Resealable vacuum packaging bags and methods for using and manufacturing resealable vacuum packaging bags

Abstract

Resealable vacuum packaging bags and methods of manufacturing and using the bags are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a bag includes a first panel and a second panel coupled to the first panel. The first and second panels each have a gas impermeable layer and a heat sealable layer. The bag further includes a first mating member projecting from the first panel and a second mating member projecting from the first or second panel. The second mating member is configured to selectively engage the first mating member to substantially seal the bag. In another embodiment, a method of using a resealable vacuum packaging bag includes opening a thermally sealed vacuum packaging bag and engaging a first complementary member on a first panel of the bag with a second complementary member on a second panel of the bag to substantially seal the vacuum packaging bag after opening the vacuum packaging bag.

1 . A resealable vacuum packaging bag, comprising: 
 a first panel having a first gas impermeable layer and a first heat sealable layer coupled to the first gas impermeable layer;    a second panel coupled to the first panel so that the bag has a first open end and a second open end opposite the first open end, the second panel having a second gas impermeable layer and a second heat sealable layer coupled to the second gas impermeable layer;    a first mating member projecting from the first panel; and    a second mating member projecting from the second panel, the second mating member configured to selectively engage the first mating member to at least substantially seal the first open end of the bag.    
   
   
       2 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first mating member comprises a rib; and    the second mating member comprises a channel sized to removably receive the rib.    
   
   
       3 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first panel further includes a plurality of intercommunicating channels; and    the first mating member is attached to the first panel.    
   
   
       4 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first and second panels include a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge; and    the first and second mating members extend from the first edge to the second edge.    
   
   
       5 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first mating member is spaced apart from the first open end by a first distance;    the second mating member is attached to the second panel and spaced apart from the first open end by a second distance at least approximately equal to the first distance; and    the first and second panels include a heat seal zone between the first open end and the first and second mating members.    
   
   
       6 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein the first mating member has a first length and the second mating member has a second length at least approximately equal to the first length.  
   
   
       7 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first and second panels each include an inner surface;    the first mating member projects from the inner surface of the first panel; and    the second mating member projects from the inner surface of the second panel.    
   
   
       8 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein the first and second mating members are configured to releasably engage each other.  
   
   
       9 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first mating member is attached to the first panel; and    the second mating member is attached to the second panel.    
   
   
       10 . A resealable vacuum packaging bag, comprising: 
 a first panel having a plurality of intercommunicating channels, a first gas impermeable layer, and a first heat sealable layer coupled to the first gas impermeable layer;    a second panel coupled to the first panel, the second panel having a second gas impermeable layer and a second heat sealable layer coupled to the second gas impermeable layer; and    a means for selectively resealing the bag coupled to the first and/or second panel.    
   
   
       11 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 10  wherein the means for selectively resealing the bag comprise a rib and a channel sized to removably receive the rib.  
   
   
       12 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the first and second panels include a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge; and    the means for selectively resealing the bag extend from the first edge to the second edge.    
   
   
       13 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the first and second panels define an interior region with an open end; and    the means for selectively resealing the bag are coupled to the first and/or second panel proximate to the open end to at least substantially seal the interior region.    
   
   
       14 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the first and second panels define an interior region with an open end;    the means for selectively resealing the bag are spaced apart from the open end; and    the first and second panels include a heat seal zone between the open end and the means for selectively resealing the bag.    
   
   
       15 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the first panel further includes an opening; and    the means for selectively resealing the bag are coupled to the first panel at least proximate to the opening to selectively close the opening and at least substantially seal the bag.    
   
   
       16 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the first panel is coupled to the second panel so that the bag has a first open end and a second open end opposite the first open end; and    the means for selectively resealing the bag is configured to selectively reseal the first open end of the bag.    
   
   
       17 . A resealable vacuum packaging bag, comprising a first panel, a second panel coupled to the first panel, a first complementary member coupled to the first panel, and a second complementary member coupled to the second panel, the first and second panels defining an interior region with an open end, the first and second panels each including a gas impermeable layer and a heat sealable layer coupled to the gas impermeable layer, the heat sealable layer of the first panel being configured to be thermally bonded to the heat sealable layer of the second panel across a heat seal zone proximate to the open end to at least substantially hermetically seal the interior region, the first complementary member being configured to selectively interlock with the second complementary member to substantially seal the interior region, the heat seal zone being disposed between the open end and the first and second complementary members.  
   
   
       18 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 17  wherein: 
 the first complementary member comprises a rib; and    the second complementary member comprises a channel sized to removably receive the rib.    
   
   
       19 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 17  wherein: 
 the first panel further includes a plurality of intercommunicating channels; and    the first complementary member is coupled to the channels.    
   
   
       20 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 17  wherein: 
 the first and second panels include a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge; and    the first and second complementary members extend from the first edge to the second edge.    
   
   
       21 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 17  wherein the first complementary member has a first length and the second complementary member has a second length at least approximately equal to the first length.  
   
   
       22 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 17  wherein: 
 the first and second panels each include an inner surface;    the first complementary member projects from the inner surface of the first panel; and    the second complementary member projects from the inner surface of the second panel.    
   
   
       23 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 17  wherein the first and second complementary members are configured to releasably engage each other.  
   
