US20050207679A1 - Reclosable bag - Google Patents

Abstract

A reclosable bag, comprising: a bag portion defining a bag interior and a bag opening, a means for opening and closing the bag opening, the means comprising (i) opposed interlocking features along the bag opening, the interlocking features being sized and shaped to form a seal when engaged, and (ii) a slider in the bag opening, between the opposed interlocking features, to engage and disengage the interlocking features as the slider moves, the slider being further configured to seal the bag opening when positioned at one end of the bag opening, a passageway in the slider, to provide access between the bag interior and an area outside of the bag, and a means for selectively opening and closing the passageway, wherein, upon moving the slider to the end of the bag opening and sealing the bag opening, access may be selectively provided between the bag interior and the area outside of the bag through the passageway.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates to the general field of containers, and more particularly to multi-purpose and specialty storage bags.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Bags are universally used and recognized as convenient, versatile, lightweight, and low cost containers. Bags having recloseable openings are useful to provide better security for their contents and for storage purposes. Such bags also have the benefit of better protecting perishable or sensitive contents, or alternatively, protecting the environment from contamination by contents that are toxic or dangerous.
• A common closeable bag configuration has two rectangular panes of plastic film joined along three sides, with an opening left on one side, usually the top. A reclosable opening or zipper can be constructed on the open side by forming an interlocking strip on opposing panes, for example, by tongue and groove portions. The bags may be conveniently closed by pinching the panes together, so the tongue snaps into the groove, and opened by prying the panes apart.
• In some cases a slider is added to facilitate opening and closing of the bag. A slider is a separate, usually molded, plastic piece that fits over and around the edge of the panes forming the bag opening so that it can slide along the strip. The slider is usually configured to apply an inward pinching pressure to urge opposing panels to join or interlock, and also to include a separator or finger that traverses the bag opening. With this configuration, closing the bag involves pushing the slider in a closing direction, and opening the bag involves moving the slider along a reverse, opening direction.
• In many applications such as storage of food, liquids, or biological waste, it is desirable to form an airtight or leakproof seal of the closed bag. However, for bags having sliders, the separator or finger part of the slider usually traverses the opening, which prevents the formation of an airtight seal. In one attempted solution, Blythe, U.S. Pat. No. 6,526,632, shows a slider which lifts the separation member out of the bag opening by rotating the slider upwardly at the closed end. This device however is more complicated than the conventional slider, which adds cost, and also apparently depends on use of a customizedcounterpart fastener12.
• Another desirable feature, particularly for perishable contents, is the ability to remove residual air from the interior of the closed bag. A common practice by users of household storage bags, for example, is to first close the bag almost all the way, leaving a small portion open. The bag is then squeezed to vent the residual air out through the small opening, after which the user tries to quickly close the small opening before air can re-enter the bag. This informal method however is generally inconvenient and produces inconsistent results. It is also awkward, particularly for individuals with poor motor skills.
• Some attempts have been made to construct a closeable bag with a built-in facility for air removal. For example, Minica, U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,264, shows a bag having an open top divided into a main opening and a smaller evacuation opening. The latter opening is configured to include a suction conduit for use in removing residual interior air. Strong, U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,582, shows a bag having a bow-shaped pump chamber with a suction port and a one-way valve. When the bag is closed, the pump chamber can be compressed to push air out through the one-way valve. Herrington, U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,652, shows an extending portion adhering to a hole in one of the film side panels. Squeezing the bag causes the extending portion to separate from the side panel, permitting air to escape through the hole. Thereafter, the extending portion returns to its position covering the hole, preventing further outflow of interior air.
• All of these devices require modification to the standard storage bag, which increases cost. In addition, the bags shown do not use a slider, which may be due to the difficulty of forming an airtight seal with a slider.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• What is desired is a reclosable bag which overcomes one or more of the problems associated with such prior art bags.
• Preferably, the bag should be easy and convenient for the user to close. In particular, it would be preferable if the bag could be configured to make use of a slider, which facilitates a strong air tight seal and the opening and closing thereof. A strong seal better maintains the freshness of perishable contents, and better protects the environment from toxic contents. The bag will also preferably be configured so that after it is closed the user can conveniently remove residual air, gas, or fluids from the bag interior, or alternatively, fill the interior with gas or fluid without disturbing the air-tight seal.
• To keep costs low, the bag will preferably be capable of manufacture by conventional production techniques, using standard materials and components. The bag will preferably be suitable for production as a general purpose storage bag or as a commercial container for drinks and other items. Another preferable feature would be for the bag's closeable opening characteristic to be changeable. In this way, instead of the usual configuration where one side of the slider opens the bag and the other side closes the bag, the bag opening could be made, for example, to stay closed on either side of the slider as the slider is moved. This feature could enable greater flexibility in producing closeable bags that more closely meet the needs of different applications. It would also be preferable for the bag to effectively hold liquids, and to have a feature that prevents inadvertent spilling.
• Accordingly, there is provided a reclosable bag, comprising:
• • (a) a bag portion defining a bag interior and a bag opening;
  • (b) a means for opening and closing said bag opening, said means comprising:
    • (i) opposed interlocking features along said bag opening, said interlocking features being sized and shaped to form a seal when engaged; and
    • (ii) a slider in said bag opening, between said opposed interlocking features, to engage and disengage said interlocking features as said slider moves, said slider being further configured to seal said bag opening when positioned at one end of said bag opening;
  • (c) a passageway in said slider, to provide access between said bag interior and an area outside of said bag; and
  • (d) a means for selectively opening and closing said passageway;
    • wherein, upon moving said slider to said end of said bag opening and sealing said bag opening, access may be selectively provided between said bag interior and said area outside of said bag through said passageway.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the attached figures.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the reclosable bag of the present invention with the slider in an intermediate position;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the reclosable bag ofFIG. 1, with the slider in a closed or sealed position;
• FIG. 3ais a cross-sectional view of the reclosable bag ofFIG. 1, showing the bag in an non-interlocked position;
• FIG. 3bis the same view asFIG. 3a, showing the bag in an interlocked position;
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the slider of the present invention installed in the bag;
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the slider ofFIG. 1 showing hidden elements;
• FIG. 6 is a side view of the slider ofFIG. 1, without a handle;
• FIG. 7ais a perspective, hidden view of the slider of the present invention showing the opening edge of the slider;
