Leakproof one-way valve for use with vacuum attachment

A valve assembly comprising:

• a valve base comprising a generally annular seat having a bead disposed around a periphery of a hole, a generally circular outer wall projecting generally perpendicularly upward from an outer periphery of said generally annular seat, and a flange disposed radially outward of said generally circular outer wall;
• a valve element coupled to said valve base for opening said hole in a first state and closing said hole in a second state, said valve element comprising a diaphragm that is deformable and configured to contact said bead to close said hole in a first diaphragm state and to separate at least partially from said bead to allow fluid flow through said hole in a second diaphragm state, said diaphragm transitioning from said first diaphragm state to said second diaphragm state by deformation, and
• a cap comprising a downwardly depending generally circular first circular inner wall having a rim that urges a generally annular portion of said diaphragm against said bead when said cap is in a predetermined position relative to said generally circular outer wall of said valve base, and a downwardly depending center post that bears against a central portion of said diaphragm when said cap is in said predetermined position relative to said generally circular outer wall of said valve base, said first circular inner wall being generally concentric with said center post.

A bag comprising:

• a receptacle having a mouth at an upper end and comprising a wall having an aperture;
• a plastic zipper joined to said mouth, wherein said zipper comprises first and second zipper strips that extend across said mouth, said first zipper strip comprising a first closure profile and said second zipper strip comprising a second closure profile, said first and second closure profiles being mutually interlockable to form a hermetic seal, said mouth being closed when said first and second closure profiles are interlocked and being open when said first and second closure profiles are disengaged;
• and
• a one-way valve assembly installed in said aperture in said wall of said receptacle and comprising:
• a valve base comprising a generally annular seat having a bead disposed around a periphery of a hole, a generally circular outer wall projecting generally perpendicularly upward from an outer periphery of said generally annular seat, and a flange disposed radially outward of said generally circular outer wall, said flange being attached to a peripheral portion of said wall surrounding said aperture;
• a valve element coupled to said valve base for opening said hole in a first state and closing said hole in a second state, said valve element comprising a diaphragm that is deformable and configured to contact said bead to close said hole in a first diaphragm state and to separate at least partially from said bead to allow fluid flow through said hole in a second diaphragm state, said diaphragm transitioning from said first diaphragm state to said second diaphragm state by deformation, and
• a cap comprising a downwardly depending generally circular first circular inner wall having a rim that urges a generally annular portion of said diaphragm against said bead when said cap is in a predetermined position relative to said generally circular outer wall of said valve base, and a downwardly depending center post that bears against a central portion of said diaphragm when said cap is in said predetermined position relative to said generally circular outer wall of said valve base, said first circular inner wall being generally concentric with said center post.

A bag comprising:

• a receptacle having a mouth at an upper end and comprising a wall having an aperture;
• a hermetic seal joined to said mouth;
• a one-way valve assembly installed in said aperture in said wall of said receptacle and comprising:
• a valve base comprising a generally annular seat having a bead disposed around a periphery of a hole;
• a valve element coupled to said valve base for opening said hole in a first state and closing said hole in a second state, said valve element comprising a diaphragm that is deformable and configured to contact said bead to close said hole in a first diaphragm state and to separate at least partially from said bead to allow fluid flow through said hole in a second diaphragm state, said diaphragm transitioning from said first diaphragm state to said second diaphragm state by deformation, and
• a cap coupled to said valve base and comprising a downwardly depending generally circular inner wall having a rim that urges a generally annular portion of said diaphragm against said bead, and a downwardly depending center post that bears against a central portion of said diaphragm, said circular inner wall being generally concentric with said center post.