Selectively sealable evacuable storage bag and method of making and using the same

A selectively sealable evacuable storage bag, comprising:

• a first side comprising a flexible waterproof bag material comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane having a first peripheral shape, a thickness, a first inner surface and a first outer surface;
• an opposed second side comprising the flexible waterproof bag material having a second peripheral shape that comprises a mirror image of the first peripheral shape, the thickness, a second inner surface, and a second outer surface, the first peripheral shape and first inner surface in corresponding engagement with the second peripheral shape and second inner surface;
• a waterproof weld joining a first peripheral portion of the first side to a second peripheral portion of the second side and defining an opening on an open end, a closed end, and a storage chamber extending between them, the opening configured to receive an article within the storage chamber;
• a selectively actuable valve sealably disposed on the first side or the second side, the selectively actuable valve disposed in a conduit that is sealably attached to the respective first side or second side and extends from a conduit opening in the respective first side or second side to an outlet opening, the conduit comprises an L-shaped tube comprising a first leg and a second leg, an attachment flange disposed on a first end of the first leg that is configured for attachment by a circumferential weld proximate the conduit opening to the respective first side or second side, and a selectively sealable cap attached by an attachment member to the second leg and configured to sealably cover the second leg at a second end, and the L-shaped tube comprises a polyether thermoplastic polyurethane;
• and
• a selectively openable and closable seal disposed proximate the opening and configured to enable insertion and extraction of the article in an open condition and a watertight, dust tight, and airtight seal in a closed condition, wherein in the closed condition of the selectively openable and closable seal the storage chamber is evacuable from an unevacuated condition to an evacuated condition by selective removal of a gas through the selectively actuable valve, wherein the flexible waterproof bag material is configured to conform to the article in the evacuated condition, and wherein the flexible waterproof bag material is selected to provide selective operability of the article and a predetermined member of the article in the evacuated condition.