U.S. patent application number 17/572157 was filed with the patent office on 2022-04-28 for vented sealable bag.
This patent application is currently assigned to Admar International, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Admar International, Inc.. Invention is credited to Nouri E. Hakim.
Application Number | 20220127060 17/572157 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-04-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20220127060 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hakim; Nouri E. |
April 28, 2022 |
VENTED SEALABLE BAG
Abstract
A vented sealable bag comprises a container, a two-part seal and
a vent. The container has opposing sidewalls and a bottom defining
a cavity. The sidewalls form a neck defining an opening opposite
the bottom, The sidewalls have an inner surface facing the cavity
and an outer surface external to the container and the sidewalls
have a thickness. A two-part seal is formed on the inner surface of
the sidewalls adjacent the neck. The two-part seal has a hook
formed on one sidewall and a clasp formed on an opposite sidewall.
The hook and clasp are arranged on the inner surface of the
sidewalls to form an airtight seal isolating the cavity from an
external environment when the hook is embedded in the clasp but
otherwise maintain the opening in the container. A vent is
integrally formed in one of the sidewalls. The vent is further
comprised of a dimple having a thickness that is thinner than the
thickness of the sidewalls. The dimple is concave when viewed from
the cavity and has a slit formed at an apex that is closed except
when the container is sealed and an internal pressure is created
that is higher than an external pressure on the outer surface of
the sidewalls.
Inventors: |
Hakim; Nouri E.; (Monroe,
LA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Admar International, Inc. |
Monroe |
LA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Admar International, Inc.
Monroe
LA
|
Appl. No.: |
17/572157 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16929947 |
Jul 15, 2020 |
11225368 |
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17572157 |
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International
Class: |
B65D 81/34 20060101
B65D081/34; B65D 33/25 20060101 B65D033/25; B65D 33/01 20060101
B65D033/01 |
Claims
1. A vented sealable bag comprising: A container having opposing
sidewalls and a bottom defining a cavity, the sidewalls forming a
neck defining an opening opposite the bottom, the sidewalls having
an inner surface facing the cavity and an outer surface external to
the container, the sidewalls having a thickness; A two-part seal
formed on the inner surface of the sidewalls adjacent the neck, the
two-part seal having a hook formed on one sidewall and a clasp
formed on an opposite sidewall, the hook and clasp are arranged on
the inner surface of the sidewalls to form an airtight seal
isolating the cavity from an external environment when the hook is
embedded in the clasp but otherwise maintain the opening in the
container; and the vent is further comprised of a dimple having a
dimple thickness that is thinner than the sidewall thickness of the
sidewalls, the dimple is concave when viewed from the cavity and
has a slit formed at an apex that is closed except when the
container is sealed and an internal pressure is created that is
higher than an external pressure on the outer surface of the
sidewalls.
2. The vented sealable bag of claim 1, wherein the sidewalls have a
thickness in the range of 0.075 inches to 0.095 inches.
3. The vented sealable bag of claim 1, wherein the sidewalls have a
thickness in the range of 0.075 inches to 0.095 inches and the
dimple has a thickness in the range of 0.025 inches to 0.045
inches.
4. The vented sealable bag of claim 1, constructed of a flexible
polymeric material.
5. The vented sealable bag of claim 1, constructed of silicone.
6. The vented sealable bag of claim 1, wherein the bottom forms a
rectangular platform.
7. The vented sealable bag of claim 1, wherein the bottom forms a
platform sufficient to support the vented sealable bag.
8. A vented sealable bag comprising: A container having two
opposing sidewalls and a bottom that define a cavity, the sidewalls
forming a neck defining an opening opposite the bottom, the
sidewalls having an inner surface facing the cavity and an outer
surface external to the container; A two-part seal formed on the
inner surface of the sidewalls below the neck, the two-part seal
having a hook formed on one sidewall and a clasp formed on an
opposite sidewall, the hook and clasp are arranged on the inner
surface of the sidewalls to form a seal preventing contents of the
container from communicating with an external environment when the
hook is embedded in the clasp but otherwise maintain the opening in
the container; and; A vent integrally formed in one of the
sidewalls, the vent is further comprised of a dimple, the dimple is
concave when viewed from the cavity and has a cut opening that
forms an airtight seal except when the two-part seal is closed and
an internal pressure is created that is higher than an external
pressure on the outer surface of the sidewalls.
