Patent ID: 7422369

Claim:
A storage bag comprising: a flexible first sidewall having a bottom edge, left edge, right edge and a top edge; a flexible second sidewall having a bottom edge, left edge, right edge and a top edge, the bottom, left and right edges of the second sidewall being joined to the respective bottom, left and right edges of the first sidewall to provide an interior volume; first and second interlocking closure strips attached respectively to the top edges of the first and second sidewalls; the first sidewall including a region of increased elasticity; a one-way valve element attached to the region and communicating with the interior volume; and the region is adjustable between an elastically recovered position and an elastically expanded position, wherein: the region spaces the valve element apart from the first sidewall when in the elastically expanded position; and the region and the one-way valve element are generally located within a plane of the first sidewall when in the elastically recovered position.