Plastic bag with improved air evacuation structure

Abstract

A plastic bag comprising a first face and a second face, at least a portion of each being 2-ply and having an intermediate space therebetween, the 2-ply portion of the first face having an inner layer of air-impervious plastic material having openings therein; the 2-ply portion of the second face having an outer layer of air-impervious plastic material, the outer layer having openings therein permitting air to pass therethrough, the openings of the outer layer having a smaller average opening area than an average opening area of the openings of the inner layer of the first face; and a filtering chamber formed between the inner layer and the outer layer such that air in an interior of the bag may egress the bag by passing through the filtering chamber, the air being at least partially filtered of particulate matter as it egresses the bag.

1 . A plastic bag comprising:
 a first face, at least a portion thereof being 2-ply and having a first intermediate space therebetween, the 2-ply portion of the first face having an inner layer of air-impervious plastic material having openings therein permitting air to pass therethrough;   a second face, at least a portion thereof being 2-ply and having a second intermediate space therebetween, the 2-ply portion of the second face having an outer layer of air-impervious plastic material, the outer layer having openings therein permitting air to pass therethrough, the openings of the outer layer having a smaller average opening area than an average opening area of the openings of the inner layer of the first face, the first intermediate space and the second intermediate space being fluidly interconnected;   whereby a first filtering chamber is formed between the inner layer and the outer layer such that air in an interior of the bag may egress the bag by passing through the openings of the inner layer and through the openings of the outer layer, the air being at least partially filtered of particulate matter as it egresses the bag.   
     
     
         2 . The plastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein the bag is a 2-ply bag. 
     
     
         3 . The plastic bag of  claim 2 , wherein the first face and the second face are different faces of the bag. 
     
     
         4 . The plastic bag of  claim 3 , wherein no other layer of any other face of the bag has openings therein permitting air to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . The plastic bag of  claim 2 , wherein the first face and the second face are the same face of the bag. 
     
     
         6 . The plastic bag of  claim 5 , wherein the first intermediate space and the second intermediate space are the same intermediate space. 
     
     
         7 . The plastic bag of  claim 6 , wherein the openings of the outer layer of the second face are offset from the openings of the inner layer of the first face. 
     
     
         8 . The plastic bag of  claim 6 , wherein in the absence of air and particulate matter in the filtering chamber, the outer layer of the second face and the inner layer of the first face lie flat against one another. 
     
     
         9 . The plastic bag of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a third face, at least a portion thereof being 2-ply and having a third intermediate space therebetween, the 2-ply portion of the third face having an inner layer of air-impervious plastic material having openings therein permitting air to pass therethrough;   a fourth face, at least a portion thereof being 2-ply and having a fourth intermediate space therebetween, the 2-ply portion of the fourth face having an outer layer of air-impervious plastic material, the outer layer having openings therein permitting air to pass therethrough, the openings of the outer layer having a smaller average opening area than an average opening area of the openings of the inner layer of the third face, the third intermediate space and the fourth intermediate space being fluidly interconnected;   whereby a second filtering chamber is formed between the inner layer and the outer layer such that air in an interior of the bag may egress the bag by passing through the openings of the inner layer and through the openings of the outer layer, the air being at least partially filtered of particulate matter as it egresses the bag.   
     
     
         10 . The plastic bag of  claim 9 , wherein the first intermediate space, the second intermediate space, the third intermediate space, and the fourth intermediate space are all fluidly interconnected forming such that the first filtering chamber and the second filtering chamber are the same filtering chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The plastic bag of  claim 10 , wherein the third face and the fourth face are the same face of the bag. 
     
     
         12 . The plastic bag of  claim 11 , wherein the third intermediate space and the fourth intermediate space are the same intermediate space. 
     
     
         13 . The plastic bag of  claim 12 , wherein the openings of the outer layer of the fourth face are offset from the openings of the inner layer of the third face. 
     
     
         14 . The plastic bag of  claim 11 , wherein in the absence of air and particulate matter in the filtering chamber, the outer layer of the fourth face and the inner layer of the third face lie flat against one another. 
     
     
         15 . The plastic bag of  claim 12 , wherein the first face and the second face are a front face of the bag, and the third face and the fourth face are a rear face of the bag. 
     
     
         16 . The plastic bag of  claim 15 , wherein only the front face and the rear face of the bag have a layer having openings therein. 
     
     
         17 . The plastic bag of  claim 15 , wherein the openings in the outer layer of the second face and the openings in the outer layer of the fourth face are arranged with respect to each other such that the outer layer of the bag may be ripped apart along a tear line including such openings. 
     
     
         18 . The plastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein the inner-layer openings have a jagged edge. 
     
     
         19 . The plastic bag of  claim 18 , wherein the outer-layer openings have a non-jagged edge. 
     
     
         20 . The plastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein a total opening area of the openings of the inner layer is greater than a total opening area of the openings of the outer layer. 
     
     
         21 . A plastic bag comprising:
 an inner layer of air-impervious plastic material, at least a portion of which has openings therein permitting air to pass therethrough;   an intermediate layer of air-impervious plastic material, at least a portion of which has openings therein permitting air to pass therethrough; and   an outer layer of air-impervious plastic material, at least a portion of which has openings therein permitting air to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         22 . The plastic bag of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the openings of the outer layer have an average opening area that is smaller than an average opening area of the openings of the intermediate layer; and   the average opening area of the openings of the intermediate layer is smaller than an average opening area of the openings of the inner layer   whereby a filtering chamber is formed such that air in an interior of the bag may egress the bag by passing through the openings of the inner layer, through the openings of the intermediate layer, and through the openings of the outer layer, the air being at least partially filtered of particulate matter as it egresses the bag.   
     
     
         23 . The plastic bag of  claim 22 , wherein
 the openings of the outer layer are offset from the openings of the intermediate layer; and   the openings of the intermediate layer are offset from the openings of the inner layer.   
     
     
         24 . The plastic bag of  claim 22 , wherein in the absence of air and particulate matter in the filtering chamber, the outer layer, the intermediate layer and the inner layer lie flat against one another. 
     
     
         25 . The plastic bag of  claim 22 , wherein the bag has a plurality of faces including a front face and a rear face, and the openings are located solely on the front face and the rear face of the bag. 
     
     
         26 . The plastic bag of  claim 22 , wherein the inner-layer openings have a jagged edge. 
     
     
         27 . The plastic bag of  claim 26 , wherein the outer-layer openings have a non-jagged edge. 
     
     
         28 . A plastic bag comprising:
 a front face;   a rear face;   at least a portion of the front and rear face being 2-ply and having a first intermediate space therebetween;   the 2-ply portion of the front and rear face each having an inner layer of air-impervious plastic material, the inner layers having openings therein permitting air to pass therethrough;   the 2-ply portion of the front and rear face each having an outer layer of air-impervious plastic material, each of the outer layers having openings permitting air to pass therethrough, the openings of the outer layers arranged with respect to each other such that the outer layer made be removed from the bag by being ripped along a tear including the openings of the outer layer.   
     
     
         29 . The plastic bag of  claim 28 , wherein the openings of the outer layer are serrations at least a length of the bag. 
     
     
         30 . The plastic bag of  claim 29 , wherein the bag is one selected from a group consisting of open-mouth bags and valve bags. 
     
     
         31 . The plastic bag of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the openings of the outer layer have an average opening area that is smaller than an average opening area of the openings of the inner layer;   whereby a filtering chamber is formed such that air in an interior of the bag may egress the bag by passing through the openings of the inner layer and through the openings of the outer layer, the air being at least partially filtered of particulate matter as it egresses the bag.