Airtight container

Abstract

An airtight container is provided with a venting apparatus. The venting apparatus includes a flexible housing unit and a check valve disposed in the housing unit. The flexible housing unit includes a chamber defined therein, an upper aperture in communication with the chamber, a lower aperture in communication with the chamber and an external annular groove defined in the periphery for receiving an edge of an aperture defined in an airtight container. The check valve prevents air from entering the airtight container through the upper and lower apertures sequentially but allows air to leave the airtight container through the lower and upper apertures sequentially.

1 . An airtight container-used venting apparatus comprising:
 a flexible housing unit comprising a chamber defined therein, an upper aperture in communication with the chamber, a lower aperture in communication with the chamber and an external annular groove defined in the periphery for receiving an edge of an aperture defined in an airtight container; and   a check valve disposed in the housing unit for preventing air from entering the airtight container through the upper and lower apertures sequentially while allowing air to leave the airtight container through the lower and upper apertures sequentially.   
   
   
       2 . The venting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing unit comprises:
 a plug comprising a cavity defined in an upper side, wherein the lower aperture is defined in a lower side of the plug so that the lower aperture is in communication with the cavity; and   a cover comprising a cavity defined in a lower side, wherein the upper aperture is defined in an upper side of the cover so that the upper aperture is in communication with the cavity thereof, and the cavity of the cover and the cavity of the plug together form the chamber when the cover is attached to the plug.   
   
   
       3 . The venting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing unit is made of a material selected from a group consisting of silicone and rubber. 
   
   
       4 . The venting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing unit comprises an internal annular groove defined in the wall of the chamber, and the check valve comprises an annular flange disposed in the internal annular groove of the housing unit. 
   
   
       5 . The venting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing unit is substantially in the form of a hemisphere. 
   
   
       6 . The venting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the check valve comprises:
 a seat disposed in the housing unit, the seat comprising a cavity defined therein and at least one aperture in communication with the cavity and tabs formed on the wall of the cavity; and   a membrane movably disposed in the cavity for preventing air from entering the airtight container when the membrane rests on the floor of the cavity and closes the aperture but allowing air to leave the airtight container after pushing the membrane from the floor of the cavity and opening the aperture.   
   
   
       7 . The venting apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the seat comprises an annular flange formed on the periphery, and the housing unit comprises an annular groove for receiving the annular flange. 
   
   
       8 . The venting apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the seat comprises tabs formed on the wall of the cavity for restraining the movement of the membrane.