초록 ▼

An evacuable bag or container for items which benefit from being stored in a vacuum environment by reason that the bag or container is impermeable to air or liquid, with a first opening for entrance or closure purposes, which first opening has a zipper sealing closure adjacent thereto and integral w

An evacuable bag or container for items which benefit from being stored in a vacuum environment by reason that the bag or container is impermeable to air or liquid, with a first opening for entrance or closure purposes, which first opening has a zipper sealing closure adjacent thereto and integral with said bag or container for closing and opening purposes, the sealing integrity of which is aided by atmospheric and/or differential pressures, and a second opening, with an exit-only valve therein, for connection purposes to an external vacuum source, by which means said bag or container can be evacuated of air or liquid. Thus, this invention provides the constituent key to a relatively inexpensive appliance system for home vacuum packaging of perishables and/or items requiring compression packaging due to limited storage space.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A combination zipper closure and flexible container, said zipper closure utilizing atmospheric and differential pressures for sealing an opening in a flexible container that stores articles, said zipper closure comprising:a first flexible mating strip attached to an edge of an opening and compris

1. A combination zipper closure and flexible container, said zipper closure utilizing atmospheric and differential pressures for sealing an opening in a flexible container that stores articles, said zipper closure comprising:a first flexible mating strip attached to an edge of an opening and comprising a longitudinal hook-shaped ridge arranged along an interior edge thereof and having a T-shaped recess on an exterior edge thereof, said longitudinal hook-shaped ridge having an arcuate surface formed on one side of a longitudinal complementary hook-shaped groove that includes an arcuate surface, an extended section located on an opposite side of the complementary hook-shaped groove and having a longitudinal opening formed therein that allows the extended section to temporarily deform during opening and closing of the opening in the flexible container;a second flexible mating strip attached to an opposite edge of the opening and including a longitudinal hook-shaped ridge arranged along an interior edge thereof and having a T-shaped recess on an exterior edge thereof, said longitudinal hook-shaped ridge having an arcuate surface formed on one side of a longitudinal complementary shaped hook-shaped groove that includes an arcuate surface, an extended section located on an opposite side of the complementary hook-shaped groove from said longitudinal hook-shaped ridge and having a longitudinal opening formed therein that allows the extended section to temporarily deform during opening and closing of the opening in the flexible container; and,a slider comprising T-shaped appendages that engages the T-shaped recesses on each flexible mating strip to force the strips together to close the opening or separate the tracks to aid in unfastening the opening,wherein said mating strips are arranged such that when sealed the longitudinal hook-shaped ridge of the first flexible mating strip mates with the arcuate surface comprising the recess of the second flexible mating strip such that when air is evacuated from the container, both atmospheric pressure external to the flexible container and negative pressure attributable to a vacuum source exert forces normal to the surfaces of the seal that seals the opening.2. The zipper closure of claim 1 further including a vacuum source connector integral to said flexible container, said connector comprising:a circular flange for receiving an end of a tube connected to a vacuum source;a unidirectional valve arranged within said connector such that the valve is biased in a direction when a vacuum is applied to said circular flange, said valve including at least one opening through which fluid from an interior of a bag passes and an anchor for restricting said valve in an open position when a vacuum is applied to the circular flange, said valve further including a base.