US 5,669,528 AGranted

Vacuum storage and dispensing container

AssigneeCommunity Coffee Company, Inc.

InventorsJohnie Romero, Andrew R. Weber, Douglas B. Leeds, Helene Paulson, Arthur T. Sempliner

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Abstract

There is disclosed a vacuum storage and dispensing container for use with perishable items, particularly food products, and more particularly for use with roasted whole-bean coffee in any retailing application, to extend the shelf life of the perishable item for several months. The invention comprises a storage and dispensing container having a cylinder with a top end and a bottom end. An upper enclosure is attached to the top end and a lower enclosure to the bottom end. There is provided a system for releasing and creating a vacuum in the cylinder, upper enclosure, and lower enclosure for maintaining freshness of the perishable item. In another aspect, there is disclosed a merchandising unit for storing and dispensing perishables comprising a plurality of storage and dispensing containers. Each container includes a cylinder having a top end and a bottom end. An air-tight upper enclosure is attached to the top end and an air-tight lower enclosure to the bottom end. There is also provided a system for releasing and creating a negative pressure within the containers.

Claims1

Dependent claims

A storage and dispensing container, comprising:

means for storing product to be dispensed, said storing means having a top end and a bottom end;
an upper enclosure attached to said top end of said storing means;
a lower enclosure attached to said bottom end of said storing means;
wherein said lower enclosure further comprises:
a lower chassis plate, said lower chassis plate being mounted within the lower enclosure;
a collar intergrally molded to an inner wall of the lower enclosure;
a bearing housing integrally molded to the inner wall of the lower enclosure;
a rotary shaft, said shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end extending through said collar, said second end residing within said bearing housing;
a handle attached to said first end of said shaft;
a portion control bin attached to said shaft, said portion control bin having a opening;
a dump valve cam lobe attached to said shaft, said cam lobe activating a dump valve;
and
a vacuum-line shut off valve cam lobe attached to said shaft, said cam lobe activating
a vacuum-line shut off valve;
means for releasing and creating a vacuum in said storing means, said upper enclosure, and said lower enclosure;
and
means for removing said product form said storing means.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.