Polymeric package with resealable closure and valve, and methods

Abstract

A reclosable package, formed from at least one polymeric sheet, having a closure and a vacuum valve. The vacuum valve comprises a port, the port being aligned with an aperture in the first sidewall of the package. The vacuum valve allows gas to be removed from inside the package via a vacuum pump. A gas-impermeable layer, overlaying at least one of the aperture and the port, restricts gaseous communication between the vacuum valve and the inside of the package.

1 . A storage system comprising:
 at least one polymeric sheet sealed along a portion of the periphery thereof, thereby defining a storage bag having a storage space, the storage bag comprising a bottom edge, a top edge, and at least one side edge;   a closure coupled to the top edge of the storage bag;   an aperture in a first sidewall of the storage bag;   a vacuum valve coupled to the first sidewall of the polymeric sheet, the vacuum valve comprising a port, the valve aligned with the aperture in the first sidewall, and the vacuum valve configured to accommodate a vacuum pump for removal of fluid from the storage space of the storage bag; and,   a gas-impermeable barrier overlaying at least one of the aperture of the first sidewall and the port of the vacuum valve, the gas-impermeable barrier restricting fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space.   
     
     
         2 . The storage system of  claim 1 , the gas-impermeable barrier being a releasable film releasably coupled to at least one of the storage bag and the vacuum valve. 
     
     
         3 . The storage system of  claim 2 , the releasable film comprising a tab, the releasable film configured for movement from a first position to a second position via the tab, wherein in the first position the gas-impermeable barrier restricts fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space, and wherein in the second position the gas-impermeable barrier does not restrict fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space. 
     
     
         4 . The storage system of  claim 3 , wherein the vacuum valve comprises the releasable film, and the tab is located outside an outer perimeter of the vacuum valve. 
     
     
         5 . The storage system of  claim 2 , the releasable film being located on an internal surface of the storage bag, overlaying the aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The storage system of  claim 2 , the releasable film being located on an external surface of the storage bag, overlaying the valve. 
     
     
         7 . The storage system of  claim 6 , the releasable film being located between the aperture of the first sidewall and the port of the vacuum valve. 
     
     
         8 . The storage system of  claim 1 , the gas-impermeable barrier being a cap overlaying at least one of the aperture of the first sidewall and the port of the vacuum valve. 
     
     
         9 . The storage system of  claim 1 , the gas-impermeable barrier being a one-way breathable membrane. 
     
     
         10 . The storage system of  claim 1 , the gas-impermeable barrier restricting liquid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space of the storage bag. 
     
     
         11 . The storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a stand-off structure positioned within the interior of the storage bag and coupled to at least one of the first sidewall and a second sidewall of the storage bag, the stand-off structure comprising a channel that provides a communication passage for removal of fluid from the storage bag.   
     
     
         12 . The storage system of  claim 11 , the stand-off being a strip of film, the strip of film comprising a series of channels on a first side thereof, the channels facing the vacuum valve assembly, and the channels providing a communication passage for removal of fluid from the storage bag. 
     
     
         13 . The storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a stand-off structure positioned within the interior of the storage bag and coupled to the closure, the stand-off structure comprising a channel that provides a communication passage for removal of fluid from the storage bag.   
     
     
         14 . The storage system of  claim 13 , the stand-off being a strip of film, the strip of film comprising a series of channels on a first side thereof, the channels facing the vacuum valve assembly, and the channels providing a communication passage for removal of fluid from the storage bag. 
     
     
         15 . The storage system of  claim 1 , the closure comprising a pair of opposed interengaging profile members, the opposed interengaging profile members capable of repeated engagement and disengagement. 
     
     
         16 . The storage system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a caulking composition on a substantial portion of at least one of the interengaging profile members.   
     
     
         17 . The storage system of  claim 16 , the caulking composition further comprising a first reactive material and a second reactive material. 
     
     
         18 . The storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump configured to mate with the vacuum valve, and when operated, remove fluid from the storage space of the storage bag. 
     
