Reclosable Bag Venting Double Zipper Air Evacuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Reclosable storage bags face challenges in maintaining the freshness of contents due to air trapped inside after closure, which can lead to bacterial growth, and existing solutions with additional zippers complicate the removal of excess air.
Innovation Solution
A reclosable storage bag design featuring first and second closure members with interlocking profiles and a venting system, including flanges with venting apertures and a valve, allowing for enhanced sealing while enabling air evacuation after the bag is sealed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If first and second zippers are added to improve sealing capacity, then sealing capability is improved, but air removal becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is segmented into multiple functional components: first and second zippers for sealing, and a separate valve mechanism for air removal. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction by providing both enhanced sealing capability through dual zippers and easy air removal through the dedicated valve.
Solution Approach 2:
A valve acts as an intermediary component between the sealed interior and exterior environments. The valve provides a controlled pathway for air removal that does not compromise the sealing function of the zippers, allowing air evacuation while maintaining the integrity of the dual-zipper sealing system.
2Ease of operation
If a single zipper is used for closure, then air removal is simple, but sealing capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is segmented into multiple functional components: first and second zippers for sealing, and a separate valve mechanism for air removal. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction by providing both enhanced sealing capability through dual zippers and easy air removal through the dedicated valve.
3Reliability
If the bag is sealed tightly to preserve contents, then freshness is maintained, but trapped air promotes bacterial growth
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is designed to enable preliminary air removal before final sealing. Users can open the valve to evacuate air from the bag interior, then close the valve and engage the zippers to create an airtight seal. This preliminary action of air removal eliminates the harmful factor of trapped air that would otherwise promote bacterial growth, while the subsequent tight sealing maintains content freshness.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve mechanism converts the potentially harmful trapped air into a removable element. By providing a dedicated air evacuation pathway, the system transforms the problem of air entrapment into a controllable process, allowing users to actively remove air that would otherwise promote bacterial growth, while maintaining the benefits of tight sealing for content preservation.
Data Source
AI summary
A reclosable storage bag and zipper tape for use in conjunction with same is disclosed. The reclosable bag includes first and second panels which are sealed about bottom, left, and right edges leaving an open top. The closure system further includes first and second closure assemblies or zippers which can be individually or simultaneously closed to seal the contents within the bag. Even after the first and second zippers are engaged thereby closing the bag, excess air within the bag can be removed simply be manually compressing the bag and thereby forcing the air through the vent apertures provided between the zippers. A valve internal to the closure system may be provided proximate the vent apertures and open upon sufficient application of pressure thereby allowing for air to be evacuated from the bag.