Valve Element

Abstract

A one-way valve element for use with containers such as flexible storage bags includes an elastomeric or similar material that can elastically expand to expose and at least substantially resiliently recover to cover an aperture through a sidewall of the container. Hence, air from the interior volume of the container can be evacuated through the valve element by, for example, interfacing an evacuation device with the valve element. The valve element can be provided as a single layer structure or a multiple layered structure that is attached to the sidewall of the container over the aperture. In another aspect, a valve element includes a gel-like material retained in a valve body and that can displace to allow air flow across the valve.

1 . A storage bag comprising:
 a first flexible sidewall;   a second flexible sidewall overlaying and joined to the first sidewall to provide an interior volume; and   a one-way valve element including a layer comprising elastomeric material, the one-way valve element adhered over an aperture disposed through the first sidewall.   
   
   
       2 . The storage bag of  claim 1 , wherein layer is rectangular-shaped. 
   
   
       3 . The storage bag of  claim 1 , wherein the layer is circular-shaped. 
   
   
       4 . The storage bag of  claim 1 , wherein elastomeric material is selected from the group of materials consisting of rubber, TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomers), TPU (Thermoplastic Urethanes), LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) and Plasticized PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride). 
   
   
       5 . The storage bag of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric material has an elastic modulus of between about 0.01 to 0.20 GPa (1500 to 30,000 lbf/sq. in.). 
   
   
       6 . The storage bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member between the elastomeric layer and the sidewall. 
   
   
       7 . The storage bag of  claim 6 , wherein the sealing member has a generally circular, disk-like shape. 
   
   
       8 . The storage bag of  claim 6 , wherein the sealing member is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone, thermoplastic, TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomers), TPU (Thermoplastic Urethanes), LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene), Plasticized PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride), hydrocarbon gel, and gel adhesive. 
   
   
       9 . The storage bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealant material disposed between the layer and the sidewall. 
   
   
       10 . The storage bag of  claim 9 , wherein sealant material is selected from the group consisting of an oil, a gel and a jelly. 
   
   
       11 . The storage bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sidewalls are joined along a first side edge, a parallel second side edge, and a closed bottom edge extending between the first and second side edges. 
   
   
       12 . The storage bag of  claim 11 , wherein the interior volume is accessible through an open top edge. 
   
   
       13 . The storage bag of  claim 12 , further comprising first and second interlocking fastening strips extending along the open top edge. 
   
   
       14 . A one-way valve element for a storage bag comprising:
 a base layer having an aperture disposed therein;   a top layer comprising an elastomeric material, the top layer joined to the base layer and covering the aperture, the top layer and base layer being joined so as to provide an expandable and collapsible channel between the aperture and an exit point on the valve element.   
   
   
       15 . The one-way valve element of  claim 14 , wherein the valve element including the base layer and the top layer are generally circular in shape. 
   
   
       16 . The storage bag of  claim 14 , wherein the elastomeric material is selected from the group of materials consisting of rubber, TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomers), TPU (Thermoplastic Urethanes), LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) and Plasticized PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride). 
   
   
       17 . The storage bag of  claim 14 , wherein the elastomeric material has an elastic modulus of between about 0.01 to 0.20 GPa (1500 to 30,000 lbf/sq. in.). 
   
   
       18 . The storage bag of  claim 14 , further comprising a sealing member between the base layer and the top layer. 
   
   
       19 . The storage bag of  claim 18 , wherein the sealing member has a generally circular, disk-like shape. 
   
   
       20 . The storage bag of  claim 18 , wherein the sealing member is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone, thermoplastic, TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomers), TPU (Thermoplastic Urethanes), LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene), Plasticized PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride), hydrocarbon gel, and gel adhesive. 
   
   
       21 . The one-way valve element of  claim 14 , wherein the base layer and the top layer are joined by adhesive. 
   
   
       22 . The one-way valve element of  claim 14 , wherein the base layer comprises a flexible thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       23 . The one-way valve element of  claim 14 , further comprising an adhesive layer disposed on a surface of the base layer opposite the top layer, and a peel-off backing overlaying the adhesive layer. 
   
   
       24 . A method of evacuating a storage bag comprising:
 proving a bag including a flexible sidewall providing an interior volume, an opening for accessing the interior volume, and a one-way valve element of elastomeric material attached over an aperture disposed through the sidewall;   closing the opening;   displacing a portion of the one-way valve element with respect to the sidewall and the aperture to expose the aperture;   exhausting air from the interior volume through the aperture; and   covering the aperture with the one-way valve element.   
   
   
       25 . A one-way valve element comprising:
 a substantially rigid valve body including a sidewall having a cavity disposed therein; and   a gel-like material retained within and normally plugging the cavity.   
   
   
       26 . The one-way valve element of  claim 25 , wherein the rigid valve body includes a base portion joined to a first end of the tubular sidewall and partially closing off the cavity, the base portion having an aperture disposed through the cavity. 
   
   
       27 . The one-way valve element of  claim 26 , wherein the rigid valve body includes at a second end of the tubular sidewall a plurality of fingers extending partially across the cavity. 
   
   
       28 . The one-way valve element of  claim 25 , wherein the gel-like material is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon gel, and gel adhesive. 
   
   
       29 . A flexible storage bag comprising:
 a first sidewall of pliable thermoplastic material;   a second sidewall of pliable thermoplastic material overlying and joined to the first sidewall to provide an interior volume accessible via an opening; and   a one-way valve element including a rigid valve body providing a cavity, and a displaceable gel-like material retained within the cavity, the one-way valve element attached to the first sidewall generally over a hole disposed through the first sidewall.