Deaeration Valve for Compression Bag and Compression Bag with Deaeration Valve

Abstract

A dearation valve 1 for a compression bag comprising a main member 2 and a valve element wherein the main member is provided with a mounting plate 21 that comes into contact with the inner surface of a bag sheet B1. A valve mechanism 22 provided in the mounting plate 21 has a valve element support 23 and a deaeration hole 24 is provided in the valve element support 23. The valve element 3 is set by the engagement of a valve element side interlocking part 32 provided in the center of the valve element 3 with a main member side interlocking part 23b provided in the center of the valve element support 23. Since the interlocking parts engage with each other such that the valve element side interlocking part 32 can move in the longitudinal direction in relation to the valve seat side interlocking part 23b, the deaeration hole 24 can be closed off when the valve element 3 contacts the valve element support 23. When the valve element 3 is suctioned towards the front side, the valve element side interlocking part 32 moves towards the front side in relation to the valve seat side interlocking part 23b and a diaphragm 31 bends towards the front side, whereby the dearation hole 24 is opened.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a deaeration valve for a compression bag used to remove internal air, and to a compression bag with a deaeration valve.

BACKGROUND ART

Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,189

In conventional practice, compression bags are used to store articles such as bedding and clothing that become bulky due to contained air, and to compress and compact the stored articles by removing the internal air. One example of such a compression bag is a bag having the deaeration valve disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,189. In this example, a deaeration valve 101 is mounted on a bag made of a synthetic resin, wherein a fastener that can be opened and closed is provided to the opening. In this deaeration valve 101, a valve element 103 having a diaphragm 103a composed of a soft resin is mounted so as to cover a deaeration hole 102, as shown in FIG. 6. The valve element 103 is pressed on from above in the diagram by a cap 104 mounted on the deaeration valve 101, whereby the deaeration hole 102 is closed off by the diaphragm 103a of the valve element 103, and a vacuous state can be maintained inside the bag.

When the inside of the compression bag is deaerated, the cap 104 is removed, the tip of a nozzle 105 of an electric vacuum cleaner or a suction pump is fitted onto the deaeration valve 101 as illustrated, and suction is applied, whereby the air in the bag is removed from between the deaeration hole 102 and the diaphragm 103a of the valve element 103, which is suctioned and moved upward in the diagram.

However, in this deaeration valve 101, air is removed by the deformation of the diaphragm 103a as the only deformed part of the valve element 103. Problems therefore occur in that significant deaeration-related resistance is created and that the diaphragm 103a generates loud rattling noise.

After deaeration, the diaphragm 103a of the valve element 103 is pushed from above by the cap 104 mounted on the deaeration valve 101, whereby the diaphragm 103a comes into close contact with a contact surface 106 surrounding the deaeration hole 102 and prevents air from flowing back into the bag. In this case, however, the close contact is formed by two surfaces, and uneven pressure can cause gaps to form between the contact surface 106 and the diaphragm 103a over time, allowing air to flow back in and making it difficult to maintain a vacuous state inside the bag over a long period of time.

