Vacuum seal bag assembly

Abstract

The present invention is an improved vacuum seal bag assembly that comprises of a plastic Ziploc® bag having a plastic snap-open snap-closed one-way air sealed connector incorporated into one side of the Ziploc® bag, and a hand pump bulb that attaches to the one-way air sealed connector. This one-way air sealed connector includes a plastic nipple from a beach ball. A hand pump works in combination with the one-way sealed connector as the vacuum source which evacuates air contained inside the Ziploc® bag. When all of the air is squeezed out, the one-way air sealed connector is closed and the bag is sealed. The present invention is fabricated of lightweight materials and possesses a simple, yet scalable, design that may be economically manufactured and sold to provide for widespread use.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application derives priority from provisional patent application No. 60/707,452 filed Aug. 11, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an improved vacuum seal bag assembly, and more particularly to an improved vacuum seal bag assembly ideally suited for enclosing vacuum packed food or supplies.

2. Description of the Background

Vacuum sealers are typically appliances that vacuum seal food in a plastic wrap, container, or bag to remove surrounding air thereby preserving freshness and flavor of foods longer than refrigerating or freezing in an ordinary container or bag. Vacuum sealing is especially useful for meat and fish, which may suffer from freezer burn if kept in a container or bag for a long period of time. Vacuum sealed food can save folks a great deal of money since they allow people to save food longer rather than throw it away. Vacuum sealers can also be used to protect non-food items from moisture and corrosion. Thus vacuum sealers can serve a dual purpose for campers and hikers by protecting supplies, including an essential first aid kit, and keeping their food fresh while outdoors for a long period of time. However, most commercial vacuum sealers are expensive and may outweigh the cost savings of keeping food fresh or protecting supplies. Therefore, many folks do not to invest in them. Additionally, many commercial vacuum sealing devices contain too many parts and/or are bulky and hence impractical to take on a hunting or fishing trip where these devices would be useful in vacuum sealing freshly hunted game. Thus, it would be greatly advantageous to provide a vacuum seal assembly that is simple to manufacture, very easy to use, lightweight, and inexpensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved vacuum seal bag assembly that is inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved vacuum seal bag assembly that is simple to manufacture.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved vacuum seal bag assembly that is easy to use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved vacuum seal bag assembly that is lightweight.

These and other objects are accomplished by an improved vacuum seal bag assembly that comprises a plastic Ziploc® bag having a plastic snap-on snap-off one-way air sealed connector incorporated into one side of the Ziploc® bag, and a hand pump bulb that attaches to the one-way air sealed connector. This one-way air sealed connector includes a plastic nipple similar to those used in conventional beach balls. The hand pump bulb squeezes air out of the bag through the one-way air sealed connector and creates a vacuum inside the bag. When all of the air is squeezed out, the one-way air sealed connector is closed and the bag is sealed. The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for tightly sealing Ziploc® bags by means which are a simple, fast, and very inexpensive way of vacuum packing a Ziploc® bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the components of the vacuum seal bag assembly 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is an improved vacuum seal bag assembly 1 which is lightweight, and inexpensive and simple to manufacture.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the components of the vacuum seal bag assembly 1 which comprises of a plastic Ziploc® bag 2 having a plastic snap-open snap-closed one-way air sealed connector 3 incorporated into one side of the Ziploc® bag 2, and a hand pump bulb 4. Approximately at the center of one side of the plastic Ziploc® bag 2, a circle is cut out. The sealed connector 3 is inserted through the circle and the rim of the sealed connector 3 facing the interior of the bag 2 is affixed tightly to the side of the bag 2, using adhesive material, including glue. The sealed connector 3 is snapped open such that air flows out and the hand pump bulb 4 is placed over the opening of the sealed connector 3 to completely cover it. Thus, the bulb 4 and the sealed connector 3 form an airtight closure. It is to be understood that any plastic snap-open snap-closed one-way air sealed connector 3 may be used for this purpose, and a plastic nipple from a beach ball is well-suited. Additionally, any conventional hand pump vacuum bulb 4 may be used, such as those sold for marine outboard engines. The hand pump bulb 4 is used to squeeze air out of the bag 2 through the one-way air sealed connector 3 and creates a vacuum inside the bag 2. When all of the air is squeezed out, the one-way air sealed connector 3 is closed and the bag 2 is sealed. Any size and type of Ziploc® bag 2 may be used for this purpose. The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for vacuum packing food or supplies inside a Ziploc® bag 2 by tightly sealing it in a simple, fast, and very inexpensive way.

The vacuum seal bag assembly 1 is fabricated of lightweight materials chosen to provide an appropriate degree of flexibility and resiliency. The present invention possesses a simple, yet scalable, design that may be economically manufactured and sold to provide for widespread use. Because the vacuum seal bag assembly 1 is lightweight and only contains two separate pieces, it is especially useful for campers and hikers on long trips.

Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiment and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An improved vacuum seal bag assembly, comprising:

a plastic bag;

a one-way air sealed connector fixedly attached to a side of said plastic bag; and

a hand pump bulb, wherein said bulb detachably attaches to said one-way air sealed connector to evacuate air contained inside said plastic bag.

2. An improved vacuum seal bag assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plastic bag is a plastic Ziploc® bag.

3. An improved vacuum seal bag assembly according to claim 1, wherein said one-way air sealed connector is a plastic snap-open snap-closed one-way air sealed connector.

4. An improved vacuum seal bag assembly according to claim 1, wherein said one-way air sealed connector further comprises a plastic nipple.

5. An improved vacuum seal bag assembly, comprising:

a plastic bag wherein a side of said bag has a substantially centrally defined hole;

a one-way air sealed connector further comprising a circle and a rim, wherein said circle and said rim fixedly attach to said hole in said plastic bag; and

a hand pump bulb, wherein said bulb detachably attaches to said one-way air sealed connector to evacuate air contained inside said plastic bag.

6. A method of vacuum packing food or supplies inside a bag comprising the steps of:

placing contents in a plastic bag;

closing said bag;

attaching a hand pump bulb to a one-way air sealed connector fixedly attached to said plastic bag;

squeezing all air out of said bag with a hand pump bulb; and

closing said one-way air sealed connector to seal said bag, and thereby vacuum pack food or supplies inside said bag.