Patent ID: 11952176
Assignee: S. C. JOHNSON & SON, INC.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 7:
8. A storage bag comprising:
(A) a first side surface that extends from a top end of the bag to a bottom end of the bag, the first side surface having a top edge near the top end of bag that extends from a first end of the bag to a second end of the bag;
(B) a second side surface that extends from the top end of the bag to the bottom end of the bag, the second side surface having a top edge near the top end of bag that extends from the first end of the bag to the second end of the bag, and the second side surface being directly connected to the first side surface along the first end of the bag and the second end of the bag, so as to form an interior of the bag with an opening to the bag;
(C) a first fastener strip positioned adjacent to the opening of the bag and extending from the first end of the bag to the second end of the bag, the first fastener strip having an upper end portion that extends above the top edge of the first side surface and a lower end portion that is opposite to the upper end portion, with the upper end portion of the first fastener strip being unattached to the first side surface, and the first fastener strip comprising (a) a first interlocking profile and a second interlocking profile that are disposed along the upper end portion of the first fastener strip, such that the first interlocking profile and the second interlocking profile extend above the top edge of the first side surface, and (b) a flange extending directly below the second interlocking profile of the first fastener strip, the flange having an uppermost portion and a lowermost portion, with the flange being attached to the first side surface along the top edge of the first side surface, from the first end of the bag to the second end of the bag, wherein the uppermost portion of the flange extends directly to the second interlocking profile of the first fastener strip;
(D) a second fastener strip positioned adjacent to the opening of the bag and extending from the first end of the bag to the second end of the bag, the second fastener strip having an upper end portion that extends above the top edge of the second side surface and a lower end portion that is opposite to the upper end portion, with the upper end portion of the second fastener strip being unattached to the second side surface, and the second fastener strip comprising (a) a first interlocking profile and a second interlocking profile that define the upper end portion of the second fastener strip, such that the first interlocking profile and the second interlocking profile extend above the top edge of the second side surface, and the first interlocking profile of the second fastener strip being configured to interlock with the first interlocking profile of the first fastener strip, and the second interlocking profile of the second fastener strip being configured to interlock with the second interlocking profile of the first fastener strip, and (b) a flange extending directly below the second interlocking profile of the second fastener strip, the flange having an uppermost portion and a lowermost portion, with the flange being attached to the second side surface along the top edge of the second side surface, from the first end of the bag to the second end of the bag, wherein the uppermost portion of the flange extends directly to the second interlocking profile of the second fastener strip;
(E) a first continuous, shape-retaining strip extending from the first end of the bag to the second end of the bag, the entire first shape-retaining strip being laminated directly to and along an inner surface of the lowermost portion of the flange of the first fastener strip, from the first end of the bag to the second end of the bag, such that (a) the first shape-retaining strip is separate and distinct from each of (i) the flange of the first fastener strip and (ii) the first side surface of the bag, between the first end of the bag and the second end of the bag, and (b) the first shape-retaining strip is made of a material that is capable of (i) being bent into a bent shape and (ii) retaining the bent shape; and
(F) a second continuous, shape-retaining strip extending from the first end of the bag to the second end of the bag, the second shape-retaining strip having substantially the same shape and configuration as that of the first shape-retaining strip, and the entire second shape-retaining strip being laminated directly to and along an inner surface of the lowermost portion of the flange of the second fastener strip, from the first end of the bag to the second end of the bag, such that (a) the second shape-retaining strip is separate and distinct from each of (i) the flange of the second fastener strip and (ii) the second side surface of the bag, between the first end of the bag and the second end of the bag, and (b) the second shape-retaining strip is made of a material that is capable of (i) being bent into a bent shape and (ii) retaining the bent shape,
wherein the bag is changeable among (a) a flat, sealed configuration with (i) the first side surface positioned adjacent to the second side surface at the top end of the bag and the bottom end of the bag, (ii) the first interlocking profile and the second interlocking profile of the first fastener strip being interlocked with the first interlocking profile and the second interlocking profile of the second fastener strip, respectively, and (iii) the first and second shape-retaining strips maintaining a first position in which the first shape-retaining strip is positioned adjacent to the second shape-retaining strip at the top end of the bag, (b) a flat, unsealed configuration with (i) the first side surface positioned adjacent to the second side surface at the top end of the bag and the bottom end of the bag, (ii) the first interlocking profile and the second interlocking profile of the first fastener strip being separated from the first interlocking profile and the second interlocking profile of the second fastener strip, and (iii) the first and second shape-retaining strips maintaining the first position in which the first shape-retaining strip is positioned adjacent to the second shape-retaining strip at the top end of the bag to maintain the flat, unsealed configuration of the bag, and (c) an expanded, unsealed, stand-up configuration with (i) the first side surface spaced a distance D1 from the second side surface at the bottom end of the bag, (ii) the first interlocking profile and the second interlocking profile of the first fastener strip being separated from the first interlocking profile and the second interlocking profile of the second fastener strip, (iii) the first and second shape-retaining strips each comprising the bent shape and (iv) the first and second shape-retaining strips maintaining a second position in which the first shape-retaining strip is positioned a distance D2 away from the second shape-retaining strip at the top end of the bag, with the distance D1 being about equal to the distance D2, so that the bag has a substantially symmetric configuration at the top end and the bottom end of the bag, and
wherein the first side surface is directly connected to the second side surface at the bottom end of the bag with a connection that is changeable among (a) the flat, sealed configuration with the first side surface positioned adjacent to the second side surface at the bottom end, (b) the flat, unsealed configuration with the first side surface positioned adjacent to the second side surface at the bottom end, and (c) the expanded, unsealed, stand-up configuration with the first side surface spaced from the second side surface at the bottom end.