Polymeric Package With Resealable Closure And Valve, And Methods

Abstract

A reclosable package having a zipper closure, and optionally a slider device to open and close the zipper closure. The package includes a sealant stripe, which can be a peal seal, and a one-way fluid valve. In use, the valve is used to remove air from the interior of the package, and the sealant strip, in combination with the zipper closure, provides a better seal than the zipper alone. The package may be part of a storage system that includes stand-off structures adjacent to the valve, a vacuum pump assembly, and a liquid separator assembly coupled to the vacuum pump assembly.

1 . A polymeric package, comprising: 
 (a) a surrounding wall having first and second side edges and a bottom edge, together forming an interior;    (b) a first zipper profile member and a second zipper profile member on the surrounding wall opposite the bottom edge;    (c) a resealable sealant stripe on an interior surface of the surrounding wall; and    (d) a one way valve oriented in the surrounding wall, the valve configured to allow fluid flow from the interior, the valve positioned between the bottom edge and the resealable sealant stripe.    
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the resealable sealant stripe is positioned between the one way valve and the zipper profile members.  
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is positioned between the one way valve and the sealant stripe.  
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the resealable sealant stripe comprises a pressure sensitive material comprising at least one of EMA (Ethylene-Methyl Acrylate), EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate), and Resin Ester.  
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a textured standoff area on the interior surface of the surrounding wall.  
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the sealant stripe is a peel seal.  
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the surrounding wall comprises first and second panels and wherein the sealant stripe is on the interior surface of both the first and second panels.  
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a slider device mounted on the first zipper profile member and the second zipper profile member, the slider device configured to seal the profile members together when the slider device is moved in a first direction, and to unseal the profile members when the slider device is moved in an opposite second direction.  
     
     
         9 . A vacuum system, comprising: 
 (a) a vacuum pump having a suction side;    (b) a vacuum conduit in fluid communication with the vacuum pump suction side, the vacuum conduit comprising: 
 a fluid separator; and  
 at least one vacuum valve;  
   (c) an evacuable package defining an interior space in fluid communication with the vacuum conduit; and    (d) a resealable sealant stripe on an interior surface of the evacuable package.    
     
     
         10 . The vacuum system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one vacuum valve is oriented in a wall of the evacuable package, the at least one vacuum valve configured to allow fluid flow from the interior space  
     
     
         11 . The vacuum system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one vacuum valve is positioned between a bottom edge of the evacuable package and the resealable sealant stripe.  
     
     
         12 . The vacuum system of  claim 9 , further comprising a first zipper profile member and a second zipper profile member oriented on walls of the evacuable package opposite a bottom edge of the evacuable package.  
     
     
         13 . The vacuum system of  claim 9  wherein said vacuum pump is a portable vacuum pump and said vacuum conduit comprises a quick-connect assembly disposed between the fluid separator and the at least one vacuum valve.  
     
     
         14 . The vacuum system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one portion of the quick-connect assembly is integral with the at least one vacuum valve.  
     
     
         15 . The vacuum system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one portion of the quick-connect assembly comprises a suction cup tip.  
     
     
         16 . The vacuum system of  claim 9 , further comprising a standoff structure mounted within the evacuable package.  
     
     
         17 . The vacuum system of  claim 16 , wherein the standoff structure comprises a sheet of plastic having a cavity face and a protrusion face, the standoff structure is mounted within the package interior space such that the cavity face is proximal to the at least one vacuum valve.  
     
     
         18 . The vacuum system of  claim 16 , wherein the standoff structure comprises at least one face embossed with at least one of: (a) a series of channels; (b) a grid of grooves; (c) parallel grooves; (d) a honeycomb pattern of grooves; (e) a series of curvilinear columns; and (f) a series of polyhedron structures.  
     
     
         19 . The vacuum system of  claim 9 , wherein the evacuable package comprises at least one polymeric sheet folded and sealed along at least a portion of a periphery of the at least one polymeric sheet to provide the interior space.  
     
     
         20 . A method of using a package, comprising: 
 (a) providing a package having an interior, a resealable closure extending across a mouth of the package, and a one-way valve;    (b) placing an item in the interior through the mouth of the package;    (c) closing the resealable closure; and    (d) expelling air from the interior through the valve.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein expelling air from the interior is done by coupling a vacuum pump to the valve and applying a vacuum force with the vacuum pump.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein closing the resealable closure includes sealing a sealant stripe, and sealing the sealing strips occurs after expelling air from the interior through the valve.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein closing the resealable closure includes closing a resealable zipper, and closing the resealable zipper is done before sealing the sealant stripe.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein closing the resealable closure includes closing a resealable zipper, and closing the resealable zipper is done after sealing the sealant stripe.  
     
