U.S. patent application number 12/375352 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-21 for vacuum storage bag.
Invention is credited to Scott Binger, Michael G. Borchardt.
Application Number | 20100014789 12/375352 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39082840 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100014789 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Binger; Scott ; et
al. |
January 21, 2010 |
VACUUM STORAGE BAG
Abstract
A vacuum storage bag providing an interior volume for storing
food items in an evacuated condition has air flexible sidewalls
made of a gas permeable material. The gas permeable sidewalls can
be made of multiple layers including a heat sealing innermost layer
and a relatively stronger, outwardly disposed gas permeable layer.
The heat sealing layer can be low density polyethylene to
facilitate forming of the bag with heat seals and the stronger gas
permeable layer can be high density polyethylene to provide the bag
with sufficient strength and toughness. In various embodiments, the
storage bag can include interlocking closure strips for releasably
closing an opening, a one-way vacuum valve for evacuating the
interior volume, and a textured portion along one sidewall to
facilitate evacuation.
Inventors: |
Binger; Scott; (Bridgeview,
IL) ; Borchardt; Michael G.; (Naperville,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE CLOROX COMPANY
P.O. BOX 24305
OAKLAND
CA
94623-1305
US
|
Family ID: |
39082840 |
Appl. No.: |
12/375352 |
Filed: |
July 5, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
July 5, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US07/72850 |
371 Date: |
January 27, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60821615 |
Aug 7, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/109 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/2023 20130101;
B65D 81/2038 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/109 |
International
Class: |
B65D 30/08 20060101
B65D030/08 |
Claims
1. A vacuum storage bag comprising: a first flexible, gas permeable
sidewall; and a second flexible sidewall overlaying and joined to
the first gas permeable sidewall to provide an interior volume;
wherein at least a portion of the first sidewall includes a first
layer of a heat sealable material and a second layer of air
permeable material.
2. The vacuum storage bag of claim 1, wherein the first layer
comprises low density polyethylene and the second layer comprises
high density polyethylene.
3. The vacuum storage bag of claim 2, wherein the first layer and
the second layer are in direct contact.
4. The vacuum storage bag of claim 1, wherein the first sidewall
has an overall thickness, the first layer comprising between about
5% to about 50% of the overall thickness.
5. The vacuum storage bag of claim 2, wherein the first layer and
the second layer are coextensive.
6. The vacuum storage bag of claim 2, wherein the first sidewall
further includes a third outermost layer, the second layer is
between the first layer and the third layer.
7. The vacuum storage bag of claim 6, wherein the third layer
comprises low density polyethylene.
8. The vacuum storage bag of claim 6, wherein the third layer
comprises ultra low density polyethylene.
9. The vacuum storage bag of claim 1, wherein the second sidewall
is a gas permeable sidewall including a first layer and a second
layer.
10. The vacuum storage bag of claim 1, wherein the first sidewall
has an overall thickness of about 2.5 mils to about 3.5 mils.
11. The vacuum storage bag of claim 1, wherein the first layer
comprises a linear low density polyethylene.
12. The vacuum storage bag of claim 1, further comprising one-way
valve element attached to the first or second sidewall and
communicating with the interior volume.
13. The storage bag of claim 1, further comprising an opening for
accessing the interior volume, first and second interlocking
closure strips attached respectively to the first and second
sidewalls proximate the opening.
14. The vacuum storage bag of claim 1, wherein at least a portion
of at least one inner surface of the first or second sidewalls
includes a textured portion.
15. The vacuum storage bag of claim 14, wherein the textured
portion is on the inner surface of the first layer of the first
sidewall.
16. The vacuum storage bag of claim 15, wherein the textured
portion includes a plurality of protruding elongated ridges.
17. The vacuum storage bag of claim 14, wherein the textured
portion includes a plurality of raised protuberances rising from
the inner surface.
18. The vacuum storage bag of claim 14, further comprising a second
textured portion located on an inner surface of the second
sidewall.
