STORAGE DEVICE

Abstract

A storage device is provided. The storage device includes a container having a bottom, side walls, and a top opening defined by a rim and a bag for storing items, the bag having an opening attached to the side walls at, or near the rim. The storage device further includes a lid and a port for withdrawing fluid from an internal volume of the bag to thereby collapse the bag while pulling it towards the lid such that when the bag is collapsed, it is suspended within the container.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for storing items and, more particularly, to a storage device that includes a bag suspended within a rigid container for storing items under vacuum.

Spoilage of perishable items such as food and medication is a major economic, environmental and social concern. Spoilage can be caused by exposure of stored items to microorganisms, insects or rodents or to oxygen and humidity.

Numerous approaches have been developed to help preserve perishable items.

For example, storing items under vacuum minimizes exposure thereof to humidity and oxygen and extends their shelf life.

One example of a vacuum sealing system is the Foodsaver® system which utilizes a bag/container and sealing device to seal food items under vacuum and keep it fresh up to 5 times longer than ordinary storage devices like zipper bags, foil, plastic wrap, lid-top containers and the like.

More complicated vacuum systems which are integrated into refrigerators and the like are also known.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,875 and US Pat. Appln No. 20090194193 are directed to a refrigerator drawer for storing fruits and vegetables. The drawer plugs into a vacuum source in a refrigerator to evacuate air from the storage compartment. The drawer contains a mechanism to release the pressure in order to open the drawer and retrieve the food products. Notably, every time a user opens the drawer to retrieve food, the vacuum source must be re-activated in order to evacuate air from the drawer.

Rigid vacuum containers suffer from several inherent limitations. Since the vacuum compartment is rigid, the amount of air that can be removed therefrom is typically about 10% of the air volume in the compartment (10% absolute vacuum). This is due to the fact that drawing air from a rigid compartment requires a large vacuum force and produces external forces on the compartment which can lead to collapse of the compartment. In addition, drawing air out of a rigid compartment can take several minutes and requires a large capacity vacuum pump due to the buildup of negative pressure within the rigid compartment.

Although vacuum bags can be used to store items under near-complete vacuum, such bags are harder to handle and store due to their pliable nature.

While reducing the present invention to practice, the present inventor have devised a storage device which can store items under near-complete vacuum (e.g. 95%) while providing the storage and handling benefits of a rigid container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a storage device comprising: (a) a container having a bottom, side walls, and a top opening defined by a rim; (b) a bag for storing items, the bag having an opening attached to the side walls at, or near the rim; (c) a lid for covering the top opening of the container and sealing against the opening of the bag; and (d) a port for withdrawing fluid from an internal volume of the bag to thereby collapse the bag while pulling it towards the lid such that when the bag is collapsed, it is suspended within the container.

According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the lid includes a vacuum pump for withdrawing air through the port.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the port is attachable to an external vacuum pump.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the port forms a part of the lid.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the bag is elastic.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments a side wall of the container includes markings for indicating a height of a bottom of the bag when collapsed and suspended within the container.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the port forms a part of the container.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the device further comprises a tube for fluidly connecting the port to a top opening of the container.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the port runs through the bottom wall of the container.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the tube runs alongside or within a sidewall of the container.

The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the presently known configurations by providing a storage device capable of maintaining stored items under near complete vacuum in a supportive and protective environment while leveraging gravity for rapid vacuum formation and release.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the rigid container portion of the present storage device.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the present storage device prior to application of vacuum.

FIG. 3 illustrates the storage device of FIG. 2 following application of vacuum.

FIGS. 4-5 illustrate the lid of the storage device of FIG. 2 showing internal components in isometric (FIG. 4) and side (FIG. 5) views.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the present storage device having a bottom wall vacuum port and fluid withdrawal tube.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a prototype of the present storage device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is of a storage container which can be used to store items under near-complete vacuum. Specifically, the present invention can be used to store perishable items under near-complete vacuum while providing the usability of a rigid container.

The principles and operation of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and accompanying descriptions.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details set forth in the following description or exemplified by the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Vacuum storage systems typically utilize bags or rigid containers to store perishable items such as food. Rigid vacuum chambers are advantageous in that they provide a protective and supportive storage space, however, rigid vacuum containers are limited by the extent of vacuum produced therein and by the external forces produced on the container by an established vacuum.