In view of these problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a deaeration valve for a compression bag and a compression bag that has the deaeration valve so that deaeration is made possible with relatively little resistance. Another object is to provide a deaeration valve for a compression bag and to provide a compression bag that has the deaeration valve so that a vacuous state can be maintained over a long period of time.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to resolve these problems, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application provides a deaeration valve 1 for a compression bag comprising a main member 2 provided with a deaeration hole 24 that extends from the front side through to the reverse side, and a valve element 3 disposed on the main member 2 so that the deaeration hole 24 can be closed off. The main member 2 comprises a flat mounting plate 21 that comes into contact with the inner surface of a bag sheet B1 that constitutes the compression bag. The mounting plate 21 comprises a valve mechanism 22 for disposing the valve element 3, and the valve mechanism 22 is provided with a valve element support 23 that has a contact surface 23a capable of coming into close contact with the valve element 3, and the deaeration hole 24. The valve element 3 is supported in the center of the valve element support 23 that has a diaphragm 31 as a portion of the valve element support 23. The diaphragm 31 faces the deaeration hole 24 and is at least configured from a soft material. The valve element 3 is supported on the valve element support 23 by the engagement of a valve element side interlocking part 32 provided in the center of the valve element 3 and a main member side interlocking part 23b provided in the center of the valve element support 23. The engagement allows the valve element side interlocking part 32 to move in the longitudinal direction in relation to the valve seat side interlocking part 23b. The valve element 3 is thereby made capable of moving in relation to the contact surface 23a of the valve element support 23. The deaeration hole 24 in the valve element support 23 can be closed off when the valve element 3 comes into close contact with the valve element support 23. When the valve element 3 is suctioned towards the front side by a vacuum source like a vacuum cleaner, the valve element side interlocking part 32 moves towards the front side in relation to the valve seat side interlocking part 23b while the diaphragm 31 bends towards the front side. This causes the deaeration hole 24 to be opened.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the deaeration valve for a compression bag according to claim 1 characterized in that the valve mechanism 22 has a cylindrical shape that passes through the mounting plate 21, and on the back end of the valve mechanism is disposed the valve element support 23 while the front end of the valve mechanism is open. A cap 4 for closing this opening can be mounted on the edge 26a of the open-side end. A pressure projection 23c is formed as part of the contact surface 23a of the valve element support 23, and protrudes in a ring shape so as to encircle the deaeration hole 24. The cap 4 is provided with a ring-shaped pressure part 41 that can push the valve element 3 against the pressure projection 23c while the cap is mounted on the edge 26a.

The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the deaeration valve for a compression bag according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in further comprising a presser plate 5 disposed facing the mounting plate 21 via the interposed bag sheet B1. The presser plate 5 is provided with a through-hole 51 through which air from the valve mechanism 22 can flow, and a convexity 52 formed in the front surface of the presser plate for maintaining a gap between the tip of a nozzle N of a vacuum source and the plate when the tip of the nozzle is brought into contact with the presser plate.

The invention according to claim 4 is the deaeration valve for a compression bag according to any of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the mounting plate 21 comprises baffle plates 25 that stand up towards the reverse side and extend in a radial pattern about the center of the mounting plate 21. The plates are curved in one direction with increased distance from the center of the mounting plate.

The invention according to claim 5 provides a compression bag wherein a space is formed inside the bag in an airtight manner by partially adhering overlaid bag sheets B1 made of a soft resin, and the deaeration valve 1 for a compression bag according to any of claims 1 to 4 is mounted on the bag sheet B1. The air inside the space of the bag can be removed through the valve mechanism 22 of the deaeration valve, and a deaerated state can be maintained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting a compression bag on which the deaeration valve of the present example is mounted;

FIG. 2A is a plan view depicting a main member of the deaeration valve of the present invention, FIG. 2B is a half cross-sectional view of the same as seen from the side (the cross section is along the line O-A in C), and FIG. 2C is an underside view of the same;

FIG. 3A is a plan view depicting a cap for the deaeration valve of the present example, FIG. 3B is a half cross-sectional view of the same as seen from the side, and FIG. 3C is an underside view of the same;

FIGS. 4A through 4C are cross-sectional views that depict the deaeration valve of the present example and that correspond to the line O-B in FIG. 2C, wherein FIG. 4A depicts the operation of the deaeration valve of the present example when the valve is closed, FIG. 4B depicts the operation of the valve element when the valve is opened, and FIG. 4C depicts the cap as being mounted;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are both perspective views depicting the presser plate used in the deaeration valve of the present example; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view depicting an example of a conventional deaeration valve.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An example of an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the diagrams. FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting a compression bag on which the deaeration valve of the present example is mounted, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram depicting the main member of the deaeration valve of the present example, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram depicting the operation of the valve element of the deaeration valve of the present example.

