Patent Publication Number: US-8530031-B2

Title: Evacuatable container

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/100,301 filed Apr. 6, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally, as indicated, to an evacuatable container and, more particularly, to a container having an evacuation port that is opened to remove gas from the container and sealed once gas removal is complete. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A container, such as a flexible plastic bag, is often used as a receptacle to contain a commodity. To provide optimum storage conditions for the commodity, it is often desirable for gas (e.g., air) to be removed from the receptacle. If so, the container can include an evacuation port through which gas can pass from the receptacle to the outside environment. Valving can be incorporated into the container to allow the evacuation port to be opened during gas removing steps and closed thereafter to maintain the evacuated condition of the receptacle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An evacuatable container includes a label structure providing an openable/closeable valve flap and/or a seating area for such a valve flap. A plurality of the label structures can be efficiently and economically mass-produced separately from the manufacture of the rest of the container and incorporated therewith during latter manufacturing stages. Moreover, the incorporation of the label structure into the container is compatible with conventional container-making and container-filling techniques whereby, quite significantly, this incorporation will not significantly compromise conventional (and typically quick) manufacturing speeds. 
     More particularly, the container comprises a wall structure defining a receptacle, an evacuation port through which gas can pass from the receptacle to an outside environment, a seating area, and a valve flap. The valve flap has a movable portion which is movable between a closed position whereat it is seated on the seating area to close the evacuation port and an opened position whereat it is unseated from the seating area to open the evacuation port. A seating adhesive, on the seating area, holds the valve flap in the closed position. 
     A label structure, attached to the wall structure includes a film layer forming a seat platform on which the seating area is located and/or a film layer forming a flap platform on which the valve flap is located. In a first embodiment, the label structure includes both a film layer forming a seat platform on which the seating area is located and a film layer forming a flap platform on which the valve flap is located. In a second embodiment, the valve flap is formed in the wall structure and the label structure includes the film layer forming a seat platform on which the seating area is located. In a third embodiment, the seating area is on the wall structure and the label structure includes the film layer forming a flap platform on which the valve flap is located. 
     These and other features of the container and/or the label are fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the container and/or label which are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container  10  according to the present invention, the container  10  including a label structure  26  which forms a valving portion of the container  10 . 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are close-up side views of the valving portion of the container  10 , the valving portion being shown with a valve flap in a closed position and an opened position, respectively. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are top and bottom views, respectively, of the label structure  26 , and  FIG. 3C  is a top view of the label structure  26  with a top film layer removed to show the underlying layers. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a web containing a plurality of the label structures  26 . 
         FIGS. 5A-5I  are schematic views of a method of making a plurality of the label structures  26 . 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are schematic views of a method of incorporating the label structures  26  into containers  10 . 
         FIGS. 7A-7F  are schematic views of various ways of opening/closing the valve flap  20  of the container  10 . 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  are top views of label structures  26  with modified valve flap designs. 
         FIGS. 8D and 8E  are close-up side views of the label structure  26  of  FIG. 8A  incorporated into a container  10 , the valve flap being shown in a closed position and an opened position, respectively. 
         FIGS. 9A-9E  are close-up side views similar to  FIG. 2A , except that a vent layer has been incorporated into the container  10  and/or the label structure  26 . 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are close-up side views of the valving portion of a container  110 , the valving portion being shown with a valve flap in a closed position and an opened position, respectively. 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are top and bottom views, respectively, of a label structure  126  which forms a valving portion of the container  110 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a web containing a plurality of the label structures  126 . 
         FIGS. 13A-13G  are schematic views of a method of making a plurality of the label structures  126 . 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  are close-up side views of the valving portion of a container  210 , the valving portion being shown with a valve flap in a closed position and an opened position, respectively. 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  are top and bottom views, respectively, of a label structure  226  which forms a valving portion of the container  210 . 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a web containing a plurality of the label structures  226 . 
         FIGS. 17A-17E  are schematic views of a method of making a plurality of the label structures  226 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and initially to  FIG. 1 , a container  10  according to the present invention is shown. The container  10  comprises a wall structure  12  defining a receptacle  14  for containing a commodity. In the illustrated embodiment, the wall structure  12  has a standard food bag construction comprising flexible plastic panels joined together by side seams, one of which is an openable and closeable seam. However, other wall-structure materials, shapes, sizes, seaming, and/or commodity-holding characteristics are certainly possible with, and contemplated by, the present invention. For example the wall structure  12  can have an industrial bag construction formed from film and/or multi-wall panels. 
