EP1339618A1

EP1339618A1 - Valve for a food conservation container

Info

Publication number: EP1339618A1
Application number: EP01995635A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Montserrat Vilalta; Jose Millan; Juan Carlos Coronado; Mariano Penaranda; Antonio Rebordosa
Original assignee: Braun GmbH
Current assignee: Braun GmbH
Priority date: 2000-12-08
Filing date: 2001-11-15
Publication date: 2003-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2021-11-15
Also published as: ES2256334T3; DE50109185D1; HK1059420A1; WO2002046057A1; DE10060998C1; ATE319628T1; CN1478041A; AU2002226336A1; EP1339618B1; CN1224555C

Abstract

The valve (1) for the storage container (15) has a connecting device (9) on the opening tap, which has one or more suction apertures. On the outer side of the opening tab there is a smooth all-round edging (18) to receive the sealing lip of the suction connector of a vacuum pump. There may be a sealing tongue acting as a no-return valve between the venting aperture and the opening tab.

Description

Valve for a food storage container

The invention relates to a storage container for food and a method for evacuating a storage container for food.

Systems are already known for the storage of foodstuffs which allow preservation under better boundary conditions than if the foodstuffs are stored untreated or without improved storage conditions. One way to improve food storage is to store food in containers under vacuum. Such systems have been shown to produce very good results in avoiding some microorganisms, vermin, mold and yeast growth. It also avoids the oxidation of food, thereby avoiding changes in the moisture and aroma of the food.

Lids for storage containers for foodstuffs are already known from the prior art, in which a vent or ventilation valve is provided in the container lid for pressure compensation during the warming-up process in a microwave oven.

EP 0 633 196 A2 describes such a mechanism. This is intended to solve the problem of preventing the build-up of excess pressure in the interior of the storage containers for foodstuffs which are warmed up in a microwave. This usually happens when there are aqueous liquids in the interior of the container that evaporate when heated and thereby build up excess pressure in the interior of the container. This is particularly disadvantageous when the container lid is opened, since sauces or other food components suddenly spurt out when the lid is opened. For this purpose, EP 0 633 196 A2 proposes a vent valve in the lid of the food storage container, which is to be opened before the container is introduced into the microwave oven. The water vapor then generated during the warming-up process can thereby escape unhindered without a corresponding vapor pressure building up inside the sealed container.

EP 0 820 939 A1 is also based on the object of building up excess pressure in the interior of the storage container for foodstuffs which is in a microwave to be warmed up, that is to say a venting facility for storage containers for foodstuffs is to be made available here in order to be able to warm up the foodstuffs stored therein safely in a microwave oven when the container lid is closed. In contrast to EP 0 633 196 A2, however, a valve mechanism is described which can be opened via a joint such as a rocker. It is therefore only necessary to press in the rocker arm, which makes it easy to open the valve.

WO 88/00560 describes an opening mechanism for a plastic beverage can. First of all, pressure relief should be created by opening a ventilation valve, which should then make it easier to open or pull off the entire cover. According to the task, these are always plastic lids, since the use of metal lids is to be prevented. In particular, the pressure equalization of excess pressure inside the container, which arises, for example, from carbonated drinks, plays a role.

Furthermore, US Pat. No. 3,737,066 discloses a container which is preferably intended for storing liquids, the side walls of which are made of coated cardboard material and the bottom and ceiling elements of which are made of plastic plates which are connected to the cardboard walls in a liquid-tight manner. The upper plastic lid has a reclosable opening mechanism, which is also made of plastic and is positively connected to the lid via retaining pins. Ventilation before opening the container lid or a device for pressure compensation is not provided.

CH 304 374 discloses a closure lid for a sterilization vessel made of aluminum, which has an essentially circular shape and is placed on a cylindrical aluminum container. A rubber seal is placed between the edge of the lid and the top of the container. In the middle of the container lid there is an additional opening, which is covered by a rubber cap. The rubber cap is used for visual inspection to indicate whether there is a vacuum inside the container. As long as there is a corresponding negative pressure inside the container, the rubber cover cap bulges inwards accordingly. As the vacuum diminishes, this curvature subsides continuously. It is therefore difficult for the observer to decide whether the inside of the The existing vacuum is still sufficient to ensure the freshness of the food inside the container.

