U.S. patent application number 12/780764 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-18 for frangible seals for multiple compartment bags, multiple compartment bags incorporating the same, and methods of forming the same.
Invention is credited to Max Blomberg, Amber Laubacher, Christopher A. Meissner.
Application Number | 20100290718 12/780764 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43068558 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100290718 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Laubacher; Amber ; et
al. |
November 18, 2010 |
FRANGIBLE SEALS FOR MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT BAGS, MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT
BAGS INCORPORATING THE SAME, AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME
Abstract
A multiple compartment bag is provided. The bag includes
opposite walls and a seal connecting the opposite walls and
dividing the bag into a first compartment extending from a first
side of the seal and a second compartment extending from a second
side of the seal opposite the first side. The seal includes a
length and each of the first and second sides spans the length. The
seal also includes a first section along the seal length that has a
first peel strength and a second section along the seal length
adjacent to the first section that has a second peel strength
greater than the first peel strength.
Inventors: |
Laubacher; Amber; (Ventura,
CA) ; Meissner; Christopher A.; (Camarillo, CA)
; Blomberg; Max; (Camarillo, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE, LLP
PO BOX 7068
PASADENA
CA
91109-7068
US
|
Family ID: |
43068558 |
Appl. No.: |
12/780764 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61178860 |
May 15, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/38 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/3266
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/38 |
International
Class: |
B65D 30/22 20060101
B65D030/22 |
Claims
1. A multiple compartment bag comprising: opposite walls; and a
seal connecting said opposite walls and dividing said bag into a
first compartment extending from a first side of the seal and a
second compartment extending from a second side of the seal
opposite the first side, wherein said seal comprises a length,
wherein each of said first and second sides spans said length, and
wherein a first section of the seal along the seal length has a
first peel strength and wherein a second section of the seal along
the seal length adjacent the first section has a second peel
strength, wherein the second peel strength is greater than the
first peel strength.
2. The bag as recited in claim 1 wherein said opposite walls are
attached together along their periphery forming another seal having
said second peel strength.
3. The bag as recited in claim 1 wherein the second peel strength
is at least 90% of the tensile strength of a wall of said opposite
walls of the bag.
4. The bag as recited in claim 1 wherein the second peel strength
is at least 98% of the tensile strength of a wall of said opposite
walls the bag.
5. The bag as recited in claim 1 wherein the second peel strength
is at least equal to the tensile strength of the wall.
6. The bag as recited in claim 1 wherein the first peel strength is
not greater than 13 lbs/in.
7. The bag as recited in claim 6 wherein the first peel strength is
not less than 3 lbs/in.
8. The bag as recited in claim 7 wherein the second peel strength
is at least 90% of the tensile strength of a wall of the bag.
9. The bag as recited in claim 8 wherein the second peel strength
is at least 98% of the tensile strength of a wall of the bag.
10. The bag as recited in claim 9 wherein the first peel strength
is in the range of 5 lbs/in to 9 lbs/in.
11. The bag as recited in claim 1 wherein the first peel strength
is in the range of 5 lbs/in to 9 lbs/in.
12. The bag as recited in claim 1 wherein the peel strength of said
seal along said first side is greater than along the second
side.
13. The bag as recited in claim 1 wherein the seal further
comprises a third section along the seal length adjacent the second
section having said first peel strength and a fourth section along
the seal length adjacent the third section having said second peel
strength.
14. The bag as recited in claim 13 wherein each of the first and
third sections have a length greater than each of the second and
fourth section along each side of the seal.
15. The bag as recited in claim 14 wherein said first, second,
third and fourth sections are each trapezoidal in plan view and
each have a length along the first and along the second side of the
seal, wherein the length of each of the first and third sections
along the first side is shorter than their corresponding length
along the second side, and wherein the length of each of the second
and fourth sections along the first side is longer than their
corresponding length along the second side.
16. The bag as recited in claim 1 wherein said seal comprises a
plurality of first sections and a plurality of second sections,
wherein each of said first sections is adjacent to a second section
of said plurality of second sections.
17. The bag as recited in claim 1 wherein said seal defines a
vertex along the length of the seal whereby a first portion of the
seal along the seal length extends at an angle relative to a second
portion of the seal along the seal length.
