U.S. patent application number 10/684246 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-16 for reclosable multi-compartment bag with an integrated pouch.
Invention is credited to Taheri, Nossi.
Application Number | 20040179754 10/684246 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32965398 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040179754 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Taheri, Nossi |
September 16, 2004 |
Reclosable multi-compartment bag with an integrated pouch
Abstract
A multi compartment reclosable plastic bag including four or
more panels sealed together to form at least two bags with each bag
having a resealable opening. One of the bags may be smaller than
the other(s). The plastic bags further include lips that are
adjacent to the resealable openings. The bags incorporate closure
elements for sealing and unsealing of the resealable openings. The
smaller bag may include a lip that folds toward the space between
the smaller bag and an adjacent bag to form a cuff portion adapted
to secure contents inserted between the smaller bag and the
adjacent bag.
Inventors: |
Taheri, Nossi; (Atlanta,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WEATHERLY & ASSOCIATES, LLC
3330 CUMBERLAND BOULEVARD
SUITE 500
ATLANTA
GA
30339-5985
US
|
Family ID: |
32965398 |
Appl. No.: |
10/684246 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60429127 |
Nov 26, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
383/38 ; 383/10;
383/37; 383/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/2566 20130101;
B65D 31/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/038 ;
383/063; 383/010; 383/037 |
International
Class: |
B65D 030/22 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A multi-compartment bag, comprising: A. a first resealable bag
comprising: i. a first panel, ii. a second panel that is connected
to the first panel along at least portions of the bottom edges and
side edges of the first and second panels to define a first opening
to a first container, iii. a first closure element that is
positioned near the first opening, comprising: a. a first female
portion that is disposed on a first inner surface of the first
panel and b. a first male portion that is: (1) complementary to the
first female portion and (2) disposed on a second inner surface of
the second panel; and B. a second resealable bag that is connected
to the first resealable bag, comprising: i. a third panel, ii. a
fourth panel connected to the third panel along at least portions
of the bottom edges and side edges of the first and second panels
to form a second opening to a second container, and iii. a second
closure element positioned near the second opening, comprising: a.
a second female portion that is disposed on a third inner surface
of the third panel and b. a second male portion that is: (1)
complementary to the second female portion and (2) disposed on a
fourth inner surface of the fourth panel; in which the second
resealable bag is connected to the first resealable bag along at
least portions of the bottom edges and side edges of the first and
second resealable bags to form a third opening to a third container
between the first resealable bag and the second resealable bag.
2. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, further comprising: A. a
first lip portion on the first panel extending proximally from the
first female portion; and B. a second lip portion on the second
panel extending proximally from the first male portion.
3. The multi-compartment bag of claim 2, in which the first lip
portion extends proximally farther from the first female portion
than the second lip portion extends proximally from the first male
portion.
4. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, further comprising: A. a
third lip portion on the third panel extending proximally from the
second female portion; and B. a fourth lip portion on the fourth
panel extending proximally from the second male portion.
5. The multi-compartment bag of claim 4, in which the third lip
portion extends proximally farther from the second female portion
than the fourth lip portion extends proximally from the second male
portion.
6. The multi-compartment bag of claim 5, in which the third lip
portion is folded into the space between the second panel and the
third panel to form a cuff.
7. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of first perforations in the first panel.
8. The multi-compartment bag of claim 7, further comprising a
plurality of second perforations in the second panel.
9. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of second perforations in the second panel.
10. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of third perforations in the third panel.
11. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of fourth perforations in the fourth panel.
12. The multi-compartment bag of claim 11, further comprising a
plurality of third perforations in the third panel.
13. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, in which the second
closure element is positioned closer to the bottom edge of the
third panel than the first closure element.
14. The multi-compartment bag of claim 2, in which the second
closure element is positioned closer to the bottom edge of the
third panel than the first closure element.
15. The multi-compartment bag of claim 14, further comprising an
aperture in the first and second lip portions to form a handle.
16. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, in which at least a
portion of the first panel is tinted with a first color.
