[0001] The present invention relates to a valve for containers adapted to under-vacuum packaging
of products and to a container or bag for under-vacuum packaging of products provided
with such a valve.
[0002] In detail, the present invention is particularly used in the storage field for packaging
any type of products requiring to remain in a substantially under-vacuum environment.
The present invention therefore can be used both with reference to conservation of
particular types of food, and as regards holding of any other product or article to
be packaged, such as the linen of a house the great bulkiness of which is greatly
reduced due to the difference of volume between the article under use conditions and
the same article from which air has been drawn (see quilts, bathrobes and the like,
for example).
[0003] It is known that said containers or bags for packaging goods under vacuum normally
have a holding envelope defining a respective housing space provided with an access
opening for introduction and extraction of one or more products. At the access opening,
these containers are usually provided with appropriate sealing means capable of hermetically
isolating the housing space from the surrounding atmosphere. In order to enable the
air present in the housing space to be sucked while at the same time ensuring an airtight
sealing of same, these containers are further provided with a suction valve exclusively
set to allow one-way flowing of the air, from the housing space to the surrounding
atmosphere.
[0004] In particular, the above mentioned valves comprise a base body to be engaged with
the envelope of the respective container and defining an air-sucking duct therein.
Operatively engaged at the sucking duct is a closing element that, following suction
of the air present in the container, allows transit of said air from the container
to the outside and, when suction is stopped, obstructs the passage channel avoiding
the air going back into the housing space.
[0005] One type of known suction valves (among the great number presently on the market)
further comprises an auxiliary body associable with the base body by restrained fitting.
The auxiliary body better defines the air-sucking duct in which the closing element
operates, said element being therefore confined between the base body and said auxiliary
body. On the opposite side with respect to the base body and at the sucking duct,
the auxiliary body further has a substantially cylindrical attachment flange, to be
engaged by interference with a respective closing plug that is set to close the end
of the passage channel opposite to the base body.
[0006] Before carrying out suction of the air through the suction valve, the access opening
of the container or bag is sealed by the above mentioned closing means that usually
consists of an appropriate closing hinge. The closing hinge is currently made up of
two closing portions different in structure and internally fastened to opposite walls
of the container, so that, following engagement of a closing portion onto the other,
they fit into each other in a permanent manner.
[0007] Each closing portion of known hinges, as usual, is generally provided with seats
and snap-fitting protrusions susceptible of mutual cooperation. Normally, the number
of the seats and fitting protrusions is greater on one of the two closing portions
so as to supply a wide engagement region for the other closing portion.
[0008] While known containers or bags for under-vacuum packaging of products allow satisfactory
holding of the same, they however have some drawbacks, mainly in relation to maintenance
of airtightness in the containers themselves, and conservation of the product contained
therein.
[0009] More specifically, the structure of the suction valves does not ensure an optimal
isolation of the housing space from the surrounding atmosphere. In fact, these containers
can be submitted to possible air seepage usually taking place as a result of malfunction
of the sealing system partly made up of the valve itself. In detail, the closing element
present in the sucking duct of each valve keeps the housing space of said container
hermetically isolated from the surrounding atmosphere, through the thrust action taking
place on the closing element following the vacuum present in the container. In other
words, the closing element is capable of obstructing the sucking duct only in the
presence of a great pressure difference between the housing space of the respective
container and the surrounding atmosphere, which difference keeps the closing element
pressed against the base body blocking the sucking duct end facing the container.
Obviously, the longer the storage time of the contained product is, the more the closing
element is likely to allow the outer air to penetrate into the housing space thus
re-establishing the original conditions.
[0010] Still with reference to airtightness of these containers, the presence of closing
hinges consisting of closing portions different in structure from each other increases
the likelihood that air seepages may occur. In detail, this drawback is due to the
fact that, since these closing portions are of different structure, they are made
by distinct machinery and extrusion dies which are clearly submitted to different
environmental factors, such as humidity, temperature and so on. These factors affect
the sizes of the obtained closing portions in a different manner and have a different
incidence on the airtightness of the hinges they form.
[0011] In addition, it will be recognised that use of two extrusion dies for making the
closing hinges concurrently with the presence of suction valves made up of many structural
elements gives rise to high production costs for the container, which costs directly
affect the selling prises of the latter.
