U.S. patent application number 11/203454 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-15 for freestanding upright mounted storage bag with grip for inverted application.
Invention is credited to George Anasis, Robert C. Kelly, Steven F. Speyer.
Application Number | 20070036471 11/203454 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37742614 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070036471 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anasis; George ; et
al. |
February 15, 2007 |
Freestanding upright mounted storage bag with grip for inverted
application
Abstract
A freestanding upright mounted storage bag with gripping flap
for inverted application of a flowable substance. The storage bag
may be formed of a single substrate configured to create an
application face with an application opening, and also rear,
dextral and sinistral faces. The substrate folds against itself,
and the faces all join, thereby completing a seal at the
application end of the bag. The bag also contains a base face,
which interconnects with the rest of the storage bag to form a
sealed container. The base face has a gripping flap, formed with a
gripping opening to facilitate user grasp of the flap. The gripping
flap is designed to rotate from a storage position, in which the
bag sits upright upon the base face and flap, to an application
position. Finally, the bag includes a spout adapted to cooperate
with the application opening for dispensing of the flowable
substance.
Inventors: |
Anasis; George; (Lewis
Center, OH) ; Speyer; Steven F.; (Madison, GA)
; Kelly; Robert C.; (Houston, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GALLAGHER & DAWSEY CO., L.P.A.
P.O. BOX 785
COLUMBUS
OH
43216
US
|
Family ID: |
37742614 |
Appl. No.: |
11/203454 |
Filed: |
August 11, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/10 ; 383/104;
383/120; 383/16; 383/21; 383/66; 383/906 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/5877 20130101;
B65D 33/14 20130101; B65D 75/008 20130101; B65D 77/065
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/010 ;
383/104; 383/016; 383/021; 383/066; 383/906; 383/120 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/08 20060101
B65D033/08; B65D 33/06 20060101 B65D033/06; B65D 33/16 20060101
B65D033/16; B65D 30/16 20060101 B65D030/16; B65D 30/20 20060101
B65D030/20 |
Claims
1. An freestanding upright mounted storage bag with grip (100) for
inverted application of a flowable substance contained therein
having an interior surface (102) partially in contact with the
flowable substance and an exterior surface (104) wherein the bag
(100) has a mounting end (110) and an application end (120),
comprising: (i) a substrate (130) configured to create; (a) an
application face (150) formed with an application opening (152);
(b) a rear face (160) having a portion sealed to a portion of the
application face (150); (c) a dextral face (170) interconnecting
the application face (150) and the rear face (160) and sealed at
the application end (120) to a portion of the application face
(150) and a portion of the rear face (160); (d) a sinistral face
(180) interconnecting the application face (150) and the rear face
(160) and sealed at the application end (120) to a portion of the
application face (150) and a portion of the rear face (160),
thereby completing a seal near the storage bag application end
(120); (e) a base face (190) interconnecting the application face
(150), the rear face (160), the dextral face (170), and the
sinistral face (180), and oriented substantially orthogonal to the
application face (150) near the intersection with the base face
(190), wherein the bag (100) is designed to rest in a substantially
vertical position on the base face (190), and the base face (190)
has a gripping flap (192) designed to rotate from a storage
position (193), in which the gripping flap (192) is substantially
parallel to the base face (190), to an application position (1 94),
in which the gripping flap (192) is substantially parallel to the
application face (150), and the gripping flap (192) is formed with
at least one gripping opening (195) designed to cooperate with at
least one of the fingers of a human hand; and (ii) a spout (200)
adapted to cooperate with the application opening (152) such that
the flowable substance may be dispensed from the bag (100) in a
controlled fashion when the bag is inverted and substantially
suspended from the gripping flap (192) in the application position
(194).
2. The storage bag (100) of claim 1, wherein the substrate (130) is
a single sheet of material having a first longitudinal edge (131),
a second longitudinal edge (132), a first transverse edge (133), a
second transverse edge (134), and a first longitudinal fold line
(135), a second longitudinal fold line (136), a third longitudinal
fold line (137), and a first transverse fold line (139), such that
the substrate (130) is folded longitudinally about the first
longitudinal fold line (135), the second longitudinal fold line
(136), and the third longitudinal fold line (137) and the first
longitudinal edge (131) is joined to the second longitudinal edge
(132) thereby creating the application face (150), the rear face
(160), the dextral face (170), and the sinistral face (180), and
the substrate (130) is folded transversely about the first
transverse fold line (139) thereby creating the base face (190),
and the substrate (130) is sealed to itself near the mounting end
(110) and the application end (120) to create a sealed storage bag
(100).
3. The storage bag (100) of claim 2, further including a second
transverse fold line (140) and a third transverse fold line (141)
positioned such that the gripping flap (1 92) is created from the
substrate (130) when the substrate is folded substantially along
the second transverse fold line (140) and the third transverse fold
line (141).
