Environmentally friendly textile soft goods retail packaging incorporating vacuum-sealable bags reusable by consumers

Abstract

A consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale includes a vacaum-resealable bag and one or more textile soft goods located therein. The vacuum-resealable bag includes air impermeable walls, a one-way valve assembly, and a closure mechanism. The vacuum-resealable bag is configured to maintain a vacuum condition therein when the closure mechanism seals the vacuum-resealable bag and air is evacuated through the one-way valve assembly. A pressure differential preferably maintains the textile soft goods for retail sale in a compressed condition within the vacuum-sealable bag, and the vacuum-sealable bag preferably is located within retail packaging. Furthermore, the vacuum-resealable bag preferably is configured to be opened and then reclosed such that the vacuum-resealable bag is reusable by a consumer for vacuum-packing compressible items after the one or more textile soft goods have been removed from the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag post purchase.

1 . A consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale, comprising:
 (a) a vacuum-resealable bag having,
 (i) air impermeable walls defining an interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag, 
 (ii) a one-way valve assembly configured to permit air to be evacuated through the one-way valve assembly from the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag but to preclude air from entering the interior space of the vacuum sealable bag through the one-way valve assembly, and 
 (iii) a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the vacuum-resealable bag in an airtight manner, 
 (iv) wherein the vacuum-resealable bag is configured to maintain a vacuum condition within the interior space when the closure mechanism seals the mouth of the vacuum-resealable bag and air is evacuated through the one-way valve assembly from the interior space defined by the vacuum-resealable bag, and 
 (v) wherein the vacuum-resealable bag is configured to be opened and then reclosed such that the vacuum-resealable bag is reusable by a consumer for vacuum-packing after the one or more textile soft goods have been removed from the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag; and 
   (b) one or more textile soft goods located within the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag.   
     
     
         2 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more textile soft goods located within the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag are maintained in a compressed condition resulting from a pressure differential existing between a pressure in the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag and a pressure exterior to the vacuum-resealable bag. 
     
     
         3 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 2 , further comprising retail packaging comprising a case in which the vacuum-resealable bag containing the textile soft goods is contained, wherein a hoop strength of the case is sufficient to maintain the textile soft goods in a compressed condition within the vacuum-resealable bag upon equalization of the pressure in the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag and a pressure exterior to the vacuum-resealable bag. 
     
     
         4 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , wherein the one-way valve assembly is located in a wall of the vacuum-resealable bag and is configured to receive a nozzle of a vacuum cleaner hose, whereby the air within the interior space may be evacuated using a vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         5 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , wherein the one-way valve assembly of the vacuum-resealable bag is configured to expel air from the interior space thereof upon rolling up of the vacuum-resealable bag by a consumer for creating a pressure differential between a pressure in the interior space of the bag and a pressure exterior to the bag. 
     
     
         6 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , wherein the textile soft goods comprise a plurality of individual bedding components constituting a bedding set. 
     
     
         7 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , wherein none of the textile soft goods are individually packaged. 
     
     
         8 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , further comprising printed media identifying the one or more textile soft goods contained in the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag, the printed media being physically associated with the vacuum-resealable bag for viewing by a consumer at retail sale. 
     
     
         9 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 8 , wherein the printed media further identifies the reusability of the vacuum-resealable bag. 
     
     
         10 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 8 , wherein the printed media comprises an adhesive label that is attached to the vacuum-resealable bag. 
     
     
         11 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 10 , wherein retail packaging of the textile soft goods product for retail sale comprises the vacuum-resealable bag. 
     
     
         12 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the vacuum-resealable bag is transparent such that one or more contents of the vacuum-resealable bag are viewable there through. 
     
     
         13 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , further comprising retail packaging defining an interior space in which the vacuum-resealable bag containing the textile soft goods is contained. 
     
     
         14 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 1 , further comprising retail packaging comprising a case in which the vacuum-resealable bag containing the textile soft goods is contained, the case configured to be opened and then reclosed such that the case is reusable by a consumer after the vacuum-resealable bag containing the bedding set has been removed therefrom by the consumer. 
     