   
       24 . A method of using a resealable vacuum packaging bag having a first panel, a second panel coupled to the first panel, an interior region between the first and second panels, and an open end, the method comprising: 
 at least substantially evacuating the interior region of the vacuum packaging bag with a vacuum packaging appliance;    thermally sealing the open end of the vacuum packaging bag with the vacuum packaging appliance to at least substantially hermetically seal the bag;    opening the vacuum packaging bag after thermally sealing the open end; and    at least substantially sealing the vacuum packaging bag by interlocking a first mating member and a second mating member after opening the vacuum packaging bag, the first mating member projecting from the first panel and the second mating member projecting from the first or second panel.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein: 
 the first mating member comprises a rib;    the second mating member comprises a channel sized to removably receive the rib; and    at least substantially sealing the vacuum packaging bag comprises inserting the rib into the channel.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein: 
 thermally sealing the vacuum packaging bag comprises coupling the first panel to the second panel along a heat seal zone; and    opening the vacuum packaging bag comprises cutting the vacuum packaging bag between the heat seal zone and the first and second mating members.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein: 
 opening the vacuum packaging bag comprises cutting the vacuum packaging bag; and    at least substantially sealing the vacuum packaging bag comprises engaging the first mating member on the first panel with the second mating member on the second panel.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24  wherein: 
 the second mating member projects from the first panel;    the first panel includes an aperture between the first and second mating members;    opening the vacuum packaging bag comprises disengaging the first and second mating members to open the aperture; and    at least substantially sealing the vacuum packaging bag comprises engaging the first mating member with the second mating member.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24  wherein: 
 the first and second panels include a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge;    the first and second mating members extend from the first edge to the second edge; and    at least substantially sealing the vacuum packaging bag comprises engaging the first and second mating members between the first and second edges to seal the bag.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising opening the vacuum packaging bag by disengaging the first and second mating members after at least substantially sealing the vacuum packaging bag.  
   
   
       31 . A method of using a resealable vacuum packaging bag, the method comprising: 
 opening a thermally sealed vacuum packaging bag; and    engaging a first complementary member on a first panel of the bag with a second complementary member on a second panel of the bag to at least substantially seal the vacuum packaging bag after opening the vacuum packaging bag.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein: 
 the first complementary member comprises a rib;    the second complementary member comprises a channel sized to removably receive the rib; and    engaging the first and second complementary members comprises inserting the rib into the channel.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein: 
 the thermally sealed vacuum packaging bag includes a heat seal zone in which the first panel is thermally coupled to the second panel; and    opening the thermally sealed bag comprises cutting the bag between the heat seal zone and the first and second complementary members.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31  wherein: 
 the first and second panels include a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge;    the first and second complementary members extend from the first edge to the second edge; and    engaging the first and second complementary members comprises engaging the first and second complementary members between the first and second edges to seal the bag.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising opening the vacuum packaging bag by disengaging the first and second complementary members after engaging the first and second complementary members.  
   
   
       36 . A method for manufacturing a resealable vacuum packaging bag, the method comprising: 
 forming first and second panels, each including a gas impermeable layer and a heat sealable layer coupled to the gas impermeable layer;    forming a first mating member on the first panel; and    forming a second mating member on the first or second panel, the second mating member configured to selectively interlock with the first mating member to at least substantially seal the bag.    
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein: 
 forming the first mating member comprises attaching a rib to the first panel; and    forming the second mating member comprises attaching a channel to the second panel.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein: 
 the first and second panels each further include a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge;    forming the first mating member comprises forming the first mating member on the first panel from the first edge to the second edge; and    forming the second mating member comprises forming the second mating member on the second panel from the first edge to the second edge.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein: 
 the first mating member has a first length and the second mating member has a second length at least approximately equal to the first length;    forming the first mating member comprises forming the first mating member with the first length; and    forming the second mating member comprises forming the second mating member with the second length.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 36  wherein: 
 the first panel further includes an opening with a first side and a second side opposite the first side;    forming the first mating member comprises forming the first mating member on the first side of the opening in the first panel; and    forming the second mating member comprises forming the second mating member on the second side of the opening in the first panel.    
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 36  wherein: 
 the first and second panels each further include an inner surface;    forming the first mating member comprises forming the first mating member on the inner surface of the first panel; and    forming the second mating member comprises forming the second mating member on the inner surface of the second panel.    
   
   
       42 . A method for manufacturing a resealable vacuum packaging bag, the method comprising: 
 coupling a first complementary member to a first panel of the resealable vacuum packaging bag, the first panel including a first gas impermeable layer and a first heat sealable layer coupled to the first gas impermeable layer; and    coupling a second complementary member to a second panel of the resealable vacuum packaging bag, the second complementary member being configured to selectively interface with the first complementary member to at least substantially seal the bag, the second panel including a second gas impermeable layer and a second heat sealable layer coupled to the second gas impermeable layer.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein: 
 coupling the first complementary member comprises attaching a rib to the first panel; and    coupling the second complementary member comprises attaching a channel to the second panel.    
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 42  wherein: 
 the first and second panels each further include a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge;    coupling the first complementary member comprises attaching the first complementary member between the first edge and the second edge of the first panel; and    coupling the second complementary member comprises attaching the second complementary member between the first edge and the second edge of the second panel.    
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 42  wherein: 
 the first complementary member has a first length and the second complementary member has a second length at least approximately equal to the first length;    coupling the first complementary member comprises attaching the first complementary member having the first length; and    coupling the second complementary member comprises attaching the second complementary member having the second length.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 42  wherein: 
 the first and second panels each further include an inner surface;    coupling the first complementary member comprises attaching the first complementary member to the inner surface of the first panel; and    coupling the second complementary member comprises attaching the second complementary member to the inner surface of the second panel.