U.S. patent application number 10/134600 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-07 for compression storage bag.
This patent application is currently assigned to Aru Corporation. Invention is credited to Ohtsubo, Ryoichi.
Application Number | 20020162767 10/134600 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18871173 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020162767 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ohtsubo, Ryoichi |
November 7, 2002 |
Compression storage bag
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.
Inventors: |
Ohtsubo, Ryoichi;
(Sakurai-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Joseph R. Keating, Esq.
Keating & Bennett LLP
Suite 312
10400 Eaton Place
Fairfax
VA
22030
US
|
Assignee: |
Aru Corporation
Sakurai-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
18871173 |
Appl. No.: |
10/134600 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/524.8 ;
383/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/07 20180101;
B65D 81/203 20130101; B65D 33/2508 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/524.8 ;
383/64 |
International
Class: |
B65D 033/16; B65D
081/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 2, 2001 |
JP |
2001-2709 |
Claims
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 to claim 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 to claim 2, wherein said
non-return valve has a flat tubular shape.
4. The compression storage bag according to claim 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 to claim 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 to claim 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 to claim 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 to claim 1, wherein said
base member has a layer made of said porous material.
9. The compression storage bag according to claim 1, wherein the
compression storage bag has a longitudinally oblong shape.
10. The compression storage bag according to claim 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 to claim 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 to claim 11, further
comprising a blockading member arranged to selectively close the
opening.
13. The compression storage bag according to claim 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 to claim 13, further
comprising a clamp arranged and installed on the pair of blockading
fasteners.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] 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.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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.
[0015] 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.
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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.
[0018] 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.
[0019] 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.
[0020] 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.
[0021] 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.
[0022] 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the compression
storage bag in FIG. 1;
[0025] 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
[0026] 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.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] 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.
[0028] A compression storage bag 10 according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention is provided with a storage bag
main body 12 of, for example, roughly a longitudinally oblong shape
seen in the plan view thereof. The storage bag main body 12 is
preferably made of a non-permeable laminated film including a
synthetic resin material, or other suitable material. The storage
bag main body 12 has an opening 14 on one end in the longitudinal
direction thereof. The opening 14 defines an entrance and exit
portion for inserting and removing goods to be stored such as
beddings, floor cushions, and clothes.
[0029] The opening 14 of the storage bag main body 12 is blockaded
by a blockading member 16, as appropriate, and is hermetically
sealed. The blockading member 16 preferably includes, for example,
a pair of blockading fasteners 18. The pair of blockading fasteners
18 has a male half-member 18a extending in the lateral direction of
the storage bag main body 12, and a female half-member 18b in
occlusion with the male half-member 18a. The male half-member 18a
is provided, for example, with two convex portions 20a, and the
female half-member 18b is provided with two concave portions 20b
that correspond with the convex portions 20a.
[0030] There is a clamp 22 arranged and installed on the pair of
blockading fasteners 18, which supports an occlusion of the male
half-member 18a on one side, and the female half-member 18b on the
other side. The clamp 22 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 this clamp 22 is slid in the longitudinal direction of the
pair of blockading fasteners 18, the claw pieces (not shown) push
and pressurize the male half-member 18a and the female half-member
18b of the pair of blockading fasteners 18, and the two convex
portions 20a and the two concave portions 20a are occluded. As a
result, the opening 14 of the storage bag main body 12 is blockaded
by the blockading fastener 18 more easily and reliably.
[0031] In the compression storage bag 10 according to this
preferred embodiment, there is also, for example, one non-return
valve 24 arranged and installed on one side in the width-wise
direction of the storage bag main body 12, and also at the
approximate central portion in the longitudinal direction of the
storage bag main body 12. This non-return valve 24 has an inner
valve portion 26A arranged inside the storage bag main body 12, and
an outer valve portion 26b communicatively connected to the inner
valve portion 26A, and arranged outside the storage bag main body
12. In this case, the non-return valve 24 is preferably made of a
synthetic resin material that has, for example, a flat tubular
form. The non-return valve 24 is also arranged and installed, so
that its one end in the longitudinal direction extends to the
interior of the storage bag main body 12, and its other end in the
longitudinal direction extends to the exterior of the storage bag
main body 12. The inner valve portion 26A and the outer valve
portion 26B communicatively connect the interior and the exterior
of the storage bag main body 12 through the intervention of the
opening portion 24a and the opening portion 24b. The opening
portion 24a and the opening portion 24b of the non-return valve 24
have a function of being the suction opening for causing the
interior of the storage bag main body 12 to be in a negative
pressure state by sucking and removing air from the interior of the
storage bag main body 12.
[0032] One opening portion 24a of this non-return valve 24 can be
blockaded and clogged, as appropriate, by a pair of blockading
fasteners 28, for example. The pair of blockading fasteners 28 has
a construction that is roughly the same as the pair of blockading
fasteners 18 mentioned above. In this case in particular, the
blockading fasteners 28 of the non-return valve 24 include a male
half-member provided with one convex portion, and a female
half-member provided with one convex portion in comparison to the
blockading fasteners 18 of the storage bag main body 12.