A deaeration valve 1 according to the present example is configured from a main member 2, a valve element 3, a cap 4, and a presser plate 5, as shown in FIG. 4. The deaeration valve 1 is used while mounted on a compression bag B inside which a sealable space is formed by partially adhering overlaid bag sheets B1 made of a soft resin, as shown in FIG. 1. For terms relating to positional relationships in the following descriptions, the direction towards the outside of the compression bag B is referred to as the “front side,” and the direction towards the inside is referred to as the “reverse side.”

The main member 2 comprises a flat mounting plate 21. In the present example, this plate has a discoid shape as shown in FIG. 2, but the shape is not limited thereto, and can be various other shapes, including an elliptical or a polygonal shape. With the deaeration valve 1 mounted on the bag sheet B1 that constitutes the compression bag B, the mounting plate 21 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the bag sheet B1 as shown in FIG. 4, and part of the surface of the mounting plate 21 is bonded to the bag sheet B1, which ensures that no air will leak out except through the deaeration hole 24, which is described later. Specifically, a through-hole, which is sufficiently large to allow only the side wall 26 of a cylindrical valve mechanism 22 described later to pass through, is formed in advance in the bag sheet B1 (not shown), and part of the side wall 26 of the valve mechanism 22 passes through this through-hole, forming an airtight bond between the periphery of the through-hole and the mounting plate 21.

The mounting plate 21 comprises a valve mechanism 22 for disposing the valve element 3. The valve mechanism 22 is provided in the center of the discoid mounting plate 21 in the present example.

This valve mechanism 22 is cylindrical in shape, having a side wall 26 that passes through the mounting plate 21. In the present example, the valve mechanism 22 is formed integrally with the mounting plate 21 in the substantial middle of the side wall 26 in the longitudinal direction. The front end of the valve mechanism 22 herein is open. The later-described cap 4 can be mounted over the edge 26a of this open end, which is the top end of the side wall 26 in the diagrams, in order to close the opening of this front end, as shown in FIG. 4C. A valve element support 23 is disposed at the back end of the valve mechanism 22. Communication is thereby created with the space inside the compression bag B, and the back end of the valve mechanism 22 is closed off, except for the deaeration hole 24 through which air passes during deaeration, and except the main member side interlocking part 23b used a hole for mounting the valve element 3 in the present example.

Next, the cap 4 to be mounted on the valve mechanism 22 is depicted in FIG. 3. A cover 42 having a substantially discoid shape is formed on the front side of the cap. An interlocking part 43, which is formed by bending the peripheral edge of the cover 42 downward, engages with the edge 26a of the valve mechanism 22, whereby the cap 4 is mounted on the valve mechanism 22, as shown in FIG. 4C. In the present example, the aforementioned interlocking part 43 is mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the side wall 26, but the design is not limited thereto, and various embodiments are possible, including one wherein the interlocking part 43 is mounted on the inner peripheral portion of the side wall 26, or one wherein the interlocking part 43 is mounted so as to be sandwiched between the inside and outside of the side wall 26.

In order to make the cover 42 of the present example easier to grasp with the fingers for removal from the valve mechanism 22, part of the cover 42 is made to protrude to form a catch 44.

A ring-shaped or cylindrical pressure part 41 is provided so as to protrude from the reverse surface of the cover 42. As will be described later, this pressure part 41 serves to reliably close off the deaeration hole 24 when the cap 4 is mounted on the valve mechanism 22. This is accomplished by the pushing of the end 41a of the pressure part 41 on the valve element 3. This operation will be described later.

The cap 4 also acts to keep out dust and the like, but more important is its function of reliable closing of the deaeration hole 24 with the pressure part 41. Accordingly, as long as the shape is one that guarantees this function, various embodiments are possible. For example, the embodiment may be one in which a hole is formed in the cover 42, or one in which interlocking parts 43 are provided intermittently instead of around the entire periphery of the cover 42.

