US20020043052A1

US20020043052A1 - Gabi-pak/food preserver

Info

Publication number: US20020043052A1
Application number: US09/970,739
Authority: US
Inventors: Gabriel Gyorffy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-10-14
Filing date: 2001-10-04
Publication date: 2002-04-18

Abstract

The invention is a food preserver device for evacuating air from plastic zipper bags by mere, oral suction.

The device comprises; (a) a large, transparent, flexible, durable grade plastic bag, which functions as an ‘AIR EVACUATION BAG (CHAMBER); (b) a tube, made of firm, but pliable plastic, which functions as the EXTRACTOR TUBE.

A zipper on one end of the AIR EVACUATION BAG serves for loading and closing, once a zipper bag, containing items for storing, has been properly placed therein. A narrow slit at the opposite end provides for insertion of the plastic, EXTRACTOR TUBE, through which air is evacuated by oral suction. When the desired de-airing of the storing intended zipper bag has been achieved it can be removed from the AIR EVACUATION BAG through that bag's zipper, designated for opening and closing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various apparatus and methods are now marketed for the purpose of vacuum sealing plastic bags to protect perishables, such as foodstuffs, and other products against oxidation. Conventional apparatus are generally expensive to manufacture, complex in construction and cumbersome to operate. One conventional type of vacuum sealing system, primarily used for commercial packaging includes a vacuum chamber in which the entire packaged product is placed, along with heat sealers and attendant complements of the system.

Another type of conventional vacuum sealing system uses a vacuum nozzle that is inserted within a plastic bag for evacuation purposes. Although adaptable for low-volume home use, the latter type of system is cumbersome to use and normally requires a liquid separator or filter to prevent liquids or powders, retained within the bag, from being drawn into a vacuum pump connected to the nozzle. Further, the heat sealer employed therein must be closely calibrated and synchronized with the positioning and withdrawal of the vacuum nozzle from the bag.

Still another type of conventional vacuum sealing system places a portion of a bag, containing a product to be stored, in a first vacuum chamber and extend an open end or neck of the bag into a second vacuum chamber. The first vacuum chamber is then evacuated to expand the neck of the bag to isolate the chambers from each other whereafter a vacuum is drawn in the second vacuum chamber to evacuate the bag. Thus, isolation of the two chambers from each other, during evacuation of the second vacuum chamber, is critically dependent on the physical properties composing the neck of the bag (which is intended to form a static seal between the two chambers) and very close synchronization and calibration of the evacuation and sealing procedures and controls therefor. A vacuum sealing system of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,938, for example.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,77778,171 discloses another vacuum sealing system which, to applicant's knowledge, has not been commercialized. In particular, the open end of the plastic bag is placed between a pair of jaws (FIGS. 14-17) or between the lower jaw and a flexible sheet (FIGS. 18-20) to evacuate the bag which is then heat-sealed. An inner surface of the bag has protuberances (FIGS. 1-4) formed on it which make point contact with an opposed surface of the bag to define air exhaust passages during evacuation.

U.S. Pat. Nos; 5,009,828, 5,070,584, 5,140,727, 5,647,100 and 5,804,265 re ZIPLOC© ‘Double Guard’ by S.C. Johnson & Sons, Inc. is the most recent product in the field of my invention. This product is advertised daily, on TV, network and local. The ad, demonstrating comparison between ‘Double Guard’ and another brand is a computer generated animation, not a factual presentation.

I have conducted several tests with this product, following instructions printed on the box. The results were far from its TV ads' claims. Invariably, there remained ‘trapped air’ inside the ‘Double Guard’ bag.

Further, although marketers of all zipper plastic bags propagate foodstuff preservation, but regardless how much air can be manually squeezed out of them, still, there will be air trapped within. Consequently, gaseous emanation from food content, combined with such trapped air, will cause spoilage.

I conducted experiments by filling one of said zipper bags with bread and cheese and put it into a refrigerator. I have also put a piece of cheese and bread, unwrapped, into the refrigerator. The bread and cheese in the zipper bags turned green after a week in the fridge. The unwrapped bread and cheese in the same fridge, had only hardened, but not molded.

I also tested my own invention with the same contents. Besides the de-aired zipper bag, put into the fridge, I have kept another de-aired zipper bag, with the same contents, on my kitchen table, at room temperature. The one in the fridge remained fresh and unspoiled. In the de-aired zipper bag, kept on the kitchen table, the bread was still soft after five days with no sign of spoilage. The cheese had only melted—no spoilage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of my invention is to provide an efficient, non-complex, economical food preserving solution, a product, which is easily available and purchasable, especially by lower income families, who constitute the dominant portion of society, everywhere.

One aspect of this invention is that the components are inexpensive and the simplest imaginable, in the manufacturing, marketing and operating process.

Another aspect of the invention is that the application and operation, such as placing storage-intended zipper bags therein, and evacuating air therefrom by oral suction, can be performed by an adult, a child, an elderly, or handicapped person.

