Venting reclosable bags

• US 7,270,479 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2004
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson Home Storage Inc.
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson Home Storage Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascua; Jes F.
• Application Number:
  US10/752,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20040252915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 383 63- 64, 383100-103, 383/61.2, 245/851.2, 245/851, 245/841, 245/861
• US Class Current: 383/63
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 31/00 Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2205/00 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/01 Ventilation or drainage of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/2516 comprising tamper-indicating means, e.g. located within the fastener provided in the slider B65D33/2585
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/255 being provided with special visual, audible or tactile indicating means, e.g. indicating proper engagement B65D33/2516 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/2558 the slide fastener having a non-constant section throughout the length of the fastener, e.g. slightly undulated interlocking members or castellated stringers

Abstract

A reclosable bag has a bag body and a reclosable, zipper-type closure. The reclosable closure has extruded male and female interlocking profiles extending along opposing sides of an opening of the bag and are constructed to releasably interlock. The closure also has an extruded valve flange extending from one side of the closure to engage an opposing surface of the closure when the profiles are interlocked. The flange and opposing surface are constructed to separate in response to pressure within the bag for venting the bag with the profiles interlocked, and to increase a contact pressure therebetween in response to presence of a vacuum in the bag. The closure also defines a vent passage extending from an air space between the opposing sides of the opening and between the interlocking profiles and the valve flange. In use, the interlocking profiles are engaged to close the bag opening, and then the bag sides are compressed together to force entrapped air out through the vent opening, deflecting the valve flange away from its opposing surface.

Claims

1. A vented bag comprising:

a bag body having side walls defining a cavity therebetween for holding material therein and having an opening for accessing the cavity; and

a reclosable closure disposed at the bag opening and comprising extruded male and female interlocking profiles extending along opposing sides of the opening and constructed to releasably interlock, a vent passage that provides fluid communication between an exterior atmosphere and the cavity, and an extruded valve flange selectively blocking fluid communication through the vent passage, the valve flange extending from one side of the closure and releasably engaging an opposing surface of the closure when the profiles are interlocked;

wherein the flange separates from the opposing surface in response to positive pressure in said cavity for venting the bag through the vent passage with the profiles interlocked.

2. The vented bag of claim 1 wherein the closure includes a first set of interlocking profiles on a cavity side of the valve flange and a second set of interlocking profiles on an opening side of the valve flange, wherein the vent passage extends through the first set of interlocking profiles.

3. The vented bag of claim 2, wherein the valve flange has a non-sealing surface defining a plurality of deflection radii extending into the flange along the length thereof, the deflection radii allowing the valve flange to deflect and form an airtight seal against a sealing seat on the opposing surface of the closure.

4. The vented bag of claim 2, wherein the valve flange has a non-sealing surface defining a single large radius extending into the flange along the length thereof, the single large radius allowing the valve flange to deflect and form an airtight seal against a sealing seat on the opposing surface of the closure.

5. The vented bag of claim 2, wherein one of the male and female interlocking profiles of the first set of interlocking profiles is segmented to define the vent passage between longitudinally spaced-apart portions thereof, with the first set of interlocking profiles interlocked.

6. The vented bag of claim 5, wherein the female interlocking profile is the segmented profile defining the first vent passage.

7. The vented bag of claim 5, wherein one of the male and female interlocking profiles of the second set of interlocking profiles is segmented to define a second vent passage between longitudinally spaced-apart portions thereof, with the second set of interlocking profiles interlocked.

8. The vented bag of claim 7, wherein the female interlocking profile is the segmented profile defining the second vent passage.

9. The vented bag of claim 5, wherein a second vent passage is defined through a side of the closure between the valve flange and the second set of interlocking profiles.

10. The vented bag of claim 1 wherein the valve flange has a non-sealing surface defining a groove extending into the flange along the length thereof, the groove defining a reduced bending stiffness region of the flange.

11. The vented bag of claim 1 wherein one of the extruded male and female interlocking profiles is segmented to define the vent passage between longitudinally spaced-apart portions thereof, the segmented profile defining arcuate notches therethrough.

12. The vented bag of claim 11 wherein the female interlocking profile is the segmented profile.

13. A vented bag comprising:

a bag body having side walls defining a cavity therebetween for holding material therein and having an opening for accessing the cavity; and

a resealable closure disposed at the bag opening and comprising

a first set of interlocking profiles constructed to releasably interlock and extending along opposing sides of the opening, wherein one of the interlocking profiles of the first set of interlocking profiles is segmented to define a first air vent passage between longitudinally spaced-apart portions thereof, with the first set of profiles interlocked;

a second set of interlocking profiles constructed to releasably interlock and extending along opposing sides of the opening on an opening side of the first set of interlocking profiles; and

an extruded valve flange disposed between the first set of interlocking profiles and the second set of interlocking profiles, wherein the valve flange extends from one side of the closure and releasably engages an opposing surface of the closure when the closure is occluded, and wherein the valve flange and opposing surface separate in response to positive pressure in the cavity for venting the bag through the first air vent passage with the closure occluded.

14. The vented bag of claim 13, wherein a female interlocking profile of the first set of interlocking profiles is segmented.

15. The vented bag of claim 13, wherein the valve flange has a non-sealing surface defining a groove extending into the flange along the length thereof, the groove defining a reduced bending stiffness region of the flange.

16. The vented bag of claim 13, wherein the valve flange has a non-sealing surface defining a plurality of deflection radii extending into the flange along the length thereof;

the deflection radii allowing the valve flange to deflect and form an airtight seal against a sealing seat on the opposing surface of the closure.

17. The vented bag of claim 13, wherein the valve flange has a non-sealing surface defining a singe large radius extending into the flange along the length thereof, the single large radius allowing the valve flange to deflect and form an airtight seal against a sealing seat on the opposing surface of the closure.

18. The vented bag of claim 13, wherein one of the interlocking profiles of the second set of interlocking profiles is segmented to define a second air vent passage between longitudinally spaced-apart portions thereof, with the second set of profiles interlocked.

19. The vented bag of claim 18, wherein the second vent passage is defined through a female interlocking profile of the second set of interlocking profiles.

20. The vented bag of claim 13, wherein a second vent passage is defined through a side of the closure between the valve flange and the second set of interlocking profiles.