     
         25 . A polymeric recloseable bag comprising: 
 (a) a surrounding wall defining an interior volume, the surrounding wall including first and second opposed panel sections;    (b) a first closure between the first and second opposed panel sections, the first closure dividing the bag between a closure region and a storage region;    (c) a second closure secured to the first and second opposed panel sections in the closure region;    (d) a one-way evacuation valve oriented in one of the first and second panel sections in the closure region; and    (e) a plurality of protrusions positioned in the closure region.    
     
     
         26 . A bag according to  claim 25 , wherein the first closure is a peel seal and the second closure is a zipper closure.  
     
     
         27 . A bag according to  claim 25 , wherein the first and second closures are resealable.  
     
     
         28 . A bag according to  claim 25  further comprising a top end seal between the first and second panel sections, the second closure being between the first closure and the top end seal.  
     
     
         29 . A bag according to  claim 28  further comprising a region of weakness in the top end seal constructed and arranged to permit removal of the top end seal along the weakness from a remaining portion of the bag.  
     
     
         30 . A bag according to  claim 25 , wherein the second closure includes a skirt having the plurality of protrusions.  
     
     
         31 . A bag according to  claim 25  wherein: 
 (a) the second closure is a zipper closure, the zipper closure including: 
 (i) a first zipper profile defining a first profile member secured to the first panel section; and  
 (ii) a second zipper profile defining a second profile member secured to the second panel section; 
 (A) the first profile member and second profile member being constructed and arranged to selectively interlock and separate.  
 
   
     
     
         32 . A bag according to  claim 31  wherein the first zipper profile includes the skirt, the skirt being oriented between the seal and the first profile member.  
     
     
         33 . A bag according to  claim 32  wherein the skirt is oriented adjacent to the one-way valve.  
     
     
         34 . A method of storing a foodstuff in a polymeric bag; the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a bag having a surrounding wall defining an interior volume, the surrounding wall including: 
 first and second opposed panel sections;  
 a first end seal between the first and second panel sections;  
 a first closure between the first and second panel sections and dividing the bag between a storage region and a closure region;  
 a second closure in the closure region between the first and second panel sections and oriented between the first end seal and the first closure;  
 a plurality of protrusions positioned in the closure region; and  
 a one-way valve in the first panel section in the closure region;  
   (b) orienting a foodstuff in the interior volume of the storage region; and    (c) providing a second end seal adjacent to the foodstuff to trap the foodstuff between the second end seal and the seal.    
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein the step of providing a bag includes providing a bag wherein the first closure is a peel seal and the second closure is a resealable zipper closure.  
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 34  wherein the step of providing a bag includes providing a bag wherein the second closure is a zipper closure including: 
 (i) a first zipper profile defining a first profile member secured to the first panel section; 
 (A) the first zipper profile including a skirt, the skirt being oriented between the seal and the first profile member, the skirt mounting the plurality of protrusions; the skirt being oriented adjacent to the one-way valve; and  
   (ii) a second zipper profile defining a second profile member secured to the second panel section; 
 (A) the first profile member and second profile member being constructed and arranged to selectively interlock and separate.  
   
     
     
         37 . A method of using a polymeric bag, the method comprising: 
 (a) pulling apart a first closure that is secured to a bag to provide access to a second closure sealing together opposing panel sections of the bag, the first closure including a plurality of protrusions;    (b) pulling the opposing panel sections of the bag apart in a vicinity of the second closure to release the seal and provide access to a storage area of the bag;    (c) accessing the storage area of the bag;    (d) closing the first closure to close the bag; and    (e) removing at least some gas in the bag through a one-way valve located in one of the panel sections, the protrusions of the first closure helping to channel gas to the valve.    
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 37 , further comprising before the step of pulling apart the first closure, tearing a first end seal of the bag to provide access to the first closure.  
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 37 , wherein the first closure is a zipper closure, and the step of interlocking the first closure includes pressing a first zipper profile with a first member to interlock with an opposite second zipper profile with a second member; the first zipper profile including a skirt having the plurality of protrusions; the skirt being oriented adjacent to the one-way valve.  
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 37 , wherein removing at least some gas in the bag includes squeezing the bag to force at least some gas in the bag through the one-way valve, and resealing the second closure.