Storage system having a disposable vacuum bag

Abstract

The present invention provides a storage system having a storage device having at least one polymeric sheet sealed along a portion of its' periphery to provide an opening to a storage space; a resealable closure structure adapted to seal the opening to the storage space, the resealable closure structure comprising selectively engaging male and female profiles and a sealing compound comprising liquid silicone and at least one filler in proportions suitable for at least incidental contact to food items contained within the storage space; a vacuum valve assembly disposed on the polymeric sheet; a stand-off structure disposed adjacent to the vacuum valve assembly, wherein the stand-off structure has a series of raised surfaces facing the vacuum valve assembly; a portable vacuum pump assembly structured to engage the vacuum valve assembly; and a liquid separator assembly coupled to the portable vacuum pump assembly.

1 . A vacuum system comprising: a vacuum pump having a suction side; a vacuum conduit in fluid communication with said vacuum pump suction side, the vacuum conduit comprising: a gas/liquid separator means; at least one vacuum valve optionally comprising a caulking compound disposed therein; an evacuable package defining an interior space in fluid communication with said vacuum conduit; optionally, one or more standoff structures disposed within said interior space and in fluid communication with said vacuum conduit optionally, one or more quick-connect means; optionally, a resealable closure defining an opening of said evacuable package.  
     
     
         2 . The vacuum system of  claim 1  wherein said evacuable package has an opening defined by a resealable closure, said resealable closure comprising at least one set of interlocking profiles and associated therewith a caulking composition, and wherein, optionally, said closure additionally comprises a sealing material.  
     
     
         3 . The vacuum system of  claim 2  wherein said vacuum pump is a portable vacuum pump and said vacuum conduit comprises a quick-connect means disposed between said gas/liquid separator means and said vacuum valve.  
     
     
         4 . The vacuum system of  claim 3  wherein one portion of said quick-connect means is integral with said vacuum valve.  
     
     
         5 . The vacuum system of  claim 3  wherein said resealable closure further comprises a closing clip configured to engage said interlocking profiles when disposed along a first direction, wherein said closing clip does not disengage said interlocking profiles when disposed along a second direction opposing said first direction.  
     
     
         6 . The vacuum system of  claim 3  wherein said caulking composition is disposed to infiltrate at least one void present when said resealable closure is placed in a sealed condition.  
     
     
         7 . The vacuum system of  claim 6  wherein said caulking composition is disposed in at least one of the periphery portion of the resealable closure proximal to a crush seal and along the interengaging face of one or more of said interengaging profiles.  
     
     
         8 . The vacuum system of  claim 6  wherein said caulking composition is suitable for at least incidental contact to food items.  
     
     
         9 . The vacuum system of  claim 6  wherein the caulking composition comprises two reactive constituents wherein each said constituent is applied to a separate portion of the closure, disposed such that when the interengaging portions of the closure are initially engaged said reactive constituents are admixed to produce a reaction product which is infiltrated into at least one void defined by the interengaging portions of the closure.  
     
     
         10 . The vacuum system of  claim 8  wherein said caulking composition maintains chemical stability throughout a temperature range suitable for food storage and packaging.  
     
     
         11 . The vacuum system of  claim 10  wherein the viscosity of said caulking composition is reduced as its temperature is increased.  
     
     
         12 . The vacuum system of  claim 10  wherein said caulking composition does not undergo decomposition in a temperature range of from about −10.degree. F. to about +160.degree. F.  
     
     
         13 . The vacuum system of  claim 12  wherein said caulking composition comprises 94% dimethylpolysiloxane and 6% fumed silica by weight percent.  
     
     
         14 . The vacuum system of  claim 12  wherein said caulking composition has a worked penetration value of about 290 to about 340, wherein said worked penetration is measured at 60 strokes and a temperature of about 77.degree. F.  
     
     
         15 . The vacuum system of  claim 12  wherein said caulking composition comprises a soy adhesive material.  
     
