U.S. patent application number 14/490471 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-24 for bag convertible to tray.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jonatan Padan. Invention is credited to Jonatan Padan.
Application Number | 20160083143 14/490471 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55525069 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160083143 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Padan; Jonatan |
March 24, 2016 |
BAG CONVERTIBLE TO TRAY
Abstract
A bag convertible to a tray. The bag incorporates a tray portion
made from a first material, with a second, more flaccid material
extending the walls of the tray portion. Score lines along the more
flaccid material enable a user to tear the walls from the open end
of the bag to the tray portion. With the tray portion of the bag on
the lap of the user seated on a seat, the walls of the bag, now
separated, may be placed over the abdomen and legs of the user, for
example, to intercept spillage, with intervening walls placed
underneath the legs of the user to anchor the tray portion on the
lap of the user.
Inventors: |
Padan; Jonatan; (Vestavia,
AL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Padan; Jonatan |
Vestavia |
AL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55525069 |
Appl. No.: |
14/490471 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/216 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 31/06 20130101;
B65D 31/10 20130101; B65D 1/34 20130101; B65D 33/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 30/16 20060101
B65D030/16; B65D 30/20 20060101 B65D030/20; B65D 1/34 20060101
B65D001/34; B65D 33/02 20060101 B65D033/02; B65D 17/00 20060101
B65D017/00 |
Claims
1. A bag which is convertible to a tray, comprising: a tray portion
including a floor and a plurality of upstanding walls projecting
from the floor, wherein each two adjacent walls meet one another at
a corner of the tray portion, an axis along and central to the
upstanding walls, and a periphery along which each of the walls is
joined to two adjacent walls along respective seams, and an
extension member projecting upwardly from the upstanding walls of
the tray portion, wherein the extension member has a proximal end
in contact with the tray portion and an opposed distal end away
from the tray portion; the extension member is continuous about the
periphery of the tray portion, and the tray portion is made from a
first material and the extension member is made from a tearable
material having rigidity less than that of the first material.
2. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag has a height along the axis
when erected in a deployed configuration, the tray portion has a
height along the axis when the bag is erected in the deployed
configuration, and the height of the tray portion is less than half
the height of the bag.
3. The bag of claim 1, wherein the extension member comprises one
panel for each one of the upstanding walls of the tray portion,
each panel extending upwardly from one of the upstanding walls of
the tray portion, the extension member further comprising a scored
seam between each one of the panels.
4. The bag of claim 3, wherein the scored seams are on opposed
panels of the extension member, and each one of the scored seams
includes a first leg extending parallel to the floor of the tray
portion, and a second leg intersecting the first leg, projecting
perpendicularly therefrom, and extending to a corner of the
bag.
5. The bag of claim 3, wherein the scored seams extend from the
corners of the bag from the tray portion to the distal end of the
extension member.
6. The bag of claim 1, wherein the tearable material of the
extension member is paper.
7. The bag of claim 1, wherein the first material of the tray
portion is cellulosic.
8. The bag of claim 1, wherein at least one of said panels further
comprises a malleable material.
9. The bag of claim 8, wherein the malleable material is a
wire.
10. A method of converting a bag to a tray, comprising tearing
walls of the bag from a distal end of the bag to a point leaving an
untorn zone of each wall of the bag proximate a floor of the
bag.
11. A method of using a bag converted to a tray, wherein walls of
the bag have been torn from a distal end of the bag to a point
leaving an untorn zone of each wall of the bag proximate a floor of
the bag, the method comprising: placing the bag on a lap of a user,
with a floor of the bag against the lap and one panel of the torn
walls covering the abdomen of the user.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising placing an opposed
panel of the torn walls over legs of the user.
13. A method of using a bag converted to a tray, wherein walls of
the bag have been torn from a distal end of the bag to a point
leaving an untorn zone of each wall of the bag proximate a floor of
the bag, the method comprising: placing the bag on a lap of a user,
and placing one panel of the torn walls beneath a leg of the
user.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the panel placed beneath the
leg of the user is a first panel, the method comprising placing a
second panel opposed to the first panel beneath the other leg of
the user.