4. The storage bag (100) of claim 3, further including a first
dextral base fold line (142) extending from the first transverse
edge (133) toward the application end (120), a second dextral base
fold line (143) extending from the first dextral base fold line
(142) toward the rear face (160) to the first transverse fold line
(139), a third dextral base fold line (144) extending from the
first dextral base fold line (142) toward the application face
(150) to the first transverse fold line (139), a first sinistral
base fold line (145) extending from the first transverse edge (133)
toward the application end (120), a second sinistral base fold line
(146) extending from the first sinistral base fold line (145)
toward the application face (150) to the first transverse fold line
(139), a third sinistral base fold line (147) extending from the
first sinistral base fold line (145) toward the rear face (160) to
the first transverse fold line (139), such that the substrate (130)
is folded substantially along the first dextral base fold line
(142), the second dextral base fold line (143), the third dextral
base fold line (144), the first sinistral base fold line (145), the
second sinistral base fold line (146), and the third sinistral base
fold line (147) to create the gripping flap (192).
5. The storage bag (100) of claim 4, wherein the first dextral base
fold line (142) begins at the dextral face transverse midpoint
(172) along the first transverse edge (133), and the first
sinistral base fold line (145) begins at the sinistral face
transverse midpoint (182) along the first transverse edge
(133).
6. The storage bag (100) of claim 4, further including a dextral
application fold line (148) extending from the second transverse
edge (134) toward the mounting end (110), and a sinistral
application fold line (149) extending from the second transverse
edge (134) toward the mounting end (110), such that the substrate
(130) is folded substantially along the dextral application fold
line (148) and the sinistral application fold line (149) thereby
angling the dextral face (170) and the sinistral face (180) toward
the spout (200) to improve the controlled dispensing of the
flowable substance from the bag (100).
7. The storage bag (100) of claim 6, wherein the dextral
application fold line (148) begins at the dextral face transverse
midpoint (172) along the second transverse edge (134), and the
sinistral application fold line (149) begins at the sinistral face
transverse midpoint (182) along the second transverse edge
(134).
8. The storage bag (100) of claim 7, wherein the portion of the
second transverse fold line (140) located between the first
longitudinal fold line (135) and the dextral application fold line
(148) is joined to a portion of the second transverse fold line
(140) bounding the application face (150), the portion of the
second transverse fold line (140) located between the second
longitudinal fold line (136) and the dextral application fold line
(148) is joined to a portion of the second transverse fold line
(140) bounding the rear face (160), the portion of the second
transverse fold line (140) located between the third longitudinal
fold line (137) and the sinistral application fold line (149) is
joined to a portion of the second transverse fold line (140)
bounding the rear face (160), and the portion of the second
transverse fold line (140) located between the second longitudinal
edge (132) and the sinistral application fold line (149) is joined
to a portion of the second transverse fold line (140) bounding the
application face (150).
9. The storage bag (100) of claim 4, wherein the first dextral base
fold line (142) is joined to an application side flap (196) of the
gripping flap (192) and is joined to a rear side flap (197) of the
gripping flap (192), the first sinistral base fold line (145) is
joined to an application side flap (196) of the gripping flap (192)
and is joined to a rear side flap (197) of the gripping flap (192),
and a portion of the second transverse fold line (140) is joined to
a portion of the third transverse fold line (141) between the
points at which the application side flap (196) and the rear side
flap (197) are joined to the first dextral fold line (142) and the
first sinistral fold line (145), and the at least one gripping
opening (195) is located in the area bounded by the portion of the
second transverse fold line (140) joined to the portion of the
third transverse fold line (141) and the points at which the
application side flap (196) and the rear side flap (197) are joined
to the first dextral fold line (142) and the first sinistral fold
line (145).
10. The storage bag (100) of claim 1, wherein the bag (100) has a
height (106) and a width (108), and the height (106) is
substantially equal to, or greater than, the width (108).
