UNIVERSAL AIR REMOVAL PORT

Abstract

Universal air removal port can be installed on factory sealed frozen food bags or any new plastic food bags. The port comprises of a flat disk or compressed foam check valve, air sieve and double-sided adhesive inserts to bond two elements. A hole is created on one-side wall of food bag. The check valve is bonded to the exterior hole and the air sieve to the interior hole. Valve restricts air flows to outflows from the sealed bag. Multiple openings of air sieve prevent blocking of valve inlet by foods or bag film. Its flat top plate reinforces bonding of bag film and the valve. Amorphous viscid adhesive inserts fill micro holes and grooves on valve surface, eliminating formation of micro tracts and loss of vacuum. The universal air removal port can be removed from empty bag and reused on a new food bag.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of applicant's Ser. No. 12/880,253 filed Sep. 13, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,056,471 issued Nov. 15, 2011, the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a universal air removal port. More specifically the air removal port that can be installed on any existing food bags, as the word, “universal” implies, such as factory packed frozen food bags with or without resealing zipper strips, new empty food bags with or without resealing zipper strips. In case of food bags without resealing zipper strips, the open ends of the bags are sealed by an impulse heat sealer. The universal air removal port is installed on one side of the food bag wall through a punched hole. When the food bag becomes empty, the universal air removal port can be removed and installed on another new bag—reusable.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Many frozen foods are sold in plastic packages with built-in zipper strips for resealing. Some of them are vacuum sealed at the factory. After they are cut and opened, however, ordinary consumers cannot induce vacuum in the packages at their home kitchens. There is no consumer device on the market which allows removal of air from the resealed food packages.

The problem with presently designed factory sealed food packages is two-fold, the first being that ice is formed on the food content if the package is sealed without vacuum and the second being that no measures are provided to induce vacuum in the resealed package following opening of the sealed package for addition of food or for removing a portion of its content. In both cases, when the seal is broken to allow removal and/or addition of food, the entry of air and moisture into the package frequently causes ice formation. The result is a deterioration of the food and a reduction in flavor and edibility. Also the long term storage viability of the food contained therein is reduced upon resealing.

Various patents have been disclosed pertaining to closures and sealing systems for food packages, and they include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,941,310; 5,009,828; 5,070,584; US 2003/0152296 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,147; B2; 2004/0114837 A1; 2004/0161178 A1; 2005/0196077 A1; 2005/0244083 A1; and, 2007/0110340 A1. However, as noted, supra, none of the above patents describe a device that can be installed on any existing food bags by ordinary consumers to induce vacuum, inducing vacuum in the resealed food package in order to solve the problem of ice formation and air and moisture contamination following opening of a food package to access the contents therein.

What is needed is a product to allow an ordinary consumer to make a vacuum seal on any existing food package after being sealed. Therefore, presented in this disclosure is an air removal device, referred to as a Universal Air Removal Port.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the universal air removal port that can be installed on any existing plastic food packages, converting them to vacuum sealers for continued, long term storage. Universal air removal port comprises of a check valve and an air sieve which are bonded to a punched hole on one side of the plastic wall of a food package by means of double-sided adhesive inserts. When the food bag becomes empty, the universal air removal port can be removed and installed on a new food bag—reusable.

It is another object of the universal air removal port which allows users to choose the type of vacuum sealer, depending on their purpose. Four variables are to be considered; the type of check valves, (1) a tubular flat disk and (2) a box shape compressed foam sponge valve and the sealing modalities of the food packages, (3) resealing zipper strips and (4) permanent sealing by an impulse heat sealer. The tubular valve can be readily opened by manual compression on the sealed bag but cannot remain closed at low vacuum. Compressed foam valve cannot be readily opened by manual compression on the sealed bag but can stay closed at low vacuum. Our test indicated that the zipper strips of food packages are incapable of holding high vacuum and only heat sealed food bags can hold high vacuum.

Periodic inspection of the film package during storage would be appropriate to determine if any migration of air through the plastic sidewalls of the package has occurred, causing a reduction in vacuum. This can be simply rectified by squeezing the package by hands letting air out of the package through the tubular valve or securing the aspirating pump vacuuming out any air, and moisture. The presented vacuum inducing device after being installed on various types of existing food storage package represents a significant improvement of frozen food storage that requires repeated open and closure for food retrieval, resealing the package, and restoring a vacuum.

Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a box shape compressed foam sponge one-way check valve to be used as a component of the universal air removal port.

FIG. 2 shows a conventional tubular flat disk one-way check valve to be used as a component of the universal air removal port.

FIG. 3 shows an air sieve to be used as a component of the universal air removal port.

