Hinged Cover Valve for Polymeric Bag Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pressure relief valves for polymeric bags are complex, difficult to operate, and provide unsatisfactory sealing and venting properties, which hinders their utility in preventing spoilage of stored items by allowing air to accumulate.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a pressure relief valve with a cover member having an upper and lower layer, hingedly connected, which bends to allow air exit and then seals the opening, utilizing a seal line and surface modifications to enhance sealing, allowing efficient gas flow and prevention of re-entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current pressure relief valves are used, then air and gases can be removed from polymeric bags, but the valves are complicated to construct and difficult to operate with unsatisfactory sealing and venting properties
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure relief valve is segmented into distinct functional components: a valve body with a pressure relief opening, a hinged cover member with upper and lower layers, and a seal line. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while simplifying the overall construction and assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member is designed with a hinge connection that allows it to dynamically transition between closed (sealing) and open (venting) positions. The hinge mechanism enables automatic opening when pressure differential exceeds the seal force, and automatic closing when pressure equalizes, eliminating complex manual operation mechanisms.
2Reliability
If air is removed from polymeric bags to prevent spoilage, then storage life is extended, but air must be efficiently vented while maintaining sealed environment
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member utilizes flexible polymeric material that can deform under pressure differential. The flexible nature allows the cover to bend and open sufficiently for efficient gas flow when venting is required, while maintaining a tight seal when closed. The flexibility compensates for manufacturing tolerances and ensures reliable sealing without complex rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve opening and cover member geometry incorporate curved surfaces that facilitate smooth gas flow paths during venting. The curved seal line enhances sealing effectiveness by distributing contact pressure more evenly across the sealing interface, improving both sealing reliability and gas flow characteristics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides improved sealing and venting properties, allowing air to escape efficiently while maintaining a sealed environment, effectively extending the storage life of perishable items.
Implementation Method 1
the upper layer is hingedly connected at a first end to the lower layer
Implementation Method 2
when pressure is applied to the bag to open the pressure relief valve, a dimple is formed in the panel proximate the pressure relief valve the enhance the flow of air therefrom
Implementation Method 3
a seal line extending proximate the pressure relief opening. Particularly, the seal line at least partially attaches the first and second body panels of the bag together
Data Source
AI summary
Polymeric bag includes first and second opposing body panels attached to each other along a pair of opposing sides and a bottom bridging the sides, a reclosable fastener extending along a mouth formed opposite the bottom, a pressure relief opening defined in the first body panel, and a pressure relief valve attached to the first body panel. The valve includes a cover member to cover the opening. The cover member includes an upper layer and a lower layer, wherein the upper layer is connected at a first end to the lower layer. The lower layer includes a first portion attached to the body panel and a second contiguous portion not attached to the body panel. The first end of the upper layer is hingedly connected to the second portion of the lower layer. An additional aspect includes a seal line extending proximate the pressure relief opening.