U.S. patent application number 12/631087 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-17 for water-resistant asset protection bag.
This patent application is currently assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.. Invention is credited to Jennifer M. Copes, Joseph T. Cowin, Donald L. Crevier, Owen J. McGarel, Michael J. McMahon, Stanley Piotrowski, Eldrige J. Presnell, Henry L. Swain.
Application Number | 20100147425 12/631087 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42239120 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100147425 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Swain; Henry L. ; et
al. |
June 17, 2010 |
WATER-RESISTANT ASSET PROTECTION BAG
Abstract
The disclosure relates to an asset protection bag for large
items, such as, but not limited to, automobiles and boats, and also
for small items, such as, but not limited to, firearms and
documents. The asset protection bag includes a first half and a
second half which can be laid out flat. A first zipper profile of a
water-resistant zipper is formed around the periphery of the first
half and a second zipper profile of the water-resistant zipper is
formed around the periphery of the second half. The first half is
folded over the second half, with the asset therebetween, and the
zipper profiles are interlocked. Vacuum ports are provided to allow
for the evacuation of air trapped therewithin.
Inventors: |
Swain; Henry L.; (Whitehouse
Station, NJ) ; Copes; Jennifer M.; (Rockwall, TX)
; Cowin; Joseph T.; (Goodyear, AZ) ; Crevier;
Donald L.; (Essex, IL) ; McGarel; Owen J.;
(Naperville, IL) ; Piotrowski; Stanley; (Addison,
IL) ; McMahon; Michael J.; (Palatine, IL) ;
Presnell; Eldrige J.; (Round Lake Beach, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAY PITNEY LLP;ACCOUNT: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
7 TIMES SQUARE
NEW YORK
NY
10036-7311
US
|
Assignee: |
ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
Glenview
IL
|
Family ID: |
42239120 |
Appl. No.: |
12/631087 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61138163 |
Dec 17, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
150/166 ;
383/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/24 20130101;
B65D 31/02 20130101; B65D 33/2591 20130101; F41C 33/06 20130101;
B65D 81/2038 20130101; B65D 2585/6867 20130101; B65D 81/28
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
150/166 ;
383/64 |
International
Class: |
B65D 65/02 20060101
B65D065/02; B65D 33/16 20060101 B65D033/16 |
Claims
1. A bag for protecting contents thereof, comprising: a first
planar half attached and adjacent to a second planar half; a vacuum
port in the first planar half, the vacuum port allowing the user to
remove a portion of air from an interior of the bag, the vacuum
port including a base which surrounds an opening in the first half
of the bag, a cap attached to the base by a living hinge, and a
flapper which is held in place over the opening by the cap in its
closed position; a water-resistant zipper including a first zipper
profile and a second zipper profile, the first zipper profile
extending around at least a portion of a periphery of the first
planar half and the second zipper profile extending around at least
a portion of a periphery of the second planar half, whereby the bag
can be folded so as to bring the first half over the second half
thereby bringing the first zipper profile against the second zipper
profile; the water-resistant zipper further including a
water-resistant slider.
2. The bag of claim 1 wherein the first and second halves include a
pocket for parking the slider.
3. The bag of claim 2 wherein the first half is of substantially
rectangular shape and the second half is of substantially
rectangular shape.
4. The bag of claim 3 wherein the first half is configured to go
over the contents and the second half is configured to go under the
contents.
5. The bag of claim 4 wherein the first half is made from
polyethylene film.
6. The bag of claim 5 wherein the polyethylene film has a thickness
of substantially 8 mils.
7. The bag of claim 6 wherein the second half is made from scrim
reinforced polyethylene.
8. The bag of claim 1 wherein the first planar half and the second
planar half each include an outer layer and an inner layer.
9. The bag of claim 8 wherein the inner layer of the first planar
half and the second planar half include an antimicrobial agent.
10. The bag of claim 8 wherein the inner layer of the first planar
half and the second planar half include a volatile corrosion
inhibitor agent.
11. A vehicular protection bag for protecting vehicles, comprising:
a first planar half attached and adjacent to a second planar half;
a vacuum port in the first planar half, the vacuum port allowing
the user to remove a portion of air from an interior of the bag,
the vacuum port including a base which surrounds an opening in the
first half of the bag, a cap attached to the base by a living
hinge, and a flapper which is held in place over the opening by the
cap in its closed position; a zipper including a first zipper
profile and a second zipper profile, the first zipper profile
extending around at least a portion of a periphery of the first
planar half and the second zipper profile extending around at least
a portion of a periphery of the second planar half, whereby the
vehicular protection bag can be folded so as to bring the first
half over the second half thereby bringing the first zipper profile
against the second zipper profile; and the zipper further including
a slider.
11. The bag of claim 10 wherein the first and second halves include
a pocket for parking the slider.
12. The vehicular protection bag of claim 11 wherein the vehicular
protection bag is at least twenty-four feet by twenty-four feet
when the first half and the second half are spread apart from each
other in a planar configuration.
