Vacuum Bag With Integrated Pump And Check Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional waterproof bags are ineffective due to excessive air, which prevents proper operation of touch screens and causes food to spoil by not maintaining a tight contact with electronic devices and food items, and the use of air pumps is inconvenient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum storage apparatus comprising a bag, zipper, and pump with check valves and an air bag that creates a vacuum by expelling air, allowing the bag's sheets to tightly contact items, eliminating air gaps and preventing moisture ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a waterproof bag is used to protect electronic devices and food from moisture, then protection from water is achieved, but excessive air remains in the bag preventing tight contact with items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts air from the waterproof bag using a pump system. The pump includes an air bag that draws air out of the storage space through a one-way valve, creating a vacuum environment. This extraction of air resolves the contradiction by maintaining moisture protection while enabling tight contact between the bag's transparent sheet and stored items like electronic devices and food.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles through the use of an air bag and pump mechanism. The air bag expands and contracts to create pressure differential that draws air out of the bag through the one-way valve. This pneumatic system effectively removes excess air while maintaining the waterproof seal, thus achieving both moisture protection and tight contact with stored items.
2Ease of operation
If air is driven out of the waterproof bag by a pump, then tight contact with items is achieved, but the pump is costly and inconvenient to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pump function directly into the waterproof bag structure. The air bag, one-way valve, and pump mechanism are integrated components that work together as a unified system. This integration reduces device complexity and improves portability while maintaining the ability to create tight contact with stored items by removing excess air.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system is designed to be manually operated by the user without requiring external power sources or complex mechanisms. The user simply needs to compress the air bag to activate the pumping action, making the system self-service and highly portable. This simplifies the overall device while achieving the desired tight contact effect.
3Device complexity
If excessive air remains in the waterproof bag, then the bag structure is simple, but food and electronic devices cannot be properly protected or operated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a preliminary action by including the pump and air bag system as pre-integrated components within the waterproof bag structure. This allows the user to quickly remove air and create optimal storage conditions before placing items in the bag or immediately after sealing. The preliminary preparation of the vacuum environment ensures proper protection and functionality of stored items without requiring additional steps or equipment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus effectively protects electronic devices and food from moisture while enabling clear touch screen operation and maintaining food freshness by creating a vacuum within the bag, eliminating the need for external pumps.
Implementation Method 1
The pump includes a shell, a bottom plate and two check valves. The first check valve includes a channel, an inlet, and an outlet in communication with the inlet via the channel
Implementation Method 2
The apparatus effectively protects electronic devices and food from moisture while enabling clear touch screen operation and maintaining food freshness by creating a vacuum within the bag
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum storage apparatus includes a bag and a pump. A zipper is operable to close a mouth of the bag. The pump includes a shell, a bottom plate and two check valves. The shell includes a flange extending from an air bag. The air bag includes a chamber. The flange includes a vent in communication with the chamber and is inserted in and connected to the bag so that the air bag extends out of an aperture of the bag. The bottom plate includes an entrance and is connected to the flange so that the entrance is in communication with the chamber. The first check valve is located between the flange and the bottom plate so that an inlet thereof is in communication with the chamber and an outlet thereof is in communication with the vent. The second check valve is connected to the bottom plate, over the entrance.