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.

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&#39;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&#39;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  126 A is seen to have a width  138  greater than a distance  140  between seams  114 . In  FIG. 4 , a panel  226 A corresponding to panel  126 A 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  126 B of bag  100  (see  FIG. 2 ) is less than that of thickness  242  of corresponding panel  226 B 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.