For example, a 90% vacuum (10% air) in a rigid container 60 cm long, 15 cm deep and 30 cm high would produce an external force that can be calculated using:

F=ΔP×A

wherein F is force, P is pressure and A is the area of one side of the container.

The force acting on a single side of the container can be solved by multiplying 0.9 Atm (ΔP) by 1800 cm²(A−60×30). The result is 1620 Kg of force on one side of the container. Since the container has 6 sides, 2×(60×30)+2×(45×30)+2×(60×45), the total area is 11700 cm² and the total force acting on the external surface of the container (when maintained at 90% vacuum) is 10.5 tons.

Since such a force can easily crush the container, establishing an absolute vacuum of 90% or even 60% therein is impractical. As such, rigid vacuum containers typically maintain a vacuum of about 10% (90% of air remaining) depending on the type of container and vacuum pump used.

The present inventor set out to solve this problem and provide a rigid container that can maintain a vacuum-equivalent of 80-95% or more around stored items and yet would not be subjected to extreme external forces while enabling easy and rapid establishment and release of vacuum.

As used herein, the term “vacuum” (absolute) refers to reduced air pressure/volume with respect to ambient air (1 atm at sea level). Vacuum can be designated in atm in which case any value below 1 atm is a vacuum and a lower value denotes a higher vacuum force, or in %, in which case any value above 0% is a vacuum with higher numbers denoting a higher vacuum force. A 90% vacuum denotes that 90% of the air has been removed—equivalent to a vacuum of 0.1 atm.

As used herein, the phrase “vacuum-equivalent” refers to a value characterizing the storage space of the present invention. A vacuum-equivalent value is identical to a corresponding absolute vacuum value in as far as the effect on stored items (e.g. preservation) but is achieved by a reduction in volume and pressure and not just pressure alone. For example, a vacuum equivalent of 91.5% is equivalent in environmental terms (environment in which the items are placed) to an absolute vacuum of 91.5% but is achieved by a reduction of pressure of 0.15 Atm and a reduction in volume of 90%.

To traverse the above described limitation of rigid vacuum container, the present inventor experimented with several configurations of a bag-in-container device and unexpectedly uncovered that a bag suspended upright from a rim of a rigid container provides several advantages including:

(i) stored items are maintained at the bottom of the bag under the force of gravity, the air is thus maintained above the stored items enabling quick withdrawal of air from the bag;

(ii) vacuum pulls the bag up to quickly collapse it around the items while gravity maintains the stored items at the bottom of the bag thus assisting in compacting the bag around the stored items;

(iii) gravity assists in drawing air into the bag upon release of vacuum since the bag drops down as air is drawn in;

(iv) the bag opening is defined by the container rim allowing rapid insertion and withdrawal of items; and

(v) the items are always stored upright with the bag opening oriented with the container opening.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for storing items under vacuum.

As used herein, the term “items” refers to perishable items such as food (raw or processed) or medication or to any item that can be stored for the purpose of conservation (electronic goods etc.), storage and the like. The item can be a solid or a liquid or at any state in between.

As used herein, the term “vacuum” (absolute) refers to reduced air pressure/volume with respect to ambient air (1 atm at sea level). Vacuum can be designated in atm in which case any value below 1 atm is a vacuum and a lower value denotes a higher vacuum force, or in %, in which case any value above 0% is a vacuum with higher numbers denoting a higher vacuum force. A 90% vacuum denotes that 90% of the air has been removed—equivalent to a vacuum of 0.1 atm.

As used herein, the term “rigid” when used in context with the container of the present system refers to the ability of the container to maintain its shape under gravity and provide a protective and supportive shell for the bag contained therein.

The storage device of the present invention includes a rigid container having a bottom, side walls, and a top opening defined by a rim. The container can be fabricated from a metal and/or a polymer or any other material suitable for fabrication of containers. The container can be opaque, transparent or a combination of both. The container can have a volume of 50-5000 ml and can be rectangular or cylindrical in shape or any other shape capable of being stored upright (with container rim at top).

