Storage bag with one-way air valve

Abstract

A flexible, evacuable storage bag has a storage portion, an airtight seal, and a one-way valve. The valve includes a strip sandwiched between top and bottom sheets used to make the bag. The strip is bonded along the edges to the top and bottom sheets so as to form passageways extending from the storage portion to outside the bag.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A storage bag comprising: 
 a storage portion, wherein the storage portion includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded along one or more edges to the top sheet;    an airtight seal in a first opening in the storage portion; and    a valve including a valve strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets along a first valve strip edge and along a second valve strip edge to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area to outside the bag, the second opening being positioned in a middle portion of the valve strip.    
     
     
         2 . The storage bag of  claim 1  further comprising an obstruction positioned opposite the second opening and between the top sheet and the valve strip.  
     
     
         3 . The storage bag of  claim 1  wherein an aspect ratio between a length of the first passageway and a width of the first passageway is approximately 20.  
     
     
         4 . The storage bag of  claim 1  wherein an aspect ratio between a length of the first passageway and a width of the first passageway is approximately 14.  
     
     
         5 . The storage bag of  claim 1  wherein an aspect ratio between a length of the first passageway and a width of the first passageway is approximately 10.  
     
     
         6 . The storage bag of  claim 1  wherein a ratio between a width of the first passageway and a width of the second opening is approximately 2.  
     
     
         7 . The storage bag of  claim 1  wherein a ratio between a width of the first passageway and a width of the second opening is approximately 0.8.  
     
     
         8 . The storage bag of  claim 1  wherein a ratio between a width of the first passageway and a width of the second opening is approximately 0.3.  
     
     
         9 . The storage bag of  claim 1  wherein the valve is positioned opposite the seal.  
     
     
         10 . The storage bag of  claim 1  wherein the seal is reusable.  
     
     
         11 . A storage bag manufacturing process comprising: 
 bonding along one or more edges a top sheet to a bottom sheet to form a storage portion;    bonding an airtight seal in a first opening of the storage portion; and    bonding between the top sheet and the bottom sheet a valve strip along a first valve strip edge and along an opposite second valve strip edge so as to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area, the second opening being positioned at a middle of the valve strip, to outside the bag.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising bonding the top sheet, the bottom sheet, and the valve strip together to form an obstruction opposite the second opening.  
     
     
         13 . A storage bag comprising: 
 a storage portion, wherein the storage portion includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded along one or more edges to the top sheet;    an airtight seal in a first opening in the storage portion; and    a valve including a valve strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets along a first valve strip edge and along a second valve strip edge to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area to outside the bag, an aspect ratio between a length of the first passageway and a width of the first passageway being approximately 20.    
     
     
         14 . A storage bag comprising: 
 a storage portion, wherein the storage portion includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded along one or more edges to the top sheet;    an airtight seal in a first opening in the storage portion; and    a valve including a valve strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets along a first valve strip edge and along a second valve strip edge to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area to outside the bag, an aspect ratio between a length of the first passageway and a width of the first passageway being approximately 14.    
     
     
         15 . A storage bag comprising: 
 a storage portion, wherein the storage portion includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded along one or more edges to the top sheet;    an airtight seal in a first opening in the storage portion; and    a valve including a valve strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets along a first valve strip edge and along a second valve strip edge to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area to outside the bag, an aspect ratio between a length of the first passageway and a width of the first passageway being approximately 10.    
     
     
         16 . A storage bag comprising: 
 a storage portion, wherein the storage portion includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded along one or more edges to the top sheet;    an airtight seal in a first opening in the storage portion; and    a valve including a valve strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets along a first valve strip edge and along a second valve strip edge to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area to outside the bag, a ratio between a width of the first passageway and a width of the second opening being approximately 2.    
     
     
         17 . A storage bag comprising: 
 a storage portion, wherein the storage portion includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded along one or more edges to the top sheet;    an airtight seal in a first opening in the storage portion; and    a valve including a valve strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets along a first valve strip edge and along a second valve strip edge to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area to outside the bag, a ratio between a width of the first passageway and a width of the second opening being approximately 0.8.    
     
     
         18 . A storage bag comprising: 
 a storage portion, wherein the storage portion includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet bonded along one or more edges to the top sheet;    an airtight seal in a first opening in the storage portion; and    a valve including a valve strip bonded between the top and bottom sheets along a first valve strip edge and along a second valve strip edge to form a first passageway between the valve strip and the top sheet and a second passageway between the valve strip and the bottom sheet, the first and second passageways extending from a second opening into the storage area to outside the bag, a ratio between a width of the first passageway and a width of the second opening being approximately 0.3.