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Container for storing food products including a base defining a product support surface for supporting the food product and a cover releasably engaging with the base such that when the cover engages with the base, a storage compartment is defined by the cover and the base. The cover includes an air

Container for storing food products including a base defining a product support surface for supporting the food product and a cover releasably engaging with the base such that when the cover engages with the base, a storage compartment is defined by the cover and the base. The cover includes an air control unit for controlling air pressure in the storage compartment and a window extending downward from the air control unit to surround food products in the storage compartment. A product supported on the product support surface of the base is visible through the window when the cover engages with the base. By providing the window as part of the cover, the base is separable from the window to thereby expose the product support surface of the base so that cakes can be easily placed on the product support surface and then enclosed by the cover.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A container, comprising:a base defining a product support surface for supporting a product; and a cover releasably engaging with said base such that when said cover engages with said base, a storage compartment is defined by said cover and said base, said cover including an air control unit for c

1. A container, comprising:a base defining a product support surface for supporting a product; and a cover releasably engaging with said base such that when said cover engages with said base, a storage compartment is defined by said cover and said base, said cover including an air control unit for controlling air pressure in said storage compartment and a window extending downward from said air control unit, said window being arranged to engage with said base such that a product supported on said product support surface of said base is visible through said window when said cover engages with said base, said air control unit including a housing and a pump arranged in connection with said housing for evacuating air from said storage compartment, said pump comprising cylinders, pistons each movable in a respective one of said cylinders, piston rods each connected to a respective one of said pistons and movable in said respective cylinder, a displacement handle connected to said piston rods and one-way check valves arranged in communication with said cylinders for allowing air flow only into said cylinders therethrough, each of said check valves being arranged in communication with a plurality of said cylinders. 2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a platform arranged on said base.3. The container of claim 2, further comprising positioning means for positioning said platform on said base.4. The container of claim 3, wherein said platform includes a planar product support section and legs extending downward from said product support section, said positioning means comprising slots formed in said base and arranged to receive a respective one of said legs.5. The container of claim 1, wherein said base includes a planar section having an upper surface constituting said product support surface, a rim arranged around the periphery of said planar section to thereby provide said base with a hollow interior and a flange extending outward from said rim, said cover being arranged to rest on said flange when in engagement with said base.6. The container of claim 5, wherein said flange is arranged on said rim at a location spaced from both upper and lower edges of said rim such that a predetermined space remains between said flange and both said upper and lower edges to enable said cover to be secured about said rim when said cover rests on said flange.7. The container of claim 5, wherein said flange is substantially equidistant from upper and lower edges of said rim.8. The container of claim 5, wherein said flange includes handlers arranged on opposite sides of said base.9. The container of claim 5, wherein said base further includes centering ribs arranged on an outer surface of said rim on both sides of said flange for centering said cover when engaging with said base.10. The container of claim 5, wherein said rim is tubular and encloses the hollow interior of said base in combination with said planar section.11. The container of claim 5, wherein said base is engageable with said cover in a product display position in which said planar section is above said flange and said hollow interior is below said planar section and not part of said storage compartment and in a reversed, storage position in which said planar section is below said flange and said hollow interior is above said planar section and part of said storage compartment.12. The container of claim 5, wherein said window includes a lower sealing lip having a groove, further comprising a sealing ring arranged in said groove and to engage with said flange when said cover engages with said base.13. The container of claim 1, wherein said window includes a lower sealing lip having a groove, further comprising a sealing ring arranged in said groove and to engage with said base when said cover engages with said base.14. The container of claim 1, wherein each of said piston rods includes a shaft having a front end arranged in said cylinder and a rear end fixed to said handle, further comprising a seal arranged at said front end of each of said cylinders and constructed such that a portion flexes as said piston rod is pushed inward into said cylinder to open a space between said seal and said cylinder and to prevent such flexure when said piston rod is pulled outward from said cylinder.15. The container of claim 1, wherein said air control unit includes a pressure relief device arranged in connection with said housing for enabling air flow into said storage