Reclosable bag

Abstract

A reclosable bag, comprising: a bag portion defining a bag interior and a bag opening, a means for opening and closing the bag opening, the means comprising (i) opposed interlocking features along the bag opening, the interlocking features being sized and shaped to form a seal when engaged, and (ii) a slider in the bag opening, between the opposed interlocking features, to engage and disengage the interlocking features as the slider moves, the slider being further configured to seal the bag opening when positioned at one end of the bag opening, a passageway in the slider, to provide access between the bag interior and an area outside of the bag, and a means for selectively opening and closing the passageway, wherein, upon moving the slider to the end of the bag opening and sealing the bag opening, access may be selectively provided between the bag interior and the area outside of the bag through the passageway.

1 . A reclosable bag, comprising: 
 (a) a bag portion defining a bag interior and a bag opening;    (b) a means for opening and closing said bag opening, said means comprising: 
 (i) opposed interlocking features along said bag opening, said interlocking features being sized and shaped to form a seal when engaged; and  
 (ii) a slider in said bag opening, between said opposed interlocking features, to engage and disengage said interlocking features as said slider moves, said slider being further configured to seal said bag opening when positioned at one end of said bag opening;  
   (c) a passageway in said slider, to provide access between said bag interior and an area outside of said bag; and    (d) a means for selectively opening and closing said passageway; 
 wherein, upon moving said slider to said end of said bag opening and sealing said bag opening, access may be selectively provided between said bag interior and said area outside of said bag through said passageway.  
   
   
   
       2 . The reclosable bag according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for opening and closing the passageway is a one-way valve.  
   
   
       3 . The reclosable bag according to  claim 2 , wherein said one-way valve is configured to allow access into said bag interior from said outside area, and to block access from said bag interior to said outside area.  
   
   
       4 . The reclosable bag according to  claim 2 , wherein said one-way valve is configured to allow access to said outside area from said bag interior, and to block access from said outside area to said bag interior.  
   
   
       5 . The reclosable bag according to  claim 4 , wherein said passageway is configured to accept the coupling of a suction device, to permit access to said bag interior upon the application of suction by said suction device.  
   
   
       6 . The reclosable bag according to  claim 5 , wherein said passageway is sized and shaped to accept a removable suction device.  
   
   
       7 . The reclosable bag according to  claim 2 , wherein said one-way valve is one of: a ball valve, pinching valve, flapper valve, air valve, or check valve.  
   
   
       8 . The reclosable bag according to  claim 1 , wherein said slider has opposed side faces, each of said side faces being configured to slidably engage with one of said opposed interlocking features along said bag opening.  
   
   
       9 . The reclosable bag according to  claim 8 , wherein one of said opposed interlocking features comprises a tongue and the other of said opposed interlocking features comprises a groove, and said side face which slidably engages with said interlocking tongue feature contains a groove, and said side face which slidably engages with said interlocking groove feature contains a tongue.  
   
   
       10 . The reclosable bag according to  claim 1 , wherein said slider has a shape which is complementary to the shape of said end of said bag opening, to permit said slider to seal against said end of said bag opening.  
   
   
       11 . The reclosable bag according to  claim 1 , wherein said slider contains a first detent, and said bag contains a second detent positioned proximate to said end of said bag opening, said first detent and said second detent being configured to engage one another when said slider is moved to said sealed position.  
   
   
       12 . The reclosable bag according to  claim 11 , wherein said first detent and said second detent are raised portions configured to produce a snap fit when said slider is moved to said sealed position.  
   
   
       13 . A slider for opening and closing a bag opening of a bag, wherein the bag opening has opposed interlocking features, said slider comprising: 
 a movable body in said bag opening, between said opposed interlocking features, to engage and disengage said interlocking features as said body moves.    
   
   
       14 . The slider according to  claim 13 , further including: 
 (a) a passageway in said body, to provide access between an interior of said bag and an area outside of said bag; and    (b) a means for selectively opening and closing said passageway;    wherein, access may be selectively provided between said bag interior and said area outside of said bag through said passageway.    
   
   
       15 . The slider according to  claim 14 , wherein said means for selectively opening and closing comprises a one-way valve, said one-way valve being configured to allow access either: 
 (a) from said outside area to said bag interior, and to block access from said bag interior to said outside area; or    (b) from said bag interior to said outside area, and to block access from said outside area to said bag interior.    
   
   
       16 . A method of closing a bag, said bag having a reclosable opening with a first end and a second end, said method comprising: 
 (a) moving a slider positioned within said reclosable opening from said first end to said second end, to close said reclosable opening;    (b) engaging said slider at said second end to seal said reclosable opening; and    (c) providing access between an interior of said bag and an area outside of said bag through a passageway in said slider.    
   
   
       17 . A method of closing a bag according to  claim 16 , wherein said bag contains contents, further including the steps of: 
 (a) inserting a hollow tube into said passageway, said tube having an insertion end for insertion into said passageway, and a free end;    (b) applying suction to said free end, to remove said contents of said bag; and    (c) removing said hollow tube from said passageway.    
   
   
       18 . A reclosable bag, comprising: 
 (a) a bag portion defining a bag interior and a bag opening;    (b) a slider to open and close said bag opening;    (c) an element located between two edges of said bag, said element having a passageway; and    (d) means to open and close said passageway.    
   
   
       19 . The reclosable bag according to  claim 18 , wherein said element is said slider.  
   
   
       20 . The reclosable bag according to  claim 18 , wherein said element is located between two edges of said bag that do not define said bag opening.  
   
   
       21 . The reclosable bag according to  claim 18 , wherein said element is located between two edges of said bag that define said bag opening.  
   
   
       22 . A reclosable bag, comprising: 
 (a) a bag portion defining a bag opening;    (b) opposed interlocking features along said bag opening; and    (c) a slider in said bag opening, between said opposed interlocking features, to engage and disengage said interlocking features as said slider moves;    wherein, moving said slider along said bag opening opens or closes said bag opening.