The valve element support 23 of the valve mechanism 22 is provided with a main member side interlocking part 23b for mounting the valve element 3, and a deaeration hole 24 through which air passes during deaeration. In the present example, the main member side interlocking part 23b is provided in the center of the valve element support 23, and is a hole for disposing a valve element side interlocking part 32 as part of the valve element 3. The deaeration hole 24 is provided around the periphery of the main member side interlocking part 23b, which is described above.

The shape of the deaeration hole 24 in the present example is annular, as shown in FIG. 2A. As shown in the diagrams in the present example, parts of the later-described baffle plates 25 are elongated to support the main member side interlocking part 23b, and the areas outside the elongated baffle plates 25 constitute the deaeration hole 24, but the shape of the deaeration hole 24 is not limited thereto. Various embodiments are possible, such as forming multiple small holes or forming slit-shaped holes extending in the radial direction of the circumferential direction.

As the front surface of the valve element support 23, the surface around the deaeration hole 24 constitutes a contact surface 23a. This contact surface 23a is in close contact with a diaphragm 31, which is a portion surrounding the valve element 3, making it possible for the deaeration hole 24 to be closed off. In the present example, part of the contact surface 23a is formed into a pressure projection 23c that protrudes in a ring shape so as to enclose the deaeration hole 24 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. When the cap 4 is mounted on the edge 26a of the valve mechanism 22, airtightness is preserved between the pressure projection 23c and the valve element 3 since the valve element 3 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the end 41a of the pressure part 41 provided to the cap 4 and the pressure projection 23c in the contact surface 23a, as shown in FIG. 4C.

Specifically, the dimension L1 of the pressure part 41 in the cap 4 (see FIG. 3B) is somewhat larger than the distance L2 (see FIG. 4A) from the end of the front side of the valve mechanism 22 to the front surface of the diaphragm 31 of the valve element 3 when the cap 4 is mounted. When the cap 4 is being mounted on the valve mechanism 22, the valve element 3 somewhat deforms while sandwiched between the end 41a of the pressure part 41 and the pressure projection 23c in the contact surface 23a, as shown in FIG. 4C.

In the deaeration valve disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,189, which is an example of a conventional deaeration valve, the surfaces between the contact surface 106 and the diaphragm 103a of the valve element 103 come into close contact with each other, as shown in FIG. 6. Because of the unevenness in the pressure surface, gaps could be created between the contact surface 106 and the diaphragm 103a, allowing air to flow back in and making it difficult to maintain a deaerated state in the bag over a long period of time. In the present invention, however, the possibility of air flowing back in is lower than in the prior art, air can be effectively prevented from flowing back into the bag, and a deaerated state can be maintained in the bag for a long period of time because the diaphragm 31 of the valve element 3 and the pressure projection 23c form a close linear contact around the entire periphery by the pressure projection 23c and the end 41a of the pressure part 41 in the cap 4, as described above.

Next, baffle plates 25 are provided in the reverse side of the mounting plate 21, and these baffle plates stand up towards the reverse side (towards the inner side of the compression bag 1), and extend in a radial pattern about the center of the mounting plate 21 as shown in FIG. 2C, and curve in one direction at locations farther away from the center. In the present example, the baffle plates extend from the center of the mounting plate 21 partway along the radial direction of the mounting plate 21 as illustrated, and then gradually begin to curve in the circumferential direction. The height at which the baffle plates stand up from the reverse surface of the mounting plate 21 decreases at positions closer towards the outer periphery, as shown in FIG. 2B.

Providing baffle plates 25 thus configured has the following result. Namely, among the air currents removed from indise the compression bag 1, the air currents F1 flowing in a direction along the mounting plate 21 as shown in FIG. 2B are guided to the deaeration hole 24 along the baffle plates 25 as shown in FIG. 2C, and deaeration with relatively little resistance is therefore made possible. Also, the presence of the baffle plates 25 prevents situations in which the bag sheet B1 positioned on the reverse side of the deaeration valve 1 is drawn in, the deaeration hole 24 is closed off from the reverse side, and deaeration becomes impossible before the process is completed.