     As is best seen by referring additionally to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the container  10  includes an evacuation port  16  in the wall structure  12  through which gas can pass from the receptacle  14  to an outside environment, a seating area  18  adjacent the evacuation port  16 , and a valve flap  20 . The valve flap  20  includes a movable portion  22  and a hinge portion  24  about which the movable portion  22  pivots. Specifically, the movable portion  22  is movable between a closed position whereat it is seated on the seating area  18  to close the evacuation port  16  ( FIG. 2A ), and an open position, whereat it is removed from the seating area  18  to open the evacuation port  16  ( FIG. 2B ). 
     A label structure  26  forms the seating area  18  and the valve flap  20  in the container  10 . ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 A- 2 B, and  3 A- 3 C.) The label structure  26  comprises a film layer  28  forming a seat platform on which the seating area  18  is located and a film layer  30  forming a flap platform on which the valve flap  20  is located. ( FIGS. 2A-2B  and  FIGS. 3A-3C .) The film layer  28  includes an opening  32  and the film layer  30  has a cut  34  that defines the valve flap  20 . ( FIGS. 3A and 3B .) 
     The label structure  26  additionally comprises a label-to-wall adhesive  36 , a seating adhesive  38 , and a film-to-film adhesive  40 . ( FIGS. 2A-2B  and  FIGS. 3A-3C .) When the label structure  26  is incorporated into the container  10 , the label-to-wall adhesive  36  secures the label structure  26  to the exterior surface  12   e  of the container&#39;s wall structure  12 , the seating adhesive  38  holds the movable portion  22  of the valve flap  20  in the closed position, and the film-to-film adhesive  40  secures the film layers  28  and  30  together. ( FIGS. 2A-2B .) 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the label-to-wall adhesive  36  is patterned on the interior surface  28 , of the film layer  28  in an annular shape aligned to surround the seating area  18 . ( FIGS. 2A-2B  and  FIG. 3B .) The seating adhesive  38  covers the entire exterior surface  28   e  of the film layer  28 . ( FIGS. 2A-2B  and  FIG. 3C .) The film-to-film adhesive  40  is patterned on the seating adhesive  38  in an annular shape aligned to surround the seating area  18 . ( FIGS. 2A-2B  and  FIG. 3C .) The inner perimeter of the seating adhesive  38  and the inner perimeter of the film-to-film adhesive  40  can be generously spaced radially outward from the seating area  18  to eliminate any undesired adhesive-migration into the seating area  18 . 
     The label structures  26  can be efficiently and economically mass-produced by a label-manufacturer at a first location and then supplied to the container-manufacturer at a second location for convenient incorporation into the containers  10 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the label-manufacturer can provide a web  42  comprising a carrier release liner  44  having a plurality of the label structures  26  temporarily attached thereto. 
     A method of making the web  42  of label structures  26  is shown schematically in  FIGS. 5A-5I . It should be noted that in these Figures, the thicknesses of the layers used to create the label structures  26  is greatly exaggerated for ease in illustration and explanation. In actual practice, the film/adhesive layers would much thinner, specifically, for example, in the range of 1 mm or less. 
     In the illustrated label-making method, a laminate  46  is provided that comprises a film layer  48  (corresponding to the seating platform film layer  28  in the label structure  26 ), an adhesive layer  50  (corresponding to the seating adhesive layer  38  in the label structure  26 ), and a release liner  52 . ( FIG. 5A .) The laminate  46  can be manufactured at another location and supplied to the label-manufacturer in its compiled form. Alternatively, the layers  48 / 50 / 52  can be compiled by the label-manufacturer upstream and/or in-line with subsequent label-production steps. In either case, openings  32  are punched through the laminate  46  and thereafter the release liner  52  and the slugs  54  (from the openings  32 ) are removed. ( FIG. 5B .) 