     
         19 . A method for packaging food items, the method comprising:
 receiving a storage bag, the storage bag comprising:
 at least one polymeric sheet sealed along at least a portion of the periphery thereof, thereby defining a storage bag having a storage space, the storage bag comprising a top edge, a food item opening, and at least one periphery edge; 
 a closure coupled to the top edge of the storage bag; 
 an aperture in a first sidewall of the storage bag; 
 a vacuum valve coupled to the first sidewall of the storage bag, the vacuum valve comprising at least one port, the valve aligned with the aperture in the first sidewall, the vacuum valve configured to accommodate a vacuum pump for removal of fluid from the storage space of the storage bag; and, 
 a gas-impermeable barrier overlaying at least one of the aperture of the first sidewall and the port of the vacuum valve, the gas-impermeable barrier restricting fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space, the gas-impermeable barrier capable of being movable from a first position to a second position, the gas-impermeable barrier restricting fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space when in the first position, and allowing fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space when in the second position, thereby allowing fluid to be removed from the storage space of the storage bag via the vacuum valve; 
   placing a food item in the storage space via the food item opening;   evacuating the storage space; and   sealing the food item opening.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , the gas-impermeable barrier comprising a releasable film releasably coupled to at least one of the storage bag and the vacuum valve. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , the resealable film being releasably coupled to the vacuum valve, the tab located outside an outer perimeter of the vacuum valve. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , the releasable film located on an internal surface of the storage bag overlaying the valve. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , the releasable film being located on an external surface of the storage bag overlaying the aperture. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , the releasable film being located between the aperture of the first sidewall and the port of the vacuum valve. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , the gas-impermeable barrier being a cap overlaying at least one of the aperture of the first sidewall and the port of the vacuum valve. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , the gas-impermeable barrier being a one-way breathable membrane. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18 , the gas-impermeable barrier restricting fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space of the storage bag. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , the storage bag further comprising:
 a stand-off structure positioned within the interior of the storage bag and coupled to at least one of the first sidewall and a second sidewall of the storage bag, the stand-off structure comprising a channel that provides a communication passage for removal of fluid from the storage bag.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , the stand-off structure being a strip of film, the strip of film comprising a series of channels on at least a first side thereof, the channels facing the vacuum valve assembly, the channels providing a communication passage for the removal of fluid from the storage bag. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18 , the storage bag further comprising:
 a stand-off structure positioned within the interior of the storage bag and coupled to the closure, the stand-off structure comprising a channel that provides a communication passage for removal of fluid from the storage bag.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , the stand-off structure being a strip of film, the strip of film comprising a series of channels on at least a first side thereof, the channels facing the vacuum valve assembly, the channels providing a communication passage for the removal of fluid from the storage bag. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 18 , the closure comprising a pair of opposed interengaging profile members, the opposed interengaging profile members capable of repeated engagement and disengagement. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , the storage bag further comprising a caulking composition on a substantial portion of at least one of the interengaging profile members. 
     
     
         34 . The storage system of  claim 33 , the caulking composition further comprising a first reactive material and a second reactive material. 
     
     
         35 . A method for producing a storage bag, the method comprising:
 receiving at least one polymeric sheet;   sealing the at least one polymeric sheet along a portion of the periphery thereof, thereby defining a storage bag having a storage space, the storage bag comprising a top edge, a food item opening, and at least one periphery edge;   coupling a closure to the top edge of the storage bag;   coupling a vacuum valve to the first sidewall of the storage bag, the vacuum valve comprising a port, the vacuum valve aligned with an aperture in the first sidewall, the vacuum valve configured to accommodate a vacuum pump for removal of fluid from the storage space of the storage bag; and,   providing a gas-impermeable barrier which restricts fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space, the gas-impermeable barrier capable of being moved from a first position to a second position, wherein in the first position the gas-impermeable barrier restricts fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space, and wherein in the second position the gas-impermeable barrier does not restrict fluid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space, thereby allowing fluid to be removed from the storage space of the storage bag via the vacuum valve.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , the gas-impermeable barrier overlaying at least one of the aperture of the first sidewall and the port of the vacuum valve. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , the aperture formed prior to sealing the at least one polymeric sheet long a portion of its periphery. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , the polymeric sheet further comprising at least one aperture when the polymeric sheet is received. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , the gas-impermeable barrier being a releasable film releasably coupled to at least one of the storage bag and the vacuum valve. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , the releasable film releasably coupled to the vacuum valve, the tab located outside an outer perimeter of the vacuum valve. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36 , the releasable film located on an internal surface of the storage bag overlaying the aperture. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36 , the releasable film being located on an external surface of the storage bag overlaying the aperture. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , the releasable film being located between the aperture of the first sidewall and the port of the vacuum valve. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 35 , the gas-impermeable barrier comprising a cap overlaying at least one of the aperture of the first sidewall and the port of the vacuum valve. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 35 , the gas-impermeable barrier comprising a one-way breathable membrane. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 35 , the gas-impermeable barrier restricting liquid communication between the vacuum valve and the storage space of the storage bag. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 35 , the storage bag further comprising:
 a stand-off structure positioned within the interior of the storage bag and coupled to at least one of the first sidewall and a second sidewall of the storage bag, the stand-off structure comprising a channel that provides a communication passage for removal of fluid from the storage bag.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 49 , the stand-off structure being a strip of film, the strip of film comprising a series of channels on a first side thereof, the channels facing the vacuum valve assembly, the channels providing a communication passage for the removal of fluid from the storage bag. 
     
     
         49 . The storage system of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 a stand-off structure positioned within the interior of the storage bag and coupled to the closure, the stand-off structure comprising a channel that provides a communication passage for removal of fluid from the storage bag.   
     
     
         50 . The storage system of  claim 49 , the stand-off being a strip of film, the strip of film comprising a series of channels on a first side thereof, the channels facing the vacuum valve assembly, and the channels providing a communication passage for removal of fluid from the storage bag. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 35 , the closure comprising a pair of opposed interengaging profile members, the opposed interengaging profile members capable of repeated engagement and disengagement. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , the storage bag further comprising a caulking composition on a substantial portion of at least one of the interengaging profile members. 
     
     
         53 . The storage system of  claim 52 , the caulking composition further comprising a first reactive material and a second reactive material.