18. The bag as recited in claim 17 wherein the seal further
comprises a third portion extending at an angle relative to the
first portion and a fourth portion extending at an angle relative
to the second portion and opposite the third portion.
19. The bag as recited in claim 18 wherein the two walls are
attached to each other at a periphery of each wall, and wherein the
third and fourth portions are aligned with each other and each
extend to said periphery.
20. The bag as recited in claim 1 wherein the bag is formed by
attaching the two walls to each other along a periphery of each
wall forming a seam, wherein the seam comprises a first side, a
second side extending from the seam first side and a third side
extending from the seam first side and spaced apart from the seam
second side, wherein the bag further comprises at least a port
between the seam second and third sides and wherein the seal
extends from the seam second side to the seam third side.
21. The bag as recited in claim 20 wherein said seal defines a
vertex along the length of the seal whereby a first portion of the
seal along the seal length extends at an angle relative to a second
portion of the seal along the seal length.
22. The bag as recited in claim 21 wherein the seal further
comprises a third portion extending at an angle relative to the
first portion and a fourth portion extending at an angle relative
to the second portion and opposite the third portion.
23. The bag as recited in claim 1 wherein the bag is formed by
attaching the two walls to each other along a periphery of each
wall forming a seam, wherein the seam comprises a first side, a
second side extending from the seam first side and a third side
extending from the seam first side and spaced apart from the seam
second side, wherein the bag comprises at least a port between the
seam second and third sides and wherein the seal forms a loop in
plan view beginning and ending at said seam first side and wherein
a column is defined in the bag between said seal and said seam
second side.
24. The bag as recited in claim 23 further comprising graduations
formed on one of said walls along said column.
25. A multiple compartment bag comprising: opposite walls; a first
seal connecting said opposite walls defining a first compartment,
said first seal having a first peel strength; a second seal
connecting said opposite walls and extending from the first seal,
said second seal having a second peel strength, wherein a second
compartment is defined adjacent the first compartment bounded by
said first and second seals, and wherein a third compartment is
defined adjacent said first and said second compartments and
bounded by said first and second seals, wherein said second peel
strength is lower than said first peel strength.
26. The bag as recited in claim 25 wherein said first seal
comprises a plurality of first sections and a plurality of second
sections, wherein each of said plurality of first sections is
adjacent a second section of said plurality of second sections,
wherein each first section has a third peel strength and wherein
each of said second sections has a fourth peel strength, wherein
said fourth peel strength is greater than said third peel strength.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon and claims priority on U.S.
Provisional Application No. 61/178,860, filed on May 15, 2009, the
contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed frangible seals for
dividing bags in multiple compartments, to such multiple
compartment bags with such frangible seals and to methods of
forming such seals, especially to frangible seals in polyethylene
bags, to polyethylene bags with such seals, and to methods of
forming such seals in polyethylene bags. These frangible seals
connected opposite walls of the bag along a seam to define the
compartments.
[0003] Plastic bags 10 having two compartments 12, 14 separated by
a frangible seal 16 interconnecting opposite walls of the bags, as
for example shown in FIG. 1, are known for use in the
pharmaceutical and biotech industries for holding the appropriate
solutions or contents used to make pharmaceuticals and the like.
Such bags are described in PCT Publication No. WO 2007/142887,
published on Dec. 13, 2007, the contents of which are fully
incorporated herein by reference. Such bags are typically formed by
welding together two films, each film defining an opposite wall of
the bag. The two compartments in such bags are separated by the
frangible seal. The frangible seal 16 is a "soft" seal such that it
can easily be broken. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the frangible seal
defines a seam 18 diving the bag in two compartments for storing
separate materials which can be mixed at an appropriate time by
easily breaking the frangible seal. For example, in the first
compartment may be filled with a powder and the second compartment
with a liquid. When ready to use, pressure is applied in one
compartment, as for example by squeezing, which causes the
frangible seal to rupture and the contents of the two compartments
to mix. Although not shown in FIG. 1 the bags have ports that allow
the compartments to be filled with the appropriate contents.
