# US 2014/0190864 A1 · Vacuum container, twist and lock cap, bottle locker, fluid collector and auto pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190864 A1 - Document ID: US20140190864A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/207,436 - Filed: 2014-03-12 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-31 - Assignees: NuWave, LLC - Inventors: Jung S. Moon; Eunjung Huh; Mikale K. Kwon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190864A1 ## CPC - B65D 81/34: for packaging foodstuffs {or other articles} intended to be cooked or heated within the package - A47J 47/10: with arrangements for keeping fresh - B65D 81/2015: {in an at least partially rigid container (B65D81/2038 takes precedence)} - B65D 81/2023: {in a flexible container (B65D81/2038 takes precedence)} - B65D 81/2038: {with means for establishing or improving vacuum} - B65D 81/2007: {under vacuum} - 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 - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract A vacuum container and/or pump system may include a rounded rectangular base container with opening at a top to receive foodstuffs, adapted with an edge; an optional cover having at least two locking latches adapted to couple to the edge, the cover to close the opening of the container, the cover including: a circular vacuum tubular opening forming a cylindrical hole through the cover, and a cross-shaped notch on the inner cross-section of the tube, through which at least a portion of a plug is received and disposed when evacuating air, and optionally the cover may include a spinner, chopper, and/or twist/lock cap (coupling plug to container) to prevent loss of vacuum of the container (when cap has been twisted in locked position). A vacuum bag may include an opening; resealable fastener; hole for evacuating air with pump; cap for covering hole; and removable clip for easing closure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vacuum container comprising: a rounded rectangular or square base with an opening at the top to receive foodstuffs and adapted with an edge; an optional cover comprising at least two locking latches adapted to couple to said edge, said optional cover to close the opening of the vacuum container, said cover comprising: a circular vacuum tubular interface opening forming a cylindrical hole through said cover, and a cross-shaped notch on the inner cross-section of the tubular interface opening, through which at least a portion of a plug may be received and disposed when evacuating air from the container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vacuum container of claim 1, wherein said cover and said base are of different color transparent plastic, wherein said base comprises clear transparent plastic; and wherein said cover comprises teal colored transparent plastic. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vacuum container of claim 1, wherein said optional cover has at least one of: two or four locking latches. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vacuum container of claim 1, further comprising an optional salad spinner adapted to be placed on said base after removing said optional cover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vacuum container of claim 1, further comprising an optional salad chopper adapted to be placed on said base after removing said optional cover. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vacuum container of claim 1, further comprising a pump comprising at least one of a manually powered air evacuation pump; or an electrically powered air evacuation pump. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vacuum container of claim 6, wherein said pump comprises said manual pump comprising a hole in said pump to ease release of air evacuating said manual pump. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The vacuum container of claim 6, wherein said pump comprises said electrically powered air evacuation pump comprising at least one of: at least one power setting; a plurality of power settings to allow higher suction power at a higher of said plurality of said power settings, and to allow a lower suction power in a lower of said plurality of power settings; a vacuum container power setting and a vacuum bag power setting; a stand on which to store a cavity to receive at least one battery; a cavity to receive at least one rechargeable battery; or an interface adapted to be coupled to at least one power source by providing at least one of AC to DC, or converted power, or to recharge a rechargeable, energy source. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vacuum container of claim 1, wherein said optional cover comprises a concave annular cavity for receiving an annular protrusion of a bottom of another container base, adapted to stack a respective pair of vacuum containers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vacuum container of claim 9, comprising at least one of: wherein said annular protrusion of said bottom of said container base is of sufficient depth to securely couple a stacked pair of said respective pair of vacuum containers when said respective pair of vacuum containers is in an evacuated vacuum state; or wherein said vacuum container comprises being further adapted to stack a plurality of said vacuum containers atop one another. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vacuum container of claim 1, wherein said container comprises a vacuum indicator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vacuum container of claim 1, wherein said container comprises a removable divider comprising at least one of: a plurality of vertical dividers adapted to fit into at least one pair of slots in an inner surface of the vacuum container; a plurality of vertical dividers adapted to form a t-shape when a first vertical divider is slid into a slot on a second vertical divider; a plurality of vertical dividers, wherein each of said plurality of said vertical dividers comprises a t-shaped foot to stabilize said vertical divider from falling over; two vertical dividers which together form a t-shape, to form three distinct compartments in the vacuum container; three vertical dividers which together form four distinct compartments in the vacuum container; or wherein the vertical divider may be slidably and removably inserted into at least one of at least one slot, or at least one groove in the inner wall of the container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vacuum container of claim 1, wherein said container an age of contents day indicator dial. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vacuum container according to claim 1, further comprising: a twist and lock cap adapted to at least one of: releasably lock or unlock a silicone plug on said lid of said container, so as to disallow, or allow air to vacuate or evacuate from the container; or couple said silicone plug to said container lid to avoid loss of said silicone plug. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vacuum container according to claim 14, wherein said twist and lock cap comprises at least one of: at least one opening through which air may move when in an unlocked position, and when said silicone plug is permitted to release the vacuum; wherein said twist and lock cap comprises at least one external handle or protrusion for grasping said cap when twisting to lock or unlock; or wherein said cap comprises an inner protrusion for coupling with a portion of the cover of the container to lock the cap in place when twisted in a locked position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vacuum container according to claim 15, wherein said silicone plug is permitted to release the vacuum when a button portion is depressed through an opening in said cap, when said cap is in an unlocked position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The vacuum container according to claim 15, wherein said cap comprises said inner protrusion, and wherein said inner protrusion may couple with a helical screw shaped protrusion on the container cover to lock said cap and said plug in place, when said cap is placed in a locked position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The vacuum container according to claim 1, further comprising a foodstuff receiving and spinning basket, received within said rounded rectangular container, and a removable container cover comprising a mechanism adapted to at least one of: spin, rotate, or dry, said foodstuff received in said foodstuff receiving and spinning basket. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The vacuum container according to claim 1, further comprising a foodstuff chopping or cutting cover adapted to cut or chop foodstuff into said vacuum container. ### Claim 20 A vacuum bag comprising: a vacuum bag having an opening; a plurality of resealable fasteners; a interface for evacuating air with a pump from the bag; a cap for covering said interface; and a removable clip for easing closure of said plurality of fasteners that is adapted to be used with a plurality of said vacuum bags. ### Claim 21 (depends on 8) The vacuum container of claim 8, wherein said said electrically powered air evacuation pump is adapted to be coupled to and used in combination with at least one fluid collecting container. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The vacuum container according to claim 21, wherein said at least one fluid collecting container comprises: at least one outer ring adapted to couple said pump to the vacuum container; and at least one inner raised portion comprising: at least one hole, and forming a channel between said at least one outer ring to capture fluid or liquid, wherein said at least one inner raised portion comprises at least one of: a cylindrical shaped raised portion, or a conical raised portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The vacuum container according to claim 22, wherein said at least one fluid or liquid collecting container comprising said at least one hole comprises at least three holes. ### Claim 24 A bottle locking apparatus comprising: a frustro-conical shaped cork adapted to fit within a bottle opening comprising at least one substantially cylindrical opening therethrough; and at least one plug disposed within said at least substantially cylindrical opening, said plug adapted to permit evacuating air from the bottle when used with the pump, and adapted to permit releasing the vacuum from the bottle.