Container for the preservation of products under vacuum

Abstract

A container ( 10 ) for the preservation of products under vacuum, comprising a lid ( 20 ) which is housed on an opening ( 14 ) of a containing element ( 12 ), wherein said lid ( 20 ) comprises a plate ( 22 ) equipped with an internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ), connected to the inside of the container ( 10 ), with respect to which a piston or cap ( 24 ) can be moved, said piston or cap ( 24 ) being externally activated and above said plate ( 22 ), once it is situated on said internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ); a closing element ( 42 ) is attached to an end of said internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ), forming with said piston ( 24 ) a chamber having a varying volume (A), there being at least two unidirectional valves ( 57, 58, 60, 64 ) which, on the one hand (in 60, 64 ), connect said chamber (A) to the inside of the container ( 10 ), and, on the other (in 57, 58 ), to the outside air, together with a washer ( 28 ) between said opening ( 14 ) and a portion (in 26 ) of said plate ( 22 ).

1 . A container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ,  510 ) for the reservation of products under vacuum, comprising a lid ( 20 ,  120   220 ,  320 ,  420 ,  520 ) which is housed on an opening ( 14 ,  114 ,  214 ,  314 ,  414 ,  514 ) of a containing element ( 12 ,  112 ,  212 ,  312 ,  412 ,  512 ), characterized in that said lid ( 20 ,  120 ,  220 ,  320 ,  420 ,  520 ) comprises a plate ( 22 ,  122 ,  222 ,  322 ,  422 ,  522 ) equipped with an internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ,  530 ), connected to the inside of the container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ,  510 ), with respect to which a piston or cap ( 24 ,  124 ,  224 ,  324 ,  424 ,  524 ) can be moved, said piston or cap being externally activated and above said plate ( 22 ,  122 ,  222 ,  322 ,  422 ,  522 ), a washer ( 28 ,  128 ,  228 ,  428 ,  528 ) between said opening ( 14 ,  114 ,  214 ,  314 ,  414 ,  514 ) and a portion (in  26 ,  126 ,  288 ,  492 ,  526 ) of said plate ( 22 ,  122 ,  222 ,  322 ,  422 ,  522 ) and a closing element ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ,  442 ,  542 ) being attached to an end of said internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ,  530 ) of said plate; said cap ( 24 ,  124 ,  224 ,  324 ,  424 ) has the shape of a circular crown, equipped below, near the internal circumference of the circular crown, with an internal cylindrical structure ( 34 ,  134 ,  234 ,  334 ,  434 ) open at the two bases, having a diameter greater than that of the internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ) of the plate ( 22 ,  122 ,  222 ,  322 ,  422 ), to slidingly and coaxially engage said internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ) of said plate forming with said closing element ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ,  442 ,  542 ) and with said internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ) a chamber having a varying volume (A), equipped with at least two unidirectional valves ( 57 ,  58 ,  60 ,  64 ,  157 ,  158 ,  160 ,  164 ,  257 ,  258 ,  260 ,  264 ,  357 ,  358 ,  360 ,  364 ,  457 ,  458 ,  460 ,  464 ,  557 ,  558 ,  560 ) which, on one hand (in  60 ,  64 ,  160 ,  164 ,  260 ,  264 ,  360 ,  364 ,  460 ,  464 ,  560 ), connect said chamber (A) to the inside of the container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ,  510 ), and, on the other (in  57 ,  58 ,  157 ,  158 ,  257 ,  258 ,  357 ,  358 ,  457 ,  458 ,  557 ,  558 ), to the outside air.  
   
   
       2 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said plate ( 22 ,  122 ,  222 ,  322 ,  422 ) has the shape of a circular crown, equipped below, near the external circumference of the circular crown, with a cavity ( 26 ,  126 ,  288 ) for said washer ( 28 ,  128 ,  228 ,  428 ).  
   
   
       3 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 2 , characterized in that above said plate ( 22 ,  122 ,  222 ,  322 ,  422 ), near the internal circumference of the circular crown, there is said internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ) open at the two bases, and that above said plate ( 22 ,  122 ,  222 ,  322 ,  422 ), near the external circumference of the circular crown, there is an external cylindrical structure ( 32 ,  132 ,  232 ,  332 ,  432 ).  
   
