Valve assembly for a food storage container

Abstract

A valve assembly is provided for use with a food storage container, including an opening formed in its lid member with at least one air channel formed between the container and the lid member. The valve assembly can be operated by a knob that, in a first position, unseats a check ball from a valve seat so that the valve assembly operates as a two-way valve able to work with a vacuum adapter in “marinate” mode or to open the lid member. In a second position, the check ball of the valve assembly unseats from the valve seat so that the valve assembly operates as a one-way valve that is operable to work with a vacuum adapter in “vacuum” mode to preserve the freshness of food contained therein. The valve assembly can be used with a vacuum system as part of a food storage container system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food storage container comprising:
 a lid member including an opening and at least one air channel adjacent to the opening, the lid member being configured to receive a vacuum adapter associated with a vacuum seal appliance;   at least one storage compartment; and   a valve assembly extending through the opening located in the lid member, and comprising a check ball and a ball seat;   wherein, the check ball being moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position, the check ball being seated against the ball seat and prevents air flow into the food storage container, and in the open position, the check ball unseats from the ball seat such that air flow is established from environment to the food storage container.   
     
     
         2 . The food storage container of  claim 1  further comprising a knob for moving the check ball between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The food storage container of  claim 2 , wherein the knob comprises:
 at least one air channel in air communication with a chamber within the valve in which the check ball is retained; and   an aperture that corresponds to the at least one air channel of the knob.   
     
     
         4 . The food storage container of  claim 2  further comprising a dust cover member releasably engageable with the knob. 
     
     
         5 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lid member further comprises a central cavity member near a central portion of the lid member; and   the opening is provided at a bottom portion of the central cavity member.   
     
     
         6 . The food storage container of  claim 5 , wherein the central cavity comprises a wall member comprising a lip portion and an outer surface. 
     
     
         7 . The food storage container of  claim 6 , wherein the outer surface of the wall member comprises at least one threaded portion to mate with at least one threaded portion of an inner wall member of a knob for moving the check ball between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The food storage container of  claim 6  further comprising an O-ring between the wall member and an internal wall member of a knob for moving the check ball between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the valve further comprises a check ball retainer. 
     
     
         10 . The food storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid member further comprises a vacuum indicator. 
     
     
         11 . A food storage container system comprising:
 a vacuum system comprising:
 a vacuum adapter; and 
 a vacuum seal appliance; 
   a food storage container comprising:
 a lid member including an opening and at least one air channel adjacent to the opening, the lid member being configured to receive the vacuum adapter; 
 at least one storage compartment; and 
 a valve assembly extending through the opening located in the lid member, and comprising a check ball and a ball seat; 
   wherein, the check ball being moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the check ball being seated against the ball seat and prevents air flow into the food storage container, and in the open position the check ball unseats from the ball seat such that air flow is established from environment to the food storage container.   
     
     
         12 . The food storage container system of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a knob for moving the check ball between the open position and the closed position; 
 wherein the knob comprises:
 at least one air channel in air communication with a chamber within the valve in which the check ball is retained; and 
 an aperture that corresponds to the at least one air channel of the knob. 
 
 
     
     
         13 . The food storage container system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the lid member further comprises a central cavity member near a central portion of the lid member;   the central cavity comprises a wall member comprising a lip portion and an outer surface; and   the opening is provided at a bottom portion of the central cavity member.   
     
     
         14 . The food storage container system of  claim 13 , wherein the outer surface of the wall member comprises at least one threaded portion to mate with at least one threaded portion of an inner wall member of a knob for moving the check ball between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The food storage container system of  claim 13  further comprising an O-ring between the wall member and an internal wall member of a knob for moving the check ball between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The food storage container system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the lid member comprises an annular flange for engaging the vacuum adapter that surrounds a knob; and   the vacuum adapter is configured to engage the annular flange to form an airtight seal.   
     
     
         17 . The food storage container system of  claim 11  further comprise a hose connecting the vacuum adapter to the vacuum seal appliance. 
     
     
         18 . A method for using a food storage container system, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a food storage container system comprising:
 a vacuum system comprising:
 a vacuum adapter; and 
 a vacuum seal appliance; 
 
 a food storage container comprising:
 a lid member including an opening and at least one air channel adjacent to the opening, the lid member being configured to receive the vacuum adapter; 
 at least one storage compartment; and 
 a valve assembly extending through the opening located in the lid member, and comprising a check ball and a ball seat; 
 
 wherein, the check ball being moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the check ball being seated against the ball seat and prevents air flow into the food storage container, and in the open position the check ball unseats from the ball seat such that air flow is established from environment to the food storage container; 
   placing the check ball in the open position;   attaching the vacuum adapter to the lid member over the valve assembly and placing the check ball in the closed position;   activating the vacuum system;   deactivating the vacuum system; and   placing the check ball in the open position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the lid member comprises an annular flange for engaging the vacuum adapter that surrounds a knob; and   the vacuum adapter is configured to engage the annular flange to form an airtight seal.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the lid member further comprises a vacuum indicator.