• FIG. 7bis the slider ofFIG. 7arotated to show the other side of the slider;
• FIG. 7cis the slider ofFIG. 7aviewed from the front;
• FIG. 8ais a perspective, hidden view of the slider of the present invention showing the closing edge of the slider;
• FIG. 8bis the slider ofFIG. 8arotated to show the other side of the slider;
• FIG. 8cis is the slider ofFIG. 8aviewed from the front;
• FIG. 9ais a front view of the closing edge of the slider ofFIG. 9, with one side of the slider left blank;
• FIG. 9bis the same view asFIG. 9awith the other side of the slider left blank;
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bag ofFIG. 1, showing a suction device in the slider passageway and contents in the bag interior;
• FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the reclosable bag of the present invention, showing a fixed element and a slider;
• FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the reclosable bag of the present invention, showing a round commercial drink package; and
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the reclosable bag of the present invention, showing a gussetted commercial drink package.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• The closeable bag of the present invention is shown inFIG. 1, and is generally indicated withreference numeral10. There is abag portion12 which defines abag interior14. The bag portion is generally sealed or closed along its edges except for abag opening16, which defines an unsealed section that can be selectively opened or closed. InFIG. 1bag opening16 is the top unsealed side of the bag betweenend22 andend24.
• The closeable bag includes a means for selectively opening and closing the bag opening. The means for opening and closing generally comprises two elements—opposed interlocking features18 along thebag opening16, and aslider20. Theslider20 is positioned in thebag opening16, between the opposed interlocking features18, and is generally movable along at least a portion of their length. Theslider20 is further configured so that as it moves, it causes the portion of the opposed interlocking features18 that it passes to engage or disengage.
• InFIG. 1, theslider20 is shown at an intermediate position betweenend22 and end24 of thebag opening16. In this position the opposed interlocking features18 are engaged for aclosed portion15 of thebag opening16 between theend22 and theslider20, and are disengaged for anopen portion17 of thebag opening16 between theslider20 and theend24. InFIG. 2, thecloseable bag10 is shown with theslider20 moved all the way to theend24. It can be seen that in this position the opposed interlocking features18 are engaged along the complete length, fromend22 to end24, of thebag opening16. It can be appreciated that in this position of theslider20,closed portion15 is at a maximum length.
• Thecloseable bag10 is configured so that when the slider is in the position shown inFIG. 2, in which the interlocking features18 are fully engaged and thebag opening16 is completely closed, thebag10 is generally sealed airtight. The invention also comprehends apassageway26 to provide access between thebag interior14 and anoutside area28 of the bag, and a means for selectively opening and closing the passageway. InFIG. 1, thepassageway26 is shown inside theslider20. The bag of the present invention can accordingly selectively provide access, through thepassageway26, between thebag interior14 and outsidearea28 when thebag opening16 is completely closed and thebag10 is otherwise sealed airtight.
• Thebag portion12 of the present invention comprehends any structure that provides the function of a container or a bag. More specifically, thebag portion12 defines thebag interior14, which is a space inside the bag with a capacity to receive various contents for deposit.
• Thebag opening16 represents an area or space through which access may be obtained to thebag interior14. Depending on the application, the bag contents may be deposited or retrieved through thebag opening16. Thebag opening16 is preferably formed by an unsealed or unconnected seam of the material used to form thebag portion12, but may also be formed by a cut, slit, incision, gap, hole, or other break anywhere on the surface of that material. The position of thebag opening16 may accordingly be along an edge, interface, or seam of two or more pieces of the bag material, or along a top, bottom, side, diagonal, or other section of the material.
• As shown in a preferred embodiment ofFIG. 1, asimple bag portion12 may be created by joining two rectangular panes of material along three of their four sides. Alternatively, the embodiment ofFIG. 1 could also be made by folding a single sheet of material to form the two panes, and sealing the two sides. For convenient reference, the two panes may be designated as afront pane30 and aback pane32. In this embodiment thebag interior14 is the volume of space between the twopanes30 and32, and thebag opening16 is the area bounded on its perimeter by the edges of the two panes on the unsealed top side of the bag.
• Thebag portion12 also preferably includes asupport feature33 adjacent to thebag opening16 on an exterior part of the bag. Thesupport feature33 may take the form, for example, of a ridge, ledge, bulge, or similar protrusion. In the bag ofFIG. 1,support feature33 is a thickening or bulging of the bag material along the edge of the top open side of each pane of the bag. As will be discussed in greater detail below, feature33 provides a surface that facilitates support or attachment of theslider20.
• It can be appreciated that other embodiments of thebag portion12 are possible as long as they define abag interior14 capable of holding contents, and abag opening16 to provide access to the bag interior. Some examples of alternative embodiments include abag portion12 formed from a single piece of spherical material having no panes or seams, as shown inFIG. 12, or a more complex gusseted bag having six panes, as shown inFIG. 13. In these embodiments thebag opening16 may be formed by an incision or cut in the material forming thebag portion12.
• Thebag portion12 is preferably formed from a material sufficiently dense to contain air, gas, liquid, or other fluid contents without leakage, and sufficiently strong to hold the expected contents without tearing. The material should preferably be water resistant so as not to lose structural strength from contact with liquids. For these reasons bags made of plastic or polyethylene have been found to be adequate. Depending on the application, other materials such as film, laminate, or coated or treated paper may also provide adequate results. The bag material is preferably smooth, but may also be made laminated. Laminations are sometimes preferable, particularly in larger bags, since they can can provide channels for the movement of air flow inside thebag interior14.
• To retain the flexibility characteristic of bags the material should also preferably be pliant or elastic. The degree of flexibility in the material can be varied according to the application. However, it is preferable that there be at least sufficient flexibility so that the part of thebag portion12 that defines the perimeter of thebag opening16 can be pulled or drawn together by a user, to effectively close thebag opening16.
• Thebag10 of the present invention is generally configured to be closed or sealed everywhere on its surface and at all seams and edges except forbag opening16, which can be selectively opened or closed. Therefore, closingbag opening16 has the effect of completely enclosingbag interior14 and closing thebag10. Thebag10 may be designated alternately as “closeable” or “recloseable”, in each case meaning that the bag can be repeatedly opened and closed.
• InFIG. 1 thebag opening16 is formed in the space between the top edges of the unsealed sides ofopposed panes30 and32. Interlocking features18 are installed on the inner part of theopposed panes30 and32 that form the perimeter ofbag opening16. The interlocking features18 may be more particularly referenced as interlocking orfront feature34 on front pane30 (not visible inFIG. 1) and interlocking or back feature36 onback pane32. The interlocking features18 are positioned to oppose one another and are sized and shaped to engage andclose bag opening16 whenpanes30 and32 are brought together.
• In the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 1 the position of the interlocking features18 is at the top inner edge ofpanes30 and32. This positioning is preferred because it maximizes theinterior space14 of thebag10. However it can be appreciated that the interlocking features18 may be placed anywhere on thebag10 and oriented in any direction as long as it forms an opposed pair sized and shaped to closebag opening16 when engaged.
