Evacuable storage bag with integral zipper seal

A zipper seal for a resealable evacuable storage bag having first and second bag walls, said zipper seal comprising:

• a first strip including at least two ribs that extend from the surface of said first strip;
• and
• a second strip opposite said first strip, said second strip including at least two ribs that extend from the surface of said second strip and that are offset from said rib of said first strip such that said first and second strips may be sealingly engaged, wherein said first and second strips define a surface interface, and wherein said first strip and said second strip are configured to fittingly mate together such that they are flush with the surface interface when they are engaged, said first and second strips being constructed and arranged to maintain an airtight seal when so engaged;
• said first strip having first strip flanges extending laterally therefrom, which are at least seven thousandths of an inch thick, and eight thousandths of an inch thick at their ends, so that said flanges provide sufficient material that, when sealed to said bag wall, said flanges melt sufficiently to provide a gas barrier at the ends of, and along the length of, said first strip without any intervening sealing material between said first strip flanges and said first bag wall, and said second strip has second strip flanges extending laterally therefrom, which are at least seven thousandths of an inch thick, and eight thousandths of an inch thick at its ends, so that said flanges provide sufficient material that when sealed to said bag wall said flanges melt sufficiently to provide a gas barrier at the ends of, and along the length of, said second strip, without any intervening sealing material between said second strip flanges and said second bag wall, said thickness of said flanges when melted filling any gaps in said sealing at said ends of said zipper, said first strip flanges and said second strip flanges being constructed for contact between said film and said first and second flanges and arranged for sealing to said film as to provide a gas barrier between said film and said first and second flanges when said first and second flanges are sealed to said film.

An evacuable storage container for holding compressible articles, said storage container comprising:

• a flexible, air-impermeable bag defining an interior and having first and second openings, a first bag wall and a second bag wall;
• a one-way valve mechanism sealingly positioned over the first opening, and configured to allow fluid to pass through said valve mechanism out of said bag and to substantially prevent fluid from entering the bag;
• and
• a zipper seal adjacent the second opening that is configured to substantially close the second opening, said zipper seal being integral with said bag and comprising
• a first strip attached to said first wall, said first strip including at least two rib that extends from the surface of said first strip;
• and
• a second strip opposite said first strip and attached to said second wall, said second strip including at least three ribs that extend from the surface of said second strip and that are offset from said rib of said first strip such that said first and second strips may be sealingly engaged,
• wherein said first and second strips define a surface interface, and wherein said first strip and said second strip are configured to fittingly mate together such that they are flush with the surface interface when they are engaged, and
• wherein said ribs of said first and second strips have respective head portions and neck portions, and wherein said head portions are wider than said neck portions, and
• wherein said ribs of said first and second strips have respective head portions and neck portions, and wherein said heads portions are arcuate in profile, and
• wherein said base portions of adjoining neck portions form an arcuate profile, and
• wherein the profile of said head portions fittingly mates the profile of said neck portions,
• said zipper seal being constructed and arranged to maintain an airtight seal when closed;
• said first strip and said second strip being heat sealed to said first wall and said second wall, respectively, said first strip having first strip flanges extending laterally therefrom, which are at least seven thousandths of an inch thick, and eight thousandths of an inch thick at its ends, so that said flanges provide sufficient material that, when sealed to said bag wall, said flanges melt sufficiently to provide a gas barrier at the ends of, and along the length of, said first strip without any intervening sealing material between said first strip flanges and said first bag wall, and said second strip has second strip flanges extending laterally therefrom, which are at least seven thousandths of an inch thick and eight thousandths of an inch thick at its ends, so that when sealed to said bag wall, said flanges provide sufficient material that when sealed to said bag wall, said flanges melt sufficiently to provide a gas barrier at the ends of, and along the length of, said second strip said first strip flanges and said second strip flanges being arranged for contact with said film and constructed for sealing to said film and providing a gas barrier between said flanges and said film when sealed to said film, without any intervening sealing material between said second strip flanges and said second bag wall, said thickness of said flanges when melted filling any gaps in said sealing at said ends of said zipper.