System, air valve assembly and method for air evacuation of plastic sealable storage bags

Abstract

A system, storage bag and method for evacuating air from a convention self-sealing storage bag. An air valve assembly includes inner and outer valve members, the inner valve member being positionable within the storage bag and having a tapered piercing spout adapted to pierce through a flexible panel. The outer valve member has a housing lockingly engagable over the piercing spout protruding outwardly through the panel. A perimeter edge of the housing is sealingly engagable against the bag panel and a mating groove formed into the inner valve member. The inner valve member is configured for temporary sealing engagement against the inner surface of the bag panel as air is removed from the interior of the storage bag out through the piercing spout and housing air outlets by a vacuum pump.

1 . A system for evacuating air from a flexible self-sealing storage bag, comprising:
 a vacuum pump assembly;   an air valve assembly including an inner valve member and an outer valve member;   said inner valve member being positionable within the storage bag and against an inner surface of one flexible panel of the storage bag, said inner valve having a tapered piercing spout adapted to pierce through the one flexible panel;   said outer valve member having an outer valve housing positionable and lockingly engagable over said piercing spout as or after said piercing spout has penetrated outwardly through the one flexible panel;   a substantially continuous perimeter edge of said housing facing and sealingly engaging against the one flexible panel and a mating groove formed into said inner valve member around said piercing spout;   said piercing spout having an air outlet in fluid communication with the interior of the storage bag for air evacuation therefrom, said inner valve member configured for temporary sealing engagement with the inner surface of the one flexible panel as air is removed from the interior of the storage bag out through said air outlet by activation of said vacuum pump when sealingly engaged with an air outlet of said housing.   
   
   
       2 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said inner valve member includes a substantially flat stabilizing base plate extending generally orthogonally from the base of said piercing spout.   
   
   
       3 . A system a set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a sealing cap tethered to said housing and structured for sealing engagement on the air outlet of said housing wherein, after air is evacuated from the storage bag and temporarily sealed, said sealing cap permanently vacuum seals the storage bag from air leakage thereinto.   
   
   
       4 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a resilient sealing ring sized for snug engagement within said housing, an inner resilient sealing flange of aid seal ring biasingly engaging against a portion of the one flexible panel which sealingly contacts against a continuous sealing ridge formed around a spout base, said sealing ring maintaining the vacuum within the bag for a time sufficient to seal said air outlet.   
   
   
       5 . An air valve assembly attachable to a flexible self-sealing storage bag for evacuating air from the storage bag and maintaining an air vacuum therewithin, comprising:
 an inner valve member and an outer valve member;   said inner valve member being positionable within the storage bag and against an inner surface of one flexible panel of the storage bag, said inner valve having a tapered piercing spout adapted to pierce through the one flexible panel;   said outer valve member having an outer valve housing positionable and lockingly engagable over said piercing spout as or after said piercing spout has penetrated outwardly through the one flexible panel;   a substantially continuous perimeter edge of said housing facing and sealingly engaging against the one flexible panel and a mating groove formed into said inner valve member around said piercing spout;   said piercing spout having an air outlet in fluid communication with the interior of the storage bag for air evacuation therefrom, said inner valve member between said piercing spout and said mating groove configured for temporary sealing engagement with the inner surface of the one flexible panel as air is removed from the interior of the storage bag out through said air outlet by activation of a vacuum pump when sealingly engaged with an air outlet of said housing.   
   
   
       6 . A system as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said inner valve member includes a substantially flat stabilizing base plate extending generally orthogonally from the base of said piercing spout.   
   
   
       7 . A system a set forth in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a sealing cap tethered to said housing and structured for sealing engagement on the air outlet of said housing wherein, after air is evacuated from the storage bag and temporarily sealed, said sealing cap permanently vacuum seals the storage bag from air leakage thereinto.   
   
   
       8 . An air valve assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a resilient sealing ring sized for snug engagement within said housing, an inner resilient sealing flange of aid sealing ring biasingly engaging against a portion of the one flexible panel which sealingly contacts against a continuous sealing ridge formed around a spout base, said sealing ring maintaining the vacuum within the bag for a time sufficient to seal said air outlet.   
   
   
       9 . (canceled)