Container for fermented foods

Abstract

The present invention provides a container for fermented foods that temporarily gathers gas, generated by fermented foods contained in the container, and allows the gas to be discharged to the outside at an appropriate time. The fermented food container includes a container body having a plurality of locking protrusions provided around the container body. The fermented food container further includes an inner lid to close the open top of the container body, with an inner valve unit provided on the inner lid. The fermented food container further includes an outer lid coupled to the container body and spaced apart from the inner lid by a predetermined distance, thus defining a gas storage space between the inner lid and the outer lid, with an outer valve unit provided on the outer lid. The fermented food container further includes a plurality of locking flaps provided on at least one of the inner lid and the outer lid. The fermented food container can slow down the oxidization of fermented foods, thereby maintaining the freshness and taste of the fermented foods. Furthermore, the fermented food container lets a user know an appropriate time to discharge the gas from the gas storage space, using the gas volume gauge rod, thus preventing a refrigerator in which the fermented food container is stored from absorbing the bad food smell.

1 . A container for fermented foods, comprising: 
 a container body, with a plurality of locking protrusions provided along a circumferential outer surface of an open top of the container body at predetermined intervals;    an inner lid to close the open top of the container body, with an inner valve unit provided at a predetermined position on the inner lid to discharge gas, generated in the container body, outside the container body;    an outer lid coupled to the container body and spaced apart from the inner lid by a predetermined distance, thus defining a gas storage space between the inner lid and the outer lid, with an outer valve unit provided at a predetermined position on the outer lid to discharge the gas from the gas storage space outside the outer lid; and    a plurality of locking flaps provided on at least one of the inner lid and the outer lid and locked to the plurality of locking protrusions of the container body.    
   
   
       2 . The container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the inner valve unit comprises: 
 a mounting lug part coupled through the inner lid; and    a cover part radially extending outwards from an outer surface of an upper end of the mounting lug part, thus closing a gas exhaust hole formed through the inner lid at a predetermined position around the mounting lug part.    
   
   
       3 . The container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the outer valve unit comprises: 
 a valve cover provided on the outer lid and rotated upwards and downwards around a hinge to move away from or toward the outer lid, thus opening or closing a gas discharge hole formed through on the outer lid;    a soft packing provided in the gas discharge hole of the outer lid; and    a valve plug provided on a lower surface of the valve cover, so that, when the valve cover moves toward the outer lid, the valve plug is inserted into the gas discharge hole, thus closing the gas discharge hole.    
   
   
       4 . The container as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the outer valve unit comprises: 
 a soft film to close a gauge hole formed through the outer lid at a predetermined position, the soft film being curved towards the gas storage space in an initial stage; and    a gas volume gauge rod protruding upwards from the soft film to indicate an amount of gas stored in the gas storage space.    
   
   
       5 . The container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the inner lid comprises: 
 an inner lid plate forming an upper plate of the inner lid, with a sealing channel defined around the inner lid plate and opened downwards, so that an edge of the open top of the container body is received in the sealing channel of the inner lid plate;    a sidewall part extending upwards from an edge of the inner lid plate, thus defining the gas storage space among the sidewall part, the inner lid plate and the outer lid;    a plurality of first locking flaps provided around a circumferential outer surface of the sidewall part of the inner lid at predetermined intervals and locked to the locking protrusions of the container body; and    a plurality of second locking protrusions provided around an upper part of the circumferential outer surface of the sidewall part of the inner lid at predetermined intervals, and    the outer lid comprises:    a sealing channel provided around an edge of the outer lid to receive therein an upper edge of the sidewall part of the inner lid; and    a plurality of second locking flaps provided around the circumferential outer surface of the outer lid and locked to the second locking protrusions.    
   
   
       6 . The container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the inner lid comprises:    an inner lid plate forming an upper plate of the inner lid to close the open top of the container body, with the inner valve unit provided on the inner lid plate; and    a sidewall part extending upwards from an edge of the inner lid plate, and    the outer lid comprises:    a sealing channel provided under a lower surface of the outer lid to receive therein an upper edge of the sidewall part of the inner lid.    
   
   
       7 . The container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the container body comprises:    an extension part extending outwards from the circumferential outer surface of the open top of the container body and being bent upwards to extend to a predetermined height, thus defining a first sealing channel between the extension part and the circumferential outer surface of the open top of the container body, with a plurality of second locking protrusions provided along a circumferential outer surface of the extension part at predetermined intervals,    the inner lid comprises:    a rim part provided around an edge of a lower surface of the inner lid, so that, when the inner lid is placed on the open top of the container body, the rim part is received in the first sealing channel of the extension part, and    the outer lid comprises:    a second sealing channel provided on a lower surface of the outer lid to receive therein an upper edge of the extension part; and    a plurality of second locking flaps provided around a circumferential outer surface of the outer lid at predetermined intervals and locked to the second locking protrusions of the extension part of the container body;    
   
   
       8 . A container for fermented foods, comprising: 
 a container body, with a plurality of locking protrusions provided along a circumferential outer surface of an open top of the container body at predetermined intervals; and    a lid to close the open top of the container body, with a valve unit provided at a predetermined position on the lid to discharge gas, generated in the container body, outside the container body, the valve unit comprising: 
 a valve cover provided on the lid and rotated upwards and downwards around a hinge to move away from or toward the lid, thus opening or closing a gas discharge hole formed through the lid;  
 a soft packing provided in the gas discharge hole of the lid; and  
 a valve plug provided on a lower surface of the valve cover, so that, when the valve cover moves toward the lid, the valve plug is inserted into the gas discharge hole, thus closing the gas discharge hole; and  
   a plurality of locking flaps provided on the lid and locked to the plurality of locking protrusions of the container body.