STORAGE DEVICE WITH SELF-EXPANDABLE MECHANISM

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a storage device with a self-expandable mechanism incorporated into the cap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many containers used to store food and other materials that require a sterile and isolated environment to increase storage life. From the simplest plastic based containers which require no maintenance, are easy to use and cost very little, to very advanced, multi-layered, vacuum-chambered and/or refrigerated containers, there are many technologies already well known in the art.

The science of food storage shows us that, generally speaking, food tends to last longer in isolated or hermetically sealed environments. The absence of air flow reduces oxidation of the food. To further increase storage life, removal of as much air as possible within the container is the answer. The less air there is, the lower the rate of oxidization. This is why some storage containers such as that described in US5,405,038 (Chuang) and US5,535,900 (Huang) include a means of creating a vacuum in the storage volume.

A major problem with these devices is that the pump necessary for removing the air from within the storage volume can make the whole setup quite cumbersome. In US5, 535,900 the pump is not even included with the device and is an additional part that has to be used with the bottle. Furthermore, some manual effort is required to operate the pumps.

What is needed in the art is a storage container capable of removing much of the air within the storage volume to approximate the effects of vacuum storage; that is,

reducing the tendency for oxidization of the food stored within. Taking most of the air out achieves this to a considerable extent, without the complications involved with having to create a vacuum.

Another feature absence form the current state of the art is a self-expanding mechanism for flexible pouches requiring minimal effort by the operator and being able to be used in a repeatable fashion.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a storage device incorporating a flexible pouch that will self-expand to effectively reduce the amount of air in a rigid container, and to do so as a repeatable process.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a storage device that offers protection against external elements such as light and moisture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a storage device being a rigid container cap with a built-in mechanism allowing self-expansion of a flexible pouch. This expanding mechanism is activated automatically as the cap is attached to the container. Air inlet one-way valves located on the surface of the pouch allow the air inside the container to flow into the pouch as it expands within the container, and restrict air from flowing out of the pouch and back into the container. This has the effect of isolating a large portion of the empty volume within the container, that is any volume other than that being used to store food or other material. As the amount of air in communication with the food is greatly reduced, there is lesser oxidization of the food, resulting in a container ideal for long term storage of materials such as liquids, confectioneries, etc. When storage is no longer required, the cap can be removed and reset to be used again in a repeatable fashion.

hi one embodiment of the present invention, the storage device comprises a cap

attached with a flexible pouch having a continuous inner surface and an opening at one end, the pouch being biased towards a collapsed state, and expandable to an expanded state. The cap is attached to the opening in the pouch in an air tight manner. This cap is incorporated with an expanding mechanism able to expand the the pouch from a collapsed state to an expanded state.

This expanding mechanism comprises a secondary housing forming a hollow cylindrical shape with an inner diameter and an outer diameter, a diaphragm skeleton comprising a plurality of members arranged in a circumferential spoke configuration and such that the plurality of members forms a first, closed state and whereby the plurality of members are substantially parallel to the axis of the secondary housing, and a second, open state whereby the plurality of members bloom open in an umbrella-like fashion to expand the pouch. There is also a primary housing forming a hollow cylindrical shape with an inner diameter slightly bigger than the outer diameter of the secondary housing so that the secondary housing may slide into the central hollow of the primary housing. A clamp lock located near the upper end of the cap comprises two opposing members having a first, locked state and a second, unlocked state. The two opposing members are connected to a sensor that depresses and disengages the clamp lock whenever the cap is screwed onto the container. There is also a three-stage telescopic member able to assume a contracted state and an extended state. The upper end of this telescopic member is connected to an anchor, the anchor fashioned to be locked by the clamp lock. The lower end of the three-stage telescopic member is attached to a weight plate, the weight plate pulling the telescopic member downwards when the clamp lock is in an unlocked state. There is also a plurality of prop-up levers being of a circumferential spoke design, with one end of each prop-up lever attached to an intermediate point on each one of the diaphragm skeleton members and the other end attached to a prop-up spring. This prop-up spring has its lower end fixed to an intermediate point on the telescopic member such that when the telescopic member is extended, the prop-up spring exerts an axial force on the prop-up levers, causing them to push the diaphragm skeleton members outwards and thus expanding the flexible container.

BRBEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a cap in an embodiment of the present invention in a contracted/locked position.

Figure 2 shows a cap and a flexible pouch in an embodiment of the present invention in an expanded/released position.

Figure 3 shows a rigid container in an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It should be noted that the following detailed description is directed to flexible containers for storing or packaging liquids, confectioneries, and any other suitable materials such as, but not limited to, food products such as powdered soups, powdered beverages, liquid or frozen food or beverages, instant or dried cereals, baking mixes, cold remedies, mouthwashes, laundry soaps and softeners, paints, cleaning liquids, adhesives, cements and.

With reference to Figure 1, it is shown a cap (20) of the present invention in a contracted state, that is when it is not in specific use as intended during operation as a storage device, comprises a primary housing (4) being a hollow cylindrical with a T- shaped cross section containing within its upper portion a clamp lock (3) in its locked state. Sensor levers (1) in an inactivated state connected to the clamp lock (3) and configured so that the sensor levers (1) when activated and depressed during the event that the cap (20) is screwed into the flexible container (not shown) are able to disengage the clamp lock (3). The clamp lock (3) is securing an anchor (6) in this locked state, the anchor (6) attached to a telescopic member (15) that is in its contracted state. A primary spring (5) and secondary spring (9) in a compressed state, secondary housing (8) contained within the primary housing (4), all the members in a diaphragm skeleton (11) secured flush within the secondary housing (8). Collapsible

wing (10) which is rotatable about one end pivotably attached to the outer surface of the secondary housing (8) are locked in place by the wing seats (7). The collapsible wing (10) is bonded to the external of secondary housing (8) in full circle (360 degree) shape and slanted when in an expanded state. There is a screw thread (19) at the lower end of the cap (20) used to fasten the cap (20) to a flexible pouch (not shown). The flexible pouch (16) in its collapsed state is inserted into a rigid container (50), said container partially filled with storage material, said flexible pouch (16) then expanded to substantially engulf any unused volume within the rigid container (50).

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the secondary housing (8) forming a hollow cylindrical shape with an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The diaphragm skeleton comprising members (11) which are arranged in a circumferential spoke configuration and such that the members (11) may form a first, closed state whereby the members (11) are substantially parallel to the axis of the secondary housing (8), and a second, open state whereby the members (11) bloom open to expand the flexible pouch (16). A primary housing (4) forming a hollow cylindrical shape with an inner diameter slightly bigger than the outer diameter of the secondary housing (8) so that the secondary housing may slide into the central hollow of the primary housing (4). A clamp lock located at an upper end of the cap (20), and the clamp lock comprising at least two opposing members (3) having a first, locked state and a second, unlocked state, and the at least two opposing members (3) having a means to automatically change from the locked state to the unlocked state when the cap (20) is attached to the opening of a rigid container (50). A multi-stage telescopic member (15) able to assume a first, contracted state and a second, extended state, with an upper end connected to an anchor (6), the anchor fashioned to be locked between the two opposing members (3) when the two opposing members (3) are in a locked state, and a lower end of the multistage telescopic member (15) attached to a weight plate (17), the weight plate (17) having the tendency to extend the multi-stage telescopic member (15) when the cap (20) is in an upright position. A plurality of prop-up levers (13) being of a circumferential spoke design, with one end of each one of the prop-up levers (13) attached to an intermediate point on each one of the members (11) and the other end of

