초록 ▼

A food storage container includes a lid with a vent hole, and a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole. The cover has an evacuation hole. The food storage container further includes a one-way air valve disposed between the vent hole and evacuation hole. When the cover i

A food storage container includes a lid with a vent hole, and a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole. The cover has an evacuation hole. The food storage container further includes a one-way air valve disposed between the vent hole and evacuation hole. When the cover is secured to the lid, the one-way air valve inhibits air flow into the container through the vent hole, and when the cover is not secured to the lid, the one-way air valve allows air flow into the container.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A food storage container comprising: a lid defining a vent hole and a ventilation channel therethrough; a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole, the cover defining an evacuation hole therethrough; disposed between the vent hole and the evacuation

What is claimed is: 1. A food storage container comprising: a lid defining a vent hole and a ventilation channel therethrough; a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole, the cover defining an evacuation hole therethrough; disposed between the vent hole and the evacuation hole, a one-way air valve that, when the cover is secured to the lid, allows air flow from the container and inhibits air flow into the container through the vent hole; and wherein the cover comprises a sealing journal that closes the ventilation channel when the cover is secured to the lid and does not close the ventilation channel when the cover is removed from the lid, so that air can flow into the container through the ventilation channel when the cover is removed from the lid. 2. The food storage container of claim 1, wherein the one-way air valve allows bi-directional air flow through the vent hole when the cover is not secured to the lid. 3. The food storage container of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the cover defines a smooth sealing area extending about the evacuation hole for sealing against a vacuum pump held against the cover over the evacuation hole to evacuate the container. 4. The food storage container of claim 1, wherein the one-way air valve comprises a sealing tab. 5. The food storage container of claim 4, wherein the cover comprises a driving element having a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end is connected to the sealing tab, while the second end extends through the cover. 6. The food storage container of claim 5, wherein the second end of the driving element comprises a rim that is adapted to come into contact with a surface of the cover when the cover is lifted away from the lid. 7. The food storage container of claim 1, further comprising a sealing sleeve including a sealing tongue, wherein the sealing sleeve is disposed between the cover and the lid when the cover is secured to the lid. 8. The food storage container of claim 7, wherein the sealing tongue closes the vent hole when the cover is secured to the lid. 9. The food storage container of claim 7, wherein the lid further defines a ventilation channel. 10. The food storage container of claim 9, wherein the ventilation channel is disposed beneath a conical recess defined by the sealing sleeve when the cover is secured to the lid. 11. The food storage container of claim 9, further comprising a pressure-indicating protrusion extending through a bore in the cover. 12. The food storage container of claim 11, wherein the pressure-indicating protrusion comprises a one-piece diaphragm. 13. The food storage container of claim 12, wherein the pressure-indicating protrusion further comprises a pressure-indicating plug at one end of the one-piece diaphragm. 14. The food storage container of claim 1, wherein the one-way air valve comprises a flapper valve. 15. The food storage container of claim 1, further comprising a pressure indicator disposed in a recess defined by the lid, and extending through an opening in the cover. 16. The food storage container of claim 15, wherein the pressure indicator comprises a dome-shaped membrane. 17. The food storage container of claim 16, wherein the dome-shaped membrane comprises a resilient layer disposed on an interior surface of the membrane. 18. The food storage container of claim 16, wherein the pressure indicator comprises a plastic resin selected to maintain dimensional stability of the membrane over a temperature range of between-40�� C. and 100�� C. 19. The food storage container of claim 1, wherein the lid and the cover are integrally joined to each other. 20. The food storage container of claim 1, wherein the lid is connected to the cover by a hinge. 21. The food storage container of claim 20, wherein the hinge comprises a film hinge. 22. A method for evacuating a food storage container, comprising: removing a blending attachment from a handheld electric appliance having an electric motor operable to a drive a shaft; attaching a vacuum pump attachment to the handheld electric appliance such that the shaft is mechanically coupled to a drive of the vacuum pump to pump air, the vacuum pump comprising a housing with a rim about an air inlet; coupling the vacuum pump to a food storage container comprising: a lid defining a vent hole and a ventilation channel therethrough; a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole, the cover defining an evacuation hole therethrough; disposed between the vent hole and the evacuation hole, a one-way air valve that, when the cover is secured to the lid, allows air flow from the container and inhibits air flow into the container through the vent hole; and wherein the cover comprises a sealing journal that closes the ventilation channel when the cover is secured to the lid and does not close the ventilation channel when the cover is removed from the lid, so that air can flow into the container through the ventilation channel when the cover is removed from the lid; wherein coupling is performed by placing the rim of the vacuum pump against an outer surface of the storage container, about the evacuation hole; activating the vacuum pump to evacuate air from the container through the one-way air valve; and removing the vacuum pump from the container. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein placing the rim of the vacuum pump housing against an outer surface of the storage container comprises placing the rim of the vacuum pump housing against the cover. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the vacuum pump attachment is attached to the handheld electric appliance before the vacuum pump is activated. 25. A food storage container comprising: a lid defining a vent hole therethrough; a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole, the cover defining an evacuation hole therethrough; disposed between the vent hole and the evacuation hole, a one-way air valve that, when the cover is secured to the lid, allows air flow from the container and inhibits air flow into the container through the vent hole; and a sealing sleeve including a sealing tongue, wherein the sealing sleeve is disposed between the cover and the lid when the cover is secured to the lid. 26. The food storage container of claim 25, wherein the sealing tongue closes the vent hole when the cover is secured to the lid. 27. The food storage container of claim 25, wherein the one-way air valve allows bi-directional air flow through the vent hole when the cover is not secured to the lid. 28. The food storage container of claim 25 wherein the lid further comprises a ventilation channel and the cover further comprises a sealing journal that closes the ventilation channel when the cover is secured to the lid and does not close the ventilation channel when the cover is removed from the lid, so that air can flow into the container through the ventilation channel when the cover is removed from the lid. 29. The food storage container of claim 25, wherein an outer surface of the cover defines a smooth sealing area extending about the evacuation hole for sealing against a vacuum pump held against the cover over the evacuation hole to evacuate the container. 30. The food storage container of claim 25, wherein the one-way air valve comprises a sealing tab and the cover comprises a driving element having a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end is connected to the sealing tab, while the second end extends through the cover. 31. The food storage container of claim 30, wherein the second end of the driving element comprises a rim that is adapted to come into contact with a surface of the cover when the cover is lifted away from the lid. 32. The food storage container of claim 25 further comprising a pressure-indicator. 33. The food storage container of claim 25, where in the lid and the cover are integrally joined to each other. 34. The food storage container of claim 25, wherein the lid is connected to the cover by a hinge. 35. A food storage container comprising: a lid defining a vent hole therethrough; a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole, the cover defining an evacuation hole therethrough; disposed between the vent hole and the evacuation hole, a one-way air valve that, when the cover is secured to the lid, allows air flow from the container and inhibits air flow into the container through the vent hole; and a pressure indicator disposed in a recess defined by the lid, and extending through an opening in the cover. 36. The food storage container of claim 35, wherein the one-way air valve allows bi-directional air flow through the vent hole when the cover is not secured to lid. 37. The food storage container of claim 35, wherein the lid further comprises a ventilation channel and the cover further comprises a sealing journal that closes the ventilation channel when the cover is secured to the lid and does not close the ventilation channel when the cover is removed from the lid, so that air can flow into the container through the ventilation channel when the cover is removed from the lid. 38. The food storage container of claim 35, wherein an outer surface of the cover defines a smooth sealing area extending about the evacuation hole for sealing against a vacuum pump held against the cover over the evacuation hole to evacuate the container 65. 39. The food storage container of claim 35, wherein the one-way air valve comprises a sealing tab and the cover comprises a driving element having a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end is connected to the sealing tab, while the second end extends through the cover. 40. The food storage container of claim 39, wherein the second of the driving element comprises a rim that is adapted to come into contact with a surface of the cover when the cover is lifted away from the lid. 41. The food storage container of claim 35, further comprising a sealing sleeve including a sealing tongue, wherein the sealing sleeve is disposed between the cover and the lid when the cover is secured to the lid and wherein the sealing tongue closes the vent hole when the cover is secured to the lid. 42. The food storage container of claim 35, further comprising a pressure-indicator. 43. A method for evacuating a food storage container, comprising: removing a blending attachment from a handheld electric appliance having an electric motor operable to drive a shaft; attaching a vacuum pump attachment to the handheld electric appliance such that the shaft is mechanically coupled to a drive of the vacuum pump to pump air, the vacuum pump comprising a housing with a rim about an air inlet; coupling the vacuum pump to a food storage container comprising: a lid defining a vent hole therethrough; a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole, the cover defining an evacuation hole therethrough; disposed between the vent hole and the evacuation hole, a one-way air valve that, when the cover is secured to the lid, allows air flow from the container and inhibits air flow into the container through the vent hole; and a sealing sleeve including a sealing tongue, wherein the sealing sleeve is disposed between the cover and the lid when the cover is secured to the lid; wherein the coupling comprising placing the rim of the vacuum pump housing against an outer surface of the storage container, about the evacuation hole; activating the vacuum pump to evacuate air from the container through the one-way valve; and removing the vacuum pump from the container. 44. The method of claim 43, wherein placing the rim of the vacuum pump housing against an outer surface of the storage container comprises placing the rim of the vacuum pump housing against the cover.