Removable drip trays and bag clamps for vacuum packaging appliances
The present invention teaches a bag clamp for use with a vacuum packaging appliance. The bag clamp has an open and a closed position. The open position is suitable for receiving an open end of a vacuum bag. The closed position is suitable for capturing and holding the open end of the vacuum bag during operation of the vacuum packaging appliance. A vacuum packaging appliance according to the present invention has at least one bag clamp, typically disposed within and fixedly attached to a drip tray. The present invention further teaches removable drip trays and vacuum packaging appliances with removable drip trays holding one or more bag clamps.
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This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/888,529 filed on Jul. 8, 2004 which claims benefit of Higer's provisional application No. 60/492,048, filed Jul. 31, 2003, and Small's provisional application No. 60/556,196, filed Mar. 24, 2004, the entire contents of each of the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention relates to vacuum packaging appliances. In particular, the present invention teaches a bag clamp suitable for clamping an open end of a vacuum packaging bag and holding the bag in place within a vacuum chamber, as well as a removable drip tray for a vacuum packaging appliance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Vacuum packaging appliances, vacuum packaging bags, and methods for vacuum packaging product are well known in the art. Prior Art
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A prior art vacuum packaging appliance 100 is described now with reference to
With further reference to
The roll 108 has preformed heat seals 26 and 30 on opposing sides. The roll 108 may be unfurled by the consumer to form a bag of any desired size. The cutting tool 112 is operable to cut the unfurled bag material. When creating bags of desired size, the consumer typically adds a third seal before placing the product 40 in the bag 20.
Prior Art
In a next step 54, a product 40 is placed within the bag 20; as illustrated in
In a step 62, the consumer stores the product 40 in the vacuum-sealed bag 20. For example, when the product is food, the consumer may store the bag 20 in a fridge or freezer. The user accesses product in the bag 20 by using a tool such as a scissors to cut through the bag 20. Accordingly, in a step 64, the consumer uses a scissors or other tool to open the bag to access the product 40. Then in a step 66, the consumer may reuse any remaining portion of the bag.
What is needed is a mechanism to assist the user in holding the bag in place during operation of the vacuum packaging appliance, particularly during the operation of inserting the bag and later closing the lid. This mechanism should be particularly suited for use in the evacuation process, but may also be helpful in forming seals on bag roll material when preparing bags for use. Further, a mechanism is needed to overcome problems arising when the drip tray becomes filled with contaminants.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention teaches a variety of bag clamps, mechanisms and techniques for securing a bag within a vacuum packaging appliance during operation of the vacuum packaging appliance. The bag clamp has an open position and a closed position. The open position is suitable for receiving an open end of the vacuum bag. The closed position is suitable for capturing and holding the open end of the vacuum bag during operation of the vacuum packaging appliance. A vacuum packaging appliance according to the present invention has at least one bag clamp, typically disposed within and fixedly attached to a drip tray. The present invention further teaches a removable drip tray enabling a user to empty and clean the drip tray as desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Prior Art
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The bag clamps 216 serve to clamp an open end 232 of a bag 230. The bag clamps 216 may grab one or two sheets of the bag 230. Once the bag clamps 216 are closed onto the bag 230, the user need not maintain the position of the bag for closure and evacuation. The open end 232 is held in place within the drip tray 214 such that when the lid 202 closes, the bag 230 is coupled to the vacuum circuit and held in place by the bag clamps 216. Thus the bag clamps 216 assist the user in coupling the bag 230 with the vacuum circuit of the appliance 200. While the embodiment of
The bag clamps 216 may freely rest in the drip tray 214, perhaps held in place by their mass, or may be attached to the drip tray or some other portion of the vacuum appliance 200. For example, the bag clamps 216 may be glued, spot welded, or riveted to the drip tray 214. Alternatively, the bag clamps 216 may be detachably mounted internal to the drip tray 214, via a mechanical or vacuum latching mechanism. The present invention also contemplates manufacturing the bag clamps 216 out of material suitable for washing, either by hand or within a typical dishwashing machine.
