Patent Application
20210078770
The present invention relates generally to an easy-open hygienic plastic produce bag and method of saliva-free opening. More so, the present invention relates to a plastic produce bag having thin, transparent sidewalls with four sides, including: a closed side, a pair of sealed lateral sides, and an openable side having a first edge and a second edge defined by a connected center region and a pair of open outer regions; whereby placing the fingers in the openings at the open outer regions and prying the first and second edges apart separates the connected center region, and the first and second edges to an open position; whereby separating the edges in this manner does not require lateral motion, friction, and saliva on the fingers which can be unhygienic.
The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
Typically, plastic produce bags and the dispensers that dispense them are utilized in produce outlets and supermarkets. Such bags are configured to store fresh produce, fruit, and spices. Such plastic bags are generally configured with sidewalls fabricated from thin, transparent plastic having a closed end edge, a pair of closed side edges, and a top edge that is semi-sealed, but can be opened by creating lateral friction on the surface. Once the top edge is opened, the fresh produce can be placed inside. Often, a tie or wire is used to cinch the bag closed. Though a zip-lock is also available on some types of plastic bags. The plastic bags are often dispensed from a roller, or a standard bag hanger, in which the bags are pulled off individually.
Unfortunately, the thin nature of the sidewalls tends to cling together, making them difficult to separate. This also creates difficulties for opening the top edge of the bag. Further, the top edge and the bottom edge can be difficult to identify, since they look similar. This makes it difficult to identify the proper end for opening. Consequently, the user has to lick the fingers to create sufficient grip on the sidewalls of the plastic bags. This creates a situation in which saliva forms on the sides of the bags, and also the saliva sticks to fresh produce that is touched by the user. Often, the user may touch multiple pieces of produce without putting them in the bag. This creates an unhygienic situation where the produce and the bags are covered with germs from saliva of different users.
Other proposals have involved plastic produce bags used in supermarkets and the like. The problem with these plastic bags is that they do not separate easily at the open edge, so as to enable easy opening thereof. Also, the top and bottom edges are hard to identify. Even though the above cited plastic produce bags meet some of the needs of the market, an easy-open hygienic plastic produce bag and method of saliva-free opening having thin, transparent sidewalls with four sides, including: a closed side, a pair of sealed lateral sides, and an openable side having a first edge and a second edge defined by a connected center region and a pair of open outer regions; whereby placing the fingers in the openings at the open outer regions and prying the first and second edges apart separates the connected center region, and the first and second edges to an open position, is still desired.
Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to an easy-open hygienic plastic produce bag and method of saliva-free opening. The plastic produce bag provides a visual means to enable facilitated opening for loading produce and other items inside the produce bag. The plastic produce bag has thin, transparent sidewalls with four sides. The sides include a closed side, a pair of sealed lateral sides, and an openable side.
The openable side has a first edge and a second edge that separate and come together to create an open position and a closed position, respectively. The openable side is also defined by a connected center region, where the first and second edges join; and a pair of open outer regions, where the first and second edges are separated. This separation creates a visual que as to which end of the bag is for loading the fresh produce.
Thus, by placing the fingers, or other object, in the openings at the open outer regions, and prying the first and second edges apart, the first and second edges separate to an open position. Opening the edges in this manner does not require lateral motion, friction, and saliva on the fingers to separate the openable side.
In one aspect, the bag comprises a produce bag.
In another aspect, the bag is at least partially transparent.
In another aspect, the bag is configured to receive at least one fresh produce.
In another aspect, the sidewalls have a rectangular shape.
In another aspect, the closed side and the openable side of the bag are parallel.
In another aspect, the pair of sealed lateral sides are parallel.
In another aspect, the closed side and the openable side of the bag are separated by a perforation.
In another aspect, the connected center region and the open outer regions form a figure eight shape.
In another aspect, the connected center region joins the first and second edges through at least one of the following: a weld, an adhesive, a wire, a magnet, and a friction fit mechanism.
In another aspect, the open outer regions are at opposing ends of the openable side of the bag.
In another aspect, the bag further comprises a tie or wire to cinch the openable side of the bag closed.
One objective of the present invention is to facilitate opening of a produce bag with the fingers.
