WO2002053002A1

WO2002053002A1 - Gas exhaust device for food containers

Info

Publication number: WO2002053002A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/000018
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sung-Tae Kim
Original assignee: Sung-Tae Kim
Priority date: 2001-01-05
Filing date: 2002-01-05
Publication date: 2002-07-11

Abstract

The object of this invention is to provide a gas exhaust device for food containers. This device consists of a plate (120, 220), which has a hole (122a, 222a) and is assembled with the body (110, 210) and/or the cap (130, 230) of a food container to define a chamber (B). A plug (140) is movably seated in the hole (122a, 222a), while an elastic member (150) is connected to the plug (140) in the chamber (B). A support piece (151) is set in the cap, the body or the plate, and is connected to the elastic member (150), thus allowing the member (150) to be elastically deformed in the chamber. This device thus exhausts gas from the container body to the atmosphere through both the hole of the plate and the gas exhaust passage of the cap when pressure in the body exceeds a reference level.

Description

GAS EXHAUST DEVICE FOR FOOD CONTAINERS

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to a gas exhaust device and, more particularly, to a gas exhaust device which is adapted to be mounted on food containers for preserving foods such as fermented foods and roasted coffee.

Background Art

As well known to those skilled in the art, fermented foods such as Kimchi, pickled sea foods and alcoholic liquors are subjected to fermentation by various microorganisms such as lactic acid fermentation by lactic acid bacteria and alcohol fermentation by yeast. Such fermented foods are commonly preserved in food containers for their distribution and storage in the home. Although contents such as vegetables, fishes, shellfishes and additives such as spices contained in food containers may have unique savor by fermentation of the contents, the unique savor of the contents is deteriorated or freshness of the contents may be lost due to gas generated during the fermentation. Furthermore, where fermented foods are contained in food containers and are distributed as consumer products, the food containers are broken or their sealed portions are damaged by internal pressure increased by gas generated during fermentation of the foods, thereby causing the contents to spill out. Roasted coffee is prepared in such a way that green coffee beans are heated to acquire their peculiar odor and taste in a roasting procedure. If the roasted coffee is exposed to atmospheric air for a long time of about 10 days, the roasted coffee loses its original unique taste. Accordingly, in order to retain unique odor and taste of such roasted coffee for a long time, the roasted coffee must be packed in aluminum or PVC package bags so that the roasted coffee is insulated from outside air. However, since the roasted coffee generates carbon dioxide (C0₂) over time, the packing bags are swollen and burst open due to the carbon dioxide pressure.

Therefore, it is very important to allow, gas in food containers to be properly exhausted so as to retain peculiar savor and freshness of fermented foods or roasted coffee preserved in the food containers for a long time.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gas exhaust device for food containers, which is adapted to allow gas generated from foods such as fermented foods and roasted coffee to be exhausted outside when an internal pressure in the food container is increased due to the gas generated from the foods.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a gas exhaust device for a food container, comprising: a plate having a hole; a plug closely fitted in the hole of the plate; an elastic member connected to the plug; and a support piece connected to the elastic member, the elastic member being elastically deformed between the support piece and the plug; whereby the plug is separated from the hole by increase of an internal gas pressure of the food container, thereby allowing gas in the container to be exhausted outside.

The present invention also provides a gas exhaust device adapted to be used in a food container, which includes a container body having a first reception space, and a cap coupled to the container body and having a gas exhaust passage allowing gas to be exhausted therethrough, comprising: a plate coupled to the container body and/or the cap, and having a second reception space and a hole; a plug fitted in the hole of the plate; an elastic member connected to the plug and received in the second reception space; and a support piece coupled to at least one of the cap, the container body and the plate, the elastic member being elastically deformed between the plug and the support piece. Herein, the elastic member includes a support piece attached to an inner surface of the cap, and the cap is provided with a seating recess in which the support piece is seated. Furthermore, the seating recess is shaped to be larger than the support piece in surface area so that the support piece is displaced within the seating recess.