US 5,195,427 and WO 97/17259 each describe vacuum pumps for evacuating storage containers for food. In each case, tapered suction tips are inserted into corresponding valve openings on the container lid of the storage container.

EP 0 234 607 B1 describes a bottle stopper which is simultaneously designed as a vent valve. In this case, a cylindrical vacuum pump is used, which completely surrounds the protruding cylindrical shaft of the bottle stopper.

EP 0 644 128 A1 describes a sealable container which can be evacuated by a vacuum pump. A check valve is disclosed therein that is received in a cylindrical recess in the container lid and into which the suction opening of a vacuum pump is inserted.

A storage container for food is known from DE-74 09 380 U, the filling opening of which can be closed by a lid. The lid has a ventilation opening in the center, which can be closed by a valve member. The valve member has an opening tab, via which the valve member can be lifted off the vent opening and the vacuum in the storage container can thus be released. A vacuum to be formed in the storage container is achieved when the valve is closed by cooling the food after a cooking process.

DE-28 21 852 A1 also discloses a storage container of the type mentioned at the outset, which can be closed air-tight by a cover provided with a valve. The valve is arranged in the center of the lid and is surrounded by an annular connection device on which a vacuum pump for venting the food space of the storage container can be placed. In order to open the storage container, the valve plate must be lifted off the sealing edge formed on the cover, which can be done by an operator reaching under the valve plate with a knife or other pointed object and pressing it upwards. Such an opening mechanism is relatively difficult to operate. The present invention has for its object to provide an improved storage container for food with a connection device for evacuating the storage container. It should be possible to simply evacuate the container and then open it.

This object is achieved by a food storage container with the features of patent claim 1 and a method for evacuating a food storage container with the features of patent claim 11. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

The storage container according to the invention with a valve device according to claim 1 has the advantage that it is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Furthermore, due to the structural design of the connection device, centering of the vacuum pump is not necessary. In particular, a device with a circumferential sealing lip, which acts like a suction cup, can be used as the suction device. For such suction devices, it is important that the suction surface of the sealing lip has no structure so that the suction power can be used to completely evacuate the storage container. In addition, the suction opening can have any cross section within the smooth peripheral edge. It can also run in a wave shape in a circle, it is only important that the circumferential sealing lip of the suction device is also adapted to this course in order to produce a tight connection. When vacuuming the second embodiment, the invention presses the opening tab of the motor-operated vacuum pump against the foot section of the sealing tongue and a pressure indicator, so that a tight valve device is created and at the same time the pressure indicator is clearly visible. In the first embodiment, the opening tab presses against the holding member, which in turn presses the seal securely against the container lid. Here too, the pressure display is easy to read.

An advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides the features of claim 2. This provides an integrated component with few individual parts. As soon as the storage container is evacuated, the sealing effect takes place automatically in that the sealing tongue is sucked into the ventilation opening provided in the container lid. A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides the features of claim 3. This embodiment provides a surprisingly simple constructive solution for easy opening of the container lid, since the sealing tongue is first lifted off the vent opening when the opening flap is pulled over the driver. This results in a pressure equalization between the inside of the container and the environment. The container lid is no longer sucked in by the negative pressure inside the storage container and can easily be lifted off from it. The valve device thereby fulfills several functions.

Another advantageous embodiment of the present invention has the features of claim 4. This simplifies the evacuation process, since the operator can immediately see when a sufficient negative pressure has been reached in the storage container. The integration of this feature in the valve device creates a component with multiple functions.

An advantageous development of the embodiment according to claim 4 provides the features of claim 5. The configuration described therein provides a pressure indicator that can be detected optically and haptically. The optical effect of the membrane, which is made, for example, of an elastomeric plastic material, can be further increased by appropriate color design in a signal color. Depending on how far the pressure child protrudes beyond the outer contour of the valve device under appropriate pressure conditions or disappears therein, a corresponding haptic effect can be achieved which also allows visually impaired users to record the pressure state inside the storage container.