• The interlocking features18 represent any configuration which will enable the opposed panes of thebag portion12 to engage when the panes are brought together or in close proximity, to closebag opening16, and also comprehend any configuration which will enable the engaged panes to disengage when the panes are drawn or pulled apart, to re-openbag opening16. The interlocking features18 should preferably be sufficiently robust in design and composition to enable repeated opening and closing within the expected lifespan of thebag10 without experiencing undue loss in the strength of the engaged portions. In addition, the interlocking features are preferably sized and shaped to form a seal when engaged. In this way, fluid contents in thebag interior14, for example, would not leak out of the bag through the engaged interlocking features.
• A preferred type of interlockingfeature18 comprises mechanical elements which interlock through an interference or snap fit, such as by one feature sliding, pressing, or snapping inside the other feature. Such an arrangement is commonly described as a “tongue and groove” or “male and female” configuration, with the inner piece being the tongue or male portion and the outer piece being the groove or female portion.FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the interlocking features18. InFIG. 3athere is a male ortongue feature34 and a female orgroove feature36. In this figure the opposing interlocking features are not connected or engaged, so thatbag opening16 is open. InFIG. 3bthefeatures34 and36 are engaged in thattongue feature34 is inserted intogroove feature36 by a snap fit. Thefeatures34 and36 are preferably formed from the same plastic material as thepanes30 and32, and are sized and shaped so thattongue34 fits snugly insidegroove36. The combination of the close fit and resiliency of the material cause the engaged pair to form an effective seal, and to resist disengagement unless a minimum sufficient force is applied to opposedpanes30 and32 to pull them apart. It can be appreciated that the larger thetongue feature34 is relative to thegroove feature36, the harder it will be to snap fit the features together, but the stronger will be the connection and the tighter will be the seal.
• The preferred arrangement shown inFIG. 3 has been found to be generally adequate, particularly for low cost applications, as it provides adequate performance and can be produced at low cost. However, it can be appreciated that other types of interlocking features18 are comprehended by the present invention as long as they retain the properties of being able to engage or disengage without too much difficulty, maintain a minimum sufficient strength of engagement, and retain this strength of engagement after repeated openings and closings. Other possible embodiments may include, for example, magnetic means of engaging or disengaging opposing panes.
• Theslider20 is preferably an independent piece or element separate from thebag portion12.FIGS. 5-9 show various views of a preferred embodiment of theslider20, where for enhanced clarity the independent slider element is shown isolated, or unconnected to thebag portion12.
• With reference toFIG. 5, theslider20 generally comprises a central orcore body38 with projectinghandles40 on either side. Thebody38 has a top42, a bottom44, and a pair of sides or side faces46, which for clarity are further distinguished as side face45 andside face47. The side faces46 comprise the part of theslider20 that face or make contact with the opposed interlocking features18 of thebag12.
• It can be seen through the hidden view ofFIG. 5 that thecore body38 is widest at the center and tapers to opposing tips, ends, or edges48,50. Each of theedges48 and50 extend the length from the top42 tobottom44 of thecore body38. Theslider20 is also preferably sized and shaped to be complementary to the shape of an end of the bag opening, to permit the slider to form a better seal. As a result of this preferred configuration, in a top view thebody38 resembles a flattened oval terminating in a point at each end. This aspect of theslider20 may also be seen inFIGS. 1 and 2 which show, in hidden lines, the upper edges ofpanels30 and32 inbag opening16 wrapping around the oval-shapedcore body38 ofslider20.
• Thehandles40 provide support to keep theslider20 in place or attached to thebag12, and also provide a handle, grip, or contact for the user to hold when moving the slider. Thehandles40 preferably attach to or extend from theslider body38 at or near the top42, and extend outwards to either side and downwards towards bottom44 to some extent. It is also preferable for the bottom of the handle to extend inwards towards thebody38, to create asupport ledge52. InFIG. 5 thehandles40 include an outward panel53,downward panel54, andinward panel55. However it can be appreciated that handles40 formed from a single curved panel, for example, would also be adequate. In another embodiment that provides greater surface area, thehandles40 could rise vertically abovetop42 of the slider body before turning outwards and downwards.
• It can be appreciated that thehandles40 include both an inside portion that faces thesides46 of the slider and an outside portion that faces away from thesides46 of the slider. The outside portion provides a surface which may be grasped by a user to hold or move theslider20. Accordingly, thehandles40 and in particular the outside portion ofhandles40 are preferably sized and shaped to provide a comfortable and secure gripping surface. This may include, for example, inpanel54, an indentation in the surface or the use of a rubber material with nodules to provide a more effective grip.
• Thehandles40 are also preferably sized and shaped so that the inside portion generally follows the contour of thesides46 of the slider. In the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 5, the inside portion of thehandles40 will accordingly follow the oval contour of thecore body38, which expands outwards from ends48 and50 towards the center of the body. As can be seen in the drawings, thehandles40 and their inside portion extend all the way towardsend48 of theslider body38, but stop short fromend50. The reason for this configuration relates to different functions served byends48 and50, and is discussed in greater detail below.
• Theslider20 is also preferably configured so that the separation or gap distance between thesides46 of thebody38 and the inside portion of thehandles40 will be approximately the thickness of theindividual panels30 and32, along thebag opening16, of thebag portion12. More preferably, the separation or gap distance will be slightly greater than the bag panel thickness, so that there will be sufficient space for the bag panels to be inserted and fit between theslider body38 and handles40, while maintaining a close and secure connection.
• FIGS. 7 and 8 provide enhanced views of the side faces46 of theslider20. For greater clarity, in these figures thehandles40 are shown in outline so that theslider body38 andsides46 can be more clearly viewed. It can be seen that each of the individual side faces45 and47 have a side rail56, or more particularlyside rail58 onside face45 andside rail60 onside face47. The side rails56 are sized and shaped to mate with or slidably engage an opposing interlockingfeature18 on thebag portion12, and accordingly are preferably configured as a tongue or a groove. It can be seen fromFIGS. 7aand8bthatside rail58 comprises a tongue or male connector, and fromFIGS. 7band8athatside rail60 comprises a groove or female connector.
• The side rails56 are preferably positioned in the middle of thebody38, equidistant from the top42 and bottom44. The side rails56 are also preferably formed by carving the desired feature, whether tongue or groove, out of theside46 so thatside46 maintains a flat or flush profile.
• The side rails56 generally extend the length of thesides46, but vary in configuration according to which end,48 or50, is being approached. End oredge50 is highlighted inFIG. 7, withFIG. 7aproviding a perspective view ofside45 andtongue side rail58,FIG. 7bproviding a perspective view ofside47 andgroove side rail60, andFIG. 7cproviding a front view of both sides and side rails. It can be seen that the side rails56 terminate just beforeedge50, and do not interact, abut, or otherwise contact one another.Edge50 in effect separates the side rails56, and accordingly maintains a generally continuous, unbroken line from top42 tobottom44 of theslider body38.
• Similarly, end or edge48 is highlighted inFIG. 8, withFIG. 8aproviding a perspective view ofside47 andgroove side rail60,FIG. 8bproviding a perspective view ofside45 andtongue side rail58, andFIG. 8cproviding a front view of both sides and side rails. In this case the side rails56 intersect, producing a hollowed outsection62 where they meet alongedge48.