     The film-to-film adhesive  40  is then printed in a pattern over the now-exposed adhesive layer  50 . ( FIG. 5C .) A film layer  56  (corresponding to the film flap layer  30 ) is placed over the adhesive layer  50  and secured thereto by the printed film-to-film adhesive  40 . ( FIG. 5D .) The label-to-wall adhesive layers  36  are then printed on the first surface  48   1  of the film layer  48 . ( FIG. 5E .) (A flipping or turning of the compiled layers  48 / 50  may be necessary prior to this printing step.) It may be noted that the earlier formation of the openings  32  allows these openings to be used for registration purposes when printing the annular adhesive patterns with the label-to-wall  36  and film-to-film  40  adhesives. 
     The carrier release liner  44  (i.e., the carrier layer for the web  42 ) is then placed over the adhesive-printed first surface  48   1  of the film layer  48 , and temporarily secured thereto by the label-to-wall adhesive printed patterns  36 . ( FIG. 5F .) Thereafter, the overall label shape (e.g., circular) is die cut through the film layers  48  and  56 , but not the carrier release liner  44 . ( FIG. 5G .) In the illustrated embodiment, the flap-defining cuts  34  are formed in the film layer  56  (but not the film layer  48  and not the carrier release liner  44 ) during the die-cutting step ( FIG. 5G ). However, this flap-forming step could instead be performed downstream of the die-cutting step or upstream of the die cutting step (e.g., before the compiling step, before the adhesive-printing step, etc.). 
     Thereafter, if desired, the surrounding matrix  58  can be removed and/or the product divided into single-row webs  42 . ( FIGS. 5H and 5I .) 
     The wall structures  12  of the containers  10  can be separately mass-manufactured in a continuous strip wherein, for example, the bottom seam of one wall structure  12  abuts against the top seam of the adjacent downstream wall structure  12 . ( FIG. 6A ). Before, after, or during creation of the wall structure  12 , the evacuation port  16  can be cut or otherwise formed in the wall structure  12 . The label structures  26  can be removed from the carrier release liner  44 , aligned with the ports  16  and secured to the wall structures  12  ( FIG. 6B ). The removal, aligning, and securing step can be performed automatically (i.e., by a machine, not shown) or can be performed manually (i.e., by a person, not shown). The wall structures  12  can be separated from each other by a severing device (not shown), either before or after the label-securing step. 
     The label structure  26  allows gas to be selectively removed from the receptacle  14  of the container  10  to provide optimum storage conditions for a commodity stored therein. For example, forces outside the receptacle  14  can be used to pull the flap  20  to the opened position ( FIGS. 7A and 7B ) and/or pressure from inside the receptacle  14  can push the valve flap  20  to the opened position. ( FIGS. 7C and 7D .) The pressure from inside the receptacle  14  can be result of the commodity/gas therein expanding to a great volume and/or from the receptacle  14  being compressed to a smaller volume. For example, with an industrial-bag-construction, a weight or flattening device could be applied to the wall structure  12  to cause a rise of pressure within the receptacle  14 . 
     Alternatively, the valve flap  20  can be manually or otherwise placed in the opened position prior to the relevant force being imposed on the receptacle  14 . ( FIG. 7E .) The valve flap  20  can be designed to have sufficient resiliency to return to the closed position upon removal of the relevant force, or the valve flap  20  can be pushed, manually or otherwise, back to its closed position. ( FIG. 7E .) If the valve flap  20  is to be manually placed in the opened position and/or the closed position, it can include a finger tab  60  for easier manipulation. ( FIG. 7E .) 
     In certain circumstances, it may be desirable for the valve flap  20  to be re-opened after a post-evacuation closure, while in other circumstances, a permanent post-evacuation closure may be preferred. If re-opening of the valve flap  20  is desired, the seating adhesive  38  can be a resealable pressure-sensitive adhesive. If re-opening is not desired, the seating adhesive  38  can be a permanent adhesive, with a release-liner tab  62  temporarily placed over the flap-region of the seating adhesive  38 . ( FIG. 7F .) Alternatively, permanent closure can be accomplished by the seating adhesive  38  being an energy-activated adhesive (e.g., a heat-activated adhesive) which is activated after evacuation. 
