Vacuum packaging bags with gussets and methods for using and manufacturing vacuum packaging bags with gussets

Abstract

Vacuum packaging bags and methods of manufacturing and using vacuum packaging bags are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vacuum packaging bag includes a first panel, a second panel coupled to the first panel, and a gusset between the first and second panels. The first panel has a first gas impermeable layer and a first sealable layer coupled to the first gas impermeable layer. The second panel has a second gas impermeable layer and a second sealable layer coupled to the second gas impermeable layer. The gusset can extend along a length of the bag and project inwardly toward an interior region. The bag may further include a plurality of intercommunicating channels for conveying a flow of gas when the bag is evacuated.

1 . A vacuum packaging bag, comprising: 
 a first panel having a first gas impermeable layer and a first sealable layer coupled to the first gas impermeable layer;    a second panel having a second gas impermeable layer and a second sealable layer coupled to the second gas impermeable layer; and    a gusset between the first panel and the second panel.    
   
   
       2 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first panel further includes a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge;    the second panel further includes a third edge and a fourth edge opposite the third edge; and    the gusset is between the first and third edges.    
   
   
       3 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first panel further includes a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge;    the second panel further includes a third edge and a fourth edge opposite the third edge;    the gusset is a first gusset between the first and third edges; and    the bag further comprises a second gusset between the second and fourth edges.    
   
   
       4 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the gusset is a first gusset;    the vacuum packaging bag further comprises second and third gussets between the first and second panels; and    the second gusset is opposite the first gusset and the third gusset extends between the first and second gussets.    
   
   
       5 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein the gusset extends along a length of the bag.  
   
   
       6 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein the first panel further includes a plurality of intercommunicating channels for conveying a flow of gas when the bag is evacuated.  
   
   
       7 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein the first panel has a first footprint and the second panel has a second footprint, and wherein the gusset is positioned such that an interior volume of the bag can increase without substantially changing the first and second footprints.  
   
   
       8 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein the first sealable layer comprises a first pealably sealable layer, and wherein the second sealable layer comprises a second pealably sealable layer that selectively pealably bonds with the first pealably sealable layer to seal the bag.  
   
   
       9 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein the first and second sealable layers are formed of a material such that the first sealable layer pealably bonds with the second sealable layer under the influence of heat and/or pressure.  
   
   
       10 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein the first and second sealable layers are formed of a material such that the first sealable layer substantially permanently bonds with the second sealable layer under the influence of heat.  
   
   
       11 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 1  wherein the gusset projects toward an interior region of the bag when the bag is empty.  
   
   
       12 . A vacuum packaging bag that a user can place a product in, vacuum evacuate to a predefined vacuum level, hermetically seal through a predefined sealing process, the vacuum packaging bag characterized in that the bag has at least one gusset for allowing the bag to expand as the product is placed in the bag.  
   
   
       13 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a first panel having a first gas impermeable layer and a first sealable layer coupled to the first gas impermeable layer; and    a second panel having a second gas impermeable layer and a second sealable layer coupled to the second gas impermeable layer;    wherein the gusset is between the first panel and the second panel.    
   
   
       14 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 12  wherein the gusset is a first gusset, wherein the bag further comprises a second gusset, and wherein the first and second gussets are on opposite sides of the bag.  
   
   
       15 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 12  wherein the gusset extends along a length of the bag.  
   
   
       16 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of intercommunicating channels for conveying a flow of gas when the bag is evacuated.  
   
   
       17 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 12  wherein the gusset projects toward an interior region of the bag when the bag is empty.  
   
   
       18 . A vacuum packaging bag, comprising: 
 a first panel having a plurality of intercommunicating channels, a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, a first gas impermeable layer, and a first sealable layer coupled to the first gas impermeable layer;    a second panel having a third edge, a fourth edge opposite the third edge, a second gas impermeable layer, and a second sealable layer coupled to the second gas impermeable layer;    a first gusset between the first and third edges; and    a second gusset between the second and fourth edges.    
   
   
       19 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 18 , further comprising a third gusset between the first and second panels and extending from the first gusset to the second gusset.  
   
   
       20 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 18  wherein the first and second gussets extend along a length of the bag.  
   
   
       21 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 18  wherein the first panel has a first footprint and the second panel has a second footprint, and wherein the first and second gussets are positioned such that an interior volume of the bag can increase without substantially changing the first and second footprints.  
   
   
       22 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 18  wherein the first and second sealable layers are formed of a material such that the first sealable layer pealably bonds with the second sealable layer under the influence of heat and/or pressure.  
   
   
       23 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 18  wherein the first and second sealable layers are formed of a material such that the first sealable layer substantially permanently bonds with the second sealable layer under the influence of heat.  
   
   
       24 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 18  wherein the first and second gussets project toward an interior region of the bag when the bag is empty.  
   
   
       25 . A vacuum packaging bag, comprising: 
 a first panel having a first footprint, a first gas impermeable layer, and a first sealable layer coupled to the first gas impermeable layer;    a second panel having a second footprint at least approximately the same as the first footprint, a second gas impermeable layer, and a second sealable layer coupled to the second gas impermeable layer; and    a gusset between the first panel and the second panel so that an interior volume of the bag can increase without substantially changing the first and second footprints.    
   
