Devices and method for introducing air into, or removing air from, containers
OwnerJoseph M. Waldroninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices comprising a plug positioned within a housing to regulate air within a container, for example, plastic storage containers or bags. One embodiment utilizes a plug that occludes an opening in a housing. The plug is displaced from the opening to inject or evacuate air from a container. An alternative embodiment utilizes a plug having air channels therein which can be sealed once air has been injected into or evacuated from a container. The devices are utilized with hose adaptors connected to vacuum or air hoses having specialized hose tips for coupling with the housing.
Claims12
1-14. (canceled)
A device for controlling the amount of air within a container, wherein the device comprises:
- a housing having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a chamber;
- a first port defined in the distal end of the housing providing fluid communication to the chamber;
- a second port defined in the proximal end of the housing providing fluid communication to the chamber;
- a plug movably disposed within the chamber between a relaxed position and a displaced position, wherein in the relaxed position the plug occludes the first port, and wherein in the displaced position the plug is displaced a predetermined distance from the first port;
- means for connecting the distal end of the housing to a portion of the container such that the first port is substantially co-axially aligned with an opening in the container, and such that an essentially airtight seal is formed between the housing and the opening in the container;
- means for moving the plug to the displaced position;
- and
- means for injecting or evacuating air from the container.
The device of claim 1, wherein the periphery of the housing is essentially circular.
The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is approximately 0.1 inches to about 0.4 inches tall and approximately 0.4 to about 0.9 inches in diameter.
The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is approximately 0.125 to about 0.25 inches tall and approximately 0.5 to about 0.625 inches in diameter.
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for moving the plug to the displaced position comprises:
- a hose adaptor having a channel therethrough;
- and
- a hose tip fixedly connected to a first end of the hose adapter, at least a portion of the hose tip configured to be inserted into the first port of the housing and move the plug to the displaced position.
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for connecting comprises a lock and washer mechanism.
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for connecting comprises an adhesive strip disposed around at least a portion of the first port of the housing.
The device of claim 1, wherein the first port comprises a flexible elastic material around at least a portion of the first port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.