     The container  10  can, as shown, have a single valve flap  20  for its seating area  18  and this valve flap  20  can have a single hinge portion  24  connecting its movable portion  22  to the wall structure  12 . However, the valve flap  20  can instead comprise two hinge portions  24  on opposite sides of the movable portion  22  as is shown in  FIG. 8A . Additionally or alternatively, the container  10  can comprise a plurality of valve flaps  20  for each seating area  18  as shown in  FIGS. 8B and 8C . With particular reference to the valve flap design shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8C , the hinge portions  24  allow the movable portion  22  of the valve flap  20  to lift away from the rest of the film layer  30  (e.g., “pucker up”) to allow gas to exit. (See  FIGS. 8D and 8E .) In any event, any combination of movable portion(s)  22  and hinge portion(s)  24  which allow the flap(s)  20  to move between the closed position and the opened position is possible with, and contemplated by, the present invention. 
     In certain situations, it may be desirable for the valving of the container  10  to prevent liquids (or powders) from exiting the receptacle  14  via the evacuation port  16 . If so, it may be desirable to include a vent layer  64  which is pervious with respect to the expected gasses while, at the same time, it is substantially impervious to the expected liquids (or powders). The vent layer  64  can be positioned on the interior surface  12 , of the wall structure  12  ( FIG. 9A ), on the exterior surface  12   e  of the wall structure  12  ( FIG. 9B ), and/or between the film layer  28  and the seating adhesive  38  ( FIG. 9C ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , another container  110  according to the present invention includes an evacuation port  116  in its wall structure  112 , a seating area  118  adjacent to the evacuation port  116 , and a valve flap  120 . The valve flap  120  includes a movable portion  122  and a hinge portion  124  about which the movable portion  122  pivots. The valve flap  120  is formed (e.g., cut) in the wall structure  112  and the evacuation port  116  is the opening defined by the flap  120 . 
     As is best seen by referring additionally to  FIGS. 11A-11B , a label structure  126  forms the seating area  118 . The label structure  126  comprises a film layer  128 , forming a seat platform on which the seating area  118  is located, a label-to-wall adhesive layer  136  and a seating adhesive layer  138 . When the label structure  126  is incorporated into the container  110 , the label-to-wall adhesive layer  136  secures the label structure  126  to the interior surface  112 , of the container&#39;s wall structure  112  and the seating adhesive  138  holds the movable portion  122  of the valve flap  120  in the closed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the seating adhesive layer  138  covers the exterior surface  128   e  of the film layer  128  and the label-to-wall adhesive layer  136  is patterned on the adhesive layer  138  in annular shape that is aligned to surround the seating area  118 . Preferably, the inner perimeter of the label-to-wall adhesive layer  136  is generously spaced radially outward from the seating area  118  to avoid adhesive migration issues. 
     The label-manufacturer can provide a web  142  comprising a plurality of label structures  126  temporarily attached to a carrier release liner  144 . (See  FIG. 12 .) The web  142  can be made by first providing a laminate  146  comprising a film layer  148  (corresponding to the seating platform layer  128  in the structure  126 ), an adhesive layer  150  (corresponding to the seating adhesive layer  138  in the structure  126 ), and a release liner  152 . ( FIG. 13A .) The openings  132  are punched through the laminate  146  and thereafter the release liner  152  and the slugs  154  are removed. ( FIG. 13B .) The label-to-wall adhesive layer  136  is then printed in an annular pattern over the now-exposed adhesive layer  150 . ( FIG. 13C ). The release liner  144  (i.e., the carrier layer for the web  142 ) is then placed over the adhesive-printed surface  148   1  of the film layer  148 , and temporarily secured thereto by the label-to-wall adhesive printed patterns  136 . ( FIG. 13D .) Thereafter, the overall label shape (e.g., circular) is then die cut through the film layer  148  (but not the carrier release liner  144 ). ( FIG. 13E .) Thereafter the surrounding matrix  158  can be removed and/or the sheet divided into single-row webs  142 . ( FIGS. 13F and 13G .) (Again, the thicknesses of the film and adhesive layers are greatly exaggerated for the ease in illustration and explanation.) 
     The wall structures  112  of the containers  110  can be separately mass-manufactured and the label structures  126  can be removed from the carrier release liner  144 , aligned with the ports  116  and secured to the wall structures  112 . (See  FIGS. 6A and 6B , above.) In this embodiment of the invention, however, the label structures  126  are secured on the inside of the container  110 , whereby it may be more advantageous to secure the label structures  126  to the evacuation ports  116  during an intermediate stage of the manufacture of the containers  110 . For example, the label structures  126  could be secured while the wall-structure material is still in sheet form and/or the seams have not yet been sealed. 