[0004] The problem with such bags is that many times the frangible
seals inadvertently or prematurely rupture on their own or are very
difficult to rupture. For example, the frangible seals may
prematurely rupture when the second compartment is being filled
with a liquid due to the pressure created by the liquid. Typically,
the frangible seals are created using a sealing bar which applies
pressure and heat along the bag to form the seal. Due to the slight
differences in the intensity of the heat and pressure on the
sealing bar which is used to form the seal, the frangible seals
have weak points. These weak points may fail prematurely by slowly
creeping open, especially on larger bags (i.e., bags having a
capacity greater than one liter) whose one compartment is filled
with a liquid. Bags made of polyethylene are significantly more
susceptible to these problems than bags made of polypropylene. When
the bags are made from polyethylene, such frangible seals cannot be
formed to have consistent strength and thus, consistent
performance. It is for this reason that currently most bags in the
industry are formed from polypropylene. Consequently, more robust
seals separating the compartments in such bags, especially such as
polyethylene bags are desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In an exemplary embodiment a multiple compartment bag is
provided. The bag includes opposite walls and a seal connecting the
opposite walls and dividing the bag into a first compartment
extending from a first side of the seal and a second compartment
extending from a second side of the seal opposite the first side.
The seal includes a length and each of the first and second sides
spans the length. The seal also includes a first section along the
seal length that has a first peel strength and a second section
along the seal length adjacent to the first section that has a
second peel strength greater than the first peel strength. In
another exemplary embodiment, the opposite walls are attached
together along their periphery forming another seal having the
second peel strength. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the
second peel strength is at least 90% of the tensile strength of a
wall of the bag. In a further exemplary embodiment, the second peel
strength is at least 98% of the tensile strength of a wall of the
bag. In another exemplary embodiment, the second peel strength is
at least as greater or greater than the tensile strength of the
wall. In one exemplary embodiment, the first peel strength is not
greater than 13 lbs/in. In another exemplary embodiment, the first
peel strength is not less than 3 lbs/in. In yet another exemplary
embodiment, the second peel strength is at least 90% of the tensile
strength of a wall of the bag. In a further exemplary embodiment,
the second peel strength is at least 98% of the tensile strength of
a wall of the bag. In yet a further exemplary embodiment, the first
peel strength is in the range of 5 lbs/in to 9 lbs/in. In an
exemplary embodiment, the peel strength of the seal along the first
side is greater than along the second side. In one exemplary
embodiment, a third section of the seal along the seal length
adjacent the second section has said first peel strength and a
fourth section of the seal along the seal length adjacent the third
section has the second peel strength. In yet another exemplary
embodiment, each of the first and third sections have a length
greater than each of the second and fourth section along each side
of the seal. In an further exemplary embodiment, the first, second,
third and fourth sections are each trapezoidal in plan view and
each have a length along the first side and along the second side
of the seal such that the length of each of the first and third
sections along the first side is shorter than their corresponding
length along the second side, and such that the length of each of
the second and fourth sections along the first side is longer than
their corresponding length along the second side. In yet a further
exemplary embodiment, the seal includes a plurality of first
sections and a plurality of second sections, such that each of the
first sections is adjacent to a second section of the plurality of
second sections. In one exemplary embodiment, the seal defines a
vertex along the length of the seal whereby a first portion of the
seal along the seal length extends at an angle relative to a second
portion of the seal along the seal length. In another exemplary
embodiment, the seal further includes a third portion extending at
an angle relative to the first portion and a fourth portion
extending at an angle relative to the second portion and opposite
the third portion. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the two
walls are attached to each other at a periphery of each wall, and
the third and fourth portions are aligned with each other and each
extend to said periphery. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the
bag is formed by attaching the two walls to each other along a
periphery of each wall forming a seam, and the seam includes a
first side, a second side extending from the seam first side and a
third side extending from the seam first side and spaced apart from
the seam second side, and at least a port between the seam second
and third sides, and the seal extends from the seam second side to
the seam third side. In a further exemplary embodiment, the bag is
formed by attaching the two walls to each other along a periphery
of each wall forming a seam, wherein the seam includes a first
side, a second side extending from the seam first side and a third
side extending from the seam first side and spaced apart from the
seam second side, and at least a port between the seam second and
third sides and the seal forms a loop in plan view beginning and
ending at the seam first side such that a column is defined in the
bag between the seal and the seam second side. In yet a further
exemplary embodiment graduations are formed on one of the walls
along the column.
