Patent Application
20100284630
The present invention relates generally to reclosable plastic bags, and, more particularly, to disposable plastic bags including multiple internal pockets, which may be reclosable, and to methods for making and using them.
Reclosable plastic bags are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,993,844, 5,024,536, 7,011,615 7,140,491, and in U.S. Publication No. 2008/0240628. The entire disclosures of these references are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention is generally directed to reclosable plastic bags, and, more particularly, to disposable plastic bags including multiple internal pockets, which may be recloseable, and to methods for making and using them.
In accordance with one embodiment, a disposable plastic bag is provided that includes first and second outer panels attached together to define closed side and bottom edges defining a main compartment, the outer panels including top edges defining an opening for accessing the main compartment; a main closure extending along the top edges of the first and second outer panels for selectively opening and closing the opening into the main compartment; and a first internal panel including one or more edges attached to the first outer panel to define a first internal compartment separate from and accessible through the main compartment. A first closure may be attached along at least one edge thereof for selectively opening and closing the first internal compartment.
Optionally, the plastic bag may include a second internal panel including one or more edges attached to one of the first and second outer panels to define a second internal compartment separate from and accessible through the main compartment, and a second closure along at least one edge of the second internal panel for selectively opening and closing the second internal compartment.
In accordance with another embodiment, a disposable plastic bag is provided that includes substantially transparent outer panels attached together to define a main compartment, an opening for accessing the main compartment, a main closure for selectively opening and closing the opening into the main compartment; and a plurality of internal panels attached to one of the outer panels to define a plurality of internal compartments separate from and accessible through the main compartment, the internal panels comprising closures for selectively opening and closing the respective internal compartments.
In accordance with still another embodiment, a method is provided for making a disposable plastic bag that includes forming first and second outer panels from one or more plastic sheets; attaching a first internal panel to a first surface of the first outer panel to define a first internal compartment, attaching a first closure along an open edge of the first internal panel for selectively opening and closing the first internal compartment, and attaching edges of the outer panels together such that the outer panels define a main compartment, the outer panels defining an opening for accessing the main compartment, the first internal compartment being accessible through the main compartment.
For example, a first closure strip may be attached to the first internal panel along the at least one edge, and a second mating closure strip may be attached to the first outer panel opposite the first closure strip, the second closure strip engaging with the first closure strip when the first and second closure strips are directed together to close the first internal compartment.
Optionally, a second internal panel may be attached to the first surface of the first outer panel adjacent the first internal panel to define a second internal compartment, and a second closure may be attached along an open edge of the second internal panel for selectively opening and closing the second internal compartment.
In addition or alternatively, a main closure may be attached to the outer panels along the opening for selectively opening and closing the opening.
The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. Rather, a more complete understanding of the invention will become apparent and appreciated by reference to the following detailed description and claims in view of the accompanying drawings.
Turning to the drawings,
In the embodiment shown in
Optionally, as shown in
Returning to
The top edges 22 of the outer panels 12, 14 may be substantially free between the side edges 24, e.g., such that the opening 18 for accessing the main compartment 16 extends substantially entire across the top edges 22. Alternatively, the top edges 22 may be attached together partially along their lengths, e.g., for a relatively short distance from each of the side edges 24. In a further alternative, one or both side edges may also be at least partially free such that the opening may extend from the top edges 22 at least partially along one or more both side edges 24 (not shown).
A main reclosable closure 30 may extend along the top edges 22 of the outer panels 12, 14 for selectively opening and closing the opening 18 into the main compartment 16. For example, mating closure strips 30a, 30b may be attached adjacent the top edges 22, e.g., along interior surfaces of the first and second outer panels 12, 14 opposite one another. The closure strips 30a, 30b may extend substantially the entire distance between the side edges 24 or may only extend partially along the length of the opening 18. In an exemplary embodiment, a first main closure strip 30a may include a channel (not shown) extending along the length of the closure strip 30a, and a second main closure strip 30b may include a hook, bead, or other protrusion (also not shown) extending along the length of the other closure strip 30b. The protrusion is generally shaped or otherwise configured to be securely yet removably received in the channel, e.g., to providing a reclosable zip-lock connector, as described further below.
With particular reference to
The internal panels (and consequently the internal pockets) may all be the same size and shape or one or more of the panels may be larger, smaller, or have different shapes than others. For example, as shown, pocket 46d is substantially square and larger than pocket 46a, which is rectangular. In addition, as shown the internal panels 40 have rounded corners between the top, side, and bottom edges, 43, 44, 46, although alternatively, one or more of the corners may be abrupt or have other shapes, as desired (not shown).
As shown in
Each top edge 43a-43d includes a first reclosable closure strip 50a-50d attached along the top edge 48a-488d thereof, e.g., along an inner surface of the respective internal panel 42a-42d. In addition, a second mating closure strip 52a-52d may be attached to the first panel 12 opposite the first closure strip 50a-50d such that the closure strips 50a-50d, 52a-52d may selectively engage one another for opening and closing the respective internal compartment 46a-46d.
The material of the closure strips 50, 52 may be sufficiently flexible to allow the ridges 54 to at least partially separate when pressure is applied to push the bead 51 into the channel 53. For example, the rounded shape of the bead 51 may cause the ridges 54 to separate sufficiently to allow the bead 51 to enter the channel 53, whereupon the ridges 54 may resiliently return inwardly to capture the bead 51. Thus, the ridges 54 may engage the bead 51, thereby closing the internal compartment 46 and preventing the bead 51 from accidentally being removed from the channel 53. If sufficient force is applied to pull the top edge 43 of the internal panel 42 away from the first outer panel 12, the ridges 54 may again separate to allow the bead 51 to be pulled out of the channel 53, e.g., to open the internal pocket 40 and allow access into the compartment 46.
