Removable drip trays and bag clamps for vacuum packaging appliances

Abstract

The present invention teaches a bag clamp for use with a vacuum packaging appliance. The bag clamp has an open and a closed position. The open position is suitable for receiving an open end of a vacuum bag. The closed position is suitable for capturing and holding the open end of the vacuum bag during operation of the vacuum packaging appliance. A vacuum packaging appliance according to the present invention has at least one bag clamp, typically disposed within and fixedly attached to a drip tray. The present invention further teaches removable drip trays and vacuum packaging appliances with removable drip trays holding one or more bag clamps.

1 - 43 . (canceled)  
     
     
         44 . A vacuum packaging appliance comprising: 
 a base for receiving an open end of a vacuum bag;    a lid coupled to said base having an open position;    a bag retainer disposed on said base having an open position and a closed position, wherein said open position is suitable for insertion of the open end of a vacuum bag, and said closed position is suitable for capturing and holding the open end of the vacuum bag when said lid is in said open position.    
     
     
         45 . A vacuum packaging appliance for vacuum packaging a bag comprising: 
 a base having a drip tray;    a lid coupled to the base and moveable between an open position and a closed position;    an evacuation chamber positioned in the lid and configured to form a vacuum chamber with said drip tray in said closed position, wherein said vacuum chamber is adapted to receive an open end of said bag therein;    a vacuum source coupled to said evacuation chamber and configured to remove air from said bag; and    a bag clamp arranged to clamp said open end of said bag and hold said bag in place during operation of said vacuum packaging appliance.    
     
     
         46 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 45 , wherein said bag clamp is disposed within said drip tray.  
     
     
         47 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 46 , wherein said bag clamp is glued to said drip tray.  
     
     
         48 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 46 , wherein said bag clamp is spot-welded to said drip tray.  
     
     
         49 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 46 , wherein said bag clamp is riveted to said drip tray.  
     
     
         50 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 46 , wherein said bag clamp is detachably coupled to said drip tray.  
     
     
         51 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 45 , wherein said bag clamp is made of washable material.  
     
     
         52 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 45 , wherein said bag clamp is one of a plurality of bag clamps.  
     
     
         53 . A vacuum packaging appliance for vacuum packaging a bag comprising: 
 a base having a removable drip tray;    a lid coupled to the base and moveable between an open position and a closed position;    an evacuation chamber positioned in said lid and configured to form a vacuum chamber with said drip tray in said closed position, wherein said vacuum chamber is adapted to receive an open end of said bag therein;    a vacuum source coupled to said evacuation chamber and configured to remove air from said bag;    two bag clamps fixedly attached within said drip tray, each bag clamp having a spring-loaded biasing mechanism having a normally closed position arranged to clamp said open end of said bag and hold said bag in place during operation of said vacuum packaging appliance, said spring-loaded biasing mechanism being operable by a user to move to an open position for receiving said open end of said bag; and    a heat sealing mechanism suitable for sealing said open end of said bag.    
     
     
         54 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 44 , wherein said bag retainer includes an engaging surface for engaging the bag.  
     
     
         55 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 44 , wherein said bag retainer is biased in said closed position.  
     
     
         56 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 55 , wherein said bag retainer includes an outer mechanism and an inner mechanism movable relative to said outer mechanism.  
     
     
         57 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 56 , wherein said inner mechanism includes a first surface and said outer mechanism includes a second surface, and said first surface being in biased contact with said second surface for holding the vacuum bag between said first and said second surfaces.  
     
     
         58 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 44 , wherein said bag retainer includes a clamping mechanism.  
     
     
         59 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 44 , wherein said bag retainer is one of a plurality of bag retainers.  
     
     
         60 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 44 , wherein said base includes a vacuum chamber for receiving the open end of the bag and said bag retainer is disposed in said vacuum chamber.  
     
     
         61 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 44 , wherein said base includes a vacuum channel and a drip tray is removably disposed in said vacuum channel, and said bag retainer is disposed on said drip tray.  
     
     
         62 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 61 , wherein said bag retainer is one of a plurality of bag retainers, and said plurality of bag retainers are spaced along a length of said drip tray.  
     
     
         63 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 60 , wherein said vacuum chamber is configured such that when the open end of the vacuum bag is secured to said bag retainer a portion of the bag extends outside of said vacuum chamber.  
     
     
         64 . A vacuum packaging appliance comprising: 
 a base for receiving an open end of a vacuum bag, said base including a vacuum chamber;    a vacuum source in communication with said vacuum chamber; and    a bag retainer disposed within said vacuum chamber, said bag retainer having an opening for receiving the open end of the vacuum bag, said bag retainer having opposed surfaces for capturing and holding the open end of the vacuum bag there between during operation of the vacuum packaging appliance.    
     
     
         65 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 64 , wherein a drip tray is disposed in said vacuum chamber and said bag retainer is disposed on said drip tray.  
     
     
         66 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 65 , wherein said bag retainer is one of a plurality of bag retainers, and said plurality of bag retainers are spaced along a length of said drip tray.  
     
     
         67 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 65 , wherein said bag retainer is fixedly secured to said drip tray.  
     
     
         68 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 65 , wherein said drip tray is removable from said base.  
     
     
         69 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 64 , wherein said bag retainer includes a clamping mechanism having an open and closed position.  
     
     
         70 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 69 , wherein said bag retainer is biased in said closed position.  
     
     
         71 . A vacuum packaging appliance as recited in  claim 64 , wherein said vacuum chamber is configured such that when the open end of the bag is secured to said bag retainer a portion of the bag extends outside of said vacuum chamber.