The present invention relates to the field of disposable food bags. More particularly, the invention relates to multi-use disposable food bags.
Due to increased competition in the fast food industry, various types of food items have recently been introduced to the public. Many of these food items are intended to be eaten at the point of purchase while the food item is still warm. However, a significant percentage of food items that are sold are intended to be eaten at a later time, such as in an office or factory environment, or while traveling in a motor vehicle.
In order to prevent soiling of the hands when eating such food items, a disposable bag is provided when the food item is sold so that the bag may be held rather than the food item itself. A sold food item is conveniently eaten when the bag is sized to be only slightly larger than the food item; however, if the bag is considerably larger than the food item, the user would have to slide the food item within the bag towards the upper edge of the bag or to introduce his mouth within the interior of the bag in order to access the food item, all of which operations are inconvenient and detract from the pleasure of eating.
When the bag is sized to be only slightly larger than the food item, a partially consumed food item to be eaten at a later time is exposed to germs since the bag is not large enough to enable an upper portion be folded so as to cover the food item.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a food bag that can temporarily cover a partially consumed food item.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a food bag that is sized to be only slightly larger than the food item.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.
The present invention provides a food bag for temporarily covering a food item contained therein, comprising a front wall and a rear wall considerably longer than said front wall to define a flap protruding from a base portion, wherein said flap has a proximal portion of essentially equal width as said base portion and a distal portion of variable width such that regions of said distal portion have a width that is narrower than said proximal portion, said flap being foldable so as to temporarily cover a food item contained with said bag.
A partially consumed food item to be eaten at a later time may therefore be covered so as not to be exposed to germs.
In one aspect, the distal portion is provided with closure means, for temporary attachment with the front wall when the flap is folded. The closure means may comprise a first adhesive strip applied to the inner face of the flap and a second adhesive strip applied to the outer face of the front wall; two slits formed within the front wall, through each of which the distal flap portion is introducible for securement with the front wall; or a flexible metallic clip attached to the inner face of the flap which is engageable with the front wall.
In the drawings:
The present invention is a novel food bag for temporarily covering a food item contained therein which may have dimensions substantially equal to, and slightly less than, those of the bag in a closed position. A user wishing to continue eating the food item at a later time simply folds a flap to cover the food item and to protect the same from germs.
The front and rear walls of the bag may be made of any desired flexible material, including a cellulose based material, plastic based material, or a composite cellulose and plastic material. The material from which the bag is made may be resistant to a high temperature of over 200° C., may be durable to the food heating conditions within a microwave oven, may be resistant to cold temperatures such as those present in a refrigerator or freezer, may be applied with an anti-mist or anti-sticking agent, may be laminated, may be grease-resistant, and/or may be biodegradable.
Front wall section 2A, rear wall section 3A, and side wall sections 5A and 5B are foldable at fold line 1A to define the bottom edge of the bag. After front wall section 2A is adhesively attached to side wall section 5A, strips 16 and 17 protruding from rear wall section 3A are folded about fold line 19 coinciding with the bottom edge of front wall section 2A and side wall sections 5A and 5B, to adhesively attach rear wall section 3A to front wall section 2A. The bottom of the bag is then reinforced by folding and adhesively attaching a bottom portion of all of the sections at fold line 2A.
Another closure means is shown in
In
While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried out with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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204803 | Mar 2010 | IL | national |