Sealed container and method of manufacturing

Abstract

The present invention relates to sealed containers or pouches. More specifically, the present invention relates to containers, such as flexible packages or bags wherein the containers or pouch can be compressed or evacuated to remove excess air, fluid or other gaseous content and then sealed in such compressed or evacuated arrangement.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 060,141 filed Jun. 10, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to sealed containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to containers, such as plastic bags wherein the containers can be compressed or evacuated to remove excess air, fluid or gaseous content and then sealed in such compressed or evacuated arrangement.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Bag like containers have been used to store a large number of materials. One drawback of these devices is that during the filing and sealing process, they tend to trap air, fluid or other gaseous materials within the confines of the container. This excess gaseous material can make it difficult to stack the containers and may also contributed to a reduction in the amount of product that can be stored, shelved or transporte...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]This invention provides a method for creating a more economical and effective way of preparing a container that can be effectively evacuated, yet one that can be effectively sealed against gaseous / fluid transmission with less risk of failure of the sealing mechanism.

Problems solved by technology

One drawback of these devices is that during the filing and sealing process, they tend to trap air, fluid or other gaseous materials within the confines of the container.

The presence of the gas can also contribute, in some instances, to reduced shelf life of the product due to spoilage.

Paper bags, due to the porous nature of the construction (formed from cellulosic stock), can allow trapped gases to escape after closure of the container, but this venting of the bag is a slow process.

Hence, spoilage of the contents can occur due to moisture or in the case of oxygen, oxidation of the contents.

Perforations have been heretofore added to the containers to facilitate the removal of excess gaseous contents, but again suffer in that these perforations allow later gaseous uptake by the container.

The result is spillage and loss of the overall content of the container.

This design suffers for at least two reasons.

First, creation of this flap and placement of the adhesive adds cost to the overall of the construction.

Secondly, the adhesive of this device can not have high peel strength or the flap will not open properly during the evacuation of the container.

This ability to easily open may also be a detriment to the container.

Whenever attempts have been made to increase the peel strength of the adhesive to a valve suited to eliminate inadvertent flap opening, the resultant device did not release properly during container evacuation.

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