US20070056971A1

US20070056971A1 - Vacuum type food container

Info

Publication number: US20070056971A1
Application number: US11/226,531
Authority: US
Inventors: Kuo-chin Hsieh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-09-13
Filing date: 2005-09-13
Publication date: 2007-03-15

Abstract

A vacuum type food container is disclosed to include a container body, which holds a filter element in a suction hole thereof and a dehumidifier box in a recessed hole thereof, an air pump for pumping air out of the suction hole to keep the container body in a vacuum status, a micro switch coupled to a rubber bellows tube to automatically turned on/off the air pump subject to the vacuum status of the container body, and a control button for pressing by the user to open the top cover shell from the container body and to discharge air out of the container body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to food containers for keeping food and more particularly, to a vacuum type food container that keeps food fresh for long under a vacuum environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
People usually use a refrigerator or the like to keep food for long. However, bread and some other food are not suitable for keeping in a refrigerator for long. If these food are not cooked or eaten within a short period of time, the will spoil soon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a vacuum type food container, which keeps food fresh for long under a vacuum environment. It is another object of the present invention to provide a vacuum type food container, which automatically pumps air out of the container body, keeping the container body in a vacuum status.
To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the vacuum type food container comprises a container body and a top cover shell. The container body has a peripheral top edge mounted with a rubber packing strip, a front through hole at the front side thereof, a suction hole and a recessed hole at the top side thereof, a dehumidifier box mounted in the recessed hole, and a front projecting block, which defines therein a recess. The top cover shell is hinged to the container body and adapted to keep the container body in an airtight status. Further, two food trays are put in the container body for carrying food, each having an upright handle at one side. The vacuum type food container further comprises a rubber bellows member mounted in the suction hole and movable between an extended position and a received position subject to the vacuum and non-vacuum status of the container body, an air pump adapted to pump air out of the container body, a micro switch coupled to the rubber bellows member and adapted to turn on/off the air pump automatically subject to the position of the rubber bellows member, a plate member, which is pivotally mounted in the recessed of the front projecting block and having a hook for hooking up with the hook of the top cover shell, a crank coupled to the plate member and provided with a valve block for blocking the front through hole of the container body, and a button coupled to the plate member for operation by the user to move the plate member and the crank so as to unlock the top cover shell and release the valve block from the front through hole of the container body.
Further, a filter element is mounted in the suction hole of the container body and held in place3 by a slotted cap, which has a handle.
Further, the dehumidifier box holds a desiccant and is covered with a slotted cover plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a vacuum type food container the present invention.
FIG. 2 is another exploded view of the vacuum type food container according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a part of the present invention, showing the structure of the suction hole, the filter element and the slotted cap.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a part of the present invention, showing the structure of the dehumidifier box.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a part of the present invention, showing the arrangement of the button assembly.
FIG. 6 is an elevational assembly view of the button assembly.
FIG. 7 is an elevational assembly view of the vacuum type food container according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of a part of the present invention, showing the on status of the micro switch.
FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8 but showing the off status of the micro switch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a vacuum type food container in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a container body 2 and a top cover shell 1. The top cover shell 1 has the back side hinged to the back side of the container body 2, and the front side provided with a hook 11.
The container body 2 comprises a front through hole 20 at the front side, a suction hole 21 at the top side, a filter element 22 mounted in the suction hole 21, a slotted cap 23, which is fastened to the suction hole 21 to hold down the filter element 22 and has a handle 231 through which the user can conveniently remove the slotted cap 23 from the suction hole 21 for the loading/unloading of the filter element 22, a recessed hole 24 at the top side remote from the suction hole 21, a dehumidifier box 25, which is mounted in the recessed hole 25 and covered with a slotted cover plate 251 to hold a desiccant 26, for example, water glass for absorbing moisture from the air in the container body 2.
The suction hole 21 is connected to a suction device, which is comprised of a rubber bellows member 28 and a micro switch 29 pressed on the rubber bellows member 28 and electrically connected to an air pump 27. The top border edge of the container body 2 is mounted with a rubber packing strip 211. The container body 2 further comprises a front projecting block 30, which defines a front recess 31 that receives a plate member 32, a crank 33, a button 34, and an on/off switch 35.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the plate member 32 has a hook 321 and a stem 322. The crank 33 has valve block 36 at one side. The plate member 32 is pivotally mounted in the recess 31 of the front projecting block 30. The button 34 is coupled to the plate member 32 and the crank 33. Further, a compression spring 37 is sleeved onto the stem 322 and stopped between the plate member 32 and the inside wall of the front projecting block 30. When pressed the button 34, the plate member 32 is moved, thereby causing the crank 33 to bias.
Further, two food trays 3, 3′ are abutted against each other and set inside the container body 2 for holding food inside the container body 2. The food trays 3, 3′ each have an upright handle 311, 311′ at one lateral side. The food trays 3, 3′ can be set to have the handles 311, 311′ abutted against each other so that different food, for example, dry food and wet food can be separately received in the food trays 3, 3′. Alternatively, the food trays 3, 3′ can be set to have the handles 311, 311′ kept apart at two opposite sides as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 shows the vacuum type food container assembled. When the top cover shell 1 is closed, the hook 11 of the top cover shell 1 is kept engaged with the hook 321 of the plate member 32. At this time, the top cover shell 1 keeps container body 2 in an airtight status. When switched on the on/off switch 35, the air pump 27 is started to pump air out of the container body 2, keeping the container body 2 in a vacuum status so that storage food can be kept fresh for long. Further, the block body 36 of the plate member 32 blocks the through hole 20 of the container body 20 to prevent an air leakage. When external air passes into the inside of the container body 2 or when the air pressure inside the container body 2 surpassed a predetermined level, the air pump 27 is automatically started to pump air out of the container body 2. When wishing to take out the storage food, press the button 34 to move the plate member 32 away from the hook 11 of the top cover shell 1, and to simultaneously bias the crank 33 and to further disengage the block body 36 from the through hole 20 of the container body 2 for allowing external air to pass to the inside of the container body 2. At this time, the user can open the top cover shell 1 from the container body 2 without much effort.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the micro switch 29 is pressed on the rubber bellows member 28. When the air pressure inside the container body 2 surpassed a predetermined level, the rubber bellows member 28 is lowered, and the micro switch 29 is actuated to start the air pump 27. On the contrary, when the inside space of the container body 2 reaches a vacuum status, the rubber bellows member 28 extends out to switch off the micro switch 29 and the air pump 27.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A vacuum type food container comprising:

