Patent Publication Number: US-2016221722-A1

Title: Sealable Storage Bag and Related Methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/111,655, filed Feb. 3, 2015, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to storage containers, and more particularly, to storage bags. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Growing societal interest in healthy living and exercise generates a corresponding demand for accessories that facilitate active lifestyles. Individuals who participate in physical activities often have a need to store personal articles, such as soiled clothing or electronic devices, in a container that is both portable and inhibits exposure of the stored articles to other objects nearby and the surrounding environment. 
     Collapsible bags having carrying straps or handles (commonly referred to as “gym” or “sports” bags, for example) are the most commonly used type of container for storing personal articles in connection with physical activities. However, such conventional bags are deficient in various ways for isolating the stored articles from unwanted exposure to other objects and the environment in the immediate area. For example, when used to store soiled articles, many bags fail to effectively isolate the soiled articles and their unpleasant odors from contaminating other personal articles located inside of or near the bag, such as clean clothing, electronic devices, and toiletries. 
     Additionally, such bags are often formed of materials and with closures that fail to adequately prevent unpleasant odors and moisture from transferring through the bag. For example, many bags are formed of porous fabric and mesh materials that facilitate air transfer into and out of the bag so that soiled articles stored in the bag may “breath” or “air out.” Further, such fabric materials often undesirably absorb moisture and odors from soiled articles, and become a breeding ground for bacteria that can be spread to the external environment. 
     Moreover, such bags are often formed with conventional draw-string or zipper closures that are similarly deficient at blocking air passage therethrough, and thereby allow unpleasant odors to flow out of or into the bag. Thus, even if soiled articles are separated from other articles within a larger bag by storing the soiled articles within a smaller bag, the risk of contaminating the other articles via direct contact or exposure to unpleasant odors leaking from the smaller bag remains. Further, because the closures and materials of such smaller bags allow air transfer therethrough, the bags remain bulky and space-consuming. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for improvements to reusable collapsible bags to address present shortcomings such as those described above. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a 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. 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for storing an article in a sealable storage bag having an air outlet valve. The method includes 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. The air outlet valve has an open position for allowing air passage therethrough, and a closed position for blocking air passage therethrough. 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. 
     Various additional features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description of one or more illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the one or more embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sealable storage bag according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the storage bag of  FIG. 1  being loaded with an article. 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the storage bag of  FIG. 1  loaded with an article, shown in phantom, and showing closure of a closure flap at a top end of the bag. 
         FIG. 3A  is a side cross-sectional view of the storage bag of  FIG. 1  during loading of an article, showing details of a bag closure in the form of first and second sealing strips. 
         FIG. 3B  is a side cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 3A , showing the bag loaded and the first and second sealing strips each in a sealed state. 
         FIG. 3C  is a side cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 3B , showing the top end of the bag folded over to expose the closure flap. 
         FIG. 3D  is a side cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 3C , showing the closure flap folded over the top end of the bag to engage a first securing member with a second securing member. 
         FIG. 3E  is a side cross-sectional view showing rolling of the loaded and sealed storage bag from its top end toward its bottom end to expel air from the bag interior out through air outlet valves. 
         FIG. 3F  is a side cross-sectional view showing the loaded bag in a compacted state in which air has been removed from the bag interior. 
         FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view showing a storage bag according to another exemplary embodiment in which the bag closure is in the form of a magnetic-lock sealing strip. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded, enlarged perspective view of an air outlet valve according to another exemplary embodiment in which the valve is magnetic. 
         FIG. 6A  is a side cross-sectional view of the magnetic air outlet valve of  FIG. 5 , showing the magnetic valve in a closed position. 
         FIG. 6B  is a side cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 6A , showing the magnetic valve in an open position for expelling air from the bag interior. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the Figures, and beginning with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a sealable storage bag  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown. As described below, the storage bag  10  may be used to store various types of personal articles, such as electronics or soiled clothing for example, and to isolate the stored articles from an external environment. 
     The exemplary storage bag  10  includes a top end  12 , a bottom end  14  spaced from the top end  12 , a first side edge  16 , and a second side edge  18  spaced from first side edge  16 . A bag wall of the storage bag  10  is formed by a front wall  20  and a back wall  22  coupled to one another, along their outer edges to form the first side edge  16 , the second side edge  18 , and the bottom end  14  of the bag  10 . For example, the front and back walls  20 ,  22  may be permanently bonded to one another, such as through thermo-welding or any other bonding method suitable to create an airtight connection. The front and back walls  20 ,  22  are left uncoupled at their top edges, thereby defining a bag opening  24  that provides access to a bag interior  26  formed between the front and back walls  20 ,  22 , as best shown in  FIG. 2 . In exemplary embodiments, the bag wall is flexible or otherwise collapsible to facilitate compression and compaction of the bag  10 , described below. 
