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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
FOOD CONTAINER SYSTEM HAVING LID VALVE MECHANISM
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2014/003685
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The present invention provides a food container system comprising a container body for containing food stored in the food container system, a lid having a recess wherein a vent hole is further defined in the recess and a valve device configured to fit within the recess defining the vent hole therein. The lid comprises lid edge embedded into lid double seal for providing sealing mechanism for air-tight and leak- proof food container system. The valve device comprises a cover valve, a centre lid valve defining a through hole therethrough disposed below the cover valve, a valve disposed between the cover valve and the centre lid valve, wherein the valve covering the top opening of the through hole, a first one-way membrane being provided to sit on top of the valve and below the cover valve; and a second one-way membrane being provided in between the valve device and the vent hole defined in the recess. When the valve device is operationally fitted to the recess, the through hole of the centre lid valve of the valve device configured to align with the vent hole defined in the recess.

Inventors:
LEE ENG LEONG (SG)
LIN SHINI (SG)
Application Number:
PCT/SG2012/000236
Publication Date:
January 03, 2014
Filing Date:
June 29, 2012
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
WORLD KITCHEN ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD (SG)
LEE ENG LEONG (SG)
LIN SHINI (SG)
International Classes:
B65D51/16; B65D43/06; F16K15/14
Foreign References:
US20040173626A12004-09-09
US6557462B12003-05-06
JP2004352298A2004-12-16
JPH0833515A1996-02-06
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
SHOOK LIN & BOK (#18-00 AIA Tower, Singapore 2, SG)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. A food container system comprising: a container body for containing food; a lid having a recess and a vent hole is further defined in the recess, the lid is being assembled to the container body; a valve device configured to fit within the recess defining the vent hole, wherein the valve device comprises: a cover valve; a centre lid valve defining a through hole therethrough disposed below the cover valve; a valve disposed between the cover valve and the centre lid valve, wherein the valve covering the top opening of the through hole; a first one-way membrane being provided to sit on top of the valve and below the cover valve; and a second one-way membrane being provided in between the valve device and the vent hole defined in the recess. wherein when the valve device is operationally fitted to the recess, the through hole of the centre lid valve of the valve device configured to align with the vent hole defined in the recess.

2. The food container system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second one-way membrane allow air from interior of container body to flow out, while prevent outside air to flow into the interior of the container body.

3. The food container system of claim 1, wherein the first and second one-way membranes are liquid permeable membrane that allows liquid from interior of container body to flow out, while prevent outside liquid to flow into the interior of the container body.

4. The food container system of claim 1, further comprising a first O-ring disposed between the cover valve and the centre lid valve to provide seal therebetween.

5. The food container system of claim 1, further comprising a second O-ring disposed between the centre lid valve and the recess to provide seal therebetween

6. The food container system of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a lid edge embedded into a lid double seal.

7. The food container system of claim 6, wherein the lid is a single-push lid with a single-push closing mechanism, whereby pushing the lid only once will perfectly close the lid.

8. The food container system of claim 7, wherein the lid is assembled to the container body by means of pushing, thereby the lid edge bends inwardly and forces the lid double seal to seal lips of the container body.

9. The food container of claim 1 , wherein the cover valve further comprises holes for air ventilation.

Description:
Food Container System Having Lid Valve Mechanism

Field of the Invention

[001] The present invention in general relates to a food container system. In particular, the present invention relates to a food container system having double lid sealing mechanism and lid valve mechanism for air evacuation purpose.

Background

[002] Food container system typically comprises a container body enclosed by a removable lid. It may be made of plastics, glass, metals or any other suitable materials. It is preferable that the food container system has a robust and compact design, thus reducing amount of spaces required to store number of such systems as well as providing physical durability thereof.

[003] The food container system is mainly used in course of food preparation and storage. It prevents food stored therein from contamination from microorganism, dust, and fungus. It also helps extending the shelf life, while maintaining moisture level and aroma of the food.

