Collapsible article container

Abstract

A collapsible article container includes a pair of side walls connected along side edges and a transverse bottom edge defining an interior pouch volume having a sealable entrance opening and an air purge mechanism in communication with the pouch to provide air evacuation from the pouch through a volume reduction port. The air purge mechanism includes truncated, transverse, seals defining a restricted flow path in communication with the pouch volume through one passage and in communication with a volume reduction port through another. The collapsible article container may be reused after removal of a contained article by insertion of an article into the pouch volume, exposing the volume reduction port to atmosphere, and expelling entrained air from the pouch volume through the passages and restricted flow path of the air purge mechanism. In one form the pouch includes a closable strip spaced inwardly from the top edge.

1 . A collapsible article container, comprising a pair of side walls connected along side edges and a transverse bottom edge to define an interior pouch volume having an entrance opening along a transverse sealable top edge,
 an air purge mechanism in communication with said pouch volume to provide air evacuation from said pouch.   
     
     
         2 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least one of said side walls may be ruptured to place said air purge mechanism in communication with the atmosphere. 
     
     
         3 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said air purge mechanism includes a first truncated seal connecting said side walls spaced from said bottom edge toward said entrance opening extending from one of said side edges and having a terminus spaced from the other of said side edges to define a passage therebetween. 
     
     
         4 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said air purge mechanism includes a second truncated seal connecting said side walls spaced toward said entrance opening from first truncated seal extending from the other of said side edges and having a terminus spaced from said first one of said side edges to define a passage therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said first truncated seal and said second truncated seal of said air purge mechanism define a restricted flow path communicating with said pouch volume through said passage defined by said terminus of said second truncated seal and said side edge from which it is spaced. 
     
     
         6 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said bottom edge and said at first truncated seal define a tubular volume reduction port in communication with said restricted flow path between said truncated seals of said air purge mechanism through said passage defined by said terminus of said first truncated seal and said side edge from which it is spaced. 
     
     
         7 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said volume reduction port is in communication with said pouch volume through said passages and said restricted flow path and said air purge mechanism is placed in communication with the atmosphere by rupturing said side wall at said volume reduction port. 
     
     
         8 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said pouch includes a closure mechanism spaced from said top edge toward said bottom edge, said side walls define a tubular portion between said transverse top seal and said closure mechanism and said tubular portion may be ruptured to provide access to said interior pouch volume through said closure mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said closure includes a generally “U” shaped channel element secured to each of said side walls, each said channel facing the channel on the other said side wall, said channels aligned for releasable engagement with each other. 
     
     
         10 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said pouch includes a closure mechanism spaced from said top edge toward said bottom edge, said side walls define a tubular portion between said transverse top seal and said closure mechanism and said tubular portion may be ruptured to provide access to said interior pouch volume through said closure mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said closure includes a generally “U” shaped channel element secured to each of said side walls, each said channel facing the channel on the other said side wall, said channels aligned for releasable engagement with each other. 
     
     
         12 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said air purge mechanism includes a first truncated seal connecting said side walls spaced from said bottom edge toward said entrance opening extending from one of said side edges and having a terminus spaced from the other of said side edges to define a passage therebetween, 
     
     
         13 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said air purge mechanism includes a second truncated seal connecting said side walls spaced toward said entrance opening from first truncated seal extending from the other of said side edges and having a terminus spaced from said first one of said side edges to define a passage therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said first truncated seal and said second truncated seal of said air purge mechanism define a restricted flow path communicating with said pouch volume through said passage defined by said terminus of said second truncated seal and said side edge from which it is spaced. 
     
     
         15 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said bottom edge and said at first truncated seal define a tubular volume reduction port in communication with said restricted flow path between said truncated seals of said air purge mechanism through said passage defined by said terminus of said first truncated seal and said side edge from which it is spaced. 
     
     
         16 . A collapsible article container as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said volume reduction port is in communication with said pouch volume through said passages and said restricted flow path and said air purge mechanism is placed in communication with the atmosphere by rupturing said side wall at said volume reduction port. 
     
     
         17 . A method of packaging an article using a collapsible article container comprising:
 a pair of side walls connected along side edges and a transverse bottom edge to define an interior pouch volume having an entrance opening along a transverse top edge,   an air purge mechanism in communication with said pouch volume to provide an air evacuation from said pouch,   a closure mechanism spaced from said top edge toward said bottom edge, said side walls define a tubular portion between said transverse top seal and said closure mechanism and said tubular portion may be ruptured to provide access to said interior pouch volume through said closure mechanism,   providing an article,   inserting said article into said pouch volume though said entrance opening,   evacuating said pouch volume through said entrance opening,   sealing said transverse top edge of said container.   
     
     
         18 . A method of repackaging articles using a collapsible article container containing an article, said container comprising:
 a collapsible article container comprising a pair of side walls connected along side edges and a transverse bottom edge to define an interior pouch volume having an entrance opening along a transverse top edge,   an air purge mechanism in communication with said pouch volume to provide air evacuation from said pouch   a closure mechanism spaced from said top edge toward said bottom edge, said side walls define a tubular portion between said transverse top seal and said closure mechanism and said tubular portion may be ruptured to provide access to said interior pouch volume through said closure mechanism,   a removable article disposed in said pouch volume and   a transverse top seal sealing said entrance opening,   a volume reduction port in at least one of said side walls closed to the atmosphere and in communication with said pouch volume, the steps comprising
 rupturing at least one of said side walls at said tubular portion and removing said article originally disposed in said pouch volume, 
 inserting an article within said pouch volume, 
 closing said closure mechanism, 
 rupturing at least one of said side walls in said volume reduction port to communicate said volume reduction port to atmosphere, 
 compressing said pouch volume from said closure mechanism toward said truncated seals to cause air contained within said pouch volume to exit through said passages and said restricted flow path. 
   
     
     
         19 . A method of repackaging an article using a flexible article container as claimed in  claim 18  the steps further comprising securing said container in said compressed condition to maintain a minimum pouch volume. 
     
     
         20 . A collapsible article container, comprising a pair of side walls connected along side edges and a transverse bottom edge to define an interior pouch volume having an entrance opening along a transverse sealable top edge, a seal sealing said top edge,
 an air purge mechanism in communication with said pouch volume to provide air evacuation from said pouch   
       wherein said pouch includes a closure mechanism spaced from said sealed top edge toward said bottom edge, said side walls define a tubular portion between said transverse top seal and said closure mechanism and said tubular portion may be ruptured to provide access to said interior pouch volume through said closure mechanism.