     
         15 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the vacuum-resealable bag is transparent such that one or more contents of the vacuum-resealable bag are viewable there through, and at least a portion of the case is transparent such that one or more contents of the vacuum-resealable bag are further viewable there through, the vacuum-resealable bag being arranged within the case such that the one or more contents of the vacuum-resealable bag are viewable through both the case and the vacuum-resealable bag by a prospective customer at retail sale. 
     
     
         16 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 14 , further comprising printed media identifying the one or more textile soft goods contained in the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag, the printed media being physically associated with the vacuum-resealable bag for viewing by a consumer at retail sale, wherein the printed media comprises an adhesive label that is attached to the case containing the vacuum-resealable bag. 
     
     
         17 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 14 , further comprising printed media identifying the one or more textile soft goods contained in the interior space of the vacuum-resealable bag, the printed media being physically associated with the vacuum-resealable bag for viewing by a consumer at retail sale, wherein the case comprises a pocket, the pocket including a transparent panel through which contents of the pocket are viewable from an exterior of the case, and wherein the printed media comprises a rigid planar member comprising a card insert that is retained within the pocket of the case. 
     
     
         18 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 17 , wherein the pocket includes opposing front and rear transparent panels whereby contents of the pocket are viewable through both the front and rear transparent panels. 
     
     
         19 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 14 , wherein the case defines an interior containment space that is practically entirely consumed by the vacuum-resealable bag contained therein. 
     
     
         20 . The consumer textile soft goods product for retail sale of  claim 19 , wherein the case comprises opposed transparent panels, and wherein corners of the transparent panels include non-transparent components that cover the corners of the vacuum-resealable bag and that reinforce the case and contribute to the hoop strength of the case. 
     
