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US 2002/0117215 A1Published application
Evacuable container having one-way valve with filter element
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsJanet L. Skeens, Gerald W. Sweeney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A one-way valve allows air to be drawn from a collapsible, flexible, air-tight bag using a vacuum source. When the vacuum source is removed, the one-way valve prevents air from re-entering the bag. A filter is placed on the valve body to prevent small particles from the bag from clogging the valve or the vacuum source.
Claims17
A method of manufacturing a storage container, comprising the acts of:
- providing a flexible, air-tight bag having an opening for inserting material to be stored;
- providing an air-tight seal across the opening;
- providing a one-way valve assembly installed in the bag, wherein the valve assembly comprises a plurality of vanes and allows air to pass out of the bag but prevents air from entering the bag;
- and
- providing a filter assembly shaped to mate with the valve assembly, to fit over the vanes, and to form a seal with the vanes, wherein the filter assembly comprises at least one hole formed therein, and wherein the filter assembly supports a filter element across the or each hole such that air passing out of the bag through the valve assembly is filtered.
2 more elements
A method of manufacturing a storage container, comprising the acts of:
- providing a flexible, air-tight bag having an opening for inserting material to be stored;
- providing an air-tight seal across the opening;
- providing means for allowing air to pass out of the bag but not to pass into the bag, wherein the means for allowing air to pass out of the bag but not to pass into the bag comprises a plurality of vanes;
- and
- providing means for filtering air passing out of the bag, wherein the means for filtering air passing out of the bag comprises at least one hole formed therein, wherein the means for filtering air passing out of the bag supports means for filtering air passing through the or each hole, and wherein the means for filtering air passing out of the bag comprises a plurality of slots shaped to receive the vanes.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.