The present invention generally relates to a bag, and more specifically, to a tamper evident bag used to carry food.
Bags are commonly used to hold and enclose food and other products. In one application, bags are used in food delivery applications—to transport prepared meals from a restaurant to a place of delivery, such as a home. When prepared meals are transported in this manner, it is beneficial to provide customers with the confidence that the ordered meals have not been touched or tampered with during delivery, for example, by a delivery driver. To provide such confidence to customers, the customers need to know if the bag is subsequently opened after the food is placed in the bag at the restaurant.
In one aspect, a tamper evident bag comprises a top panel and a bottom panel having top and bottom surfaces and front, rear, and opposite first and second side edge margins. The top and bottom panels are connected together along the front, rear and first and second side edge margins to define a bag interior between the top surface of the bottom panel and the bottom surface of the top panel. The top panel defines a receiving opening sized and shaped for inserting one or more items into the bag interior. A handle is connected to the top panel. The top and bottom panels each have a tear line with a first end and a second end. The first and second ends are located at the first side edge margin and are spaced from the front and rear edge margins and from each other. Each tear line extends over the top and bottom panels defining a respective tear out section therein. The tear out sections are joined along the first side edge margin and configured to be removed to create an exit opening in the top and bottom panels.
In another aspect, a tamper evident bag comprises a top panel and a bottom panel having top and bottom surfaces and front, rear, and opposite first and second side edge margins. The top and bottom panels are connected together along the front, rear and first and second side edge margins to define a bag interior between the top surface of the bottom panel and the bottom surface of the top panel. The top panel defines a receiving opening sized and shaped for inserting one or more items into the bag interior. A handle is connected to the top panel. The top and bottom panels each have a tear line with a first end and a second end. The first end is located at the first side edge margin and the second end is located at the second side edge margin. Each tear line is adjacent to and generally parallel with the front edge margin. The tear lines extend over the top and bottom panels defining a respective tear out section therein. The tear out sections are joined along the front edge margin and configured to be removed to create a front margin exit opening between the top and bottom panels.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the front and rear side edge margins 24, 26 are joined to each other and the first and second side edge margins 28, 30 are joined together with first and second gussets 36 and 37, respectively. First gusset 36 spans between and interconnects the first side edge margins 28 of the top and bottom panels 20, 22 and the second gusset 37 spans between and interconnects the second side edge margins 30 of the top and bottom panels. Each gusset 36, 37 has opposite top and bottom edge margins and opposite front and rear side edge margins. The top edge margin of the first gusset 36 is connected to the first side edge margin 28 of the top panel 20 and the bottom edge margin of the first gusset 36 is connected to the first side edge margin 28 of the bottom panel 22. Likewise, the top edge margin of the second gusset 37 is connected to the second side edge margin 30 of the top panel 20 and the bottom edge margin of the second gusset 37 is connected to the second side edge margin 30 of the bottom panel 22. Each gusset 36, 37 is folded back on itself along a fold line 46. When the bag 10 is in the flat orientation shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In the preferred embodiment, the top and bottom panels 20, 22, the first and second handle panels 52, 54 and the first and second gussets 36, 37 are formed from a single sheet of material that is folded along the first and second side edge margins 28, 30 of the top and bottom panels, the fold lines 46 of the gussets and the first and second side edge margins 28a, 30a of the first and second top panel members 20a, 20b (
Referring to
Tear out sections 16, 116, 216 are defined by tear lines 72, 172 and 272 respectively. Tear lines 72, 172, 272 are included on each of the top and bottom panels 20, 22 of bag 10. Each tear line 72, 172, 272 on the top and bottom panels 20, 22 defines tear out sections 16a, 116a, and 216a, respectively, on the top and bottom panels (e.g. there is a tear out section 16a on the top panel and a corresponding tear out section 16a on the bottom panel).