Another advantageous development of the embodiment according to claim 5 provides the features of claim 6. In this way, a clear signal position of the pressure indicator is achieved. At ambient pressure in the storage container, the membrane of the pressure indicator protrudes outwards. When a predefined negative pressure inside the container is reached, the membrane "snaps" inwards. If the spring is selected accordingly, it is ensured that the membrane snaps back into its starting position when a minimum negative pressure in the storage container is exceeded, ie there are only two clear pressure indicator positions: sufficient negative pressure in the Storage container (pressure indicator is snapped) / insufficient vacuum or ambient pressure (pressure indicator is in its initial position). The spring element can be formed, for example, by appropriate selection of a resilient plastic material for the membrane of the pressure indicator or by inserting a spring metal into the membrane of the pressure indicator.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides the features of claim 7. This makes it possible to store the storage container and its contents in a freezer and then thaw them in a microwave oven. For the warm-up process in the microwave oven, the vent opening can be opened via the opening tab as already described. Possible materials are polypropylene and polyamide as well as any other thermally stable and tasteless plastic material.

Another advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides the features of claim 8. In this case, a material is preferably selected which has both sufficient rigidity and the required sealing properties. This component can be manufactured inexpensively as an injection molded component and simply mounted on the storage container.

An alternative embodiment provides the features of claim 9. As a result, the container lid and the opening tab can be produced as a common injection molded part. An elastic elastomeric plastic or rubber material can be used for the sealing tongue and the membaran of the pressure indicator, which is then inserted into the component formed from the container lid and opening tab. Another advantage is that the opening tab not only serves to open the ventilation opening, but also that the entire container lid can be lifted off via the film hinge.

Finally, a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides the features of claim 10. The flexible arrangement and universal applicability of the valve device together with storage containers for food is advantageous.

An advantageous method for evacuating a food storage container provides the features of claim 11. Here is the procedure described easy and quick to do. Due to the low demands that the method places on the user, it is particularly well suited for the household sector. It is particularly advantageous that, due to the combination of the connection device with a smooth edge and the suction connection with a circumferential sealing lip, no complex centering is required before the evacuation process.

An advantageous development of the method is described in claim 12.

Further refinements and advantages of the invention are explained by the description of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. In it show:

1 is a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of a food storage container with a first valve device in a container lid,

2 shows a schematic sectional illustration of the valve device with the pressure indicator according to FIG. 1, with a sufficient vacuum in the storage container,

3 shows the valve device according to FIG. 1, but after the vent opening has been released through the opening tab, so that atmospheric pressure is again in the storage container,

4 is a partially sectioned perspective view of a second embodiment of a food storage container with a second valve device, in which the pressure indicator has taken the position in which there is insufficient vacuum in the storage container,

Fig. 5 as Fig. 4, but with the opening flap pivoted upwards to release the vent opening, so that pressure compensation can be produced in the storage container and 6 is a perspective view of a food storage container with a pressure indicator according to FIG. 4.

For the sake of simplicity, the same or similar components are identified below with the same reference symbols. In order to avoid repetitions, the same position numbers and the same functions and modes of action must be assigned.

Figures 1 to 3 show a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of a pressure indicator 6 for a storage container 15 (Fig. 4) for food. According to FIGS. 1 to 6, the pressure indicator 6 is connected to a valve device 1 which is attached to a container lid 2. An opening tab 7 is integrally connected to the container lid 2 via a film hinge 32. The opening tab 7 and the container lid 2 are made as an injection molded component from temperature-resistant thermoplastic. The opening tab 7, which is essentially an oval plate in plan view, has a connection device 9 for a suction connection of a vacuum pump, which is essentially formed by a smooth annular surface 18 on the outside 24 of the opening tab 7 and one or more suction openings 17 within the annular surface 18. Such a device is described in the patent application filed on the same day by the applicant, which is entitled "Device for evacuating food storage containers" and which bears the internal company file number 06499-PZ10 / Ha. This article is referred to here in full and it may also be the subject of this application.

