Plastic, re-sealable elongated check valve application to a square, cylindrical or flat type of a vacuum food package

Abstract

A flexible, plastic thin film food package is provided having an elongate opening check valve with an air removal port that allows repeated opening and resealing of the package followed by removal of air and moisture by vacuuming. The top open edge of the food package is bonded to a flexible but rigid frame that fits a lid with the air removal port flat valve. The flat valve is a compressed foam sponge and a thin film housed in a rigid case that is bonded to the lid. Air is removed with a spatula attachment of the vacuum pump that is inserted into the space between the lid and the flat check valve. Once vacuum is induced in the interior of the food package, the film covering the frame is sucked against the lid thereby shutting off influx of air into the package.

1 . A food package providing a plastic film food container comprising:
 a rigid end housing having an air removal port means bonded coextensively on said rigid end housing;   said rigid end housing having an essentially flat top surface wherein said closure means in bonded;   an annular lip extending essentially perpendicular to said essentially flat surface;   a separate compression rim that is temporally engageable with said annular lip;   a bag configured to fit within and around said compression rim whereby food or other perishable material can be placed within said bag, and closed with said rigid end housing to for a vacuum seal, and   wherein a vacuum pump is temporally installed on said air removal port to vacuum said food package whereby reducing an internal volume of said bag thereby enabling long term use of food in said bag at low temperatures and vacuum pressures.   
     
     
         2 . The food package according to  claim 1  wherein said air removal port provides a sufficient closing force to maintain a vacuum of about −90 kPa and at a low temperature about −20° C. to about −60° C. 
     
     
         3 . The food package according to  claim 2  wherein said air removal port can be repeatedly operable with said vacuum pump to maintain a vacuum of about −90 kPa. 
     
     
         4 . The food package according to  claim 1  wherein said air removal port is selected from the group consisting of silicone rubbers, thermoplastic rubbers, synthetic rubbers, and polyurethanes. 
     
     
         5 . The food package according to  claim 1  wherein said bag is selected from the group consisting of low and high density polyethylene, nylon, polyester, polyurethane, or laminate. 
     
     
         6 . The food package according to  claim 1  wherein said vacuum pump has an aspirating spatula and is associated with an exhaust pump. 
     
     
         7 . The food package according to  claim 1  wherein bag is essentially transparent or translucent thereby providing visual inspection and tactile monitoring of a vacuum in the package, and upon loss of vacuum, insertion of said vacuum pump into said air removal port enables removal of air and moisture therefrom. 
     
     
         8 . The food package according to  claim 1  wherein said air removal port is a rectangular valve leaflet. 
     
     
         9 . The food package according to  claim 1  wherein said air removal port comprises an engaging closure side elements:
 said closure side elements defining an air removal port for containment of a sponge element; 
 a bore defined within said sponge element for insertion of a spatula there through, whereupon closing of said closure side elements compresses said sponge element to form a vacuum seal between said sponge element thereby enabling repeated aspiration of air and moisture from said food package to maintain a vacuum therein. 
 
     
     
         10 . The food package according to  claim 1  wherein said open bag is configured as a box or a cylindrical carton. 
     
     
         11 . A food package providing a plastic film food container comprising:
 a bag having flexible sides with an openable end;   said openable end having interlocking male and female strips to close said bag;   at least one side of said bag further includes an air removal port that is bonded thereon said at least one side;   said air removal port, and   wherein a vacuum pump is temporally installed on said air removal port to vacuum said bag whereby reducing an internal volume of said bag thereby enabling long term use of food in said bag at low temperatures and vacuum pressures.   
     
     
         12 . The food package according to  claim 11  wherein said elongate valve provides a sufficient closing force to maintain a vacuum of at least about −90 kPa, at a low temperature about −20 C to about −60 C. 
     
     
         13 . The food package according to  claim 12  wherein said air removal port can be repeatedly operable with said vacuum pump to maintain a seal of about −90 kPa. 
     
     
         14 . The food package according to  claim 11  wherein said air removal port is selected from the group consisting of silicone rubbers, thermoplastic rubbers, synthetic rubbers, and polyurethanes. 
     
     
         15 . The food package according to  claim 11  wherein said bag is selected from the group consisting of low and high density polyethylene, nylon, polyester, polyurethane, or laminate. 
     
     
         16 . The food package according to  claim 11  wherein said vacuum pump has an aspirating spatula and is associated with an exhaust pump. 
     
     
         17 . The food package according to  claim 11  wherein bag is essentially transparent or translucent thereby providing visual inspection and tactile monitoring of a vacuum in the package, and upon loss of vacuum, insertion of said vacuum pump into said closure valve enables removal of air and moisture therefrom. 
     
     
         18 . The food package according to  claim 11  wherein said closure valve is a rectangular valve leaflet. 
     
     
         19 . The food package according to  claim 11  wherein said valve comprises an engaging closure side elements:
 said closure side elements defining an air removal port for containment of a sponge element; 
 a bore defined within said sponge element for insertion of a spatula there through, whereupon closing of said closure side elements compresses said sponge element to form a vacuum seal between said sponge element thereby enabling repeated aspiration of air and moisture from said food package to maintain a vacuum therein. 
 
     
     
         20 . The food package according to  claim 11  wherein said bag further includes a marking area.