11. An freestanding upright mounted storage bag with grip (100) for
inverted application of a flowable substance contained therein
having an interior surface (102) partially in contact with the
flowable substance and an exterior surface (104) wherein the bag
(100) has a mounting end (110), an application end (120), a height
(106), and a width (108), comprising: (i) a substrate (130)
comprising a single sheet of material having a first longitudinal
edge (131), a second longitudinal edge (132), a first transverse
edge (133), a second transverse edge (134), and a first
longitudinal fold line (135), a second longitudinal fold line
(136), a third longitudinal fold line (137), and a first transverse
fold line (139), such that the substrate (130) is folded
longitudinally about the first longitudinal fold line (135), the
second longitudinal fold line (136), and the third longitudinal
fold line (137), the substrate (130) is folded transversely about
the first transverse fold line (139), and the first longitudinal
edge (131) is joined to the second longitudinal edge (132), to
create; (a) an application face (150) formed with an application
opening (152); (b) a rear face (160) having a portion sealed to a
portion of the application face (150); (c) a dextral face (170)
interconnecting the application face (150) and the rear face (160)
and sealed at the application end (120) to a portion of the
application face (150) and a portion of the rear face (160); (d) a
sinistral face (180) interconnecting the application face (150) and
the rear face (160) and sealed at the application end (120) to a
portion of the application face (150) and a portion of the rear
face (160), thereby completing a seal near the storage bag
application end (120); (e) a base face (190) interconnecting the
application face (150), the rear face (160), the dextral face
(170), and the sinistral face (180), and oriented substantially
orthogonal to the application face (150) near the intersection with
the base face (190), wherein the bag (100) is designed to rest in a
substantially vertical position on the base face (190), and the
base face (190) has a gripping flap (192) designed to rotate from a
storage position (193), in which the gripping flap (192) is
substantially parallel to the base face (190), to an application
position (194), in which the gripping flap (192) is substantially
parallel to the application face (150), and the gripping flap (192)
is formed with at least one gripping opening (195) designed to
cooperate with at least one of the fingers of a human hand, and
wherein the height (106) is substantially equal to, or greater
than, the width (108); and (ii) a spout (200) adapted to cooperate
with the application opening (152) such that the flowable substance
may be dispensed from the bag (100) in a controlled fashion when
the bag is inverted and substantially suspended from the gripping
flap (192) in the application position (194).
12. The storage bag (100) of claim 11, further including a second
transverse fold line (140) and a third transverse fold line (141)
positioned such that the gripping flap (192) is created from the
substrate (130) when the substrate is folded substantially along
the second transverse fold line (140) and the third transverse fold
line (141).
13. The storage bag (100) of claim 12, further including a first
dextral base fold line (142) extending from the first transverse
edge (133) toward the application end (120), a second dextral base
fold line (143) extending from the first dextral base fold line
(142) toward the rear face (160) to the first transverse fold line
(139), a third dextral base fold line (144) extending from the
first dextral base fold line (142) toward the application face
(150) to the first transverse fold line (139), a first sinistral
base fold line (145) extending from the first transverse edge (133)
toward the application end (120), a second sinistral base fold line
(146) extending from the first sinistral base fold line (145)
toward the application face (150) to the first transverse fold line
(139), a third sinistral base fold line (147) extending from the
first sinistral base fold line (145) toward the rear face (160) to
the first transverse fold line (139), such that the substrate (130)
is folded substantially along the first dextral base fold line
(142), the second dextral base fold line (143), the third dextral
base fold line (144), the first sinistral base fold line (145), the
second sinistral base fold line (146), and the third sinistral base
fold line (147) to create the gripping flap (192).
14. The storage bag (100) of claim 13, wherein the first dextral
base fold line (142) begins at the dextral face transverse midpoint
(172) along the first transverse edge (133), and the first
sinistral base fold line (145) begins at the sinistral face
transverse midpoint (182) along the first transverse edge
(133).
15. The storage bag (100) of claim 13, further including a dextral
application fold line (148) extending from the second transverse
edge (134) toward the mounting end (110), and a sinistral
application fold line (149) extending from the second transverse
edge (134) toward the mounting end (110), such that the substrate
(130) is folded substantially along the dextral application fold
line (148) and the sinistral application fold line (149) thereby
angling the dextral face (170) and the sinistral face (180) toward
the spout (200) to improve the controlled dispensing of the
flowable substance from the bag (100).
16. The storage bag (100) of claim 15, wherein the dextral
application fold line (148) begins at the dextral face transverse
midpoint (172) along the second transverse edge (134), and the
sinistral application fold line (149) begins at the sinistral face
transverse midpoint (182) along the second transverse edge
(134).
17. The storage bag (100) of claim 16, wherein the portion of the
second transverse fold line (140) located between the first
longitudinal fold line (135) and the dextral application fold line
(148) is joined to a portion of the second transverse fold line
(140) bounding the application face (150), the portion of the
second transverse fold line (140) located between the second
longitudinal fold line (136) and the dextral application fold line
(148) is joined to a portion of the second transverse fold line
(140) bounding the rear face (160), the portion of the second
transverse fold line (140) located between the third longitudinal
fold line (137) and the sinistral application fold line (149) is
joined to a portion of the second transverse fold line (140)
bounding the rear face (160), and the portion of the second
transverse fold line (140) located between the second longitudinal
edge (132) and the sinistral application fold line (149) is joined
to a portion of the second transverse fold line (140) bounding the
application face (150).