     
         16 . The vacuum system of  claim 3  wherein said resealable closure comprises a sealing material selected from one or more of low density polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, ultra low density polyolefin, and polyolefin, wherein said sealing material has a density of not more than 0.925 g/cm.sup.3 as measured in accordance with ASTM D1505-03.  
     
     
         17 . The vacuum system of  claim 3  wherein said resealable closure comprises more than one pair of interengaging profile members in substantially parallel relationship.  
     
     
         18 . The vacuum system of  claim 3  wherein one part of said quick-connect means comprises a suction cup tip.  
     
     
         19 . The vacuum system of  claim 18  comprising a standoff structure wherein said standoff structure comprises a sheet of plastic having a cavity face and a protrusion face, wherein said standoff structure is mounted within said package interior space such that said cavity face is proximal to at least one said vacuum valve and forms a portion of said vacuum conduit and said protrusion face is distal from said at least one vacuum valve.  
     
     
         20 . The vacuum system of  claim 18  wherein said standoff structure comprises at least one face embossed with one or more 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.  
     
     
         21 . The vacuum system of  claim 1  wherein said resealable closure comprises a separable clamping means.  
     
     
         22 . A storage bag suitable for use with the vacuum system of  claim 1  comprising at least one polymeric sheet defining an interior space, and at least one vacuum valve and associated therewith at least one standoff structure defining at least a portion of said vacuum conduit.  
     
     
         23 . The storage bag of  claim 22  comprising: at least one polymeric sheet folded and sealed along at least a portion of a periphery of said at least one polymeric sheet to provide a storage space; at least one vacuum valve assembly disposed on a portion of said at least one polymeric sheet corresponding to said storage space; and a stand-off structure bound to said at least one polymeric sheet in close proximity to said at least one vacuum valve, said stand-off structure having a series of channels facing away from said storage space disposed on a portion of the stand-off structure adjacent to said valve assembly, wherein said channels provide fluid communication between said storage space and said vacuum valve.  
     
     
         24 . A storage bag suitable for use with the vacuum system of  claim 1  comprising: at least one polymeric sheet sealed along a portion of a periphery of said at least one polymeric sheet to provide an opening to a storage space; a closure device disposed along said opening to said storage space, said closure device comprising at least a first set of interengaging profiles and proximate and disposed substantially parallel to said first set of interengaging profiles, a second set of interengaging profiles, wherein said closure further comprises a region of sealing material disposed to interact with at least one of said first set of interengaging profiles and said second set of interengaging profiles when said first set of interengaging profiles and said second set of interengaging profiles are engaged; and a bead of caulking composition positioned to infiltrate at least one void space defined by at least one of said first set of interengaging profiles and said second set of interengaging profiles when they are engaged, wherein said caulking composition is suitable for at least incidental contact to food items and maintains chemical stability throughout a temperature range suitable for food storage and packaging.  
     
     
         25 . The storage bag of  claim 24  wherein said caulking composition is disposed along at least one of said first set of interengaging profiles and said second set of interengaging profiles.  
     
     
         26 . The storage bag of  claim 24  wherein a bead of said caulking composition is disposed on a flange portion of said closure between said first set of interengaging profiles and said second set of interengaging profiles.  
     
     
         27 . The storage bag of  claim 24  wherein said at least one polymeric sheet comprises an inner sealant layer and a outer barrier layer, wherein said inner sealant layer comprises low density polyethylene or linear low density polyethylene and said outer barrier layer comprises nylon, polypropylene or polyester.  
     
     
         28 . A method of vacuum sealing an article comprising placing an article in the interior space of an evacuable package according to the vacuum system of  claim 2;  sealing said resealable closure; and drawing a vacuum using said vacuum pump.  
     
     
         29 . A method of vacuum sealing an article comprising placing an article in the interior space of an evacuable package according to the vacuum system of  claim 3;  sealing said resealable closure; and drawing a vacuum using said vacuum pump.