Patent ID: 7377087
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: B65B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of preserving foodstuffs in a rectangular plastic bag of the type having two heat-sealable panels hermetically joined along three edges of their shared periphery, and having a temporarily interlocking linear hermetic seal along a fourth peripheral edge, said method comprising: opening the fourth peripheral edge of the bag, placing the foodstuffs into the bag through the open fourth peripheral edge, interlocking the linear hermetic seal to thereby temporarily hermetically join the entire periphery of the two panels and form an inner chamber having the foodstuffs therein, and to isolate the foodstuffs within said inner chamber from the outer environment; disposing first and second temporary covers over a position on the bag to be pierced and against the panels, to temporarily isolate said position from the outer environment, one of said first and second temporary covers comprising a vacuum source; providing a piercing means for piercing the position on the bag, wherein said piercing means is operatively driven by a vacuum condition between said first and second temporary covers; piercing the bag to form an opening passing through both panels and communicating with said inner chamber; said vacuum source communicating with said opening such that said inner chamber is in isolated communication with said vacuum source; and activating said vacuum source to evacuate substantially all air from said inner chamber and permanently sealing both panels together fully about said opening once said inner chamber is evacuated, to isolate the foodstuffs within said evacuated inner chamber from the outer environment.