In alternative embodiments, the protrusion, channel, and/or ridges may have other complementary shapes or configurations. For example, as shown in
In a further alternative, as shown in
Returning to
During manufacturing, the components of the bag 10 (or multiple bags) may be cut, separated, or otherwise formed and assembled in a variety of orders or sequences, and the exemplary process described herein may be modified, e.g., to change the sequence of steps, individual process steps, and the like. In an exemplary process, the outer panels 12, 14 and internal panels 42 may be formed from one or more relatively thin sheets of substantially transparent plastic, e.g., having a thickness between about one and five mils (0.025-0.127 mm). Generally, the first and second outer panels 12, 14 may be formed from a plastic sheet, for example, by cutting the outer panels 12, 14 (individually or together sharing a common edge as shown in
The internal panels 42 may be attached to a first or exposed surface (ultimately interior surface) of the first outer panel 12 (see
The internal panels 42 (and/or other components) may be attached to the first and/or second panels 12, 14 before or after separating the first and second panels 12, 14 from a larger sheet or roll. For example, in one embodiment, a larger sheet including sufficient outer panels for multiple bags (not shown) may have a plurality of panels attached to the appropriate surfaces and locations on the larger sheet, whereupon the larger sheet may be separated into sets of outer panels for individual bags.
Closures 50, 52 may be attached along one or more edges, e.g., the top edges 43, of the internal panels 42 for selectively opening and closing the respective internal compartments 46. For example, each closure 50, 52 may include a first closure strip 50 attached to each of the internal panels 42 along at least one edge, e.g., the top edge 43, and a second mating closure strip 52 attached to the first outer panel 12 (or second outer panel 12 if the panels are attached thereto) opposite the first closure strip 50. As described above, the second closure strips 52 may engage the first closure strips 50 when the first and second closure strips 50, 52 are directed together to close the respective internal compartments 46. The closure strips 50, 52 may be attached to the panels 12, 14, 42 using a variety of processes, such as bonding with adhesive, sonic welding, heat sealing, other fusing, and the like.
The closure strips 50, 52 may be formed as individual pieces, e.g., by injection molding, and the like, or may be formed using a substantially continuous process. In an exemplary embodiment, plastic material for the closure strips 50, 52 may extruded through one or more sets of dies (not shown) corresponding to the desired cross-sections of the closure strips 50, 52, e.g., substantially continuously, and then the resulting extrusion may be cut to desired length, e.g., by shearing with a blade, wire, or other cutting tool, laser cutting, and the like. The individual lengths may then be attached to the appropriate panels 12, 14, 42 as described elsewhere herein.
Optionally, during an automated assembly process, the second closure strips 52 may be attached to the outer panel(s) 12, 14 before the internal panels 42 are attached to the outer panel(s) 12, 14. For example, the second closure strips 52 may be attached to the larger sheet at predetermined locations corresponding to the intended locations for the internal panels 42 on the outer panel(s) 12, 14. The internal panels 42, e.g., with the first closure strips 50 already attached thereto, may then be attached to the outer panel(s) 12, 14 such that the top edges 43 of the internal panels 42 overly the second closure strips 52 and the first closure strips 50 are properly aligned with the second closure strips 52.
If the outer panels 12, 14 include a main closure 30 for closing the main compartment 16 of the bag 10, the closure strips 30a, 30b (see
The first and second outer panels 12, 14 may then be attached together with the internal panels 42 oriented inwardly such that the outer panels 12, 14 define the main compartment 16. For example, as shown in
If the bag 10 includes a handle 19, any necessary components for the handle may be attached to the bag 10 before or after the outer panels 12, 14 are attached together. For example, if the handle 19 is merely openings in the outer panels 12, 14, the openings may be cut or otherwise formed in the outer panels 12, 14 at any time, e.g., when the outer panels 12, 14 are separated from a larger sheet or roll.
Any other features may also be provided on the bag 10 at any appropriate time during assembly. For example, if the bag 10 includes one or more labels, printed text, and the like, they may be applied to the outer panels 12, 14, e.g., before or after separating the outer panels 12, 14 from a larger sheet or roll. For example, printing may be applied to outer surfaces of the outer panels 12, 14 before the internal panels 42 and/or closures 30, 52 are attached, which may facilitate printing since the outer panels 12, 14 may remain substantially planar.
The resulting bags may be used for a variety of applications. For example, the bags may be used to store and/or organize goods in a convenient, portable, disposable manner. As an example, the bag 10 may be used as a disposable lunch container with different portions of a meal (or meals or snacks) located in separate pockets 40 in the bag 10. Similarly, the bag 10 may be used to separate hardware, e.g., fasteners, tool components, and the like into like items. For example, similar size and/or configuration screws, nails, bolts, washers, and the like may be placed in separate internal compartments 46, which may be labeled, e.g., on the outer surface of the outer panels 12, 14 over the respective internal compartments, to identify which items are in which internal compartments.
If provided in a sufficiently large size, e.g., having a volume of multiple gallons, the bag may be used as a disposable travel bag, a clothing and/or make-up organizer, and the like. Once the contents of the bag are depleted or the bag is otherwise no longer needed, the bag may simply be discarded or recycled since the costs of making such bags should be relatively inexpensive compared to luggage or make-up kits.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described above. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. Other variations, modifications, and combinations of the various components and methods described herein can certainly be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is limited only by the following claims, and equivalents thereto.
