Evacuable Firearm Enclosure

Abstract

The present invention provides a reusable, evacuable enclosure for a firearm designed to prevent corrosion and contamination to firearms and a method of using the same. The enclosure includes a storage bag having a front portion and a back portion enclosed at its edges with an open end providing access to an interior volume therebetween. The open end includes a fastener designed to operably seal the open end and the interior volume. The front portion includes a valve assembly having a valve base and a centrally located flange extending therefrom forming an opening therethrough that provides air passage to the interior volume. A vacuum source is placed against the centrally located flange to evacuate excess air from the interior volume through the opening. The opening is covered by a spring-biased diaphragm hingedly attached within the opening designed to allow air to pass through the opening in only one direction.

I claim: 
     
         1 ) A evacuable firearm enclosure configured to prevent corrosion to a firearm, comprising:
 a storage bag having a front portion and a back portion connected together along its edges thereof with an open end providing access to an interior volume between said front portion and said back portion;   said open end comprising a fastener designed to operably seal said open end and said interior volume;   a valve assembly attached on said front portion of said storage bag;   said valve assembly comprises a valve base having a centrally located flange extending therefrom;   said centrally located flange having a first end and a second end forming an opening therethrough;   wherein a vacuum source is configured to be placed against said centrally located flange to evacuate excess air from said interior volume through said opening;   said front portion and said back portion are substantially triangular-shaped.   
     
     
         2 ) The evacuable firearm enclosure configured to prevent corrosion to a firearm of  claim 1 , said fastener comprises a zip fastener. 
     
     
         3 ) The evacuable firearm enclosure configured to prevent corrosion to a firearm of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said opening on said first end of said centrally located flange comprises a rim and a spring-biased diaphragm that bears against the rim;   wherein said spring-biased diaphragm is configured to flex upward when the vacuum source applies suction to the opening.   
     
     
         4 ) The firearm vacuum-sealed storage bag of  claim 2 , wherein said second end of said centrally located flange comprises a hingedly attached lid configured to open and close said centrally located flange. 
     
     
         5 ) The firearm vacuum-sealed storage bag of  claim 4 , said valve base further comprises a plurality of vanes disposed on a bottom surface of said valve base in air communication with said defined interior volume;
 wherein said plurality of vanes are fin-like projections designed to prevent air obstruction of said opening.   
     
     
         6 ) The firearm vacuum-sealed storage bag of  claim 1 , wherein said front portion and said back portion further comprise a pair of handles configured to allow a user to carry said storage bag using their hands. 
     
     
         6 ) A method of providing storage and prevent corrosion to a firearm, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a firearm in an evacuable enclosure comprising a storage bag having a front portion and a back portion enclosed along its edges thereof with an open end providing access to an interior volume therebetween;   sealing said open end using a zip fastener configured to operably seal the open end and the interior volume of the storage bag;   placing a vacuum source against a centrally located flange having a first end and a second end forming an opening therethrough, wherein said centrally located flange extends outwardly from a valve base attached on said front portion and configured to provide air passage to the interior volume of storage bag;   extracting excess air from within the interior volume of the storage bag, wherein a spring-biased diaphragm hingedly attached within said opening at said second end is flexed upward from a rim of said opening at said second end, as suction from said vacuum source is applied to said opening;   returning said spring-biased diaphragm to said rim, wherein said spring-biased diaphragm blocks air passage through said opening of said centrally located flange as suction from said vacuum source is stopped;   fastening said first end of said centrally located flange using a lid hingedly attached to said first end, wherein said lid is configured to press down on said spring-biased diaphragm to bear against said rim to provide an airtight seal.