[004] It is preferable that the lid of the food container system, when being assembled onto the container body, can prevent air from entering the food container system. For example, the lid is provided with 4-locking tabs for covering and sealing the food container system air-tightly. However, such lid often creates inconveniences when in use, as the lid requires many steps to open and close. [005] It is also preferable that the lid of the food container system is further provided with an evacuating mechanism to evacuate or lower pressure within the food container system. When the lid is assembled onto the container body of the food container system, the evacuating mechanism performs, reducing the pressure therewithin. As such, the food stored in the system can be preserved for a longer time. Some conventional evacuation systems have long been using a bulky complex mechanism to perform such pressure reduction. For example, US 2007/0056971 discloses a food container that includes -a container body, which holds a filter element in a suction hole thereof and an air pump for pumping air out of the suction hole to keep the container body in vacuum. The food stored therein is thus preserved for a longer time, yet it utilizes bulky air pump.

Summary

[006] In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a food container system comprising a container body for containing food and a lid having a recess. A vent hole is further defined in the recess. When in use, the lid is being assembled to the container body. The food container system further comprises a valve device configured to fit within the recess defining the vent hole, wherein the valve device comprises a cover valve, a centre lid valve defining a through hole therethrough disposed below the cover valve, a valve disposed between the cover valve and the centre lid valve, wherein the valve covering the top opening of the through hole, a first one-way membrane being provided to sit on top of the valve and below the cover valve, and a second one-way membrane being provided in between the valve device and the vent hole defined in the recess. When in use, the valve device is operationally fitted to the recess, the through hole of the centre lid valve of the valve device configured to align with the vent hole defined in the recess.

[007] In one embodiment, the first and second one-way membrane allow air from interior of container body to flow out, while prevent outside air to flow into the interior of the container body.

[008] In a further embodiment, the first and second one-way membranes are liquid permeable membrane that allows liquid from interior of container body to flow out, while prevent outside liquid to flow into the interior of the container body.

[009] In another embodiment, the food container system further comprises a first O-ring disposed between the cover valve and the centre lid valve to provide seal therebetween.

[0010] In yet another embodiment, the food container system further comprises a second O-ring disposed between the centre lid valve and the recess to provide seal therebetween.

[0011] In one embodiment, the lid of the food container system comprises a lid edge embedded into a lid double seal.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the lid is a single-push lid with a single-push closing mechanism. The lid is assembled to the container body by means of pushing, thereby the lid edge bends inwardly and forces the lid double seal to seal lips of the container body. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] This invention will be described by way of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Fig. 1 illustrates an overall cross-sectional view of a food container system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of lid of food container system of

Fig. 1, having valve device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Fig. 2 A illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lid 11 along line A-A of Fig. 2;

[0017] Fig 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lid along line A-A of Fig. 2 with an exploded view of valve device 2;

[0018] Fig. 3 A illustrates an enlarged view of the valve device of the lid of Fig.

2; [0019] Fig. 3B illustrates an enlarged exploded view of the valve device of the lid of Fig. 2;

[0020] Fig. 4 A shows schematic diagram of the valve device of Fig. 3 A when air escapes from the interior of the container body;

[0021] Fig. 4B shows a schematic diagram of the valve device of Fig. 3A when - the through hole is completely sealed by the valve; - [0022] Fig. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of the lid being assembled to the container body of the food container system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0023] Fig. 5A illustrates an enlarged view of section B of Fig. 5. Detailed Description

[0024] The following descriptions of a number of specific and alternative embodiments are provided to understand the inventive features of the present invention. It shall be apparent to one skilled in the art, however that this invention may be practiced without such specific details. Some of the details may not be described in length so as to not obscure the invention. For ease of reference, common reference numerals will be used throughout the figures when referring to same or similar features common to the figures unless otherwise indicated.

[0025] The present invention provides a food container system having lid valve mechanism. The lid valve mechanism comprises two level of sealing mechanism, thus the food in the food container system can be stored air- and liquid-tightly.