19. A vacuum storage bag comprising: a first flexible sidewall
including an inner most layer of low density polyethylene and a
second layer of high density polyethylene; and a second flexible
sidewall including an inner most layer of low density polyethylene
and a second layer of high density polyethylene, the second
sidewall overlaying and joined to the first sidewall to provide an
interior volume.
20. The vacuum storage bag of claim 19, wherein the first and
second sidewalls are joined by heat seals formed between the low
density polyethylene layer of the first sidewall and the low
density polyethylene layer of the second sidewall, the heat seals
being formed along a first side edge and a second side edge.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Flexible plastic bags are used for a variety of purposes
including storing food items, either temporarily in the case of
packaging snacks or long term as in the case of freezer storage.
Plastic bags of this style are typically made from one or more
sheets of flexible plastic material arranged to provide an interior
volume that is accessible through an opening. To close the opening
after insertion of food items, interlocking closure strips may be
provided about the rim of the opening. Likewise, the plastic
material comprising the rim may be heat sealed together or glued
together with a pressure sensitive adhesive to more permanently
seal the opening.
[0002] One common problem that occurs with such bags is that after
the opening has been sealed, latent air may remain trapped in the
interior volume. In addition to undesirably increasing the overall
size of the bag, the trapped air can cause spoilation or
dehydration of the stored food items. Further, in freezer storage
applications, the trapped air can contribute to freezer burn of the
stored food items.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention provides a vacuum storage bag made with
flexible plastic sidewalls of an air permeable material or
materials. To improve manufacturability of the bag and provide
adequate toughness for use in vacuum applications, the sidewall
materials can include multiple plies or layers of air permeable
materials including a heat sealable innermost layer and a tougher
and stronger, outwardly situated, gas permeable layer. An example
of a material sufficient for the heat sealable inner layer includes
low density polyethylene and an example of a material suitable for
the stronger gas permeable layer includes high density
polyethylene. Though such materials are not truly gas impermeable,
they provide sufficient resistance to air penetration to adequately
maintain a vacuum state acceptable for food storage.
[0004] When the two sidewalls of the storage bag are overlaid and
arranged to provide an interior volume, the heat sealable inner
layers of the sidewalls can be joined together by a heat sealing
operation to form the closed edges of the bag. The stronger layer,
which may not be as susceptible to forming heat seals, provides
sufficient toughness to resist destructive deformation or
stretching of the bag while under vacuum. For example, in absence
of the stronger layer, stretching of the sidewalls about stored
food items during evacuation may cause the bag to develop small
holes or tears thereby compromising the vacuum.
[0005] An advantage of the inventive vacuum storage bag is that
manufacture of the bag is facilitated by having heat sealable inner
layers as part of the sidewall. Another advantage is that the
stronger, outer layer provides sufficient toughness to preclude
destructive deformation of the sidewalls and resist the ingress of
air into the interior volume. Another advantage is that the
invention provides a vacuum storage bag that can be made from
relatively low cost, gas permeable materials. These and other
features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the
foregoing drawings and detailed description of the embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum storage bag
designed in accordance with the teachings of the invention, the bag
having flexible sidewalls of an air permeable plastic material.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of the
vacuum storage bag of FIG. 1 showing the plies or layers of the
flexible sidewalls including a heat sealable inner layer and a
stronger, outwardly situated, air permeable layer.
[0008] FIG. 3 is another cross-sectional view taken along line A-A
of the vacuum storage bag of FIG. 1 showing another possible
arrangement of the layers of the flexible sidewalls.
[0009] FIG. 4 is another cross-sectional view taken along line A-A
of the vacuum storage bag of FIG. 1 showing another possible
arrangement of the layers of the flexible sidewalls.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a one-way valve
element for attachment to the vacuum storage bag of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the one-way valve
element of FIG. 5.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of the
one-way valve element of FIG. 5.
