US20020090151A1 - Storage bag with one-way air valve - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible, evacuable storage bag has a storage portion, an airtight seal, and a one-way valve. The valve includes a strip sandwiched between top and bottom sheets used to make the bag. The strip is bonded along the edges to the top and bottom sheets so as to form passageways extending from the storage portion to outside the bag.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION
• This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/374,484, filed Aug. 13, 1999, entitled “Storage Bag With One-Way Air Valve” by Janet L. Skeens.[0001]
BACKGROUND
• 1. Field of Invention[0002]
• The present invention relates to storage bags, and in particular to reusable evacuable storage bags with integral one-way air valves.[0003]
• 2. Related Art[0004]
• Evacuable flexible storage bags allow a user to compress and subsequently store and carry bulky items, e.g., clothing. Such bags are typically made of plastic and include an airtight seal. After placing one or more items inside the bag, the user partially closes the seal. The user then presses on the bag to force air through the remaining opening in the seal. Once air is forced through the opening, the user fully closes the seal and the stored items remain compressed by ambient air pressure. However, such bags are difficult to use.[0005]
• One problem with many current airtight storage bags is that some air may leak back into the bag as the user attempts to close the seal. Another problem is that forces on the bag during compressing tend to fully open the partially closed seal, thus requiring the user to fully close the seal once the bag is compressed. Yet another problem is that many users find it awkward to maintain compression force on the bag while fully closing the seal. Still another problem is low cabin pressure during air travel may cause air inside the bag to expand and open the seal.[0006]
• One solution is to equip an airtight storage bag with a one-way air valve. The valve allows the user to force air out of, but prevents air from reentering, the bag. U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,500 discloses a sealed bag including a check valve. The '500 patent discloses a check valve including at least two rectangular plastic films. The plastic films are bonded together to form a flat pipe that extends between the storage bag body and a covering envelope. However, articles placed in the bag may fold the pipe back on itself and block the valve. And the covering envelope is required to protect the valve portion extending from the bag body.[0007]
• What is required is a simpler one-way check valve that is more reliable, and is easier and more economical to manufacture.[0008]
SUMMARY
• In accordance with the invention, a flexible, evacuable storage bag includes a one-way air valve that has a single strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets used to make the bag. The bag also includes an airtight seal through which the user places one or more items to be stored into the bag.[0009]
• The valve strip is sandwiched between the top and bottom sheets. The strip is bonded along the strip's edges to the top and bottom sheets to form two passageways. The passageways extend from the storage portion of the bag to the outside.[0010]
• The user may, for example, insert one or more items to be stored through the opening and then closes the airtight seal. The user then puts pressure on the bag to force air from a storage portion through the valve to the outside. Once air has been evacuated from the bag, ambient pressure holds the top and bottom sheets against the valve strip to prevent air from returning to the bag.[0011]
• In some embodiments the valve configuration is such that the opening into the storage area is near an end of the valve strip. In other embodiments the opening into the storage area is in a middle portion of the valve strip.[0012]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention.[0013]
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.[0014]
• FIGS. 3[0015]a,3b,and3care perspective views showing one method of using the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a plan view of an embodiment of a valve.[0016]
• FIG. 5 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a valve.[0017]
• FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the valve embodiment shown in FIG. 5.[0018]
• FIG. 7 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a valve.[0019]
• FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the valve embodiment shown in FIG. 7.[0020]
