Atmospheric and/or differential pressure closure for an evacuable storage container

Abstract

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.

1 . (canceled)  
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . A zipper closure utilizing atmospheric and differential pressure to seal an opening in a flexible container, said zipper closure comprising: 
 a first flexible mating strip that includes an upper and a lower longitudinal ridge, and an upper and lower arcuate sealing surface;    a second flexible mating strip that includes an upper and lower longitudinal recess for accommodating the upper and lower longitudinal ridge of the first flexible mating strip;    a vacuum chamber formed when the upper and lower longitudinal ridges of the first flexible mating strip mate with the upper and lower longitudinal recess of the second flexible strip; and,    at least one vacuum channel having an opening that opens into the vacuum chamber, said vacuum channel passing between the vacuum chamber and an interior of the flexible container, such that sealing of the zipper closure occurs when an external vacuum source is introduced to the interior of the flexible container.    
   
   
       6 . The zipper closure of  claim 5  further comprising a longitudinal curved opening extending from said vacuum channel to mate with an arcuate curved sidewall integral to said second flexible mating strip and creating a longitudinal vacuum chamber.  
   
   
       7 . The zipper closure of  claim 5  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 to an open position when a vacuum is applied to the circular flange, said valve further including a base.    
   
   
       8 . A zipper closure utilizing atmospheric and differential pressure to seal an opening in a flexible container, said zipper closure comprising: 
 a first flexible mating strip including an upper and lower hook-shaped longitudinal ridge, a pair of arcuate recesses arranged between said upper and lower hook-shaped longitudinal ridges to define an end having an opening;    a second flexible mating strip including an upper and a lower hook-shaped longitudinal recess for receiving an end of said upper and lower hook-shaped longitudinal ridge, a pair of arcuate tracks arranged next to the hook-shaped longitudinal recesses to create a recess for receiving the end having the opening and being defined by the upper and lower hook-shaped longitudinal ridges;    a vacuum chamber formed when the upper and lower longitudinal ridges of the first flexible mating strip mate with the upper and lower longitudinal recesses of the second flexible strip; and    at least one vacuum channel said opening at one end to which opens into the vacuum chamber, said vacuum channel passing between the vacuum chamber and an interior of the flexible container, such that sealing of the zipper closure occurs when an external vacuum source is introduced to the interior of the flexible container.    
   
   
       9 . The zipper closure of  claim 8  further comprising at least one flexible opening located on each exterior edge of said first and second flexible mating strip for allowing the mating strips to deform when a vacuum is applied to the flexible container.  
   
   
       10 . The zipper closure of  claim 8  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 said valve to an open position when a vacuum is applied to the circular flange, said valve further including a base.    
   
   
       11 . A system for storing articles in a vacuum environment comprising: 
 a flexible container including a pair of sidewall comprising fluid impervious materials, said pair of sidewall defining a first opening;    a zipper closure comprising a first flexible mating strip comprising a longitudinal hook-shaped ridge arranged along an interior edge thereof, said hook-shaped ridge including an arcuate surface comprising a recess, a second flexible mating strip including a longitudinal hook-shaped ridge arranged along an interior edge thereof, said hook-shaped ridge including an arcuate surface comprising a recess, wherein said first mating strip is identical, both in shape and size, to the second mating strip, but inverted when taken in profile, both flexible mating strips being provided with flexible longitudinal openings to allow the strips to momentarily deform to aid in engagement, latching and sealing integrity of said strips, said mating strips arranged such that when sealed the longitudinal hook-shaped ridge of the first flexible mating strip mates with the arcuate surface of the second flexible mating strip; and,    a vacuum source connector integral to said flexible container 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 to in an open position when a vacuum is applied to the circular flange, said valve further including a base.    
   
   
       12 . A system for storing articles in a vacuum environment comprising: 
 a flexible container including a pair of sidewall comprising fluid impervious materials, said pair of sidewall defining a first opening;    a zipper closure utilizing atmospheric and differential pressure to seal an opening in a flexible container, said zipper closure comprising a first flexible mating strip that includes an upper and a lower longitudinal ridge, an upper and lower arcuate sealing surface and a longitudinal vacuum channel passing between said upper and lower arcuate sealing surfaces, a second flexible mating strip that includes an upper and lower longitudinal recess for accommodating the upper and lower longitudinal ridge of the first flexible mating strip; and,    a vacuum source connector integral to said flexible container 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 to an open position when a vacuum is applied to the circular flange, said valve further including a base.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  for storing articles in a vacuum environment wherein both the upper and lower longitudinal ridges are hook-shaped.  
   
   
       14 . (canceled)