US20020162767A1 - Compression storage bag - Google Patents

Abstract

A compression storage bag is constructed such that the operation to store and accommodate goods to be stored such as beddings and clothes after compression-storage is made easy, and which has a broad range of applicable storing and accommodating places. The compression storage bag is preferably made of a non-permeable synthetic resin material, and is provided with a non-return valve preferably made of a synthetic resin material on one portion thereof. A base member having a planar form is put inside the compression storage bag, and the shape of the base portion of the compression storage bag is retained. When goods to be stored such as beddings and clothes are stored inside the compression storage bag, the whole compression storage bag retains its shape, for example, a substantially rectangular shape. When, for example, a suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner is inserted into an opening portion of the non-return valve in this state, and a compression-storing operation is performed, the compression storage bag including the goods to be stored are compressed to define a substantially rectangular shape.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention[0001]
• The present invention relates to a compression storage bag, and more particularly, relates to a compression storage bag that is constructed to compression-store goods such as beddings, blankets, and heavy clothes, in a very compact form.[0002]
• 2. Description of the Prior Art[0003]
• When goods to be stored such as beddings and clothes are compression-stored using a conventional compression storage bag, the compression storage bag compressed to a flat form together with the goods to be stored is usually piled up in a horizontal state, and stored in a planar form at a storing space within a storing location, such as a closet or a chest of drawers, as appropriate.[0004]
• However, when storing many compression storage bags in a closet or other storage area by piling the bags up, since the above-mentioned conventional compression storage bags compressed to a flat form together with the goods to be stored were stored in planar state, a storing space that is at least large enough to accommodate the planar area of the compression storage bag after compression was needed, and it lacked storage space flexibility. A lot of effort was required in the storing work with this conventional compression storage bag, because it was necessary to secure planar space with at least a certain minimum amount of storage area.[0005]
• In other words, with conventional compression storage bags, it was difficult to make the storing space small when storing the compression storage bag after compression, and the extent to which the storing and accommodating space could be fully utilized was very limited.[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In order to overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a compression storage bag, in which the operation to store and accommodate goods such as beddings and clothes after compression-storage is made easy, and which has a broad range of applicable storing and accommodating places.[0007]
• A compression storage bag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is preferably made of a non-permeable synthetic resin material, and includes a non-return valve preferably made of a synthetic resin material on one portion thereof. This compression storage bag includes a base member having a planar form that is arranged inside the compression storage bag in a state such that the base member is freely inserted and removed from the compression storage bag.[0008]
• The non-return valve preferably includes an inner valve portion which is arranged inside the compression storage bag, and an outer valve portion which is communicatively connected to the inner valve portion, and arranged outside of the compression storage bag. The non-return valve preferably has a flat tubular shape.[0009]
• The base member is preferably made of paper that is rigid to some extent or has semi-rigidity, and is constructed to be bendable at an intermediate portion in a longitudinal direction or a width-wise direction of the base member.[0010]
• In addition, the base member preferably includes a bend line for bending that extends in the longitudinal direction or the width-wise direction of the member.[0011]
• The base member preferably has a substantially rectangular, planar form, and includes the bend line for bending provided at an intermediate portion in the width-wise direction of the member, the bend line extending in the longitudinal direction of the base member.[0012]
• The base member preferably includes a porous material such as activated carbon and porous ore. The base member preferably includes a layer formed by coating or laminating the porous material, as appropriate.[0013]
• The base member having a planar form is arranged inside the compression storage bag in such a state that the base member is freely inserted and removed from the compression storage bag. Therefore, when the base member is put inside the compression storage bag, the shape of the base portion of the compression storage bag is retained. Furthermore, when goods to be stored such as beddings and clothes are accommodated inside the compression storage bag, the whole compression storage bag retains its shape, for example, a substantially rectangular shape. When, for example, a suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner is inserted into the non-return valve in this state, and a compression-storing operation is performed, the compression storage bag together with the goods to be stored is compressed to define a substantially rectangular shape. At this point, an inflow of outside air into the compression storage bag is prevented by the effect of the non-return valve.[0014]
• With the compression storage bag according to preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to erect and place the compression storage bag compressed together with the goods to be stored in a perpendicular state with the base portion of the compression storage bag, which is supported by the base member, becoming the surface contacting the ground. Therefore, it becomes possible to store the compression storage bag inside a storing place such as a closet in an erected state. As a result, compression-storing of the goods to be stored using the compression storage bag according to preferred embodiments of the present invention significantly reduces planar storing space in comparison with a planar pile-up storage using a conventional compression storage bag.[0015]
• The non-return valve having a flat tubular shape is constructed to have the inner valve portion arranged inside the compression storage bag, and the outer valve portion communicatively connected to the inner valve portion and arranged outside of the compression storage bag. Hence, airflow from the interior to the exterior of the compression storage bag is shut off by the effect of the inner valve portion, and airflow from the exterior to the interior of the compression storage bag is shut off by the effect of the outer valve portion.[0016]