The valve element 3 is supported in the center of the valve element support 23, and at least the diaphragm 31, which is a portion that faces the deaeration hole 24 of the valve element support 23, is configured from a soft material. The valve element 3 is integrally molded from silicon rubber or another such rubber-based resin, the outside of which is formed into the shape of a mushroom, and the discoid portion that forms an “umbrella” constitutes the diaphragm 31. The portion that forms a “stem” protruding from the middle of the diaphragm 31 to the reverse side constitutes the valve element side interlocking part 32.

The shape of the valve element 3 is such that the diaphragm 31 is a discoid in the present example, but the shape is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made, including an elliptical shape as seen in a plan view, and a “clover” shape in which a slit is cut in the radial direction of the diaphragm 31.

The valve element 3 is supported on the valve element support 23 by the interlocking between the valve element side interlocking part 32 provided in the center of the valve element 3, and the main member side interlocking part 23b provided in the center of the valve element support 23. Specifically, the valve element side interlocking part 32 described above is inserted into the main member side interlocking part 23b, which is a hole provided to the valve element support 23 of the main member 2 as described above, whereby the valve element is mounted on the valve element support 23 as shown by all of the diagrams in FIG. 4.

The valve element side interlocking part 32 herein comprises a shaft 32a, which is smaller in diameter than the hole diameter of the main member side interlocking part 23b, and a widened part 32b, which is provided at the head of the shaft 32a and is larger in diameter than the hole diameter of the main member side interlocking part 23b. The valve element 3 is thereby not likely to come loose after the valve element 3 is mounted on the main member side interlocking part 23b. The dimension of the shaft 32a in the longitudinal direction is greater than the dimension of the main member side interlocking part 23b in the thickness direction, then the valve element side interlocking part 32 is gently interlocked with the main member side interlocking part 23b. The valve element side interlocking part 32 is thereby made capable of moving in the longitudinal direction in relation to the valve seat side interlocking part 23b. This longitudinal direction is also the axial direction of the shaft 32a, i.e., the direction that is substantially orthogonal to the diaphragm 31.

The aforementioned range of movement is about 1 mm in the present example. A large range of movement allows for smooth deaeration, but if the range is too big, it may not be possible for the valve element 3 to remain in close contact with the pressure projection 23c after deaeration is complete, so the range is therefore preferably 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

With the configuration described above, the reverse surface 31a of the diaphragm 31 forms a linear contact with the entire periphery of the contact surface 23a of the valve element support 23 as shown in FIG. 4A, or with the pressure projection 23c in the present example, whereby the deaeration hole 24 is closed off without any passage of air.

When the tip of a nozzle N of a vacuum source like an electric vacuum cleaner or a suction pump is fitted onto the top of the deaeration valve 1 for deaeration, the valve element side interlocking part 32 of the valve element 3 is pulled out to the front by the suction of the vacuum cleaner or the like as shown in FIG. 4B, the diaphragm 31 bends towards the front side, the deaeration hole 24 is opened, and an air current F2 passes through. Enabling the valve element side interlocking part 32 to move in the longitudinal direction, as in the present invention, instead of opening the deaeration hole 24 by merely deforming the diaphragm 31, as in conventional practice, allows for deaeration with less resistance by reliably opening the deaeration hole a full 360°. The diaphragm 31 is also prevented from producing a rattling noise during deaeration.

After deaeration is complete, the valve element 3 returns to the state shown in FIG. 4A, but at this time, since inside of the bag has been deaerated to a state of negative pressure and outside of the bag is in a state of positive pressure, the valve element 3 is brought into close contact with the pressure projection 23c as a result of this pressure difference. Accordingly, a deaerated state is preserved inside the bag even if the cap 4 is not mounted as shown in FIG. 4C.