FIG. 4 illustrates another design of an air sieve to be used as a component of the universal air removal port.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the box shape compressed foam sponge valve and air sieve of FIG. 3 are used as the universal air removal port. A hole is created in the food package wall (only a portion is shown). The valve is bonded to the exterior and the air sieve to the interior hole of the food package plastic film.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the tubular flat disk valve of FIG. 2 and air sieve of FIG. 4 are used as the components for the universal air removal port. A hole is created in the food package wall (only a portion is shown). The tubular valve is bonded to the exterior and the air sieve to the interior hole of the food package plastic film.

FIG. 7 shows a spatula that is to be used for air removal from the box shape compressed foam sponge valve.

FIG. 8 illustrates how the air is aspirated from the food package through the box shape compressed foam sponge by the spatula.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 Illustrates a box shape compressed foam sponge valve 100 as described in the inventor's U.S. Pat. No. 8,056,471; (A) front view, (B) top isometric view and (C) sectional view 1C-1Ccut from (A). Rectangular valve box housing 101 is open at the front and has a central tubular protrusion 104 with central opening 105 in the bottom and contains compressed closed cell foam block 102. The degree of compression determines the magnitude of closing force of the valve by controlling the expansive force of the block. The rectangular double-sided amorphous viscid adhesive insert 103 with a central bore is bonded to the inferior rectangular surface of the valve box 101. The adhesive insert 103 has two main roles; (1) to bond two elements, the valve 101 and a food package 501 as show in FIG. 5 and (2) to fill in micro holes and grooves on what appears to be flat surface of the rigid valve housing 101. If they are not filled with amorphous viscid adhesive material, micro tracts may be formed between the valve housing and the food package wall, causing loss of vacuum of the package.

FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional tubular check valve 200 which was originally designed to be used in a gas flow line; (A) side view, (B) top isometric view, (C) bottom isometric view, and (D) sectional view 2D-2D cut from (A). The tubular valve housing 202 has an outflow leg 201 with central opening 209 and an inflow leg 204 with central opening 208. A flat disk 205 is placed inside the valve housing 202. When the flat disk 205 is pulled against the inflow opening 207, the air inflow is shut. If the disk 205 is pushed up against the valve stoppers 206, the open spaces around the stoppers 206 let the internal air moves out freely from the opening 209. A flat donut shape double-sided adhesive insert 203 is bonded to the inferior surface of the valve housing 202. The roles of the adhesive insert 203 are as described in the proceeding section.

FIG. 3 illustrates the air sieve 300; (A) side view, (B) bottom isometric view and (C) top isometric view. The air sieve 300 is to be bonded to the interior punched hole on the food bag facing the valve. The bottom wall 301, side tubular wall 302 and top wall 303 have multiple small openings, preventing blockage of the air intake leg 105 of FIG. 1 or 208 of FIG. 2 by foods or food package wall. The shape of opening is not critical. This drawing has a cylindrical shape but it can be of any shape. The top wall 303 has a central tubular protrusion 304 with a top flat plate 305, which is a critical component of the air sieve. When high vacuum is induced in a food bag, the food bag wall may be detached from the inferior surface of the valve. A donut shape double-sided amorphous viscid adhesive insert 306 bonds the top flat plate 305 to the interior plastic food bag 502 of FIG. 5. This top plate 305 reinforces the bonding of the valve 101 and food bag wall 103 as shown in FIG. 5 and prevents detachment of the food bag wall 103 from the valve inferior surface 101 by the internal vacuum. The top flat plate 306 has an opening 307 for air passage through the air sieve 300.

FIG. 4 shows another design of the air sieve 400. The shape of the air sieve wall 401 is not critical and can be of any design. This illustrates a simple cylindrical design. The key elements are multiple openings on the cylindrical wall 401 to increase air passage pathway and a flat top plate 402. The bottom surface 403 has a central opening 404. Top flat plate 402 is bonded to the interior food bag wall, reinforcing the bonding of the inferior valve 210 and the food bag wall 203 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the box shape compressed foam sponge valve 100 is bonded to the exterior hole 502 of the food bag wall 501 (only a portion is shown) by the double-sided adhesive rectangular insert 103 with a central bore 106. The top flat plate 305 of the air sieve 300 is bonded to the inferior hole 502 of the food bag 501 by the adhesive donut 306. All central bores 307, 308, 502, and 106 are concentrically aligned. The tubular protrusion of the box valve shell 104 (not shown) extends through the central bores 106, 502, 308, and 307 of each component.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the tubular valve 200 bonded to the exterior hole 603 of food package wall 601 (only a portion is shown) through the donut shape double-sided adhesive insert 203. The top flat plate 402 is bonded to the interior hole 603 of the food bag (only a portion is shown) by a donut shape double-sided adhesive insert 403. Concentrically aligned central bores 209 of the tubular valve 200, 211 of adhesive insert 203, hole 603 of the food bag wall 601, central bore 404 of the adhesive insert 403 and central bore 405 of the air sieve 400 constitute the air pathway when a vacuum pump (not shown) is connected to the outflow leg 201 or the sealed bag is manually compressed.

