Vacuum assisted storage device

Abstract

A vacuum assisted storage device may include a body having one or more walls which may define a storage cavity. Objects may be positioned within the storage cavity, and the storage cavity may be surrounded by an air impermeable material. The body may comprise a cavity closure which may govern access to the storage cavity by being movable between a closed position and an open position. When the cavity closure is in the closed position, air may be prevented from entering the storage cavity. A vacuum pump may be in communication with the storage cavity, and the vacuum pump may be operable to pump air out of the storage cavity thereby decreasing the volume of the storage cavity and optionally decreasing the size of one or more objects within the storage cavity.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 479,824, filed on Mar. 31, 2017, entitled “VACUUM ASSISTED STORAGE DEVICE”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This patent specification relates to the field of devices that are configured to store and transport objects. More specifically, this patent specification relates to devices which are configured to receive objects and to store the objects in a compact size through assistance of a vacuum to facilitate transport of the device and objects.BACKGROUND[0003]Individuals frequently must transport objects from place to place. To facilitate the transport of multiple objects, they may be placed in portable storage devices such as backpacks, duffle bags, and travel bags, other bags, soft and hard suitcases, wheeled travel cases, and the like. These portable storage devices enable the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]A vacuum assisted storage device is provided which is configured to facilitate the storage and transport of objects in a vacuum to reduce the size of the device and / or objects contained therein. In some embodiments, the device may include a body having one or more walls which may define a storage cavity. Objects may be positioned within the storage cavity, and the storage cavity may be surrounded by an air impermeable material. The body may comprise a cavity closure which may govern access to the storage cavity by being movable between a closed position and an open position. When the cavity closure is in the closed position, air may be prevented from entering the storage cavity. A vacuum pump may be in communication with the storage cavity, and the vacuum pump may be operable to pump air out of the storage cavity thereby decreasing the volume of the storage cavity and optionally decreasing the size of one or more objects within.

Problems solved by technology

However, no matter what size and shape these portable storage devices are configured in, they all have a limited interior space that they define.

For this reason, the number of objects that conventional portable storage devices can accommodate is limited by the volume of the objects.

Unfortunately they may be left with no free hands and must let go of a storage device or object in order to interact with doors, cashiers, and the like.

Additionally, for portable storage devices that are somewhat flexible, when filled to capacity these devices can become bulky and unwieldy.

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