In the deaeration valve 1 of the present example, the presser plate 5 is disposed facing the mounting plate 21 across the interposed bag sheet B1, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. This presser plate 5 is provided with a through-hole 51 that allows part of the side wall 26 of the above-described valve mechanism 22 to pass through, enabling the passage of air that has passed through the deaeration hole 24. This presser plate 5 may be coated with an adhesive on the reverse side and attached to the bag sheet B1 on the front side of the mounting plate 21, or, as shown in FIG. 5B, pawls 53 may be formed so as to protrude into the through-hole 51, and the presser plate 5 may be disposed on the mounting plate 21 by interlocking these pawls 53 with the side wall 26 of the valve mechanism 22.

Depending on the embodiment, the presser plate 5 may not be provided.

When the tip of the nozzle N of a vacuum cleaner is brought into contact with the front surface of the presser plate 5 as shown in FIG. 4B, a convexity 52 is formed to maintain a gap between this tip and the presser plate 5. In the present example, this convexity 52 is provided in a somewhat curved radial formation and is formed with a height of 1.5 mm from the front surface. The height of the convexity 52 is preferably equal to or greater than 1.5 mm.

When the tip of the nozzle N is fitted onto the presser plate 5 for deaeration, a gap proportionate to the height of the convexity 52 is formed under the tip of the nozzle N as shown in FIG. 4B, and air flows into the nozzle N through this gap as well (the air current F3 in FIG. 4B).

Many vacuum cleaners that are commercially available are equipped with a function which, for safety purposes, automatically reduces the rotational speed of the motor to reduce suction force when the suction force has increased. In cases in which an electric vacuum cleaner having a function for reducing suction force is used and the tip of the nozzle N is brought into close contact with the presser plate 5 without any gaps, this function automatically takes effect and sometimes the time required for suction is increased due to the reduction in suction force. In cases in which the convexity 52 is formed on the front surface of the presser plate 5, as in the present example, air outside of the bag can flow in during a suctioning operation as the air current F3 through the gap between the convexity 52 and the tip of the nozzle N. Accordingly, the rotational speed of the motor is constant throughout the entire process of deaeration of the bag, and suction can therefore be accomplished safely in a short amount of time without any increase in the suction pressure.

With an electric vacuum cleaner that is not equipped with a functional control for reducing suction force as described above, there is a possibility that the motor will be damaged due to overloading where the suctioning operation continues even after the bag has been completely deaerated. However, in cases in which a convexity 52 is formed in the front surface of the presser plate 5 as in the present example, air outside the bag can flow in as the air current F3 through the gap between the convexity 52 and the tip of the nozzle N after the bag has been completely deaerated, allowing for stable deaeration without overloading, as described above.

The deaeration valve 1 configured as described above is used while mounted on a compression bag B inside which a sealable space is formed by adhering the periphery of overlaid bag sheets B1 made of a soft resin by heat sealing or other such means, as shown in FIG. 1. This compression bag B is provided with an opening B2 for inserting and taking out stored articles, and the opening B2 is provided with an airtightly closable fastener B3.

When this compression bag B is used, the fastener B3 is closed after articles are stored inside, the cap 4 mounted on the valve mechanism 22 is then removed, the tip of the nozzle N of an electric vacuum cleaner is fitted onto the front surface of the presser plate 5 as shown in FIG. 4B, and the air inside the bag is removed through the deaeration hole 24. The valve element 3 and the contact surface 23a (the pressure projection 23c) of the valve mechanism 22 are designed so that the valve element 3 and the pressure projection 23c are brought into close contact with each other by the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the bag in the deaerated state, and this state can therefore be maintained. Mounting the cap 4 on the edge 26a of the valve mechanism 22 makes it possible to further improve the close contact by sandwiching the valve element 3 between the end 41a of the pressure part 41 and the pressure projection 23c in the contact surface 23a while the valve element is somewhat deformed, as shown in FIG. 4C. Accordingly, a deaerated state can be maintained over a longer period of time.