13. The vehicular protection bag of claim 12 wherein the first and
second zipper profiles, when interlocked, form a water-resistant
configuration.
14. The vehicular protection bag of claim 13 wherein the first half
is of substantially rectangular shape and the second half is of
substantially rectangular shape.
15. The vehicular protection bag of claim 14 wherein the first half
is configured to go over the large-sized contents and the second
half is configured to go under the vehicle.
16. The vehicular protection bag of claim 15 wherein the first half
is made from polyethylene film.
17. The vehicular protection bag of claim 16 wherein the
polyethylene film has a thickness of substantially 8 mils.
18. The vehicular protection bag of claim 17 wherein the second
half is made from scrim reinforced polyethylene.
19. The bag of claim 11 wherein the first planar half and the
second planar half include an inner layer which includes an
antimicrobial agent.
20. The bag of claim 11 wherein the first planar half and the
second planar half include an inner layer which includes a volatile
corrosion inhibitor agent.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/138,163
filed Dec. 17, 2008, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated
by reference.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure pertains to a bag or container used
to store an asset in a water-resistant configuration. The asset may
include an automobile or similarly sized article, but may also
include smaller items such as firearms or documents.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0003] In the prior art, it is known to use water-resistant bags,
packages or containers for protection of smaller items, such as
hand-held items, mementos, archival items, documents or firearms.
However, further improvements are sought with respect to such bags,
packages or containers. Moreover, such prior art bags, packages or
containers have been found to be deficient with respect to larger
items, such as automobiles or boats in that the water-resistant
configuration has been difficult to maintain. Additionally,
internally trapped air has made the prior art bags, packages or
containers unwieldy.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to
provide a water-resistant bag, package or container which can be
used for larger items, such as, but not limited to, automobiles or
boats, as well as smaller items, such as, but not limited to,
firearms and documents, wherein the water-resistant configuration
can be maintained, and wherein internally trapped air can be
minimized.
[0005] This and other objects are obtained by providing a package
formed from a sheet of polymeric material, such as, but not limited
to, polyethylene, which can lie flat, but which includes a
water-resistant zipper around the periphery thereof to form an
enclosure around an object. Additionally, the walls of the package
include a vacuum port for removing excess air after an item has
been encased within the package.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Further objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following description and from the accompanying
drawing, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the unzipped configuration of an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially in cross section, of
a typical zipper used with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an automobile contained within an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a firearm enclosed within a further
embodiment of the present invention, further including a parked
slider configuration.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a wall for an embodiment
of the present invention, showing that the inner layer may include
anti-microbial or volatile corrosion inhibitors.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a folded configuration of an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a typical valve used for an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a typical valve used for
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a typical slider which is
used for an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of a typical slider
which is used for an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like
numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one
sees that FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typical embodiment of the
asset protection bag 10, shown in the unzipped, planar and
spread-out configuration. The illustrated asset protection bag 10
includes wall 11 which is sized for enclosing a compact-sized
automobile or similarly sized boat, but those skilled in the art,
after review of this disclosure, will realize that other sizes may
be implemented for other applications. In its larger embodiments,
the asset protection bag 10 may also be referred to as a vehicular
protection bag. However, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the asset
protection bag 10 may be sized for smaller items such as, but not
limited to, a firearm 200 or documents (not shown). The wall 11 of
illustrated asset protection bag 10 has an overall size of
twenty-four feet by twenty-four feet, with a first half 12 sized at
twelve feet by twenty-four feet, comprising relatively longer sides
14, 18 and relatively shorter sides 16, 20 substantially forming a
rectangle, adjacent to second half 22 sized at twelve feet by
twenty-four feet, comprising relatively longer sides 24, 28 and
relatively shorter sides 26, 30 substantially forming a
rectangle.
[0018] Relatively longer side 14 of first half 12 joins relatively
longer side 24 of second half 22 along seam, seal or other joinder
50. In use, asset protection bag 10 is typically folded along or
proximate to seam, seal or other joinder 50, so that first half 12
of wall is positioned over the top of the asset being protected,
such as, but not limited to, an automobile, while second half 22 of
wall is positioned under the asset being protected thereby bringing
together first zipper profile 32 along sides 16, 18, 20 with second
zipper profile 34 along sides 26, 28, 30. As first half 12 is
intended to be over the asset being protected, first half 12
typically comprises polyethylene film, with a typical thickness of
8 mils. Similarly, as second half 22 is intended to be under the
asset being protected, and therefore being subject to the weight of
the asset, the second half 22 typically comprises scrim reinforced
polyethylene. However, those skilled in the art will see a range of
equivalent materials. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, wall 11 may
include multiple layers, such as inner layer 13 and outer layer 15.
Antimicrobial agents may be blended with the film of the inner
layer 13. Likewise, volatile corrosion inhibitors may be blended
with the film of the inner layer 13. The antimicrobial agents
and/or the volatile corrosion inhibitors may be added as master
batches during extrusion of the layers 13, 15.
