Bag vacuum apparatus

Abstract

A vacuum apparatus for sealing an airtight bag includes a tongue in fluid communication with a vacuum chamber and base members that close around and seal a section of the bag. The once closed, the apparatus facilitates fluid communication between the interior of the airtight bag and the vacuum chamber, allowing actuation of the vacuum chamber to result in evacuation of air from the bag. The tongue may take the form of a removable tube device or may be designed to puncture the bag. The apparatus may be wholly removable after evacuation of the bag, or some part of the apparatus may remain on the bag in order to maintain the airtight seal.

1 . A clip apparatus for creating an airtight chamber in the interior of a bag, the clip apparatus comprising:
 a first member having a sealing member on an interior side thereof, the first member including an air evacuation port and a valve carried therein;   a second member having a sealing member on an interior side thereof, the second member being configured to be releasably connected with the first member; and   a tongue configured to engage the interior of the bag, the tongue member including an inlet, an internal passageway, and an outlet, the outlet being configured to be in fluid communication with the air evacuation port.   
     
     
         2 . The clip apparatus of  claim 1 , the tongue being connected to the first member. 
     
     
         3 . The clip apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge mechanism for hingedly connecting the first member and the second member. 
     
     
         4 . The clip apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch mechanism for holding the first and second members together. 
     
     
         5 . The clip apparatus of  claim 1 , the sealing members of the first and second members being generally flat. 
     
     
         6 . The clip apparatus of  claim 1 , the sealing members of the first and second members having pockets for receiving the tongue. 
     
     
         7 . The clip apparatus of  claim 1 , the first member further comprising a pump mating surface configured to mate with a detachable pump. 
     
     
         8 . The clip apparatus of  claim 7 , the pump mating surface being generally flat and smooth. 
     
     
         9 . The clip apparatus of  claim 8 , the pump mating surface being generally opposite the first member from the interior side and the sealing member thereon. 
     
     
         10 . A method of evacuating a bag with a clip apparatus:
 the clip apparatus having a first member with an air evacuation port, a valve in the air evacuation port, and a sealing member, and having a second member with a sealing member, and a tongue;   inserting the tongue into an opening of the bag so that an inlet of the tongue is in fluid communication with an interior of the bag;   allowing the first and second members to come into a closed position whereby the sealing member of the first member and the sealing member of the second member form an air-tight relationship between the clip apparatus and the bag;   bringing a pump into engagement with a pump mating surface of the first member; and   operating the pump and drawing air from the interior of the bag through the tongue, through the air evacuation port, and past the valve.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising removing the pump from the pump mating surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein drawing air includes drawing air into the inlet of the tongue, through an internal passageway of the tongue, and out of an outlet of the tongue before entering the air evacuation port. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein bringing a pump into engagement includes forming a generally air-tight interface between the pump and the check valve of the clip apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein bringing the first and second members into a closed position includes using a latch mechanism to hold the first and second members together. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising leaving the clip apparatus on the bag.