• The base member is preferably made of paper that is rigid to some extent or has semi-rigidity. Hence, the base member is sturdy because of this rigidity or semi-rigidity, and it is easy to retain the shape of the base portion of the compression storage bag. Furthermore, the base member is bendable at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction or the width-wise direction of the member. Hence, when installing the base member in the compression storage bag, it is easy to set the base member on the base portion inside the compression storage bag by bending the base member.[0017]
• The base member is made to be easily bendable at the bend line for the bending portion, which extends in the longitudinal direction or the width-wise direction of the base member.[0018]
• The base member has a substantially rectangular, planar form, and has the bend line for bending. The bend line is provided at an intermediate portion in the width-wise direction of the base member, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the base member. This makes the base member more easily bendable at the bend line for bending.[0019]
• The base member includes a porous material such as activated carbon and porous ore so as to absorb gas and moisture by the absorbing effect of the porous material.[0020]
• The base member preferably includes a layer formed by coating or laminating porous material, as appropriate. Hence, the absorbing feature of the porous material such as activated carbon and porous ore acts at the layer of the base member.[0021]
• Other elements, characteristics, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent, from the following detailed descriptions of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings.[0022]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention;[0023]
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the compression storage bag in FIG. 1;[0024]
• FIG. 3 is an illustrated view showing the state before conducting the compression-storing operation with goods to be stored such as beddings located inside of the compression storage bag shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and[0025]
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state with the compression storage bag stored within a storing place such as a closet, after conducting the compression-storing operation using the compression storage bag shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with goods to be stored such as beddings located inside the compression storage bag.[0026]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the compression storage bag in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an illustrated view showing the state before conducting the compression-storing operation (suction operation) with goods to be stored such as beddings put inside the compression storage bag shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state with the compression storage bag stored within a storing place such as a closet, after conducting the compression-storing operation (suction operation) using the compression storage bag shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with goods to be stored such as beddings put inside the compression storage bag.[0027]
• A[0028]compression storage bag10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided with a storage bagmain body12 of, for example, roughly a longitudinally oblong shape seen in the plan view thereof. The storage bagmain body12 is preferably made of a non-permeable laminated film including a synthetic resin material, or other suitable material. The storage bagmain body12 has an opening14 on one end in the longitudinal direction thereof. Theopening14 defines an entrance and exit portion for inserting and removing goods to be stored such as beddings, floor cushions, and clothes.
• The opening[0029]14 of the storage bagmain body12 is blockaded by a blockadingmember16, as appropriate, and is hermetically sealed. Theblockading member16 preferably includes, for example, a pair ofblockading fasteners18. The pair ofblockading fasteners18 has a male half-member18aextending in the lateral direction of the storage bagmain body12, and a female half-member18bin occlusion with the male half-member18a. The male half-member18ais provided, for example, with twoconvex portions20a, and the female half-member18bis provided with twoconcave portions20bthat correspond with theconvex portions20a.
• There is a[0030]clamp22 arranged and installed on the pair ofblockading fasteners18, which supports an occlusion of the male half-member18aon one side, and the female half-member18bon the other side. Theclamp22 including a section having a roughly U-shape configuration, made of, for example, a synthetic resin material, and has two claw pieces (not shown) opposing each other. When thisclamp22 is slid in the longitudinal direction of the pair ofblockading fasteners18, the claw pieces (not shown) push and pressurize the male half-member18aand the female half-member18bof the pair ofblockading fasteners18, and the two convexportions20aand the twoconcave portions20aare occluded. As a result, the opening14 of the storage bagmain body12 is blockaded by theblockading fastener18 more easily and reliably.
• In the[0031]compression storage bag10 according to this preferred embodiment, there is also, for example, onenon-return valve24 arranged and installed on one side in the width-wise direction of the storage bagmain body12, and also at the approximate central portion in the longitudinal direction of the storage bagmain body12. Thisnon-return valve24 has aninner valve portion26A arranged inside the storage bagmain body12, and an outer valve portion26bcommunicatively connected to theinner valve portion26A, and arranged outside the storage bagmain body12. In this case, thenon-return valve24 is preferably made of a synthetic resin material that has, for example, a flat tubular form. Thenon-return valve24 is also arranged and installed, so that its one end in the longitudinal direction extends to the interior of the storage bagmain body12, and its other end in the longitudinal direction extends to the exterior of the storage bagmain body12. Theinner valve portion26A and theouter valve portion26B communicatively connect the interior and the exterior of the storage bagmain body12 through the intervention of the openingportion24aand the openingportion24b. The openingportion24aand the openingportion24bof thenon-return valve24 have a function of being the suction opening for causing the interior of the storage bagmain body12 to be in a negative pressure state by sucking and removing air from the interior of the storage bagmain body12.
• One[0032]opening portion24aof thisnon-return valve24 can be blockaded and clogged, as appropriate, by a pair of blockadingfasteners28, for example. The pair of blockadingfasteners28 has a construction that is roughly the same as the pair of blockadingfasteners18 mentioned above. In this case in particular, the blockadingfasteners28 of thenon-return valve24 include a male half-member provided with one convex portion, and a female half-member provided with one convex portion in comparison to the blockadingfasteners18 of the storage bagmain body12.
