| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090173038 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EVACUATING STORAGE BAG - To enhance evacuation of a storage bag having a one-way valve element and to reduce noise during evacuation, a handheld evacuation device includes one or more gaskets that can be made of resilient material. A gasket can be disposed about the rim of an inlet opening of the evacuation device to provide both a leak-free interface between the evacuation device and the storage bag and to reduce vibration and chatter of the evacuation device against a rigid support surface. A gasket can also be provided intermediately between a main body portion of the evacuation device and a nozzle portion that is to be placed adjacent to the storage bag during use. The intermediate gasket isolates vibrations in the main body portion thereby reducing vibrations and chatter of the evacuation device against a rigid support surface. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090199724 | EVACUATION DEVICE - The evacuation device is configured to remove air from a container via a one-way valve element attached to the container. The evacuation device includes a motor with a rotating shaft that extends along an axis line. The shaft is operably interconnected to a reciprocating element reciprocally movable within a chamber along a direction parallel to the axis line. Reciprocal motion of the reciprocal element draws air into and exhausts air from the chamber. To facilitate the operable interconnection, the evacuation device includes a cam having a cylindrical sidewall mounted to the rotating shaft. Disposed circumferentially into the cylindrical sidewall is a channel. The evacuation device further includes a yoke connected to the reciprocal element and having a follower element received in the channel. Rotation of the cam causes the follower element to move with respect to the channel, thereby converting rotational motion to linear translation. The evacuation device may also include a pressure adjustment feature. In one embodiment, the pressure adjustment feature may include a rotating ring with a series of holes. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090200293 | MICROWAVABLE BAG OR SHEET MATERIAL - A microwavable material having a structure that may be used to enhance the browning and crisping, and thus improve the taste and appearance, of a food item cooked therein. The material may be in the form of a sheet material or formed as a container such as a bag, pouch, or other suitable structure. The material may comprise one or more features that help bring the material into close contact with the food item and help conform the bag around the food item. Furthermore, the material may comprise a structure that avoids substantial contact with liquid released by a food item, may have a venting system suitable for the exiting of moisture, may have a coating, a transparent surface, and when formed as a container, may have a gusseted surface. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090250457 | MICROWAVABLE BAG OR SHEET MATERIAL - A microwavable material having a structure that may be used to enhance the browning and crisping, and thus improve the taste and appearance, of a food item cooked therein. The material may be in the form of a sheet material or formed as a container such as a bag, pouch, or other suitable structure. The material may comprise one or more features that help bring the material into close contact with the food item and help conform the bag around the food item. Furthermore, the material may comprise a structure that avoids substantial contact with liquid released by a food item, may have a venting system suitable for the exiting of moisture, may have a coating, a transparent surface, and when formed as a container, may have a gusseted surface. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20100014789 | VACUUM STORAGE BAG - A vacuum storage bag providing an interior volume for storing food items in an evacuated condition has air flexible sidewalls made of a gas permeable material. The gas permeable sidewalls can be made of multiple layers including a heat sealing innermost layer and a relatively stronger, outwardly disposed gas permeable layer. The heat sealing layer can be low density polyethylene to facilitate forming of the bag with heat seals and the stronger gas permeable layer can be high density polyethylene to provide the bag with sufficient strength and toughness. In various embodiments, the storage bag can include interlocking closure strips for releasably closing an opening, a one-way vacuum valve for evacuating the interior volume, and a textured portion along one sidewall to facilitate evacuation. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100242407 | Valve Element - A one-way valve element for use with containers such as flexible storage bags includes an elastomeric or similar material that can elastically expand to expose and at least substantially resiliently recover to cover an aperture through a sidewall of the container. Hence, air from the interior volume of the container can be evacuated through the valve element by, for example, interfacing an evacuation device with the valve element. The valve element can be provided as a single layer structure or a multiple layered structure that is attached to the sidewall of the container over the aperture. In another aspect, a valve element includes a gel-like material retained in a valve body and that can displace to allow air flow across the valve. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110117307 | Discontinuously Laminated Film - Polymer films may be discontinuously laminated by processes such as adhesive bonding, ultrasonic bonding, embossing, ring rolling, and strainable network formation. The films may be prestretched under cold process conditions before lamination. The laminates have superior properties such as tear strength. The laminates may be incorporated into bags, such as trash bags. | 05-19-2011 |