U.S. patent application number 10/185346 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-01 for recloseable storage bag with porous evacuation portal.
Invention is credited to McCree, John O., Nurkiewicz, Kenneth S., Shah, Ketan N., Winiarski, Peggy B..
Application Number | 20040000503 10/185346 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29779606 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040000503 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shah, Ketan N. ; et
al. |
January 1, 2004 |
Recloseable storage bag with porous evacuation portal
Abstract
A recloseable storage bag is disclosed which may include first
and second sides having closed sides and an open top. Primary
closure members may be provided proximate the top, with a secondary
closure element being provided in one of the sides to enable gas to
be evacuated from the bag after the primary closure members are
closed. The secondary closure member may further include the
ability to prevent liquid from exiting the bag therethrough.
Inventors: |
Shah, Ketan N.; (Gurnee,
IL) ; Nurkiewicz, Kenneth S.; (Racine, WI) ;
McCree, John O.; (Bay City, MI) ; Winiarski, Peggy
B.; (Franksville, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
S.C. JOHNSON & SON, INC.
1525 HOWE STREET
RACINE
WI
53403-2236
US
|
Family ID: |
29779606 |
Appl. No.: |
10/185346 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/524.8 ;
53/400; 53/434; 53/436 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/524.8 ;
53/400; 53/434; 53/436 |
International
Class: |
B65B 031/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A recloseable storage bag, comprising: a first side having a
bottom edge, left edge, right edge, and top edge; a second side
having a bottom edge, left edge, right edge, and top edge, the
bottom edges of the first and second sides being attached, the left
edges of the first and second sides being attached, and the right
edges of the first and second sides being attached; primary closure
members provided proximate the top edges of the first and second
sides; an aperture in at least one of the first and second sides;
and a secondary closure element associated with the aperture, the
secondary closure element being porous.
2. The storage bag of claim 1, wherein the secondary closure
element includes a layer of foam positioned over the aperture.
3. The storage bag of claim 2, wherein the foam is manufactured
from polyethylene.
4. The storage bag of claim 3, wherein the polyethylene is
manufactured to have an open cell structure.
5. The storage bag of claim 3, wherein the polyethylene is
manufactured to have a closed cell structure and is subsequently
punctured to form an open cell structure.
6. The storage bag of claim 1, wherein the secondary closure
element is made of non-woven polyethylene.
7. The storage bag of claim 6, wherein the non-woven polyethylene
is made of one of spun bond, melt blown, and spun bond-melt
blown-spun bond polyethylene.
8. The storage bag of claim 7, wherein the non-woven polyethylene
has a basis weight in the range of 0.1 OSY to 50 OSY.
9. The storage bag of claim 1, wherein the secondary closure
element further includes a liquid impervious layer.
10. The storage bag of claim 9, wherein the liquid impervious layer
includes at least one perforation positioned so as not to be
aligned with the bag aperture.
11. The storage bag of claim 9, wherein the liquid impervious layer
is made of polyethylene.
12. The storage bag of claim 10, wherein the perforation is
provided in the form of a slit.
13. The storage bag of claim 10, wherein the liquid impervious
layer has a layer of water sensitive adhesive applied thereto in
alignment with the bag aperture.
14. The storage baa of claim 10, wherein the secondary closure
element includes a layer of water sensitive material sandwiched
between first and second layers of water insensitive material.
15. The storage bag of claim 14, wherein the water sensitive
material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl
alcohol, cellulose, and water sensitive gums.
16. The storage bag of claim 15, wherein the water sensitive gum is
guar gum.
17. The storage bag of claim 1, wherein the secondary closure
element is one of a non-woven material and a foam having
super-absorbent particles embedded therein.
18. The storage bag of claim 17, wherein the super-absorbent
particles are made of cross-linked polyacrylic acid.
19. A method of evacuating air from a recloseable storage bag,
comprising the steps of: providing a bag having first and second
sides connected along first and second side edges thereof, the bag
further including a top and bottom, the bottom being closed, the
top being adapted to open and close using primary closure members
provided proximate the top edges of the first and second sides, the
bag further including an aperture in at least one of the first and
second sides, and a secondary closure element operatively
associated with the aperture, the secondary closure element being
porous; closing the bag using the primary closure members
positioned at the top of the sides; and compressing the bag to
force gas out of the bag through the aperture and secondary closure
element.
20. The method of claim 19, further including the step of
preventing liquid flow through the aperture.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the preventing step is
performed by providing the secondary closure element in the form of
a liquid impervious layer and a porous layer.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the liquid impervious layer
includes at least one perforation.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the preventing step is
performed by providing a water-sensitive adhesive on the liquid
impervious layer and bonding the liquid impervious layer to the bag
when liquid attempts to exit the bag through the aperture.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein the preventing step is
performed by providing absorbent particles in association with the
liquid impervious layer, the absorbent particles absorbing liquid
when the liquid attempts to exit the bag through the aperture.