• FIG. 9 has been provided to enhance clarity of the configuration ofedge48. InFIG. 9agroove side rail60 is shown butside45 has been left blank, withoutside rail58, for illustration purposes. It can be seen that thegroove60 extends all the way to theedge48 and wraps around it so that the groove carves out a small portion ofside45. Similarly, inFIG. 9btongue side rail58 is shown withside47 left blank. In this case thetongue58 also extends all the way to edge48 and wraps around it, thereby extending intoside47. When the two side rails ofFIG. 9 combine, the result is the hollowed outsection62 alongedge48 shown in the various views ofFIG. 8.
• FIG. 6 is a side or profile view of theslider body38, taken alongside47 and showinggroove side rail60. It can be seen thatedge50 remains continuous and unbroken, asside rail60 and side rail58 (not shown) both terminate just before the edge. By contrast,side rail60 extends all the way to edge48 and wraps around it, along with side rail58 (not shown) creating hollowed outsection62. As will be discussed in more detail below, the configuration of side rails atedge50 has the effect of disengaging the opposed interlocking features18, while the configuration atedge48 engages the interlocking features18. For this reason, the slider ends may alternatively be designated as opening or separatingedge50 and closing or joiningedge48.
• Openingedge50 can be made to form a straight vertical edge. However, as shown inFIG. 6 andFIGS. 7aand7b,edge50 is preferably configured to include a projection or juttingportion64 at one or more places along its length. Theprojection portion64 is sized and shaped to makeslider20 form a closer, more complementary fit with the end ofbag opening16. In this way, a more effective seal will be created when the slider is moved to an end ofbag opening16, as shown inFIG. 2.
• Slider20 also preferably includes thepassageway26, which is an aperture or hole extending the full height of the slider from top42 tobottom44.FIG. 5 shows theslider20 with the hidden part ofpassageway26 shown in dotted line. The passageway can have any cross-sectional shape, such as circular, oval, or rectangular, but is preferably circular. It can be located anywhere on the slider, but preferably is located at or close to the center or midpoint of the slider. Thepassageway26 can be any size in diameter or width as long as it does not interfere with the structural integrity of the slider. The passageway is also preferably sized and shaped to to permit gas, fluid, or solid matter to flow or pass through its interior, and to accept a fluid transmission conduit, as discussed further below.
• Theslider20 is preferably made from a polyethylene or plastic material. Plastic is preferred because it is relatively strong, lightweight, water resistant, and low cost. A further advantage of plastic is that it can be made relatively easily into a complex shape like theslider20. This can be accomplished, for example, through the standard production technique of injection molding, using a standard mold designed to conform to the shape of theslider20. Plastic is also a preferable slider material to use when thebag portion12 is plastic, so that the various components can be more easily integrated. It can be appreciated that other materials are also comprehended by the present invention as long as they possess some or all of the above properties. Other possible materials for the slider may include, for example, metal, alloy, or wood.
• In forming thebag10 of the present invention, thebody38 of theslider20 is placed inside thebag opening16 so thatsides46 are positioned between the opposed faces offront feature34 and back feature36. As shown inFIG. 4 in cross-sectional view, theslider20 attaches to thebag portion12 on both the inside and the outside of the bag.
• On the inside of the bag, the side rails56 of the slider mate or slidably engage with the opposed interlocking features18 of thebag portion12. With respect to the embodiment ofFIG. 4, the tongue offront feature34 snaps or fits inside the groove ofside rail58, and the tongue ofside rail60 snaps or fits inside the groove ofback feature36. It can be appreciated that other embodiments of these interacting elements are also possible, as long as the slider slidably engages with thebag portion12. For example, the interlocking features18 could be made flush with thebag portion12, with the side rails58 and60 projecting outwards from the sides of the slider.
• On the outside of the bag, it can be seen that thehandles40 of the slider are sized and shaped to conform to or snugly fit with theexternal support feature33 of thebag portion12. In particular, thehandles40 wrap aroundsupport feature33 so that the bottom ofsupport feature33 rests onsupport ledge52 of thehandles40. It can be appreciated that other embodiments of these elements are also possible as long as the handles provide a means for securing the slider to the outside of thebag portion12. For example, the particular shapes of thesupport feature33 and handles40 can vary as long as they continue to conform to one another to form a close, snug fit. Similarly, other types of attachment besides a mechanical fit are also possible, such as for example, a magnetic connection between the inside of thehandles40 and the opposing external edge of thebag portion12 orsupport feature33.
• It can be appreciated that the combination of the interlocking elements inside the bag and the close fit of the handle around theexternal support feature33 closely hold theslider20 to thebag portion12. In particular, theslider20 is attached so that it cannot fall into thebag interior14 or inadvertently pop out of the open top. Short of a determined and forceful effort, theslider20 will resist most attempts to be separated or removed from thebag portion12.
• Theslider20 is sized and shaped to engage the interlocking features18, or alternatively, to disengage the interlocking features18, as the slider is moved along thebag opening16. More specifically, the configuration ofedges48 and50 of theslider20 determine whether a given portion ofbag opening16 will engage or disengage as the slider moves in a particular direction.
• Turning to the preferred embodiment of thecloseable bag10 shown inFIG. 1, it can be seen that from an intermediate position theslider20 can be moved in two directions, towards either end22 orend24. In whichever direction the slider is moved, one of the slider edges48 or50 will face the end in the direction of movement, and the other one will trail, facing the opposite end. Thebag10 of the present invention is configured so that as the slider is moved along a portion ofbag opening16, the interlocking features18 in the portion covered by the slider movement will join or engage, or alternatively, separate or disengage, in accordance with the characteristic of the trailing end or edge of theslider20.
• More particularly, inFIG. 1 theslider20 is oriented so that joiningedge48 faces end22 of thebag10, orclosed portion15 of thebag opening16, and separatingedge50 faces end24 of the bag, oropen portion17 of thebag opening16. Asslider20 is moved towardsend24, the interlocking features18 will join, close, engage, or interlock in accordance with trailing joiningedge48. In this way,closed portion15 will increase in length commensurate withopen portion17 decreasing in length. As shown inFIG. 2, when the slider reachesend24 the entire length of interlocking features18 will be closed. Similarly, asslider20 moves towardsend22, as for example in moving from the position inFIG. 2 to the position inFIG. 1, the interlocking features18 will separate, open, or disengage, in accordance with trailing separatingedge50.
• The joining and separating function of theslider20 can be understood by tracing the path of the interlocking features18 throughedges48 and50 ofslider20. As shown inFIG. 4, the interlocking features are slidably engaged with side rails56 over most of the length ofsides46 of the slider. As the slider ofFIG. 1 moves towardsend24, the portion of the interlocking features that pass through trailingedge48 will be drawn together due to the continuation of the side rails right up to and around theedge48. As each side rail wraps around the opposite side atedge48, the slidably engaged tongue and groove features34 and36 will be forced into contact, withtongue34 snapping or pressing intogroove36. Further, the inner portion ofhandle40 follows the contour ofsides46 all the way to edge48. Since the gap or separation distance between the inner portion of thehandle40 andsides46 is very small, and preferably only marginally thicker than the thickness of the upper edges ofindividual panes30 and32, thepanes30 and32 will be forced to stay in the track of side rails56 and forced to come together. In this way, the interlocking features18 make a smooth transition from being slidably engaged withside rails46 of the slider, as for example shown at65 and66 ofFIG. 1, to being interlocked with one another, as shown in their corresponding positions on theclosed portion15 ofFIG. 2.
