Vacuum Sealer with Adjustable Head

Abstract

A vacuum sealer including a base defining a support surface and a body extending from, the base. A suction head is supported by the body and is moveable along the body toward and away from the support surface. The suction head supports a suction assembly including a suction inlet with a sealing member thereabout. A suction pump is configured to selectively provide a suction force to the suction inlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum sealer comprising:
 a base defining a support surface;   a body extending from the base;   a suction head supported by the body and moveable along the body toward and away from the support surface, the suction head supporting a suction assembly including a suction inlet with a sealing member thereabout; and   a suction pump configured to selectively provide a suction force to the suction inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 1  wherein the base defines a reference platform aligned with the suction assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 1  further comprising a microcontroller and a motor configured to actuate the suction pump, wherein the microcontroller is associated with at least one switch configured to signal the microcontroller to activate the motor. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 3  wherein the at least one switch is a manual switch. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 3  wherein the at least one switch is pan automatic switch configured to signal the microcontroller when the suction assembly is forced into the suction head by a given distance. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 3  further comprising a sensor configured to sense the vacuum pressure of a container or bag engaged by the suction assembly and the microcontroller is configured to deactivate the motor when a given vacuum pressure is reached. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 1  wherein the suction assembly is moveable relative to the suction head and the suction assembly is biased to a position wherein the scaling member is furthest from the suction head. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 1  wherein a guide extends within the body to define a linear track for the suction head. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 8  wherein the suction head includes a guide arm extending from a support platform of the suction head to a guide block positioned within the body and configured from movement along the linear track. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 9  wherein the support platform supports at least one brake member which is biased such that a brake pad thereof engages a face of a body housing and locks the position of the suction head relative to the support surface. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 10  wherein a release button is associated with each brake member, the button including a sloped surface which engages a sloped surface of the brake member such that depression of the button causes the brake member to move away from the face thereby disengaging the brake pad and allowing movement of the suction head relative to the body. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 1  wherein the suction assembly includes a vacuum chamber into which the suction inlet opens and a suction outlet which is in fluid communication with the suction pump. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 12  wherein a water flow mechanism is positioned in the suction outlet and is configured to signal a microcontroller to deactivate the suction pump upon detection of liquid in the vacuum chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 13  wherein the suction assembly includes a liquid receiving chamber about the vacuum chamber which is configured to receive any liquid extracted via the suction inlet.