17. The multi-compartment bag of claim 16, in which the at least a
portion of second panel is tinted with a second color different
from the first color.
18. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, in which at least a
portion of the second panel is tinted with a second color.
19. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, in which at least a
portion of the third panel is tinted with a third color.
20. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, in which at least a
portion of the fourth panel is tinted with a fourth color.
21. The multi-compartment bag of claim 20, in which at least a
portion of the third panel is tinted with a third color that is
different from the fourth color.
22. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, in which at least a
portion of the first male portion is tinted with a first color.
23. The multi-compartment bag of claim 22, in which at least a
portion of the first female portion is tinted with a second color
different from the first color.
24. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, in which at least a
portion of the first female portion is tinted with a second
color.
25. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, in which at least a
portion of the second male portion is tinted with a third
color.
26. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, in which at least a
portion of the second female portion is tinted with a fourth
color.
27. The multi-compartment bag of claim 26, in which at least a
portion of the second male portion is tinted with a third color
that is different from the fourth color.
28. The multi-compartment bag of claim 1, in which the second
resealable bag is connected to the first resealable bag along at
least portions of their respective bottom edges using a wide heat
seam.
29. The multi-compartment bag of claim 28, in which the wide heat
seam is positioned at a location from about one quarter of an inch
to one half of an inch from the bottom edges of the first and
second resealable bags.
30. The multi-compartment bag of claim 28, in which the wide heat
seam is further applied along at least portions of the respective
side edges of the first and second resealable bags.
31. A multi-compartment bag, comprising: A. a first means for
containing objects; B. a first means for releasably sealing the
first containing means; C. a second means for containing objects
that is connected to the first containing means; D. a second means
for releasably sealing the second containing means; and E. a third
means for containing objects between the first containing means and
the second containing means.
32. The multi-compartment bag of claim 31, further comprising a
means for retaining objects inside the third containing means.
33. A method of making a multi-compartment bag, comprising the
steps of: A. extruding a tubular film; B. integrating into the
tubular film a first closure element, comprising: i. a first male
closure profile, and ii. a first female closure profile that is
complementary to the first male closure profile, C. integrating
into the tubular film a second closure element, comprising: i. a
second male closure profile, and ii. a second female closure
profile that is complementary to the second male closure profile;
D. flattening the tubular film to define a first bag opening edge
and a second bag opening edge such that: i. the first male closure
profile is positioned adjacent the first female closure profile and
ii. the second male closure profile is positioned adjacent the
second female closure profile; E. mating the first male closure
profile to the first female closure profile; F. mating the second
male closure profile to the second female closure profile; G.
cutting the tubular film along a first line that extends
longitudinally at a position laterally distant from the first
closure element; H. cutting the tubular film along a second line
that extends longitudinally at a position laterally distant from
the second closure element; I. forming a folded tubular film by
folding the tubular film along a third line that extends in a
longitudinal direction at a position between the first closure
element and the second closure element; J. sealing the folded
tubular film along at least a portion of a fourth line that extends
in the longitudinal direction at a position between the third line
and the second closure element; and K. forming the
multi-compartment bag by: i. cutting and sealing the folded tubular
film along a fifth line that extends from the first bag opening
edge to the second bag opening edge and ii. cutting and sealing the
folded tubular film along a sixth line that: a. is spaced
longitudinally from the fifth line and b. extends from the first
bag opening edge to the second bag opening edge.
Description
I. CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 60/429,127 filed Nov. 26, 2002.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The general principles for making reclosable plastic bags
are fairly well known and are exemplified in many prior patents.
Various developments in the reclosable plastic bags art, including
methods to manufacture and various die assemblies used to
manufacture such bags, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,216 to
Taheri (describes methods for forming bags), U.S. Pat. No.
4,755,248 to Geiger et al (die assemblies), U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,284
to Ausnit (forming a bag film web using a single extrusion
operation), U.S. Pat. Nos. Re. 28,959, 29,208, and 28,969 to Nalto,
U.S. Pat. No. Re. 33,674 to Uramoto, and U.S. Pat. No. Re. 26,991
to Luca (interlocking closure profiles), U.S. Pat. No. Re. 34,117
to Martin et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,673 to Nakamura, U.S. Pat. No.