     A closure  28  is arranged at the top end  12  of the bag  10  and is operable to substantially hermetically seal the bag opening  24 . As used herein, the term “substantially hermetically” means substantially airtight. In this regard, persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that even when the closure  28  is sealed with the intent of the seal being completely airtight, miniscule amounts of air may pass through the sealed closure  28  over time without unduly comprising the ability of the bag  10  to isolate an article stored within the bag  10  from an external environment, or otherwise unduly compromising an air-evacuated state of the bag  10 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the closure  28  may include one or more sealing strips for forming the substantially hermetic seal at the bag opening  24 . As shown best in  FIGS. 2A and 3A-3D , the closure  28  of exemplary storage bag  10  includes sealing strips in the form of first and second zip-locking strips  30 ,  32 , spaced apart from one another. Each of the zip-locking strips  30 ,  32  includes an upper zip-lock member  34  arranged on an inside surface of the front wall  20 , and a lower zip-lock member  36  arranged on an inside surface of the back wall  22  so as to confront the upper zip-lock member  34 . As shown, the upper zip-lock members  34  may have male configurations, and the lower zip-lock members  36  may have complementary female configurations adapted to releasably and sealingly engage the male configurations to form the substantially hermetic seal. A reverse male-female configuration of upper and lower zip-lock members  34 ,  36  is also possible. 
     Each of the first and second zip-locking strips  30 ,  32  is sealingly engagable to substantially hermetically seal the bag opening  24  independently from the other zip-locking strip  30 ,  32 . Accordingly, the dual configuration of first and second sealing strips  30 ,  32  advantageously enhances the substantially hermetic nature of the seal achieved by the closure  28 . It will be appreciated that the closure  28  may be constructed with various alternative quantities and configurations of sealing strips, such as that described below in connection with  FIG. 4 , for example. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the storage bag  10  may further include a closure flap  38  at the top end the bag  10 , the closure flap  38  being coupled to an outer surface of the back wall  22  and extending outwardly beyond the front and back walls  20 ,  22  in a direction away from the bottom end  14 . As described in greater below in connection with  FIGS. 2B-3D , the closure flap  38  may be folded over the sealed closure  28  and secured with a securing mechanism, shown in the form of first and second securing strips  40 ,  42  that releasably engage one another. The first securing strip  40  is arranged on an outer surface of the front wall  20  near the top end  12 , and spaced from the closure  28  toward the bottom end  14 . As best shown in  FIGS. 2B and 3B , the second securing strip  42  is arranged on the closure flap  38  at a position spaced from the closure  28 , toward the top end  12 . The first and second securing strips  40 ,  42  of the securing mechanism may be complementary hook-loop fastener strips, for example. Alternatively, the securing mechanism may comprise various other fastening structure suitable for securing the closure flap  38  as described above. 
     The storage bag  10  further includes one or more air outlet valves, shown in the form of first and second one-way degassing valves  44 , for expelling air from the bag interior  26  into an external environment when the bag  10  is compressed after being sealed by the closure  28 , as described in greater detail below. As shown best in  FIG. 1 , the degassing valves  44  may be formed in the front wall  20  at lower corners near the bottom end  14  of the bag  10 . 
     Each degassing valve  44  may generally include a valve body  46  and a valve member  48 , such as a rubber diaphragm, positioned against the valve body  46 . In exemplary embodiments, the degassing valves  44  may be of valve type  101 N,  101 NF,  201 N, or  201 NF made available by Pacific Bag, Inc. in Woodinville, Wash., for example. Each degassing valve  44  is biased toward a closed position in which the valve member  48  sealingly engages the valve body  46 . When an internal air pressure in the bag interior  26  overcomes a sealing pressure of the valve member  48 , the degassing valve  44  is forced into an open position in which the valve member  48  momentarily disengages the valve body  46  to expel air outwardly from the bag interior  26 . Once the internal air pressure falls back below the sealing pressure, the valve member  48  automatically reengages the valve body  46  to re-establish the closed position of the degassing valve  44 . The degassing valves  44  permit only outflow of air from the bag interior  26 , and block air inflow back into the bag interior  26 . 
     In alternative embodiments, the air outlet valves may have various alternative constructions. For example, the air outlet valves may be manually actuatable between open and closed positions. Alternatively, the air outlet valves may be magnetic, as shown in the exemplary alternative embodiment of  FIGS. 5-6B , described below. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the storage bag  10  may be constructed with any suitable quantity of air outlet valves, positioned at any suitable location in the front and/or back walls  20 ,  22 . 
     The front wall  20 , back wall  22 , and closure flap  38  of the storage bag  10  may be formed from a thermoplastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for example. Advantageously, thermoplastic materials provide a water-impervious and air-impervious barrier, are flexible, and are easily cleaned. Additionally, the front wall  20  and back wall  22  may be thermo-welded together, and the closure flap  38  may be thermo-welded to the back wall  22 . In alternative embodiments, the front wall  20 , back wall  22 , and closure flap  38  may be formed from a fabric material, such as rip-stop nylon or Gore-Tex®, for example. Further, outer surfaces of the front and back walls  20 ,  22  may be coated with a water impermeable substance, such as polyurethane or other suitable material. 
     In additional alternative embodiments, the front wall  20  and back wall  22  may each be formed with multiple layers (not shown), such as an outer layer and an inner layer. Further, the bag interior  26  may be formed with one or more internal walls (not shown) extending between the front and back walls  20 ,  22  for defining one or more internal compartments to separate multiple articles being stored within the bag interior  26 . Additionally, the inner surfaces of the front and back walls  20 ,  22  defining the bag interior  26  may be coated with an anti-microbial agent, such as silver, to inhibit bacteria growth inside the storage bag  10 . 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the storage bag  10  may include a communication device (not shown) that communicates with external communication devices for identification and/or tracking purposes. The communication device may be in the form of a radio frequency identification (RFID) element, or a wireless transponder, for example. The wireless transponder may communicate via a wireless local area network (WLAN) (e.g., Wi-Fi® network) or radio waves (e.g., Bluetooth®), for example. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A-3F , an exemplary method of storing an article A within the storage bag  10  will now be described. The article A may be one or more pieces of clothing, electronics, or any other object that a user wishes to isolate from a surrounding environment. For example, where the article is a piece of soiled clothing, a user may wish to isolate the soiled clothing and odors it generates to prevent contaminating other personal articles in a neighboring area, such as within a gym bag. In another exemplary application, the article may be an electronic device, such as a cellular phone, that the user wishes to protect from getting wet, damaged, or otherwise physically influenced by the conditions of an external environment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 3A , the first and second zip-locking strips  30 ,  32  of the closure  28  are separated so as to open the bag opening  24 . The article A is then directed through the bag opening  24 , into the bag interior  26 . When the article A is fully loaded into the bag interior  26 , the opening  24  is sealed with the closure  28 . More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 3B , the upper zip-lock members  34  are engaged with their respective lower zip-lock members  36  such that each of the first and second zip-locking strips  30 ,  32  substantially hermetically seals the bag opening  24 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2B and 3C , the sealed closure  28  is folded over toward the bottom end  14  of the bag  10 . More specifically, top ends of the front and back walls  20 ,  22  are folded down toward the bottom end  14 , about an imaginary line extending parallel to and between the first and second zip-locking strips  30 ,  32 , so as to not extend over the first securing strip  40 . This folding of the closure  28  exposes the closure flap  38  and the second securing strip  42 . As shown in  FIGS. 2B and 3D , the closure flap  38  is then folded over the folded closure  28 , and the second securing strip  42  is releasably engaged with the first securing strip  40 , thereby securing the closure  28  in the folded position. 
     The sealed bag  10  is then compressed to expel air within the bag interior  26  outwardly through the degassing valves  44 , thereby providing the bag  10  in a compacted state. In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 3E , the folded top end  12  of the bag  10  is rolled about itself toward the degassing valves  44 . As the bag  10  is rolled toward the bottom end  14 , the internal air pressure in the bag interior  26  progressively increases to the point that it overcomes the sealing pressure of the degassing valves  44 , thereby forcing the degassing valves  44  into the open position in which the interior air is expelled outwardly to the external environment. As the interior air is substantially evacuated, or the compression force applied by the user is released, the internal air pressure in the bag interior  26  falls below the valve sealing pressure. Consequently, the degassing valves  44  automatically close to prevent air from flowing back into the bag interior  26  through the degassing valves  44 . Accordingly, and advantageously, the degassing valves  44  automatically maintain the bag  10  in the compacted state into which it has been compressed, with the assistance of the substantially hermetic seal provided by the closure  28 . 
     The bag  10  may be rolled, or otherwise compressed, to the point that substantially no air remains within the bag interior  26 , as shown in  FIG. 3F , thereby creating a vacuum-like condition inside the bag  10 . For example, in the exemplary embodiment shown, substantially all of the air within the bag interior  26  may be removed by rolling the bag  10  from its top end  12  fully toward the bottom end  14  at which the degassing valves  44  are positioned. Optionally, a cord  50  attached to the bottom end  14  of the bag  10  may be wrapped around the bag  10  when fully rolled, to maintain the bag  10  in its rolled state. As shown best in  FIG. 1 , the cord  50  may be attached to a flange  52  projecting from the bottom end  14  of the bag  10 . This connection of the cord  50  to the flange  52  may be strengthened with an eyelet  54 . 
