Sealable Storage Bag and Related Methods

Abstract

An exemplary sealable storage bag for storing articles includes a bag wall defining a bag interior adapted to receive an article to be stored, and an opening arranged at a first end of the bag and communicating with the bag interior. A closure is arranged at the first end and is operable to substantially hermetically seal the opening. At least one air outlet valve is arranged in the bag wall and is operable to release air from the bag interior to an external environment. The air outlet valve has an open position for allowing air passage therethrough, and a closed position for blocking air passage therethrough. The bag wall is collapsible to facilitate compression of the bag into a compacted state for expelling air from the bag interior through the air outlet valve in the open position and when the opening is sealed by the closure. Related methods of storing articles are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealable storage bag for storing articles, comprising:
 a bag wall defining a bag interior adapted to receive an article to be stored;   an opening arranged at a first end of the bag and communicating with the bag interior;   a closure arranged at the first end and operable to substantially hermetically seal the opening; and   at least one air outlet valve arranged in the bag wall and operable to release air from the bag interior to an external environment, the at least one air outlet valve having an open position for allowing air passage therethrough and a closed position for blocking air passage therethrough,   wherein the bag wall is collapsible to facilitate compression of the bag into a compacted state for expelling air from the bag interior through the air outlet valve in the open position and when the opening is sealed by the closure.   
     
     
         2 . The sealable storage bag of  claim 1 , wherein the closure includes at least one sealing strip extending across the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The sealable storage bag of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sealing strip includes first and second sealing members that releasably engage one another to seal the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The sealable storage bag of  claim 3 , wherein the first sealing member is provided on a first inner surface of the bag wall and the second sealing member is provided on an opposed second inner surface of the bag wall. 
     
     
         5 . The sealable storage bag of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sealing strip includes a zip-locking strip. 
     
     
         6 . The sealable storage bag of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sealing strip includes a magnetic-locking strip. 
     
     
         7 . The sealable storage bag of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sealing strip includes first and second sealing strips spaced apart from one another, each of the first and second sealing strips configured to independently substantially hermetically seal the opening. 
     
     
         8 . The sealable storage bag of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one air outlet valve is arranged at a second end of the bag spaced from the first end. 
     
     
         9 . The sealable storage bag of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one air outlet valve includes a one-way degassing valve that is biased toward the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The sealable storage bag of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one air outlet valve includes first and second ferromagnetic members that bias the at least one air outlet valve toward the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The sealable storage bag of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flap coupled to an outer surface of the bag wall and being foldable about the closure; and   a securing mechanism having a first securing member provided on an outer surface of the bag wall and a second securing member provided on the flap, the first and second securing members being releasably engagable to secure the flap about the closure.   
     
     
         12 . The sealable storage bag of  claim 11 , wherein the first securing member includes a first hook-loop fastener strip and the second securing member includes a complementary second hook-loop fastener strip. 
     
     
         13 . The sealable storage bag of  claim 1 , wherein the bag wall is formed from a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         14 . A method of storing an article in a sealable storage bag having an air outlet valve, the method comprising:
 inserting the article into a bag interior through an opening at a first end of the bag;   closing the opening to form a substantially hermetic seal at the first end; and   compressing the bag to expel air from the bag interior to an external environment through the air outlet valve in an open position, wherein the air outlet valve has an open position for allowing air passage therethrough and a closed position for blocking air passage therethrough, and the bag is substantially maintained in a compacted state when the air outlet valve is in the closed position after the bag has been compressed.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein compressing the bag includes at least one of rolling or folding the bag at its first end in a direction toward the air outlet valve. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the air outlet valve is arranged at a second end of the bag spaced from the first end, and compressing the bag includes at least one of rolling or folding the bag at its first end toward and substantially to the second end. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the bag includes a sealing strip extending across the opening, and closing the opening includes releasably engaging first and second sealing members of the sealing strip to form the substantially hermetic seal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the air outlet valve is a one-way degassing valve biased toward the closed position, and compressing the bag includes applying a compression force to the bag sufficient to generate an air pressure in the bag interior that forces the air outlet valve into the open position to expel air therethrough, the method further comprising:
 releasing the compression force from the bag to allow the air outlet valve to return to the closed position without manually manipulating the air outlet valve, so that the bag is substantially maintained in a compacted state.