On the underside of the opening tab 7, a sealing tongue 3 made of elastomeric plastic is arranged below the connecting device 9 in FIGS. 1 to 6. In the first exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sealing tongue 3 is fastened to the opening tab 7 via an annular web 19 and is designed as a disc-shaped component. The web 19 has an air passage 30.

In FIGS. 1 to 6, the opening tab 7 is inserted into an essentially rectangular depression 20 in the container lid 2 of the storage container 15 which is adapted to the opening tab 7. Under the connecting device 9 of the opening tab 7 and the sealing tongue 3, a vent opening 4 is provided in the container lid 2. In the open state, the vent opening 4 provides the connection between the atmosphere and the interior 22 of the storage container 15 ago. In the closed state, the ventilation opening 4 is closed airtight by the sealing tongue 3. The vent opening 4 forms with the sealing tongue 3 a check valve 40 closing in the direction of the storage container 15.

In addition to the ventilation opening 4, a measuring opening 5 is arranged in the container lid 2 according to FIGS. 1 to 6. The measuring opening 5 is airtightly covered from above by a plastic membrane 29 of the pressure indicator 6 from above. The pressure indicator 6 extends essentially perpendicularly to the plane of the container lid 2 and, according to FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5, has an essentially cup-shaped, slightly convex side wall 23 in the improperly vacuum-sealed state, which tapers upwards and ends with a horizontally extending circular bottom 24. The diameter D of the base 24 is smaller than the diameter d of the opening 25 at the foot section 25 of the pressure indicator 6, as shown in particular in FIG. 4. By the described design of the pressure indicator 6, when vacuum is applied, the side wall 23 of the pressure indicator 6 extends into its cavity 26 in a manner similar to that of a rolling membrane, as shown in FIG. 2.

According to FIGS. 1 to 6, there is a display opening 8 in the opening tab 7 at the location of the pressure indicator 6, through which the pressure indicator 6 extends vertically beyond the outside 33 of the opening tab 7 if there is insufficient underpressure in the interior 22 of the storage container 15 , The pressure indicator 6 is made of an elastomeric plastic and preferably in a signal color, in the present case in red. On the inside, the pressure indicator 6 according to FIGS. 1 to 3 is stiffened by a spring element 12, which preferably consists of a resilient material, such as spring plate or elastomeric plastic, and lies flat against the inside 34 of the pressure indicator 6.

At the free end on the right in FIGS. 1 to 6, the part of the opening tab 7 near the edge has an actuating surface 10. The end of the opening tab 7, starting from the bending edge 35, is slightly beveled upwards. The container lid 2 has the depression 20, so that since the opening tab 7 is spaced from the bottom 37 of the depression 20 by ribs 29, 36, the actuating surface 10 of the opening tab 7 can comfortably - lo ¬

fingers and thumb of a user's hand (not shown) can be gripped and pulled up.

1 to 3 show a holding bracket 11 which presses the elastomeric plastic material of the flat foot section 25 of the pressure indicator 6 onto the container lid 2. The bracket 11 is supported on the walls of the container lid 2, not shown in the drawing. In FIGS. 1 to 3, the pot-shaped pressure indicator 6 is thus connected in one piece to the foot section 25, so that the pressure indicator 6 is sealingly connected to the container lid 2 in the clamped state by the retaining bracket 11.

Figures 4 to 6 show a partially sectioned perspective view of a second embodiment of a valve device 1 with the pressure indicator 6 according to the invention for a storage container 15 for food. In this embodiment, too, the opening tab 7 is connected in one piece to the container lid 2 via the film hinge 32. The sealing tongue 3 arranged under the connecting device 9 of the opening tab 7 is connected to the opening tab 7 via a driver 13. Both the sealing tongue 3 as the driver 13, the foot portion 25 and the pressure indicator 6 are made from a single elastomeric plastic part which is attached as an insert to a bead 21 in the recess 20 of the container lid 2. The plastic material used for the pressure indicator 6 has spring properties, so that the snap effect on the pressure indicator 6 also occurs here if either too little or too little vacuum is present.