[0012] The main aim of the present invention is to ensure an optimal airtightness of the
containers for under-vacuum packaging of products by arranging a suction valve and
a closing hinge that are reliable in terms of airtight sealing and consequently in
terms of conservation of the products contained therein.
[0013] It is a further aim of the invention to provide containers for under-vacuum packaging
of products that are capable of maintaining their vacuum state unchanged in time thereby
allowing elimination of periodic inspections or controls for ascertaining the container
conditions.
[0014] Another aim of the invention is to greatly reduce the container costs by intervening
both on the number of components forming the suction valves and on the number of the
extrusion dies required for manufacturing the closing hinges.
[0015] The foregoing and further aims that will become more apparent in the course of the
following description are substantially achieved by a valve, in particular for containers
adapted to under-vacuum packaging of products, and by a container or a bag for under-vacuum
packaging of products, which have the features set out in the claims.
[0016] Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description
of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a valve for containers adapted to
under-vacuum packaging of products, and of a container or a bag for under-vacuum packaging
of said products, in accordance with the present invention. This description will
be taken hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures given by way of non-limiting
example, in which:
- Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a valve, in particular for containers adapted
to under-vacuum packaging of products, in accordance with the present invention;
- Fig. 2 is a section of the valve seen in the preceding figure in an open condition
and taken along line X-X in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3 is a section of the valve seen in the preceding figures in a closed condition
and taken along line X-X in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a container for under-vacuum packaging of products,
provided with the valve shown in the preceding figures;
- Fig. 5 is a cross-section of a closing hinge of the container shown in Fig. 4.
[0017] With reference to the drawings, a valve, in particular for under-vacuum packaging
of products, in accordance with the present invention has been generally identified
by reference numeral 1.
[0018] As shown in the drawings and in particular in Fig. 4, valve 1 is in engagement with
a container 2 comprising a holding envelope 3. The holding envelope 3 is preferably
made of a deformable and impermeable material such as a plastic material. The holding
casing 3 defines a housing space 4 capable of receiving one or more products (not
shown) to be packaged. This holding envelope 3 is further provided with at least one
access opening 5 for introduction and/or extraction of the concerned products. The
access opening 5 is set to be hermetically closed to allow isolation of the housing
space 4 from the surrounding atmosphere when suction of the air present in container
2 is required, which operation is carried out by suitable suction means (not shown
as known by itself) to be operatively engaged with valve 1.
[0019] To ensure an airtight isolation of the housing space 4 and the product contained
therein from the surrounding atmosphere, container 2 comprises at least one closing
hinge 6 operating close to the access opening 5. As shown in Fig. 5, the closing hinge
6 comprises a first and a second closing portions 7, 8 internally engaged with container
2, on opposite walls 2a, 2b of the latter.
[0020] In detail, each closing portion 7, 8 extends on the respective wall 2a, 2b over the
whole transverse extension, and comprises at least one support structure 7a, 8a for
engagement with a corresponding wall 2a, 2b of container 2. The support structure
7a, 8a of each closing portion 7, 8 preferably has a substantially flattened shape
facilitating engagement of same, for example by a heat-sealing operation, with the
respective wall 2a, 2b of container 2.
[0021] Each closing portion 7, 8 further comprises at least one fitting structure 7b, 8b
integral with the respective support structure 7a, 8a and facing the opposite closing
portion 7, 8, so that it may possibly interact with a respective fitting structure
7b, 8b of the latter to ensure a hermetic closure of the access opening 5.
[0022] The fitting structure 7b, 8b of each closing portion 7, 8 has at least one fitting
seat 7c, 8c extending over the whole extension of the closing portion and at least
one fitting protrusion 7d, 8d jutting out of the fitting structure 7b, 8b and also
extending substantially over the same length as that of the fitting seat 7c, 8c.
[0023] According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, it is preferred to have the closing
portions 7, 8 of the closing hinge 6 identical with each other in structure so that
they can be manufactured by the same extrusion die or similar machine.