     
         21 . A method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale, comprising the steps of:
 (a) making a first textile soft goods product for retail sale comprising,
 (i) vacuum-packaging textile soft goods comprising a plurality of individual and compressible bedding components constituting a bedding set for a first particular size of bed, wherein the textile soft goods are folded and arranged together within an interior space of a first vacuum-sealable bag with none of the bedding components being individually packaged, 
 (ii) maintaining the compressible bedding components in a compressed condition within the first vacuum-sealable bag by maintaining a first pressure differential between a first pressure in the interior space of the bag and a pressure exterior to the bag, wherein the first vacuum-sealable bag (A) includes a one-way valve assembly in a bag wall thereof for evacuating air from an interior space defined by the first vacuum-sealable bag, the one-way valve assembly being (I) configured to receive a vacuum source, whereby the air within the interior space may be evacuated using the vacuum source, and (II) configured to prevent air from re-entering the bag upon disengagement of the vacuum source, and (B) includes a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the first vacuum-sealable bag in an airtight manner, 
 (iii) locating the first vacuum-sealable bag having the plurality of individual and compressible bedding components vacuum-packaged therein within a first case such that an interior containment space defined by the first case is practically entirely consumed by the first vacuum-sealable bag, and 
 (iv) identifying the textile soft goods contained in the first vacuum-sealable bag as being a bedding set for the first particular size of bed by physically associating printed media with the first case; 
   (b) making a second textile soft goods product for retail sale comprising,
 (i) vacuum-packaging textile soft goods comprising a plurality of individual and compressible bedding components constituting a bedding set for a second particular size of bed, wherein the textile soft goods are folded and arranged together within an interior space of a second vacuum-sealable bag with none of the bedding components being individually packaged, 
 (ii) maintaining the compressible bedding components in a compressed condition within the second vacuum-sealable bag by maintaining a second pressure differential between a second pressure in the interior space of the bag and a pressure exterior to the bag, wherein the second vacuum-sealable bag (A) includes a one-way valve assembly in a bag wall thereof for evacuating air from an interior space defined by the second vacuum-sealable bag, the one-way valve assembly being (I) configured to receive a vacuum source, whereby the air within the interior space may be evacuated using the vacuum source, and (II) configured to prevent air from re-entering the bag upon disengagement of the vacuum source, and (B) includes a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the second vacuum-sealable bag in an airtight manner, 
 (iii) locating the second vacuum-sealable bag having the plurality of individual and compressible bedding components vacuum-packaged therein within a second case such that an interior containment space defined by the second case is practically entirely consumed by the second vacuum-sealable bag, and 
 (iv) identifying the textile soft goods contained in the second vacuum-sealable bag as being a bedding set for the second particular size of bed by physically associating printed media with the second case; 
   (c) making a third textile soft goods product for retail sale comprising,
 (i) vacuum-packaging textile soft goods comprising a plurality of individual and compressible bedding components constituting a bedding set for a third particular size of bed, wherein the textile soft goods are folded and arranged together within an interior space of a third vacuum-sealable bag with none of the bedding components being individually packaged, 
 (ii) maintaining the compressible bedding components in a compressed condition within the third vacuum-sealable bag by maintaining a third pressure differential between a third pressure in the interior space of the bag and a pressure exterior to the bag, wherein the third vacuum-sealable bag (A) includes a one-way valve assembly in a bag wall thereof for evacuating air from an interior space defined by the third vacuum-sealable bag, the one-way valve assembly being (I) configured to receive a vacuum source, whereby the air within the interior space may be evacuated using the vacuum source, and (II) configured to prevent air from re-entering the bag upon disengagement of the vacuum source, and (B) includes a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the third vacuum-sealable bag in an airtight manner, 
 (iii) locating the third vacuum-sealable bag having the plurality of individual and compressible bedding components vacuum-packaged therein within a third case such that an interior containment space defined by the third case is practically entirely consumed by the third vacuum-sealable bag, and 
 (iv) identifying the textile soft goods contained in the third vacuum-sealable bag as being a bedding set for the third particular size of bed by physically associating printed media with the third case; 
   (d) making a fourth textile soft goods product for retail sale comprising,
 (i) vacuum-packaging textile soft goods comprising a plurality of individual and compressible bedding components constituting a bedding set for a fourth particular size of bed, wherein the textile soft goods are folded and arranged together within an interior space of a fourth vacuum-sealable bag with none of the bedding components being individually packaged, 
 (ii) maintaining the compressible bedding components in a compressed condition within the fourth vacuum-sealable bag by maintaining a fourth pressure differential between a fourth pressure in the interior space of the bag and a pressure exterior to the bag, wherein the fourth vacuum-sealable bag (A) includes a one-way valve assembly in a bag wall thereof for evacuating air from an interior space defined by the fourth vacuum-sealable bag, the one-way valve assembly being (I) configured to receive a vacuum source, whereby the air within the interior space may be evacuated using the vacuum source, and (II) configured to prevent air from re-entering the bag upon disengagement of the vacuum source, and (B) includes a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the fourth vacuum-sealable bag in an airtight manner, 
 (iii) locating the fourth vacuum-sealable bag having the plurality of individual and compressible bedding components vacuum-packaged therein within a fourth case such that an interior containment space defined by the fourth case is practically entirely consumed by the fourth vacuum-sealable bag, and 
 (iv) identifying the textile soft goods contained in the fourth vacuum-sealable bag as being a bedding set for the fourth particular size of bed by physically associating printed media with the fourth case; and 
   (e) packing the respective cases of the first, second, third and fourth textile soft goods products for retail sale in a shipping container such that the respective cases of the first, second, third and fourth textile soft goods product for retail sale collectively consume the entire interior containment space of the shipping container, wherein the interior containment space of each of the first, second, third and fourth cases is substantially the same as the other cases, but wherein at least one of the first, second, third and fourth particular sizes of beds respectively corresponding to the bedding sets differs from at least another of the first, second, third and fourth particular sizes of beds; and   (f) shipping the packed shipping container to a retailer, wholesaler, distributor or consumer.   
     