• Conversely, when theslider20 moves towardsend22, the portion of the opposing features34 and36 that pass through trailingedge50 will be unable to engage due to the termination of the side rails56 on either side of separatingedge50. Further, the inner portion ofhandle40 only follows the contour ofsides46 to a point short of separatingedge50. There is no need for the inner portion ofhandle40 to extend all the way since it is not desired to press the interlocking features together at separatingedge50. As a result, while the opposing features34 and36 will approach one another as the contour ofslider20 narrows towardsedge50, as they slip off the side rails56 they will remain apart since there is no guide or track on the slider side rails or outside pressure from thehandles40 to keep them together.
• It can be appreciated that other open/close characteristics of thecloseable bag10 can be achieved by modifying the construction of theslider20. For example, instead of having both a joiningedge48 and a separatingedge50, theslider20 could be made with two joiningedges48. In this case thebag opening16 would remain closed for its entire length, on both sides of the slider, for any position of the slider. Alternatively, if the slider is constructed with two separatingedges50, no part of thebag opening16 would close.
• Thecloseable bag10 is configured to produce an airtight seal in thebag interior14 when thebag opening16 is fully closed. As shown inFIG. 2, this will occur where theslider20 is moved to the sealed position atend24.
• The interlocking features of the present invention are preferably sized and shaped to form a seal when engaged. In particular, thetongue feature34 andgroove feature36 are preferably sized and shaped to form an airtight seal when they interlock or snap-fit together. Accordingly, with theslider20 in the position shown inFIG. 2, theclosed portion15 of bag opening16 fromend22 to end48 of the slider will be airtight due to the engagement of interlocking features18.
• Theslider20 is configured to seal thebag opening16 when positioned at one end of said bag opening.Slider20 is accordingly preferably configured to produce a seal all around its perimeter. At the point whereclosed portion15 meets joiningedge48, the interlocking features18 are squeezed closely together, both from the inward pressure of the close-fitting handles, and to connect with side rails56. In this way the airtight seal is maintained at the interface of the interlocking features18 and the slider. Along thesides46 of the slider the airtight seal is maintained due to the snap fit between side rails56 and interlocking features18. Accordingly, side rails56 are preferably sized and shaped to produce an airtight fit or engagement with interlocking features18. At the interface of separatingedge50 and end24 of thebag10, the airtight seal is achieved by configuring theslider20, and in particular separatingedge50, so that it is complementary to the shape ofbag opening16 atend24. In the preferred embodiment of thebag10, theedge50 of the slider has a “V” shape which complements and fits closely into a similar “V” shape inbag opening16 atend24. Separatingedge50 preferably also includes the projection or juttingportion64. As shown in the side view ofFIG. 6, this feature assists in maintaining an airtight seal by jutting out from the slider to fill any incremental space that may be present inbag opening16, atend24, through which air might leak.
• It can be appreciated that other shapes of theslider20 andbag portions12 may also be used, as long as the shapes of the slider tip and end ofbag opening16 are sufficiently complementary to form a close and snug fit. It can also be appreciated how the present invention improves on the prior art. Sliders used in the past usually contain a separator or finger to separate or pry apart the panes. The separator is usually configured to fulfill this function, and not to form a complementary fit with a bag opening. Such sliders cannot usually seal a bag opening in the ordinary course since the separator prevents the slider from completely closing the bag opening.
• In order to maintain the airtight seal once the slider has reached theend24, it is preferable for there to be a latch or other means to hold theslider20 in place and prevent it from falling back. This may be achieved in the present invention by means of a detent, which is a catch or lever that locks the movement of one part of a mechanism. Detents can be placed anywhere along theslider20 or thebag portion12.
• In the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 1, thebag portion12 contains afirst detent68, and theslider20 contains asecond detent70 on the inside ofhandle40. Thefirst detent68 and thesecond detent70 are configured to engage one another when the slider is moved to the sealed position. Thefirst detent68 is preferably a bump or raised nodule on the outside surface of thebag portion12, such as onexternal support feature33. Thesecond detent70 is preferably an indentation on the inside ofhandle40. When theslider20 is moved to the sealed position, thedetent68 snaps into or engages withdetent70. The connection established is preferably sufficiently strong to hold theslider20 in place, while at the same time capable of being overcome without too much difficulty by the user pushing the slider towardsend22 when it is desired to re-open the bag.
• It can be appreciated that other embodiments for latching of the slider are possible, as long as theslider20 is prevented from falling back and a good seal is maintained. For example,FIG. 10 shows theslider20 having aflap72 resting on the top42 of the slider. At the sealed position shown inFIG. 10, the flap may be moved, rotated, or otherwise positioned to snap fit with a detent (not shown) on the outside edge of thebag portion12. When it is desired to move the slider, theflap72 can be flipped up and out of the way, to restore mobility to the slider.
• Thepassageway26 is configured to provide access between thebag interior14 and outsidearea28 whether thebag opening16 is open or closed. In the preferred embodiment of the invention,passageway26 is preferably inside or integrated withslider20. Since the slider is positioned between interlocking features18, it can be appreciated that access between bag interior14 and outsidearea28 throughpassageway26 will be unaffected even when thebag opening16 is closed and sealed airtight. Thepassageway26 is sized and shaped to provide access to passage of a fluid, such as a gas or a liquid, or solid matter such as particulates or powder.
• Thepassageway26 is also preferably sized and shaped to accept afluid transmission conduit74 such as a pipe, tube, or common straw. A general representation of atube74 is shown inFIG. 10. Such a device when coupled to the passageway from outside28 of the bag would permit the application of suction, for example, to remove fluid frombag interior14 through thepassageway26. More particularly, a suction device having a coupling or insertion end76 and afree end78 may be coupled to thepassageway26 on thetop surface42 of the slider. Suction may be applied at thefree end78 to remove contents such as liquid or gas fluid from thebag interior14. In an industrial setting the suction will preferably be applied by a mechanical vacuum device. In a consumer product suction will preferably be applied by the user's mouth acting on thefree end78 of a straw. Preferably, thefluid transmission conduit74 will be removable, and thepassageway26 will accordingly be sized and shaped to couple and uncouple with theremovable conduit74. In this way, after the fluid is removed frombag interior14 thetube74 may be conveniently removed so it does not interfere with use of thebag10 as a storage container.
• Thepassageway26 preferably contains a means for opening and closing the passageway, orvalve80, as shown inFIG. 5. Thevalve80 is any kind of device or structure that is positioned inside thepassageway26, and that is sized, shaped, and configured to have at least one closed state and at least one open state. When thevalve80 is in its closed state, fluid flow through thepassageway26 will be blocked. In this state, if thebag opening16 is completely closed, there will be an airtight seal ofbag interior14. When thevalve80 is in an open state, access or fluid flow between thebag interior14 and outside28 of the bag will be enabled. It can be appreciated that when thevalve80 is in an open state and thebag opening16 is completely closed, access to thebag interior14 will be available only throughpassageway26 andvalve80.