[0024] Preferably, each closing portion 7, 8 has two fitting seats 7c, 8c that are substantially
parallel to each other and three fitting protrusions 7d, 8d that are substantially
parallel and alternated with the fitting seats. More specifically, each fitting seat
7c, 8c seen in cross-section has a substantially rounded outline of a substantially
circular extension the width of which progressively narrows away from the respective
support structure 7a, 8a. Likewise, the fitting protrusions 7d, 8d too seen in cross-section
have a substantially rounded outline of a substantially circular extension, narrowing
close to the support structure 7a, 8a. In other words, the shape of the fitting seats
7c, 8d matches that of the fitting protrusions 7d, 8d to ensure a perfect fitting
of the closing portions 7, 8 of said closing hinge 6.
[0025] As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the above mentioned valve 1 comprises a base body 9 to
be hermetically engaged with the envelope 3 of container 2 and defining, in said container,
at least one sucking duct 10 of the air present therein.
[0026] Valve 1 further comprises at least one closing element 11 operatively associated
with the base element 9 to act at the sucking duct 10. The closing element 11 is movable
between an open position (Fig. 2) at which suction of the air present within container
2 is allowed through the sucking duct 10, and a closed position (Fig. 3), at which
the sucking duct 10 is obstructed by the closing element itself.
[0027] Still with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, valve 1 further comprises at least one locking
element 12 operatively in engagement with the base body 9 and movable between a first
position (Fig. 2) at which the closing element 11 is free to remain in the open position
and/or in the closed position, and a second position (Fig. 3) at which the locking
element 12 is active on the closing element 11 to keep the latter to the closed position.
[0028] In more detail, the locking element 12 ensures hermetic seal of the sucking duct
10 by the closing element 11 when the locking element is in the second position.
[0029] The above mentioned base body 9 of valve 1 is susceptible of engagement with the
envelope 3 of the respective container 2 by means of at least one substantially flat
adhesion portion 9a that is directly welded, preferably by at least one heat-sealing
operation, internally of a wall 2a, 2b of the container itself.
[0030] In order to facilitate engagement of valve 1 with the envelope 3 of the respective
container 2, the adhesion portion 9a of the base body 9 has, at the area destined
to welding, one or more surface projections 9b substantially extending parallel to
each other. As shown in Fig. 1, the base body 9 has two (or even more) surface projections
9b of circular extension and concentric with each other.
[0031] In addition, the base body 9 is preferably of a plate-like shape with a substantially
disc-shaped conformation so that the adhesion portion 9a corresponds to one of the
two surfaces of the base body facing the locking element 12.
[0032] Valve 1 further comprises permanent coupling means 13 operatively interposed between
the base body 9 and locking element 12 to maintain the latter linked to the base body
9 both in the first and in the second positions.
[0033] In detail, the permanent coupling means 13 comprises a first abutment element 14
associated with the locking element 12 and a second abutment element 15 associated
with the base body 9, said elements interacting with each other to keep the locking
element 12 linked to the base body 9. The first abutment element 14 is defined by
a first thread 16 formed in a substantially cylindrical coupling portion 17 of the
locking element 12. In more detail, the first thread 16 extends in a helical extension
on an inner cylindrical surface 17a of the coupling portion 17 of the locking element
12. The second abutment element 1.5 on the contrary is defined by at least one abutment
edge 15a jutting out of a free end of a substantially cylindrical coupling portion
18 of the base body 9. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the second abutment element 15 projects
from an outer cylindrical surface 18a of the coupling portion 18 of the base body
9, substantially in a direction perpendicular to the extension of the coupling portion
itself defining at least one abutment surface 15b facing the base body 9 and adapted
to directly interact with the first abutment element 14.
[0034] The permanent coupling means 13 further contemplates the presence of a second thread
19 formed in the coupling portion 18 of the base body 9 and cooperating with the first
thread 16 to ensure displacement of the locking element 12 between the first and second
positions. In detail, the second thread 16 is formed in the outer cylindrical surface
18a of the coupling portion 18 of the base portion 9, between the latter and the second
abutment element 15.
[0035] Still with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, the locking element 12 has a substantially
cylindrical locking portion 20 which is concentric with the coupling portions 17,
18 of the locking element 12 and the base body 9, respectively. The locking portion
20 has an outer diametrical size that does not exceed the inner diametrical size of
the coupling portion 18 of the base body 9. Preferably, the outer diametrical size
of the locking portion 20 is substantially the same as the inner diametrical size
of the coupling portion 19 of the base body 9 so that the locking portion 20 adheres
at least partly to an inner cylindrical surface 18b of the coupling portion 18.
