# US 11,305,926 B2 · One-way valve for food packages > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,926 B2 - Document ID: US11305926B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/494,867 - Filed: 2018-03-15 - Published: 2020-01-09 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-17 - Assignees: Micvac AB - Applicants: Micvac AB - Inventors: Fredrik Larsson; Johan Zetterberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305926B2 ## CPC - B65D 77/225: {Pressure relief-valves incorporated in a container wall, e.g. valves comprising at least one elastic element} - B65D 51/1644: {the element being a valve (B65D51/1661 takes precedence)} - B65D 81/34: for packaging foodstuffs {or other articles} intended to be cooked or heated within the package - B65D 2205/025: having a removable label, sticker or adhesive foil covering the hole - B65D 2581/34: for packaging foodstuffs or other articles intended to be cooked or heated within - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A one-way valve, a food package comprising such a one-way valve and a method for manufacturing such a one-way valve is disclosed. The valve comprises a first membrane and a second membrane having a smaller surface area than the first membrane and furthermore being fixed to a bottom surface of the second membrane. The valve is furthermore adapted to be fixed to the food package and cover the aperture such that a canal is formed between the food package and the second membrane when a gas pressure inside the food package exceeds a threshold value, the canal extending from the aperture to the peripheral edge of the first membrane along the second membrane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A one-way valve for mounting over an aperture formed on a food package for at least one of cooking, storing and heating of ready-to-eat food, said one-way valve comprising: a first membrane with a top surface and a bottom surface, the first membrane having a first surface area; a second membrane with a proximal surface and a distal surface, the second membrane having a second surface area smaller than the first surface area, wherein the distal surface is coated with an adhesive and the proximal surface of the second membrane is fixed to the bottom surface of the first membrane such that a peripheral edge of the second membrane aligns with or extends past a peripheral edge of the first membrane; and wherein the one-way valve is adapted to be fixed to said food package in order to cover said aperture with said second membrane such that a canal is formed between the food package and the second membrane when a gas pressure inside the food package exceeds a threshold value, said canal extending from said aperture to the peripheral edge of the first membrane along said second membrane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The one-way valve according to claim 1, wherein said second membrane defines the canal through which gas inside the food package can exit when the gas pressure inside the food package exceeds the threshold value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The one-way valve according to claim 1, wherein the distal surface of the second membrane is coated with a first adhesive, and wherein the bottom surface of the first membrane is coated with a second adhesive, said first adhesive having a lower adhesion than the second adhesive. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The one-way valve according to claim 3, wherein the lower adhesion is provided by a release coating. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The one-way valve according to claim 1, wherein the first membrane extends past at least two sides of the second membrane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The one-way valve according to claim 1, wherein the first membrane is made of a thermoelastic material which has a production machine direction, and wherein the second membrane is arranged such that the canal extends in a direction that has a relationship to said production machine direction such that an angle therebetween is within a range of 60°-90°. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The one-way valve according to claim 6, wherein said thermoelastic material is in an elastic state at temperatures exceeding 50° C. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The one-way valve according to claim 7, wherein the first membrane is made of poly(vinyl chloride), and the second membrane is made of a different polymer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The one-way valve according to claim 1, wherein the canal further extends from the aperture to an opposing peripheral edge of the first membrane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The one-way valve according to claim 2, wherein the distal surface of the second membrane is coated with a first adhesive, and wherein the bottom surface of the first membrane is coated with a second adhesive, said first adhesive having a lower adhesion than the second adhesive. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The one-way valve according to claim 10, wherein the lower adhesion is provided by a release coating. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The one-way valve according to claim 1, wherein the first membrane is made of poly(vinyl) chloride, and the second membrane is made of a second polymer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The one-way valve of claim 12, wherein the second polymer is selected from the list consisting of: polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyurethane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The one-way valve of claim 4, wherein the first and second adhesives are the same adhesive. ### Claim 15 A food package for at least one of cooking, storing and heating of ready-to-eat food, the food package comprising a food container and a plastic film for sealing the food package from ambient air, the plastic film including an aperture, wherein said food package further comprises a one-way valve covering said aperture, said one-way valve comprising: a first membrane having a top surface and a bottom surface, the first membrane having a first surface area; a second membrane having a proximal surface and a distal surface, the second membrane having a second surface area smaller than the first surface area, wherein the distal surface is coated with an adhesive and the proximal surface is fixed to the bottom surface of the first membrane such that a peripheral edge of the second membrane aligns with or extends past a peripheral edge of the first membrane; and wherein the one-way valve is arranged on said plastic film so that the second membrane covers the aperture whereby a canal is formed between the food package and the second membrane when a gas pressure inside the food package exceeds a threshold value, said canal extending from said aperture to the peripheral edge of the first membrane along said second membrane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The food package according to claim 15, wherein the distal surface of the second membrane is coated with a first adhesive, and wherein the bottom surface of the first membrane is coated with a second adhesive, said first adhesive having a lower adhesion than the second adhesive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The food package according to claim 15, wherein the aperture in the plastic film is a cut. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The one-way valve of claim 16, wherein the first and second adhesives are the same adhesive, and wherein the lower adhesion is provided by a release coating applied to the second membrane. ### Claim 19 A method for manufacturing a one-way valve for mounting over an aperture formed on a food package for at least one of cooking, storing and heating of ready-to-eat food, said method comprising: providing a first membrane having a top surface and a bottom surface, the first membrane having a first surface area; providing a second membrane having a proximal surface and a distal surface, the second membrane having a second surface area smaller than the first surface area; coating the distal surface of the second membrane with a first adhesive; coating the bottom surface of the first membrane with a second adhesive, the first adhesive having lower adhesion than the second adhesive; fixing the proximal surface second membrane to the bottom surface of the first membrane, such that a peripheral edge of the second membrane aligns with or extends past a peripheral edge of the first membrane. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the coating of the respective adhesives on the first and second membranes is accomplished by spraying.