   
       4 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that below said cap ( 24 ,  124 ,  224 ,  324 ,  424 ), close to the external circumference of the circular crown, there also being an external cylindrical structure ( 36 ,  136 ,  236 ,  336 ,  436 ), having a greater diameter than that of the external cylindrical structure ( 32 ,  132 ,  232 ,  332 ,  432 ) of the plate ( 22 ,  122 ,  222 ,  322 ,  422 ).  
   
   
       5 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said internal cylindrical structure ( 34 ,  134 ,  234 ,  334 ,  434 ) of the cap ( 24 ,  124 ,  224 ,  324 ,  424 ), has a lower narrowing ( 35 ,  135 ,  235 ,  335 ,  435 ), in an orthogonal direction with respect to the symmetry axis of the cap ( 24 ,  124 ,  224 ,  324 ,  424 ), which forms a terminal cylindrical portion ( 37 ,  137 ,  237 ,  337 ,  437 ) having a smaller diameter than the cylindrical structure ( 34 ,  134 ,  234 ,  334 ,  434 ), said terminal cylindrical portion ( 37 ,  137 ,  237 ,  337 ,  437 ) having a circular edge ( 38 ,  138 ,  238 ,  338 ,  438 ) extending towards the symmetry axis of the cap ( 24 ,  124 ,  224 ,  324 ,  424 ).  
   
   
       6 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 5 , characterized in that a lower washer ( 40 ,  140 ,  240 ,  340 ,  440 ), which fits onto the internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ) of the plate ( 22 ,  122 ,  222 ,  322 ,  422 ), is internally attached to said edge ( 38 ,  138 ,  238 ,  338 ,  438 ) towards the axis of the cap ( 24 ,  124 ,  224 ,  324 ,  424 ).  
   
   
       7 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 1  or  6 , characterized in that above the internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ) of the plate ( 22 ,  122 ,  222 ,  322 ,  422 ), there is a closing element or upper plug ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ,  442 ), comprising a disk ( 44 ,  144 ,  244 ,  344 ,  444 ) equipped below with a cylindrical edge ( 46 ,  146 ,  246 ,  346 ,  446 ) which is inserted and blocked in said internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ), by inserting an upper ring washer ( 60 ,  160 ,  260 ,  360 ,  460 ), said disk ( 44 ,  144 ,  244 ,  344 ,  444 ) having such a diameter as to fit into an internal cylindrical structure ( 34 ,  134 ,  234 ,  334 ,  434 ) of said cap ( 24 ,  124 ,  224 ,  324 ,  424 ).  
   
   
       8 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 7 , characterized in that said blockage is obtained by the arrangement inside the internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ) of reliefs ( 52 ,  152 ,  252 ,  352 ,  452 ) complementary to cavities ( 54 ,  154 ,  254 ,  354 ,  454 ) situated outside the cylindrical edge ( 46 ,  146 ,  246 ,  346 ,  446 ) of said upper plug ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ,  442 ).  
   
   
       9 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 7 , characterized in that said upper washer ( 60 ,  160 ,  260 ,  360 ,  460 ) has an “L”-shaped section, covering the top and outside of an upper edge ( 62 ,  162 ,  262 ,  362 ,  462 ) of said internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ) of the plate ( 22 ,  122 ,  222 ,  322 ,  422 ) said washer ( 60 ,  160 ,  260 ,  360 ,  460 ) also covering a through-opening ( 64 ,  164 ,  264 ,  364 ,  464 ) situated on said upper edge ( 62 ,  162 ,  262 ,  362 ,  462 ) of said internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ).  
   
   
       10 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 7 , characterized in that said upper plug ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ,  442 ) has a central through-opening ( 48 ,  148 ,  248 ,  348 ,  448 ), which is closed by an insert ( 50 ,  150 ,  250 ,  350 ,  450 ,  550 ).  
   