The difference between the first embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 and the second embodiment according to FIGS. 4 to 6 essentially consists in the fact that in FIGS. 1 to 3 the sealing tongue 3 forms a separate sealing part with respect to the pressure indicator 6, whereas in the second 4 to 6, these parts are formed by a single elastomeric component, the sealing tongue 3 of which is partially cut out of the foot section 25 and thus forms a gap 28.

Furthermore, a circumferential seal 14 is provided on the edge of the container lid 2 according to FIGS. 4 and 5, which enables an airtight closure with respect to the storage container 15. However, it is also conceivable not to use a seal 14, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, so that the cover 2 itself with the storage container 15 illustrates a tight seal. In the closed state of the valve device 1, the foot part 25 is pressed by the circumferential rib 29 against the bottom 37 of the container lid 2 and thus sealed.

In the illustration in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6, the pressure inside the container 22 of the storage container 15 corresponds to the ambient pressure. The pressure indicator 6 therefore protrudes from the outside due to its spring preload through the display opening 8 via the opening tab 7.

In the illustration according to FIG. 2, there is sufficient underpressure in the interior 22 of the storage container 15. The pressure indicator 6 is therefore sucked into the cavity 26 in the direction of the interior 22 of the container; it is in the folded or snapped state. In this state, the pressure indicator 6 does not or only insignificantly protrude beyond the outer contour of the opening tab 7. The pressure indicator 6 folds like a rolling membrane. The ratio of the diameter D to d as a function of the wall thickness f and the elastic material of the pressure indicator 6 is chosen such that the pressure indicator 6 folds up suddenly from a certain negative pressure, as shown in FIG. 2. If the vacuum in the interior of the container 22 decreases, a point is also reached here where the pressure indicator 6 suddenly moves outwards. This has the advantage of a clear display.

The two exemplary embodiments work as follows:

When used in a household, the user can first of all find out about the pressure in the interior 22 of the container based on the position of the pressure indicator 6 with the container lid 2 closed. If the bottom of the pressure indicator 6 protrudes outward through the display opening 8, this means that the pressure inside the container 22 is not sufficient to ensure the storage of foodstuffs under vacuum conditions (see FIGS. 1, 4 and 6).

Now the storage container 15 is evacuated according to Figures 1, 3 and 6. During the evacuation process, a suction connection with a circumferential sealing lip of a vacuum pump (not shown) is placed on the connection device 9 of the valve device 1. Then the vacuum pump is started. This automatically opens the vent tion opening 4 of the valve device 1, since the suction effect allows the sealing tongue 3 to lift off from the vent opening 4 and the air contained in the storage container 15 is sucked out of the vacuum pump. According to FIG. 1, air is sucked in laterally via the ventilation opening 4 at the sealing seat 38 of the sealing tongue 3, around the sealing tongue 3 around the outside, through the air passage 30 and via the connection device 9 to the vacuum pump. When a sufficient negative pressure is reached in the space 22 of the storage container 15, the pressure indicator 6 snaps inward suddenly (FIG. 2). This informs the user that he can end the evacuation process. After lifting the vacuum pump from the connection device 9, the sealing tongue is pressed onto the edge of the vent opening 3, whereby this is automatically sealed airtight. This process also occurs with each return stroke of the vacuum pump so that a vacuum can be built up in the interior 22. The vacuum in the interior 22 now keeps the foodstuffs there fresh for a long time, since the lack of oxygen prevents oxidation of the foodstuffs.

In order to be able to remove fresh foodstuffs from the storage container 15, one grips with two fingers under the actuating surface 10 and swivels the opening tab 7 in FIG. 5 counterclockwise with little effort. 3, the sealing tongue 3 is lifted up above the webs 19 from the sealing seat 38 by the opening tab 7 and the ventilation opening 4 is released. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5, the top of the opening tab 7 first strikes the underside of a brim 27 formed on the driver 13 and pulls the driver 13 with the sealing tongue 3 upwards until the sealing tongue 3 lifts off from the sealing seat 38 and counter to it Swivels clockwise upwards (Fig. 5). According to FIGS. 1 to 5, air can now flow into the container interior 22 via the suction opening 17 of the connection device 9 and the ventilation opening 4.