4,993,844 to Robinson et al (compartmented double zipper pouch),
U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,234 to Levy (multi pocket bag for medical
specimen), U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,041 to Fullerton et al, U.S. Pat.
No. 6,234,675 to Saad et al (Multi compartment thermo plastic bag)
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,536 to Hiu (resealable compartmented bags),
all of which are incorporated here in their entirety for background
information by these references. Although these patents disclose
numerous fundamental methods for forming reclosable bags and
reclosable closure elements, the present improvements are intended
to be suitable with any of the known methods. It may be possible to
use many fundamental methods to modify or adapt them, and to
incorporate them into the invention disclosed below.
[0003] Reclosable plastic bags are used for many purposes,
including transporting and storing food products or other
materials. Reclosable plastic bags are often preferred over other
available bags because of numerous advantages, including that they
are easy to store and secure the contents when closed. Reclosable
plastic bags are constructed with interlocking properties and are
typically made with low-density polyethylene. Typically, consumers
purchase various sizes of these bags to fit the need of each use.
For example a standard 6.times.6 2-mil bag is used to pack a single
sandwich. A 7.times.8 quart size is used to fit a sandwich
accompanying another foodstuff such as a pickle or cookies. The
larger sizes are used to store leftovers or larger objects.
III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A reclosable multi-compartment bag according to the
invention includes at least two storage compartments, each with a
resealable closure. Additionally, it offers an open pouch in
between where other miscellaneous items can be put. Such a bag
ensures that the two storage compartments stay adjacent each other
at all times. Additionally, a bag according to the invention can be
manufactured at a lower cost than the cost of manufacturing two
bags separately and then joining them along their respective side
and bottom edges. Furthermore, the multiple compartment bags can be
sold in a single display box, which reduces packaging and shipping
costs.
[0005] Briefly described, in a first embodiment, the present
invention is comprised of two attached reclosable plastic bags. The
reclosable plastic bag of the invention has many uses. One
exemplary use of the bag is to store food in separate compartments.
The present invention includes two reclosable bags each formed from
two panels sealed along portions of their respective edges to form
a container having a bottom and an openable top. Each reclosable
bag also includes a closure element for opening and resealing the
openable top of the bag. Each reclosable bag further includes lips
that extend from the side of the closure opposite the interior of
each bag. The two bags are attached by sealing all four panels of
the two bags together, for example, along at least a portion of the
bottom edge. The two bags may also be attached along additional
portions of their respective side edges. The resealable bags are
preferably of different heights so that the user can more easily
grasp the lips of each bag and open each bag separately. However,
the bags may be of equal height if desired. A pouch is formed
between the front panel of the larger reclosable bag and back wall
of the smaller reclosable bag. This pouch preferably does not
contain a closure element like the two bags from which it is
formed; however, a reclosable tape can be incorporated if so
desired. Preferably the back lip of the front, smaller reclosable
bag may be folded inward into the pouch to create a cuff inside the
pouch, which can retain materials in the pouch if desired.
[0006] The manner in which the multi-compartment bag according to
the invention provides advantages over conventional bags will be
apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the exemplary
embodiments and the appended drawings and claims. The foregoing
general description and the following detailed description are
exemplary and explanatory only and do not restrict the claims
directed to the invention. The accompanying drawings, which are
incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification,
illustrate specific embodiments of the invention and together with
the description, serve to explain further the principles of the
invention.
IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] As used herein, like numerals throughout the various figures
represent the same or equivalent features of the invention.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a
reclosable bag according to the invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front view of a portion of the bag
of FIG. 1 including a closure element according to one aspect of
the invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front view of another portion of the
bag of FIG. 1 including a closure element according to one aspect
of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional front view of an extruding die
configured to extrude a single tubular film of material having two
closures that is suitable for making a bag according to the
invention or two tubes of material with each having one closure
that are suitable for making a bag according to the invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is an end view of an intermediate structure of a tube
extruded from the die shown in FIG. 4 in the single tube
configuration that is suitable for making a bag according to the
invention and in which the closure elements have been mated but the
tube has not yet been longitudinally cut to define the lip portions
of the bag.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an end view of the structure shown in FIG. 5 after
the tube has been (1) cut longitudinally to define lip portions of
the bag and (2) folded to define first and second bag portions, but
before the tube has been (1) sealed longitudinally near the fold to
define the bottom of the bag and (2) transversely cut and sealed to
define the sides of the bag.