The present invention has the following superior effects.

In the invention according to claim 1, a deaeration valve for a compression bag is provided in which the valve element side interlocking part 32 is capable of moving in the longitudinal direction, whereby the deaeration hole is opened a full 360° more reliably to minimize deaeration resistance than when the deaeration hole 24 is opened merely by deforming the diaphragm 31, as in the prior art. Also, the diaphragm 31 does not generate rattling noise during deaeration.

The invention according to claim 2 has the following effects in addition to those described above. A deaeration valve for a compression bag is provided so that part of the contact surface 23a of the valve element support 23 is formed into a pressure projection 23c that protrudes in a ring shape so as to encircle the deaeration hole 24. This allows the diaphragm 31 of the valve element 3 and the pressure projection 23c to form a close linear contact around the entire periphery by the pressure projection 23c and the end 41a of the pressure part 41 in the cap 4. Therefore, the possibility that air will flow back in is lower than in conventional practice, air can be effectively prevented from flowing back in, and a deaerated state can be maintained in the bag for a long period of time.

The invention according to claim 3 has the following effects in addition to the effects of the invention in claims 1 and 2. A convexity 52 for maintaining a gap between the tip of the nozzle N of the vacuum cleaner and the presser plate 5 is formed in the front surface, whereby a gap proportionate to the height of the convexity 52 is formed under the tip of the nozzle N, and air flows into the nozzle N through the gap.

Accordingly, in cases in which an electric vacuum cleaner is used that is equipped with a function for automatically reducing the rotational speed of the motor to reduce suction force when the suction pressure has increased, the rotational speed of the motor remains constant throughout the entire process of deaeration of the bag, and suction can therefore be accomplished safely in a short amount of time without any increase in the suction pressure. With an electric vacuum cleaner that is not equipped with a function for reducing suction force as described above, the deaeration process can still be performed safely without the motor overloading.

The invention according to claim 4 has the following effects in addition to the effects of the invention in any of claims 1 through 3. The mounting plate 21 is provided with baffle plates 25, whereby air currents F1 removed from inside the deaeration valve 1 and caused to flow along the mounting plate 21 are conducted to the deaeration hole 24 while rotating, and deaeration with relatively little resistance is therefore made possible. It is also possible to prevent circumstances in which the bag sheet B1 located on the reverse side of the deaeration valve 1 is drawn in and the deaeration hole 24 is closed off from the reverse side, making deaeration impossible to complete.

Claims

1. A deaeration valve (1) for a compression bag, comprising:

a main member (2) provided with a deaeration hole (24) that extends from the front side through to the reverse side; and

a valve element (3) disposed on the main member (2) so that the deaeration hole (24) can be closed off,

wherein the main member (2) comprises a flat mounting plate (21) that comes into contact with the inner surface of a bag sheet (B1) that constitutes the compression bag, said mounting plate (21) comprising a valve mechanism (22) for disposing the valve element (3), the valve mechanism (22) being provided with a valve element support (23) that has a contact surface (23a) capable of coming into close contact with the valve element (3) and said deaeration hole (24); and

the valve element (3) is supported in the center of the valve element support (23) that has a diaphragm (31) as a portion thereof, the diaphragm (31) facing the deaeration hole (24) and at least being configured from a soft material, said valve element (3) being supported on the valve element support (23) by the engagement of a valve element side interlocking part (32) provided in the center of the valve element (3) and a main member side interlocking part (23b) provided in the center of the valve element support (23), the engagement allowing the valve element side interlocking part (32) to move in the longitudinal direction in relation to the valve seat side interlocking part (23b);

the valve element (3) is thereby made capable of moving in relation to the contact surface (23a) of the valve element support (23), wherein the deaeration hole (24) can be closed off when the valve element (3) comes into close contact with the valve element support (23); and

when the valve element (3) is suctioned towards the front side by a vacuum source like a vacuum cleaner, the valve element side interlocking part (32) moves towards the front side in relation to the valve seat side interlocking part (23b) while the diaphragm (31) bends towards the front side, whereby the deaeration hole (24) is opened.

