Patent ID: 6059457
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
An evacuable storage container for holding compressible articles, said storage container comprising:a flexible, air-impermeable bag defining an interior and having first and second openings, a first bag wall and a second bag wall;a one-way valve mechanism capable of interfacing with a vacuum hose sealingly positioned over the first opening, and configured to allow fluid and air to pass through said valve mechanism out of said bag when said one-way valve is open and to substantially prevent fluid and air from entering said bag when said one-way valve is closed; anda zipper seal adjacent the second opening that is configured to substantially close the second opening, said zipper seal being integral with said bag and comprising:a first strip attached to said first bag wall and including at least one rib that extends from the surface of said first strip; said first strip having first strip flanges extending laterally therefrom, which are at least seven thousandths of an inch thick, and eight thousandths of an inch thick at their ends, so that said flanges provide sufficient material that, when sealed to said bag wall, said flanges melt sufficiently to provide a gas barrier at the ends of, and along the length of, said first strip, without any intervening sealing material between said first strip flanges and said first bag wall, anda second strip opposite said first strip and attached to said second bag wall, said second strip including at least two ribs that extend from the surface of said second strip and that are offset from said rib of said first strip such that said first and second strips may be sealingly engaged and maintain an airtight seal when so engaged, said second strip having second strip flanges extending laterally therefrom which are at least seven thousandths of an inch thick and eight thousandths of an inch thick at their ends, so that when sealed to said bag wall, said flanges provide sufficient material that when sealed to said bag wall, said flanges melt sufficiently to provide a gas barrier at the ends of; and along the length of said second strip, without any intervening sealing material between said second strip flanges and said second bag wall, said thickness of said flanges when melted filling any gaps in said sealing at said ends of said zipper.