The storage device also includes a bag for storing items. The bag is mounted within the container with its opening positioned/attached against the side walls at, or near the rim of the container. Thus, the bag is positioned upright with its bottom parallel to the bottom of the container. The bag is preferably fabricated from a polymer such as nylon, polyurethane or polypropylene and is pliable and optionally elastic. The bag can be opaque but is preferably transparent to allow viewing of stored items. The bag can be rectangular, cylindrical or pocket-shaped with a volume similar to that of the container (although a bag with a larger/smaller volume can also be used).

The edges of the bag walls can be overlapped around the rim of the container or attached to the container sides via reversible adhesive or the like. Alternatively, the bag opening can include an integrated ring-like element that can couple to a groove in the container rim/sidewalls or around the rim of the container.

The storage device also includes a lid for covering the top opening of the container and sealing against the opening of the bag suspended therein. As is further described hereinunder, the lid can also include a port for withdrawing fluid (e.g. air) from an internal volume of the bag. Such a port can alternatively be mounted through a bottom or side walls of the container and be fluidly connected to the opening of the bag via, for example, a tube.

The port can be connected to an external vacuum pump or to a vacuum pump integrated into the lid.

In any case, withdrawal of a fluid from the bag via the pump collapses the bag and pulls it towards the lid such that when collapsed, the bag is suspended within the container (being displaced from the inside surface of the walls of the container) to provide the aforementioned advantages in vacuum formation and release.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-6 illustrate one embodiment of the present storage device which is referred to herein as device 10.

Device 10 includes a container 12 which includes sidewalls 14 and bottom wall 16 (base) defining a volume of container 12, and a rim 18 defining an opening of container 12. Device 10 further includes a lid 20 which fits into the opening defined by rim 18. Lid 20 includes a handle 22 for locking and sealing lid 20 against rim 18. Handle 22 is shown in the open position (non-sealed) in FIGS. 1-2. Sidewalls 14 and bottom wall 16 (base) can be fabricated from glass, a polymer which can be transparent and UV blocking, a metal, wood or any other suitable material.

As is shown in FIG. 2, device 10 further includes a bag 24 which is positioned within the volume of container 12. Bag 24 is positioned with its opening in contact with sidewalls 14 at or near rim 18. Thus, when lid 20 is fitted into rim 18 and handle 22 is locked (FIG. 3), the internal volume of bag 24 is sealed against lid 20. Device 10 can include more than one bag 24 (e.g. 2 bags positioned side by side), in which case, each bag would be individually sealed by lid 20 and provided with a dedicated port in container 12 or lid 20.

When fluid is withdrawn from bag 24 (through a port in lid or container—further described hereinunder), bag 24 collapses onto items stored in the bag (coffee beans shown) and is pulled up as is shown in FIG. 3. This results in bag 24 being suspended within the volume of container 12. Lid 20 can be opened (via handle 22) to release the vacuum in bag 24.

As is mentioned above, device 10 further includes a port 30 for withdrawing air from the internal volume of bag 24. Such a port can be positioned within lid 20 (FIG. 5) or at bottom wall 16 of container 12 (FIG. 6). Port 30 can include a one-way valve enabling air withdrawal only, or it can provide a selectable two-way function for also enabling air intake into bag 24.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a configuration of device 10 which includes a lid 20 with integrated port 30 and pump 40.

Lid 20 includes a handle 22 for locking and sealing lid 20 against an inner surface of sidewalls 24 at or near rim 18. Handle 22 (shown in FIG. 5) actuates a seal 42 (rubber/silicone ring) disposed around the periphery of lid 20 (FIG. 3). When handle 22 is closed (pushed down into lid 20), seal 42 extends circumferentially outward and is forced against the inner surface of sidewalls 14 to seal thereagainst. Since the material of bag 24 is disposed between seal 42 and inner surface of side walls 14, closure of handle 22 seals lid 20 against bag 24.

Lid 20 also includes a power source 46 (e.g. Li-ion battery), a user interface with controls for actuating pump 40 and for indicating a vacuum state in bag 24 (via sensor mounted in port 30) as well battery power levels and one or more electronic ports (e.g. USB) for charging power source 46.

