Plug for sealable container

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for sealing containers of various opening sizes including a plug for use with a container having a lid with a lid opening therein. The plug includes a body having distal and proximal portions. The distal portion is sized for location through the Sid opening. The body has a sealing portion for engaging the lid opening to form a seal with it. The sealing portion is located between the distal and proximal portions. A cap is connected to the proximal portion of the body. The cap is sized and shaped to surround the lid opening. The cap has a sealing edge for sealingly engaging the lid around the lid opening. The body and the cap are cooperable usable with a vacuum pump to remove air from the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for sealing a container for keeping vacuum therein, the apparatus comprising:
 a lid including
 an upper portion; 
 a lower portion opposed to the upper portion, the lower portion covering an opening of the container when used in cooperation with a container; and 
 a lid opening therethrough allowing air circulation from the container and the environment; 
   a plug blocking the lid opening in a vacuumed configuration when the lid assembly is used in conjunction with a container, the plug allowing air to move from the container to the environment in an air-pumping configuration and allowing air to move from the environment to the container in a vacuum-releasing configuration, the plug comprising a plurality of sealing stages for keeping vacuum in the container when in the vacuumed configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sealing stages includes a first sealing stage provided by a first seal with the lid and a second sealing stage provided by a second seal with the lid. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first sealing stage provided by a first seal is made with the upper portion of the lid and the second sealing stage is made with an axial engagement with the lid opening. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plug is made of a flexible polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion includes a downward circular ridge. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion includes an upward circular ridge. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plug includes a suction-cup-like upper portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump adaptor for creating a vacuum in the container with a pump, the pump adaptor being disposed between the lid and the pump. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plug includes a suction-cup-like upper portion. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid opening is located about a central axis of the lid. 
     
     
         11 . A plug for use with a container having a lid with a lid opening therein, the plug comprising:
 a body having distal and proximal portions, the distal portion being sized for location through the lid opening, the body having a sealing portion for engaging the lid opening to form a seal therewith, the sealing portion being located between the distal and proximal portions; and   a cap connected to the proximal portion of the body, the cap being sized and shaped to surround the lid opening, the cap having a sealing edge for sealingly engaging the lid around the lid opening, the body and the cap being cooperable with a vacuum pump so as to remove air from the container upon actuation of the vacuum pump.   
     
     
         12 . The plug of  claim 11 , wherein the proximal portion is a first cylindrical body and the distal portion is a second cylindrical body, a longitudinal body axis extending through the first and second cylindrical bodies, the sealing portion being an annular sidewall inclining inwardly towards the body axis from a lower portion of the first cylindrical body to an upper portion of the second cylindrical body. 
     
     
         13 . The plug of  claim 12 , wherein a plurality of flanges is connected to a lower portion of the second cylindrical body, the plurality of flanges extending radially outwardly from the second cylindrical body. 
     
     
         14 . The plug of  claim 12 , wherein the first cylindrical body has a first diameter, the second cylindrical body has a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The plug of  claim 14 , wherein the lid opening has a lid opening diameter, the second diameter of the second cylindrical body being smaller than the lid opening diameter to permit the insertion of the second cylindrical body through the lid opening. 
     
     
         16 . The plug of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of flanges is larger than the lid opening. 
     
     
         17 . The plug of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of flanges is sufficiently flexible to permit the second cylindrical body to be inserted through the lid opening. 
     
     
         18 . The plug of  claim 11 , wherein the proximal portion is a first cylindrical body and the distal portion is a second cylindrical body, a longitudinal body axis extending through the first and second cylindrical bodies, and the cap is connected to a top portion of the first cylindrical body, the cap being dome-shaped. 
     
     
         19 . The plug of  claim 18 , wherein the cap is hingeably connected to the top portion of the first cylindrical body to permit movement of the cap between a default configuration and an operable configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The plug of  claim 19 , wherein the cap is hinged with respect to the top portion of the first cylindrical body about an annular hinge, the cap having an intermediate portion located between the annular hinge and the sealing edge, the intermediate portion being wider than the annular hinge and the sealing edge.