compartment.16. The container of claim 1, wherein said air control unit includes a vacuum indicator for indicating when a vacuum is present in said storage compartment.17. The container of claim 1, further comprising a seal for securing an upper edge of said window in connection with said air control unit to prevent air flow between said window and said air control unit.18. A container, comprising:a base defining a first product support surface for supporting a first product; a cover releasably engaging with said base such that when said cover engages with said base, a storage compartment is defined by said cover and said base and said base supports the first product in said storage compartment, said cover including an air control unit for controlling air pressure in said storage compartment; and a platform arranged on said base and defining a second product support surface for supporting a second product above the first product and in said storage compartment, said air control unit including a housing and a pump arranged in connection with said housing for evacuating air from said storage compartment, said pump comprising cylinders, pistons each movable in a respective one of said cylinders, piston rods each connected to a respective one of said pistons and movable in said respective cylinder, a displacement handle connected to said piston rods and one-way check valves arranged in communication with said cylinders for allowing air flow only into said cylinders therethrough, each of said check valves being arranged in communication with a plurality of said cylinders. 19. The container of claim 18, further comprising positioning means for positioning said platform on said base.20. The container of claim 19, wherein said platform includes a planar product support section and legs extending downward from said product support section, said positioning means comprising slots formed in said base and each arranged to receive a respective one of said legs.21. The container of claim 18, wherein said platform includes a planar product support section and legs extending downward from said product support section.22. A container, comprising:a base defining a product support surface for supporting a product; and a cover releasably engaging with said base such that when said cover engages with said base, a storage compartment is defined by said cover and said base and said base supports the product in said storage compartment, said cover including an air control unit for controlling air pressure in said storage compartment, said base including a planar section having an upper surface constituting said product support surface, a rim arranged around the periphery of said planar section to thereby provide said base with a hollow interior and a flange extending outward from said rim, said cover being arranged to rest on said flange when in engagement with said base, said air control unit including a housing and a pump arranged in connection with said housing for evacuating air from said storage compartment, said pump comprising cylinders, pistons each movable in a respective one of said cylinders, piston rods each connected to a respective one of said pistons and movable in said respective cylinder, a displacement handle connected to said piston rods and one-way check valves arranged in communication with said cylinders for allowing air flow only into said cylinders therethrough, each of said check valves being arranged in communication with a plurality of said cylinders. 23. The container of claim 22, wherein said base is engageable with said cover in a product display position in which said planar section is above said flange and said hollow interior is below said planar section and not part of said storage compartment and in a reversed, storage position in which said planar section is below said flange and said hollow interior is above said planar section and part of said storage compartment.24. The container of claim 22, wherein said flange is arranged on said rim at a location spaced from both upper and lower edges of said rim such that a predetermined space remains between said flange and both said upper and lower edges to enable said cover to be secured about said rim when said cover rests on said flange.25. The container of claim 22, wherein said flange is substantially equidistant from upper and lower edges of said rim.26. The container of claim 22, wherein said flange includes handles arranged on opposite sides of said base.27. The container of claim 22, wherein said base further includes centering ribs arranged on an outer surface of said rim on both sides of said flange for centering said cover when engaging with said base.28. The container of claim 22, wherein said rim is tubular and encloses the hollow interior of said base in combination with said planar section.29. The container of claim 22, further comprising a window which includes a lower sealing lip having a groove, and a sealing ring arranged in said groove and to engage with said flange when said cover engages with said base.30. A container, comprising:a base defining a product support surface for supporting a product; and a cover releasably engaging with said base such that when said cover engages with said base, a storage compartment is defined by said cover and said base, said cover including an air control unit for controlling air pressure in said storage compartment, said air control unit including a housing and a pump arranged in connection with said housing for evacuating air from said storage compartment, said pump comprising cylinders, pistons each movable in a respective one of said cylinders, piston rods each connected to a respective one of said pistons and movable in said respective cylinder, a displaceable handle connected to said piston rods and one-way check valves arranged in communication with said cylinders for allowing air flow only into said cylinders therethrough, each of said check valves being arranged in communication with a plurality of said cylinders.