The elastic member may be any one of a circular ring, an elliptical ring and a diamond ring. The elastic member may be at least two strips, and may be attached to a side surface of the plug and spirally arranged. The plug may be shaped into a truncated cone form or a polygonal pyramid form, and may open upwardly.

The hole may be provided with a plug seat to allow the plug to be seated thereon, and may be provided with a barrier having fine pores.

The gas exhaust device further includes a protrusion attached to the cap or the plate and adapted to be fitted in an inner surface of the container body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gas exhaust device according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is mounted on a food container; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the gas exhaust device of Fig. 3, in which gas in the food container is exhausted outside by deformation of an elastic member;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a gas exhaust device according to another embodiment of the present invention, which is mounted on a food container;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the gas exhaust device of Fig. 5 assembled with the food container;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the gas exhaust device of Fig. 6, in which gas in the food container is exhausted outside by deformation of an elastic member;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the elastic member shown in Figs. 2 to 7;

Fig. 9a is a plan view of a gas exhaust device according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9b is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of Fig. 9a; and

Figs 10 to 12 are cross-sectional views showing gas exhaust devices according to the present invention, in which other embodiments of a support piece are fitted in a plate.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

This invention will be described in further detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of a food container to which a gas exhaust device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the food container 100 includes a bottle shaped container body 110, a plate 120 coupled to an upper end of the container body 110, and a cap 130 fitted in the plate 120. In the drawing, reference numeral

"130a" designates a gas hole described hereinafter.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the gas exhaust device, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the container body 110 is provided at its upper end with an inlet for allowing food to be received therethrough. The upper end of the container body 110 is provided at its outer circumferential surface with a male threaded portion so as to be connected the plate 120. The container body 110 includes a reception space "A" therein.

The plate 120 has an "H" shaped section and includes a body-connecting plate 121, which is provided at its inner circumferential surface with a female threaded portion to be engaged with the male threaded portion of the container body 110, a cap-connecting plate 123 upwardly extended from the body- connecting plate 121, and a mediate plate 122 formed between the body- connecting plate 121 and the cap-connecting plate 123, which cooperates with a plug 140 described hereinafter to seal the container body after the body- connecting plate 121 is coupled to the container body.

The mediate plate 122 is provided at its lower surface with an annular protrusion 124 such that the annular protrusion 124 is fitted to an inner surface 100a of an upper portion of the container body when the body-connecting plate 121 is coupled to the upper end of the container body by their mating threads.

The mediate plate 122 is centrally formed with a hole 122a to allow gas in the container body to be exhausted therethrough. The hole 122a is provided with the truncated cone shaped plug 140 to open and close the hole 122a. In the embodiment, though the plug 140 is shown to have a truncated cone shape, a shape of the plug 140 is not limited to the truncated cone shown in the drawings. That is, the plug 140 may be shaped into a truncated polygonal pyramid which is easily and sealingly fitted into the hole 122a, is properly operated according to the internal pressure in the container body and is easily shaped into the shape. For facilitating seating of the plug 140 into the hole 122a, the hole 122a is provided with a plug seat 122b having a cross section corresponding that of the plug 140. The cap 130 is coupled to the cap-connecting plate 123 of the plate 120.

When the cap 130 is coupled to the cap-connecting plate 123, the cap-connecting plate 123, the mediate plate 122 and the cap 130 define a chamber "B" for receiving an elastic member 150. The cap 130 also serves to support piece the elastic member 150 which is elastically deformed and received in the chamber "B".

The cap 130 is formed with a gas exhaust passage 130a so that internal gas in the chamber "B" is exhausted therethrough. The cap 130 is provided at its lower surface with a seating recess 130b in which a support piece 151 described hereinafter is seated. The elastic member 150 is formed into a diamond ring shape to be easily deformed, and connected at its lower end to the plug 140. The other end of the elastic member 150 is connected to the circular support piece 151 seated in the seating recess 130b of the cap 130. The seating recess 130b is formed such that an area of the seating recess 130b is slightly larger than that of the support piece 151. Since the seating recess 130b is formed to be larger than the support piece 151, the support piece 151 can be displaced within the seating recess 130b. Accordingly, manufacturing process and positioning of the support piece 151 is facilitated.

