Vacuum sealable container with internal pump mechanism

A method of vacuum sealing an airtight cavity formed by a container and a lid, comprising:

• applying a first torque to the lid in a first rotational direction with respect to a central axis of the container, the first torque causing the lid to rotate in the first rotational direction with respect to the container, wherein the rotation of the lid in the first rotational direction actuates a semicircular piston, coupled to a moving portion of the lid, away from a first one-way seal disposed in a toroidal bore;
• and
• applying a second torque to the lid in a second rotational direction, opposite of the first rotational direction, with respect to the central axis of the container, the second torque causing the lid to rotate in the second rotational direction with respect to the container, wherein the rotation of the lid in the second rotational direction actuates the piston toward the first one-way seal disposed in the toroidal bore;
• wherein:
• actuation of the piston away from the first one-way seal causes a volume of air to evacuate the airtight cavity and enter the toroidal bore through the first one-way seal;
• and
• actuation of the piston toward the first one-way seal causes the volume of air to leave the toroidal bore through a second one-way seal without reentering the airtight cavity.