Evacuatable rigid storage unit for storing compressible articles therein
OwnerDavid B. Grahaminventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An evacuatable storage unit that includes a substantially rigid container having an open upper end, a flexible air tight liner attached to the inside of the container, and a port installed in a surface of the liner that allows air to pass out of the liner and prevents air from entering the liner. The liner has an upper portion that extends out beyond the open upper end of the container. The liner upper portion terminates in an opening for inserting compressible articles into the liner. The opening is closable to form an air tight seal. As air inside the liner is evacuated from the liner through the port (typically by using a household vacuum cleaner), the liner upper portion and compressible articles stored therein collapse into the container.
Claims4
An evacuatable storage unit for storing compressible articles, comprising:
- a substantially rigid container having an open tipper end;
- a flexible air tight liner attached to an inside of the container, the liner having an upper portion that extends out beyond the open tipper end of the container, the liner upper portion terminates in an opening for inserting compressible articles into the liner, the opening is closable to form an air tight seal;
- a port installed in a surface of the liner that allows air to pass out of the liner and prevents air from entering the liner;
- wherein as air inside the liner is evacuated from the liner through the port, the liner upper portion and compressible articles stored therein collapse into the container;
- the port includes an inlet facing an interior of the liner and an outlet facing the outside of the container;
- inlet holes and ridges raised above the inlet holes are formed at the inlet;
- and
- a flange is formed at the outlet for engaging a cylindrical attachment from a household vacuum cleaner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.