[0014] FIG. 7 is an end view of an intermediate structure of two
tubes of film before the tubes are transversely cut and sealed to
define the sides of a bag according to the invention.
[0015] FIG. 8 is perspective view of another embodiment of a bag
according to the invention in which the bottom and both sides of
the bag are sealed with a relatively wide heat seam.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a plan view of a bag according to the invention
with small perforations in one of the panels.
[0017] FIG. 10 is schematic plan view of a plurality of bags
according to the invention that have been wicketted for display and
dispensing purposes.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a bag according to the invention
including an integrated carrying handle.
[0019] FIG. 12 is a plan view of a bag according to the invention
illustrating the manner in which various portions of the bag may be
tinted or colored to achieve certain advantages.
V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] This application refers in detail below to some exemplary
embodiments of the reclosable bag with integrated pouch according
to the invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying
drawings. The same reference numerals are often used throughout the
drawings to refer to the same or similar items.
[0021] The invention is directed to multi-compartment containers
and in particular to plastic bags having separately resealable
compartments. Bags according to the invention have numerous
advantages. For example such a bag can contain, in separate
compartments, liquids or aggregate materials of different types
that a user wishes to keep together. The bags also permit a user to
contain materials in predetermined quantities. A first embodiment
of the invention comprises two reclosable bags 10 and 20, as shown
for instance in FIG. 1, and includes first panel 12 and second
panel 13 for reclosable bag 10 and first panel 14 and second panel
15 for reclosable bag 20.
[0022] The bags 10 and 20 preferably are made from plastic or other
flexible materials such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear
low-density polyethylene (LLDP), or a combination of various other
thermoplastic materials. However, it is possible to construct bags
of materials that are microwave safe if desired. While the panels
12-15 of bags 10 and 20 may be of various thicknesses, a preferred
thickness for the panels is about 1.5 to 2.0 mils when the bag is
meant for use as a storage bag and about 2.2 to 2.5 mils when the
bag is meant for use as freezer bag. Still referring to FIG. 1,
panels 12 and 13 of bag 10 are sealed together near the bottom edge
26A and along side edges 18 and 19 to define a first container
having an interior capable of receiving and storing contents. The
bag 10 further incorporates a resealable opening 27, closure
element 25, and first and second lips 29 and 30. The lips 29 and 30
of bag 10 extend above the closure element 25 to facilitate easy
opening of the bag 10. Alternatively, lip 29 may extend further
above closure 25 than lip 30 to facilitate further easy opening of
closure 25.
[0023] Panels 14 and 15 of bag 20 are sealed together near the
bottom edge 26B and along side edges of 21 and 22 to define a
second container having an interior capable of receiving and
storing contents. The bag 20 further includes a resealable opening
28, closure element 24, and first and second lips 31 and 32. The
lips 31 and 32 of bag 20 extend above closure element 24 to
facilitate easy opening of the bag 20. Optionally, lip 31 of bag 20
may be substantially longer than lip 32 and folded backward in a
cuff manner behind the bag 20 to define edge 23 (FIG. 1). To
facilitate easier opening and closing of the closure elements 24
and 25, the lips of both bags 10 and 20 preferably extend more than
one half of an inch above the closure elements 24 and 25
respectively. During manufacture of bags 10 and 20, their
respective side edges 18, 19 and 21, 22, are typically sealed along
their entire lengths from openable tops 27 and 28 to bottom edges
26A and 26B.
