Vacuum or pressure storage system for food or beverage containers

Abstract

A vacuum or pressure refrigerator for storing containers having one-way valves and maintaining contents thereof under vacuum or pressure within a specific temperature range. Upon receiving an input that the door is closed, a refrigerator controller is adapted to cease operation of the cooling device and initiate a vacuum or pressure cycle. The vacuum or pressure cycle includes evacuating at least a portion of or pressurizing the air inside the compartment, operating the pump until a desired degree of vacuum or pressure is attained and terminating pump operation. The one way valves then evacuate or pressurize the containers. The controller is also adapted to subsequently initiate a cooling cycle, the cooling cycle commencing when it is determined that the temperature is above an upper set point and to operate the cooling device until the temperature reaches a desired lower set point, at which time the cooling cycle is terminated.

1 . A method for storing containers and maintaining contents of the containers under vacuum comprising:
 providing at least one container, each container having a one way valve, the one way valve permitting flow of air into the container when the interior of the container is at a higher pressure than ambient pressure outside the container and restricting flow of air into the container when the when the interior of the container is at a lower pressure than the ambient pressure;   providing a compartment having a door and an interior of sufficient size to receive the at least one container, the door having a hermetic seal to permit the compartment interior to be maintained under at least a partial vacuum when the door is closed;   opening the door of the compartment;   placing the at least one container in the compartment interior;   closing the door;   evacuating at least a portion of the air from the compartment interior around the at least one container, whereby air in the at least one container flows out through the one way valve until at least a partial vacuum is achieved in the compartment interior and the interior of the container;   reintroducing air into the compartment interior until the interior is at atmospheric pressure while the one way valve maintains the interior of the at least one container under at least a partial vacuum;   opening the door of the compartment; and   removing at least one container from the compartment interior while the one way valve continues to maintain the interior of the at least one container under at least a partial vacuum.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further including:
 after closing the door, cooling the compartment interior to a desired temperature; and   maintaining the container in the compartment interior at a desired temperature and the interior of the at least one container under at least a partial vacuum.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the compartment interior is cooled to the desired temperature after a desired portion of air is removed from the compartment interior. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of ensuring that the interior of the compartment is at ambient pressure before opening the door of the compartment, by releasing any vacuum and allowing ambient air to enter the compartment. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2  including releasing the at least partial vacuum and allowing ambient air to enter the compartment while maintaining the container in the compartment at a desired temperature and maintaining the interior of the at least one container under at least a partial vacuum. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of the containers are placed in the compartment interior and at least one container is left in the compartment interior after the door is opened, the one way valve continuing to maintain the interior of the at least one container left in the compartment interior under at least a partial vacuum, and further including placing an additional container into the compartment interior, closing the door, and evacuating at least a portion of the air from the compartment interior around the additional container, whereby air in the additional container flows out through the one way valve until at least a partial vacuum is achieved in the compartment interior and the interior of the additional container. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one container is a beverage bottle. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one container is a wine bottle. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one container is a food storage container. 
   
   
       10 . A method for storing containers and maintaining contents of the containers under elevated pressure comprising:
 providing at least one container, each container having a one way valve, the one way valve permitting flow of air into the container when the interior of the container is at a lower pressure than ambient pressure outside the container and restricting flow of air out of the container when the interior of the container is at a higher pressure than the ambient pressure;   providing a compartment having a door and an interior of sufficient size to receive the at least one container, the door having a hermetic seal to permit the compartment interior to be maintained at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure when the door is closed;   opening the door of the compartment;   placing the at least one container in the compartment interior;   closing the door;   pumping air into the compartment interior around the at least one container, whereby air in the container flows in through the one way valve until an elevated pressure above atmospheric pressure is achieved in the compartment interior and the interior of the container;   removing air from the compartment interior until the interior is at atmospheric pressure while the one way valve maintains the interior of the at least one container under an elevated pressure;   opening the door of the compartment; and   removing at least one container from the compartment interior while the one way valve continues to maintain the interior of the at least one container under an elevated pressure.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further including:
 after closing the door, cooling the compartment interior to a desired temperature; and   maintaining the container in the compartment interior at a desired temperature and the interior of the at least one container under an elevated pressure.   
   
   
       12 . A vacuum or pressure refrigerator for storing containers and maintaining contents of the containers under vacuum or pressure, and within a specific temperature range comprising:
 a compartment having an interior;   a door for hermetically sealing the interior;   an air vent for allowing atmospheric air to enter or leave the compartment interior;   a pump for evacuating air from or adding air into the compartment interior;   a cooling device for cooling the compartment interior;   a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature in the compartment interior; and   a controller having a first input from the temperature sensor, an output for controlling the operation of the cooling device, an output for controlling the operation of the pump, and an output for opening and closing the air vent,   wherein when the door is closed, the controller is adapted to: i) cease operation of the cooling device and initiate a vacuum or pressure cycle, the vacuum or pressure cycle including commencing pump operation, evacuating at least a portion of or pressurizing the air inside the compartment, operating the pump until a desired degree of vacuum or pressure is attained inside the compartment and terminating pump operation, and ii) subsequently initiate a cooling cycle, the cooling cycle commencing when it is determined that the temperature is above a desired temperature upper set point and operate the cooling device until the temperature reaches a desired lower set point, at which time the cooling cycle is terminated.   
   