Another objective is to visually identify the openable side of the bag.
Yet another objective is to provide an inexpensive to manufacture produce bag.
Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims and drawings.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
An easy-open hygienic plastic produce bag 100 and method of saliva-free opening is referenced in
The sidewalls 104a-b are welded at the sides 106, 108a-b to form a container-like body 102. The body 102 has an inner cavity that retains the fresh produce 118. The inner cavity is sized and dimensioned to receive fresh produce 118 commonly found in supermarkets and grocery stores.
Looking at
In one possible embodiment shown in
The openable side 110 has a first edge 112a and a second edge 112b that separate and come together to create an open position 120 and a closed position, respectively. The openable side 110 is also defined by a connected center region 116, where the first and second edges 112a-b detachably join.
The connected center region 116 joins the first and second edges 112a-b in a weak connection that can be broken by the fingers prying the edges together at a 90° separation, an orthogonal, or at a relative angle, with minimal force. This connectivity at the connected center region 116 may include a weld, an adhesive, a wire, a magnet, and a friction fit mechanism. However, any means to create this connection at the edges may also be used.
The openable side 110 of the body 102 is also defined by a pair of open outer regions 114a-b, where the first and second edges 112a, 112b are separated. As illustrated in
The open outer regions 114a-b create sufficient space to allow the fingers or an elongated object to generate opposing, 180° forces that create separation of the edges. This force may simply be a gentle yanking effort. Thus, such outer openings at the edges 112a-b negate the need for lateral separation of the sidewalls near the edges, which requires traction—often by wetting the fingers with saliva. Further, the separation at the openable side 110 works to create a visual que, informing which end (closed or openable) of the bag 100 is the appropriate end for loading/unloading the fresh produce 118.
In opening the openable side 110 of the body 102, the open outer edges 114a, 114b are the parts of the plastic bag that serve as its opener. The two outer edges 114a-b is pulled in opposite directions to open the body 102 of the bag by holding 114a with the thumb and the index finger (or any finger) of the left hand and holding 114b with the thumb and the index finger (or any finger) of the right hand. When the fingers are in place, outer edge 114a is pulled away from the body and outer edge 114b is pulled towards the body (opposite direction motion). This is an axial motion separation. Consequently, the plastic bag opens very easily without applying saliva on it or putting pressure at the top of the bag.
Thus, in operation, a method of using the produce bag 100 includes an initial step of detaching one body 102 from a roll of other bodies where the openable side 110 and closed end 106 are perforated, and thereby separable. Or in other embodiments, the body 102 can simply be yanked off a bag dispenser, hook, or other bag retention mechanism known in the art. Another Step of the method may include thrusting the fingers, or other linear object, in the openings at the open outer regions 114a-b, and prying the first and second edges 112a-b apart. Consequently, the first and second edges 112a-b are separated to an open position 120.
It is significant to note that opening the openable side in this manner does not require lateral motion, friction, and saliva on the sidewalls and fingers, creating a more hygienic bag 100. Nonetheless, once the openable side 110 is fully separated at the edges, another Step comprises filling the body 102 with at least one fresh produce 118, or other appropriate item. In one alternative embodiment, the bag 100 further comprises a tie 122 or wire to cinch the openable side of the body 102. The tie 122 is configured to wrap around the openable side to prevent air, moisture, or contaminants from entering the inner cavity of the body 102.
In conclusion, an easy-open hygienic plastic produce bag 100 and method of saliva-free opening provides enables facilitated opening of the bag 100 for loading produce inside. The bag 100 has thin, transparent sidewalls 104a-b with four sides. The sides include a closed side 106, a pair of sealed lateral sides 108a-b, and an openable side 110. The openable side 110 has a first edge 112a and a second edge 112b that separate and come together to create an open position 120 and a closed position, respectively.
In some embodiments, the openable side 110 has a connected center region 116, where the first and second edge 112bs join; and a pair of open outer regions 114a-b, where the first and second edge 112bs are separated. This separation creates a visual que for which end of bag 100 is for loading fresh produce 118. By placing the fingers in the openings at the open outer regions 114a-b, and prying the first and second edge 112bs apart, the first and second edges 112a-b separate to the open position 120.
These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings.
Because many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.