[0013] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a
one-way valve element for attachment to the vacuum storage bag of
FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a
one-way valve element for attachment to the vacuum storage bag of
FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of
FIG. 1 through the vacuum storage bag having a textured portion and
an embodiment of the one-way valve element engaging a nozzle of a
vacuum source, the sidewalls of the bag collapsed together and an
air flow path indicated.
[0016] FIG. 11 is a detailed view as taken about circle D of FIG. 1
of an embodiment of a textured portion on an inner surface of a
sidewall of the flexible plastic bag.
[0017] FIG. 12 is a detailed view as taken about circle D of FIG. 1
of another embodiment of a textured portion formed as a plurality
of grooves disposed into an inner surface of the sidewall.
[0018] FIG. 13 is a detailed view as taken about circle D of FIG. 1
of another embodiment of a textured portion formed as a plurality
of protuberances disposed on an inner surface of a sidewall.
[0019] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
flexible bag having a textured portion along a side edge and a
one-way valve element.
[0020] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
flexible bag having a textured portion provided with a T-shape and
a one-way valve element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Now referring to the drawings, wherein like reference
numbers refer to like features, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a
vacuum storage bag 100 made of flexible materials that can be used
for the vacuum storage of food items. In the illustrated
embodiment, the storage bag 100 includes a first sidewall 102 and
an opposing second sidewall 104 overlaying and joined to the first
sidewall so as to provide an interior volume 106. Accordingly, each
of the first and second sidewalls 102, 104 has a respective inner
surface 108, 109. To join the first and second sidewalls 102, 104
together, heat seals are formed along a first side edge 110, a
parallel second side edge 112, and a closed bottom edge 114 that
extends between the first and second side edges 102, 104. To access
the interior volume 106, an opening 116 is provided by allowing the
portions of the first and second sidewalls 102, 104 corresponding
to the top edge opposite the closed bottom edge 114 to remain
unjoined. Due to the four orthogonal sides, the storage bag 100 has
a generally rectangular shape. However, in other embodiments, the
storage bag can have any other suitable shape or size.
[0022] To releasably close the opening 116 after insertion of an
item for storage, there can be attached to the first and second
sidewalls 102, 104 and parallel to the open top edge respective
first and second fastening strips 120, 122. The first and second
fastening strips 120, 122 can be formed from extruded, flexible
thermoplastic and extend between the first and second side edges
110, 112. As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the
first and second fastening strips 120, 122 can engage to form a
seal which closes the normally open top edge 116. Of course, in
other embodiments or in combination with the interlocking strips,
other methods such as the use of pressure sensitive or cold seal
adhesives such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,304,
herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, heat-sealing, or
cling can be employed to seal the opening 116.
[0023] To evacuate air trapped in the interior volume 106 after
sealing closed the opening 116, in the illustrated embodiment, a
one-way valve element 130 is attached to the first sidewall 102 and
communicates with the interior volume. The one-way valve element
130 is capable of opening to allow entrapped air to escape from the
enclosed interior volume 106 and of closing to prevent the ingress
of environmental air. Evacuation through the valve element 130 can
be accomplished by squeezing the first and second sidewalls
together or by using a vacuum source. As explained in more detail
below, to promote evacuation through the one-way valve element, an
inner surface of at least one sidewall can include a textured
portion to provide air flow paths toward the valve element. While
the valve element and the textured portion provide one manner of
evacuating air from the interior volume, in other embodiments,
other evacuation methods can be utilized that, for example, operate
with and during the sealing of the opening.
[0024] In accordance with an aspect of the invention, to improve
manufacturability and durability of the storage bag, the flexible
sidewalls can be made from a gas permeable, multilayered material.
More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the sidewalls 102, 104
can be made from a multilayered web or sheet that includes at least
a first, innermost layer 140 of heat sealable material and a
second, outwardly situated layer 142 of a stronger, gas permeable
material. For example, the inner heat sealable layer can be
comprised of air permeable low density polyethylene (LDPE) or of
linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) while the tougher outwardly
disposed layer can be comprised of air permeable high density
polyethylene (HDPE).