18. The storage bag (100) of claim 13, wherein the first dextral
base fold line (142) is joined to an application side flap (196) of
the gripping flap (192) and is joined to a rear side flap (197) of
the gripping flap (192), the first sinistral base fold line (145)
is joined to an application side flap (196) of the gripping flap
(192) and is joined to a rear side flap (197) of the gripping flap
(192), and a portion of the second transverse fold line (140) is
joined to a portion of the third transverse fold line (141) between
the points at which the application side flap (196) and the rear
side flap (197) are joined to the first dextral fold line (142) and
the first sinistral fold line (145), and the at least one gripping
opening (195) is located in the area bounded by the portion of the
second transverse fold line (140) joined to the portion of the
third transverse fold line (141) and the points at which the
application side flap (196) and the rear side flap (197) are joined
to the first dextral fold line (142) and the first sinistral fold
line (145).
19. An freestanding upright mounted storage bag with grip (100) for
inverted application of a flowable substance contained therein
having an interior surface (102) partially in contact with the
flowable substance and an exterior surface (104) wherein the bag
(100) has a mounting end (110), an application end (120), a height
(106), and a width (108), comprising: (i) a substrate (130)
comprising a single sheet of material having a first longitudinal
edge (131), a second longitudinal edge (132), a first transverse
edge (133), a second transverse edge (134), a first longitudinal
fold line (135), a second longitudinal fold line (136), a third
longitudinal fold line (137), a first transverse fold line (139), a
second transverse fold line (140), a third transverse fold line
(141), a first dextral base fold line (142) beginning at the
dextral face transverse midpoint (172) along the first transverse
edge (133) and extending toward the application end (120), a second
dextral base fold line (143) extending from the first dextral base
fold line (142) toward the rear face (160) to the first transverse
fold line (139), a third dextral base fold line (144) extending
from the first dextral base fold line (142) toward the application
face (150) to the first transverse fold line (139), a first
sinistral base fold line (145) beginning at the sinistral face
transverse midpoint (182) along the first transverse edge (133) and
extending toward the application end (120), a second sinistral base
fold line (146) extending from the first sinistral base fold line
(145) toward the application face (150) to the first transverse
fold line (139), a third sinistral base fold line (147) extending
from the first sinistral base fold line (145) toward the rear face
(160) to the first transverse fold line (139), a dextral
application fold line (148) extending from the second transverse
edge (134) toward the mounting end (110), and a sinistral
application fold line (149) extending from the second transverse
edge (134) toward the mounting end (110), such that the substrate
(130) is folded longitudinally about the first longitudinal fold
line (135), the second longitudinal fold line (136), and the third
longitudinal fold line (1 37), the substrate (130) is folded
transversely about the first transverse fold line (139), and the
first longitudinal edge (131) is joined to the second longitudinal
edge (132), to create; (a) an application face (150) formed with an
application opening (152); (b) a rear face (160) having a portion
sealed to a portion of the application face (150); (c) a dextral
face (170) interconnecting the application face (150) and the rear
face (160) and sealed at the application end (120) to a portion of
the application face (150) and a portion of the rear face (160);
(d) a sinistral face (180) interconnecting the application face
(150) and the rear face (160) and sealed at the application end
(120) to a portion of the application face (150) and a portion of
the rear face (160), thereby completing a seal near the storage bag
application end (120); (e) a base face (190) interconnecting the
application face (150), the rear face (160), the dextral face
(170), and the sinistral face (180), and oriented substantially
orthogonal to the application face (150) near the intersection with
the base face (190), wherein the bag (100) is designed to rest in a
substantially vertical position on the base face (190), and the
base face (190) has a gripping flap (192) created by folding the
substrate (130) substantially along the first dextral base fold
line (142), the second dextral base fold line (143), the third
dextral base fold line (144), the first sinistral base fold line
(145), the second sinistral base fold line (146), and the third
sinistral base fold line (147), wherein the gripping flap (192) is
designed to rotate from a storage position (193), in which the
gripping flap (192) is substantially parallel to the base face
(190), to an application position (194), in which the gripping flap
(192) is created from the substrate (130) when the substrate is
folded substantially along the second transverse fold line (140)
and the third transverse fold line (141) and the gripping flap
(192) is substantially parallel to the application face (150), and
the gripping flap (192) is formed with at least one gripping
opening (195) designed to cooperate with at least one of the
fingers of a human hand, and wherein the height (106) is
substantially equal to, or greater than, the width (108); and (ii)
a spout (200) adapted to cooperate with the application opening
(152) such that the flowable substance may be dispensed from the
bag (100) in a controlled fashion when the bag is inverted and
substantially suspended from the gripping flap (192) in the
application position (194) wherein the substrate (130) is folded
substantially along the dextral application fold line (148) and the
sinistral application fold line (149) thereby angling the dextral
face (170) and the sinistral face (180) toward the spout (200) to
improve the controlled dispensing of the flowable substance from
the bag (100).
