Evacuable storage bag

Abstract

A plastic storage bag which has flexible thermoplastic sidewalls can be evacuated by a vacuum device to preserve food items. The bag includes an interior volume provided by the sidewalls in which the food items can be inserted through an open top edge. Air from interior volume can also be withdrawn through the open top edge by the vacuum device prior to sealing the opening. To prevent the sidewalls from collapsing against themselves in a manner that impedes the flow of air to the vacuum device, the bag can include a separation member that maintains some separation between the sidewalls proximate the open top edge.

1 . A system for vacuum storing food items comprising:
 a plastic storage bag including a first flexible thermoplastic sidewall, a second flexible thermoplastic sidewall overlying and joined to the first sidewall to provide an interior volume, the interior volume accessible via un-joined open top edges of the first and second sidewalls, the storage bag further comprising a separator member located proximate the opening for separating the first and second sidewalls; and   a vacuum device including a bottom housing, a pivoting lid pivotally attached to the bottom housing, and an airflow generating device.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator member is substantially rigid. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator member is compressible. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator member is a piece of compressible foam attached to the first sidewall. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator member is a corrugated area formed with the first sidewall. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator member is a tube. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator member is a comparatively rigid arch portion formed with the first sidewall. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second interlocking closing strips attached respectively to the first and second sidewalls proximate the opening. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum device includes a nozzle, the nozzle receivable in the opening of the storage bag and communicating with the airflow generating device. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum device includes a first heating element attached to the bottom housing and a second heating element attached to the lid, the first and second heating elements adapted to apply localized heating proximate the un-joined open top edges of the plastic storage bag. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the sidewalls has a textured portion. 
   
   
       12 . A method of evacuating a plastic storage bag comprising:
 (i) providing a storage bag having first and second flexible plastic sidewalls joined together to provide an interior volume for receiving food items, the interior volume accessible via an opening disposed between the sidewalls, the storage bag further having a separator member proximate the opening;   (ii) inserting the storage bag into a vacuum device;   (iii) evacuating the interior volume such that the first and second sidewalls substantially collapse adjacent to each other; and   (iv) maintaining separation of the first and second sidewalls proximate the opening with the separator member.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of:
 (v) sealing closed the opening with a heating element of the vacuum device.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the vacuum device includes a nozzle for withdrawing air from the storage bag. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of:
 (v) aligning the separator feature with the nozzle.