# US 2013/0156912 A1 · Vacuum storage apparatus with sliding drawers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156912 A1 - Document ID: US20130156912A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/771,174 - Filed: 2013-02-20 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2004-03-24 - Assignees: Jeffrey S. Melcher - Inventors: Edward P. Espinosa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156912A1 ## CPC - F25D 17/042: {Air treating means within refrigerated spaces (air conditioning in general F24F)} - A23B 2/10: by treatment with pressure variation, shock, acceleration or shear stress - A23B 2/103: {using sub- or super-atmospheric pressures, or pressure variations transmitted by a liquid or gas} - A47B 88/40: Sliding drawers; Slides or guides therefor - A47F 3/001: {Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation} - A47F 7/0071: {for perishable goods} - B65D 81/2007: {under vacuum} - B65D 81/2015: {in an at least partially rigid container (B65D81/2038 takes precedence)} - F25D 23/021: {Sliding doors} - F25D 25/025: {Drawers} - F25D 29/00: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices - A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs - A47B 2210/17: Drawers used in connection with household appliances - F25D 2317/043: by creating a vacuum in a storage compartment - F25D 2700/12: Sensors measuring the inside temperature - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION ## Abstract Provided is a modular vacuum storage apparatus and method for storing, dispensing, preserving and shipping perishable items. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 An apparatus for storing, preserving and dispensing perishable and degradable food and goods comprising: a) a rigid housing; b) at least one modular unit disposed in said housing for holding items; c) at least one container or bag within the modular unit; d) means operatively connected to, but physically removed from, said modular unit for creating a partial vacuum within the modular unit; and e) means for sealing and maintaining said partial vacuum within the modular unit, wherein said container or bag includes a one-way valve such that when a partial vacuum is created within the modular unit a partial vacuum is also created within the container or bag and retained within the container or bag when stored in said modular unit or when the modular unit is opened or when the container or bag is removed from the modular unit. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus for storing, preserving and dispensing perishable and degradable food and goods in accordance with claim 21, further comprising a plurality of modular units, all of said modular units being operatively connected to said means for creating a partial vacuum. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The apparatus for storing, preserving and dispensing perishable and degradable food and goods in accordance with claim 21, further comprising: f) means operatively connected to, but physically removed from, said modular unit for creating and maintaining a predetermined range of humidity therein. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The apparatus for storing, preserving and dispensing perishable and degradable food and goods in accordance with claim 21, wherein said apparatus is a compartment of a refrigerator. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The apparatus for storing, preserving and dispensing perishable and degradable food and goods in accordance with claim 21, wherein said apparatus comprises a control system that is programmable and provides preset environment settings to operate the apparatus and each operating system to create, regulate and maintain the temperature, vacuum, gas and humidity levels, and combinations thereof, for the respective environments for each storage and processing unit. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The apparatus for storing, preserving and dispensing perishable and degradable food and goods in accordance with claim 21, further comprising a vacuum sensor connected to the modular unit and control system. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The apparatus for storing, preserving and dispensing perishable and degradable food and goods in accordance with claim 21, wherein the apparatus is a compartment of a refrigerator, a drawer, a countertop apparatus, or a stand-alone apparatus. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The apparatus for storing, preserving and dispensing perishable and degradable food and goods in accordance with claim 21, further comprising means operatively connected to, but physically removed from, said modular unit for creating and maintaining a predetermined temperature in the rigid housing. ### Claim 29 A vacuum system for storing, preserving and dispensing perishable and degradable food and goods having at least two operational operational conditions comprising: a sealable modular unit; a vacuum means; a control system; and at least one one-way valve container or bag, wherein a first operational condition of operation wherein a vacuum means is actuated to create a predetermined partial vacuum level inside a modular unit and upon creating said maximum partial vacuum level inside said modular unit said vacuum means is deactivated to concurrently allow the pressure within the modular unit to increase, and a second operational operational condition for storing items inside a modular unit wherein a vacuum means is actuated to create and maintain a predetermined partial vacuum level inside said modular unit. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The system of claim 29, wherein the system has a third operational condition of operation wherein both the first and second operational conditions of operation are deactivated. ### Claim 31 A method for storing, preserving and dispensing perishable and degradable food and goods comprising: placing items into a modular storage unit capable of storing said items in any of at least two operational operational conditions comprising a first operational operational condition wherein a vacuum means is actuated to create a predetermined partial vacuum level inside a modular unit and upon creating a maximum partial vacuum level inside said modular unit said vacuum means is deactivated to concurrently allow the pressure within the modular unit to increase; a second operational operational condition for storing items inside a modular unit wherein a vacuum means is actuated to create and maintain a predetermined partial vacuum level inside the modular unit; selecting the operational operational condition to be applied to the items: and applying to the items the operational operational condition selected. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein the system has a third operational condition of operation wherein both the first and second operational conditions of operation are deactivated.