20. The storage bag (100) of claim 19, wherein the portion of the
second transverse fold line (140) located between the first
longitudinal fold line (135) and the dextral application fold line
(148) is joined to a portion of the second transverse fold line
(140) bounding the application face (150), the portion of the
second transverse fold line (140) located between the second
longitudinal fold line (136) and the dextral application fold line
(148) is joined to a portion of the second transverse fold line
(140) bounding the rear face (160), the portion of the second
transverse fold line (140) located between the third longitudinal
fold line (137) and the sinistral application fold line (149) is
joined to a portion of the second transverse fold line (140)
bounding the rear face (160), and the portion of the second
transverse fold line (140) located between the second longitudinal
edge (132) and the sinistral application fold line (149) is joined
to a portion of the second transverse fold line (140) bounding the
application face (150).
21. The storage bag (100) of claim 19, wherein the first dextral
base fold line (142) is joined to an application side flap (196) of
the gripping flap (192) and is joined to a rear side flap (197) of
the gripping flap (192), the first sinistral base fold line (145)
is joined to an application side flap (196) of the gripping flap
(192) and is joined to a rear side flap (197) of the gripping flap
(192), and a portion of the second transverse fold line (140) is
joined to a portion of the third transverse fold line (141) between
the points at which the application side flap (196) and the rear
side flap (197) are joined to the first dextral fold line (142) and
the first sinistral fold line (145), and the at least one gripping
opening (195) is located in the area bounded by the portion of the
second transverse fold line (140) joined to the portion of the
third transverse fold line (141) and the points at which the
application side flap (196) and the rear side flap (197) are joined
to the first dextral fold line (142) and the first sinistral fold
line (145).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The instant invention relates to the field of flexible bags;
particularly, to a free-standing bag with an application spout and
a gripping area.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many products today are distributed in heavy duty bags and
rigid containers, especially products with a granular structure. It
is well known that a variety of flexible heavy duty bags have been
developed, including some formed from a single sheet of material
folded into a bag shape. Many types of bags are used to store
and/or dispense granular substances, and a variety of these
containers are freestanding. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,540
('540), issued to Heydarpour teaches a flexible container with a
relatively planar bottom section. Other containers contain a
reclosable opening, through which the contents of a flexible bag
may be dispersed, like that seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,355 ('355),
issued to Schneck.
[0003] What has been missing in the art has been a bag or container
which is designed to be freestanding and upright during storage,
while facilitating easy dispensing of the product from an inverted
position. While a variety of freestanding bags are currently
present in the art, they all lack distinctive improving features
which make the present invention needed. For example, the preferred
embodiment of this invention includes a gripping flap positioned
opposite the application opening such that during storage the bag
stands upright concealing the flap, while to discharge the contents
of the bag it must be inverted thus revealing the convenient
gripping flap. In addition to this gripping flap, the present
invention also includes a resealable spout and stable base face.
Finally, the gripping flap is designed to ergonomically correspond
to at least one finger of the user, thus allowing the user to more
easily dispense the contents of the bag in an efficient and
controlled manner.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] In its most general configuration, the present invention
advances the state of the art with a variety of new capabilities
and overcomes many of the shortcomings of prior devices in new and
novel ways. In its most general sense, the present invention
overcomes the shortcomings and limitations of the prior art in any
of a number of generally effective configurations. The instant
invention demonstrates such capabilities and overcomes many of the
shortcomings of prior methods in new and novel ways.
[0005] The present invention consists of a storage bag designed for
use with a flowable substance. The invention may be configured from
a single substrate folded upon itself and sealed to itself, or
multiple substrates. The preferred embodiment of the invention
includes a base face upon which the storage bag can stand freely
without external assistance. In addition, the bag contains a
resealable spout located on an application face. Finally, a
gripping flap extends from the base face, opposite from an
application end, to facilitate the dispersal of the flowable
substance.
