US 5,931,189 AGranted

One way valve for use with vacuum cleaner attachment

AssigneeNew West Products, Inc.

InventorsGerald W. Sweeney, James W. Pfeiffer, Howard R. Mullin

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A reusable, evacuable enclosure comprising a bag with an opening in which to place compressible articles, such as clothing or linen, and a one-way valve in a surface of the bag. Compressible articles may be placed in the bag and sealed from the surrounding environment by placing a seal across the opening. The excess air in the bag may then be removed by placing a cylindrical attachment of a household vacuum cleaner over the one-way valve. Once the excess air is extracted, a cap is placed over the valve to ensure a permanent seal. Removal of excess air reduces the size of the compressible article and inhibits the growth of insects and bacteria, which may damage the contents of the bag. Moreover, the enclosure is impervious to moisture, and so inhibits the growth of mildew.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A one-way valve for use with a conventional vacuum cleaner attachment, said valve comprising:

a valve body containing an air passage;
a flexible diaphragm fixed to said valve body and covering said air passage, said diaphragm for allowing air to pass through said air passage in only one direction;
and
an annular member formed of a resilient material and fixed to said valve body, a distance between an inside diameter and an outside diameter of said annular member being selected such that an exposed flat surface of said annular member is capable of forming a seal with cylindrical vacuum cleaner attachments of various diameters when any one of said attachments is manually pressed against said member on a downstream side of said air passage, thereby permitting said vacuum cleaner to draw air through said air passage, said flat annular member surrounding said flexible diaphragm, said flexible diaphragm being sized and positioned such that said flexible diaphragm is capable of flexing so as to open and close said air passage when any one of said attachments is pressed against said member.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/851,361Filed 5 May 1997 · continuation
Priority: 15 Dec 1993
Granted: 3 Aug 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

B65D 81/2023
Under vacuum: in a flexible container
B65D 33/1666
Elements for flattening or folding the mouth portion: slitted tubes with or without a core; U-shaped clips made of one piece
B65D 33/1675
Elements for flattening or folding the mouth portion: hinged clips
B65D 77/225
Details: pressure relief-valves incorporated in a container wall, e.g. valves comprising at least one elastic element