Reclosable pouch with closure device that allows venting and/or an air-tight seal

Abstract

A reclosable pouch includes a body portion having first and second opposing bag walls, wherein each bag wall has an internal side. First and second closure mechanisms are disposed on the internal sides of the first and second bag walls, wherein the closure mechanisms are parallel to one another and spaced apart between about 0.3 inch (7.62 mm) and about 0.6 inch (15.24 mm). The pouch further includes a venting mechanism.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A reclosable pouch, comprising: 
 a body portion having first and second opposing bag walls, wherein each bag wall has an internal side;    first and second closure mechanisms disposed on the internal sides of the first and second bag walls, wherein the closure mechanisms are parallel to one another and spaced apart between about 0.3 inch (7.62 mm) and about 0.6 inch (15.24 mm); and    a venting mechanism.    
     
     
         2 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the first closure mechanism is disposed between the second closure mechanism and an opening of the pouch.  
     
     
         3 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 2 , wherein each of the closure mechanisms includes a male profile and a female profile.  
     
     
         4 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the venting mechanism includes a deformed male profile of the second closure mechanism.  
     
     
         5 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the venting mechanism includes a deformed female profile of the second closure mechanism.  
     
     
         6 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the venting mechanism includes a deformed male profile of the first closure mechanism.  
     
     
         7 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the venting mechanism includes a deformed female profile of the second closure mechanism.  
     
     
         8 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the venting mechanism comprises a segmented male profile of the second closure mechanism.  
     
     
         9 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the venting mechanism comprises a segmented female profile of the second closure mechanism.  
     
     
         10 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the venting mechanism comprises a segmented male profile of the first closure mechanism.  
     
     
         11 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the venting mechanism comprises a segmented female profile of the first closure mechanism.  
     
     
         12 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the venting mechanism includes a plurality of holes disposed in one of the first and second bag walls between the first and second closure mechanisms.  
     
     
         13 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 12 , wherein the holes have diameters between about 0.001 inch (0.0254 mm) and about 0.5 inch (12.7 mm).  
     
     
         14 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the venting mechanism includes a plurality of holes disposed in both of the first and second bag walls between the first and second closure mechanisms.  
     
     
         15 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 14 , wherein the holes have diameters between about 0.001 inch (0.0254 mm) and about 0.5 inch (12.7 mm).  
     
     
         16 . A reclosable pouch, comprising: 
 a body portion having first and second opposing bag walls, wherein each bag wall has an internal side;    first and second closure mechanisms disposed on the internal sides of the first and second bag walls, wherein the closure mechanisms are parallel to one another; and    a plurality of holes extending through at least one of the first and second bag walls between the first and second closure mechanisms.    
     
     
         17 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 16 , wherein the holes have diameters of between about 0.001 inch (0.0254 mm) and about 0.5 inch (12.7 mm).  
     
     
         18 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 16 , wherein between about 1 and about 1000 holes are disposed in the bag walls.  
     
     
         19 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 16 , wherein the first closure mechanism is disposed above the second closure mechanism.  
     
     
         20 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 19 , wherein sealing the first closure mechanism creates a reclosable pouch with fluid communication between an inside of the pouch and an outside of the pouch.  
     
     
         21 . The reclosable pouch of  claim 19 , wherein sealing the second closure mechanism creates a reclosable pouch with no fluid communication between an inside of the pouch and an outside of the pouch.  
     
     
         22 . A method of enclosing a space, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a reclosable pouch having first and second closure mechanisms disposed on internal sides of the first and second bag walls and a venting mechanism;    sealing the first closure mechanism to define a space within the pouch;    causing air flow through the venting mechanism; and    optionally closing the second closure mechanism.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first closure mechanism is disposed between an opening of the pouch and the second closure mechanism.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method further includes introducing product into the pouch before sealing the first closure mechanism.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the venting mechanism includes holes disposed between the first and second closure mechanisms.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the venting mechanism includes a segmented female closure element of the first closure mechanism.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the venting mechanism includes a segmented male closure element of the first closure mechanism.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the venting mechanism includes a segmented female closure element of the second closure mechanism.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the venting mechanism includes a segmented male closure element of the second closure mechanism.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the venting mechanism includes a deformed female closure element of the first closure mechanism.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the venting mechanism includes a deformed male closure element of the first closure mechanism.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the venting mechanism includes a deformed female closure element of the second closure mechanism.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the venting mechanism includes a deformed male closure element of the second closure mechanism.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the method further includes the step of forcing air out of the pouch through the venting mechanism.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the method further includes the step of sealing the second closure mechanism to seal the space inside the pouch.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the method further includes the step of introducing product into the pouch before sealing the first closure mechanism.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method further includes the step of forcing air out of the pouch through the venting mechanism.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the method further includes the step of sealing the second closure mechanism to seal the space inside the pouch.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the method further includes the step of introducing product into the pouch before sealing the first closure mechanism.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the method further includes the step of introducing product into the pouch before sealing the first closure mechanism.