With respect to the front of the bag 10, the tear lines 72 extend over the top and bottom panels 20, 22. Each tear line 72 has a first end 74 on the first side edge margin 28 of the top and bottom panels 20, 22 and a second end 76 on the second side edge margin 30 of the top and bottom panels. Each tear line 72 is located adjacent to and generally parallel with the front side edge margin 24. In the preferred embodiment, the tear lines 72 on the top and bottom panels 20, 22 extend through the gussets 36, 37. However, it is understood the tear lines 72 may not extend through the gussets 36, 37. With respect to the rear of the bag 10, the tear lines 172 extend over the top and bottom panels 20, 22. Each tear line 172 has a first end 174 on the first side edge margin 28 of the top and bottom panels 20, 22 and a second end 176 on the second side edge margin 30 of the top and bottom panels. Each tear line 172 is located adjacent to and generally parallel with the rear side edge margin 26. In the preferred embodiment, the tear lines 172 on the top and bottom panels 20, 22 extend through the gussets 36, 37. However, it is understood the tear lines 172 may not extend through the gussets 36, 37. In the illustrated embodiment, tear lines 72, 172 extend across the entire length L of the bag 10 (
With respect to the side of the bag 10, the tear lines 272 extend over the top and bottom panels 20, 22 and define tear out section 216. Each tear line 272 has a first end 274 and a second end 276. The first and second ends 274, 276 are located at the first side edge margin 28. The first and second ends 274, 276 of each tear line 272 are spaced apart from each other and the front and rear edge margins 24, 26. The distance between the first and second ends 274, 276 defines a width W1 of the tear out section 216 (
Tear out section 216 is generally located near the middle of the width W of the bag 10 such that a midpoint of the width is located on the tear out section 216. Tear out section 216 extends generally horizontally from the first side edge margin 28 toward the second side edge margin 30. Preferably, the tear out section 216 extends approximately a quarter of the way to the second side edge margin 30 (e.g. a quarter of the length L of the bag 10). Tear out section 216 may extend across the top and bottom panels 20, 22 at other distances without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the tear out section 216 may not extend horizontally across the front and rear panels 20, 22, as shown, but at an angle thereto. It will be understood that the tear out section 216 does not disrupt the continuity of the material of the bag 10 from the first handle panel 52 to the second handle panel 54. Stated another way, a section of the bag material extends from one handle panel 52 to the other handle panel 54 without crossing any zone of weakness such as those formed by perforations. It is possible for the continuity of the section to include joints where material of the bag 10 is strongly and permanently attached together. However, the load of the container C is supported by the section and does not have to be supported through any of the tear lines 72, 172, 272 when the bag 10 is being carried by the handle 50. This will inhibit separation along the tear lines prior to end recipient of the contents of the bag 10 intentionally tearing one or more of the tear sections 16, 116, 216 out.
In the illustrated embodiment, the tear line 272 defines a tear out section 216 that is generally rectangular in shape. The tear lines 272 have a first segment 278 extending from the first side edge margin 28 toward the second side edge margin 30, a second segment 280 extending from the first side edge margin 28 toward the second side edge margin 30, and a third segment 282 extending between and interconnecting the first and second segments. The first, second and third segments 278, 280, 282 are generally linear. The third segment 282 can include rounded ends (corners) at the first and second segments 278, 280 to facilitate the transfer of the ripping or tearing forces between the segments. It is understood that the tear out section 216 can have other shapes without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the tear out section 216 can have an oval shape or a semi-circular shape.