15. A method of converting a bag to a tray, wherein the bag
includes a tray portion and wall portion, the method comprising the
step of removing the wall portion from the tray portion.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method of removing the wall
portion from the tray portion is done by tearing.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the tray portion is reinforced
relative to the wall portion.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the tray portion is reinforced
relative to the wall portion.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the wall portion and the tray
portion are separated by perforations.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of removing the wall
portion from the tray portion is accomplished by utilizing said
perforations.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to bags, and more
particularly, to a bag which converts to a tray having splash
protective bibs projecting therefrom.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Purchasing fast food has been popular for years. Many
customers choose to order fast food from available drive-in
service, and then eat the food in their vehicles. Typically, a
customer will retrieve each food item from a paper bag in which the
food was placed when delivered to the customer. Types of food
contained in the paper bag vary, but typically include hamburgers
and other sandwiches, french fries, and beverages, among other
offerings. Fast food retail outlets may provide paper trays to
support these foods. However, providing trays entails additional
costs and increased storage space burdens to the fast food retail
outlets. There exists a need to reduce usage of food containers and
ancillary items such as trays.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] The present disclosure addresses the above stated situation
by providing a bag which is readily convertible to a tray. The
bottom of the bag is reinforced with paper or cardboard which is
significantly stiffer than typical paper bags used in fast food
outlets, and serves as a tray. The paper portion of the bag above
the bottom is torn along pre-existing score lines and peeled away
from the tray portion of the original bag. The panels generated by
tearing the bag are usable as coverings to intercept spillage, or
splashed or dropped foods. The panels may include a malleable wire
or other malleable material within the panels such that said panels
can be molded to a plurality of fixed positions or shapes. The
panels so generated may be placed beneath the thighs of a person
and molded to the person's thigh shape to securely anchor the tray
on the lap of an occupant of a motor vehicle. If a person is
desirous to eat a portion of the meal and save the remainder for
later, the panels can be tied or twisted together creating a
makeshift bundle for the food to be secured for later consumption
when being transported thereby reducing the risk of spillage,
splashed foods, or dropped foods. Thereafter, once a person has
finished consuming the foods, the two panels can be tied or twisted
together to create a makeshift bundle to discard the remnants of a
meal in a convenient and efficient manner in which spillage, or
splashed or dropped foods can be intercepted.
[0004] Thus, customers are provided with trays which include
anchoring elements for stability, and sanitary coverings to protect
against spilled or dropped foods. The trays are inexpensively
incorporated into bags which bags also serve to transfer a
collection of foods, beverages, and ancillary items such as
condiments, napkins, straws, and the like to customers of fast food
retail outlets in their motor vehicles.
[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes
described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in
accomplishing its intended purposes.
[0006] These and other objects of the present disclosure will
become readily apparent upon further review of the following
specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the
present disclosure will become more fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag convertible to a tray,
according to at least one aspect of the disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 1, after
walls of the bag have been torn when converting the bag to a
tray;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bag generally similar to
the bag of FIG. 1, but having different score lines for tearing the
walls of the bag in a way slightly different from that illustrated
in FIG. 2; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 3 after
tearing the walls to convert the bag to a tray; and
[0012] FIG. 5 is a block diagram summarizing a method of making and
using a bag such as those shown in FIGS. 1-4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Referring first to FIG. 1, according to at least one aspect
of the disclosure, there is shown bag 100 which is convertible to a
tray (not separately shown). The bag 100 comprises tray portion 102
including floor 104 (FIG. 2) and a plurality of upstanding walls
106 projecting from floor 104. Each two adjacent upstanding walls
106 meet one another at one corner 108 of tray portion 102. The
corners 108 extend upwardly along upstanding walls 108, and will
therefore be understood to be part of both tray portion 102 and bag
100. Bag 100 has an axis 110 along and central to upstanding walls
106, and a periphery 112 along which each of the upstanding walls
106 is joined to two adjacent upstanding walls 106 along respective
seams 114.