[0025] Characteristically, low density polyethylene has a lower
density, lower tensile strength and lower melt temperature but is
more flexible and pliable than high density polyethylene. For
example, low density polyethylene can have a density of between
about 0.91 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc) to about 0.94 g/cc, a
melt temperature of about 120.degree. C., and a tensile strength of
about 7670 PSI in the machine direction and 6670 PSI in the
cross-direction. High density polyethylene can have a density of
between about 0.94 g/cc to about 0.96 g/cc, a melt temperature of
about 135.degree. C., and a tensile strength of about 11,999 PSI in
the machine direction and 9600 PSI in cross-direction.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the heat sealable inner layer
facilitates manufacture of the storage bag 100 by allowing first
and second inner surfaces 108, 109 of the respective sidewalls 102,
104 to be joined together by the heat seals formed along the first
and second side edges 110, 112 and the closed bottom edge 114.
Additionally, the flexible characteristic of the heat sealable
layer may enable the storage bag to maintain sufficient flexibility
in freezer applications in comparison to the relatively tougher
material of the air permeable, outwardly disposed layer. The
relatively stronger, outwardly disposed, air permeable layer 142,
though not as susceptible to forming heat seals, provides
sufficient toughness and strength to the storage bag to resist
destructive stretching and deformation during evacuation.
Additionally, the tougher, higher strength, material can better
endure the conditions that may be encountered during freezing,
storage, or transportation than the heat sealable layer alone.
[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the sidewalls 102,
104 are comprised of the heat sealable layer 140 and the outwardly
disposed higher strength layer 142 in direct contact with each
other. Hence, the heat sealable layer 140 provides the inner
surface 108, 109 of the sidewalls 102, 104, and the outwardly
disposed higher strength layer 142 provides the outer surfaces 144
of the sidewalls. To produce the multilayered sidewall material,
the heat sealable layer and the higher strength layer can be
co-extruded together. Furthermore, while in the illustrated
embodiment the heat sealable layer and the higher strength layer
are shown in direct contact, in other embodiments a third gas
permeable layer can be disposed between the two for, as an example,
facilitating attachment of the heat sealable layer and the higher
strength layer together.
[0028] In various embodiments, each sidewall can have an overall
thickness 146 between the inner and outer surfaces as shown in FIG.
2. The thickness of each sidewall can be about 2.5 mils (0.001
inches) (0.0254 mm) or greater. For example the thickness can range
from about 2.5 mils (0.001 inches) (0.0254 mm) to about 3.5 mils
(0.0035 inches) (0.089 mm). The inner heat sealable layer can
comprise between about 5% to about 50% of the total thickness of
each sidewall and the outwardly disposed strengthening layer can
comprise the remainder.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, in other embodiments, the first and
second sidewalls 152, 154 of the storage bag 150 can be made from a
multilayered sheet having three or more air permeable layers. For
example, the sidewalls may include an inner layer 156, a middle
layer 158 and an outer layer 160. The inner heat sealing layer 156
may be similar to the inner layer 140 noted herein. The outwardly
disposed, high strength layer 158, may be similar to layer 142
noted herein. The outer layer 160 may be an air permeable, outer
protective layer. The outer layer 160 can be comprised of low
density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), or
ultra low density polyethylene (ULDPE). These materials have
sufficient flexibility, as compared to high density polyethylene,
to contribute to the overall flexibility of the sidewall and to
provide the outer surface of the sidewalls with scratch resistant
characteristic. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the inner
layer 156 and the outer layer 160 can each comprise about 25% of
the overall thickness of the sidewall and the middle layer 158 can
comprise the remaining 50%. In other embodiments, the inner layer
156 may be in the range of 5% to 40% of the overall thickness of
the sidewall, the middle layer 158 may be in the range of 90% to
20% of the overall thickness of the sidewall and the outer layer
160 may be in the range of 5% to 40% of the overall thickness of
the sidewall.
