U.S. patent application number 11/890020 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-05 for deli sandwich/composite storage bag.
Invention is credited to John N. McGruder.
Application Number | 20090034885 11/890020 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40338215 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090034885 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McGruder; John N. |
February 5, 2009 |
Deli sandwich/composite storage bag
Abstract
A package with a flexible first and second opposing walls and a
reclosable opening with interlocking and cooperative male and
female elements where the walls are directly interconnected by
binding zones and define between them a plurality of compartments
(units/bags) separated by such binding zones that can be
individually detached. Each detachable compartment (unit/bag) has
external flanges formed on the upper exposed edges of the walls and
adapted to be gripped and drawn apart to separate said elements
with said bag being opened by drawing said elements apart and being
closed by pressing said elements together; The detachable
recloseable (unit/bag) can contain ingredients for the preparation
of or addition to, a drink or food. At least some of the
compartments contain different ingredients, and at least one or all
of them may freezable and microwave safe for cooling and heating.
Additionally the compartment package (unit/bag) can be used for
storage.
Inventors: |
McGruder; John N.; (San
Marcos, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John N. McGruder
#355, 1930 NORTHSTAR WAY
SAN MARCOS
CA
92078
US
|
Family ID: |
40338215 |
Appl. No.: |
11/890020 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/37 ; 383/38;
383/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/3446 20130101;
B65D 33/25 20130101; B65D 81/3266 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/37 ; 383/63;
383/38 |
International
Class: |
B65D 30/22 20060101
B65D030/22; B65D 30/02 20060101 B65D030/02; B65D 33/30 20060101
B65D033/30 |
Claims
1. In a recloseable, flexible container of the type comprising: (a)
a plastic film or similar material (b) Interlocking and cooperative
male and female elements or press-seal type surfaces formed of a
resilient material integrally at the inner surface of said walls
about the opening of said compartment (unit/bags), said male
element being formed at said first wall and having locking surfaces
or press-seal type surfaces thereon and said female element or
press-seal type surface being formed at said second wall and having
locking surfaces or press-seal type surface leading from an outer
mouth portion thereof for engaging said male element locking
surfaces or press-seal type surfaces and closing said compartment
(unit/bags); and (c) external flanges formed on the upper exposed
edges of said walls and extending outwardly of said elements and
adapted to be gripped and drawn apart to separate said elements
with said bag being opened by drawing said elements apart and being
closed by pressing said elements together; the improvement
comprising:
2. In a recloseable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
first wall element is attached to the second wall element form of
material of which said first wall may or may not be made, and said
first and second wall is adjoined by a structure (binding zone)
that separates said first wall and said second wall into a
plurality of recloseable compartment (unit/bags) thereby, forming
for each compartment (unit/bag) a secured innermost and outermost
edge. The separating structure (binding zone) comprises a
perforated, scored, or plain seam element formed of the same or
different material of which said first and second wall is made.
3. In a recloseable container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said
separating structure (binding zone) elements is fixed to first and
second wall inner surfaces
4. In a recloseable container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said
separating structure (binding zone) element forms an inner seam for
each recloseable compartment (unit bags) and an outer seam that may
or may not be detachable that is adjoined to the outer seam of the
adjoining recloseable container.
5. In a recloseable compartment (unit/bags) as claimed in claim 2
wherein in at least one of the said recloseable compartment
(unit/bags) first and second wall can be made of microwavable
plastic film or other suitable microwavable materials.
6. In a recloseable compartment (unit/bag) as claimed in claim 2
wherein the outermost edges of both surfaces of said first wall is
integrally formed with the inner surface of said second wall and
the innermost edges of both surfaces are integrally formed with
said separating structure (binding zone) and the recloseable mouth
in each recloseable compartment (unit/bags) operates independent of
the others.
10. In a recloseable compartment (unit/bags) as claimed in claim 2
wherein said separating structure (binding zone) element is formed
integrally with said first wall and said second wall.