     While the Figures illustrate rolling of the bag  10  from its top end  12  toward its bottom end  14 , it will be appreciated that the bag  10  may be suitably rolled from either end  12 ,  14  or side edge  16 ,  18  depending on the placement of the degassing valves  44 . For example, in an alternative embodiment in which the degassing valves  44  are positioned closer toward the middle of the bag  10 , between the top end  12  and the bottom end  14 , the bag  10  may be rolled from both ends  12 ,  14  toward its middle to evacuate the bag interior  26 . Further, it will be appreciated that the bag  10  may be compressed in various other ways suitable to evacuate internal air from the bag interior  26 . For example, the bag  10  may be folded, or the front and back walls  20 ,  22  may be pressed directly toward one another. 
     The substantially hermetic seals provided by the sealed closure  28  and the degassing valves  44  in the closed position advantageously maintain the sealed bag in its compacted state. Accordingly, the bag  10  may be easily stored in another receptacle, such as a gym bag, while effectively isolating the stored article A from interaction with objects and the environment external of the sealed bag  10 . Further, the reduction of air, and thus oxygen, in the bag interior  26  by compressing the bag  10  advantageously inhibits unwanted growth of bacteria inside the bag  10 , which may be particularly advantageous when the stored article A is soiled. 
     To remove the stored article A from the sealed bag  10 , the securing strips  40 ,  42  are disengaged from one another to release the closure flap  38 , and the closure  28  is then opened to provide access to the bag interior  26  and the article A. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 4-6B , exemplary alternative embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the closure  28  includes a single sealing strip in the form of a magnetic-locking strip  60 . The magnetic-locking strip  60  includes an upper magnetic member  62  and a lower magnetic member  64 , where at least one of the magnetic members  62 ,  64  is a permanent magnet. The upper magnetic member  62  may be retained within an upper sleeve  66  formed at the top end of the front wall  20 , and the lower magnetic member  64  may be retained within a lower sleeve  68  formed at the top end of the back wall  22 . 
     The upper and lower magnetic members  62 ,  64  are magnetically attracted to one another with a magnetic sealing pressure, thereby forming a substantially hermetic seal at the bag opening  24 . In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic sealing pressure may be greater than the sealing pressure of the degassing valves  44 . Accordingly, upon application of a compression force to the sealed bag  10 , the degassing valves  44  will open to expel air from the bag interior  26  without disrupting the seal of the opening  24  maintained by the magnetic-locking strip  60 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the bag  10  may be formed such that the magnetic-locking strip  60  functions as a one-way air outlet valve. For example, the bag  10  may be formed without degassing valves  44 , or the upper and lower magnetic members  62 ,  64  may be formed such that their magnetic sealing pressure is less than or equal to the sealing pressure of the degassing valves  44 . In such cases, when the sealed bag  10  is compressed to the point that the internal air pressure overcomes the magnetic sealing pressure of the magnetic-locking strip  60 , the magnetic members  62 ,  64  momentarily separate to expel air through the bag opening  24 . When the internal air pressure reduces after the internal air has been expelled, or the compression force is otherwise released, the upper and lower magnetic members  62 ,  64  snap back together to re-establish a substantially hermetic seal at the bag opening  24 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-6B , yet another alternative embodiment is shown in which the one or more air outlet valves of the storage bag  10  is in the form of a magnetic valve  70 . The magnetic valve  70  includes an upper magnetic member  72  and a lower magnetic member  74 , where at least one of the magnetic members  72 ,  74  is a permanent magnet. The magnetic valve  70  is housed within a pocket  76  defined between the bag front wall  20  and an outer valve housing layer  78  coupled to the front wall  20 , such as through thermo-welding. Each of the upper and lower magnetic members  72 ,  74  may be substantially disk shaped, and the lower magnetic member  74  includes an aperture  80 . The valve housing layer  78  positions the upper and lower magnetic members  72 ,  74  so that the aperture  80  of the lower magnetic member  74  is aligned coaxially with an aperture  82  formed in the bag front wall  20 . 
     The upper and lower magnetic members  72 ,  74  of the magnetic valve  70  may be formed so as to attract one another with any suitable magnetic sealing pressure. Similar to the magnetic members  62 ,  64  of the magnetic-locking strip  60  described above, the upper and lower magnetic members  72 ,  74  of the magnetic valve  70  bias the valve  70  toward the closed position, and momentarily separate to expel air from the bag interior  26  when the internal air pressure overcomes the magnetic sealing pressure of the magnetic valve  70 . As shown in  FIG. 6B , the upper and lower magnetic members  72 ,  74  may partially separate to allow air from the bag interior  26  to flow outwardly through the front wall aperture  82  and the lower magnetic member aperture  80  into the valve pocket  76 , and to the external environment through an aperture  84  formed in the valve housing layer  78 . 
     While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of specific embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. The various features discussed herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope of the general inventive concept.