25. A recloseable storage bag, comprising: a first side having a
bottom edge, left edge, right edge, and top edge; a second side
having a bottom edge, left edge, right edge, top edge, and the
bottom edges of the first and second sides being attached, the left
edges of the first and second sides being attached, and the right
edges of the first and second sides being attached; primary closure
members provided proximate the top edges of the first and second
sides; and means for evacuating gas from the bag after the primary
closure members are sealed, the means for evacuating including at
least one aperture covered by a porous layer.
26. The reclosable storage bag of claim 25, wherein the means for
evacuating includes a layer of non-woven material.
27. The reclosable storage bag of claim 25, wherein the means for
evacuating includes a layer of foam material.
28. The reclosable storage bag of claim 25, wherein the means for
evacuating is made of polyethylene.
29. The reclosable storage bag of claim 25, further including means
for preventing liquid from the exiting the bag through the means
for evacuating.
30. The reclosable storage bag of claim 29, wherein the means for
preventing includes a layer of liquid impervious material proximate
the aperture.
31. The recloseable storage bag of claim 30, wherein the means for
preventing further includes a layer of water-sensitive
adhesive.
32. The recloseable storage bag of claim 30, means for preventing
further includes absorbent particles.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The disclosure generally relates to bags and, more
particularly, to recloseable food storage bags.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] Reclosable storage bags are well known, especially with
regard to food storage. Such bags are generally made out of a
plastic film and have two side walls which are sealed around the
edges. Such material is fluid impermeable, relatively inexpensive,
and can be manufactured in transparent form thereby facilitating
content identification. Accordingly, plastic bags have become the
dominant product of choice in the area of food storage bags.
[0003] Such bags are typically recloseable and substantially
sealable. One common approach to provide such features employs
closure members at a top edge of a bag having first and second
thermoplastic layers folded or heat sealed along bottom and first
and second side edges. The closure members may be provided in the
form of mating male and female profiles such as those provided by
the present assignee under the ZIPLOC.RTM. trademark. The male and
female profiles are also typically manufactured from plastic, with
the male profile including a linear tab adapted to be interlocked
with a linear groove of the female profile.
[0004] The male and female profiles can be connected to close the
bag by pinching and pulling across the closure members along the
length of the top edges. Such motion can be accomplished with the
thumb and forefinger of a user, or through the use of a sliding
element mounted to the male and female profiles, as is the case
with bags provided by the present assignee under the ZIPLOC.RTM.
trademark as well.
[0005] While such bags have been met with extraordinary commercial
success from their inception until the present day, the assignee
continues to improve its product offerings. One area which the
assignee has identified as grounds for improvement involves the
ability to evacuate gas from a bag after sealing. While the primary
closure found at the top of many plastic bags provides an airtight
seal, air remaining enclosed in the bag after closure enables
bacterial growth and therefore hinders the preservation and
freshness the bags are intended to maintain.
[0006] It would therefore be an advance in the art of bags to
provide a bag with an evacuation aperture provided with a secondary
closure, or valve, for sealing the aperture. In this manner, a bag
may be closed at the top using the primary closure member, as
described above, and subsequently evacuated of gas and resealed
using the aperture and secondary closure, respectively.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0007] In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a
recloseable storage bag is disclosed which may include first and
second sides attached along bottom, left, and right sides, primary
closure members provided proximate top edges, an aperture in one of
the sides, and a secondary closure element associated with the
aperture. The secondary closure element may be made of a porous
material.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a
method of evacuating gas from a recloseable storage bag is
disclosed which may include providing a bag, closing the bag using
primary closure members positioned at a top of the bag, and
compressing the bag to force gas through the aperture and secondary
closure element. The bag may have first and second sides connected
along first and second side edges. The bag may include a top and a
bottom with the bottom being closed and the top being adapted to be
opened and closed using the primary closure members. The bag may
further include an aperture in at least one of the sides, with the
secondary closure element being operatively associated with the
aperture and being porous.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a
recloseable storage bag is disclosed which may include a first
side, a second side, primary closure members, and means for
evacuating gas from the bag after the primary closure members are
closed, the means for evacuating including at least one aperture
covered by a porous layer.