• The location of the[0033]non-return valve24 is not limited to the location indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thenon-return valve24 can be arranged and installed, for example, on a portion on any other side of the storage bagmain body12 except theopening14 side, or on a portion on one principle surface or the other principle surface of the storage bagmain body12. The openingportion24aof thenon-return valve24 can be blockaded and clogged by melt-adhering the circumference edge portion of the openingportion24awith heating appliances such as an iron, instead of the blockading and clogging method using the pair of blockadingfasteners28.
• In the[0034]compression storage bag10 according to this preferred embodiment, abase member30 of planar form is arranged inside the storage bagmain body12 in such a state that thebase member30 is easily inserted and removed as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, for example. Thebase member30 is rigid to some extent or has semi-rigidity. Thebase member30 preferably has a substantially rectangular configuration, for example. There is also abend line32 for bending formed at the central portion in the width-wise direction of thebase member30 from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction of thebase member30. Thebase member30 is formed so that it can be bent freely at the central portion in the width-wise direction at thebend line32. Thebase member30 can have its shape formed according to the shape of the storage bagmain body12, and can have a substantially rectangular shape, a substantially elliptical shape, or any other shape, for example. Moreover, thebend line32 can be formed, for example, at the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of thebase member30, and the arrangement and number of the bend lines32 can be changed, as appropriate.
• When the above-mentioned[0035]base member30 is put inside the storage bagmain body12, and particularly when the base portion B of the storage bagmain body12 has its shape retained, as shown in FIG. 1, and goods to be stored100 such as beddings and clothes are stored inside, the whole storage bagmain body12 of thecompression storage bag10 reliably retains its shape, for example, a substantially rectangular shape, as particularly shown in FIG. 3. When, for example, a suction nozzle (not shown) of a vacuum cleaner is inserted into oneopening portion24bof thenon-return valve24 in this state and a compression-storing operation is conducted, thecompression storage bag10A together with the goods to be stored100 is compressed to define a substantially rectangular shape, as particularly shown in FIG. 4.
• When air inside the[0036]compression storage bag10 is removed or suction-deaerated by suction-deaerating means such as a vacuum cleaner, the interior of thecompression storage bag10 can be decompressed to a negative pressure state. At this point, the openingportion24aof theinner valve portion26A is hermetically sealed, because the inner surfaces of theinner valve portion26A of thenon-return valve24 closely adheres with each other. That is to say, the inner surfaces of theinner valve portion26A inside the storage bagmain body12 closely adheres with each other, because a force pushing and pressurizing the outer surface of theinner valve portion26A is generated by the pressure difference of ambient air between the interior and exterior of the storage bagmain body12. As a result, inflow of outside air into the interior of the storage bagmain body12 is prevented.
• As the negative pressure state inside the[0037]compression storage bag10 due to the suction-deaerating operation is reached, the wholecompression storage bag10 is compressed, and correspondingly, thecompression storage bag10 and goods to be stored100 such as beddings inside thecompression storage bag10 are compressed. As a result, the goods to be stored100 inside thecompression storage bag10 are compression-stored in such a manner.
• With the[0038]compression storage bag10 according to this preferred embodiment, it is possible to erect and place thecompression storage bag10A compressed together with the goods to be stored100 in a perpendicular state with the base portion B of the storage bagmain body12, which is supported by thebase member30, becoming the surface contacting the ground. Therefore, it becomes possible to store thiscompression storage bag10A in a storage area within a storage location such as a closet in an erected state, as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, compression-storing of the goods to be stored100 using thecompression storage bag10 according to preferred embodiments of the present invention significantly reduce planar storing space substantially in comparison with a planar pile-up storage using a conventional compression storage bag. Hence, an effective utilization of the storing space S can be pursued, and the applicable extent to which thecompression storage bag10A after compression-storage can be accommodated and stored is broadened. Furthermore, the work required to store thecompression storage bag10A after compression-storage into storing places such as closets is made easier.
• The[0039]base member30 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention preferably includes a porous material such as activated carbon and porous ore. In this case, a paper compounded with, for example, about three percent (3%) of activated carbon and natural silica-alumina type mineral ore in the papermaking process, and pasted together to a sturdy paper, is used for thebase member30. This activated carbon may be prepared by using raw material of coffee residue carbonized, and has a relatively uniform grain diameter.
• With the[0040]compression storage bag10 according to this preferred embodiment, gas and moisture can be absorbed by the absorbing effect of the activated carbon and porous ore, because thebase member30 includes a porous material such as activated carbon and porous ore. Therefore, thiscompression storage bag10 is excellent in deodorizing characteristics and moisture-proof characteristics due to the effects of thebase member30.
• The porous material is not limited to the substances put in during the papermaking process, as mentioned above. A porous material layer can be formed, for example, on a base material made of paper by coating or laminating or other suitable process. In this case, the[0041]base member30 can activate the absorbing feature of porous material such as activated carbon and porous ore, because thebase member30 has the porous material layer.
• Since the[0042]base member30 is formed so that it can be bent along the bendingline32 in thecompression storage bag10 of this preferred embodiment, it is made easy to set thebase member30 on the base portion B inside the compression storage bagmain body12 by bending thebase member30, when inserting thebase member30 inside the storage bagmain body12.
• With preferred embodiments of the present invention, a compression storage bag can be achieved, in which the operation to store and accommodate goods to be stored such as beddings and clothes after compression-storage is made easy, and which has a broad range of applicable storing and accommodating places.[0043]
• While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.[0044]