[0026] Fig. 1 illustrates an overall cross-sectional view of the food container system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The food container system 1 comprises a container body 10 and a lid 1 1. The lid 1 1 further comprises valve device 2. [0027] In another embodiment, the container body 10 is made of break-resistant glass. However, this is not a limitation that any other materials suitable for container body, such as plastics, may also be used herein.

[0028] Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of the lid 11 having valve device 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention, while Fig. 2A illustrates a cross- sectional view of the lid 11 along line A-A of Fig. 2. The lid 1 1 comprises a centre lid 111 embedded into a lid edge 112. The lid edge 112 having the centre lid 111 is further embedded into a lid-double seal 113.

[0029] In one embodiment, the centre lid 111 and the lid edge 112 may be made of polypropylene and the lid double seal 113 may be made of rubber. In another embodiment, the lid double seal 113 may also be made of thermoplastic elastomer or silicone.

[0030] Still referring to Fig. 2 and Fig. 2A, in the centre lid 111, there is provided a vent hole 3 in a recess 4. The vent hole 3 provides ventilation between the interior of the container body and the atmosphere. Valve device 2 is configured to fit in within the recess 4. The valve device 2 provides a first level of sealing mechanism to the food container system 1.

[0031] Fig. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lid 1 1 along line A-A of

Fig. 2 with an exploded view of valve device 2, while Fig. 3A illustrates an enlarged view of the valve device 2 and Fig. 3B illustrates an enlarged exploded view of the valve device 2. Referring to Figs. 3-3B, the valve device 2 comprises a cover valve 21 hinged to the lid 1 1 thereby can be opened- and closed accordingly, a centre lid valve 22 defining a through hole 225 disposed under the cover valve 21 and a valve 20 disposed between the cover valve 21 and centre lid valve 22. A first O-ring 40 can be used to provide seal between the cover valve 21 and the centre lid valve 22. The cover valve 21 further comprises holes 21 A for air ventilation. [0032] The centre lid valve 22 of the valve device 2 has a top surface 221 and a bottom surface 222 with a top flange 223 and a bottom flange 224, respectively. A top void and a bottom void are thus configured by the top flange 223 and the bottom flange 224, respectively.

[0033] Still referring to Figs. 3-3B, the valve 20 is fitted to the top void. It is preferable that when the valve 20 is fitted to the top void, it is configured to sit on top of the opening of the through hole 225, covering the opening therefor. In a further embodiment, a first one-way membrane 50 is disposed on top of the valve 20 sitting on the top void of the centre lid valve 22. A groove 50A can be created on the top flange 223 so as to allow the engagement of the first one-way membrane 50 and the first O- ring 40 to the centre lid valve 22 perfectly.

[0034] Still referring to Figs. 3-3B, the valve device 2 is operationally to be fitted to the recess 4 of the lid 1 1. When the valve device 2 is fitted to the recess 4, it is preferred that the bottom opening of the through hole 225 of the centre lid valve 22 of the valve device 2 is configured to sit on the top of the vent hole 3 in the recess 4. In between the centre lid valve 22 of the valve device 2 and the vent hole 3, a second oneway membrane 51 is disposed thereto, resting on the bottom flange 224 of the centre lid valve 22. A groove 51 A can be created on the bottom flange 224 so as to allow the engagement of the first one-way membrane 51 and the first O-ring 41 to the centre lid valve 22 perfectly. A second O-ring 41 can be adapted to provide further sealing between the centre lid valve 22 and the recess 4.

[0035] Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B illustrate schematic diagrams of the valve device 2 during operation. In the arrangement of Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B, during operation, the valve device 2 is disposed to cover the vent hole 3 in the recess 4 of the lid 1 1. Arrows in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B indicate flow direction of the air within the food container system