The container lid 2 can now be removed from the storage container 15 without any significant effort. Since the sealing tongue 3 according to FIGS. 4 and 5 is partially separated from the rest of the flat foot part 25 by the essentially U-shaped gap 28, that is to say it is only connected to the rest of the foot section 25 in the left rear area 39, it falls due to its Gravity as a check valve repeatedly on the vent 4, so that vacuuming is not a problem. However, it is also conceivable for the opening tab 7 to be clipped onto the container lid 2 can be snapped, so that in the closed state, the sealing tongue 3 closes the vent opening 4. In FIG. 3, when the opening tab 7 is pivoted about the film hinge 32, the sealing tongue 3 is lifted upward because it is attached to the opening tab 7 with play to fulfill the check valve function.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective illustration of a storage container 15 for foodstuffs made of thermoplastic material with a valve device 1 according to FIG. 4. The storage container 15 has a cuboid-shaped container body 16 and a container lid 2 with a circumferential brim 27 which is essentially rectangular in plan view. The valve device 1 is arranged in a recess 20 on one of the narrow sides of the container lid 2. The actuating surface 10 of the opening tab 7 closes approximately with the outer surface 33 of the container lid 2. Only the pressure indicator 6 protrudes vertically upward from the display opening 8 of the opening tab 7 when the vacuum is insufficient. In the direction of the inside of the container lid 22, in addition to the pressure indicator 6, the circular connection device 9 with the smooth annular surface 18 and the suction opening 17 can be seen, from which the driver 13 projects with its brim 27. The brim 27 serves to better carry the driver 13 when the opening tab 7 is pivoted upwards. Due to the leverage that is formed by the distances R and r (FIG. 5), a relatively small hand force F (FIG. 4) on the gripping surface 10 is sufficient to lift the sealing tongue 3 from the sealing seat 38 when there is still vacuum inside the container 22 is available. The smaller the distance r and the greater the distance R, the easier it is to open the valve device 1.

Claims

claims:

1. Storage container (15) for food with a valve (1) provided with a ventilation opening (4), the storage container (15) being airtight and in the region of the ventilation opening (4) a connection device (9) for a vacuum pump for evacuating his Interior (22) which is formed on a pivotably mounted opening tab (7) for the valve (1), the opening tab (7) in the area of the vent opening (4) a suction opening (17) and one on the outward side has essentially smooth peripheral edge (18) for receiving a sealing lip of a suction port for the vacuum pump.

2. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that between the vent opening (4) and the opening tab (7) a sealing tongue (3) is provided, which acts as a check valve.

3. Storage container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the opening tab (7) has a driver (13, 19) which lifts the sealing tongue (3) from the ventilation opening (4) when pivoting the opening tab (7).

4. Storage container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pressure indicator (6) is provided on the valve (1).

5. Storage container according to claim 4, characterized in that the pressure indicator (6) is designed as a dome-shaped membrane.

6. Storage container according to claim 5, characterized in that the membrane of the pressure indicator (6) has a spring element (12) so that the pressure indicator (6) snaps back into its starting position at a predetermined pressure.

7. Storage container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve (1) is made of plastic material which are suitable for a temperature range from -40 ° C to + 100 ° C.

8. Storage container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve (1) is made as a one-piece component.

9. Storage container according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the opening tab (7) via a film hinge (32) is integrally connected to the container lid (2) of the storage container (15).

10. Storage container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve (1) on the container lid (2) or on the container body (16) of the storage container (15) is arranged.

11. A method for evacuating a storage container for foodstuffs, an attachment with a vacuum pump being attached to a hand mixer or a hand mixer, and a valve being attached to the storage container, the method comprising the following steps:

- Placing the attachment on a connection device of the valve;

- Activate the hand mixer or hand mixer so that the vacuum pump of the attachment is started;

- Automatic opening of the valve by the suction of the attachment, whereby the air contained in the storage container is extracted;

- Automatic closing of the valve after the vacuum pump has been switched off.

2. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that before the process steps for evacuation, the vacuum pump is attached as an attachment to the hand mixer or hand mixer.