the plurality of prop-up levers (13) attached to an upper end of a prop-up spring (14), the prop-up spring (14) having its lower end fixed to an intermediate point on the multi-stage telescopic member (15) and such that when the multi-stage telescopic member (15) is in an extended state, the prop-up spring (14) exerts an axial force on the prop-up levers (13) causing the prop-up levers (13) to push the members (11) outwards. A primary spring (5) with an upper end fixed to the primary housing (4) and a lower end fixed to an upper end of the secondary housing (8) and exerting an opposing force between the primary housing (4) and secondary housing (8). A secondary spring (9) with an upper end fixed to an upper end of the multi-stage telescopic member (15) and a lower end fixed to an inner end of the plurality of members (11). The multi-stage telescopic member (15) comprises a plurality of hollow cylindrical members with the diameter of each cylindrical member marginally smaller than the last so that the smallest cylindrical member may slide into the second smallest cylindrical member , the second smallest cylindrical member may slide into the third smallest cylindrical member and so on until all cylindrical members assume a contracted state with a length substantially equal to the length of the longest cylindrical member. Preferably, there are three hollow cylindrical members. A collapsible wing (10) with one end attached pivotably to a point close to the lower end of the secondary housing (8) and such that the collapsible wing may assume a locked state whereby the collapsible wing (10) are aligned and flush with the outer diameter of the secondary housing (8) and restricted from any movement by a wing seater (7), the wing seater (7) fixed rigidly to a lower end of the primary housing (4). A plurality of air inlet valves (12) located on the surface of the flexible pouch (16), the air inlet valves allowing air to flow into the inside of the flexible pouch (16) as it expands, but not allowing air to flow out. A plurality of holes located on the primary housing (4) to allow release of air when the cap (20) is removed from the rigid container (50).

Further referring to Figure 2, it is shown the cap (20) of the present invention in an expanded state as intended during operation as a storage device, and attached to an opening of the flexible pouch (16) such that the opening is enclosed in an air tight manner, the cap (20) having an expanding mechanism able to expand the flexible

pouch (16) from the collapsed state to the expanded state. The flexible pouch (16) comprising a continuous inner surface forming an enclosure and an opening at one end, the flexible pouch (16) being biased towards a first, collapsed state, and expandable to a second, expanded state. In this figure it can be seen the sensor levers (1) in an activated or depressed state, having disengaged the clamp lock (3) into an unlocked state, and the clamp lock (3) having released the anchor (6) which in turn allows the compressed primary spring (5) to decompress and push the secondary housing (8) downwards. The secondary spring (9) decompressing as well and pushing the diaphragm skeleton members (11) downwards and into the inside of the rigid container (50). The weight plate (17) falls by force of gravity to the floor of the flexible pouch (16) and in doing so pulls the telescopic member (15) from a contracted state to an extended state. The prop-up spring (14) decompresses and affects an axial outward force on the prop-up levers (13) which in turn pushes open the diaphragm skeleton members (11) in an umbrella like fashion. The opening of the diaphragm skeleton members (11) coupled with the lengthening of the telescopic member (15) causes the flexible pouch (16) to expand. As the flexible pouch (16) expands, air is sucked in via the air-inlet valves (12) located on the surface of the flexible pouch (16).

Further referring to Figure 3, the collapsible wing (10) is released from the restriction of the wing seat (7). The collapsible wing (10) serves as a tool to balance the secondary housing (8) at a central position inside the rigid container (50) and not to be misaligned during the expanded state. The collapsible wing (10) also blocks the air inside the container (50) from rising upwards and helps to divert the air through the air inlet valves (12) into the flexible pouch (16).

Still referring to Figure 3, it can be seen a rigid container (50) with the flexible pouch (16) of the present invention substantially expanded within. Air-inlet valves (12) on the surface of the flexible pouch (16) allow air to flow from the unused volume of the rigid container (50) into the flexible pouch (16) as it expands, but restricts air flow in the opposite direction, thus creating an isolated environment with reduced amount of air within the rigid container (50). There is a screw thread (18) located at the opening

of the rigid container (50) to match the screw thread on the cap (20) enabling an air tight seal when the cap (20) is screwed onto the rigid container (50). The expanding mechanism is able to expand the flexible pouch (16) from the said collapsed state to the said expanded state and back to the collapsed state in a repeatable fashion.

While several particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to embrace such changes, modifications, and areas of application that are within the spirit and scope of this invention.