[0036] The locking portion 20 further has a substantially horizontal engagement surface
20a facing the base body 9 and active on the closing element 11 (Fig. 3) when the
locking element 12 is in the second position.
[0037] In addition, the section of the locking portion 20 narrows close to the engagement
surface 20a to define a lead-in region for engagement of the locking portion itself
within the coupling portion 18 of the base body 9.
[0038] On the opposite side with respect to the inner cylindrical surface 17a of the coupling
portion 17 of the locking element 12, said coupling portion 17 has an outer cylindrical
surface 17b provided with a plurality of surface projections 12a for carrying out
manual displacement of the locking element 12 between the first and second positions.
In other words, the surface projections 12a supply a grip point for manual rotation
of the locking element 12 when displacement of the latter is required.
[0039] As shown in Fig. 2, the sucking duct 10 of valve 1 is at least partly defined by
the coupling portion 18 of the base body 9 and the locking portion 20 of the locking
element 12 constituting a passage chamber 21 for the air in transit. The passage chamber
21 is in fluid communication with the housing space 4 of container 2 through at least
one suction opening 22, formed through the base body 9 in a concenctric manner with
the coupling portion 18 of the latter and the coupling portion 17 of the locking element
12, so that it is confined within the coupling portion 17 of the base body itself.
[0040] The passage chamber 21 further has at least one vent 23 formed through the coupling
portion 18 of the base body 9 through which suction of the air present in container
2 is carried out.
[0041] In detail, the sucking duct 10 is provided with two vents 23 formed through the coupling
portion 18 of the base body 9 at diametrically opposite sides. As shown in Fig. 1,
preferably each vent 23 extends between the base body 9 and the free end of the coupling
portion 18 of the latter without a break so as to constitute respective interruption
regions of the coupling portion itself thereby defining two substantially semi-cylindrical
coupling half-portions 18c, 18d.
[0042] Advantageously, this configuration gives the coupling portion 18 a light flexibility
along a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of same so
that assembling and/or disassembling of valve 1 is made easier by the possibility
of moving the two coupling half-portions 18c, 18d close to each other and bending
them to engage and/or disengage the locking element 12.
[0043] Still with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, valve 1 comprises one or more diametrical baffles
24 located at the suction opening 22 to supply the closing element 11 with a support,
preferably in the presence of a vacuum within container 2. More specifically, the
diametrical baffles 24 prevent the closing element 11 from partly deforming and taking
an abnormal position capable of impairing the container airtightness, due to the high
pressure difference between the outside environment and the housing space 4 of container
2.
[0044] Therefore, the closing element 11 which comprises a substantially plate-like and
preferably disc-shaped seal made of an elastically deformable material may partly
bear on the above mentioned diametrical baffles 24 crossing each other at the centre
of the suction opening 22.
[0045] Since the closing element 11 must operate within the coupling portion 18 of the base
body 9, it has a diametrical size that does not exceed the inner diametrical size
of said coupling portion. Preferably, the diametrical size of the closing element
11 is in any case bigger than the transverse sizes of the suction opening 22 in order
to ensure, on the one hand, complete closing of said suction opening and, on the other
hand, a further support along a peripheral edge of said suction opening 22.
[0046] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, valve 1 further comprises at least one substantially cage-shaped
portion 25 in engagement with the base body 9 at the suction opening 22 and on the
opposite side with respect to the coupling portion 18 of the base body itself. The
cage portion 25 protects the suction opening 22 and consequently the sucking duct
10 against the possibility that the contained product may approach the suction opening
itself. Both the base body 9 and the locking element 12 of valve 1 are preferably
made of plastic material, whereas the closing element is preferably made of rubber.
[0047] In addition, valve 1 in accordance with the present invention is exclusively made
up of three components as already widely described, i.e. the base body 9, closing
element 11 and locking element 12.
[0048] When it is necessary for a product to be packaged under vacuum, said product is inserted
in the housing space 4 of said container 2 through the access opening 5 thereof. The
access opening 5 is hermetically sealed bringing the closing portions 7, 8 of the
closing hinge 6 substantially against each other and pressing them. Under this situation,
the fitting protrusions 7d, 8d slightly open out the fitting seats 7c, 8c of the opposite
fitting portion 7, 8 and become snap fitted thereinto to form a sealed block.
