Vacuum Sealer Home Appliance With Integrated Customizable Date Code Stamp

Abstract

A vacuum sealer includes a housing having an upper platform and a lid pivotably attached thereto. A first heating plate is secured to one of the underside of the lid and the platform and an opposing, thermally insulating backing strip is secured to the other of the underside of the lid and the platform. The first heating plate and the backing strip heat seal a portion of a plastic bag positioned therebetween. A second heating plate is secured to one of the underside of the lid and the platform, and an opposing stamp wheel is rotatably mounted to the other of the underside of the lid and the platform. The stamp wheel has a plurality of raised characters spaced about a periphery thereof. The stamp wheel and the second heating plate heat stamp the raised characters facing the second heating plate onto a portion of a plastic bag positioned therebetween.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A vacuum sealer comprising:
 a housing having an upper platform;   a lid pivotably attached to the housing, and movable between a closed position, covering the platform, and an open position, exposing the platform;   wherein the platform defines a first cavity and the lid defines an opposing second cavity in an underside of the lid, the first cavity and the second cavity being engaged in the closed position of the lid to form a sealed vacuum chamber therebetween;   a pump in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber to withdraw air from the vacuum chamber and create a vacuum therein, the sealed vacuum chamber being configured to receive an open end of a plastic bag therebetween and withdraw air therefrom via activation of the pump;   a first heating plate secured to one of the underside of the lid and the platform;   an opposing, thermally insulating backing strip secured to the other of the underside of the lid and the platform, the first heating plate and the backing strip being configured to heat seal a portion of a plastic bag positioned therebetween;   a second heating plate secured to one of the underside of the lid and the platform; and   an opposing at least one selectively rotatable stamp wheel rotatably mounted to the other of the underside of the lid and the platform, the at least one stamp wheel having a plurality of raised characters spaced about a periphery thereof, the at least one stamp wheel and the second heating plate being configured to stamp the raised characters facing the second heating plate onto a portion of a plastic bag positioned therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 1 , further comprising a first gasket secured on the platform and bordering the first cavity and an opposing second gasket secured to the underside of the lid and bordering the second cavity, the first gasket engaging the second gasket in the closed position of the lid to seal the vacuum chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one stamp wheel comprises a month wheel, wherein the raised characters thereon correspond to months of the year, a day wheel, wherein the raised characters thereon correspond to days of the month; and a year wheel, wherein the raised characters thereon correspond to years. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a lower housing and an upper housing secured upon the lower housing, the upper housing defining the platform. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an internal compartment configured to house a roll of plastic bag stock therein, the compartment having an opening for accessing the roll of plastic bag stock therethrough and a door pivotably mounted to the housing, the door being pivotable between a closed position, covering the opening, and an open position, enabling access to the compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 5 , wherein the door includes a cutting bracket on an interior face thereof, an elongate track removably mounted upon the cutting bracket, a cutting blade holder slidably mounted upon the track and a cutting blade assembly mounted to the cutting blade holder. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 6 , wherein the cutting bracket and the elongate track define an open-ended slot therebetween configured to receive bag stock therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 6 , wherein the cutting blade holder cantilevers forward from the track and includes a blade bracket at a terminal end thereof receiving the cutting blade assembly therein, such that the cutting blade is spaced forwardly from the track. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 8 , wherein the cutting blade assembly is configured to cut through bag stock during sliding along the track. 
     
     
         10 . A vacuum sealer comprising:
 a housing having an upper platform and an internal compartment configured to house a roll of plastic bag stock therein, the compartment having an opening for accessing the roll of plastic bag stock therethrough;   a door pivotably mounted to the housing, the door being pivotable between a closed position, covering the opening, and an open position, enabling access to the compartment, the door including a cutting bracket on an interior face thereof, an elongate track removably mounted upon the cutting bracket, a cutting blade holder slidably mounted upon the track and a cutting blade assembly mounted to the cutting blade holder, wherein the cutting blade holder cantilevers forward from the track and includes a blade bracket at a terminal end thereof receiving the cutting blade assembly therein, such that the cutting blade is spaced forwardly from the track;   a lid pivotably attached to the housing, and movable between a closed position, covering the platform, and an open position, exposing the platform;   wherein the platform defines a first cavity and the lid defines an opposing second cavity in an underside of the lid, the first cavity and the second cavity being engaged in the closed position of the lid to form a sealed vacuum chamber therebetween;   a pump in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber to withdraw air from the vacuum chamber and create a vacuum therein, the sealed vacuum chamber being configured to receive an open end of a plastic bag therebetween and withdraw air therefrom via activation of the pump;   a first heating plate secured to one of the underside of the lid and the platform; and   an opposing, thermally insulating backing strip secured to the other of the underside of the lid and the platform, the first heating plate and the backing strip being configured to heat seal a portion of a plastic bag positioned therebetween.   
     
     
         11 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 10 , wherein the cutting bracket and the elongate track define an open-ended slot therebetween configured to receive bag stock therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 10 , wherein the cutting blade assembly is configured to cut through bag stock during sliding along the track. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises a lower housing and an upper housing secured upon the lower housing, the lower housing defining the compartment therein, and the upper housing defining the platform. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum sealer of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a second heating plate secured to one of the underside of the lid and the platform; and   an opposing at least one selectively rotatable stamp wheel rotatably mounted to the other of the underside of the lid and the platform, the at least one stamp wheel having a plurality of raised characters spaced about a periphery thereof, the at least one stamp wheel and the second heating plate being configured to stamp the raised characters facing the second heating plate onto a portion of a plastic bag positioned therebetween.