Patent ID: 7596930

Claim:
A method of evacuating a storage bag comprising: (i) providing a bag including a flexible sidewall bounding an interior volume, an opening for accessing the interior volume, a one-way valve element communicating with the interior volume, and a textured portion along an inner surface of the flexible sidewall, the textured portion comprising a first textured portion and a second textured portion, each of the first and second textured portions including a plurality of protuberances with recessed passageways therebetween, the second textured portion is spaced apart from the valve and the first textured portion is positioned closer to the valve than the second textured portion and wherein the recessed passageways of the first textured portion are fewer in number than the recessed passageways of the second textured portion; (ii) closing the opening; (iii) transferring air from the interior volume to the valve element via the recessed passageways; (iv) separating fluids from the air in the recessed passageways; and (v) exhausting air from the passageways through the valve element.