Claims (14)

What is claimed is:

1. A compression storage bag including a non-return valve made of a synthetic resin material on one portion of said compression storage bag, and a base member having a planar configuration and being disposed inside said compression storage bag in a state such that the base member is freely inserted and removed from the compression storage bag.

2. The compression storage bag according toclaim 1, wherein said non-return valve includes an inner valve portion arranged inside said compression storage bag, and an outer valve portion communicatively connected to said inner valve portion and arranged outside of said compression storage bag.

3. The compression storage bag according toclaim 2, wherein said non-return valve has a flat tubular shape.

4. The compression storage bag according toclaim 1, wherein said base member is made of paper that is at least semi-rigid, and is bendable at an intermediate portion in one of a longitudinal direction and a width-wise direction of said base member.

5. The compression storage bag according toclaim 1, wherein said base member has a bend line extending in one of a longitudinal direction and a width-wise direction of said base member.

6. The compression storage bag according toclaim 5, wherein said base member has a substantially rectangular, planar form, and said bend line is provided at an intermediate portion in the width-wise direction of said base member, and extends in the longitudinal direction of said base member.

7. The compression storage bag according toclaim 1, wherein said base member includes a porous material including at least one of activated carbon and porous ore.

8. The compression storage bag according toclaim 1, wherein said base member has a layer made of said porous material.

9. The compression storage bag according toclaim 1, wherein the compression storage bag has a longitudinally oblong shape.

10. The compression storage bag according toclaim 1, wherein the compression storage bag includes a storage bag main body made of a non-permeable laminated film.

11. The compression storage bag according toclaim 1, further comprising an opening in the compression storage bag for inserting and removing goods to be stored in the compression storage bag.

12. The compression storage bag according toclaim 11, further comprising a blockading member arranged to selectively close the opening.

13. The compression storage bag according toclaim 12, wherein the blockading member includes a pair of blockading fasteners having a male half-member extending in the lateral direction of the storage bag main body and a female half-member arranged in occlusion with the male half-member.

14. The compression storage bag according toclaim 13, further comprising a clamp arranged and installed on the pair of blockading fasteners.

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