[0006] These variations, modifications, alternatives, and
alterations of the various preferred embodiments may be used alone
or in combination with one another as will become more readily
apparent to those with skill in the art with reference to the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the
accompanying figures and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Without limiting the scope of the present invention as
claimed below and referring now to the drawings and figures:
[0008] FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of the application
face and dextral face of the freestanding upright mounted storage
bag with grip, showing the gripping flap in the storage
position;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an elevated perspective view of the rear face and
dextral face of the freestanding upright mounted storage bag with
grip, showing the gripping flap in the storage position;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an elevated perspective view of the application
face and dextral face of the freestanding upright mounted storage
bag with grip, showing the gripping flap in the application
position;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an elevated perspective view of the application
face and the sinistral face of the freestanding upright mounted
storage bag with the gripping flap in the application position, and
the mounting end oriented over the application end;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the substrate of the
freestanding upright mounted storage bag; and
[0013] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the substrate of the
freestanding upright mounted storage bag showing the presence of
the application side flap and the rear side flap.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The freestanding upright mounted storage bag with grip (100)
of the instant invention enables a significant advance in the state
of the art. The preferred embodiments of the device accomplish this
by new and novel arrangements of elements and methods that are
configured in unique and novel ways and which demonstrate
previously unavailable but preferred and desirable capabilities.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the
drawings is intended merely as a description of the presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to
represent the only form in which the present invention may be
constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the designs,
functions, means, and methods of implementing the invention in
connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be
understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and
features may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also
intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
invention.
[0015] The present invention is a freestanding upright mounted
storage bag with grip (100), as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The storage
bag (100) may be inverted to facilitate application of a flowable
substance contained within the bag (100) which has an interior
surface partially in contact with the flowable substance and an
exterior surface in contact with the surrounding atmosphere. The
bag (100) of the present invention has both a mounting end (110)
and an application end (120), and the features of the invention may
be configured from a single substrate (130), seen in FIG. 5, or
multiple substrate sections joined together. Specifically, a single
substrate (130) may be configured to be folded and sealed to form
various embodiments of this invention.
[0016] First, the basic structure of the substrate (130) will be
disclosed, with the detailed description of the substrate (130)
variations to follow. The substrate (130) may be configured to
create an application face (150) formed with an application opening
(152). As seen in FIG. 2, the substrate (130) also forms a rear
face (160) with a portion of the rear face (160) sealed to a
portion of the application face (150). Additionally, when
configured, the substrate (130) of the storage bag (100) forms a
dextral face (170) and a sinistral face (180), best illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2. Both the dextral face (170) and the sinistral face
(180) interconnect the application face (150) and the rear face
(160) and are sealed at the application end (120) to a portion of
the application face (150) and a portion of the rear face (160), as
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this manner, the application face
(150), the rear face (160), the dextral face (170) and the
sinistral face (180) all join, thereby completing a seal near the
storage bag application end (120), illustrated best in FIG. 4.
[0017] The storage bag (100) of the present invention also contains
a base face (190), which interconnects the application face (150),
the rear face (160), the dextral face (170), and the sinistral face
(180). The base face (190) is the face upon which the storage bag
(100) rests when not applying the flowable substance. The ability
of the bag (100) to rest in an unsupported upright position, such
as that seen in FIG. 1, is essential for good product placement in
retail stores. The base face (190) is oriented substantially
orthogonal to the application face (150) near the intersection with
the base face (190). In this configuration, the bag (100) is
designed to rest in a substantially vertical position on the base
face (190).
[0018] Additionally, the base face (190) has a gripping flap (192)
designed to rotate from a storage position (193), in which the
gripping flap (192) is substantially parallel to the base face
(190), as seen in FIG. 1, to an application position (194). As seen
in FIG. 3, when in the application position (194), the gripping
flap (192) is substantially parallel to the application face (150).
The gripping flap (192) is formed with at least one gripping
opening (195), illustrated in FIG. 4, designed to cooperate with at
least one of the fingers of a human hand. Finally, the bag includes
a spout (200) adapted to cooperate with the application opening
(152), seen in FIG. 1, such that the flowable substance may be
dispensed from the bag (100) in a controlled fashion when the bag
is inverted and substantially suspended from the gripping flap
(192) in the application position (194), as seen in FIG. 4. In an
additional embodiment, the base face (190) may incorporate multiple
gripping flaps (192).
[0019] In one embodiment, the storage bag (100) previously
described is created with a substrate (130) that is a single sheet
of material having a first longitudinal edge (131), a second
longitudinal edge (132), a first transverse edge (133), and a
second transverse edge (134). In addition, the substrate (130)
contains a first longitudinal fold line (135), a second
longitudinal fold line (136), and a third longitudinal fold line
(137), and also contains a first transverse fold line (139),
illustrated in FIG. 5. By folding the substrate (130)
longitudinally about the first, second, and third longitudinal fold
lines (135, 136, 137), and joining the first longitudinal edge
(131) to the second longitudinal edge (132), the application face
(150), the rear face (160), the dextral face (170) and the
sinistral face (180) are formed. The substrate (130) is also folded
transversely about the first transverse fold line (139) to create
the base face (190), and the substrate (130) is sealed to itself
near the mounting end (110) and the application end (120), thus
creating the sealed storage bag (100). Furthermore, in an
additional embodiment, the storage bag (100) also includes a second
transverse fold line (140) and a third transverse fold line (141),
positioned such that the gripping flap (192) is created from the
substrate (130) when the substrate is folded substantially along
the second transverse fold line (140) and the third transverse fold
line (141). Alternatively, the gripping flap (192) may be a
separate and distinct member that is attached to the base face
(190).