[0049] After closure of the access opening 5, the air present in container 2 is sucked by
the above mentioned suction means that is temporarily engaged with valve 1 externally
of container 2.
[0050] Obviously, to enable air suction the locking element 12 must be placed to the second
position (Fig. 2) or at least to an intermediate position between the first and second
positions to allow passage of air.
[0051] During suction, the air present in container 2 flows through the cage portion 25
and the suction opening 10, as shown by arrow "F" in Fig. 2, invading the passage
chamber 21 and then going out of the latter through vent 23. At the passage chamber
21 the flowing air licks the closing element 11 that is therefore partly deformed
due to the forces therein present.
[0052] Once the air has been sucked, the suction means is disengaged from valve 1. The closing
element 11 is consequently maintained to the closed position by the atmospheric pressure,
i.e. against the base body 9 and it closes the suction opening 10 of said base body.
[0053] At this point, by manually acting on the locking element 12, the latter can be screwed
down until it takes the first position so that it acts by its locking portion 20 on
the closing element 11 that is firmly blocked to the closed position.
[0054] After extraction of the product contained therein, a new packaging of another product
can be carried out by bringing the locking element 12 back to the second position
to use the suction means again.
[0055] Advantageously, due to the presence of the abutment elements 14, 15, the locking
element 12 is secured to the base body 9, which will avoid an undesirable disengagement
and loss of the latter and of the closing element 11.
[0056] The present invention solves the problems found in the known art and achieves the
aimed purposes.
[0057] The presence of a valve provided with a locking element capable of fixing the closed
position of the closing element 11 ensures an'excellent airtightness of container
2 with which it is associated because the vacuum condition is maintained in time by
a purely mechanical closing system.
[0058] In addition, it will be recognised that the presence of a closing hinge 6, the closing
portions 7, 8 of which are made using the same extrusion die, ensures an excellent
airtight sealing, as regards closure of the access opening 5 of container 2. This
advantage is obtained by eliminating size differences between one closing portion
7, 8 and the other, usually due to different physical factors to which the different
extrusion dies for making said closing portions are subjected. In fact manufacture
of structurally identical closing portions 7, 8 allows the same to be formed by a
single extrusion die avoiding the problem of size differences.
[0059] Finally, due to the presence of a limited number of components forming valve 1 (that
in the present case are exclusively three) and to use of a single extrusion die, there
is a great reduction in the production costs and in the selling or market prices of
the containers for under-vacuum packaging of products.
1. A valve, in particular for containers (2) adapted to under-vacuum packaging of products,
said valve (1) comprising:
- a base body (9) to be sealingly engaged with one of said containers (2) and defining
at least one air-sucking duct (10) within the container itself;
- at least one closing element (11) operatively associated with the base body (9)
to act at the sucking duct (10), said closing element (11) being movable between an
open position at which suction of the air present within the container (2) is allowed
and a closed position at which the sucking duct (10) is obstructed by said closing
element (11),
characterized in that it further comprises at least one locking element (12) operatively in engagement
with the base body (9) and movable between a first position at which the closing element
(11) is free to remain either in the open position or in the closed position, and
a second position at which the' locking element (12) is active on said closing element
(11) to maintain the latter in the closed position, the locking element (12) ensuring
airtight sealing of the sucking duct (10) by the closing element (11) when the latter
is in the second position.
2. A valve as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises permanent coupling means (13) operatively interposed between said base
body (9) and said locking element (12) to keep the latter linked to said base body
(9) both in the first and in the second positions.
3. A valve as claimed in claim 2,
characterized in that said coupling means (13) comprises:
- a first abutment element (14) associated with said locking element (12);
- a second abutment element (15) associated with said base body (9), said first and
second abutment elements (14, 15) interacting with each other, when the locking element
(12) is situated in the second position, to ensure engagement of the latter with the
base body (9) in the second position.
4. A valve as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said first abutment element (14) is substantially defined by a first thread (16)
formed in a coupling portion (17) of the locking element (12).
5. A valve as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the coupling means (13) further comprises a second thread (19) formed in a respective
coupling portion (18) of the base body (9), the first and second treads (16, 19) being
set to cooperate to ensure displacement of the locking element (12) between the first
and second positions.