[0030] Also shown in FIG. 3 is another manner in which the closed
bottom end 164 can be formed. Rather than heat sealing two separate
sheets or webs of material together, the storage bag 150 can be
formed by folding a single sheet in half to form the two opposing
sidewalls 152, 154. Thus, the closed bottom end 156 is formed as a
continuous fold and no heat sealing of the bottom end is
required.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 4, there is illustrated another embodiment
of a storage bag 170 in which each sidewall 172, 174 is made from
different sheets having a different number of layers. For example,
the first sidewall 172 includes both a heat sealing layer 176 and a
high strength layer 178. The second sidewall 174 likewise includes
the heat sealing layer 176 and high strength layer 178 but also
includes an outer protective layer 180. The inner layer 176 may be
similar to the inner layer 140 noted herein. The layer 178 may be
similar to layer 142 noted herein. The outer layer 180 may be
similar to layer 160 noted herein.
[0032] The one-way valve element attached to the storage bag can be
any suitable one-way valve element. For example, referring to FIGS.
5, 6, and 7, the one-way valve element 200 for use with a storage
bag of any of the foregoing types can include a rigid valve body
210 that cooperates with a movable disk 212 to open and close the
valve element. The valve body 210 includes a circular flange
portion 214 extending between parallel first and second flange
faces 220, 222. Concentric to the flange portion 214 and projecting
from the second flange face 222 is a circular boss portion 218
which terminates in a planar boss face 224 that is parallel to the
first and second flange faces. The circular boss portion 218 is
smaller in diameter than the flange portion 214 so that the
outermost annular rim of the second flange face 222 remains
exposed. The valve body 210 can be made from any suitable material
such as a moldable thermoplastic material like nylon, HDPE, high
impact polystyrene (HIPS), polycarbonates (PC), and the like.
[0033] Disposed concentrically into the valve body 210 is a
counter-bore 228. The counter-bore 228 extends from the first
flange face 220 part way towards the boss face 224. The
counter-bore 228 defines a cylindrical bore wall 230. Because it
extends only part way toward the boss face 224, the counter-bore
228 may form within the valve body 210 a planar valve seat 232. To
establish fluid communication across the valve body 210, there is
disposed through the valve seat 232 at least one aperture 234. In
the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of apertures 234 are
arranged concentrically and spaced inwardly from the cylindrical
bore wall 230.
[0034] To cooperatively accommodate the movable disk 212, the disk
is inserted into the counter-bore 228. Accordingly, the disk 212
may be smaller in diameter than the counter-bore 228 and has a
thickness as measured between a first disk face 240 and a second
disk face 242 that is substantially less than the length of the
counter-bore 228 between the first flange face 220 and the valve
seat 232. To retain the disk 212 within the counter-bore 228, there
is formed proximate to the first flange face 220 a plurality of
radially inward extending fingers 244. The disk 212 can be made
from any suitable material such as, for example, a resilient
elastomer.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 7, when the disk 212 within the
counter-bore 228 is moved adjacent to the fingers 244, the valve
element 200 is in its open configuration allowing air to
communicate between the first flange face 220 and the boss face
224. However, when the disk 212 is adjacent the valve seat 232
thereby covering the apertures 234, the valve element 200 is in its
closed configuration. To assist in sealing the disk 212 over the
apertures 234, a sealing liquid can be applied to the valve seat
232. Furthermore, a foam or other resilient member may be placed in
the counter-bore 228 to provide a tight fit of the disk 212 and the
valve seat 232 in the closed position.
[0036] To attach the valve element 200 to the first sidewall,
referring to FIG. 7, an adhesive can be applied to the exposed
annular rim portion of the second flange face 222. The valve
element 200 can then be placed adjacent the exterior surface of the
first sidewall with the boss portion 218 being received through the
hole disposed into the sidewall and thereby pass into the interior
volume. Of course, in other embodiments, adhesive can be placed on
other portions of the valve element, such as the first flange face,
prior to attachment to the sidewall.