[0020] One with skill in the art will recognize that the first
longitudinal edge (131) and the second longitudinal edge (132) need
not lie at one of the corners of the storage bag (100). For
instance, the longitudinal edges (131, 132) may lie at any point on
the application face (150), the rear face (160), the dextral face
(170), or the sinistral face (180). Such embodiments need only
incorporate additional fold lines to accommodate creation of the
faces (150, 160, 170, 180).
[0021] The storage bag (100) may also include a first dextral base
fold line (142), which extends from the first transverse edge (133)
toward the application end (120). Further, a second dextral base
fold line (143) may extend from the first dextral base fold line
(142) toward the rear face (160), terminating at the first
transverse fold line (139). Similarly, a third dextral base fold
line (144) may extend from the first dextral base fold line (142)
toward the application face (150), terminating at the first
transverse fold line (139). Additionally, a first sinistral base
fold line (145) may extend from the first transverse edge (133)
toward the application end (120). A second sinistral base fold line
(146) may extend from the first sinistral base fold line (145)
toward the application face (150) terminating at the first
transverse fold line (139), and a third sinistral base fold line
(147) may extend from the first sinistral base fold line (145)
toward the rear face (160) and terminate at the first transverse
fold line (139).
[0022] In yet another embodiment, the substrate (130) is folded to
create the gripping flap (192) by folding substantially along the
first, second, and third dextral base fold lines (142, 143, 144),
and by folding substantially along the first, second, and third
sinistral base fold lines (145, 146, 147). The first transverse
edge (133) and the second transverse edge (134) each have a dextral
face transverse midpoint (172), defined as the point equidistant
from both the first longitudinal fold line (135) and the second
longitudinal fold line. The first transverse edge (133) and the
second transverse edge (134) also have a sinistral face transverse
midpoint (182), defined as the point equidistant from both the
third longitudinal fold line (137) and the second longitudinal edge
(132). The first dextral base fold line (142) of the storage bag
(100) usually originates at the dextral face transverse midpoint
(172) along the first transverse edge (133), while the first
sinistral base fold line (145) usually begins at the sinistral face
transverse midpoint (182) along the first transverse edge
(133).
[0023] Additionally, the substrate (130) of the storage bag (100)
may include a dextral application fold line (148) extending from
the second transverse edge (134) toward the mounting end (110), and
a sinistral application fold line (149) extending from the second
transverse edge (134) toward the mounting end (110), seen in FIG.
5. When the substrate (130) is folded substantially along the
dextral application fold line (148) and the sinistral application
fold line (149), the dextral face (170) and the sinistral face
(180) are angled toward the spout (200) to improve the controlled
dispensing of the flowable substance from the bag (100).
Additionally, the dextral application fold line (148) may begin at
the dextral face traverse midpoint (172) along the second
transverse edge (134), and the sinistral application fold line
(149) may begin at the sinistral face transverse midpoint (182)
along the second transverse edge (134).
[0024] In addition, the application end (120) of the storage bag
(100) may be sealed in any variety of manners. In one embodiment, a
portion of the second transverse fold line (140) located between
the first longitudinal fold line (135) and the dextral application
fold line (148) is joined to a portion of the second transverse
fold line (140) bounding the application face (150). In this
embodiment, the portion of the second transverse fold line (140)
located between the second longitudinal fold line (136) and the
dextral application fold line (148) is joined to a portion of the
second transverse fold line (140) bounding the rear face (160).
Here, the portion of the second transverse fold line (140) located
between the third longitudinal fold line (137) and the sinistral
application fold line (149) is joined to a portion of the second
transverse fold line (140) bounding the rear face (160). Finally,
the portion of the second transverse fold line (140) located
between the second longitudinal edge (132) and the sinistral
application fold line (149) is joined to a portion of the second
transverse fold line (140) bounding the application face (150).
[0025] The mounting end may also be formed in a variety of manners.
In one embodiment, seen in FIG. 6, it is beneficial to identify two
layers of the gripping flap (190), namely an application side flap
(196) and a rear side flap (197). In this embodiment, the first
dextral base fold line (142) may be joined to the application side
flap (196), and to the rear side flap (197). Similarly, the first
sinistral base fold line (145) may be joined to the application
side flap (196) and to the rear side flap (197). A portion of the
second transverse fold line (140) is joined to a portion of the
third transverse fold line (141) between the points at which the
application side flap (196) and the rear side flap (197) are joined
to the first dextral fold line (142) and the first sinistral fold
line (145). In one particular embodiment, the at least one gripping
opening (195) is located in the area bounded by the portion of the
second transverse fold line (140) joined to the portion of the
third transverse fold line (141), and the points at which the
application side flap (196) and the rear side flap (197) are joined
to the first dextral fold line (142) and the first sinistral fold
line (145).