The plug 140 and the plate 120 are made of hard synthetic resin while the elastic member 150 is made of relatively soft synthetic resin so that the elastic member 150 can be sensitively deformed according to internal pressure in the container body.

A gas exhausting operation of the gas exhaust device according to the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the gas exhaust device with the hole open.

As shown in Fig. 3, after foods are received into the reception space "A" of the container body 110, the body-connecting plate 121 is coupled to the container body 110 by means of the mating threads thereof. At this point, since the annular protrusion 124 of the mediate plate 122 formed at the body- connecting plate 121 is tightly fitted into the inner surface 110a of the upper portion of the container body 110, a reliable sealed condition is provided between the body-connecting plate 121 and the container body 110.

The cap 130 is coupled to the cap-connecting plate 123 such that the plug 140 is inserted into the hole 122a and the support piece 151 is seated in the seating recess 130b. At this point, since a height of the elastic member 150 is sized to be somewhat larger than that of the chamber "B", the elastic member 150 is elastically compressed in the chamber "B", thereby causing the plug 140 to be closely fitted into the hole 122a.

Thanks to this configuration, the plug 140 can be closely inserted into the hole 122a and hermetically seal the container body under a certain pressure or less. In this case, sealing additives such as silicon oil may be applied between the hole 122a and the plug 140 to improve sealing ability.

As shown in Fig. 4, when an internal pressure in the container body is higher than elastic force of the elastic member 150 due to gas generated from foods in the reception space "A", the plug 140 is slightly raised from the hole

122a. Therefore, the gas in the reception space "A" is exhausted outside through the hole 122a and the gas exhaust passage 130a.

When the internal pressure in the container 100 is lowered due to exhaust of gas in the reception space "A", the plug 140 comes into close contact with the plug seat of the hole 122a, thereby allowing the reception space "A" to be sealed again.

As described above, since the hole is opened and closed depending on the relation between elastic force of the elastic member 150 and an internal pressure in the container body, excessive gas in the container 100 can be automatically exhausted outside.

In Figs. 1 to 4, although the food container, to which the gas exhaust device according to the present invention is applied, is shown to have a bottle shape, the shape of the food container may be changed into various forms. In other words, the plate may be attached to the container body and/or the cap in various manners. Such a modification of the gas exhaust device according to the present invention is shown Figs. 5 to 7.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the modification of the present invention which is mounted on another kind of food container, Fig. 6 is a cross- sectional view of the gas exhaust device of Fig. 5, which is assembled, and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 6, in which gas in the food container is exhausted outside. For convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals as those in the above embodiment are used to designate the same or similar components. Differing from the food container shown in Figs. 2 to 4, this food container

200 shown in Figs. 5 and 6 includes a cap 230 having a female threaded portion at its inner circumferential surface, which is engaged with a male threaded portion formed at an upper end of a container body 210, an annular protrusion 224 provided at a lower surface of the cap 230, which is fitted in an inner surface of an upper portion of the container body 210 when the cap 230 is coupled to the container body 210, and a plate 220 comprising a connecting plate 223 provided at the lower surface of the cap 230 adjacent to a seating recess 230b and a barrier 222 attached to a lower end of the connecting plate 223 and having a hole 222a for allowing gas in the container to be exhausted.

The lower surface of the cap 230 and the plate 220 define a chamber "B". A gas exhausting operation of the gas exhaust device of this embodiment in the case of an increase of internal pressure in the container will now be described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7.

As shown in Fig. 6, after foods are received in a reception space "A", the cap 230 is coupled to the container body by the mating threads thereof.