The clamping mechanism 252 of
The embodiment of
The spring 304 fits into a divot 306 located on a base 308 of the outer mechanism 300. The inner mechanism 302 has pins 310 that mate into cavities 312 formed into the outer mechanism. The action of the spring 304 then forces the inner mechanism 302 into the closed position in a manner that enables a user to push the clamp into an open position. In the closed position, a lower lip 314 is in spring pressured contact with an upper lip 316, thereby holding in place the bag.
According to certain embodiments, a base 402 houses a vacuum pump (not shown), and includes a control panel (not shown) at the top frontal portion of the base. The control panel includes an accessory port for use in removing gases from storage canisters, an instant seal button to manually start sealing a storage bag, and a vacuum button to start removing gases from storage bags or canisters.
In addition, the control panel may include indicator lights to signal the start or completion of various processes such as the sealing process, vacuum process and/or machine re-programming when transitioning from one process to the next.
In certain embodiments, the vacuum packaging appliance includes a sensing mechanism for sensing the presence or absence of a drip tray. The sensing mechanism may be such that the vacuum appliance is temporarily disabled if the sensing mechanism senses the absence of the drip tray. The sensing mechanism may be any suitable electrical or electromechanical mechanism. For example, the sensing mechanism may be a switch that disables the vacuum appliance as long as the switch remains open. The switch closes only when the drip tray is present.
Some examples of vacuum packaging appliances are the Tilia® FoodSaver® vacuum packaging system series. Some examples of storage bags and storage canisters used in conjunction with vacuum packaging appliances are the Tilia® FoodSaver® bags and FoodSaver® canisters. The Tilia® FoodSaver® bags and FoodSaver® canisters are suitable for storing items other than food.
In certain embodiments, the vacuum packaging appliance includes a sensing mechanism for sensing the presence of a drip tray. The presence of the drip tray may be a prerequisite to operation of the vacuum packaging appliance 400.
In the removable drip tray arrangement 500 in
Removable drip tray 506 catches the over-flowing liquids and/or particulate 508 during the vacuum packaging process. Removable drip tray 506 may be lifted out of vacuum channel 504 for purposes of cleaning or to discard the liquids and/or particulate 508. Removable drip tray 506 may be made of a durable dishwasher-safe material. Gasket 512 is operably mounted on the top frontal surface 520 in a manner for effectively creating a static seal around the vacuum channel when the lid of the vacuum packaging appliance is in the closed position. Gasket 512 is a continuous gasket that extends around the perimeter of vacuum channel 504. The lid (not shown in
Removable drip tray 606 catches the over-flowing liquids and/or particulate 608 during the vacuum packaging process. Removable drip tray 606 may be lifted out of vacuum channel 604 for purposes of cleaning or to discard the liquids and/or particulate 608. Removable drip tray 606 may be made of a durable dishwasher-safe material. According to certain embodiments, gasket 612 is molded onto the top perimeter of removable drip tray 606 in a manner for effectively creating a static seal around the vacuum channel when the lid of the vacuum packaging appliance is in the closed position. In certain other embodiments, gasket 612 is affixed or mounted to the top perimeter of removable drip tray 606 in a manner for effectively creating a static seal around the vacuum channel when the lid of the vacuum packaging appliance is in the closed position. Gasket 612 is a continuous gasket. Further, gasket 612 includes a lip 613 that contacts top frontal surface 620. Alternatively, gasket 612 is sized to be flush against the inner walls of vacuum channel 604 such that a static seal is created when the lid of the vacuum packaging appliance is in the closed position.
The lid (not shown in
In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to numerous specific details that may vary from implementation to implementation. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
Claims
1-43. (canceled)
44. A vacuum packaging appliance comprising:
- a base for receiving an open end of a vacuum bag;
- a lid coupled to said base having an open position;
- a bag retainer disposed on said base having an open position and a closed position, wherein said open position is suitable for insertion of the open end of a vacuum bag, and said closed position is suitable for capturing and holding the open end of the vacuum bag when said lid is in said open position.