11. A compartment (unit/bags) comprising two flexible sidewalls and
an interlocking closure device or press-seal material formed of
resilient plastic or other suitable material and including male and
female closure profiles operable for being interlocked continuously
over a predetermined length and connected to said sidewalls,
external flanges formed on the upper exposed edges of said
sidewalls and extending outwardly of said profiles and adapted to
be gripped and drawn apart to separate said profiles with said
compartment (unit/bags) being opened by drawing said profiles apart
and being closed by pressing said profiles together.
12. First wall structure formed integrally with said second wall of
said bags adjacent said female element, a ramp structures extending
laterally from opposite sides of the outer mouth portion of said
female element to the inner surface of said second wall and
providing planar surfaces on both sides of said female element upon
which the leading part of said male element can slide towards and
so as to locate at least a portion thereof over a portion of the
mouth of said female element to be interlocked therewith enabling
subsequent interlocking of the remaining portions of said elements
by continuous pressure applied thereto to close said compartment
(unit/bags).
13. A container as claimed in claim 11 wherein said closure
profiles and structures are formed of the same resilient plastic
material or other suitable materials of which said sidewalls are
formed.
14. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said separating
structure (binding zone) is perforated or scored.
15. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said separating
structure (binding zone) is not perforated or scored.
Description
[0001] Plastic film, composite package with a flexible first and
second opposing walls and a recloseable opening therein, with
interlocking and cooperative male and female elements where the
walls are directly interconnected by binding zones and define
between them a plurality of compartments (units/bags) separated by
such binding zones that can be individually detached. Within the
structure of each detachable compartment (unit/bag) formed of a
resilient material integrally at the inner surface of said walls
about the opening of said bag, said male element being formed at
said first wall and having locking surfaces thereon and said female
element being formed at said second wall and having locking
surfaces leading from an outer mouth portion thereof for engaging
said male element locking surfaces and closing said bag thereby;
and external flanges formed on the upper exposed edges of said
walls and extending outwardly of said elements and adapted to be
gripped and drawn apart to separate said elements with said bag
being opened by drawing said elements apart and being closed by
pressing said elements together;
[0002] This invention relates to a composite package with
detachable compartments (units/bags) that are recloseable for
holding ingredients used in the preparation of, or addition to, a
drink or food, or storage. Many of such packages have been proposed
in the past, for example, for sugar, coffee extract, salt pepper
and mustard, which are supplied along with drinks or food.
[0003] In many cases, a plurality of such ingredients is necessary
for the preparation of, or addition to, a drink or food, including
sometimes heat-safe, microwave-safe, or freezer-safe compartments
(unit/bags) which may be required for a mixture of the additive
such as cheese, sauces and meats, or in the case of the freezing
component, a liquid such as water that is suitable for freezing in
a consumer refrigerator.
[0004] On occasion several individual packages are packed in an
additional wrapper or container, but more often than not, all of
the ingredients, dry and wet, are packaged as a prepared meal. When
dry and wet ingredients are mixed together and held for several
hours, an example being peanut butter and jelly on bread, the
resulting mixture can become soggy, wet, and unpalatable.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to simplify and
facilitate the supply and preservation of such ingredients in the
cases referred to.
[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a
composite package with a plurality of detachable compartments
(units/bags) to hold ingredients for the preparation of, or
addition to a drink or food, or storage with each detachable
compartment (bag/unit) comprising a plastic film package with a
flexible first and second opposing walls and a recloseable opening.
The compartments (units/bags) are directly interconnected by
binding zones to form a single composite package, characterized in
that said substantially plastic film (flat walls) define between
them a plurality of compartments (unit/bags) at least some of which
may be of different sizes and contain different ingredients, said
compartments (unit/bags) being separated from each other by said
binding zones with weakened score or tear lines, and at least one
of said compartments (unit/bags) may be constructed for cooling or
freezing ingredients, made heat or microwave safe, or other means
of cooling and heating the ingredients contained therein.