[0036] When the lid 1 1 is assembled to the container body 10, the lid 11 is being pressed down against the interior and exterior wall of the container body 10. As a result, air from the interior of the container body 10 is being pushed out through the vent hole 3, passing the valve device 2 accordingly. As the air is flowing out, it pushes the valve 20 upwards. This creates sufficient gaps for the air to sip therethrough and hence, the air from the interior of the container body will accordingly escape and out through the holes 21 A of the valve. device 2. Fig. 4A shows a schematic diagram of the valve device 2 when air escapes from the interior of the container body 10. [0037] The escaping air from the interior of the container body 10 accordingly flows through the first 50 and second one-way membrane 51 provided in the valve device 2. The first 50 and the second one-way membrane 51 allow the air to flow out of the interior of the container body 10, but prevent air from outside to flow into the interior of the container body 10. In a further embodiment, the first 50 and the second one-way membrane 51 may also prevent outside liquid to flow into the interior of the container body 10, yet allow the liquid from the interior of the container body 10 to flow out. With these characteristics of the first 50 and second one-way membrane 51, when the lid 1 1 of the food container system 1 is assembled to the container body 10, external factors, such as external air and liquid, cannot flow into and contaminate the food stored in the food container system 1 , yet the food container system 1 still allows air and liquid from the interior of the container body 10 to escape therefrom, creating lower pressure therewithin. The only way to allow the food stored in the food container system 1 to come in contact with external environment is by disassembling the lid 1 1 from the container body 10.

[0038] When the air inside the container body 10 is being pushed out of the container body 10, pressure within the interior of the container body 10 decreases accordingly. Due to the decreased pressure, the valve 20 is thus drawn into the through hole 225 of the centre lid valve 22, sealing the through hole 225 firmly. This thus prevents the air from the interior of the container' body 10 to sip out through the through hole 225, and the container body 10 is thus, completely sealed. Fig., 4B■ shows a schematic diagram of the valve device 2 when the through hole 225 is completely sealed by the valve 20. [0039] It is preferable that the valve 20 is made of any materials that can be easily expandable and elastic. In one embodiment, the valve 20 is made of silicone. Silicone valves will be easily drawn towards the through hole when the pressure inside the container body 10 decreases.

[0040] Fig. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of the lid 1 1 being assembled to the container body 10 of the food container system 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and Fig. 5A illustrates an enlarged view of section B of Fig. 5. According to this embodiment, the lid 1 1 is a single-push lid which can be closed by a single-push closing mechanism, that is by pushing the lid 1 1 only once, the lid 1 1 would perfectly cover and seal the container body 10. Referring to Fig. 5, when the lid 1 1 is being assembled to the container body 10 by means of pushing the lid 1 1 against the container body 10, the lip of the container body 10 gives outward pressure to the lid edge 1 12; Accordingly, the area C4 of the lid edge 112 bends inwardly and forces the lid double seal 1 13 to seal to the lips of the container body. This creates double sealing within the food container system 1, i.e. at point Bl and point B2, that when slight external forces are applied to either one of the double sealing points, the other one will still be intact. This thereby provides an air-tight and leak-proof food container system. [0041] The cover valve 21 of the valve device 2 may be made of polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene- (ABS), nylon, or low density polyethylene (LDPE^ while the centre : lid valve 22 may " be made of tritan, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene (PS) or ABS.

[0042] The lid and the container body of food container system of the present invention can be configured in a variety of fashions to provide the same functions and purposes. A square food container system, a circular food container system, or an oval food container system having similar lid conquest mechanism can be provided. Any size of food container system can also be provided.

[0043] The food container system of the present invention has been provided to offer additional advantages over the prior art devices. The food container system of the present invention is compact and economical, yet it is able to provide an airtight and leak-proof system. The single-push closured lid mechanism of the present food container system is very convenient to use, as it requires lesser steps to perfectly close and seal the present food container system as compared to the conventional lid with 4-locking tabs. The food container system of the present invention further includes a simple evacuation system for lowering pressure therewithin, thus keeping food stored therein for a longer time. [0044] The above description illustrates various embodiments of the present invention along with examples of how aspects of the present invention may be implemented. While specific embodiments have been described and illustrated it is understood that many charges, modifications, variations and combinations thereof could be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. The above examples, embodiments, instructions semantics, and drawings should not be deemed, to be the only embodiments, and are presented to illustrate the flexibility and advantages of the present invention as defined by the following claims: