Patent ID: 8061898

Claim:
A pouch including a closure mechanism, comprising: a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first and second sidewalls defining an interior of the pouch for containing a product and a mouth for access into the interior; the closure mechanism extending from one end of the mouth to a second end of the mouth to resealably seal the mouth, the closure mechanism comprising; a first closure profile that extends from an interior surface of a first base of a first closure element and a second closure profile that extends from an interior surface of a second base of a second closure element, wherein the first and second closure profiles interlock to form a seal extending the length of the mouth; a third closure profile that extends from the interior surface of the first base on a user-side of the first closure profile opposite the interior and a fourth closure profile that extends from the interior surface of the second base on the user-side of the second closure profile, wherein the third and fourth closure profiles interlock to form a seal extending the length of the mouth; a sealing flap that extends from the interior surface of the first base and is disposed between the first and third closure profiles, wherein the sealing flap engages the interior surface of the second base to form a releasable gastight seal extending the length of the mouth and to allow gas flow only from the interior toward the exterior; and a first exhaust channel through at least one of the first base and the second base and disposed between the sealing flap and the first and second closure profiles when the first and second closure elements are occluded, and a second exhaust channel through the closure mechanism disposed on a user-side of the sealing flap when the first and second closure elements are occluded; wherein the first sidewall is attached to the first base at a first sidewall sealing region disposed on an exterior surface of the first base between a user-side edge of the first base and the sealing flap, wherein an interior surface of the pouch sidewall facing the first exhaust channel is textured with a flow channel between the interior and the first exhaust channel; and the second sidewall is attached to the second base at an exterior surface of the second base; whereby increased gas pressure in the interior of the pouch when the closure mechanism is occluded causes gas to exhaust from the interior of the pouch through the flow channel, the first exhaust channel, past the sealing flap, and through the second exhaust channel, and whereby the sealing flap prevents gasses from reentering the interior from the exterior when the closure mechanism is occluded.