[0033] The location of the non-return valve 24 is not limited to
the location indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The non-return valve 24
can be arranged and installed, for example, on a portion on any
other side of the storage bag main body 12 except the opening 14
side, or on a portion on one principle surface or the other
principle surface of the storage bag main body 12. The opening
portion 24a of the non-return valve 24 can be blockaded and clogged
by melt-adhering the circumference edge portion of the opening
portion 24a with heating appliances such as an iron, instead of the
blockading and clogging method using the pair of blockading
fasteners 28.
[0034] In the compression storage bag 10 according to this
preferred embodiment, a base member 30 of planar form is arranged
inside the storage bag main body 12 in such a state that the base
member 30 is easily inserted and removed as shown in FIGS. 1
through 3, for example. The base member 30 is rigid to some extent
or has semi-rigidity. The base member 30 preferably has a
substantially rectangular configuration, for example. There is also
a bend line 32 for bending formed at the central portion in the
width-wise direction of the base member 30 from one end to the
other end in the longitudinal direction of the base member 30. The
base member 30 is formed so that it can be bent freely at the
central portion in the width-wise direction at the bend line 32.
The base member 30 can have its shape formed according to the shape
of the storage bag main body 12, and can have a substantially
rectangular shape, a substantially elliptical shape, or any other
shape, for example. Moreover, the bend line 32 can be formed, for
example, at the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the
base member 30, and the arrangement and number of the bend lines 32
can be changed, as appropriate.
[0035] When the above-mentioned base member 30 is put inside the
storage bag main body 12, and particularly when the base portion B
of the storage bag main body 12 has its shape retained, as shown in
FIG. 1, and goods to be stored 100 such as beddings and clothes are
stored inside, the whole storage bag main body 12 of the
compression storage bag 10 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 one opening portion 24b of the non-return valve 24
in this state and a compression-storing operation is conducted, the
compression storage bag 10A together with the goods to be stored
100 is compressed to define a substantially rectangular shape, as
particularly shown in FIG. 4.
[0036] When air inside the compression storage bag 10 is removed or
suction-deaerated by suction-deaerating means such as a vacuum
cleaner, the interior of the compression storage bag 10 can be
decompressed to a negative pressure state. At this point, the
opening portion 24a of the inner valve portion 26A is hermetically
sealed, because the inner surfaces of the inner valve portion 26A
of the non-return valve 24 closely adheres with each other. That is
to say, the inner surfaces of the inner valve portion 26A inside
the storage bag main body 12 closely adheres with each other,
because a force pushing and pressurizing the outer surface of the
inner valve portion 26A is generated by the pressure difference of
ambient air between the interior and exterior of the storage bag
main body 12. As a result, inflow of outside air into the interior
of the storage bag main body 12 is prevented.
[0037] As the negative pressure state inside the compression
storage bag 10 due to the suction-deaerating operation is reached,
the whole compression storage bag 10 is compressed, and
correspondingly, the compression storage bag 10 and goods to be
stored 100 such as beddings inside the compression storage bag 10
are compressed. As a result, the goods to be stored 100 inside the
compression storage bag 10 are compression-stored in such a
manner.
[0038] With the compression storage bag 10 according to this
preferred embodiment, it is possible to erect and place the
compression storage bag 10A compressed together with the goods to
be stored 100 in a perpendicular state with the base portion B of
the storage bag main body 12, which is supported by the base member
30, becoming the surface contacting the ground. Therefore, it
becomes possible to store this compression storage bag 10A 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 stored 100 using the compression storage bag 10
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
the compression storage bag 10A after compression-storage can be
accommodated and stored is broadened. Furthermore, the work
required to store the compression storage bag 10A after
compression-storage into storing places such as closets is made
easier.
[0039] The base member 30 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 the base member
30. This activated carbon may be prepared by using raw material of
coffee residue carbonized, and has a relatively uniform grain
diameter.
[0040] With the compression storage bag 10 according to this
preferred embodiment, gas and moisture can be absorbed by the
absorbing effect of the activated carbon and porous ore, because
the base member 30 includes a porous material such as activated
carbon and porous ore. Therefore, this compression storage bag 10
is excellent in deodorizing characteristics and moisture-proof
characteristics due to the effects of the base member 30.
[0041] 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 base member 30 can activate the absorbing feature of
porous material such as activated carbon and porous ore, because
the base member 30 has the porous material layer.
[0042] Since the base member 30 is formed so that it can be bent
along the bending line 32 in the compression storage bag 10 of this
preferred embodiment, it is made easy to set the base member 30 on
the base portion B inside the compression storage bag main body 12
by bending the base member 30, when inserting the base member 30
inside the storage bag main body 12.
[0043] 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.
[0044] 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.
* * * * *