Fragile-product cage for vacuum packaging appliances

Abstract

In order to protect the structural integrity of fragile products during the process of vacuum packaging, a protective cage is used. The protective cage may be constructed using a membrane supported by a suitable frame. In addition, the protective cage may include a suitable mechanism to allow gas to exit the protective cage during the process of vacuum packaging. Further, the protective cage may be adapted to have a variable size, and thus may be adjusted to a desired size. To protect fragile products, the frame and the membrane are such that they, in combination, provide sufficient resistance to compressive forces that might occur during the vacuum packaging process.

1 . A cage for protecting fragile products when said fragile products are vacuum packaged in a flexible storage container using a vacuum packaging appliance.  
   
   
       2 . The cage of  claim 1 , further being adapted to be of a variable size.  
   
   
       3 . The cage of  claim 2 , being adapted to comprise nestable segments wherein said variable size is achievable by slidably interconnecting said nestable segments using slide rails.  
   
   
       4 . The cage of  claim 1 , comprises a membrane adapted to prevent crushing of said fragile products when said fragile products are vacuum packaged in a flexible storage container.  
   
   
       5 . The cage of  claim 4 , wherein said membrane is a mesh fabric.  
   
   
       6 . The cage of  claim 4 , wherein said membrane is a gas permeable membrane.  
   
   
       7 . The cage of  claim 1 , further includes a mechanism for allowing gases to be evacuated from said cage when said fragile products are vacuum packaged.  
   
   
       8 . The cage of  claim 7 , wherein said mechanism is a one-way valve for allowing said gases to be evacuated from said cage when said fragile products are vacuum packaged.  
   
   
       9 . The cage of  claim 4 , wherein said flexible storage container is a flexible storage bag.  
   
   
       10 . The cage of  claim 1 , wherein said cage is of a shape adapted for storing said fragile products.  
   
   
       11 . A cage for protecting fragile products when said fragile products are vacuum packaged in a flexible storage container using a vacuum packaging appliance, the cage comprising: 
 a membrane; and    a frame for supporting said membrane.    
   
   
       12 . The cage of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said frame in combination with said membrane are adapted to enclose a volume of space therein; and    said fragile products are inserted within said volume of space for protecting said fragile products.    
   
   
       13 . The cage of  claim 12 , further comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein: 
 said first portion corresponds to a first fraction of said volume of space;    said second portion corresponds to a remainder fraction of said volume of space; and    said first portion and said second portion are interconnected by a connectivity mechanism.    
   
   
       14 . The cage of  claim 13 , wherein said connectivity mechanism is a hinge.  
   
   
       15 . The cage of  claim 13 , wherein said connectivity mechanism is a clamp.  
   
   
       16 . The cage of  claim 13 , wherein said connectivity mechanism is a clasp.  
   
   
       17 . The cage of  claim 13 , wherein said first portion is a lid that fits over said second portion.  
   
   
       18 . The cage of  claim 11 , further being adapted to be of a variable size.  
   
   
       19 . The cage of  claim 18 , being adapted to comprise nestable segments wherein said variable size is achievable by slidably interconnecting said nestable segments using slide rails.  
   
   
       20 . The cage of  claim 11 , wherein said membrane in combination with said frame are adapted to prevent crushing of said fragile products when said fragile products are vacuum packaged in said flexible storage container.  
   
   
       21 . The cage of  claim 11 , wherein said membrane is a mesh fabric.  
   
   
       22 . The cage of  claim 11 , wherein said membrane is a gas permeable membrane.  
   
   
       23 . The cage of  claim 11 , further includes a mechanism for allowing gases to be evacuated from said cage when said fragile products are vacuum packaged.  
   
   
       24 . The cage of  claim 23 , wherein said mechanism is a one-way valve for allowing said gases to be evacuated from said cage when said fragile products are vacuum packaged.  
   
   
       25 . The cage of  claim 11 , wherein said flexible storage container is a flexible storage bag.  
   
   
       26 . The cage of  claim 11 , wherein said cage is of a shape adapted for storing said fragile products.  
   
   
       27 . The cage of  claim 11 , wherein said frame includes two or more structural members.  
   
   
       28 . A method for protecting fragile products when said fragile products are vacuum packaged in a flexible storage container using a vacuum packaging appliance, the method comprising: 
 using a cage that is adapted to contain said fragile products;    after filling said cage with said fragile products, placing said cage in said flexible storage container before vacuum packaging said storage container; and    wherein said cage includes: 
 a membrane; and  
 a frame for supporting said membrane.  
   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 adapting said frame in combination with said membrane to enclose a volume of space therein; and    wherein said fragile products are inserted within said volume of space for protecting said fragile products.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising the act of: 
 connecting a first portion of said cage with a second portion, wherein: 
 said first portion corresponds to a first fraction of said volume of space;  
 said second portion corresponds to a remainder fraction of said volume of space; and  
 said act of connecting first portion and said second portion is accomplished by a connectivity mechanism.  
   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said connectivity mechanism is a hinge.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said connectivity mechanism is a clamp.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said connectivity mechanism is a clasp.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said first portion is a lid that fits over said second portion.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 28 , further adapting said cage to be of a variable size.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , adapting said cage to comprise nestable segments wherein said variable size is achievable by slidably interconnecting said nestable segments using slide rails.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising adapting said membrane in combination with said frame to prevent crushing of said fragile products when said fragile products are vacuum packaged in said flexible storage container.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising using a mesh fabric membrane as said membrane.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising using a gas permeable membrane as said membrane.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising using a mechanism for allowing gases to be evacuated from said cage when said fragile products are vacuum packaged.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said mechanism is a one-way valve for allowing said gases to be evacuated from said cage when said fragile products are vacuum packaged.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said flexible storage container is a flexible storage bag.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising using a shape for said cage, wherein said shape is adapted for storing said fragile products.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising using two or more structural members for said frame.