[0010] These and other aspects and features of the disclosure will
become more apparent upon reading the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front view of bag constructed in accordance with
the teachings of the disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 2 is sectional view of the bag of FIG. 1 taken along
line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a front view of first alternative embodiment of a
bag constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the secondary closure
element of FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of an alternative embodiment
of the secondary closure element;
[0016] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a second alternative
embodiment of the secondary closure element;
[0017] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a third alternative embodiment
of the secondary closure element; and
[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fourth alternative
embodiment of the secondary closure element.
[0019] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications
and alternative embodiments, certain illustrative embodiments
thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below
in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no
intention to limit the disclosure to the specific forms disclosed,
but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications,
alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the
spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended
claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0020] Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference
to FIG. 1, a recloseable storage bag constructed in accordance with
the teachings of the disclosure is generally referred to by
reference numeral 20. While the bag 20 will be described herein
with predominant reference to food storage bags such as those sold
by the assignee under its ZIPLOC.RTM. trademark, it is to be
understood that the teachings of the disclosure could be employed
in any other type of bag, such as but not limited to bags used to
store perishable goods other than food, as well as bags which are
not intended to be recloseable.
[0021] With reference again to FIG. 1, as well as FIG. 2, the bag
20 is shown to include a first side wall 22 joined to a second side
wall 24. More specifically, the first side 22 includes a left edge
26, a right edge 28, a bottom edge 30, and a top edge 32, while the
second side 24 includes a left edge 34, a right edge 36, a bottom
edge 38, and a top edge 40. The respective left edges 26, 34 are
joined together, as are the respective right edges 28, 36, and the
respective bottom edges 30, 38. By "joined" together, it is to be
understood that the edges can be formed by heat sealing, ultrasonic
welding, impulsing welding, or the like, or can be integral and
simply separated by a fold. As such bags 20 are typically
manufactured from polyethylene or similar plastic material, it has
been found to be advantageous to form one edge, e.g., the bottom
edge, with a fold, and the other two edges, e.g., the left and
right edges, with heat seals.
[0022] The top edges 32, 40, however, are not permanently closed,
but rather are provided with recloseable primary closure members
42a, 42b. The primary closure elements are depicted in the form of
mating male and female profiles, wherein the male profile 42a
includes three ribs 44, while the female profile includes two ribs
46. As will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the
art, the primary closure members 42a, 42b can be joined using a
pinch-and-seal motion with the thumb and forefinger. Such pressure
causes the ribs 44 and 46 to frictionally intermesh in alternating
fashion, thereby substantially sealing the bag. A slider or the
like can be provided to facilitate such zipper action. In other
embodiments, the primary closure members 42a, 42b need not be
provided in such zipper fashion, but could be provided in any other
suitable fashion such as, but not limited to, adhesive fasteners,
hook and loop fasteners, invertable folds, buttons, clips, and the
like.
[0023] In so doing, the bag 20 is formed to have an interior
storage space 48 accessible between the top edges 32, 40 when the
primary closure members 42a, 42b are open. After the primary
closure members 42a, 42b are closed, the bag 20 is substantially
sealed. In order to remove excess gas, such as air, from the
interior storage space 48, an aperture 50 may be provided in one or
more of the side walls 22, 24. As shown best in FIG. 2, the
aperture 50 may be provided in the first side wall 22 to enable gas
to exit the storage space 48 as by compressing the bag 20, or
otherwise manipulating the bag 20, to force excess air from the
space 48 to the atmosphere through the aperture 50.
[0024] The bag 20 may further include a secondary closure element
52 adapted to close the aperture 50. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1
and 2, the secondary closure element 52 is provided in the form of
a porous layer 54 positioned over the aperture 50 and attached to
the side wall 22. The porous layer 54 may be provided from any
suitable material enabling gas to be dissipated therethrough. For
example, the porous layer 54 may be provided from a nonwoven
polymer such as spun bond, melt blown, or spun bond-melt blown-spun
bond (SMS) polyethylene. The basis weight of such material may be
in the range of 0.1 OSY to 50 OSY. Alternatively, the porous layer
54 may be in the form of a foam of open cell structure, made of
polyethylene, or other compatible material. In still further
alternatives, the porous layer 54 may be in the form of closed cell
polyethylene foam, which is subsequently machined or pierced to be
open celled. Other materials such as, but not limited to, other
porous polymers, foams, sponges, meshes, and one-way valves, are
certainly possible. The porous layer 54 may be any suitable shape
such as, but not limited to rectangular and circular, and is only
limited in size by the size of the aperture 50.
[0025] While the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 will enable excess gas
to be expelled from the bag 20 after the primary closure members
42a and 42b are closed, it may be further advantageous to
additionally provide a mechanism by which the liquid within the
interior space 48 is substantially preventing from exiting the bag
20 through the aperture 50. For example, if a frozen good is placed
within the bag 20, the water resulting from thawing can be
prevented from exiting through the aperture 50.