• Thevalve80 will preferably be a one-way valve, meaning that when the valve is in an open state fluid will be permitted to flow in one direction only. For example, the one-way valve could be configured to permit access or fluid flow from thebag interior14 out of the bag to outside28, and to block fluid passing from the outside28 to thebag interior14. This type of valve would be useful for removing air from a bag used to store food or other perishable contents, for example. Alternatively, the one-way valve could be configured to permit access or fluid to flow in the other direction only, from the outside28 of the bag into thebag interior14, and to block fluid from passing from thebag interior14 to the outside28. This type of valve would be useful for an application in which it is desired to inject into the bag a special gas or liquid that preserves or protects the bag contents, such as for example, using formaldehyde to preserve a biological specimen.
• Thebag10 of the present invention comprehends the use of almost any type ofvalve80 to achieve a desired flow characteristic through thepassageway26. For example, thevalve80 could be a two-way type instead of one-way. A two-way valve is a valve having two open states, in which one state permits flow in one direction and the other state permits fluid flow in the other direction. Activation of a particular state might arise simply from use of the valve. For example, squeezing thebag10 might force air out of thebag interior14, through thevalve80 towards the outside28 of the bag. Alternatively, a tube could be coupled to thepassageway26 containing the same valve and pressure applied to force a liquid into the bag. In this state, the valve would permit fluid flow in the opposite direction from the first use, from the outside28 to thebag interior14. Alternatively, the two-way valve80 could be configured so that the permitted direction of flow is set through a switch on the valve itself, or preferably, on the surface of theslider20.
• Thevalve80 may be configured so that when it is in an open state thepassageway26 will be substantially or completely open, so that fluid passing through the passageway will be able to flow at an optimum high rate. Alternatively, thevalve80 may be configured to partially close thepassageway26 to any degree desired.
• It can be appreciated that valves are generally configured for installation in a passageway or tube located inside a solid body. Therefore, many types of standard valves are similiarly amenable for installation in thepassageway26 of the present invention, since thepassageway26 is preferably located inside the solid body of theslider20. A common type of valve suitable for use in thepassageway26 of the present invention is a ball valve, which is generally represented asvalve80 inFIG. 5. As pressure is applied to a ball valve, such as by suction throughconduit74, the ball will rise and open thepassageway26. Another type ofvalve80 may be a pinching valve, which would provide access through the passageway upon squeezing or pinching the slider. Similarly, many other types of valves common in industrial and consumer applications may also be used in the present invention. In addition to a ball valve or pinching valve, thevalve80 may be a flapper valve, air valve, or check valve, for example.
• The present invention comprehends use of theslider20 without anintegral passageway26. It can be appreciated that since theslider20 is configured to open and close thebag opening16, and to form an airtight seal when in a completely closed position, abag10 made with theslider20 may be useful even without thepassageway26. For example, thebag10 could be filled with a liquid and the slider closed to form an airtight seal, preventing leakage of the liquid. When the liquid contents are to be used, the slider could be pushed open slightly and the liquid poured out. Such abag10 would have the advantage of being easy to open and close, due to theslider20, and also provide the benefit of an airtight seal to better preserve perishable contents or hold liquids.
• The present invention also comprehends separating thepassageway26 from theslider20. Such an arrangement is preferably realized using anaccess element82 to contain or integrate with thepassageway26. Theaccess element82 is generally a body positioned between two edges or panes of thebag10, and that contains thepassageway26 andvalve80. Theaccess element82 may be sized and shaped similar toslider20, or it may have any other size and shape as long as it can be positioned between two edges of thebag10. Theaccess element82 is preferably fixed in position. This may be accomplished, for example, by sealing thepanes30 and32 around the sides of theaccess element82.
• In one embodiment, the two edges of thebag10 may be two edges ofopposed panels30 and32 that definebag opening16. In that case, the sides ofaccess element82 could be sealed between opposingpanes30 and32 in a variety of ways known in the art. Thebag10 might also be made without interlocking features18 aroundaccess element82, since thefeatures18 would not be needed to support slider movement in that portion ofbag opening16. This embodiment is illustrated inFIG. 11, which shows themovable slider20 withoutpassageway26, and theaccess element82 having thepassageway26 and a removable tube orstraw74.
• It can be appreciated that where theaccess element82 is fixed, the use of thepassageway26 to access thebag interior14 will not be affected by the particular positioning ofaccess element82 in thebag10. Accordingly, in a further embodiment the two edges ofbag10 could be two edges ofopposed panels30 and32 that do not definebag opening16. This would generally comprise the perimeter of thebag10 other than that portion occupied bybag opening16. InFIG. 11, for example, the two edges between whichaccess element82 could be placed could be the edges ofpanels30 and32 alongclosed sides84 and86 ofbag10.
• In this embodiment it is preferable thataccess element82 be located between opposing panes or edges of thebag10 that are joined, welded, or seamed together. Such an arrangement simplifies manufacturing of thebag10, since theaccess element82 could be placed between the panels, which would wrap around the access element. The panels would be welded or sealed together as before, with theaccess element82 sealed between them. Where the two opposing panels are joined by a fold, installation of the access element would be less convenient since a hole would need to be made. For example, if thebag10 inFIG. 11 were formed from a single panel folded alongbottom side88, it would be less convenient to install the access element onside88. If the bag were formed fromseparate panels30 and32 that were welded or joined together along all edges, then it would be equally convenient to install theaccess element82 along any ofsides84,86, or88.
• The preferred embodiment of the present invention can now be understood as the case whereaccess element82 is theslider20. This embodiment is preferred since a bag having only one body, comprising a slider with an integrated passageway, is generally less costly and more efficient to produce and use than a bag having two bodies comprising an access element and slider.
• A common type of bag production involves joining two rectangular panes along three sides, or along opposing sides of a single folded pane, leaving abag opening16 open on one side. A slider may be inserted in thebag opening16 during production so that it is movable along thebag opening16 without being removable from the bag itself. The standard production equipment also generally operates at a high cycle or production rate, which results in lower cost.
• Thebag portion12 of thebag10 of the present invention similarly can be made from one or two panes of plastic joined along two or three sides, leaving abag opening16. The interlocking features18 along thebag opening16 can similarly be produced using standard production techniques. Theslider20 of the present invention is configured as an independent body capable of production by standard injection moulding techniques. Therefore, while theslider20 is different from the prior art sliders in form and function, it can still be manufactured at a similar low cost. Moreover, the standard production equipment for producing bags and installing sliders can be used to produce thebags10 of the present invention. In production,movable sliders20 would be laid down in thebag opening16, andseparate access elements82 would be installed, if desired, either in thebag opening16 or along a joint or seam between panes prior to the panes being sealed.
