Polymeric package with resealable closure and valve, and methods
AssigneeReynolds Foil Inc., d/b/a Reynolds Consumer Products Company
InventorsRichard Custer, Greg W. Melchoir, Paul Tilman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reclosable package, formed from at least one polymeric sheet, having a closure and a vacuum valve. The vacuum valve comprises a port, the port being aligned with an aperture in the first sidewall of the package. The vacuum valve allows gas to be removed from inside the package via a vacuum pump. A gas-impermeable layer, overlaying at least one of the aperture and the port, restricts gaseous communication between the vacuum valve and the inside of the package.
Claims53
A storage system comprising:
- at least one polymeric sheet sealed along a portion of the periphery thereof, thereby defining a storage bag having a storage space, the storage bag comprising a bottom edge, a top edge, and at least one side edge;
- a closure coupled to the top edge of the storage bag;
- an aperture in a first sidewall of the storage bag;
- a vacuum valve coupled to the first sidewall of the polymeric sheet, the vacuum valve comprising a port, the valve aligned with the aperture in the first sidewall, and the vacuum valve configured to accommodate a vacuum pump for removal of fluid from the storage space of the storage bag;
- and,
- a gas-impermeable barrier overlaying at least one of the aperture of the first sidewall and the port of the vacuum valve, the gas-impermeable barrier restricting fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space.
A method for packaging food items, the method comprising:
- receiving a storage bag, the storage bag comprising:
- at least one polymeric sheet sealed along at least a portion of the periphery thereof, thereby defining a storage bag having a storage space, the storage bag comprising a top edge, a food item opening, and at least one periphery edge;
- a closure coupled to the top edge of the storage bag;
- an aperture in a first sidewall of the storage bag;
- a vacuum valve coupled to the first sidewall of the storage bag, the vacuum valve comprising at least one port, the valve aligned with the aperture in the first sidewall, the vacuum valve configured to accommodate a vacuum pump for removal of fluid from the storage space of the storage bag;
- and,
- a gas-impermeable barrier overlaying at least one of the aperture of the first sidewall and the port of the vacuum valve, the gas-impermeable barrier restricting fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space, the gas-impermeable barrier capable of being movable from a first position to a second position, the gas-impermeable barrier restricting fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space when in the first position, and allowing fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space when in the second position, thereby allowing fluid to be removed from the storage space of the storage bag via the vacuum valve;
- placing a food item in the storage space via the food item opening;
- evacuating the storage space;
- and
- sealing the food item opening.
A method for producing a storage bag, the method comprising:
- receiving at least one polymeric sheet;
- sealing the at least one polymeric sheet along a portion of the periphery thereof, thereby defining a storage bag having a storage space, the storage bag comprising a top edge, a food item opening, and at least one periphery edge;
- coupling a closure to the top edge of the storage bag;
- coupling a vacuum valve to the first sidewall of the storage bag, the vacuum valve comprising a port, the vacuum valve aligned with an aperture in the first sidewall, the vacuum valve configured to accommodate a vacuum pump for removal of fluid from the storage space of the storage bag;
- and,
- providing a gas-impermeable barrier which restricts fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space, the gas-impermeable barrier capable of being moved from a first position to a second position, wherein in the first position the gas-impermeable barrier restricts fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space, and wherein in the second position the gas-impermeable barrier does not restrict fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space, thereby allowing fluid to be removed from the storage space of the storage bag via the vacuum valve.
The method of claim 49, the stand-off structure being a strip of film, the strip of film comprising a series of channels on a first side thereof, the channels facing the vacuum valve assembly, the channels providing a communication passage for the removal of fluid from the storage bag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.