[0006] In another exemplary embodiment a multiple compartment bag
is provided. The bag includes opposite walls, a first seal
connecting the opposite walls defining a first compartment, the
first seal having a first peel strength, a second seal connecting
the opposite walls and extending from the first seal, the second
seal having a second peel strength, and a second compartment is
defined adjacent the first compartment bounded by the first and
second seals, and a third compartment is defined adjacent the first
and the second compartments and bounded by the first and second
seals. With this embodiment, the second peel strength is lower than
the first peel strength. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the
first seal includes a plurality of first sections and a plurality
of second sections, wherein each of the plurality of first sections
is adjacent a second section of the plurality of second sections,
wherein each first section has a third peel strength and wherein
each of the second sections has a fourth peel strength, wherein the
fourth peel strength is greater than the third peel strength.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematically depicted plan view of a prior art
two-compartment bag.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a schematically depicted plan view of an exemplary
embodiment bag of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a schematically depicted plan view of another
exemplary embodiment bag of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of an exemplary embodiment
frangible seal of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a schematically depicted plan view of yet another
exemplary embodiment bag of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 6 is schematically depicted plan view of yet a further
exemplary embodiment bag of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Most multiple compartment bags in the industry are currently
made from polypropylene. Applicants have invented a better
frangible seal 20 that can be used on bags formed from
polypropylene as well as from polyethylene (FIGS. 2 and 3).
Typically, such bags are formed by welding together two films (or
layers) of polypropylene or two films (or layers) of polyethylene.
Such welding forms a hard seal 21 around the perimeter 22 of the
bags. These layers form opposite walls of the bag. Applicants have
discovered that they can form a more robust frangible seal 20 by
the "stitching" a soft seal 28 with hard seals 30 defining a seam
32 that divides the bag in a first compartment 36 and a second
compartment 38. In other words, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, hard
seals 30 are placed intermittently along the seam defined by the
soft seal 28. In an exemplary embodiment, the hard seal is formed
using the regular welding process which is used to form the bag. As
such the hard seals have the same strength as the hard seal 21
forming the bag. In another exemplary embodiment, the hard seal has
sufficient strength such that the bag will fail before the hard
seal fails. Typically a soft seal has a peel strength in the range
of about 3 lbs/in to about 13 lbs/in and preferably in the range of
about 5 lbs/in to about 9 lbs/in. In an exemplary embodiment, a
hard seal ideally has a peel strength equal to the tensile strength
of the material forming the bag (i.e., the tensile strength of the
film forming a wall of the bag) but preferably not less than of 98%
of the tensile strength of the material forming the bag. Sometimes
a hard seal has a peel strength of at least 90% of the tensile
strength of the material forming bag. In many instances it is
desired that the film forming the bag, and thus the bag, fails
prior to the hard seal failing. The peel strength of a seal is the
strength it takes to pull apart the opposite walls of the bag
joined at the seal. In one exemplary embodiment, a soft seal allows
the bag opposite walls to be pulled apart and to separate the soft
seal without damaging the bag walls, whereas a hard seal is such
that it cannot be pulled apart without the film tearing or
otherwise being damaged. The peel strength of the seal is measured
using a peel strength test as per ASTM D882.
[0014] In a polyethylene bag, Applicants have discovered that there
is a small window where the soft seam of the frangible seal can be
broken by hand without simply falling apart. Applicants have
discovered that there are four variables that affect the "softness"
of the polyethylene soft seal. The four factors are temperature,
time, pressure and geometry. The temperature of which the seam is
created is critical as is the amount of time the seam is subjected
to heat and pressure. The soft seals are created using a
temperature and time roughly about 1/3 the temperature required to
create a hard seal. While temperatures and times for creating a
soft seal are lower than those required to create a hard seal, the
pressure required to form the soft seal in an exemplary embodiment
is about double the pressure required to form the hard seal.