• It can be appreciated therefore that thebag10 of the present invention can be produced for about the same low cost or competitive with conventional slider bags that lack the other benefits of the present invention. The material costs for the bag and slider are similar to conventional bags, and the production equipment is the same or usable with only slight modification. Moreover, since standard production equipment may be used, the industry standard high cycle rates of such equipment may continue to be applicable. It can be further appreciated that this represents an improvement over the prior art. Since prior art devices generally require unconventional bags and valves, both the bag and valve materials and production equipment generally are non-standard and need to be custom made. Further, cycle rates are likely to be lower, which increases the cost of each bag.
• The operation of the present invention can now be described, using as an example thereclosable bag10 configured as a household storage bag as shown inFIG. 10. The user will likely begin use by moving theslider20 to end22, to openbag opening16. The user will deposit aperishable food item90 into thebag interior14, and then close the bag by movingslider20 to the closed or sealed position atend24. Where theslider20 usesdetents68,70 as inFIGS. 1 and 2, the user will be able to gauge how far to move the slider by sensing or hearing the detents click or snap into position, thereby engaging the slider at thesecond end24. Alternatively, where the slider incorporateslatch72 as shown inFIG. 10, the user will lock the slider in place by rotating the latch to a down position and snapping it in place.
• At this point the bag will be sealed airtight, but may contain residual air in thebag interior14. The user can then exchange air or fluid between thebag interior14 and the outside28 of the bag through thepassageway26 in therecloseable bag opening16. The removal of air or fluid from thebag interior14 may be achieved, for example, by inserting the insertion end76 of thehollow tube74 into thepassageway26 and applying suction to thefree end78. In a consumer application, thehollow tube74 will preferably be a straw and the suction applied by the user's mouth. Thevalve80 in this example will preferably be a one-way valve permitting fluid to flow in the direction from thebag interior14 to the outside28. Upon removal of all or substantially all of the air in thebag interior14, thetube74 may be removed from thepassageway26, and thebag10 placed in storage. In another embodiment, instead of using ahollow tube74, thebag10 may be squeezed to force residual air out of thebag interior14 throughpassageway26. This method could also be performed with the embodiment shown inFIG. 11 having a slider andaccess element82.
• It can be appreciated that the method of closing a bag of the present invention represents an improvement over the prior art. In the prior art the user would ordinarily close the slider close to end24, leaving asmall opening17. The bag would be squeezed to force residual air out throughopening17. Then, the user would close the slider with one hand while usually keeping the other hand pressed against the bag, to prevent the inflow of air during the period that the slider is being closed. Further, once the bag is closed, there is unlikely to be an airtight seal due to the presence of the separator or finger of the conventional slider in the bag opening. By contrast, in the present invention the user can force air out of the bag, by squeezing the bag, applying suction tohollow tube74, or otherwise, and not be concerned about the possible inflow of air because any such air will be blocked by thevalve80. It can accordingly be appreciated that the method of closing a bag of the present invention is easier and more convenient than the conventional method, and further produces a more airfree bag interior14.
• In another application of the present invention, thepassageway26 could be fitted with avalve80 that permits fluid flow into thebag interior14, while blocking flow in the opposite direction. Such a bag could be used in an industrial setting to receive a drinkable fluid or other fluid for commercial sale. For example, where the contents are a drinkable fluid thevalve80 could be made two-way, so the user could use a straw to retrieve the contents. Alternatively, a two body configuration as shown inFIG. 11 may be used, where theslider20 has apassageway26 with a valve permitting fluid flow in one direction, and theaccess element82 has apassageway26 with a valve permitting fluid flow in the other direction. In that case, one passageway would be used to fill the bag, and the other used to remove or drink the contents. For a non-drinkable type of fluid, the slider may be pushed open a short distance to permit the user to pour out the contents.
• It can be appreciated that a variety of commercial bag configurations are made possible by the present invention. In particular, the parameters available to a designer of abag10 of the present invention include: the choice of which edges48 and50 to use for the slider, whether to use asingle slider20 or anadditional access element82 with one or two passageways between them, selection of the type ofvalve80, and also whether to seal all or a portion of interlocking features18. In addition, the designer can select a variety of bag shapes in addition to the standard two pane configuration.
• For example,FIGS. 12 and 13 show embodiments ofbags10 suitable for use as commercial drink containers.FIG. 12 is a round container andFIG. 13 is a rectangular container having gussets on either end. The round container has the advantage of being inexpensive, providing optimally large internal volume for the amount of material used, and also optimizing shipping capacity because adjacent bags will compress against each other to leave very little unused space.
• Thebag portions12 may be produced using standard equipment for the types of bags shown inFIGS. 12 and 13. Thebag opening16 may be formed from a slit or cut in the bag surface, and theslider20 installed using standard equipment. In a variation on the embodiments shown, thebag opening16 could be made much shorter, or most of the length of thebag opening16 could be sealed. The slider could be movable along a short distance, perhaps a distance approximately equal to its length. In production, the slider could be positioned to leave asmall opening17, and a nozzle inserted into opening17 to fill the containers. The slider could then be moved a short distance to seal the opening, and remain in this position after sale. User access could be through a straw inserted into thepassageways26.
• An issue that could arise with a commercial drink package that is made from a soft material or used by children, for example, is inadvertent squirting of the contents upon pressure being applied to the sides of the bags. In the bags ofFIGS. 12 and 13 it can be appreciated that thevalves80 used would preferably be configured to permit fluid flow out of thebag interior14. Such valves could be further configured to maintain a closed state up to a predetermined threshold of pressure. This pressure level could be set, for example, to be higher than that ordinarily experienced by a casual squeezing of the bag. Preferably, the pressure threshold could be set to require a minimum degree of suction, either alone or in combination with some squeezing of the sides of the bag. In this way, inadvertent squirting of the bag contents could be reduced or avoided. Further, the passageway can be sized to permit only a limited amount of flow to prevent a sudden splurge of liquid.
• In yet another embodiment, abag10 could be made with a slider having two joiningedges48. Thebag opening16 would then always be closed on both sides of theslider20. In a further variation, the slider could have thepassageway26 without avalve80, so that the passageway is always open. Thepanes30 and32 could be sealed together below theslider20 at every point except a small portion. Therefore, thebag10 would be sealed for every position of theslider20 except where the slider is positioned so that thepassageway26 is immediately above the open portion. The positioning of the slider would function as a valve in this embodiment, to open or close the passageway. In production the slider could be positioned first over the open portion to receive a nozzle into the passageway, to fill the bag with a drinkable fluid, for example. The slider could then be pushed to a side, to seal the contents during transport and storage. Upon purchase, the consumer would move the slider to the access position and insert a straw to drink the contents.
• It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description was in respect of preferred embodiments and that various alterations and modifications are possible within the broad scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, while reference is made to a bag having one or two bodies, more bodies may also be used in a single bag where the application merits. Various other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art but are not described in any further detail herein.