     
         22 . A method of shipping bedding sets for retail sale, comprising:
 (a) making a plurality of textile soft goods products for retail sale comprising, for each textile soft goods product, the steps of,
 (i) vacuum-packaging textile soft goods comprising a plurality of individual and compressible bedding components constituting a bedding set for a particular size of bed, wherein the textile soft goods are folded and arranged together within an interior space of a vacuum-sealable bag with none of the bedding components being individually packaged, 
 (ii) maintaining the compressible bedding components in a compressed condition within the vacuum-sealable bag by maintaining a pressure differential between a pressure in the interior space of the bag and a pressure exterior to the bag, wherein the vacuum-sealable bag (A) includes a one-way valve assembly in a bag wall thereof for evacuating air from an interior space defined by the vacuum-sealable bag, the one-way valve assembly being (I) configured to receive a vacuum source, whereby the air within the interior space may be evacuated using the vacuum source, and (II) configured to prevent air from re-entering the bag upon disengagement of the vacuum source, and (B) includes a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the vacuum-sealable bag in an airtight manner, 
 (iii) locating the vacuum-sealable bag having the plurality of individual and compressible bedding components vacuum-packaged therein within a case such that an interior containment space defined by the case is practically entirely consumed by the vacuum-sealable bag, and 
 (iv) identifying the textile soft goods contained in the vacuum-sealable bag as being a bedding set for the particular size of bed by physically associating printed media with the case; 
   (b) packing each respective case of the plurality in a shipping container such that the respective cases collectively consume the entire interior containment space of the shipping container, wherein each respective case of the plurality of textile soft goods products for retail sale is substantially the same size and volume as each of the other cases of the plurality of textile soft goods products for retail sale, but wherein at least one of the bedding sets of the cases is for a particular size of bed that is different than that of at least one of the other bedding sets of the cases; and   (c) shipping the packed shipping container to a retailer, wholesaler, distributor or consumer.   
     
     
         23 . An environmentally friendly system in which product packaging is reused post purchase by consumers, comprising:
 (a) making textile soli goods products for retail sale comprising, for each textile soft goods product, the steps of,
 (i) locating textile soft goods within an interior space of a vacuum-sealable bag (A) having a one-way valve assembly in a bag wall thereof for evacuating air from an interior space defined by the vacuum-sealable bag, wherein the one-way valve assembly is (I) configured to receive a vacuum source, whereby the air within the interior space may be evacuated using the vacuum source, and (II) configured to prevent air from re-entering the bag upon disengagement of the vacuum source, and (B) having a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the vacuum-sealable bag in an airtight manner, 
 (ii) locating the vacuum-sealable bag within an outer bag, and 
 (iii) identifying the textile soft goods contained in the vacuum-sealable bag as being a bedding set by physically associating printed media with the outer bag; 
 (iv) wherein the vacuum-sealable bag is configured to be opened and then reclosed such that the vacuum-sealable bag is reusable for vacuum-packaging using a vacuum source after the bedding set has been removed therefrom; and 
   (b) advertising as a selling point to consumers the reusability of the vacuum-sealable bags of the textile soft goods products for retail sale.   
     
     
         24 . An environmentally friendly system in which product packaging is reused post purchase by consumers, comprising:
 (a) purchasing bedding sets, each vacuum-packaged within a reusable vacuum-sealable bag (i) having a one-way valve assembly in a bag wall thereof for evacuating air from an interior space defined by the vacuum-sealable bag, wherein the one-way valve assembly is (A) configured to receive a vacuum source, whereby the air within the interior space may be evacuated using the vacuum source, and (B) configured to prevent air from re-entering the bag upon disengagement of the vacuum source, and (ii) having a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the vacuum-sealable bag in an airtight manner;   (b) removing the bedding sets from the vacuum-sealable bags for use on beds; and   (c) reusing by the consumers the vacuum-sealable bags by vacuum-packing compressible items therein for storage thereof.   
     