   
       13 . The vacuum or pressure refrigerator of  claim 12  wherein the refrigerator includes a door sensor for determining whether the door is open or closed, and the controller includes a second input from the door sensor, and wherein the controller is adapted to cease operation of the cooling device and initiate a vacuum or pressure cycle upon receiving an input from the door sensor that the door is closed. 
   
   
       14 . The vacuum or pressure refrigerator of  claim 12  wherein the controller is further adapted to open the air vent and add air into or remove air from the compartment before or during the cooling cycle. 
   
   
       15 . The vacuum or pressure refrigerator  claim 12  wherein the controller is further adapted to close the air vent and repeat the vacuum or pressure pump cycle after the cooling cycle is terminated. 
   
   
       16 . The vacuum or pressure refrigerator  claim 12  wherein the controller is further adapted to initiate the vacuum or pressure cycle at a desired time after the door is closed. 
   
   
       17 . The vacuum or pressure refrigerator  claim 16  wherein the controller may be adjusted to vary the desired time to initiate the vacuum or pressure cycle. 
   
   
       18 . The vacuum or pressure refrigerator of  claim 12  wherein the pump is a vacuum pump for evacuating air from the compartment interior and the controller is adapted to initiate the vacuum cycle, and further including a container in the compartment interior having a vacuum stopper contacting and sealing with an opening in the container, the stopper having an opening therethrough between the container interior and exterior and a one-way valve disposed in the opening, wherein the one way valve opens and air is released from the container through the one way valve during the vacuum cycle when the pressure inside the container is greater than the pressure outside the container and wherein the one way valve closes when the pressure outside the container is greater than the pressure inside the container. 
   
   
       19 . The vacuum or pressure refrigerator of  claim 12  wherein the pump is a pressure pump for adding air into the compartment interior and the controller is adapted to initiate the pressure cycle, and further including a container in the compartment interior having a pressure stopper contacting and sealing with an opening in the container, the stopper having an opening therethrough between the container interior and exterior and a one-way valve disposed in the opening, wherein the one way valve opens and air is added into the container through the one way valve during the pressure cycle when the pressure outside the container is greater than the pressure inside the container and wherein the one way valve closes when the pressure outside the container is less than the pressure inside the container. 
   
   
       20 . The vacuum or pressure refrigerator of  claim 12  wherein the cooling device includes a refrigerator compressor. 
   
   
       21 . The vacuum or pressure refrigerator of  claim 19  including a common electric motor for operating both the compressor and the pump. 
   
   
       22 . A system for storing containers and maintaining contents of the containers under vacuum or pressure comprising:
 a compartment having an interior;   a door for hermetically sealing the interior;   an air vent for allowing atmospheric air to enter or leave the compartment interior;   a pump for evacuating air from or adding air into the compartment interior;   a controller having an output for controlling the operation of the pump, and an output for opening and closing the air vent; and   a container in the compartment interior having a stopper contacting and sealing with an opening in the container, the stopper having an opening therethrough between the container interior and exterior and a one-way valve disposed in the stopper opening,   wherein when the door is closed, the controller is adapted to initiate a vacuum or pressure cycle, the vacuum or pressure cycle including commencing pump operation, evacuating at least a portion of or pressurizing the air inside the compartment, operating the pump until a desired degree of vacuum or pressure is attained inside the compartment and terminating pump operation, whereby the one way valve opens and either: i) if the pump evacuates air from inside the compartment, air is released from the container through the one way valve during the vacuum cycle when the pressure inside the container is greater than the pressure outside the container and wherein the one way valve closes when the pressure outside the container is greater than the pressure inside the container, or ii) if the pump pressurizes the air inside the compartment, air is added into the container through the one way valve during the pressure cycle when the pressure outside the container is greater than the pressure inside the container and wherein the one way valve closes when the pressure outside the container is less than the pressure inside the container   
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the system includes a door sensor for determining whether the door is open or closed and the controller has an input from the door sensor, and wherein the controller is adapted to initiate the vacuum or pressure cycle upon receiving an input from the controller that the door is closed. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the compartment is refrigerated to cool the container in the compartment interior. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the compartment is disposed within a refrigerator having a refrigerator door, and wherein the refrigerator has sufficient volume to store items at a desired cooled temperature outside of the compartment and the refrigerator door is opened and closed independently of the compartment door. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the compartment comprises a main compartment and further including an auxiliary compartment having a door for storing additional containers, the auxiliary compartment being connected to the main compartment by a conduit that permits air flow therethrough to evacuate or pressurize the auxiliary compartment at the same time as the main compartment. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the main compartment is refrigerated to cool the main compartment interior and wherein the conduit permits cooling air flow therethrough to cool the auxiliary compartment at the same time as the main compartment.