FIG. 7 illustrates a spatula 700. (A) side view, (B) bottom isometric view and (C) top isometric view. A wedge shape hollow spatula 700 has a thin leading edge 701, bottom plate 706 with rectangular opening 707, side walls 704, top walls 702 & 703 and a tubular protrusion 708 extending from the top back surface 703. The vacuum opening 707 is shown in the bottom isometric view (B) with the central tubular opening 709 in side view (A) and top isometric view (C).

FIG. 8 shows the wedge shape spatula 700 is inserted between the compressed foam sponge 102 and the box shape valve shell 101. (A) Perspective view and (B) Sectional view along cut line 8B-8B of (A). The leading thin edge 701 is inserted between the compressed sponge 102 and the bottom wall of the valve shell 101, until the rectangular opening 707 reaches the opening 105 of the shell. When vacuum pump (not shown) is connected to the back tubular protrusion 708 and activated, the internal air from the food bag 801 (only a portion is shown) is aspirated into the multiple openings of the air sieve 301 & 302, into the tubular opening 105, bottom opening of the spatula 707 and the central tubular opening 709 of the back protrusion of the spatula 708.

After vacuum is established in the food package, the spatula 700 is pulled out. The compressed foam sponge 102 springs back, closing the opening 105 of the valve shell. The expansive force of the compressed foam 102 and the suction force of the interior vacuum of the food package keep the air inflow through the universal air removal port shut.

Thus, specific embodiments of a universal air removal port have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A universal air removal port comprising:

a one-way check valve of either a tubular flat disk type or a box shape valve having a compressed foam sponge block;

an air sieve with a central air passage and cylindrical or square box type walls with multiple openings and a top flat plate;

a first and a second double-sided amorphous viscid adhesive inserts;

said first double-sided amorphous viscid adhesive insert having a central bore that is bonded to an inferior flat surface of said valve housing;

said second double-sided amorphous viscid adhesive insert that is bonded to a top flat plate of said air sieve;

said double-sided amorphous viscid adhesive inserts fill any micro holes or grooves on the flat rigid valve housing or air sieve top flat plate, eliminating formation of micro tracts for air passage between the food package and the valve or air sieve, and provide a common surface for bonding said air sieve and a plastic food bag together,

a hole created in said plastic food bag and the valve housing is bonded with the second double-sided amorphous viscid adhesive insert to said hole on an outside of said plastic food bag and said air sieve is bonded with said first double-sided amorphous viscid adhesive insert to the hole on an inside of said plastic food bag;

a central tubular passage of the air sieve is aligned with an inlet leg of the valve which sticks out through the hole of the plastic food bag, whereas

when the both the valve and air sieve are pressed firmly towards each other, they sandwich walls of said plastic food bag and said universal air removal port is bonded to said plastic food bag.

2. The universal air removal port according to claim 1 wherein the closing force of the box shape valve is a combination of expansive force of the compressed foam sponge block and traction force on the foam sponge block by the internal vacuum pressure of the plastic food bag and said expansive force of said foam sponge block is adjusted by controlling a degree of compression of said foam sponge block.

3. The universal air removal port according to claim 1 wherein the closing force of the flat disk valve depends on the traction force generated by the internal vacuum of the plastic food package.

4. The universal air removal port according to claim 1 wherein a sealed plastic food bag is opened by unlocking the zipper strips or cutting the sealed food bag.

5. The universal air removal port according to claim 1 wherein a sealed plastic food bag is vacuumed by exerting force onto walls of the food bag thereby pushing air from within the plastic food bag out through the flat disk check valve or by a vacuum pump through either flat disk or compressed foam valve.

6. The universal air removal port according to claim 1 wherein the universal air removal port is installable on an existing plastic food bags.

7. The universal air removal port according to claim 6 wherein the existing plastic food bag is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, nylon, polyester, polyurethane, or laminate.

8. The universal air removal port according to claim 6 wherein the existing plastic food bag has a built-in resealing zipper strips.

9. The universal air removal port according to claim 6 wherein the existing plastic food bag does not have a built-in resealing zipper strips.

10. The universal air removal port according to claim 6 wherein the existing plastic food bag has open ends that are sealed by impulse heat sealer.

11. The universal air removal port according to claim 1 wherein said amorphous viscid adhesive bonding element eliminates surface imperfections between the selected plastic food bag wall and said first or said second part of an air removal port.

12. The universal air removal port according to claim 1 wherein said first part and said second part of said air removal port is removable from the food bag when the plastic food bag becomes empty and be installed on another new plastic food bag, thus are re-usable.

13. The universal air removal port according to claim 1 wherein a loss of vacuum is visible when food content within the plastic food bag is no longer clearly delineated or the food contents move around inside the plastic food bag when pressed by fingers.

14. The universal air removal port according to claim 13 wherein the loss of vacuum in the plastic food bag is rectified by manual compression on the plastic food bag, pushing air out through a flat disk valve or aspirating air from the plastic food bag by a vacuum pump.