Tear lines 72, 172, 272 are formed by perforations 80 (e.g., each tear line 72, 172, 272 is made up of perforations). The perforations 80 extend along and define the tear lines 72, 172, 272. The perforations 80 are sized to allow the user to tear or rip the tear out sections 16, 116, 216 from the bag 10 along the tear lines 72, 172, 272, respectively, to create the exit openings 14. For example, tear out section 16 is removed from the bag 10 along tear lines 72 to create the exit opening 14 in
The perforations 80 defining tear lines 72, 172, 272 reduces the strength of the top and bottom panels 20, 22, e.g. reduces the amount of weight that can be carried by the bag 10. Accordingly, the perforation 80 configuration can be adjusted to ensure the bag 10 can carry an appropriate amount of weight. Likewise, by adjusting the length of the tear lines 72, 172, 272, as mentioned above, or reducing the number of tear out sections, the strength of the bag can be adjusted to carry an appropriate amount of weight. For example, if the bag 10 only includes tear out section 216, the strength of the bag is better maintained because no tear out section extends across the entire width W of the bag. Accordingly, the bag 10 can carry heavier loads than, for example, a bag with perforations extending across the entire bag width. The bag 10 can also be made of a less expensive, lower strength material. Still further, by maintaining the integrity across an entire portion of the bag 10 (e.g. the perforations 80 do not extend across the entire bag), the strength of the perforations can be adjusted to make it easier (require less force) to remove the tear out section 216, as the strength of the bag is not limited to the strength of the perforations. However, it is understood that it may be beneficial to provide a bag 10 with multiple tear out sections (e.g. two or more of tear out sections 16, 116, 216) to allow the user to choose which tear out sections to remove and/or to provide a single bag that has multiple exit openings 14 to accommodate the various different sized containers C, such as the various different food delivery containers, placed in the bag interior 48. In this case, the configuration of the perforations 80 and the type of material the bag 10 is constructed from can be adjusted to ensure the bag has an appropriate amount of strength.
Referring to
The size of the tear out sections 16, 116, 216 can vary (e.g. alter the width W1 of tear out section 216 or the length of tear out sections 16, 116) depending upon the needs of the user and the size of the items the bag 10 is designed to carry. As described in more detail below, removing the tear out sections 16, 116, and/or 216 creates the exit opening 14 (
The bag 10 can include one or more vent holes (not shown) located on the top panels 20 to allow steam and/or air to exit the bag interior 48 when a container C containing hot food is placed therein.
The bags 10 can be formed from a unitary sheet of extruded polymeric film material. Such polymeric material can be polypropylene (PP), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) or any other suitable material.
The receiving opening 12 of the bag 10 is configured to be “permanently” closed by the user to restrict access to the bag interior 48. In operation, the handle 50 (or other closing component) closes the receiving opening 12 after items or containers C are placed in the bag interior 48 through the receiving opening. More specifically, after the protective release strip is removed, the first and second handle panels 52, 54 are brought together such that the first handle panel is positioned over the adhesive member 68. The first handle panel 52 is then pressed against the adhesive 80 to permanently secure or fix the first and second handle panels 52, 54 together, closing the receiving opening 12 (
Referring to
Once closed, the tamper evident bag can only be opened through destructive means such as by damaging the top and bottom panels or removing the tear out sections such that a visual inspection of the bag will reveal whether the contents placed inside the bag interior have been accessed.
For ease of comprehension, where similar or analogous parts are used in the different embodiments, the same reference numbers with one or two primes are employed.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several features of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results obtained.
Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. For example, where specific dimensions are given, it will be understood that they are exemplary only and other dimensions are possible.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. As used throughout the present disclosure with respect to the bag, the terms defining relative locations and positions of structures and components of the bag, including but not limited to the terms “top,” “bottom,” “side,” “front,” and “rear,” are meant to provide a point of reference for such components and structures as shown in the drawings, with the understanding that the respective relative locations of such components and structures will depend on the orientation of the bag in use. In addition, as used throughout the present disclosure with respect to the bag, the terms defining relative numbers of structures and components of the bag, including but not limited to the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth,” are meant to distinguish similar components and structures as shown in the drawings, with the understanding the respective number of such components and structures will depend on the presence of such other similar components and structures.
As various changes could be made in the above products without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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Web-page for Seal2Go®—Pan Pacific, http://www.pppmi.com/seal-2-go/, 3 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20190300242 A1 | Oct 2019 | US |