Applicants have discovered that higher pressure helps reduce creep
which Applicants have also discovered is vital to the success of
creating a soft seal with polyethylene film. In an exemplary
embodiment, the temperature to which the polyethylene films are
subjected to for forming the soft seal in polyethylene bags in the
range of about 175.degree. F. to about 225.degree. F., the pressure
is in the range of about 58 psi to about 80 psi, and the time for
which the temperature and pressure is applied is in the range of
about 8 to about 18 seconds.
[0015] Applicants have also discovered that they can create a
frangible seal having sufficient strength so as to be resistant to
premature rupturing by creating a soft seal defining a seam for
separating the compartments, and by stitching the soft seal with
hard seals at intervals in the range of 1 to 3 inches, although
these interval may be greater than 3 inches or smaller than 1 inch
depending on the size of the bags. With larger bags which will hold
more liquid which will subject the seal to larger hydraulic
pressures, the intervals should be on the smaller side. In an
exemplary embodiment, the hard seals have a length 40 that is about
one third to one-half the length 42 of the soft seal portion
between consecutive hard seals.
[0016] Applicants have discovered that the strength of the
frangible seals may also be affected by the geometry of the seal.
i.e., the length and the shape of the seal. The longer the seal,
i.e., the seam defining the seal, the more prone to premature
failure. Furthermore, Applicants have discovered that they can
control the function of the frangible seal by changing the overall
shape of the frangible seal and its geometry. For example,
Applicants have discovered that the overall shape of the frangible
seal seam 32 shown in FIG. 2, which has two generally horizontal
portions 44 and two oblique portions 46 defining a vertex 48, works
best with larger bags such as bags having the capacity of 10 liters
or more, and the shape shown in FIG. 3, which includes two
obliquely extending portions 50 defining a vertex 52, works best
with smaller bags such as bags having of 5 liters or less.
Applicants have discovered that by incorporating a vertex in the
seam, the bags are least likely to pinch closed. A bag pinches
closed when one film forming the bag collapses and creates a
temporary seal against an opposite film forming the bag. If a
portion of the bag pinches closed, it may cause the operator to
unintentionally over-pressurize the bag when filling it with a
liquid or other material as the pinched portion of the bag will not
accept any such liquid or material, which may cause premature
rupture of the frangible seal. The angle of the between the
obliquely extending sides defining the vertex may by optimized and
may be different for each sized bag.
[0017] Moreover, it is desirable to have a frangible seal that not
only separates two or more chambers but also provides a geometry
that makes it easy to fill the compartments with a consistent
quantity of liquid or other material. A straight seal perpendicular
to the sides of the bag works well for separating components but is
difficult to visually see when the proper fill volume is reached. A
straight seal extending from the sides of the bag at an angle,
instead of perpendicular, increases sensitivity but requires the
bag be kept upright and with its bottom edge perfectly level when
filling. A desired frangible seal shape will both increase
sensitivity and provide guidance for maintaining the bag in an
upright orientation with its bottom edge being horizontal.
[0018] It is difficult to find a shape that will not crease when
the bag is filled. Such creases or folds create a pressure
differential across the fold or crease, and consequently the bag
compartments can not be filled to consistent levels because the
pressure differential caused by the fold or crease varies with how
the user supports the bag. Applicants have discovered that with the
exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shapes of the
frangible seal seams are such that fold or pinch points should not
occur during filling. Moreover with these exemplary embodiments,
the liquid or other material can uniformly fill the vertex which
acts as a measuring region of the bag which may or may not have
graduation marks indicating volume. In an exemplary embodiment, the
measuring marks are laser etched onto the outside of the film. The
vertex also provides increased sensitivity to visually measure the
fill volume. In addition, the vertex will provide a gauge on both
of its sides (i.e., the oblique portions 46 or 50) for determining
if the bag is being held in an proper upright position. If it is,
the liquid or other material will intersect each side of the vertex
at the same level. Another advantage of the hard seals is that they
create regions where such marking can occur without risk of damage
to the film.