[0024] Bags according to the invention may be manufactured
according to the following steps. The bags 10 and 20 may be made
from either two separate reclosable filmstrips as shown in FIGS. 2
and 3 (method A) or one single reclosable filmstrip as shown in
FIGS. 4-6 (method B). There are economic advantages and
disadvantages to method A and method B. For example, method A
permits the use of different materials and thicknesses in each of
the film strips. Additionally, method A permits the filmstrip in
FIG. 2 to be wider than the filmstrip shown in FIG. 3. After each
filmstrip is extruded, it is folded along a longitudinal axis to
form a front and back panel of a bag with a bottom edge (e.g., bag
10 with panels 12 and 13 and bottom edge 26A and bag 20 with panels
14 and 15 and bottom edge 26B). One filmstrip is laid upon the
other and positioned so that the bottom edges 26A and 26B
substantially coincide to achieve and even bottom seal. After the
extrusion step, each of the filmstrips may be optionally wound onto
a spool to permit the extrusion and bag formation steps to be
performed at significantly later times or in a separate location.
Although this alignment is not essential, it will affect the
current interior dimensions of the bag that is predetermined before
the manufacturing. Each of the two folded filmstrips shown in FIG.
2 and FIG. 3 are cut and sealed along their side edges 18, 19 and
21, 22 to form bags 10 and 20 respectively of desired width
dimensions (as shown in FIG. 1). If the cutting operation is
carried out with bags 10 and 20 overlapping, the operation will
also attach bag 10 to bag 20 along their respective side edges 18,
19 and 21, 22. Bags 10 and 20 are also attached using a relatively
wide heat seam shown as seal 16 in FIG. 1 (and optionally along
their respective side edges 18, 19 and 21, 22 as shown in FIG. 8).
To ensure that both bags 10 and 20 are sealed near their respective
bottom edges 26A and 26B, seal 16 may be located about 1/4" to 1/2"
from bottom edges 26A and 26B. However, seal 16 can be located as
close to the bottom edges 26A and 26B as the dimensional tolerances
of the manufacturing process permit. Additionally, the natural
pouch created between resealable bags 10 and 20 may be used to
contain a third type of material. To retain more securely the
contents in the space between bags 10 and 20, bag 20 may also
include an extended lip 31 that defines cuff 31a that is folded
into the space between bag 10 and bag 20 as shown, for example, in
FIG. 7. As an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the pouch
with a cuff 31 a can be formed between panel 13 of bag 10 and only
one panel 14 without a panel 15 to form a bag 20. In such an
embodiment, only bag 10 is resealable with a zipper-like closure
element, and the pouch between panel 14 and panel 13 can be used as
described above.
[0025] FIGS. 4-6 illustrate method B in which a multi-compartment
bag according to the invention is made from a single extruded
filmstrip. In method B, the film is extruded through a die 40 as
shown, for example, in FIG. 4. The male closure profiles 34 and 37
and the female closure profiles 35 and 36 are extruded through
elements 134 and 137 and 135 and 136 of die 40 respectively as
illustrated in FIG. 4. Suitable material is extruded through the
space defined between wall 33 and wall 39 of die 40 with die
elements 134/135 and 136/137 configured to form a film with two
male/female pairs of closure elements 34/35 and 36/37 respectively.
After the material is extruded, it may be flattened into the
tubular shape illustrated in FIG. 5. Once flattened as shown, male
profile 34 and female profile 35 of closure element 24 are
positioned to mate with one another, and male profile 37 and female
profile 36 of closure element 25 are positioned to mate with one
another. Before the flattened tube is formed into bags 10 and 20,
the male profile is engaged with female closure profile 35 and male
closure profile 37 is engaged with female closure profile 36. The
looped material on the ends of the tube shown in FIG. 5 is cut at
positions 38a and 38b to form lip pairs 29-30 of bag 10 and 31-32
of bag 20. FIG. 6 illustrates that the cut tubular film of FIG. 5
is folded at designated location 17 so that bags 10 and 20 overlap.