[0014] Bag 100 includes an extension member 116 projecting upwardly
from standing walls 106 of the tray portion 102, periphery 112
being part of extension member 116 as well as walls 106. Extension
member 116 has a proximal end 118 in contact with tray portion 102
and an opposed distal end 120 away from tray portion 102. Extension
member 116 is continuous about periphery 112 of tray portion
102.
[0015] Extension member 116 comprises one panel 126 (FIG. 2) for
each one of the upstanding walls 106 of tray portion 102. Each
panel 126 extends upwardly from one of the upstanding walls 106 of
tray portion 102, with bag 100 in a deployed configuration shown in
FIG. 1. Each panel 126 may include a malleable wire 125 or
malleable material 125 in each panel 126 such that the panel can be
molded to a plurality of fixed positions or shapes (FIG. 2). In one
embodiment, the malleable material 125 is embedded in each panel
126 and may be S-shaped (FIG. 2) wherein the panel 126 in
conjunction with said malleable material 125 can be molded over a
person's legs and tucked under the thighs to anchor the tray on the
lap of an occupant of a motor vehicle reducing the risk of
spillage, splashed foods, or dropped foods. In another embodiment,
the malleable material 125 in conjunction with the panel 126 allows
the bag to remain open such that a person can mold the panels 126
away from the tray for easier access to the food (FIG. 2). In the
deployed configuration, bag 100 is completely unfolded from a
folded stowed configuration (not shown), with floor 104 horizontal,
and distal end 120 above floor 104. In actual use, the upper end of
bag 100 may be folded, twisted, or crumpled (none of these
configurations is shown) to facilitate grasping bag 100 in one
hand, and to retain articles (none shown) contained within bag
100.
[0016] Panels 126 are present in bag 100 in the deployed
configuration of FIG. 1, but are called out in FIG. 2, where they
are more readily identified because each panel 126 has been, in
FIG. 2, torn free of adjacent panels 126.
[0017] Extension member 116 further comprises a scored seam 128
between each one of panels 126. Scored seams 128 are seams treated
to promote tearing along a predetermined path. Treatment may be
severe folding, perforations, and other effects which weaken the
treated seam such that when a person pulls panels 126 apart, a
resulting tear occurs along a scored seam 128 between each of the
panels 126 which are being pulled apart.
[0018] In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, scored seams 128 are on
opposed panels 126 of extension member 116. Each one of the scored
seams 128 includes a first leg 130 extending parallel to floor 104
of tray portion 102, and a second leg 132 intersecting first leg
130, second leg 132 projecting perpendicularly from first leg 130,
and extending to a corner 114 of bag 100. Therefore, it will be
apparent that scored seams 128 do not coincide with seams 114.
[0019] Tray portion 102 is made entirely or partially from a first
material such as paperboard or another cellulosic material.
Extension member 116 is made from a tearable material, such as
paper, having rigidity less than that of the first material from
which tray portion 102 is made.
[0020] Bag 100 has a height 122 along axis 110 when erected in the
deployed configuration shown in FIG. 1. Tray portion has a height
124 along axis 110 when bag 100 is erected in the deployed
configuration of FIG. 1. Height 124 of tray portion 102 is less
than half the height 122 of bag 100.
[0021] Exemplary dimensions of bag 100 are as follows. Bag 100 may
be eight to sixteen inches in height 122, and five to ten inches in
width and in thickness, width and thickness being designated using
the same reference numeral 134. Tray portion 102 may have a height
136 of two to three inches. A ratio of height 122 of bag 100 to
height 136 of tray portion 102 may be for example three to about
eight.
[0022] Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a bag 200 is depicted. Bag 200
generally has construction and other characteristics of bag 100 of
FIGS. 1 and 2, such as having a tray portion 202 and upstanding
walls 206 projecting therefrom, which includes a panel 226 wherein
a malleable wire 127 or malleable material 127 comprises the panel
(FIG. 4), except that scored seams 228 are located differently than
scored seams 128 of bag 100. In FIG. 3, scored seams 228 extend
along and are coincident with corners 214 of bag 200 from tray
portion 202 to distal end 220 of extension member 216. In FIG. 4,
another embodiment illustrates that the malleable wire or material
127 comprises the panel 226 such that the malleable wire or
malleable material 127 is straight as opposed to S-shaped. In
another embodiment, said panels 226 in conjunction with the
malleable material 127 can be used to cover the tray portion 202 by
drawing or fastening together the panels 226, such that
transportation of the bag 200 with its contents contained therein
is convenient by reducing the risk of spillage, splashed foods, or
dropped foods. A consequence of the different scored seams 128 and
228 is different dimensions of panels 126 and 226 (FIGS. 2 and 4,
respectively). In different embodiments, panels 126 and 226 (FIGS.