As the cap 230 is coupled to the container body 210 by engagement between the female thread of the cap and the male thread of the container body, the annular protrusion 224 provided at the lower surface of the cap 230 is fitted into an inner surface of an upper portion of the container body 210. Accordingly, the cap 230 is sealingly coupled to the container body 210 without gas leakage therebetween. The plug 140 comes into close contact with an inner surface of the end plate defining the hole 222a by elastic force of the elastic member 150, thereby achieving sealing of the reception space "A". As shown in Fig. 7, a subsequent exhausting procedure of gas in the container is identical to the exhausting procedure of gas shown in Fig. 4.

Although the elastic member 150 is shown in Figs. 2 to 7 to have a diamond ring shape, a shape of the elastic member 150 is not limited to the diamond shape but may be configured into another shape as shown in Fig. 8. Fig.

8 shows another elliptical or circular elastic member 350. For abbreviation of explanation, the same reference numerals as those in the above elastic member 150 are used to designate the same or similar components.

The components constituting the gas exhaust device according to the present invention may be embodied in various manners. One of the modifications of the gas exhaust device is shown Figs. 9a to 12.

Figs. 9a and 9b show another modification of the gas exhaust device according to the present invention, which is mounted on an integral package type of food container made of flexible vinyl or aluminum packing sheet, and in which a cap is integrally formed with the container body. That is, Fig. 9a is a plan view of the modification of the gas exhaust device according to the present invention, and Fig. 9b is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of Fig. 9a. In the drawings, reference numeral "410" designates a container body which is integrally formed with a cap.

As shown in Figs. 9a and 9b, the gas exhaust device includes a plate 420 attached to a circumferential edge of an opening of a food container 400 and having a hole 422a, a truncated plug 440 closely fitted into the hole 422a of the plate 420, three spiral strip shaped elastic members 450 attached to the plug 440, and a cylindrical support piece 430 fitted into the plate 420 and to which the other ends of the elastic members 450 are attached. The plate 420 comprises a flange 421 attached to a pouched food container 410 by ultrasonic fusion, a stepped plate 422 downwardly extended from the flange 421 and having a central hole 422a, a plug seat 422b provided at the hole 422a into which the plug 440 is closely fitted, and a barrier 425 attached to a lower end of the plug seat 422b and having fine pores 425a. The stepped plate 422 is provided therein with a chamber "B" in which the elastic members 45 are received via the cylindrical support piece 430. Between the stepped plate 422 and the food container is provided a reception space "A". Since the end plate 425 serves to allow gas in the food container 400 to be exhausted therethrough but serves to prevent contents such as roasted coffee from being discharged threrethrough, it is possible to prevent opening and closing functions of the device from being impaired. The cylindrical support piece 430 is fitted into an inner surface of the stepped plate 422 of the plate 420. For achieving more secure fitting, it is preferable that the cylindrical support is provided at an outer surface of its lower end with an annular protrusion 430b, and the stepped plate 422 is provided with an annular groove 422c corresponding to the annular protrusion 430b. As described with reference to Fig. 3, the plug 440 and the plate 420 are made of hard synthetic resin while the elastic members 450 are made of relatively soft synthetic resin so that the elastic member 450 can be sensitively deformed according to internal pressure in the container body 410. Each of the elastic members 450 is shaped into a spiral form, and is attached at its end to an outer surface of the plug 440 and attached at its other end to the cylindrical support piece 430. Since the elastic members 450 are extended in a spiral manner and the plug 440 opens upwardly, the plug 440 is separated from the hole 422a while being rotated. Accordingly, the plug 440 can be more sensitively deformed according to internal pressure in the food container 400, and can be more stably seated in the plug seat 422b.

Thanks to this configuration, the gas exhaust device according to the present invention, which is mounted on a food container 400, can be sensitively operated by increase of an internal pressure in the container 400, thereby allowing gas in the container 400 to be efficiently exhausted outside. Description of the gas exhausting process is omitted for abbreviation of explanation.

