Elastic fastener for vacuum bag pleats

Abstract

A vacuum bag having an expandable pleat is provided. The vacuum bag includes a first surface region, a second surface region, and a third surface region between the first and second surface regions. The third surface region can be folded to bring the first surface region into proximity of the second surface region. The vacuum bag also includes a strip having a first attaching region at a first end of the strip, a second attaching region at a second end of the strip opposite the first end, and a central region between the first and second attaching regions. The first attaching region is fixed to the first surface region, and the second attaching region is fixed to the second surface region such that when the central region of the strip is in a non-expanded state, the first surface region is contiguous to the second surface region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum bag comprising:
 a bag surface comprising:
 a first surface region; 
 a second surface region; and 
 a third surface region between the first surface region and the second surface region, the third surface region configured to be folded to bring the first surface region into proximity of the second surface region; and 
   a strip having a first attaching region at a first end of the strip, a second attaching region at a second end of the strip opposite the first end, and a central region between the first attaching region and the second attaching region, the first attaching region being fixed to the first surface region, the second attaching region being fixed to the second surface region,   wherein the first attaching region is fixed to the first surface region and the second attaching region is fixed to the second attaching region such that when the central region of the strip is in a non-expanded state, the first surface region is contiguous to the second surface region.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum bag of  claim 1 , wherein the bag surface comprises a polymer film. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum bag of  claim 1 , wherein the strip comprises a polyurethane film. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum bag of  claim 1 , wherein the central region of the strip has an elasticity between 600 and 1,800 psi. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first attaching region and the second attaching region are fixed to the first surface region and the second surface region, respectively, by an acrylic adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first attaching region and the second attaching region are fixed to the first surface region and the second surface region, respectively, using double sided pressure sensitive adhesive tape. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first attaching region and the second attaching region are treated with a corona treatment. 
     
     
         8 . A method of forming an expandable pleat in a vacuum bag, comprising:
 pleating a bag surface, the bag surface comprising a first surface region, a second surface region, and a third surface region between the first surface region and the second surface region, the third surface region being configured to be folded to bring the first surface region into proximity of the second surface region;   fixing a first attaching region at a first end of a strip to the first surface region; and   fixing a second attaching region at a second end of the strip opposite the first end to the second surface region,   wherein the strip comprises a central region between the first attaching region and the second attaching region, and the first attaching region is fixed to the first surface region and the second attaching region is fixed to the second attaching region such that when the central region of the strip is in a non-expanded state, the first surface region is contiguous to the second surface region.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the bag surface comprises a polymer film. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the strip comprises a polyurethane film. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the central region of the strip has an elasticity between 600 and 1,800 psi. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein fixing the first attaching region to the first surface region comprises applying a first acrylic adhesive to the first attaching region, and wherein fixing the second attaching region to the second surface region comprises applying a second acrylic adhesive to the second attaching region. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein fixing the first attaching region to the first surface region comprises applying a first double sided pressure sensitive adhesive tape to the first attaching region, and wherein fixing the second attaching region to the second surface region comprises applying a second double sided pressure sensitive adhesive tape to the second attaching region. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein fixing the first attaching region to the first surface region comprises treating the first attaching region with a corona treatment, and wherein fixing the second attaching region to the second surface region comprises treating the second attaching region with a corona treatment. 
     
     
         15 . An expandable fastener for a pleat in a vacuum bag, the vacuum bag comprising a first surface region, a second surface region, and a third surface region between the first surface region and the second surface region, the third surface region configured to be folded to bring the first surface region into proximity of the second surface region, the expandable fastener comprising:
 a first attaching region at a first end of a strip, the first attaching region being fixed to the first surface region;   a second attaching region at a second end of the strip opposite the first end, the second attaching region being fixed to the second surface region; and   a central region between the first attaching region and the second attaching region, the first attaching region being fixed to the first surface region, the second attaching region being fixed to the second surface region,   wherein the first attaching region is fixed to the first surface region and the second attaching region is fixed to the second attaching region such that when the central region of the strip is in a non-expanded state, the first surface region is contiguous to the second surface region.   
     
     
         16 . The expandable fastener of  claim 15 , wherein the strip comprises a polyurethane film. 
     
     
         17 . The expandable fastener of  claim 15 , wherein the central region of the strip has an elasticity between 600 and 1,800 psi. 
     
     
         18 . The expandable fastener of  claim 15 , wherein the first attaching region and the second attaching region are fixed to the first surface region and the second surface region, respectively, by an acrylic adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . The expandable fastener of  claim 15 , wherein the first attaching region and the second attaching region are fixed to the first surface region and the second surface region, respectively, using double sided pressure sensitive adhesive tape. 
     
     
         20 . The expandable fastener of  claim 15 , wherein the vacuum bag comprises a polymer film.