[0026] The storage bag (100) of the present invention can be a
variety of sizes, shapes, and volumes. The bag (100) has a height
(106) and a width (108), as seen in FIG. 2. Generally, the height
(106) is at least at least equal in magnitude to that of the width
(108). The bag (100) may house both dry and wet substances,
including, but not limited to, fertilizer, agricultural chemicals,
kitty litter, and animal feed. The bag (100) is generally designed
to hold 5 gallons or less, thereby having a height (106) of 30
inches or less and a width (108) of 10 inches or less.
[0027] The spout (200) may be formed in any variety of ways. For
example, the spout may be formed as a simple opening. In addition,
the spout (200) could be a predefined tear area in the application
face (150), which may consist of a perforated region of the
substrate (130) with a pull-tab, or any other mechanism to tear
away the perforated region to create the application opening (152).
Alternatively, the spout (200) could be a separate and distinct
device attached to the application face (150) as seen in FIG.
1.
[0028] The configuration of the storage bag (100) provides a
significant benefit to the user. The presence of the gripping flap
(192) and the gripping opening (195) allows the user to carry the
bag (100) without grasping the portion of the bag (100) containing
the flowable substance. This technique is preferred because it
reduces the likelihood of puncture and product waste. In addition,
carrying of the bag (100) by grasping the gripping flap (192)
ensures a reduced chance of the user coming in contact with any
hazardous contents should a tear or leak occur in the substrate
(130). Finally, the storage bag (100) includes a benign tear
location, so that if the substrate did tear during application, it
would be at the gripping opening (195), and not in the main storage
compartment of the bag (100). This feature protects the user by
containing the flowable contents of the storage bag (100) upon
failure of the substrate (130), again ensuring that the user does
not come into contact with any hazardous contents of the bag
(100).
[0029] The storage bag substrate (130) may be constructed of
virtually any pliable material. However, it is generally preferable
to have the substrate (130) constructed of a liquid impervious
substrate to ensure dry goods remain dry and liquids do not leak
from the storage bag (100). Additionally, in another embodiment the
substrate (130) may be translucent so that the user can visually
confirm the release of the flowable substance from the storage bag
(100). In yet a further embodiment, the substrate (130) may be made
of PVC or other thermoplastic material, such as plastic,
polypropylene, polyethylene, styrene, cold-formed foil, or other
suitable materials for packaging, however, tear resistant paper
products may also be used.
[0030] In order to assemble the substrate (130) into the storage
bag (100) of the present invention, some means of sealing or
joining the various elements must be used. The sealing or joining
means may, in general, be adhesive, chemical, thermal or mechanical
in nature. The seals in this invention may be stronger than the
material to which it is attached, and which therefore requires
breaking or tearing of the substrate at the intended locations,
such as the application opening (152) or the spout (200), to
release the contents of the storage bag (100). One with skill in
the art will recognize the numerous types of seals that may be
incorporated into the present invention. For instance, the
longitudinal seals need not lie at one of the corners of the
storage bag (100), known as a corner seal. In fact, the
longitudinal seals are generally created via a lap-joint where the
longitudinal edges (131, 132) overlap by at least 1/8''. Such a
seal located down the middle of the rear face (160) is common and
is often referred to as a backseal. Alternatively, any of the seals
may be fin seals, wherein the interior surface (102) of two edges
are joined together.
[0031] The storage bag (100) may include multiple internal chambers
and may be formed using a manufacturing process incorporating
multiple webs of substrate (130). For instance, one web of
substrate (130) may be used to form the application face (150), the
dextral face (170), and the sinistral face (180), whereas a second
web of substrate (130) may form the rear face (160) and be joined
to the first web. The design of the storage bag (100) enables the
forming, filling, and sealing to be completed in a continuous
process.
[0032] Numerous alterations, modifications, and variations of the
preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those
skilled in the art and they are all anticipated and contemplated to
be within the spirit and scope of the instant invention. For
example, although specific embodiments have been described in
detail, those with skill in the art will understand that the
preceding embodiments and variations can be modified to incorporate
various types of substitute and or additional or alternative
materials, relative arrangement of elements, and dimensional
configurations. Accordingly, even though only few variations of the
present invention are described herein, it is to be understood that
the practice of such additional modifications and variations and
the equivalents thereof, are within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined in the following claims. The corresponding
structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step
plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include
any structure, material, or acts for performing the functions in
combination with other claimed elements as specifically
claimed.
* * * * *