Portable vacuum pump for use with reclosable, evacuable containers

Abstract

A portable vacuum unit for use with a resealable, evacuable container, comprising a vacuum pump housed within a body, an accumulator removably coupled to the body and in fluid communication with a vacuum port of the body, the accumulator comprising a receptacle, a tip, wherein a first end of the tip is coupled to a first end of the receptacle and in fluid communication therewith, the tip having a shape which facilitates interaction with a valve on the resealable, evacuable container, the tip comprising at least one support structure and a semi-rigid material coupled to a second end of the tip.

1 . A portable vacuum unit for use with a resealable, evacuable container, comprising:
 a body, wherein a vacuum pump is housed within the body, the vacuum pump comprising an intake port and an exhaust port, wherein the body comprises a vacuum port in fluid communication with the intake port of the vacuum pump, and wherein the body further comprises an exhaust port in fluid communication with the exhaust port of the vacuum pump;   an accumulator, wherein the accumulator is removably coupled to the body and in fluid communication with the vacuum port of the body, the accumulator comprising:
 i) a receptacle comprising a first end and a second end; and, 
 ii) a tip comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the tip is coupled to the first end of the receptacle and in fluid communication therewith, the tip having a shape which facilitates interaction with a valve on the resealable, evacuable container, the tip comprising a semi-rigid material coupled to the second end of the tip. 
   
   
   
       2 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 1 , wherein an adhesive couples the semi-rigid material to the second end of the tip. 
   
   
       3 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-rigid material is nitrile. 
   
   
       4 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 3 , wherein the semi-rigid material is formed as an O-ring. 
   
   
       5 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 4 , wherein tip further comprises a channel in the second end thereof, wherein the channel is sized to receive and retain the O-ring. 
   
   
       6 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 1 , wherein the tip comprises a plurality of support structures. 
   
   
       7 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of support structures comprises a plurality of ribs. 
   
   
       8 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 1 , wherein the accumulator further comprises a liquid separator, wherein the liquid separator is in fluid communication with the tip and the vacuum port of the pump body. 
   
   
       9 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the tip is coupled to the first end of the receptacle by way of a conduit. 
   
   
       10 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 9 , wherein the conduit is flexible. 
   
   
       11 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum pump is battery powered, and wherein the body further comprises a battery compartment. 
   
   
       12 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 11 , wherein the battery compartment houses at least one battery, and wherein the at least one battery is disposable. 
   
   
       13 . A portable vacuum unit for use with a resealable, evacuable container, comprising:
 a body, wherein a vacuum pump is housed within the body, the vacuum pump comprising an intake port and an exhaust port wherein the body comprises a vacuum port in fluid communication with the intake port of the vacuum pump, and wherein the body further comprises an exhaust port in fluid communication with the exhaust port of the vacuum pump;   an accumulator, wherein the accumulator is removably coupled to the body and in fluid communication with the vacuum port of the body, the accumulator comprising:
 i) a receptacle comprising a first end and a second end; 
 ii) a tip, wherein a first end of the tip is coupled to a first end of the receptacle and in fluid communication therewith, the tip having a shape which facilitates interaction with a valve on the resealable, evacuable container, the tip comprising a semi-rigid material coupled to the second end of the tip. 
 iii) a liquid separator, wherein the liquid separator is in fluid communication with the tip and in fluid communication with the vacuum port of the pump body. 
   
   
   
       14 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 13 , wherein an adhesive couples the semi-rigid material to the second end of the tip. 
   
   
       15 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 13 , wherein the semi-rigid material is nitrile. 
   
   
       16 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 15 , wherein the nitrile is formed as an O-ring. 
   
   
       17 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 16 , wherein tip further comprises a channel in the second end thereof, wherein the channel is sized to receive and retain the O-ring. 
   
   
       18 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 13 , wherein the tip comprises a plurality of support structures. 
   
   
       19 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of support structures comprises a plurality of ribs. 
   
   
       20 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 13 , wherein the first end of the tip is coupled to the first end of the receptacle by way of a flexible conduit. 
   
   
       21 . A portable vacuum unit for use with a resealable, evacuable container, comprising:
 a body, wherein a vacuum pump is housed within the body, the vacuum pump comprising an intake port and an exhaust port wherein the body comprises a vacuum port in fluid communication with the intake port of the vacuum pump, and wherein the body further comprises an exhaust port in fluid communication with the exhaust port of the vacuum pump;   an accumulator, wherein the accumulator is removably coupled to the body and in fluid communication with the vacuum port of the body, the accumulator comprising:
 i) a receptacle comprising a first end and a second end; 
 ii) a tip, wherein a first end of the tip is coupled to a first end of the receptacle and in fluid communication therewith, the tip having a shape which facilitates interaction with a valve on the resealable, evacuable container, the tip comprising a semi-rigid material; and, 
 iii) a liquid separator, wherein the liquid separator is in fluid communication with the tip and in fluid communication with the vacuum port of the pump body; and, 
   the first end of the tip being spatially coupled to the first end of the receptacle.   
   
   
       22 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 21 , wherein an adhesive couples the semi-rigid material to the second end of the tip. 
   
   
       23 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 21 , wherein the semi-rigid material is nitrile. 
   
   
       24 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 23 , wherein the nitrile is formed as an O-ring. 
   
   
       25 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 24 , wherein tip further comprises a channel in the second end thereof, wherein the channel is sized to receive and retain the O-ring. 
   
   
       26 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 21 , wherein the tip comprises a plurality of support structures. 
   
   
       27 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of support structures comprises a plurality of ribs. 
   
   
       28 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 21 , wherein the first end of the tip is spatially coupled to the first end of the receptacle by way of a conduit. 
   
   
       29 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 28 , at least a portion of the conduit being flexible. 
   
   
       30 . The portable vacuum unit of  claim 21 , the receptacle and tip being rigid.