     As with the container  10 , a force outside the container  110  can pull the flap  120  open, a pressure force from within the container  110  can push the flap  120  open, the valve flap  120  can be manually opened/closed. The seating adhesive  138  can be a resealable pressure-sensitive adhesive, a permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive, or a heat-activated adhesive. (See  FIGS. 7A-7F , above.) The container  110  can have a single valve flap  120 , a plurality of valve flaps  120 , a single-hinge flap design and/or a double-hinge flap design. (See  FIGS. 8A-8C , above.) The container  110  and/or the label structure  126  can include a vent layer  64  positioned, for example, on the exterior surface  112   e  of the wall structure  112  and/or between the film layer  128  and the seating adhesive  138 . (See  FIGS. 9A-9C .) 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 14A and 14B , another container  210  according to the present invention includes an evacuation port  216  in its wall structure  212 , a seating area  218  adjacent the evacuation port  216 , and a valve flap  220 . The valve flap  220  includes a movable portion  222  and a hinge portion  224  about which the movable portion  222  pivots. In this embodiment of the invention, the seating area  218  is a region of the wall structure  212  surrounding the evacuation port  216  and the seating adhesive  238  is printed thereupon. 
     As is best seen by referring additionally to  FIGS. 15A and 15B , a label structure  226  forms the valve flap  220 . Specifically, the label structure  226  comprises a film layer  230  forming a flap platform on which the valve flap  220  is located (e.g., formed by flap-defining cut  234 ). The label structure  226  additionally comprises a label-to-wall adhesive layer  236  which, when the label structure  226  is incorporated into the container  210 , secures the label structure  226  to the exterior surface  212   e  of the wall structure  212 . The label-to-wall adhesive layer  236  is patterned on interior surface  230 , of the film layer  230  in an annular shape aligned to surround the seating area  218 . Again, the inner perimeter of the label-to-wall adhesive layer  236  is preferably generously spaced radially outward from the seating area  218  to avoid adhesive migration issues. 
     The label-manufacturer can provide a web  242  comprising a plurality of label structures  226  temporarily attached to a release liner  244 . (See  FIG. 16 .) The web  242  can be made by first providing a film layer  256  (corresponding to the flap platform  230 ) and printing the label-to-wall adhesive  236  thereon. ( FIG. 17A .) The release liner  244  (e.g., the carrier layer for the web  242 ) is then placed over the printed surface of the film layer  256  and temporarily secured thereto by the label-to-wall adhesive layer  236 . ( FIG. 17B .) Thereafter, the overall shape of the label structures  226  (e.g., round) is die cut through the film layer  256  (but not the release liner  244 ) and the flap-defining cuts  234  are also formed therein. ( FIG. 17C .) The surrounding matrix  258  can be removed and/or the sheet divided into single-row webs  242 . ( FIGS. 17D and 17E .) (Again, the thicknesses of the film and adhesive layers are greatly exaggerated for the ease in illustration and explanation.) 
     The wall structures  212  of the containers  210  can be separately mass-manufactured and the label structures  226  can be removed from the release liner  244 , aligned with the evacuation ports  216  and secured to the wall structures  212 . (See  FIGS. 6A and 6B , above.) In this embodiment of the invention, the container-manufacturer would need to apply the seating adhesive  238  to the wall structure  212  at some point in the production process prior to the incorporation of the label structures  226 . 
     As with the container  10  and the container  110 , a force outside the container  210  can pull the flap  220  open, a pressure force from within the container  210  can push the flap  220  open, the valve flap  220  can be manually opened/closed. (See  FIGS. 7A-7E .) The seating adhesive  238  can be a resealable pressure-sensitive adhesive, a permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive, or a heat-activated adhesive. The container  210  can have a single valve flap  220 , a plurality of valve flaps  220 , a single-hinge flap design and/or a double-hinge flap design. (See  FIGS. 8A-8C .) The container  210  and/or the label structure  226  can include a vent layer  64  positioned, for example, on the interior surface  212 , of the wall structure  212 . (See  FIG. 9A .) 