[0019] In another exemplary embodiment, the geometry of the hard
seals relative to the soft seal portions between the hard seals is
varied. In one exemplary embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, the hard
seals 30 are trapezoidal in shape when viewed in plan view. A
benefit of using different geometries between the hard seal and the
soft seal is that it makes such seals easy to visually distinguish
from each other. The shape of the seal in an exemplary embodiment
is created by using a different shape dye in the sealing apparatus
that is used to form the seal. Such apparatuses known in the
art.
[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, when viewing the bag in plan
view and thus, the seal along its length, the hard seals have a
trapezoidal shape and so do the soft seals. Applicants have
discovered that giving the hard seals a trapezoidal shape a
frangible seal is formed having a softer side 31 and a harder side
33. As can be seen due to the trapezoidal shapes of the soft seal
and hard seals, the softer side has a greater portion of its length
occupied by the soft seals 28 than the hard seals 30 as compared to
the harder side. In this regard the frangible seal may tailored for
specific needs. For example in case where the bag will house a
powder and a liquid, the frangible seal may be designed such that
the softer side is faces the compartment that will house the liquid
so that it may rupture easier at the appropriate time. Other shaped
hard and/or soft seals may be used to tailor the performance of the
inventive frangible seals.
[0021] Applicants have discovered that their inventive frangible
seal works consistently on larger bags, such as bags capable of
holding more than one liter, even more than 5 liters or even more
than 10 liters of liquid. For example, the exemplary frangible
seals may be successfully employed in ten-liter bags. The inventive
frangible seals are more robust and much more resistant to leakage
and premature rapture due to the large capacity of the bag or due
to accidental dropping or pressing of the bag. By "stitching" the
softer seal with hard seals, Applicants have discovered that they
can create a frangible seal in larger bags behaves much like a soft
frangible seal in a smaller bag which is much less vulnerable to
leaking because of the smaller hydraulic pressures provided by the
liquid in the bags and because of the shorter length of such
seal.
[0022] As discussed, the exemplary bags may contain either powder
or liquid to eventually be mixed with another substance. The powder
or liquid may be added via separate inlets (not shown in the
drawings). The exemplary embodiment seals may be formed by forming
each soft seal portion and each hard seal portion individually or
may be formed by first forming a soft seal which defines the seal
seam and then stitches the soft seal intermittently with hard
seals. In yet a further exemplary embodiment hard seals are formed
first and the soft seals are formed over the entire prospective
seam (including over the hard seals) to define the frangible seal
seam.
[0023] Other exemplary embodiment frangible seal seam 32 designs
are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively. In the embodiment shown
in FIG. 5, a column 61 is created in the second compartment which
connects a first portion 38A of the second compartment with a
second portion 38B of the second compartment. In an exemplary
embodiment, the column has a width 65 that is in the range of about
10% to about 20% of the width of the bag. The column 61 may be
provided with graduations 63 that will allow the person filling the
bag to know when the bag has been filled with an appropriate amount
of liquid or other material. The frangible seal seam 32 in an
exemplary embodiment is formed according to the principals of the
present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the frangible
seal forming seam 62 forming the first compartment 36 will be
formed in accordance with the present invention such that it
includes a soft seam stitched with hard seals. A further seam 64 is
formed from a soft seal 66 to serve as a relief valve, defining a
temporary compartment 68. In this regard, when the second
compartment 38 is filled with a liquid or other material, the soft
seal seam 66 will break when enough pressure is created by the
liquid or other material in the first compartment. When the seam 66
breaks it would give the operator an indication that the second
compartment has been properly filled. In yet another exemplary
embodiment, a pressure relief valve is incorporated in any or all
of the compartments that provides relief from pressure and notice
to the operator that a compartment has been filled with an
appropriate amount of liquid or other material. An exemplary
pressure relief valve will have Luer connectivity.
[0024] As this invention has been described herein by way of
exemplary embodiments, many modifications and variations will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is to be
understood that the invention described herein may be embodied
other than as specifically described herein. For example, it should
be understood that while the present invention especially applies
to bags made from polyethylene, and while it also applies to bags
made of polypropylene, it should be understood that it also equally
applies to other material type plastic bags.
* * * * *