After the film is folded, bags 10 and 20 are formed as separate
containers by heat sealing panels 12-15 of the folded film portions
to each other near location 17 to form seal 16, for example, by
heat sealing or ultrasonic welding among other methods. Optionally,
lip 31 can be folded inwardly to form the cuff portion 31a in the
space between bags 10 and 20. After seal 16 is formed, the film is
a continuous tube of material with separately resealable bag
portions 10 and 20. The last manufacturing step to transform this
tube into separate multi-compartment bags is simultaneously cutting
and sealing the tube in a direction perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the tube to define side edges 18, 19, 21, and
22 of the multi-compartment bag.
[0026] The height of bags 10 and 20 of the multi-compartment bag
according to the invention can be varied by moving the closure
profiles 34-37 around the perimeter of die 40. Alternatively, the
height of bags 10 and 20 made with die 40 as shown in FIG. 4 can be
altered from that which is described above by mating male closure
profile 34 with female closure profile 36 and mating male closure
profile 35 with female closure profile 37. In this mating
arrangement, cutting the tube extruded from die 40 at 38a and 38b
results in two separate bags being formed without any further
sealing. These bags 10 and 20 could be attached to each other by
laying one upon the other and sealing them to each other as
described above in connection with method A.
[0027] FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the bag in which
the seals along the bottom and side edges are formed as wide heat
seams. The use of wide heat seams further permits a
multi-compartment bag according to the invention to be made from
four separate films rather than the two films of method A and the
one film of method B described above. The wider the heat seams, the
stronger and more leak resistant they become.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 9, the multi-compartment bag may be also
used to store and carry food as a lunch bag. In order to keep the
prepared food fresh for later use, it may be desirable to store
condiments in different pouch from the other food for later
application to that other food to complete the preparation. As an
example, a sandwich prepared with cold cuts and meats may contain
tomato or pickle etc. Once these items are combined, the sandwich
should be consumed momentarily. Otherwise, the juices from the
condiments or vegetables may make the sandwich soggy or otherwise
unappealing if the condiments or vegetables are placed on the
sandwich too early. Some items, like lettuce, remain fresher and
more appealing if stored in a bag that permits airflow. Therefore,
the multi-compartment bag according to the invention may optionally
include perforations 100 in one or more of panels 12-15 to
accommodate such items.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 10, several multi-compartment bags may be
stacked and sealed together at designated points so that each bag
in the stack can be removed individually. Arranging bags in this
fashion is called wicketting bags. This wicketted multi-compartment
bag is particularly adapted for use, for example, at a delicatessen
section of supermarket. The larger bag 10 may have a longer back
lip 29 with two wicket holes 120 with centers approximately 3"
apart. The wicket holes 120 are used to install the bag on a wicket
saddle (not shown). In order to use this bag, a small quantity of
the bags are sealed together, for example, at two locations 110
near each side of the bag by running a hot melt sealer through the
back lip 29 of each bag in the stack of bags. Each bag can be
separated from the display by lifting the bag and tearing it along
the perforation line 122 on the back lip 29 located below the
wicket holes 120.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 11, a reclosable bag according to the
invention may be adapted to serve as a carry bag with an integrated
carrying handle. Such a bag includes a back lip 29 that extends
farther from closure 25 than front lip 30 to leave space for
aperture 130, which can serve as a handle. Alternatively, aperture
130 can be formed in two relatively long lips 29 and 30.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 12, in another embodiment of a bag
according to the invention, bag 10 is tinted one color and bag 20
is tinted a different color. For example, in FIG. 12, the bag 10 is
tinted blue and the bag 20 is tinted yellow. The closures 24 and 25
can be tinted with coordinating or contrasting colors to assist a
user in distinguishing the closures from the bags and determining
whether the closures are sealed. Alternatively, the closures 24 and
25 may be provided without coloration. Because the bags 10 and 20
are differently colored, users are alerted to the fact that there
are two separate bags integrated together.
[0032] While certain embodiments are described above with
particularity, these should not be construed as limitations on the
scope of the invention. It should be understood, therefore, that
the foregoing detailed description relates only to exemplary
embodiments of the invention, and that numerous changes may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which
is defined by the following claims.
* * * * *