Claims (22)

1. A reclosable bag, comprising:

(a) a bag portion defining a bag interior and a bag opening;

(b) a means for opening and closing said bag opening, said means comprising:

(i) opposed interlocking features along said bag opening, said interlocking features being sized and shaped to form a seal when engaged; and

(ii) a slider in said bag opening, between said opposed interlocking features, to engage and disengage said interlocking features as said slider moves, said slider being further configured to seal said bag opening when positioned at one end of said bag opening;

(c) a passageway in said slider, to provide access between said bag interior and an area outside of said bag; and

(d) a means for selectively opening and closing said passageway;

wherein, upon moving said slider to said end of said bag opening and sealing said bag opening, access may be selectively provided between said bag interior and said area outside of said bag through said passageway.

2. The reclosable bag according toclaim 1, wherein said means for opening and closing the passageway is a one-way valve.

3. The reclosable bag according toclaim 2, wherein said one-way valve is configured to allow access into said bag interior from said outside area, and to block access from said bag interior to said outside area.

4. The reclosable bag according toclaim 2, wherein said one-way valve is configured to allow access to said outside area from said bag interior, and to block access from said outside area to said bag interior.

5. The reclosable bag according toclaim 4, wherein said passageway is configured to accept the coupling of a suction device, to permit access to said bag interior upon the application of suction by said suction device.

6. The reclosable bag according toclaim 5, wherein said passageway is sized and shaped to accept a removable suction device.

7. The reclosable bag according toclaim 2, wherein said one-way valve is one of: a ball valve, pinching valve, flapper valve, air valve, or check valve.

8. The reclosable bag according toclaim 1, wherein said slider has opposed side faces, each of said side faces being configured to slidably engage with one of said opposed interlocking features along said bag opening.

9. The reclosable bag according toclaim 8, wherein one of said opposed interlocking features comprises a tongue and the other of said opposed interlocking features comprises a groove, and said side face which slidably engages with said interlocking tongue feature contains a groove, and said side face which slidably engages with said interlocking groove feature contains a tongue.

10. The reclosable bag according toclaim 1, wherein said slider has a shape which is complementary to the shape of said end of said bag opening, to permit said slider to seal against said end of said bag opening.

11. The reclosable bag according toclaim 1, wherein said slider contains a first detent, and said bag contains a second detent positioned proximate to said end of said bag opening, said first detent and said second detent being configured to engage one another when said slider is moved to said sealed position.

12. The reclosable bag according toclaim 11, wherein said first detent and said second detent are raised portions configured to produce a snap fit when said slider is moved to said sealed position.

13. A slider for opening and closing a bag opening of a bag, wherein the bag opening has opposed interlocking features, said slider comprising:

a movable body in said bag opening, between said opposed interlocking features, to engage and disengage said interlocking features as said body moves.

14. The slider according toclaim 13, further including:

(a) a passageway in said body, to provide access between an interior of said bag and an area outside of said bag; and

(b) a means for selectively opening and closing said passageway;

wherein, access may be selectively provided between said bag interior and said area outside of said bag through said passageway.

15. The slider according toclaim 14, wherein said means for selectively opening and closing comprises a one-way valve, said one-way valve being configured to allow access either:

(a) from said outside area to said bag interior, and to block access from said bag interior to said outside area; or

(b) from said bag interior to said outside area, and to block access from said outside area to said bag interior.

16. A method of closing a bag, said bag having a reclosable opening with a first end and a second end, said method comprising:

(a) moving a slider positioned within said reclosable opening from said first end to said second end, to close said reclosable opening;

(b) engaging said slider at said second end to seal said reclosable opening; and

(c) providing access between an interior of said bag and an area outside of said bag through a passageway in said slider.

17. A method of closing a bag according toclaim 16, wherein said bag contains contents, further including the steps of:

(a) inserting a hollow tube into said passageway, said tube having an insertion end for insertion into said passageway, and a free end;

(b) applying suction to said free end, to remove said contents of said bag; and

(c) removing said hollow tube from said passageway.

18. A reclosable bag, comprising:

(a) a bag portion defining a bag interior and a bag opening;

(b) a slider to open and close said bag opening;

(c) an element located between two edges of said bag, said element having a passageway; and

(d) means to open and close said passageway.

19. The reclosable bag according toclaim 18, wherein said element is said slider.

20. The reclosable bag according toclaim 18, wherein said element is located between two edges of said bag that do not define said bag opening.

21. The reclosable bag according toclaim 18, wherein said element is located between two edges of said bag that define said bag opening.

22. A reclosable bag, comprising:

(a) a bag portion defining a bag opening;

(b) opposed interlocking features along said bag opening; and

(c) a slider in said bag opening, between said opposed interlocking features, to engage and disengage said interlocking features as said slider moves;

wherein, moving said slider along said bag opening opens or closes said bag opening.

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