• FIG. 9 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a valve.[0021]
• FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the valve embodiment shown in FIG. 9.[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of a[0023]flexible storage bag10 in accordance with the invention. As shown,bag10 has astorage portion12 formed by bonding two flexible plastic sheets alongedges13a,13b,and13c.FIG. 1 showsbag10 as rectangular, although other embodiments may have other shapes. Airtightseal14 is placed in opening15 between the two sheets. Whenseal14 is open, a user places one or more items to be stored through opening15 intostorage portion12 and then closesseal14. Avalve16 allows air to pass in one direction fromstorage portion12 to outsidebag10. As shown,valve16 is positioned alongedge13cofstorage portion12,opposite seal14, but inother embodiments valve16 may be placed along another edge ofstorage portion12.
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of[0024]bag10. As shown,bag10 includes atop sheet20 and abottom sheet22. In one embodiment,sheets20 and22 are each a layer of conventional extruded low density polyethylene sandwiched between a conventional layer of nylon sheeting and a conventional layer of linear low density polyethylene. Other embodiments may use different materials. As described above,sheets20 and22 are bonded alongedges13a,13b,and13c.In one embodiment bonding is done using conventional resistive heating. Other embodiments may use different bonding methods.
• [0025]Bag10 also includestop portion24 andbottom portion26 ofairtight seal14.Top portion24 is bonded totop sheet20 using conventional resistive heating. Similarly,bottom portion26 is bonded tobottom sheet22 using resistive heating. Other bonding methods may be used. In oneembodiment seal14 is a conventional interlocking resealable airtight fastener. The fastener is manufactured by MiniGrip ZIP-PAK, an ITW Company, with a marketing office located at 27001 La Plaz, Suite 400, Mission Viejo Calif. 92691. Other embodiments may use other airtight seals that are either resealable or permanent.
• FIG. 2 shows[0026]valve strip28 placed betweentop sheet20 andbottom sheet22. In oneembodiment valve strip28 is a single sheet of conventional blended low density polyethylene with high slip. Other embodiments may use different materials.
• As shown,[0027]valve strip28 is bonded betweentop sheet20 andbottom sheet22 along edges29aand29b.In one embodiment bonding is done using conventional resistive heating. Other embodiments may use different bonding methods.Valve strip28 is positioned so that after bonding edges29aand29btwo passageways are created. The top passageway is betweentop sheet20 andvalve strip28. The bottom passageway is betweenbottom sheet22 andvalve strip28. As shown, bonded side29bofvalve strip28 is coincident with bondedbottom edges13coftop sheet20 andbottom sheet22. In the embodiment shown,strip28 extends from edge13ato edge13b.In other embodiments strip28 may be shortened so as not to reach either or both edges13aor13b.
• Referring again to FIG. 1, each unique top and[0028]bottom passageway30aand30b(hidden behindpassageway30a), respectively, has at one end anopening31 intostorage portion12 and at the other end anopening32 to the environment outsidebag10. In one embodiment each passageway has a width W₁of 1.00 inches. And in one embodiment the width W₂ofopenings31 and32 are each 1.50 inches. Other embodiments may use other dimensions for widths W₁and W₂. The widths ofopenings31 and32 need not be identical.
• [0029]Top sheet20 andbottom sheet22 normally contact the surface ofvalve strip28 when no air or other substance (e.g., water) is in either passageway. Whenairtight seal14 is closed and the pressure insidestorage portion12 is made greater than the ambient pressure, air passes throughopenings31, travels alongpassageways30aand30b,and exits throughopenings32. The ambient pressure (pressure of the atmosphere surrounding the bag) then closespassageways30aand30bby pressingtop sheet20 andbottom sheet22 againstvalve strip28. Air is therefore prevented from returning tostorage portion12.
• FIGS. 3[0030]a-3cillustrate one use of the present invention.
• As shown in FIG. 3[0031]a,a user opensseal14 and places an item to be stored through opening15 intostorage portion12. The user then closesbag10 by makingseal14 airtight, as depicted in FIG. 3b.Next, the user expels air by rolling, beginning at an edge oppositevalve16,bag10 towardsvalve16. FIG. 3cshows that as the user rolls, air as represented by the arrows passes fromstorage portion12 throughopenings31, along the passages, and exits throughopenings32. The user then unrolls the bag containing the stored item.Storage portion12 remains partially evacuated and ambient air pressure prevents air from returning through the passages.
• FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second valve embodiment. The structure of this embodiment is similar to the structure of the valve shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, length L[0032]₁of thepassageways40 fromstorage area42 to outside the bag is approximately 14-¼ inches. The width W₃ofpassageways40 is approximately 1 inch. Thus the aspect ratio (length:width) ofpassageways40 is approximately 14.25. The width W₄of opening44 betweenstorage area42 withpassageways40 is approximately 1-¼ inches. The ratio between the widths ofpassageways40 and opening44 (W₃:W₄) is approximately 0.8. The width W₅of opening46 betweenpassageways40 and the outside environment is approximately 1-½ inches. The ratio between the widths ofpassageways40 and opening46 (W₃:W₅) is approximately 0.67.
• FIG. 5 is a plan view of a third valve embodiment. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5,[0033]valve strip50 is 1-½ inches wide, and so an unused portion of the valve strip extends intostorage area52. In other embodiments, a narrower valve strip may be used to prevent the unused portion from extending into the storage area. Length L₂ofpassageways54 is approximately 10-⅛ inches, and width W₆ofpassageways54 is approximately ½ inch. Thus the aspect ratio ofpassageways54 is approximately 20.25. The width W₇of opening56 betweenstorage area52 andpassageways54 is approximately ¼ inch, so that the ratio between the widths ofpassageways54 and opening56 (W₆:W₇) is approximately 2.00. The width W₈of opening58 betweenpassageways54 and the outside environment is approximately ¾ inches, so that the ratio between the widths ofpassageways54 and opening58 (W₆:W₈) is approximately 0.67.
• FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the valve embodiment shown in FIG. 5.[0034]Valve strip50 is sandwiched and conventionally heat bonded betweenbottom sheet60 andtop sheet62. The threesheets50,60,62 are bonded at theshaded regions64 as shown in FIG. 6.
• FIG. 7 is a plan view of a fourth valve embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, opening[0035]70 betweenstorage area72 and the two sets ofpassageways74 and76 is positioned in the middle ofvalve strip78. Length L₃ofpassageways74 and76 is approximately 10 inches, and width W₉ofpassageways74 and76 is approximately 1 inch. Thus the aspect ratio ofpassageways74 and76 is approximately 10.00. The width W₁₀of opening70 is approximately 3 inches, so that the ratio between the widths W₉and width W₁₀(W₉:W₁₀) is approximately 0.33. The widths W₁₁ofopenings80 and82 betweenpassageways74 and76 and the outside environment, respectively, are approximately 1 inch. Thus the ratio between the widths W₉and W₁₁(W₉:W₁₁) is approximately 1.00.
• FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the valve embodiment shown in FIG. 7.[0036]Valve strip78 is sandwiched and conventionally heat bonded betweenbottom sheet84 andtop sheet86. The threesheets78,84,86 are bonded at theshaded regions88 as shown in FIG. 8.
• FIG. 9 is a plan view of a fifth valve embodiment. The structure of the valve shown in FIG. 9 is similar to the structure of the valve shown in FIG. 7, except that an[0037]obstruction90 is positioned to partially blockopening70. As shown in FIG. 9,obstruction90 is a conventionally heat bonded semicircular line having radius R. Other embodiments may use different shapes for the obstruction. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the width of opening70 is approximately 3 inches, and radius R is also approximately 3 inches. Other embodiments may use other dimensions. In some embodiments,obstruction90 improves valve performance.
• FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the valve embodiment shown in FIG. 9.[0038]Valve strip92 is sandwiched and conventionally heat bonded betweenbottom sheet94 andtop sheet96. The threesheets92,94,96 are bonded at theshaded regions98 as shown in FIG. 10.
• The dimensions given above are illustrative. In addition, some variations in the dimensions will occur during production due to manufacturing tolerances, and such variations are acceptable for proper operation and fall within the scope of the claims. Persons skilled in the art will understand that many variations of the present invention are possible. The invention is therefore limited only by the scope of the following claims.[0039]