[0007] At least one of said compartments (unit/bags) may be
constructed for freezing liquids for the purpose of preserving
perishables during transport.
[0008] A longitudinal edge with weakened score or tear lines
adjoining co-extensive edges of at least one other compartment
(unit/bag) that can detach the upper compartment(s) (units/bags)
from the lower compartments (units/bags) and in the case of two or
more co-extensive edges, perpendicular tear lines that are tangent
and or that intersect the longitudinal edge that can be detached
from the longitudinal and perpendicular edges.
[0009] There may thus be formed a plurality of side-by-side
compartments (units/bags) according to the combination of
ingredients that is required in each individual case, for example,
a compartment (unit/bag) containing bread and one containing
lettuce. Another compartment (unit/bag) might contain a pickle.
Other compartment (unit/bag) may have mustard, another may have
ketchup, and one or more compartments (units/bags) may be heat
proof/microwavable for meats, water and food freezable or other
combinations. In addition the plurality of side-by-side
compartments (units/bags) may contain a combination of stored
items, related or otherwise.
[0010] According to a preferred feature of the present invention,
all of the compartments (units/bags) have an opening in one wall
for allowing the passage of material, food, dry and wet
ingredients, and liquids into and out of said compartments
(units/bags).
[0011] Thus, for example, the package according to this invention
may comprise a mustard compartment (unit/bag) side by side with a
bread and ketchup compartment (unit/bag), in combination with other
compartments (units/bags) for housing condiments. For example, the
ingredients for a deli sandwich can be prepared ahead of time with
the wet and dry ingredients segregated into individual compartments
(unit/bags) connected together in a single composite package by
binding zones with weakened score/tear lines, but that are
individually detachable as needed for final preparation. The
ingredients within the individual compartments (unit bags) can be
removed or left with the bag for final preparation such as heating,
spreading, freezing, etc. So that with the single composite package
the consumer has all the ingredients required to make the portion
bought ready for consumption. Because the ingredients are brought
together at the time of consumption, the sandwich in the above
example is as fresh as the moment it is made. In this example the
bread is dry; the lettuce is crisp, and the pickle is crunchy.
[0012] Preferably, weakened score lines or tear lines are formed
in, or at least adjacent to, the binding zones between the
compartments (units/bags). This renders it possible for the
consumer to separate the individual compartments (units/bags) from
the composite package, which facilitates the handling of the
individual compartments (unit/bags) and their respective
ingredients. It also makes it possible for the consumer, in certain
cases, to reduce the composite package by removing unused
compartments (units/bags). Because each detached compartment
(unit/bag) is a complete package onto itself with all described
features it can be used for other purposes where there is need for
a recloseable container with the said attributes.
[0013] Conveniently, a detachable recloseable package according to
this invention in which one or more detached compartments
(units/bags) may be made freezer, microwave, and heat proof is of
benefit to the consumer who wants to heat or cool the ingredients
held within a compartment (unit/bag) section of his meal while
allowing the remainder of his ingredients, held within other
compartments (unit/bags), to remain unaffected by the heating or
cooling process of another.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
[0014] Figure one is a composite package in pictorial with package
with a plurality of six (6) detachable containers
DETAIL DISCRIPTION
[0015] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a package
containing six (6) detachable recloseable containers for
ingredients, generally designated by reference numeral 1, which
comprises a pair of sheet-like, plane, substantially flat walls 2
and 3 that are connected by binding zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 to
form a plurality of compartments (unit/bags), 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,
and 24. In the drawing the two walls are pulled apart in each
compartment (unit/bag) to show front and rear walls 2 and 3.
[0016] The two walls 2 and 3 are locally directly and intimately
interconnected, for example, by heat-sealing, if the material of
the walls is suitable therefore, to form binding zones. Binding
zone 4, located along two peripheral edges in this embodiment, may
connect to other composite packages with similar configurations but
not necessarily identical.
