Liquid capture apparatus for use with a vacuum sealer

Abstract

An apparatus collects liquid in a vacuum bag for vacuum packaging a product, such as a food product, wherein a vacuum is drawn in the vacuum bag by a vacuum sealer, which also seals the vacuum bag after the vacuum is formed. The liquid collecting apparatus includes a housing configured to be placed in the vacuum bag between the product and an open end of the bag that is configured to be received in the vacuum sealer. The housing includes a side wall defining an interior space and at least one opening that extends through the side wall. The at least one opening is configured so that air drawn out of the vacuum bag can pass through the housing via the at least one opening and exit the vacuum bag through the open end, and liquid can enter the interior of the housing, but is prevented from escaping and thereby captured.

Having described the invention, we claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for collecting liquid in a vacuum bag for vacuum packaging a product, such as a food product, wherein a vacuum is drawn in the vacuum bag by a vacuum sealer, which also seals the vacuum bag after the vacuum is formed, the liquid collecting apparatus comprising:
 a structure configured to be placed in the vacuum bag between the product and an open end of the bag that is configured to be received in the vacuum sealer;   wherein the structure defines an interior space and at least one opening that extends through the structure and provides fluid communication between the interior space and the environment outside the structure;   wherein the at least one opening is configured so that air drawn out of the vacuum bag can pass through the structure via the at least one opening and exit the vacuum bag through the open end, and liquid can enter the interior of the structure, but is prevented from escaping and thereby captured.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the structure has an elongated configuration with a length selected to correspond to the width of the vacuum bag. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the structure has an elongated configuration and is further configured to have a length that can be adjusted. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a housing comprising a side wail that defines the interior space, the at least one opening extending through the side wall, and wherein liquid entering the interior of the housing is captured within the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus recited in  claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises first and second housing parts connected to each other in a telescoping relationship so that the length of the housing can be adjusted. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus recited in  claim 4 , wherein the housing has a generally flattened oval or oblong cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus recited in  claim 4 , wherein the housing has a generally circular cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus recited in  claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises a cylindrical side wall and the at least one opening comprises a plurality of slots that extend circumferentially about the side wall. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus recited in  claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises elongated upper and lower wall portions and side wall portions extending between the upper and lower wall portions. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus recited in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one opening extends through the side walls. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus recited in  claim 9 , wherein the upper and lower wall portions are configured to be positioned adjacent opposite plies of the vacuum bag, a first one of the side walls is configured to be positioned proximate the product in the vacuum bag, and the other one of the side walls is configured to be positioned proximate the open end of the vacuum bag. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus recited in  claim 4 , wherein the at least one opening comprises a plurality of slots arranged parallel to each other along the length of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a plurality of bellow joints arranged adjacent to each other to form a side wall extending along the length of the structure. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus recited in  claim 13 , wherein the side wall defines an interior space, the at least one opening extends through the side wall, and liquid entering the interior space through the openings in the side wall is captured within the interior. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus recited in  claim 13 , wherein each bellow joint has an expanded condition and a contracted condition, and wherein the length of the side wall can be the adjusted by adjusting the expanded and contracted conditions of the bellow joints. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus recited in  claim 13 , wherein the bellow joints are deformable to allow the sidewall to be bent to give the structure a curved configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a helical coil comprising a plurality of coil turns extending along the length of the structure and defining an interior space, the at least one opening comprising space between the coil turns that allow liquid to enter and be captured within the interior space. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus recited in  claim 17 , wherein the length of the structure can be adjusted by stretching the helical coil. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus recited in  claim 17 , wherein the coil turns are deformable to allow the helical coil to be bent to give the structure a curved configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus recited in  claim 17 , wherein the coil comprises a helical element that is one of round and rectangular in cross-section. 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising a vacuum sealer and the apparatus recited in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for collecting liquid in a vacuum bag for vacuum packaging a product, such as a food product, wherein a vacuum is drawn in the vacuum bag by a vacuum sealer, which also seals the vacuum bag after the vacuum is formed, the liquid collecting apparatus comprising:
 a structure configured to be placed in the vacuum bag between the product and an open end of the bag that is configured to be received in the vacuum sealer;   wherein the structure defines an interior space and at least one opening extending through the structure and providing fluid communication between the interior space and the environment outside the structure;   wherein the structure is configured such that the vacuum bag is drawn against an exterior of the structure as the vacuum is drawn into the vacuum bag, the structure being configured to have a rigidity sufficient to maintain the interior space despite the pressure created by the vacuum; and   wherein the interior space is configured to collect the liquid that enters through the at least one opening and retain the liquid in the interior space until filled.