In still another aspect, this invention is not limited to an ‘at home’ use, only. Most of the aforementioned ‘apparatus’ are limited to ‘at home’ use, because they only function on electricity.

Further, my invention works with any zipper bag, versus one of the most popular ‘apparatus’, advertised on TV, every day, as FoodSaver by Tilia. That, electrically motorized apparatus, with many moving parts, works only with bags specifically made for it. Once, one has used up the bags that came with the purchase, one has to order a new supply from the manufacturer, or authorized distributor, like “As Seen On TV”, on the Internet. The price is high and shipping/handling is added. I know, because I bought one, which, by the way, inspired me to explore and invent a food preserver that anyone can afford.

My invention's entire ‘package’, marketed with the AIR EVACUATION BAG, the EXTRACTOR TUBE and two kinds of public domain, zipper bags that come with it, will cost less than the bags for the above cited machine.

DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a device and application for extended storing, among other items, perishable goods, like foodstuff, by evacuating air from standard, or special, non-breathing plastic zipper bags.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

Simplicity in manufacture, purpose and application of this invention will become apparent as rendered by the accompanying photographs wherein: [0017]
FIG. 1: A view of the object of my invention: A large, hermetically closable, plastic bag, with a primary function as an “air evacuation chamber”. Seen at the bottom end of the photograph, is the “extractor tube”. [0018]
FIG. 2: An enlarged sectional photographic view of the loading side of the AIR EVACUATION BAG, defining a zipper, for opening and closing. [0019]
FIG. 3: An enlarged sectional photographic view of the other end of the AIR EVACUATION BAG, defining a slit, through which the EXTRACTOR TUBE can be inserted.[0020]

DETAIL DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1: The invention (GABI-PAK) is composed of two elements: A large, AIR EVACUATION BAG, made of a transparent, flexible, durable grade plastic, and an EXTRACTOR TUBE made of PVC plastic, or the like. [0021]
FIG. 2: The AIR EVACUATION BAG features a zipper on the top side for opening and closing for insertion and removal of a storage-intended zipper bag. The slit at the bottom side serves to insert the EXTRACTOR TUBE. [0022]
FIG. 3: A close-up view of the slit. [0023]
FIG. 4: The insertion of the EXTRACTOR TUBE, through the above cited slit. The insertion is done from within the AIR EVACUATION BAG, for ease of execution. [0024]
FIG. 5: A zipper bag of foodstuff is inserted through the top opening of the AIR EVACUATION BAG. [0025]
FIG. 6: The foodstuff zipper bag is placed within the AIR EVACUATION BAG, close to the inside end of the EXTRACTOR TUBE. [0026]
FIG. 7: The foodstuff containing bag has two inches, or less, left unzipped to allow evacuation of air. [0027]
FIG. 8: The AIR EVACUATION BAG zipper, for loading and removing, is closed, by applying digital pressure. [0028]
FIG. 9: Next, by oral suction, air is evacuated from the AIR EVACUATION BAG, conjointly with the food-containing zipper bag, through the EXTRACTOR TUBE. After achieving shrink-pack state of the AIR EVACUATION BAG, as well as that of the foodstuff zipper bag therein, through the flexible, outside layer of the AIR EVACUATION BAG, the zipper of the foodstuff container bag is closed, by applying digital pressure, [0029]
FIG. 10: The food-containing zipper bag, reduced to a shrink-pack state, is then removed from the AIR EVACUATION BAG and placed into a refrigerator for short, or into a freezer, for long term storage. [0030]
FIG. 11: Just showing off, (a little). (Steak&Chicken) [0031]

Claims

What I claim is that:

1. my invention is a food preserver device for removing air from plastic zipper bags, being a device comprised of a large, transparent, flexible and durable grade plastic bag, with a primary function as a receptacle, and secondary function as an air evacuating chamber, from hereon referred to as ‘AIR EVACUATING BAG’, acting conjointly, with and through, a firm, but pliable tube, from hereon referred to as ‘EXTRACTOR TUBE’, made of PVC, or the like, to vacuum air out from a smaller zipper bag placed therein, containing items, like perishable foodstuffs, or other, for short, or long-term storing, by oral suction, performable by adults, elders, or even children.

2. The AIR EVACUATION BAG is made with a dual-purpose zipper, which, in open state, allows placing a storage-intended item containing zipper bag therein,

and after said zipper bag is inserted and placed in position,

lined up within less than one inch from the EXTRACTPR TUBE, which intrudes through the designated slit at the opposite end of the AIR EVACUATION BAG, the zipper will hermetically close said bag.

3. The container bag with two inches, or less of its zipper left open for de-airing when reduced to shrink pack-state, will be zipped closed by applying digital pressure, through the outside layer of the AIR EVACUATION BAG, which can then be zipped open to remove the food, or other storage-intended zipper bag.