Although a lid 20 which includes pump 40 and port 30 can be used as a permanent lid for device 10, it will be appreciated that device 10 can include a sub-lid for sealing bag 24 thus enabling a single lid 20 to be used with several devices 10. Such a sub-lid can provide the functions of sealing and air passage from bag 24 to pump 40 of lid 20. Once air is withdrawn from bag 24, lid 20 can be removed with the sub-lid providing sealing functions to the collapsed bag.

FIG. 6 illustrates a device 10 which is connectable to an external vacuum source (pump). This configuration of device 10 includes a port 30 positioned at bottom wall 16 and a tube 32 connected to port 30 and running the height of container 12. A top opening 34 of tube 32 is in fluid communication with the opening of bag 24. A lid 20 can be any lid capable of sealing against bag 24 and sidewalls 14 (e.g. a grooved lid that seals around rim 18).

In the configuration shown in FIG. 6, bottom wall 16 and port 30 are designed for fitting to an external (separate) vacuum unit (not shown). The vacuum unit can include any pump capable of sucking air at a pressure equivalent to 300-1200 mm H₂O (0.03-0.12 Atm), examples include the UFESA AM4330 (BSH Electrodomésticos, Spain). The vacuum unit can also include controls for switching the pump on and off, a timer for pump operation and a pressure sensor for determining vacuum level inside bag 24. The sensor can be used to automatically shut off pump when a desired vacuum is reached and to periodically switch on the pump if vacuum levels fall below a predetermined value.

Other configurations of device 10 can include a port 30 fitted through any wall of container 12 and tubing for connecting port 30 to an external vacuum unit.

To enable a user to determine a vacuum level and a volume of stored items, sidewalls 14 of container 12 can include numbered lines (scale) or any other suitable marking for identifying a height of the bottom of bag 24 and an overall length/width thereof.

Such markings can also help a user determine if there was a loss of vacuum since the bottom of bag 24 will drop within container 12 upon such loss.

Any items can be stored in device 10 including food items that are particularly susceptible to humidity such as flour, bread crumbs, nuts, grains and the like, tobacco and other plant based materials, candy, coffee, tea and the like.

Device 10 can further include a desiccant (e.g. silica) in container 12 or bag 24 to further eliminate moisture when necessary and/or an O₂ absorbent (e.g. iron powder). The desiccant and/or O₂ absorbent can be provided in a separate pouch or incorporated into the wall of container 12 or bag 14.

As used herein the term “about” refers to ±10%.

Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent to one ordinarily skilled in the art upon examination of the following examples, which are not intended to be limiting.

EXAMPLES

Reference is now made to the following example, which together with the above descriptions, illustrate the invention in a non limiting fashion.

A prototype of the present storage device was constructed by modifying an existing container to include a 3D-printed lid having an integrated vacuum pump (12V piston-type vacuum pump) and a one way valved port. A compressible seal actuatable between compressed and non-compressed states via a lever was integrated into the lid.

A 800 ml bag was positioned within the container with the bag sides overlapping the rim (FIG. 7). About 200 grams of flour were placed inside the bag and the lid was sealed against the bag and sidewalls of the container (FIG. 8) by pushing down the sealing lever. The pump was switched on for 30 seconds and the bag was collapsed and withdrawn up (FIG. 9). Vacuum was maintained for several days without need for further pumping.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.

Claims

1. A storage device comprising:

(a) a container having a bottom, side walls, and a top opening defined by a rim;

(b) a bag for storing items, said bag having an opening attached to said side walls at, or near said rim;

(c) a lid for covering said top opening of said container and sealing against said opening of said bag; and

(d) a port for withdrawing fluid from an internal volume of said bag to thereby collapse said bag while pulling it towards said lid such that when said bag is collapsed, it is suspended within said container.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said lid includes a vacuum pump for withdrawing air through said port.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said port is attachable to an external vacuum pump.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said port forms a part of said lid.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said bag is elastic.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein a side wall of said container includes markings for indicating a height of a bottom of said bag when collapsed and suspended within said container.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said port forms a part of said container.

8. The device of claim 4, further comprising a tube for fluidly connecting said port to a top opening of said container.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said port runs through said bottom wall of said container.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said tube runs alongside or within a sidewall of said container.