2 and 4, respectively) may include a malleable wire or malleable
material 125 or 127 such that the panel can be molded to a
plurality of fixed positions and shapes. It is also appreciated by
the inventor that the malleable wire or malleable material could be
used in any one of the panels and upstanding walls to obtain the
benefits discussed herein. In FIG. 2, a panel 126A is seen to have
a width 138 greater than a distance 140 between seams 114. In FIG.
4, a panel 226A corresponding to panel 126A in FIG. 2 has a width
238 less than the corresponding width 138 of bag 100. This
comparison holds true for bags 100, 200 of identical height, width,
and thickness dimensions.
[0023] A similar situation exists for thickness. Thickness 142 of
panel 126B of bag 100 (see FIG. 2) is less than that of thickness
242 of corresponding panel 226B of bag 200 (see FIG. 4).
[0024] Significance of these different dimensional relationships
will be explained in the context of use of bags 100 and 200.
[0025] FIG. 5 summarizes a method 300 of making and using a bag
(e.g., bag 100 or 200) converted to a tray, method 300 comprising
tearing walls (e.g. upstanding walls 106 or 206) of a bag (e.g.,
bag 100 or 200) from a distal end (e.g., distal end 120 or 220 of
bag 100 or 200) to a point leaving an untorn zone (e.g., coinciding
with tray portions 102 or 202 of bag 100 or 200) of each wall
(e.g., upstanding walls 106 or 206) of the bag (e.g., bag 100 or
200) proximate a floor (e.g., floor 104 or 204 of bag 100 or 200)
(seen as block 302 in FIG. 5). Method 300 includes placing the bag
on a lap of a user (not shown) (block 304), and placing one panel
(e.g., panel 126 or 226) of the torn walls beneath a leg of the
user (block 306). In method 300, the user is seated, for example,
in a motor vehicle being driven to a fast food retail outlet (not
shown). When a panel 126 or 226 is placed beneath the leg, its
associated tray 102 or 202 is somewhat stabilized, or constrained
from being dislodged from the lap.
[0026] Where panel 126 or 226 placed beneath the leg of the user is
a first panel, method 300 may further comprise placing a second
panel 126 or 226 opposed to first panel 126 or 226 beneath the
other leg of the user (block 308). With opposed panels 126 or 226
secured beneath the legs of the user, tray 102 or 202 is well
stabilized or constrained from being dislodged from the lap.
[0027] Method 300 may further comprise placing bag 100 or 200 on
the lap of the user, with a floor (e.g., floor 104 or 204) of the
bag against the lap and one panel (e.g., panel 126 or 226) of the
torn walls covering the abdomen of the user (block 310). By this
expedient, an otherwise unused wall of bag 100 or 200 finds utility
as a shield or bib protecting the abdomen and perhaps part of the
chest against spillage of food.
[0028] Method 300 may further comprise placing a panel (e.g., panel
126 or 226) opposed to the panel covering the abdomen over legs of
the user (block 312). Thus, both the abdomen and the legs of the
user may be protected against spillage.
[0029] It should be understood that the various examples of the
apparatuses disclosed herein may include any of the components,
features, and functionalities of any of the other examples of the
apparatuses disclosed herein in any feasible combination, and all
of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and
scope of the present disclosure. Many modifications of examples set
forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which
the present disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings
presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated
drawings.
[0030] Therefore, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure is not to be limited to the specific examples presented
and that modifications and other examples are intended to be
included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover,
although the foregoing description and the associated drawings
describe examples of the present disclosure in the context of
certain illustrative combinations of elements and/or functions, it
should be appreciated that different combinations of elements
and/or functions may be provided by alternative implementations
without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *