Cap for vacuum container

Abstract

A vacuum storage device includes a can, a cap for closing the can, an inflatable seal for better sealing a gap between the can and the cap and a pump for pumping air from the can to the exterior and into the seal. The cap includes a collar and a disk formed on an internal face of the collar, thus defining an upper space in the collar above the disk for receiving the pump and a lower space in the collar under the disk for receiving the seal. The cap may include an annular rib formed on a lower side of the disk, and the seal may be installed between the collar and the annular rib. The annular rib may include an annular flange for retaining the seal in position. The pump may include a first duct and a second duct. The first duct extends through an orifice defined in the disk within the annular rib so that air can be pumped from the can through the duct when the cap is mounted on the can. The second duct extends through a second orifice defined in the disk into an orifice defined in the seal so that air can be pumped into the seal through the second duct. A cover may be mounted on the collar for shielding the pump in the upper space. A manual switch may be mounted on the cover and connected with the pump. A pressure sensitive switch may be connected with the pump and communicated with the can for detecting the pressure in the can and controls the pump based on the pressure in the can.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vacuum storage device including: 
 a can;    a cap for closing the can;    a seal for sealing a gap between the can and the cap, the seal being inflatable for adequate sealing; and    a pump for pumping air from the can to the exterior and into the seal.    
     
     
         2 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 1  wherein the cap includes a collar and a disk formed on an internal face of the collar, thus defining an upper space in the collar above the disk for receiving the pump and a lower space in the collar under the disk for receiving the seal.  
     
     
         3 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 2  wherein the cap includes an annular rib formed on a lower side of the disk, and the seal is installed between the collar and the annular rib.  
     
     
         4 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 3  wherein the annular rib includes an annular flange for retaining the seal in position.  
     
     
         5 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 2  wherein the pump includes: 
 a first duct extending through an orifice defined in the disk within the annular rib so that air can be pumped from the space through the duct when the cap is mounted on the can; and  
 a second duct extending through a second orifice defined in the disk into an orifice defined in the seal so that air can be pumped into the seal through the second duct.  
 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 2  including a cover mounted on the collar for shielding the pump in the upper space.  
     
     
         7 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 6  including a manual switch mounted on the cover and connected with the pump.  
     
     
         8 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 2  including a pressure sensitive switch connected with the pump and communicated with the can for detecting the pressure in the can and controls the pump based on the pressure in the can.  
     
     
         9 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 8  wherein the pressure sensitive switch is received in the upper space and supported on an upper side of the disk.  
     
     
         10 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 9  wherein the pressure sensitive switch includes a differential pressure transducer extending through a third orifice defined in the disk within the annular rib, a chip and a connector through which the pressure sensitive switch can be connected with the pump.  
     
     
         11 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 10  wherein the differential pressure transducer includes a duct and a sensor inserted in the duct.  
     
     
         12 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 10  wherein when the cap is mounted onto the can, the pressure sensitive switch detects an increase on the pressure and accordingly sends an ON signal to the chip, and on receiving this ON signal, the chip actuates the pump.  
     
     
         13 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 10  wherein when the pressure in the can is reduced to a certain value, the differential pressure transducer detects this phenomenon and sends an OFF signal to the chip, and on receiving this OFF signal, the chip stops the pump.  
     
     
         14 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 10  wherein if air enters the can so that the pressure in the can increases to a certain value, the differential pressure transducer will detect this increase on the pressure and send an ON signal to the chip, and on receiving this ON signal, the chip will actuate the pump.  
     
     
         15 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 8  including a cover mounted on the collar for shielding the pump  6  and the pressure sensitive switch received in the upper space.  
     
     
         16 . The vacuum storage device according to  claim 15  including a manual switch mounted on the cover and connected with the pressure sensitive switch.