Claims (18)

I claim:

1. A storage bag comprising:

a storage portion, wherein the storage portion includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded along one or more edges to the top sheet;

an airtight seal in a first opening in the storage portion; and

a valve including a valve strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets along a first valve strip edge and along a second valve strip edge to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area to outside the bag, the second opening being positioned in a middle portion of the valve strip.

2. The storage bag ofclaim 1 further comprising an obstruction positioned opposite the second opening and between the top sheet and the valve strip.

3. The storage bag ofclaim 1 wherein an aspect ratio between a length of the first passageway and a width of the first passageway is approximately 20.

4. The storage bag ofclaim 1 wherein an aspect ratio between a length of the first passageway and a width of the first passageway is approximately 14.

5. The storage bag ofclaim 1 wherein an aspect ratio between a length of the first passageway and a width of the first passageway is approximately 10.

6. The storage bag ofclaim 1 wherein a ratio between a width of the first passageway and a width of the second opening is approximately 2.

7. The storage bag ofclaim 1 wherein a ratio between a width of the first passageway and a width of the second opening is approximately 0.8.

8. The storage bag ofclaim 1 wherein a ratio between a width of the first passageway and a width of the second opening is approximately 0.3.

9. The storage bag ofclaim 1 wherein the valve is positioned opposite the seal.

10. The storage bag ofclaim 1 wherein the seal is reusable.

11. A storage bag manufacturing process comprising:

bonding along one or more edges a top sheet to a bottom sheet to form a storage portion;

bonding an airtight seal in a first opening of the storage portion; and

bonding between the top sheet and the bottom sheet a valve strip along a first valve strip edge and along an opposite second valve strip edge so as to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area, the second opening being positioned at a middle of the valve strip, to outside the bag.

12. The method ofclaim 11 further comprising bonding the top sheet, the bottom sheet, and the valve strip together to form an obstruction opposite the second opening.

13. A storage bag comprising:

a storage portion, wherein the storage portion includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded along one or more edges to the top sheet;

an airtight seal in a first opening in the storage portion; and

a valve including a valve strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets along a first valve strip edge and along a second valve strip edge to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area to outside the bag, an aspect ratio between a length of the first passageway and a width of the first passageway being approximately 20.

14. A storage bag comprising:

a storage portion, wherein the storage portion includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded along one or more edges to the top sheet;

an airtight seal in a first opening in the storage portion; and

a valve including a valve strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets along a first valve strip edge and along a second valve strip edge to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area to outside the bag, an aspect ratio between a length of the first passageway and a width of the first passageway being approximately 14.

15. A storage bag comprising:

a storage portion, wherein the storage portion includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded along one or more edges to the top sheet;

an airtight seal in a first opening in the storage portion; and

a valve including a valve strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets along a first valve strip edge and along a second valve strip edge to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area to outside the bag, an aspect ratio between a length of the first passageway and a width of the first passageway being approximately 10.

16. A storage bag comprising:

a storage portion, wherein the storage portion includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded along one or more edges to the top sheet;

an airtight seal in a first opening in the storage portion; and

a valve including a valve strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets along a first valve strip edge and along a second valve strip edge to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area to outside the bag, a ratio between a width of the first passageway and a width of the second opening being approximately 2.

17. A storage bag comprising:

a storage portion, wherein the storage portion includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded along one or more edges to the top sheet;

an airtight seal in a first opening in the storage portion; and

a valve including a valve strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets along a first valve strip edge and along a second valve strip edge to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area to outside the bag, a ratio between a width of the first passageway and a width of the second opening being approximately 0.8.

18. A storage bag comprising:

a storage portion, wherein the storage portion includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded along one or more edges to the top sheet;

an airtight seal in a first opening in the storage portion; and

a valve including a valve strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets along a first valve strip edge and along a second valve strip edge to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area to outside the bag, a ratio between a width of the first passageway and a width of the second opening being approximately 0.3.

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