vacuum environment within said container.

22. The method, as recited in claim 20, further comprising a step of sealing said opening of said container after said food is sanitized and stored in said vacuum environment so as to retain said vacuum environment within said container.

23. The method, as recited in claim 19, after step (b), further comprising a step of sequentially repeating the steps (a) and (b) for achieving an effective removal of said micro-organisms on said food.

24. The method, as recited in claim 20, after step (b), further comprising a step of sequentially repeating the steps (a) and (b) for achieving an effective removal of said micro-organisms on said food.

25. The method, as recited in claim 22, after step (b), further comprising a step of sequentially repeating the steps (a) and (b) for achieving an effective removal of said micro-organisms on said food.