a container body, said container body having a peripheral top edge mounted with a rubber packing strip, a front through hole at a front side thereof, a suction hole and a recessed hole at a top side thereof, a dehumidifier box mounted in said recessed hole, and a front projecting block, said front projecting block defining therein a recess;

a top cover shell hinged to said container body and adapted to keep said container body in an airtight status, said front cover shell having a front hook;

two food trays put in said container body for carrying food, said food trays each having an upright handle at one side;

a rubber bellows member mounted in said suction hole and movable between an extended position and a received position subject to the vacuum and non-vacuum status of said container body;

an air pump adapted to pump air out of said container body;

a micro switch coupled to said rubber bellows member and adapted to turn on/off said air pump subject to the position of said rubber bellows member;

a plate member pivotally mounted in the recess of said front projecting block, said plate member having a hook for hooking up with the hook of said top cover shell;

a crank coupled to said plate member, said crank having a valve block at one side thereof for blocking the front through hole of said container body; and

a button coupled to said plate member for operation by the user to move said plate member and said crank.

2. The vacuum type food container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a filter element mounted in said suction hole of said container body, and a slotted cap covering said suction hole to hold down said filter element, said slotted cap having a handle.

3. The vacuum type food container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dehumidifier box holds a desiccant and is covered with a slotted cover plate.