[0037] In other embodiments, the one-way valve element can have a
different construction. For example, the one-way valve element can
be constructed from flexible film materials.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 8, a flexible one-way valve element 310
can include a flexible, circular base layer 312 that cooperates
with a correspondingly circular shaped, resilient top layer 314 to
open and close the valve element. The top and bottom layers can be
made from any suitable material such as, for example, a flexible
thermoplastic film. Disposed through the center of the base layer
312 is an aperture 316, thus providing the base layer with an
annular shape. The top layer 314 is placed over and adhered to the
base layer 312 by two parallel strips of adhesive 318 that extend
along either side of the aperture 316, thereby covering the
aperture with the top layer and forming a channel. The base layer
312 is then adhered by a ring of adhesive 320 to the flexible bag
300 so as to cover the hole 308 disposed through the first sidewall
302.
[0039] When a pressure differential is applied across the valve
element by, for example, placing the nozzle of an evacuation device
adjacent the first sidewall 302 about the valve element, the top
layer 314 can be partially displaced from the base layer 312
thereby exposing the aperture 316. Air from the interior volume 306
can pass through the hole 308 and aperture 316 and along the
channel formed between the adhesive strips 318 where the removed
air enters the evacuation device. When the suction force generated
by the evacuation device is removed, the resilient top layer 314
will return to its prior configuration covering and sealing the
aperture 316. The valve element 310 may also contain a viscous
material such as an oil, grease, or lubricant between the two
layers in order to prevent air from reentering the bag. In another
embodiment, the base layer 312 may also be a rigid sheet
material.
[0040] Illustrated in FIG. 9 is another embodiment of a valve
element 410 that can be attached to the flexible plastic bag 400.
The valve element 410 is a rectangular piece of flexible
thermoplastic film that includes a first end 412 and a second end
414. The valve element 410 is attached to the first sidewall 402 so
as to cover and seal a hole 408 disposed through the first
sidewall. The valve element 410 can be attached to the sidewall 402
by patches of adhesive 418 placed on either side of the hole 408 so
as to correspond to the first and second ends 412, 414. When the
nozzle attached to an evacuation device is placed adjacent the
first sidewall 402 about the valve element 410 or the sidewalls are
squeezed together, air from the interior volume 406 displaces the
flexible valve element 410 so as to unseal the hole 408. After
evacuation of air from the interior volume 406, the valve element
410 will again cover and seal the hole 408.
[0041] As mentioned above with reference to FIG. 1, to improve
evacuation of air from the vacuum storage bag 100, at least one of
the sidewalls 102, 104 may include a textured portion 500 on the
inner surface 108, 109 thereof. Referring to FIG. 10, the textured
portion 500 includes a plurality of alternating raised peaks 502
and recesses 504 that are formed into the inner surface. When the
valve element 130 is engaged to the nozzle 506 of a vacuum source
to evacuate the interior volume 106 such that the first and second
sidewalls 102, 104 collapse adjacent to each other, the raised
peaks 502 contact the valve element 130 thereby providing
clearances that function as evacuation passages within the recesses
504. Accordingly, the recesses 504 allow air, indicated by arrow
508, from within the interior volume 106 to continually access the
valve element 130 and thus the textured portion 500 prevents
clogging of the valve element.
[0042] The textured portion can be produced by any suitable method
including, for example, embossing or coining the air permeable
sheet material used to produce the bag sidewalls. Because embossing
the sheet material may reduce the thickness of the sheet material
in certain areas, it may be necessary to start with a thicker sheet
and then manufacture or process the sidewalls to the desired
finished thickness.
[0043] The vacuum source connected to the nozzle 506 in FIG. 10 can
be any suitable vacuum source including, for example, hand-operated
pumps, mechanical pumps, water aspirators, oral suction, and the
like. Alternatively, the flexible bag can be evacuated by forcibly
collapsing the flexible sidewalls together.