2. The deaeration valve for a compression bag according to claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism (22) has a cylindrical shape that passes through the mounting plate (21), on the back end of the valve mechanism being disposed the valve element support (23) while the front end of the valve mechanism is open, wherein a cap (4) for closing this opening can be mounted on the edge (26a) of the open-side end,

wherein a pressure projection (23c) is formed as part of the contact surface (23a) of the valve element support (23), the pressure projection protruding in a ring shape so as to encircle the deaeration hole (24); and

the cap (4) is provided with a ring-shaped pressure part (41) that can push the valve element (3) against the pressure projection (23c) with the cap being mounted on the edge (26a).

3. The deaeration valve for a compression bag according to claim 1, further comprising a presser plate (5) disposed facing the mounting plate (21) across the interposed bag sheet (B1), wherein the presser plate (5) is provided with a through-hole (51) through which air from the valve mechanism (22) can flow, and a convexity (52) formed in the front surface thereof for maintaining a gap between the tip of the nozzle (N) of a vacuum source and the presser plate (5) when the tip of the nozzle is brought into contact with the presser plate (5).

4. The deaeration valve for a compression bag according to claim 1, wherein the mounting plate (21) comprises baffle plates (25) that stand up towards the reverse side and extend in a radial pattern about the center of the mounting plate (21), the baffle plates being curved in one direction with increased distance from said center.

5. A compression bag wherein a space is formed inside thereof in an airtight manner by partially adhering overlaid bag sheets (B1) made of a soft resin, and the deaeration valve (1) for a compression bag according to claim 1 is mounted on the bag sheet (B1), whereby the air inside the space of the bag can be removed through the valve mechanism (22) of the deaeration valve, and a deaerated state can be maintained.

6. The deaeration valve for a compression bag according to claim 2, further comprising a presser plate (5) disposed facing the mounting plate (21) across the interposed bag sheet (B1), wherein the presser plate (5) is provided with a through-hole (51) through which air from the valve mechanism (22) can flow, and a convexity (52) formed in the front surface thereof for maintaining a gap between the tip of the nozzle (N) of a vacuum source and the presser plate (5) when the tip of the nozzle is brought into contact with the presser plate (5).

7. The deaeration valve for a compression bag according to claim 2, wherein the mounting plate (21) comprises baffle plates (25) that stand up towards the reverse side and extend in a radial pattern about the center of the mounting plate (21), the baffle plates being curved in one direction with increased distance from said center.

8. The deaeration valve for a compression bag according to claim 3, wherein the mounting plate (21) comprises baffle plates (25) that stand up towards the reverse side and extend in a radial pattern about the center of the mounting plate (21), the baffle plates being curved in one direction with increased distance from said center.

9. A compression bag wherein a space is formed inside thereof in an airtight manner by partially adhering overlaid bag sheets (B1) made of a soft resin, and the deaeration valve (1) for a compression bag according to claim 2 is mounted on the bag sheet (B11), whereby the air inside the space of the bag can be removed through the valve mechanism (22) of the deaeration valve, and a deaerated state can be maintained.

10. A compression bag wherein a space is formed inside thereof in an airtight manner by partially adhering overlaid bag sheets (B1) made of a soft resin, and the deaeration valve (1) for a compression bag according to claim 3 is mounted on the bag sheet (B1), whereby the air inside the space of the bag can be removed through the valve mechanism (22) of the dearation valve, and a deaerated state can be maintained.

11. A compression bag wherein a space is formed inside thereof in an airtight manner by partially adhering overlaid bag sheet (B1) made of a soft resin, and the deaeration valve (1) for a compression bag according to claim 4 is mounted on the bag sheet (B1), whereby the air inside the space of the bag can be removed through the valve mechanism (22) of the deaeration valve, and a deaerated state can be maintained.