The cylindrical support shown in Fig. 9b may be variously modified if required. The modifications of the gas exhaust device are shown in Figs. 10 to 12. For convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals as those in the above embodiment are used to designate the same or similar components.

Gas exhaust devices mounted on food containers 500 and 600 shown in Figs. 10 and 11 are different from the above gas exhaust device mounted on the food container 400 shown in Fig. 9b in that the cylindrical support piece 430 is fitted in the plate 420 in such a way that a support cover 560 having gas exhaust passages 560a is interposed between the cylindrical support piece 430 and the stepped plate 422. Furthermore, gas exhaust devices mounted on food containers 700 shown in Fig. 12 is different from the above gas exhaust device mounted on the food container 400 shown in Fig. 9b in that the cylindrical support piece 430 is fitted in the plate 420 in such a way that pins 760 protruded from a bottom surface of the stepped plate 422 are fitted to an inner surface of the cylindrical support piece 430.

Although the gas exhaust devices according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes with reference to Figs. 1 to 12, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, since the gas exhaust device according to the present invention enables gas in a food container to be automatically exhausted to the outside even if an internal pressure in the food container is increased due to gas generated from fermented foods or roasted coffee, freshness and peculiar savor of the foods preserved in the food container can be retained for a long time without breakage of the food container and outpouring of contents due to increase of an internal pressure. Accordingly, the gas exhaust device of the present invention can be advantageously employed in food containers for preserving foods such as fermented foods and roasted coffee. Furthermore, when the gas exhaust device of the present invention is used in a bag for packing roasted coffee, since a customer can recognize peculiar smells of the roasted coffees from gas exhausted from the bag by applying an external pressure to the bag, the customer can easily select his/her favorite roasted coffee among various kinds of roasted coffee.

Claims

1. A gas exhaust device for a food container, comprising: a plate having a hole; a plug closely fitted in the hole of the plate; an elastic member connected to the plug; and a support piece connected to the elastic member, the elastic member being elastically deformed between the support piece and the plug; whereby the plug is separated from the hole by increase of an internal gas pressure of the food container, thereby allowing gas in the container to be exhausted outside.

2. A gas exhaust device adapted to be used in a food container, which includes a container body having a first reception space, and a cap coupled to the container body and having a gas exhaust passage allowing gas to be exhausted therethrough, comprising: a plate coupled to the container body and/or the cap so as to form a second reception space and having a hole; a plug fitted in the hole of the plate; an elastic member connected to the plug and received in the second reception space; and a support piece coupled to at least one of the cap, the container body and the plate, the elastic member being elastically deformed between the plug and the support piece.

3. The gas exhaust device as set forth in claim 1 or 2, in which the plug is shaped into a truncated cone form or a polygonal pyramid form.

4. The gas exhaust device as set forth in claim 1 or 2, in which the hole is provided with a plug seat on which the plug is removably seated.

5. The gas exhaust device as set forth in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a protrusion attached to the cap or the plate and adapted to be fitted in an inner surface of the container body.

6. The gas exhaust device as set forth in claim 1 or 2, in which a shape of the elastic member is of any one of a circular ring, an elliptical ring and a diamond ring.

7. The gas exhaust device as set forth in claim 2, in which the elastic member includes a support piece attached to an inner surface of the cap, and the cap is provided with a seating recess in which the support piece is seated.

8. The gas exhaust device as set forth in claim 7, in which the seating recess is shaped to be larger than the support piece in surface area so that the support piece is displaced within the seating recess.

9. The gas exhaust device as set forth in claim 1 or 2, in which the elastic member is comprised of at least two strips.

10. The gas exhaust device as set forth in claim 9, in which the plug is comprised of a truncated cone opened upwardly, and the elastic members are attached to a side surface of the plug and arranged into spiral shapes.

11. The gas exhaust device as set forth in claim 1, 2 or 10, in which the hole is provided with a barrier having fine pores.