45. A vacuum packaging appliance for vacuum packaging a bag comprising:
- a base having a drip tray;
- a lid coupled to the base and moveable between an open position and a closed position;
- an evacuation chamber positioned in the lid and configured to form a vacuum chamber with said drip tray in said closed position, wherein said vacuum chamber is adapted to receive an open end of said bag therein;
- a vacuum source coupled to said evacuation chamber and configured to remove air from said bag; and
- a bag clamp arranged to clamp said open end of said bag and hold said bag in place during operation of said vacuum packaging appliance.
46. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 45, wherein said bag clamp is disposed within said drip tray.
47. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 46, wherein said bag clamp is glued to said drip tray.
48. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 46, wherein said bag clamp is spot-welded to said drip tray.
49. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 46, wherein said bag clamp is riveted to said drip tray.
50. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 46, wherein said bag clamp is detachably coupled to said drip tray.
51. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 45, wherein said bag clamp is made of washable material.
52. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 45, wherein said bag clamp is one of a plurality of bag clamps.
53. A vacuum packaging appliance for vacuum packaging a bag comprising:
- a base having a removable drip tray;
- a lid coupled to the base and moveable between an open position and a closed position;
- an evacuation chamber positioned in said lid and configured to form a vacuum chamber with said drip tray in said closed position, wherein said vacuum chamber is adapted to receive an open end of said bag therein;
- a vacuum source coupled to said evacuation chamber and configured to remove air from said bag;
- two bag clamps fixedly attached within said drip tray, each bag clamp having a spring-loaded biasing mechanism having a normally closed position arranged to clamp said open end of said bag and hold said bag in place during operation of said vacuum packaging appliance, said spring-loaded biasing mechanism being operable by a user to move to an open position for receiving said open end of said bag; and
- a heat sealing mechanism suitable for sealing said open end of said bag.
54. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 44, wherein said bag retainer includes an engaging surface for engaging the bag.
55. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 44, wherein said bag retainer is biased in said closed position.
56. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 55, wherein said bag retainer includes an outer mechanism and an inner mechanism movable relative to said outer mechanism.
57. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 56, wherein said inner mechanism includes a first surface and said outer mechanism includes a second surface, and said first surface being in biased contact with said second surface for holding the vacuum bag between said first and said second surfaces.
58. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 44, wherein said bag retainer includes a clamping mechanism.
59. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 44, wherein said bag retainer is one of a plurality of bag retainers.
60. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 44, wherein said base includes a vacuum chamber for receiving the open end of the bag and said bag retainer is disposed in said vacuum chamber.
61. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 44, wherein said base includes a vacuum channel and a drip tray is removably disposed in said vacuum channel, and said bag retainer is disposed on said drip tray.
62. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 61, wherein said bag retainer is one of a plurality of bag retainers, and said plurality of bag retainers are spaced along a length of said drip tray.
63. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 60, wherein said vacuum chamber is configured such that when the open end of the vacuum bag is secured to said bag retainer a portion of the bag extends outside of said vacuum chamber.
64. A vacuum packaging appliance comprising:
- a base for receiving an open end of a vacuum bag, said base including a vacuum chamber;
- a vacuum source in communication with said vacuum chamber; and
- a bag retainer disposed within said vacuum chamber, said bag retainer having an opening for receiving the open end of the vacuum bag, said bag retainer having opposed surfaces for capturing and holding the open end of the vacuum bag there between during operation of the vacuum packaging appliance.
65. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 64, wherein a drip tray is disposed in said vacuum chamber and said bag retainer is disposed on said drip tray.
66. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 65, wherein said bag retainer is one of a plurality of bag retainers, and said plurality of bag retainers are spaced along a length of said drip tray.
67. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 65, wherein said bag retainer is fixedly secured to said drip tray.
68. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 65, wherein said drip tray is removable from said base.
69. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 64, wherein said bag retainer includes a clamping mechanism having an open and closed position.
70. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 69, wherein said bag retainer is biased in said closed position.
71. A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in claim 64, wherein said vacuum chamber is configured such that when the open end of the bag is secured to said bag retainer a portion of the bag extends outside of said vacuum chamber.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 12, 2006
Publication Date: Feb 15, 2007
Applicant:
Inventors: Steven Small (Novato, CA), Landen Higer (Alameda, CA)
Application Number: 11/580,337
International Classification: B65B 31/00 (20060101);