9. The vented sealable bag of claim 8, wherein the vent has a
dimple thickness equal to or greater than the thickness of the
sidewalls.
10. The vented sealable bag of claim 8, wherein the container,
two-part seal and the vent are constructed of an impermeable
flexible material.
11. The vented sealable bag of claim 8, wherein the container,
two-part seal and the vent are constructed of silicone.
12. The vented sealable bag of claim 8, wherein the cut opening is
a slit.
13. The vented sealable bag of claim 8, wherein the cut opening is
a duck bill valve.
14. A vented sealable bag comprising: A container having two
opposing sidewalls and a bottom, the sidewalls and bottom define a
cavity, the bottom forms a platform, the sidewalls forming a neck
defining an opening opposite the bottom, the sidewalls having an
inner surface facing the cavity and an outer surface external to
the container; A two-part seal formed on the inner surface of the
sidewalls below the neck, the two-part seal having a hook formed on
one sidewall and a clasp formed on an opposite sidewall, the hook
and clasp are arranged on the inner surface of the sidewalls to
form a seal preventing contents of the container from communicating
with an external environment when the hook is embedded in the clasp
in a closed condition but otherwise maintain the opening in the
container when the hook and clasp are in an open condition; and A
vent integrally formed in one of the sidewalls, the vent is further
comprised of a dimple, the dimple is concave when viewed from the
cavity and has an opening that forms an airtight seal except when
an internal pressure in the cavity is greater than an external
pressure on the outer surface of the sidewalls.
15. The vented sealable bag of claim 14, wherein the container,
two-part seal and the vent are constructed of a flexible
material.
16. The vented sealable bag of claim 14, wherein the container,
two-part seal and the vent are constructed of silicone.
17. The vented sealable bag of claim 14, wherein the platform forms
a flat surface sufficient to support the container and its
contents.
18. The vented sealable bag of claim 14, wherein the container,
two-part seal and the vent are constructed of the same
material.
19. The vented sealable bag of claim 14, wherein the dimple opening
is a slit.
20. The vented sealable bag of claim 14, the wherein the dimple
opening is a one-way valve.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to food storage
containers and, more particularly, to a vented sealable bag.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It has long been desirable to provide food storage bags with
a vent making them suitable for use in cooking food items in a
microwave oven. The vent is necessary during the cooking process as
pressure builds and if no relief is provided an explosion can
result that if not damaging to the microwave can create an awful
mess. Numerous solutions have been proposed. U.S. Pat. No.
9,346,589 is exemplary. It describes a resealable bag with a
one-way release valve. Another example is described in U.S. Pat.
No. 8,061,899. Various examples of valves intended for use with
resealable bags are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,066,433 and
8,074,685. All of these examples suffer from the problem that the
valves are formed separately from the bag and are fastened to the
bag after the bag has been constructed. This not only increases
manufacturing costs but the bags may leak where the valve is
attached to the bag and can also create a safety hazard should the
valve become separated from the bag. Thus, a heretofore unaddressed
need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned
deficiencies and inadequacies.