6. A valve as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the second abutment element (15) is defined by at least one abutment edge (15a) jutting
out of a free end of the respective coupling portion (18), in a direction substantially
perpendicular to the extension of the latter.
7. A valve as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the second thread (19) is formed in the coupling portion (18) of the base body (9)
between the latter and the second abutment element (15).
8. A valve as claimed in one or more of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the first thread (16) of the coupling portion (17) of the locking element (12) is
formed in an inner cylindrical surface (17a) of the coupling portion (17) of the locking
element (12) and the second thread (19) of the coupling portion (18) of the base body
(9) is formed in an outer cylindrical surface (18a) of the coupling portion (18) of
the base body (9).
9. A valve as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the locking element (12)' has a substantially cylindrical locking portion (20) which
is concentric with the coupling portions (17, 18) of the locking element (12) and
the base body (9), the locking portion (20) having an outer diametrical size that
does not exceed the inner diametrical size of the coupling portion (18) of the base
body (9).
10. A valve as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the locking portion (20) of the locking element (12) has an outer diametrical size
that is substantially the same as the inner diametrical size of the coupling portion
(18) of the base body (9), so that the locking portion (20) adheres at least partly
to an inner cylindrical surface (18c) of the coupling portion and has an engagement
surface (20a) facing the base body (9) and active on the closing element (11) when
the locking element (12) is in the second position.
11. A valve as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the base body (9) has at least one portion (9a) adhering to the container (2) that
is substantially flat to facilitate a steady engagement between the valve (1) and
the container itself.
12. A valve as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the base body (9) on said adhesion portion (9a) has one or more surface projections
(9b) extending substantially parallel to each other.
13. A valve as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it further has at least one suction opening (22) formed through the base body (9)
and at least partly defining said sucking duct (10).
14. A valve as claimed in claim 13 when dependent on one or more of claims 5 to 12,
characterised in that the sucking duct (10) is further defined:
- by the coupling portion (18) of the base body (9);
- by the locking portion (20) of the locking element (12); said locking portion (20),
coupling portion (18) of the base body (9) and suction opening (22) being substantially
concentric;
- by at least one vent (23) formed through the coupling portion (18) of the base body
(9).
15. A valve as claimed in claim 14 and in one or more of claims 5 to 12, characterised in that the sucking duct (10) has two vents (23) formed through the coupling portion (18)
of the base body (9) on diametrically opposite sides, the vents (20) extending between
the base body (9) and the free end of the coupling portion (18) of the latter without
a break, in such a manner as to constitute respective interruption regions of the
coupling portion itself and thereby defining two substantially semi-cylindrical coupling
half-portions (18c, 18d).
16. A valve as claimed in one or more of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that it comprises one or more diametrical baffles (24) placed at the suction opening (22)
to supply said closing element (11) with a support preferably in the presence of a
vacuum within the container (2) that gives rise to an adhesion of the closing element
(11) against the suction opening (22).
17. A valve as claimed in one or more of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that it further comprises a substantially cage-shaped portion (25) in engagement with
the base body (9) at the suction opening (22) and on the opposite side with respect
to the coupling portion (18) of said base body, the cage portion (25) protecting the
suction opening (22) and therefore the sucking duct (10) against the possibility that
the product housed within the container (2) may approach the suction opening itself.
18. A valve as claimed in claims 9 to 17, characterised in that the closing element (11) has a diametrical size that does not exceed the inner diametrical
size of the coupling portion (18) of the base body (9), so that the closing element
(11) is housed within said coupling portion (18) between the base body (9) and locking
element (12).
19. A valve as claimed in one or more of claims 11 to 18, characterised in that the valve can be hermetically associated with said container (2) by heat-sealing,
which operation is carried out at a container area superposed on said adhesion portion
(9a) of the base body (9).
20. A container for under-vacuum packaging of products comprising a holding envelope (3)
provided with at least one access opening (5) for insertion and/or extraction of at
least one respective product, said access opening (5) being set to be hermetically
closed to isolate the inside of the container (2) from the surrounding atmosphere,
characterised in that it further comprises at least one air- sucking valve (1) to draw out of the container
(2) the air present therein, and has the features set out in one or more of claims
1 to 19.