Patent ID: 8529129

Claim:
A closure mechanism for a pouch, the closure mechanism comprising: a first interlocking closure element and a second interlocking closure element; a first closure profile disposed on an interior side of the first interlocking closure element; a flange extending from the first closure profile and having a first aperture disposed therethrough; a resilient valve flap covering the first aperture and attached to an exterior side of the flange, wherein the resilient valve flap comprises a sealing member and an at least partially elastomeric latch attached between a distal end of the sealing member and the exterior side of the flange, wherein the sealing member comprises a first sealing wall that extends from the exterior side of the flange and a second sealing wall that extends from an interior side of a hinged gate, the first and second sealing walls engaging to form an airtight seal therebetween, and wherein the at least partially elastomeric latch comprises a support wall extending from the exterior side of the flange and an elastomeric strip attached between a distal end of the support wall and a distal end of the hinged gate; and a channel defined between the resilient valve flap and the flange that extends from the first aperture to an edge of the resilient valve flap, wherein the resilient valve flap is biased to form a releasable airtight seal against the exterior side of the flange across the channel.