[0019] Sides 16, 18, 20 forming the periphery of first half 12
include first zipper profile 32 and sides 26, 28, 30 forming the
periphery of second half 22 include second zipper profile 34. First
and second zipper profiles 32, 34 form a water-resistant zipper 36,
typically chosen from zippers represented by U.S. Pat. No.
3,918,131 entitled "Fluid-Tight Fastener" to Ausnit; U.S. Pat. No.
4,046,408 entitled "Omni-Directional Fastener" to Ausnit; U.S. Pat.
No. 4,199,845 entitled "Slider for Heavy Duty Flexible Fastener
Tracks" to Ausnit; U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,541 entitled "Profiled
Plastics Bag Closure Strip and Adhesive Bonding Method" to Tilman;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,813 entitled "Bag and Reclosable Separable
Fastener Assembly, etc." to Ausnit; U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,259
entitled "Twist Resistant Reclosable Extruded Plastic Fastener" to
Ausnit; U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,383 entitled "Fusible Rib Bonding of
Fasteners to Substrate" to Bentsen; U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,880
entitled "Method of Making Extruded Zipper Strips and Bags
Containing the Same" to Ausnit; U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,240 entitled
"Extruded Zipper Strips for Bags" to Ausnit; U.S. Pat. No.
4,846,585 entitled "Easy Open Bag Structure" to Boeckmann; and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,351,369 entitled "Moisture-Resistant Fastener". A
typical or composite zipper 36 with first and second profiles 32,
34 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Additionally, FIG. 2 illustrates first
profile 32 including first and second teeth 38, 40 and second
profile 34 likewise including first and second teeth 42, 44,
wherein first and second teeth 38, 40 interlock with first and
second teeth 42, 44.
[0020] First tooth 38 of first profile 32 is illustrated as
including a color strip 46, such as red, which is visible to the
user when the first and second profiles 32, 34 are not interlocked,
but hidden from the user when first and second profiles 32, 34 are
completely interlocked. This serves as an aid to the user by
indicating which sections of zipper 36 are not completely
interlocked.
[0021] As further shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, zipper 36 may include a
slider 37 to assist in operating the zipper 36. FIG. 4 further
illustrates the slider 37 being placed in pocket 39, a cut-out
portion of the wall 11, to further increase the water-resistance of
asset protection bag 10. A slider 37 for a typical application is
disclosed by commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Publication No.
2008/0313863 entitled "Slider for Water-Resistant Zippers" to Swain
et al. (which is hereby incorporated by reference) and is further
illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The first sidewall 80 of slider 37
is generally planar while the second sidewall 82 is generally
curved so that the first and second sidewalls 80, 82 are relatively
closer together at the closing end 84 and further apart at the
opening end 86. A triangular island 88 and separating plow 90 are
formed at the opening end 86 to separate the first and second
profiles 32, 34 (see FIG. 2).
[0022] FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate first half 12 including two vacuum
ports 60, while FIGS. 4 and 6 illustrates first half 12 including a
single vacuum port 60. Vacuum port 60 is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and
8. A typical vacuum port 60 is disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S.
Patent Publication No. 2009/0257688 entitled "One-Way Valve with
Flapper for Vacuum Bag" to Calvo et al., which is hereby
incorporated by reference. Vacuum port 60 typically includes valve
base 62 which is affixed to first half 12 and encircles an opening
70 formed in the material of first half 12. Living hinge 64
attaches flapper 66 and valve cap 68 to valve base 62. Valve cap 66
can snap engage valve base 62 thereby urging flapper 66 into an
essentially airtight configuration over or within opening 70. Valve
cap 68 can likewise be detached therefrom to allow flapper 66 to be
lifted in response to an external suction device (not shown)
thereby allowing for the evacuation of air trapped within asset
protection device 10 after zipper 36 has been closed.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 6, asset protection bag 10 includes D-ring
connector 72 extending from joinder 50 and D-ring connector 74
extending from side 28 of second half 22 (or from side 18 of first
half 12). D-ring connectors 72, 74 allow the user to secure the
assert protection bag 10 in place, particularly when it does not
include the weight of an asset, such as, but not limited to, an
automobile 100 (see FIG. 3), being protected inside thereof.
[0024] To use asset protection bag 10, the user typically first
unzips the zipper 36 so that the first and second halves 12, 22 lie
side by side, as shown in FIG. 1. The asset protection bag 10 may
be secured in place by D-ring connectors 72, 74. In the case of a
smaller item, such as is shown in FIG. 4, the user simply places
the item to be protected onto second half 22 and fold first half 12
thereover. In the case of a large item, such as an automobile or
boat, as shown in FIG. 3, the user drives or otherwise places the
asset to be protected, such as, but not limited to, an automobile,
over the second half 22 and folds first half 12 thereover, so that
first and second zipper profiles 32, 34 meet. The user then
interlocks first and second zipper profiles 32, 34 together. The
user may then attach an external vacuum device (not shown) to one
of vacuum ports 60, 62 and evacuate the air enclosed within asset
protection bag 10.
[0025] Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are
most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the
invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it
should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited
thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended
claims.
* * * * *