   
       11 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 7 , characterized in that on the side of said disk ( 44 ,  144 ,  244 ,  344 ,  444 ), there is a circumferential cavity ( 56 ,  156 ,  256 ,  356 ,  456 ) for housing a washer ( 58 ,  158 ,  258 ,  358 ,  458 ), above said cavity ( 56 ,  156 ,  256 ,  356 ,  456 ), there being a section ( 57 ,  157 ,  257 ,  357 ,  457 ) where there is no material.  
   
   
       12 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 11 , characterized in that said washer ( 58 ,  158 ,  258 ,  358 ,  458 ) is of the “O ring” type or has a trapezoidal section, with a greater lip facing upwards, and that said circumferential cavity ( 56 ,  156 ,  256 ,  356 ,  456 ) has a trapezoidal section, with the minimum diameter facing upwards, or a rectangular section, respectively.  
   
   
       13 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that, below said internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ) of the plate ( 22 ,  122 ,  222 ,  322 ,  422 ), there is a lower plug ( 66 ,  266 ,  366 ,  466 ) centrally perforated and equipped with a cylindrical edge ( 68 ,  268 ,  368 ,  468 ) which is inserted and blocked in said internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ).  
   
   
       14 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 13 , characterized in that said blockage is obtained by the arrangement inside the internal cylindrical structure ( 30 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430 ) of reliefs ( 70 ,  270 ,  370 ,  470 ) complementary to cavities ( 72 ,  272 ,  372 ,  472 ) situated outside said cylindrical edge ( 68 ,  268 ,  368 ,  468 ) of said lower plug ( 66 ,  266 ,  366 ,  466 ).  
   
   
       15 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that there is an elastic element ( 74 ,  174 ,  274 ,  374 ,  474 ), acting between the plate ( 22 ,  122 ,  222 ,  322 ,  422 ) and the cap ( 24 ,  124 ,  224 ,  324 ,  424 ).  
   
   
       16 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to AMENDED SHEET  claim 15 , characterized in that on said plate ( 22 ,  222 ,  322 ,  422 ) there is a circumferential seat ( 76 ,  276 ,  376 ,  476 ) for housing an end of said elastic element ( 74 ,  274 ,  374 ,  474 ).  
   
   
       17 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said plate ( 122 ) is circular, and above the plate, near an external circumference, there are hooked elements ( 180 ), with a hooked portion facing the symmetry axis of the plate ( 122 ), there also being, at the side of an external circular structure ( 136 ) of said cap ( 124 ), appendages ( 184 ), joined on one side to said cap ( 124 ) and protruding outwards, each end of said appendages ( 184 ) being equipped with a relief ( 186 ) protruding outwards, which is complementary to and can be clicked into a hooked portion of said hooked elements ( 180 ).  
   
   
       18 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 15 , characterized in that said elastic element ( 74 ,  174 ,  274 ,  374 ,  474 ) is a spiral spring ( 74 ,  274 ,  374 ,  474 ).  
   
   
       19 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 15 , characterized in that said elastic element ( 74 ,  174 ,  274 ,  374 ,  474 ) is a spring ( 174 ) obtained by symmetrically joining two cup springs.  
   
   
       20 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said washer ( 28 ,  128 ,  228 ,  428 ) between the lid ( 20 ,  120 ,  220 ,  420 ) and containing element ( 12 ,  112 ,  212 ,  412 ) is made of a compressible material.  
   
   
       21 . The container ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) according to  claim 10 , characterized in that said insert ( 50 ,  150 ,  250 ,  350 ,  450 ,  550 ) is dome-shaped, so that when it remains in a lowered position it reaches the desired vacuum, for which it has been calibrated.  
   
   
       22 . The container ( 510 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that one of said unidirectional valves ( 560 ) is produced with at least one lip facing upwards, said closing element ( 542 ) being screwed to said internal cylindrical structure ( 530 ), there being a lower washer ( 540 ), situated on said internal cylindrical structure ( 530 ) and which comprises a washer of the “O ring” type kept in position by an annular element with an “L” section.