Devices for introducing air into, or removing air from, containers
OwnerJoseph M. Waldroninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices comprising a plug positioned within a housing to regulate air within a container, for example, plastic storage containers or bags. One embodiment utilizes a plug that occludes an opening in a housing. The plug is displaced from the opening to inject or evacuate air from a container. An alternative embodiment utilizes a plug having air channels therein which can be sealed once air has been injected into or evacuated from a container. The devices are utilized with hose adaptors connected to vacuum or air hoses having specialized hose tips for coupling with the housing.
Claims11
A device for controlling the amount of air within a container, wherein the device comprises:
- a housing having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a chamber;
- a first port defined in the distal end of the housing providing fluid communication to the chamber;
- a second port defined in the proximal end of the housing providing fluid communication to the chamber;
- a plug movably disposed within the chamber between a relaxed position and a displaced position, wherein in the relaxed position the plug occludes the first port, and wherein in the displaced position the plug is displaced a predetermined distance from the first port;
- means for connecting the distal end of the housing to a portion of the container such that the first port is substantially co-axially aligned with an opening in the container, and such that an essentially airtight seal is formed between the housing and the opening in the container;
- means for moving the plug to the displaced position;
- and
- means for injecting or evacuating air from the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.