   
       26 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 25  wherein the gusset is a first gusset, and wherein the bag further comprises a second gusset between the first and second panels and opposite the first gusset.  
   
   
       27 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 25  wherein the gusset extends along a length of the bag.  
   
   
       28 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 25  wherein the first panel further includes a plurality of intercommunicating channels for conveying a flow of gas when the bag is evacuated.  
   
   
       29 . The vacuum packaging bag of  claim 25  wherein the gusset projects toward an interior region of the bag when the bag is empty.  
   
   
       30 . A bag roll for forming vacuum packaging bags that hold food or other products, the bag roll comprising: 
 a first sheet having a first gas impermeable layer and a first sealable layer coupled to the first gas impermeable layer;    a second sheet having a second gas impermeable layer and a second sealable layer coupled to the second gas impermeable layer; and    a gusset between the first sheet and the second sheet;    wherein portions of the bag roll may be cut to form bags having opposing open ends that are heat-sealable.    
   
   
       31 . The bag roll of  claim 30  wherein: 
 the first sheet further includes a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge;    the second sheet further includes a third edge and a fourth edge opposite the third edge; and    the gusset is between the first and third edges.    
   
   
       32 . The bag roll of  claim 30  wherein: 
 the first sheet further includes a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge;    the second sheet further includes a third edge and a fourth edge opposite the third edge;    the gusset is a first gusset between the first and third edges; and    the bag roll further comprises a second gusset between the second and fourth edges.    
   
   
       33 . The bag roll of  claim 30  wherein the gusset extends along a length of the roll.  
   
   
       34 . The bag roll of  claim 30  wherein the first sheet further includes a plurality of intercommunicating channels for conveying a flow of gas.  
   
   
       35 . The bag roll of  claim 30  wherein the first and second sealable layers are formed of a material such that the first sealable layer pealably bonds with the second sealable layer under the influence of heat and/or pressure.  
   
   
       36 . The bag roll of  claim 30  wherein the first and second sealable layers are formed of a material such that the first sealable layer substantially permanently bonds with the second sealable layer under the influence of heat.  
   
   
       37 . The bag roll of  claim 30  wherein the gusset projects inwardly toward an interior region of the roll.  
   
   
       38 . A method of using a vacuum packaging bag, the method comprising: 
 placing an object into a vacuum packaging bag having a gusset so that an interior volume of the bag increases to receive the object;    at least substantially evacuating gas from the vacuum packaging bag with a vacuum packaging appliance; and    sealing an open end of the vacuum packaging bag with the vacuum packaging appliance to at least substantially hermetically seal the bag.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein: 
 the vacuum packaging bag comprises a first panel, a second panel opposite the first panel, and the gusset between the first and second panels, the first panel having a first footprint and the second panel having a second footprint; and    placing the object into the bag comprises increasing the interior volume of the bag without substantially changing the first and/or second footprints.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein: 
 the gusset is a first gusset;    the vacuum packaging bag comprises a second gusset opposite the first gusset; and    placing the object into the bag comprises unfolding the first and second gussets to increase the interior volume of the bag.    
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 38  wherein at least substantially evacuating gas from the bag comprises exhausting gas through intercommunicating channels in the bag.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 38  wherein: 
 the vacuum packaging bag comprises a first pealably sealable layer and a second pealably sealable layer; and    sealing the open end of the bag comprises pealably bonding the first pealably sealable layer to the second pealably sealable layer.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 38  wherein sealing the open end of the bag comprises heating the open end of the bag to form a thermal seal.  
   
   
       44 . A method for manufacturing a vacuum packaging bag, the method comprising: 
 forming first and second panels with each panel having a gas impermeable layer and a sealable layer coupled to the gas impermeable layer; and    forming a gusset between the first and second panels.    
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein: 
 forming the first and second panels comprises forming the first panel with a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge and forming the second panel with a third edge and a fourth edge opposite the third edge; and    forming the gusset comprises forming the gusset between the first and third edges.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the gusset is a first gusset, and wherein the method further comprises forming a second gusset between the first and second panels and opposite the first gusset.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 44  wherein forming the gusset comprises forming the gusset along a length of the bag.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 44  wherein forming the first and second panels comprises forming a plurality of intercommunicating channels in the first panel for conveying a flow of gas when the bag is evacuated.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 44  wherein forming the gusset comprises forming the gusset such that the gusset projects inwardly.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising heat sealing the first panel to the second panel at an end of the bag.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 44  wherein forming the first and second panels comprises forming the first and second sealable layers with a material such that the first sealable layer pealably bonds with the second sealable layer under the influence of heat and/or pressure.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 44  wherein forming the first and second panels comprises forming the first and second sealable layers with a material such that the first sealable layer substantially permanently bonds with the second sealable layer under the influence of heat.  
   
   
       53 . A bag suitable for use with a vacuum packaging appliance, said bag characterized in that said bag has at least one side-gusset arranged to expand under manual operation by a user.  
   
   
       54 . A bag as recited in  claim 53 , wherein said bag is made from a polyester material well suited for heat sealing.