SUMMARY
[0003] A vented sealable bag comprises a container, a two-part seal
and a vent. The container has opposing sidewalls and a bottom
defining a cavity. The sidewalls form a neck defining an opening
opposite the bottom. The sidewalls have a thickness, an inner
surface facing the cavity, and an outer surface external to the
container. A two-part seal is formed on the inner surface of the
sidewalls adjacent the neck. The two-part seal has a hook formed on
one sidewall and a clasp formed on an opposite sidewall. The hook
and clasp are arranged on the inner surface of the sidewalls to
form an airtight seal isolating the cavity from an external
environment when the hook is embedded in the clasp but otherwise
maintain the opening in the container. A vent is integrally formed
in one of the sidewalls. The vent is further comprised of a dimple
having a thickness that is thinner than the thickness of the
sidewalls. The dimple is concave when viewed from the cavity and
has a slit formed at an apex that is closed except when the
container is sealed and an internal pressure is created that is
higher than an external pressure on the outer surface of the
sidewalls. In another embodiment, the sidewalls have a thickness in
the range of 0.075 inches to 0.095 inches. In another embodiment,
the sidewalls have a thickness in the range of 0.075 inches to
0.095 inches and the dimple has a thickness in the range of 0.025
inches to 0.045 inches. In another embodiment, the vented sealable
bag is constructed of a flexible polymeric material. In another
embodiment, the vented sealable bag is constructed of silicone. In
another embodiment, the bottom forms a rectangular platform. In
another embodiment, the bottom forms a platform sufficient to
support the vented sealable bag.
[0004] In another embodiment, a vented sealable bag comprises a
container, a two-part seal and a vent. The container has two
opposing sidewalls and a bottom that define a cavity. The sidewalls
form a neck defining an opening opposite the bottom. The sidewalls
have an inner surface facing the cavity and an outer surface
external to the container. The sidewalls have a thickness. A
two-part seal is formed on the inner surface of the sidewalls below
the neck. The two-part seal has a hook formed on one sidewall and a
clasp formed on an opposite sidewall. The hook and clasp are
arranged on the inner surface of the sidewalls to form a seal
preventing contents of the container from communicating with an
external environment when the hook is embedded in the clasp but
otherwise maintain the opening in the container. A vent is
integrally formed in one of the sidewalls. The vent is further
comprised of a dimple. The dimple is concave when viewed from the
cavity and has a cut opening that forms an airtight seal except
when the two-part seal is closed and an internal pressure is
created that is higher than an external pressure on the outer
surface of the sidewalls. In another embodiment, the vent has a
dimple thickness equal to or greater than the thickness of the
sidewalls. In another embodiment, the container, two-part seal and
the vent are constructed of a flexible material. In another
embodiment, the container, two-part seal and the vent are
constructed of silicone. In another embodiment, the cut opening is
a slit. In another embodiment, the cut opening is a duck bill
valve.
[0005] In another embodiment, a vented sealable bag comprises a
container, a two-part seal and a vent. The container has two
opposing sidewalls and a bottom. The sidewalls and bottom define a
cavity. The bottom forms a platform. The sidewalls form a neck
defining an opening opposite the bottom. The sidewalls have an
inner surface facing the cavity and an outer surface external to
the container. A two-part seal is formed on the inner surface of
the sidewalls below the neck. The two-part seal has a hook formed
on one sidewall and a clasp formed on an opposite sidewall. The
hook and clasp are arranged on the inner surface of the sidewalls
to form a seal preventing contents of the container from
communicating with an external environment when the hook is
embedded in the clasp in a closed condition but otherwise maintain
the opening in the container when the hook and clasp are in an open
condition. A vent is integrally formed in one of the sidewalls. The
vent is further comprised of a dimple. The dimple is concave when
viewed from the cavity and has an opening that forms an airtight
seal except when an internal pressure in the cavity is greater than
an external pressure on the outer surface of the sidewalls. In
another embodiment, the container, two-part seal and the vent are
constructed of an impermeable flexible material. In another
embodiment, the container, two-part seal and the vent are
constructed of silicone. In another embodiment, the platform forms
a flat surface sufficient to support the container and its
contents. In another embodiment, the container, two-part seal and
the vent are constructed of the same material. In another
embodiment, the dimple opening is a slit. In another embodiment,
the dimple opening is a one-way valve.
[0006] Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages
will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon
examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It
is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features,
and advantages be included within this description, be within the
scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the
accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with
reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings
are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon
clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure.
Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate
corresponding parts throughout the several views.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the vented
sealable bag of the present invention; and
[0009] FIG. 2 is a cross-section along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0010] Reference is now made in detail to the description of the
embodiments as illustrated in the drawings. While several
embodiments are described in connection with these drawings, there
is no intent to limit the disclosure to the embodiment or
embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to
cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.
[0011] Referring now to FIG. 1, a plan view of an embodiment of the
vented sealable bag of the present invention, the vented sealable
bag 10 is comprised of a container 12 having a two-part seal 14 and
a vent 16. Container 12 has two opposing sidewalls 18 and a bottom
20. The sidewalls are comprised of one sidewall 22 and an opposite
sidewall 24. The sidewalls 18 and bottom 20 together define a
cavity 26 for holding contents 28 (not shown) such as food items
suitable for heating in a microwave oven. Opposite bottom 20 is
opening 30 defined by neck 32. Adjacent and below neck 32 is
two-part seal 14. Container 12 is shown in open condition 34.
Bottom 20 forms a platform 36 that forms flat surface 35 that in a
preferred embodiment forms a rectangular platform 37 but other
shapes are within the scope of the present invention. Vent 16 is
formed in sidewalls 18 and is constructed of the same material as
sidewalls 18. Vent 16 includes dimple 50 that is concave when
viewed from the cavity. Dimple 50 includes apex 56 with cut opening
54 in the preferred embodiment is in the form of a slit 58. Cut
opening 54 forms a one-way valve 48 that permits the flow of gas
out of the container. Cut opening 54 of one-way valve 48 is closed
except when container 12 and opening 30 are sealed and an internal
pressure within cavity 26 is greater or higher than an external
pressure on outer surface 44 of sidewalls 18.
[0012] Referring now to FIG. 2, a cross-section along the line 2-2
of FIG. 1, container 12 is shown in open condition 34. Container 12
has sidewall 18 comprised of one sidewall 22 and opposite sidewall
24. Sidewall 18 has an inner surface 40 facing cavity 26 and an
outer surface 44 external to container 12. Inner surface 40 and
outer surface 44 together define a sidewall thickness 46. In the
preferred embodiment, sidewall thickness is in the range of 0.075
inches to 0.095 inches and preferably 0.085 inches. Two-part seal
14 (FIG. 1) is shown separated with hook 38 formed along inner
surface 40 of one wall 22 and clasp 42 formed along inner surface
40 of opposite wall 24. Hook 38 and clasp 42 are arranged on inner
surface 40 of sidewall 18 to form an airtight seal closing opening
30 and isolating cavity 26 from the external environment when hook
38 is embedded in clasp 42 but otherwise opening 30 remains open
and cavity 26 is exposed to the external environment 62. Formed as
part of sidewall 18 is vent 16. Vent 16 is integrally formed in one
of the sidewalls 22 and 24 of the same material as the sidewalls 22
and 24. In the preferred embodiment, the sidewalls 22 and 24
together with vent 16 are constructed of an impermeable flexible
polymeric material and preferably any one of suitable food grade
silicones known to those skilled in the art. Vent 16 includes a
one-way valve 48 in the form of dimple 50. Dimple 50 has a dimple
thickness 52. In the preferred embodiment, dimple thickness 52 is
in the range of 0.025 inches to 0.045 inches and preferably 0.035
inches. While in the preferred embodiment dimple thickness 52 is
less than sidewall thickness 46, the invention works with dimple
thickness 52 being equal to or greater than sidewall thickness 46.
Dimple 50 includes a cut opening 54 at apex 56. In the preferred
embodiment, cut opening 54 can be a slit 58 or a duck bill valve 60
(not shown).
[0013] Although exemplary embodiments have been shown and
described, it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art
that a number of changes, modifications, or alterations to the
disclosure as described may be made. All such changes,
modifications, and alterations should therefore be seen as within
the scope of the disclosure.
* * * * *