Container storage system for vacuum packaging

Abstract

Commercially available jars and containers may be adapted for use for vacuum packaging using a suitable vacuum packaging appliance. Such jars and containers may be adapted by using a vacuum packaging lid arrangement in place of the original lid of such jars and containers. Such a vacuum packaging lid arrangement includes a vacuum lid and/or an outer lid. Further, such a lid arrangement may also be decorative.

1 . A vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement for a container, said container having an original lid, wherein said original lid is not compatible with a vacuum packaging process, said vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement comprising: 
 a vacuum lid adapted for allowing gases to be vacuumed out from said container during said vacuum packaging process; and    wherein said vacuum lid is adapted: 
 to be backwards compatible with said container having said original lid; and  
 to stand in place of said original lid when said container is being vacuum packaged.  
   
   
   
       2 . The vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein said vacuum lid is decorative.  
   
   
       3 . The vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement of  claim 1 , further includes an outer lid.  
   
   
       4 . The vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement of  claim 3 , further comprising a latch mechanism adapted to secure said outer lid over said vacuum lid.  
   
   
       5 . The vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein said latch mechanism is a loop-clamp latch.  
   
   
       6 . The vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein said latch mechanism is a swing-top latch.  
   
   
       7 . The vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein said outer lid is decorative.  
   
   
       8 . The vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement  claim 1 , wherein said container is decorative.  
   
   
       9 . The vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein said vacuum lid includes a valve mechanism, wherein said valve mechanism is adapted for: 
 allowing evacuation of said container during said vacuum packaging process when said valve mechanism is in a first position;    after said evacuation, maintaining an evacuated state in said container when said valve mechanism is in a second position; and    allowing gases to enter said container when said valve mechanism is in a third position.    
   
   
       10 . The vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein said first position is a vacuum position, said second position is a closed position, and said third position is an open position.  
   
   
       11 . The vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein said valve mechanism is adapted for receiving a distal end of a vacuum hose for allowing said evacuation.  
   
   
       12 . The vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein said vacuum lid includes a gasket for forming a static seal around a mouth of said container when said vacuum lid completely covers said mouth of said container.  
   
   
       13 . The vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement  claim 1 , wherein said container further comprises a gasket around a mouth of said container.  
   
   
       14 . The vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement  claim 1 , being further adapted for use with a vacuum packaging appliance.  
   
   
       15 . A vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement for a container, said container having an original lid, wherein said original lid is not compatible with a vacuum packaging process, said vacuum packaging multipurpose lid arrangement comprising: 
 a vacuum lid with a valve mechanism adapted for allowing gases to be vacuumed out from said container during said vacuum packaging process;    an outer lid that is decorative; and    wherein said vacuum lid is adapted: 
 to be backwards compatible with said container having said original lid; and  
 to stand in place of said original lid when said container is being vacuum packaged.  
   
   
   
       16 . A method for vacuum packaging a container that has an original lid, the method comprising the acts of: 
 using a multi-purpose lid arrangement for said container;    wherein said multi-purpose lid arrangement: 
 being adapted for evacuating and sealing said container during a vacuum packaging process;  
 being designed to be backwards compatible with said container;  
 being adapted for replacing said original lid.  
   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising including a vacuum lid in said multi-purpose lid arrangement.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said vacuum lid is decorative.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising including an outer lid in said multi-purpose lid arrangement.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising using a latch mechanism adapted to secure said outer lid over a vacuum lid, wherein said vacuum lid is adapted for evacuating and sealing said container.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said latch mechanism is a loop-clamp latch.  
   
   
       22 . The method  claim 20 , wherein said latch mechanism is a swing-top latch.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said outer lid is decorative.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said container is decorative.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising including, in said vacuum lid, a valve mechanism, wherein said valve mechanism is adapted for: 
 allowing evacuation of said container when said valve mechanism is in a first position;    after said evacuation, maintaining an evacuated state in said container when said valve mechanism is in a second position; and    allowing gases to enter said container when said valve mechanism is in a third position.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said first position is a vacuum position, said second position is a closed position, and said third position is an open position.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising adapting said valve mechanism for receiving a distal end of a vacuum hose for allowing said evacuation.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising including, in said vacuum lid, a gasket for forming a static seal around a mouth of said container when said vacuum lid completely covers said mouth of said container.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising using a gasket around a mouth of said container.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising adapting said container for use with a vacuum packaging appliance.