Device and Method For Evacuating A Storage Bag

Abstract

To enhance evacuation of a storage bag having a one-way valve element and to reduce noise during evacuation, a handheld evacuation device includes one or more gaskets that can be made of resilient material. A gasket can be disposed about the rim of an inlet opening of the evacuation device to provide both a leak-free interface between the evacuation device and the storage bag and to reduce vibration and chatter of the evacuation device against a rigid support surface. A gasket can also be provided intermediately between a main body portion of the evacuation device and a nozzle portion that is to be placed adjacent to the storage bag during use. The intermediate gasket isolates vibrations in the main body portion thereby reducing vibrations and chatter of the evacuation device against a rigid support surface.

1 . An evacuation device comprising:
 a housing adapted to be gripped by a user, the housing including a main body and nozzle providing an inlet opening, the nozzle separate from the main body;   an air flow generating unit enclosed in the main body and communicating with the inlet opening; and   an intermediate gasket located between and connecting the main body and the nozzle.   
   
   
       2 . The evacuation device of  claim 1 , wherein the gasket is a tubular sleeve. 
   
   
       3 . The evacuation device of  claim 2 , wherein the gasket is made of a resilient material. 
   
   
       4 . The evacuation device of  claim 3 , wherein the resilient material is selected from the group consisting of a resilient foam, an elastomeric material, and a rubber. 
   
   
       5 . The evacuation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a rim gasket disposed about a rim of the inlet opening. 
   
   
       6 . The evacuation device of  claim 5 , wherein the rim gasket has a circular cross-section. 
   
   
       7 . The evacuation device of  claim 5 , wherein the rim gasket has a rectangular cross-section. 
   
   
       8 . The evacuation device of  claim 5 , wherein the rim gasket is made of a resilient material. 
   
   
       9 . The evacuation device of  claim 8 , wherein the resilient material is selected from the group consisting of a resilient foam, an elastomeric material, and a rubber. 
   
   
       10 . The evacuation device of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow generating unit includes a motor with a rotating shaft and a fan blade mounted on the shaft for moving air. 
   
   
       11 . The evacuation device of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow generating unit includes
 a motor with a rotating shaft extending along an axis line;   a cam having a cylindrical sidewall and a channel disposed into the sidewall, the cam mounted to the motor shaft;   a yoke having a follower element received in the channel; and   a reciprocal element connected to the yoke, the reciprocal element movable along the axis line within a chamber.   
   
   
       12 . The evacuation device of  claim 11 , wherein the yoke includes a first arm and a second arm, the cam located between the first and second arms. 
   
   
       13 . The evacuation device of  claim 11 , wherein the reciprocal element is a piston slidably received within the chamber. 
   
   
       14 . The evacuation device of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow generating unit includes:
 a motor with a rotating shaft extending along a first axis line;   a crank wheel concentrically mounted to the motor shaft;   a connecting rod eccentrically linked to the crank wheel; and   a pumping unit comprising a piston reciprocally movable within a chamber, the piston linked to the connecting rod.   
   
   
       15 . The evacuation device of  claim 14 , wherein the piston is reciprocally movable along a second axis line, the second axis line being generally perpendicular to the first axis line. 
   
   
       16 . The evacuation device of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow generating unit includes:
 a motor with a rotating shaft extending along a first axis line;   a pinion gear mounted to the rotating shaft;   a crown gear engaging the pinion gear;   a connecting rod eccentrically linked to the crown gear; and   a pumping unit including a piston reciprocally movable with a chamber, the piston linked to the connecting rod.   
   
   
       17 . The evacuation device of  claim 16 , wherein the airflow generating unit further includes an eccentric member, the eccentric member rotatably driven by the crown gear and journalled to the connecting rod. 
   
   
       18 . The evacuation device of  claim 17 , wherein the piston is reciprocally movable along a second axis line, the second axis line being parallel to the first axis line. 
   
   
       19 . The evacuation device of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow generating unit includes motor having a rotating shaft and a rotary vane pump. 
   
   
       20 . The evacuation device of  claim 19 , wherein the rotary vane pump includes a rotator mounted to the rotating shaft and a stationary stator, the rotator including a plurality of slots each accommodating a sliding vane. 
   
   
       21 . The evacuation device of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow generating unit includes a diaphragm pump. 
   
   
       22 . A method of evacuating a storage bag having a one-way valve element comprising:
 providing a storage bag having a flexible sidewall and a one-way valve element attached to the sidewall and communicating with an interior volume;   providing an evacuation device including a housing adapted to be gripped by a user, the housing having a nozzle defining an inlet opening and a separate main body;   interfacing the nozzle of the evacuation device with valve element;   removing air from interior volume via valve element and the inlet opening with an airflow generating unit located in the main body; and   isolating vibration from the airflow generating unit in the main body with an intermediate gasket between the main body and the nozzle.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 positioning the storage bag over a support surface prior to interfacing the nozzle of the handheld evacuation device with the valve element.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 dampening vibration of the evacuation device against the support surface with a rim gasket disposed about the rim of the inlet opening.   
   
   
       25 . An evacuation device for evacuating storage bags comprising:
 a housing adapted to be gripped by a user, the housing including a nozzle providing an inlet opening, a gasket disposed about the inlet opening; and   an air flow generating unit enclosed in the housing, the airflow generating unit has an inlet aperture and an exhaust aperture, the inlet aperture communicating with the nozzle, the exhaust aperture communicates exhaust air within the housing, the housing is without an exhaust port for the exhaust air.   
   
   
       26 . A method of evacuating a storage bag having a one-way valve element comprising:
 providing a storage bag having a flexible sidewall and a one-way valve element attached to the sidewall and communicating with an interior volume;   providing an evacuation device including a housing adapted to be gripped by a user, the housing having a nozzle defining an inlet opening, a gasket disposed about the inlet opening, an air flow generating unit enclosed in the housing, the airflow generating unit has an inlet aperture and an exhaust aperture, the inlet aperture communicating with the nozzle, the exhaust aperture communicates exhaust air within the housing, the housing is without an exhaust port for the exhaust air;   interfacing the nozzle of the evacuation device with valve element;   removing air from interior volume via valve element and the inlet opening with the airflow generating.