     
         25 . An environmentally friendly system in which product packaging is reused post purchase by consumers, comprising:
 (a) making, by a manufacturer, textile soft goods comprising bedding sets for retail sale comprising, for each bedding set, the steps of,
 (i) locating bedding components constituting the respective bedding set within an interior space of a vacuum-sealable bag (A) having a one-way valve assembly in a bag wall thereof for evacuating air from an interior space defined by the vacuum-sealable bag, wherein the one-way valve assembly is (I) configured to receive a vacuum source, whereby the air within the interior space may be evacuated using the vacuum source, and (II) configured to prevent air from re-entering the bag upon disengagement of the vacuum source, and (B) having a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the vacuum-sealable bag in an airtight manner, 
 (ii) locating the vacuum-sealable bag within an outer case, and 
 (iii) identifying the textile soft goods contained in the vacuum-sealable bag as being a bedding set by physically associating printed media with the outer case; 
 (iv) wherein the vacuum-sealable bag is configured to be opened and then reclosed such that the vacuum-sealable bag is reusable for vacuum-packaging using a vacuum source after the bedding set has been removed therefrom; 
   (b) individually displaying, to consumers, the bedding sets for retail sale by setting out the outer cases on store shelves;   (c) removing, by the consumers, the vacuum-sealable bags from the outer cases and removing the bedding sets thereof from the vacuum-sealable bags for use on beds; and   (d) reusing by the consumers the vacuum-sealable bags by vacuum-packing compressible items therein for storage thereof.   
     
     
         26 . A method of packaging textile soft goods as products for retail sale, comprising the steps of for each product:
 (a) receiving, from a first party by a second party, a textile soft good for a product to be sold at retail sale;   (b) arranging, by the second party, the textile soft good within an interior space of a vacuum-sealable bag, wherein the vacuum-sealable bag comprises,
 (i) pliable and air impermeable walls, 
 (ii) a one-way valve assembly in one of the walls for evacuating air through the one-way valve assembly from the interior space defined by the vacuum-sealable bag such that the evacuated air is kept from reentering the vacuum-sealable bag through the one-way valve assembly, and 
 (iii) a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the vacuum-sealable bag in an airtight manner; 
   (c) vacuum-sealing, by the second party, the textile soft good within the interior space of the vacuum-sealable bag such that the textile soft good is compressed, and containing the vacuum-sealable bag within an outer bag, the outer bag defining an interior containment space that is practically entirely consumed by the vacuum-sealable bag;   (d) identifying the textile soft good contained in the inner vacuum-sealable bag by physically associating printed media with the outer bag; and   (e) shipping, by the second party, to a third party retailer, the vacuum-packed textile soft good contained in the retail packaging for sale as a consumer product in the retail packaging.   
     
     
         27 . A method of packaging textile soft goods of a plurality of manufacturers as products for retail sale by a plurality of retailers, comprising the steps of, for each product:
 (a) receiving, from a manufacturer, one or more textile soft goods to be packaged and sold together as a product at retail sale;   (b) arranging the one or more textile soft good within an interior space of a vacuum-sealable bag, wherein the vacuum-sealable bag comprises,
 (i) pliable and air impermeable walls, 
 (ii) a one-way valve assembly in one of the walls for evacuating air through the one-way valve assembly from the interior space defined by the vacuum-sealable bag such that the evacuated air is kept from reentering the vacuum-sealable bag through the one-way valve assembly, and 
 (iii) a closure mechanism configured to seal a mouth of the vacuum-sealable bag in an airtight manner; 
   (c) vacuum-sealing the one or more textile soft goods within the interior space of the vacuum-sealable bag such that the textile soft good is compressed, and containing the vacuum-sealable bag within an outer bag, the outer bag defining an interior containment space that is practically entirely consumed by the vacuum-sealable bag;   (d) identifying the textile soft good contained in the inner vacuum-sealable bag by physically associating printed media with the outer bag; and   (e) shipping to a retailer the vacuum-packed one or more textile soft goods contained in the retail packaging for sale by the retailer as a consumer product in the retail packaging.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said step (e) comprises shipping, to the retailer, the vacuum-packed one or more textile soft goods contained in the retail packaging with a plurality of other vacuum-packed textile soft goods contained in retail packaging for sale by the retailer as consumer products in their retail packaging 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said step (c) comprises vacuum-sealing textile soft goods that are received from different manufacturers within the interior space of the vacuum-sealable bag.