[0017] Further binding zones using the same sealing process as
mention for binding zone 4 are shown at 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Binding
zone 5 and 6 separates two smaller compartments (units/bags), 19,
and 21 from a larger center compartment (unit/bag), 20 along two
peripheral edges. Binding zones 7 separate the upper compartments
(unit/bags), 19, 20, and 21 from the lower compartments
(units/bags), 22, 23, and 24 along their respective peripheral
edge. Binding zone 7 is tangent to binding zone 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9.
Binding zone 8 and 9 separates two larger compartments (units/bags)
22 and 24 from a smaller center compartment (unit/bag), 23 as
viewed in the drawing.
[0018] Below the peripheral top edge of the upper detachable
compartments (units/bags) 19, 20, and 21 is a recloseable element
shown as 10. On the drawing the recloseable elements are pulled
apart to show the connection to walls 2 and 3. These recloseable
elements when pushed together form a closure for each detachable
container.
[0019] Above the lower deferral edge of the lower detachable
compartments (units/bags), 22, 23, and 24 is a recloseable element
shown aslo. On the drawing the recloseable elements are pulled
apart to show the connection to walls 2 and 3. These recloseable
elements when pushed together form a closure for each detachable
container.
[0020] For each detachable compartment (unit/bag) there is an
external flanges formed on the exposed edge of walls 2 and 3 shown
as 11 that is adapted to be gripped and drawn apart to separate
walls 2 and 3, thereby separating the recloseable elements 10.
[0021] Weakened score lines or tear lines 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
and 18 are formed to extend, respectively, along the center edge of
binding zone 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
[0022] Along these weakened score lines or tear lines the portions
of the package containing the respective compartments (units/bags)
19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 can easily be separated from each
other.
[0023] The composite package can be produced without binding zone 4
which is the binding zone that connects to other composite
packages. Removing binding zone 4 creates a stand alone, single
composite package containing a plurality of compartments
(units/bags).
[0024] Before and after the compartments (units/bags) have been
separated, the individual compartments (units/bags) can function as
a self-contained unit having all of the stated attributes.
[0025] In the present case, compartments (units/bags) 19 and 21 are
contemplated to be filled with mustard, ketchup, or mayonnaise
respectively, for being supplied as condiments for the food
enclosed in other compartments (units/bags) attached to the
composite package. The compartment (units/bags) 19, 20, and 21; in
this example; have measured fill-lines 27 to control the maximum
amount of liquid, wet, and dry ingredients that can be contained
therein for storage, freezing, and heating. In the case of freezing
and storage, the fill-lines are so measured as to prevent expansion
beyond the capacity of the compartments (unit/bags) thus allowing
the ingredients to occupy a greater volume upon expansion without
rupture of the container (unit/bag) or it's closure element,
thereby keeping the ingredients secured within the walls 2 and 3 of
said compartments (units/bags).
[0026] Naturally numerous variations are possible without departing
from the scope of the invention is regards to the composition and
diversity of the individual ingredients, in the shape, size, and
direction of the binding zones, and fill lines; and in regards to
the shape and dimensions of the composite unit package and the
compartments (units/bags), may be accommodated in the composite
package according to the invention. The invention can be attached,
by binding zone 4, to one or more like component packages with or
without a plurality of detachable compartments (unit/bags), but it
is not limited to such attachments, and formed into a continuous
roll of predetermined length, or it may be formed into a single
component package with a plurality of detachable bags. The single
component bag may or may not have binding zone 4 on the peripheral
edges as indicated in the drawing, depending of how the component
package will be produced. If the composite package is produced
without binding zone 4, the composite package is sealed along said
peripheral edge 25 and 26 to connect and close flat walls 2 and 3
along said edge.
[0027] Also, the invention is not intended to be limited to any
particular material to be used for the component package or its
detachable components (units/bags). A great variety of commercially
available, well-known sheet materials are suitable for making
packages according to this invention.
* * * * *