Self-closing sealable valve bag

Abstract

A valve bag comprising: a bag body; a valve passage formed in the bag body; and a sealable valve sleeve secured within the valve passage, an exterior portion of the valve sleeve extending along an adjacent portion of the bag body, the exterior portion of the valve sleeve being unsecured to the adjacent portion of the bag body.

1 . A valve bag comprising: 
 a bag body;    a valve passage formed in the bag body; and    a sealable valve sleeve secured within the valve passage,    an exterior portion of the valve sleeve extending along an adjacent portion of the bag body, the exterior portion of the valve sleeve being unsecured to the adjacent portion of the bag body.    
   
   
       2 . The valve bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve sleeve comprises an upper valve support having an inner end, a lower valve support having an inner end, and a valve liner having an inner end, the upper valve support inner end extending beyond the valve liner inner end.  
   
   
       3 . The valve bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve sleeve comprises an upper valve support having an inner end, a lower valve support having an inner end, and a valve liner having an inner end, the lower valve support inner end extending to about the valve liner inner end.  
   
   
       4 . The valve bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve sleeve comprises an upper valve support having an inner end, a lower valve support having an inner end, and a valve liner having an inner end, the upper valve support inner end extending beyond the valve liner inner end, the lower valve support inner end extending to about the valve liner inner end.  
   
   
       5 . The valve bag according to  claim 2 , wherein the bag body comprises an inner flap and an outer flap, the inner flap and the outer flap partially overlapping forming the valve passage.  
   
   
       6 . The valve bag according to  claim 5 , wherein the inner flap has an inner end, an inner end of the valve sleeve extending beyond the inner flap inner end.  
   
   
       7 . The valve bag according to  claim 6 , wherein a first portion of the inner flap is attached to a first portion of the lower valve support, and a second portion of the inner flap, extending interiorly from the first portion of the inner flap, is unattached to the lower valve support.  
   
   
       8 . The valve bag according to  claim 2 , wherein the valve liner is a tubular sleeve having open ends.  
   
   
       9 . A method of sealing the valve bag according to  claim 1 , comprising: 
 after filling the valve bag, rotating the unsecured exterior portion of the valve sleeve to permit access to opposite exterior surfaces of the valve sleeve; and    applying force to the opposite exterior surfaces of the valve sleeve sealing the valve sleeve.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 applying heat to the opposite exterior surfaces of the valve sleeve.    
   
   
       11 . A valve bag comprising: 
 a bag body having an inner flap and an outer flap, the inner flap and the outer flap at least partially overlapping;    a valve passage formed between the overlapping inner and outer flaps; and    a sealable valve sleeve secured to the inner and outer flaps,    the valve sleeve having a first end portion extending exteriorly beyond an end of the outer flap, the valve sleeve first end portion being unsecured to an adjacent portion of the inner flap.    
   
   
       12 . The valve bag according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve sleeve has a second end portion extending interiorly beyond an end of the inner flap.  
   
   
       13 . The valve bag according to  claim 12 , wherein the valve sleeve second end portion is secured to the outer flap.  
   
   
       14 . The valve bag according to  claim 12 , wherein the valve sleeve second end portion is unsecured to an adjacent portion of the inner flap.  
   
   
       15 . A method of sealing the valve bag according to  claim 11 , comprising: 
 after filling the valve bag, rotating the first end portion of the valve sleeve to permit access to opposite exterior surfaces of the valve sleeve; and    applying force to the opposite exterior surfaces of the valve sleeve first end portion sealing the valve sleeve.    
   
   
       16 . A valve bag comprising: 
 a bag body having an inner flap and an outer flap, the inner flap and the outer flap at least partially overlapping;    a valve passage formed between the overlapping inner and outer flaps; and    a sealable valve sleeve secured to the inner and outer flaps, the valve sleeve comprising a tubular sleeve having an upper valve support secured to an upper portion thereof and a separate lower valve support secured to a lower portion thereof,    the valve sleeve having: a first end portion extending exteriorly beyond an end of the outer flap, a second end portion extending interiorly beyond an end of the inner flap and a middle portion between the first end portion and the second end portion,    the valve sleeve first end portion being unsecured to an adjacent portion of the inner flap,    the valve sleeve middle portion being secured to both the outer flap and the inner flap,    the valve sleeve second end portion being secured to an adjacent portion of the outer flap and being unsecured to the inner flap.    
   
   
       17 . A method of sealing the valve bag according to  claim 16 , comprising: 
 after filling the valve bag, rotating the first end portion of the valve sleeve away from the adjacent portion of the inner flap allowing access to the exterior surfaces of the upper valve support and the lower valve support; and    applying at least one of force and heat to the exterior surfaces of the upper valve support and the lower valve support sealing the valve sleeve.