     As was alluded to above, the container wall structures  12 / 112 / 212  can be thermoplastic material or a blend of thermoplastic materials. For example, the wall structures  12 / 112 / 212  could comprise polyolefins such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and polypropylene (PP); thermoplastic elastomers such as styrenic block copolymers, polyolefin blends, elastomeric alloys, thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic copolyesters and thermoplastic polyamides; polymers and copolymers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC); polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC); saran polymers; ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers; cellulose acetates; polyethylene terephthalate (PET); ionomer (Surlyn); polystyrene; polycarbonates; styrene acrylonitrile; aromatic polyesters; linear polyesters; and thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohols. The wall structures  12 / 112 / 212  could instead comprise non-thermoplastic, non-plastic materials, and/or any other materials which allow for selective evacuation of gas within the receptacle  14 / 114 / 214 . 
     The film layer  28 / 128  (and thus also the film layers  48 / 148 ) and the film layer  30 / 230  (and thus also the film layers  56 / 256 ) can be made from polymer film materials such as polystyrenes, polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyvinyl alcohol, poly(ethylene vinyl alcohol), polyurethanes, polyacrylates including copolymers of olefins such as ethylene and propylene with acrylic acids and esters, copolymers of olefins and vinyl acetate, ionomers and mixtures thereof. With particular reference to the film layer  30 / 230  (and film flap layers  56 / 256 ), the material must be such that the valve flap  20 / 120 / 220  is capable of moving between the closed position and the open position in the intended manner. The finger tab  60  can be made of the same, similar and/or other material. 
     The label-to-wall adhesive  36 / 136 / 236  can be any suitable adhesive, such as a pressure-sensitive adhesive (e.g., acrylic-based, rubber-based, or silicone-based) and, more particularly, a hot melt pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     As was indicated above, the seating adhesive  38 / 138 / 238  (and thus also adhesive layers  50 / 150 ) can be resealable adhesive, a permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive, and/or an energy-activated permanent adhesive. A suitable resealable adhesive would have some tack but could be opened/closed repeatedly, preferably without leaving residue. For example, candidates for the resealable adhesive would include acrylic, silicone and/or rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesives. Suitable permanent adhesives could also comprise acrylic, silicone and/or rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesives, the difference being that the bond strength would be much higher than with a resealable adhesive. Suitable energy-activated permanent adhesives could include, for example, heat-activated adhesives, such as those with an adhesive-forming resin (e.g., urethane resin, polyether resin, acrylic resin, oxyalkylene resin, and/or vinyl resin). 
     The film-to-film adhesive  40  can be any suitable adhesive, such as a pressure-sensitive adhesive (e.g., acrylic-based, rubber-based, or silicone-based) or a curable-adhesive, such as a UV-curable adhesive. It may be noted that if a UV-curable adhesive is used for the adhesive  40 , the film layer  30 / 56  may need to be transparent. 
     The release and/or carrier liners  44 / 144 / 244  and/or  52 / 152  can be a sheet of paper or polymeric film having a release coating, such as a silicone release coating. The release liner tab  62  can be made of a similar material. 
     The vent layer  64  can be made from nylon, polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene butylene copolymers), polyurethanes, polyurethane foams, polystyrenes, plasticized polyvinylchlorides, polyesters, polyamides, cotton, or rayon. The vent material can be woven, non-woven, knitted and/or an aperatured (or perforated) film. The material used to fabricate the vent layer  64  should have a porosity or perviousness to accomplish the desired evacuation, for example, at least about 5 cfm (cubic feet per minute), at least about 10 cfm, at least about 15 cfm, at least about 20 cfm and/or at least about 25 cfm with respect to air so that an acceptable level of gas flow can be obtained. 
     It may be noted that another consideration for material selection with respect to the film layers and/or adhesives may stem from the potential food-related use of the container  10 . Specifically, the FDA may dictate that only certain materials and/or adhesives can be used when the possibility of food contact exists. Furthermore, if the container  10  is intended to be used as a freezer bag, the materials should be able to remain intact at the expected freezing temperatures. Likewise, if the container  10  is intended to be heated in, for instance, a microwave, the materials should be able to withstand such thermal conditions. Also, with particular reference to the label-to-wall adhesive layers  36 / 136 / 236 , an important consideration might be whether the label structures  26 / 126 / 226  will be automatically or manually attached to the wall structures  12 / 112 / 212 . 
     Although the container and/or label structures have been shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent and obvious alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification. The present invention includes all such alterations and modifications and is limited only by the scope of the following claims.