[0026] One apparatus for doing so is shown in the form of a bag 120
depicted in FIG. 3. As shown therein, the secondary closure member
152 may be further provided with a non-porous layer 156. At this
point it is important to note that with regard to the various
embodiments disclosed herein, the numbering system will repeat like
reference numerals for like elements employed in the various
embodiments, with the exception that each embodiment will have its
own, sequential prefix. Accordingly, the embodiment of FIG. 3 will
use reference numerals having a one hundred series prefix, and
later described embodiments will have a two-hundred series prefix,
three-hundred series prefix and so on.
[0027] The non-porous layer 156 is provided over the porous layer
154, which itself is provided over the bag aperture 150. More
specifically, outer edges 158 of the porous layer are joined to the
bag 120 over the aperture 150, as by heat sealing, ultrasonic
welding, or the like. Similarly, outer edges 160 of the non-porous
layer 156 are attached to the bag 120 over the porous layer 154.
The non-porous layer 156 is made sufficiently larger than the
porous layer 154 to facilitate such attachment.
[0028] Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the non-porous layer 156 is
shown in greater detail to include at least one perforation 162.
The perforation 162 is provided in a band 164 outside the outer
edges 158 of the porous layer 154. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the
perforations 162 are provided in the form of slits, while in the
embodiment of FIG. 5, the perforations 162 are provided in the form
of circular apertures. Other shapes, as well as their spacings and
numbers, are certainly possible. A benefit provided by the
perforations 162 is that they assist in forming an air flow
passageway from the interior space 148 to the atmosphere through
the aperture 150. More specifically, when the bag 120 is compressed
with the primary closure members 142a, 142b closed, the gas within
the space 148 is forced first through the aperture, and then
through the porous layer 154. As the outer edges 160 of non-porous
layer 156 are sealed to the bag 120, the gas pushes the non-porous
layer 156 away from the porous layer 154 and exits through the
perforations 162.
[0029] A benefit of providing the non-porous layer 156 itself is
its ability to substantially prevent liquid within the interior
space 148 from exiting the bag 120 through the aperture 150. More
specifically, if liquid within the interior space 148 attempts to
exit the bag 120 through the aperture 150, it first passes through
the porous layer 154 and then comes into contact with the
non-porous layer 156. Upon contact the porous layer 154 and
non-porous layer 156 adhere together due to surface tension. As a
result, the liquid cannot access the perforations 162, and thus
cannot exit the bag 120. In so doing, it can be seen that the bag
120 is provided both with a means for evacuating air from the bag
after primary closing, and means for preventing liquid from exiting
the bag through the means for evacuating air.
[0030] In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 6, an adhesive layer
264 is provided on the non-porous layer 256 in a position adjacent
the porous layer 254. In so doing, the two layers 254 and 256 are
not joined only by surface tension upon contact with liquid, but by
the adhesive layer 264 as well. The adhesive layer 264 may be
provided in the form of water-sensitive adhesive such that it
activates upon contact with water. In other embodiments, other
types of adhesive, such as those which activate upon contact with
certain other liquids, or at a certain temperature, can be employed
as well.
[0031] In yet another alternative embodiment, depicted in exploded
fashion in FIG. 7, the non-porous layer can be avoided. More
specifically, the secondary closure element 352 can be provided in
the form of a first porous layer 354, a second porous layer 366,
and an adhesive layer 364 therebetween. The adhesive layer 364 may
include a plurality of perforations 368. When such a secondary
closure element 352 is not exposed to liquid, the gas contained
with the bag can exit through the bag aperture and pass first
through the first porous layer 354, then through the perforations
368 in the adhesive layer 364, and then through the second porous
layer 366 to the atmosphere. However, upon contact with liquid, the
adhesive becomes active thereby joining the first and second porous
layers 354, 366 and plugging the perforations 368. The liquid is
thereby prevented from exiting the bag 320.
[0032] In a still further embodiment, the secondary closure element
452 can be provided in the form of a porous layer 454 provided with
absorbent or super absorbent particles 470 embedded, or otherwise
provided, therein. Gas within the bag 420 is able to exit through
the aperture 450 and through porous layer 454. When liquid attempts
to exit through the aperture, the superabsorbent particles absorb
the liquid and thereby prevent the liquid from exiting the bag
420.
[0033] From the foregoing, it will be readily understood by those
of ordinary skill in the art that the teachings of this disclosure
can be used to construct a recloseable storage bag having a primary
closure member for closing the bag, and a secondary closure member
for evacuating gas from the bag after primary closing.
* * * * *