Vacuum storage container

Abstract

A thin-walled vacuum storage container made of a plastic material may have a base providing a storage cavity and a detachable lid connectable to the base for covering the storage cavity. To evacuate the storage cavity, the container also includes a valve element communicating with the storage cavity and that may be adapted to interface with a vacuum device. The base and / or the lid can have at least one wall made by a thin-wall manufacturing process wherein the wall thickness is about 2.5 millimeters or less. Alternately, the base and / or lid can have at least one wall with a flow-length-to-wall-thickness ratio of about 90:1 or greater.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]A variety of different containers are available for storing and preserving food items for later consumption. Such containers may be flexible, as in the case of plastic storage bags, or may be rigid, as in the case of plastic and glass-walled storage containers. An advantage of rigid storage containers is that they can maintain their shape and thereby protect the stored food items from being crushed. Another advantage is that rigid containers are usually easily washable and therefore can be reusable. Also, it is desirable that rigid containers be temperature and microwave resistant to allow for heating, cooling and freezing of the stored food items within the container. To accomplish these advantages, rigid containers are often made as a relatively thick-walled structure of a stiff material such as Pyrex™ glassware or polycarbonate plastic. Such materials, in addition to being relatively heavy, are also costly.[0002]To preserve the food items within the storage contai...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003]The invention provides a rigid storage container having a base providing a storage cavity and a detachable lid that is connectable to the base to adequately seal the contents of the container. To remove air that may become trapped in the container after the base and lid have been connected, the container can include a valve element that communicates with the storage cavity. A valve element can interface with a vacuum device to remove air from the storage cavity, thereby placing the contents under a vacuum environment. When not interfaced with the vacuum device, the valve element normally seals the storage cavity to prevent the ingress of air. To reduce weight and cost, the base and lid of the container can be substantially formed with generally rigid thin-walls made of a suitable plastic material.

[0005]An advantage of thin-walled vacuum storage containers is that they are generally light-weight and inexpensive as compared to prior art containers. Another advantage is that thin-walled containers are sufficiently rigid to be washable and therefore reusable. These and other advantages and features of the thin-walled vacuum storage containers will be apparent from the following drawings and detailed description of the embodiments.

Problems solved by technology

Such materials, in addition to being relatively heavy, are also costly.

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