Containers having fluid-tight sealing means

Claim 1

A container comprising a flexible sheet of impermeable material having a flexible inflatable tube around its periphery and a rigid or semi-rigid impermeable base member having an endless slot or groove to receive said tube, the slot or groove being shaped to hold the tube when the latter is inflated, whereby the tube may be retained in the slot or groove after insertion therein by inflation of the tube wherein the tube is provided with resilient means inside the tube and extending along the whole length of the tube and deformable to permit the tube being passed into the slot or groove, said resilient means urging the walls of the tube apart to engage the side walls of the slot or groove, the resilient means being of sponge material secured to the inside surface of the tube over a limited part of the cross-sectional periphery of the tube to leave a region between the resilient means and the inside surface of the tube forming a duct extending continuously along the length of the tube for inflation of the tube, whereby the tube, when uninflated, has to be deformed to force it into or out of the slot or groove, so ensuring a seal between the base and the cover, said container furthermore having valve means to permit the interior of the container to be pressurized or evacuated of air.