Air moving apparatus for containers

Abstract

An air-moving apparatus comprising a handle portion, a coupling portion for making air-tight connection with the entry portion of a container, a flexible body interconnecting the handle portion and the coupling portion, and a valve arrangement. The apparatus is to operate to move air into or out of a container through the valve arrangement by contracting or expansion movements of the tubular portion.

1 . An air-moving apparatus for a container, the container comprising a storage compartment and an entry portion which defines an entry aperture and a passageway leading to the storage compartment, the apparatus comprising a first portion which includes a handle portion, a second portion which includes a coupling portion, a third portion which comprises a flexible body interconnecting the first portion and the second portion, and an air-exchange arrangement; wherein the coupling portion is configured for making air-tight connection with the entry portion of a container; wherein the flexible body is a tubular body having a tubular axis defining an axial direction and configurable between a first configuration having a first internal volume and a second configuration having a second internal volume; wherein the first portion is at a first axial position relative to the second portion when the tubular body is in the first configuration, and at a second axial position relative to the second portion when the tubular body is in the second configuration; wherein air is moved out of the tubular body when the first portion is moved from the first configuration to the second configuration and moved into the tubular body when the first portion is moved from the second configuration to the first configuration. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises an end assembly which closes a first axial end of the tubular body, the first axial end of the tubular body being proximal to and in abutment with the first portion. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the end assembly comprises an end cap portion and a rim portion, wherein the end cap portion extends transversely to close the first axial end of the tubular body, and wherein the rim portion is configured to facilitate finger-gripping of the first portion by a user to facilitate operation of the apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the rim portion surrounds the first end of the tubular body and is dependent from the end cap portion. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the air-exchange arrangement comprises a one-way valve which is disposed on the end cap portion to permit passage of air through the end cap portion when pressure difference across the end cap portion exceeds a pressure difference threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises an end assembly which closes a second axial end of the tubular body, the second axial end of the tubular body being proximal to and in abutment with the second portion. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the end assembly comprises an end cap portion and a rim portion, wherein the end cap portion extends transversely to close the second axial end of the tubular body, and wherein the rim portion is configured to facilitate finger-gripping of the second portion by a user to facilitate attachment of the apparatus to a container. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the rim portion surrounds the second axial end of the tubular body and is dependent from the end cap portion. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the air-exchange arrangement comprises a one-way valve which is disposed on the end cap portion to permit passage of air through the end cap portion when pressure difference across the end cap portion exceeds a pressure difference threshold. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one-way valve on the first portion and the one-way valve on the second portion are configured to allow movement of air in same direction. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one-way valve is operable in either a first state which is an open state permitting passage of air or a second state which is a closed state not permitting passage of air, and wherein the one-way valve on the first portion and the one-way valve on the second portion are in opposite states when air is moved into or out of the apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises an end assembly including a closure arrangement and an attachment arrangement in combination, wherein a one-way valve is disposed on the closure arrangement, and wherein the end assembly is detachable from the apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the second portion comprises a retention device which is to releasably retain the end assembly on the tubular body, and wherein the retention device is threaded to facilitate threaded engagement with the end assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular body is to go through a plurality of intermediate configurations having a plurality of intermediate internal volumes on moving from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular body is to go through a plurality of intermediate steps corresponding to a plurality of discrete internal volumes on moving from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular body has a plurality of concentric fold lines which are orthogonal to the axial direction. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular body is taper-shaped such that it narrows on extending towards the second portion. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the air-exchange arrangement is configured so that the apparatus is a suction apparatus configured to remove air from a container. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the air-exchange arrangement is configured to permit entry of air into the tubular portion from the coupling portion when the tubular portion expands in the axial direction, to permit exit of air from the tubular portion and the handle portion when the tubular portion contracts in the axial direction, and to trap air inside the tubular portion when air pressure difference inside and outside of the apparatus is below a threshold. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the air-exchange arrangement is configured so that the apparatus is a compression apparatus configured to move air into a container so that air pressure inside the container is above atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured as a lid of a container and the tubular body is collapsible so that the first portion becomes a finger-gripping portion of the lid. 
     
     
         22 . In combination a container and an apparatus according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 . A method of forming a vacuum in a container assembly, the container assembly comprising a container body and an apparatus according to  any preceding claims , wherein the container body comprises a storage compartment and an entry portion leading to the storage compartment, wherein the apparatus is configured as an attachment and the method comprises: coupling the attachment to the entry portion in a closely fitted manner, and moving the first portion repeatedly between the first relative position and the second relative position to draw air out of the container assembly via the coupling portion to form a vacuum storage compartment. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method comprises collapsing the attachment into a collapsed state to form a lid. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the apparatus comprises an end assembly, and the method includes leaving the apparatus or the end assembly on the container as a self-closing lid.