Vacuum sealable bag apparatus and method

A vacuum-packaging apparatus, comprising:

• a plastic bag having
• a first panel;
• and
• a second panel;
• a mouth providing access to an area between the first and second panels;
• and
• a strip of material inserted within the mouth of the plastic bag to a position in which the strip of material extends from an interior area of the plastic bag, through the mouth, and to an exterior area of the plastic bag, the strip of material when so inserted establishing fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the plastic bag, in particular, the strip of material being shaped to resist fluid-tight closure of the first panel against the second panel by establishment of a plurality of fluid passages between a surface of the strip of material and a surface of at least one of the first and second panels of the bag when the interior of the bag is at least partially evacuated under a vacuum force applied to the interior of the bag through the mouth, the plurality of fluid passages establishing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the plastic bag,
• wherein the strip of material is an apertured film having a plurality of dimples and bumps thereon.

A vacuum-packaging apparatus, comprising:

• a plastic bag having
• a first panel;
• and
• a second panel;
• a mouth providing access to an area between the first and second panels;
• and
• a strip of material inserted within the mouth of the plastic bag to a position in which the strip of material extends from an interior area of the plastic bag, through the mouth, and to an exterior area of the plastic bag, the strip of material when so inserted establishing fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the plastic bag, in particular, the strip of material being shaped to resist fluid-tight closure of the first panel against the second panel by establishment of a plurality of fluid passages between a surface of the strip of material and a surface of at least one of the first and second panels of the bag when the interior of the bag is at least partially evacuated under a vacuum force applied to the interior of the bag through the mouth, the plurality of fluid passages establishing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the plastic bag,
• wherein each of the first and second panels include a heat sealable portion and a high barrier portion, the heat sealable portion of the first and second panels being in a facing relationship and heat sealed along edges of the plastic bag to define the mouth of the plastic bag;
• and
• wherein at least part of the strip of material is heat sealed with the heat sealable portion of at least one of the first and second panels along an edge of the plastic bag.

A vacuum-packaging apparatus, comprising:

• a plastic bag having
• a first panel;
• and
• a second panel;
• a mouth providing access to an area between the first and second panels;
• and
• a strip of material inserted within the mouth of the plastic bag to a position in which the strip of material extends from an interior area of the plastic bag, through the mouth, and to an exterior area of the plastic bag, the strip of material when so inserted establishing fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the plastic bag, in particular, the strip of material being shaped to resist fluid-tight closure of the first panel against the second panel by establishment of a plurality of fluid passages between a surface of the strip of material and a surface of at least one of the first and second panels of the bag when the interior of the bag is at least partially evacuated under a vacuum force applied to the interior of the bag through the mouth, the plurality of fluid passages establishing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the plastic bag,
• wherein each of the first and second panels include a heat sealable portion and a high barrier portion, the heat sealable portion of the first and second panels being in a facing relationship and heat sealed along edges of the plastic bag to define the mouth of the plastic bag;
• and,
• wherein the strip of material is heat staked to at least one of the first and second panels.

A storage bag assembly, comprising:

• a first panel of plastic material having opposite sides and opposite ends;
• a second panel of plastic material having opposite sides and opposite ends, the opposite sides of the second panel coupled to the opposite sides of the first panel along side edge portions of the first and second panels, one of the opposite ends of the second panel coupled to an adjacent end of the first panel at an end edge portion of the first and second panels;
• a mouth defined by the first and second panels at an end of the first and second panels opposite the end edge portion;
• an interior area defined between the first and second panels, between the side edge portions of the first and second panels, and between the end edge portion and the mouth, the interior area at least partially evacuated under vacuum force applied to the first and second panels through the mouth;
• a strip of material coupled to at least one of the first and second panels and extending from the interior area to the mouth, the strip of material shaped to resist fluid-tight closure of the first and second panels of plastic under vacuum force applied to the first and second panels through the mouth;
• and
• a plurality of fluid channels defined between a surface of the strip of material and a surface of the first panel of plastic under vacuum force applied to the first panel through the mouth, the plurality of fluid channels extending from the interior area to an exterior of the storage bag assembly.