Flood Proof Container

Abstract

A flood proof container is provided. The flood proof container includes a flexible bag, a water-tight seal, and one or more pressure release valves. A method of using the flood proof container is also provided.

1 . A flood proof container comprising:
 a flexible bag having a front side, a back side, and an opening between the front side and the back side for inserting one or more items, wherein the front side is shorter than the back side of the flexible bag, thereby forming a flap;   a water-tight seal for sealing the opening comprising:
 a first closure device comprising an adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side, the back side, or a combination thereof: 
 a second closure device comprising a double heat-sealed closure extending along the flap: and 
   one or more pressure release valves.   
     
     
         2 . The flood proof container of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom seam, one or two optional side seams, or a combination thereof, between the front side and the back side of the flexible bag are sealed together by hot-melting or ultrasound. 
     
     
         3 . The flood proof container of  claim 1 , wherein the first closure device comprises an adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side. 
     
     
         4 . The flood proof container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more pressure release valves allows air to pass out of and prevents water from entering into the flood proof container. 
     
     
         5 . The flood proof container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more pressure release valves comprise butterfly valves, ball port valves, V-port valves, or rotary valves. 
     
     
         6 . The flood proof container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more pressure release valves are located on the front side of the flexible bag, the back side of the flexible bag, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The flood proof container of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side of the flexible bag, the back side of the flexible bag, or a combination thereof comprises a water resistant adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The flood proof container of  claim 1 , wherein the water resistant adhesive comprises a polyvinyl acetate, a polyurethane, a cyanoacrylate, an acrylate, a methacrylate, a copolymer of an acrylate and a methacrylate, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The flood proof container of  claim 1 , wherein the double heat-sealed closure extending along the flap is formed by a double heat sealing device. 
     
     
         10 . The flood proof container of  claim 9 , wherein the double heat sealing device is a hand-held battery or electric double heat sealing device. 
     
     
         11 . The flood proof container of  claim 1 , wherein the flood proof container protects one or more items stored inside the sealed flood proof container from flood water damage, storm surges, leaky roofs, sand, dust, insects, rodents, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The flood proof container of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible bag comprises a flexible water impermeable plastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The flood proof container of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible water impermeable plastic material comprises one or more single-layer films or one or more multiple-layered films comprising polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated polyethylene, chlorinated butyl, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A flood proof container comprising:
 a flexible bag having a front side, a back side, and an opening between the front side and the back side for inserting one or more items, wherein the front side is shorter than the back side of the flexible bag, thereby forming a flap, wherein the flexible bag comprises a flexible water impermeable plastic material;   a water-tight seal for sealing the opening comprising:
 a first closure device comprising an adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side: 
 a second closure device comprising a double heat-sealed closure extending along the flap: and 
   one or more pressure release valves, wherein each of the one or more pressure release valves allows air to pass out of and prevents water from entering into the flood proof container, and wherein each of the one or more pressure release valves are located on the front side of the flexible bag, the back side of the flexible bag, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         15 . The flood proof container of  claim 14 , wherein a bottom seam, one or two optional side seams, or a combination thereof, between the front side and the back side of the flexible bag are sealed together by hot-melting or ultrasound. 
     
     
         16 . The flood proof container of  claim 14 , wherein the double heat-sealed closure extending along the flap is formed by a double heat sealing device. 
     
     
         17 . The flood proof container of  claim 16 , wherein the double heat sealing device is a hand-held battery or electric double heat sealing device. 
     
     
         18 . The flood proof container of  claim 14 , wherein the flood proof container protects one or more items stored inside the sealed flood proof container from flood water damage, storm surges, leaky roofs, sand, dust, insects, rodents, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A method of protecting one or more items comprising:
 unfolding a flood proof container having an opening for inserting one or more items comprising:
 a flexible bag having a front side, a back side, and an opening between the front side and the back side for inserting one or more items, wherein the front side is shorter than the back side of the flexible bag, thereby forming a flap; 
 a water-tight seal for sealing the opening comprising: 
 a first closure device comprising an adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side, the back side, or a combination thereof: 
 a second closure device comprising a double heat-sealed closure extending along the flap: and 
 one or more pressure release valves; 
   loading one or more items into the flood proof container;   sealing the flood proof container with the water-tight seal by
 removing a release liner from the adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side, the back side, or a combination thereof; 
 pressing the adhesive strip extending along the opening on the front side, the back side, or a combination thereof against either the front side, the back side, or a combination thereof, to provide a permanent water resistant adhesive seal; and 
 sliding a heat-sealing device across the flexible bag adjacent to the permanent water resistant adhesive seal to form a double heat seal. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising removing air trapped inside the flood proof container after sealing the flood proof container.