Refrigerator with automatic vacuum compartment and method of preserving fresh food items using the same

In a refrigerator for preserving fresh food items including a refrigerator housing defining a storage space for storing food items, an access opening, a refrigerator door for selectively opening and closing said access opening, a refrigeration system for cooling said storage space, and a door switch responsive to the opening and closing of said refrigerator door to detect when said refrigerator door is open, the improvement therein comprising:

• a vacuum cabinet positioned in said storage space defining therein a vacuum compartment and a vacuum compartment opening, and a vacuum compartment door in said storage space for opening and closing said vacuum compartment opening;
• a seal strip supported between said vacuum compartment door and said vacuum compartment for sealing said vacuum compartment from the air outside said vacuum compartment;
• a vacuum pump having an inlet and an outlet;
• a conduit in communication with said vacuum compartment and said inlet of said vacuum pump and arranged to direct air between said vacuum compartment and said vacuum pump to draw air from said vacuum compartment when said vacuum compartment door is closed;
• an electrical circuit for activating said vacuum pump in response to said door switch when said door switch detects that said refrigerator door is closed to draw air from said vacuum compartment;
• and
• a timer in said circuit for delaying the activation of said vacuum pump after the refrigerator door has been closed for a period sufficient to avoid activation of said vacuum pump during frequent opening and closing of said refrigerator door while retrieving and depositing food items in said refrigerator.