POLYMERIC PACKAGE WITH RESEALABLE CLOSURE AND VALVE AND METHODS RELATING THERETO
The present invention provides a vacuum storage bag system having a storage device having at least one polymeric sheet sealed along a portion of its' periphery to provide an opening to a storage space; a resealable closure structure adapted to seal the opening to the storage space, the resealable closure structure comprising selectively engaging male and female profiles and a sealing compound comprising liquid silicone and at least one filler in proportions suitable for at least incidental contact to food items contained within the storage space; a vacuum valve assembly disposed on the polymeric sheet; a stand-off structure disposed adjacent to the vacuum valve assembly, wherein the stand-off structure has a series of raised surfaces facing the vacuum valve assembly; a portable vacuum pump assembly structured to engage the vacuum valve assembly; and a liquid separator assembly coupled to the portable vacuum pump assembly.
1 . An evacuable package comprising:
at least one polymeric sheet sealed along a portion of its periphery, thereby defining an evacuable package comprising an opening and an interior space;
a vacuum valve disposed on a first panel of the evacuable package, the vacuum valve being in fluid communication with the interior space and defining a sealable passage through which fluids may be drawn; and
a docking ring comprising an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the lower surface is attached to the first panel of the evacuable package, and wherein the inner surface circumscribes the vacuum valve, thereby defining a passageway communicable with the vacuum valve and an engagement end of a pump.
2 . The evacuable package of claim 1 , wherein the passageway is aligned relative to the vacuum valve so as to align the engagement end of the pump with the vacuum valve when the engagement end of the vacuum valve is interconnected with the docking ring.
3 . The evacuable package of claim 1 , wherein the docking ring comprises a first complementary aligning feature for receiving a second complementary aligning feature of the pump, wherein the first complementary feature restricts receipt of the engagement end of the pump into the receiving cavity unless the second complementary feature is aligned therewith.
4 . The evacuable package of claim 3 , wherein the first complementary aligning feature is one of a male member and a female member, and wherein the second complementary feature is the other of the male member and the female member.
5 . The evacuable package of claim 4 , wherein the first complementary feature is disposed on at least one of the outer surface and the upper surface of the docking ring.
6 . The evacuable package of claim 1 , wherein the docking ring comprises at least one thread adapted to receive and restrictively engage an engagement feature of the pump.
7 . The evacuable package of claim 6 , wherein the at least one thread is disposed on the inner surface of the docking ring.
8 . The evacuable package of claim 6 , wherein the at least one thread is disposed on the outer surface of the docking ring.
9 . The evacuable package of claim 6 , wherein the at least one thread comprises a downward taper.
10 . The evacuable package of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one rib attached to the first panel of the evacuable package, wherein the at least one rib is disposed within the passageway of the docking ring and extends towards the upper surface of the docking ring.
11 . The evacuable package of claim 10 , wherein the at least one rib is positioned with the passageway so as to physically engage a portion of the engagement end of the pump when the engagement end of the pump is interconnected with the docking ring.
12 . The evacuable package of claim 10 , wherein when the engagement end of the pump is in interconnected with the docking ring, a portion of the engagement end of the pump physically engages the ribs, wherein the ribs are pushed toward a second panel of the evacuable package, thereby defining a space between the vacuum valve and the second panel of the evacuable package.
13 . The evacuable package of claim 1 , further comprising:
a standoff structure coupled to one of the first panel and a second panel of the evacuable package, the standoff structure comprising a plurality of raised geometric surfaces defining channels for passage of fluids from the interior space of the evacuable package to the vacuum valve, wherein the channels face the interior surface of the first panel of the evacuable package.
14 . The evacuable package of claim 13 , further comprising:
a resealable closure attached to the opening of the evacuable package, the resealable closure comprising at least one set of interengaging profiles.
15 . The evacuable package of claim 14 , further comprising:
a caulking composition placed proximal to the interengaging profiles of the resealable closure.
16 . The evacuable package of claim 14 , wherein the caulking composition is placed on at least a first one of the interengaging profiles of the resealable closure.
17 . The evacuable package of claim 16 , further comprising a sealant stripe on the interior of at least one side panel of the evacuable package.
18 . The evacuable package of claim, 17 , wherein the sealant stripe is a peal seal.