[0044] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the peaks 502 can
be formed along the crests of a first plurality of raised ridges
510 that extend along the inner surface. The first plurality of
ridges 510 can be arranged parallel to and spaced-apart from each
other. The recesses 512 are therefore defined within the clearances
between the ridges 502. In the illustrated embodiment, a second
plurality of parallel ridges 516 extends along the inner surface
normal to and intersecting the first plurality of ridges 510 to
form a grid-like pattern. In another embodiment, the recesses can
be formed within a grid-like pattern of grooves disposed into the
inner surface, thus forming the raised peaks as a series of
protuberances separated by the grooves. For example, in the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, a first and a second plurality
of grooves 522, 524 are disposed into the textured portion 500 and
are arranged orthogonally to each other. The grooves 522, 524
define a plurality of raised portions 526 that are square in shape.
Air can communicate along the grooves 522, 524 between the raised
portions 526 even after the sidewalls have been collapsed together.
In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, the textured portion
500 can include protuberances 530 having smaller, circular shapes
that are randomly dispersed along the inner surface 109 that are
segregated from each other by arbitrarily-shaped recessed spaces
532 therebetween. Of course, the textured portion can have any
other suitable shape, such as diamond-shaped ridges or grooves,
horizontally arranged ridges or grooves, vertically arranged ridges
or grooves, patterned or random curved-shaped ridges or grooves,
etc.
[0045] Referring back to FIG. 1, the textured portion 500 can be
provided over substantially the entire second inner surface 109
between the first and second side edges 110, 112 and between the
closed bottom edge 114 and fastening strips 120, 122. Moreover, the
first inner surface 108 of the first sidewall 102 can likewise be
provided with a textured portion. A benefit of providing the
textured portion throughout the bag is that the recesses extend
over the inner surface and are interconnected with one another.
Accordingly, air at any location within the interior volume 106 can
access the valve element 130 along the interconnected recesses even
as the opposing first and second sidewalls 102, 104 collapse
together, thereby preventing air in the interior volume from
becoming trapped.
[0046] Of course, in other embodiments, the textured portion need
not be provided over substantially the entire inner surface. For
example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14, the textured
portion is provided as a relatively narrow, vertical strip 540
along the first edge 110 of the second sidewall 104 arranged to
correspond to the location of the valve element 130. The remainder
of the second inner surface is formed as a substantially smooth
portion 542. An advantage of providing the textured portion as a
narrow strip 540 adjacent the smooth portion 542 is that food items
stored in the interior volume 106 are less likely to contact the
textured portion, and are therefore less likely to retain unsightly
impressions upon removal from the bag 100. In another embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 15, the textured portion is provided as a
T-shape 550 having a horizontal strip 552 and an intersecting
vertical strip 554. The horizontal strip 552 extends between the
first and second side edges 110, 112 while being spaced-apart from
the bottom edge 114. The vertical strip 554 extends between the
bottom edge 114 and the horizontal strip 552 while being
spaced-apart from the first and second side edges 110, 112.
Accordingly, the T-shape textured portion 500 can extend
substantially throughout the interior volume 106 between the
opposing side edges 110, 112 and the top and bottom edges 114, 116
while still providing substantially smooth portions 556, 558.
[0047] All references, including publications, patent applications,
and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to
the same extent as if each reference were individually and
specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set
forth in its entirety herein.
[0048] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar
referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in
the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover
both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein
or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising,"
"having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as
open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to," )
unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are
merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring
individually to each separate value falling within the range,
unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is
incorporated into the specification as if it were individually
recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in
any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise
clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples,
or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is
intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not
pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise
claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as
indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of
the invention.
[0049] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described
herein, including the best mode known to the inventor(s) for
carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred
embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor(s) expect
skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the
inventor(s) intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than
as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention
includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter
recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable
law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in
all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention
unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted
by context.
* * * * *