Abstract:
A sealable product containment bag structure is described that includes generally rectangular shaped front and rear panels and pleated generally rectangular side panels connected to the front and rear panels, the front, rear and side panels forming at one end thereof an open top for the bag structure and being folded together at the other end thereof to form a closed bottom. In one embodiment of the invention, adhesive layers are disposed in confronting relationship to each other on the inner surfaces of the front and rear panels near the open top end of the bag, and respectively covered by a protective strip, whereby, after the protective strips are removed, the adhesive layers adhere to each other and to the inner surfaces of the side panels when the side panels are folded inwardly in a closed condition for the bag structure.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The current application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/042,770, filed Mar. 5, 2009. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to shopping bags or the like and more particularly to a sealable product containment bag for containing an item such as a gift item, retail sales item, a fast food or carryout restaurant item, or other product. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Retail sales establishments, fast food and carryout restaurants and other retailers use various sizes, shapes and kinds of bags to assist the customer in containing, transporting, protecting and preserving purchased goods, food and other products purchased by the customer. Additionally, gift bags of various sizes and types are in wide use for containing a gift for a gift-giving occasion and are frequently used in place of gift wrap paper. 
         [0004]    Gift bags in current use are typically substantially rectangular in shape with an open top for receiving an item and generally have handles attached at each side of the top opening. Although it is desirable to conceal a gift item within the gift bag, bags in general current use provide no means to sealably close the opening so as to conceal the item contained in the bag. Similarly, bags in current use for containing fast foods or other consumables procured at a fast food or carryout restaurant provide no means to securely enclose an item so as to preserve freshness or to provide hot or cold insulation. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to a sealable product containment bag structure comprising: 
         [0006]    (a) generally rectangular confronting front and rear panels, each of said front panel and said rear panel having an inner surface and an outer surface; 
         [0007]    (b) pleated generally rectangular side panels interconnecting said front and rear panels, each of said side panels having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surfaces of said front, rear and side panels defining a generally rectangular volumetric shape; 
         [0008]    (c) said front, rear and said side panels defining a top opening for the bag structure at a first end of said panels, said front, rear and side panels folded together at a second end of said panels to form a closed bottom for the bag structure; 
         [0009]    (d) each of said side panels having pleats whereby said side panels are foldable inwardly between said front and rear panels in a closed condition for the bag structure; and 
         [0010]    (e) a first adhesive strip disposed on the inner surface of said front panel along the width thereof near said first end of said front panel, and a second adhesive strip disposed on the inner surface of said rear panel along the width thereof near said first end thereof, said second adhesive strip disposed in confronting relationship with said first adhesive strip, whereby said adhesive strips adhere to each other along a middle portion of said adhesive strips and adhere to the inner surfaces of said side panels along the end portions of said adhesive strips with said side panels folded inwardly in said closed condition. 
         [0011]    The invention also relates to a sealable product containment bag structure comprising: 
         [0012]    (a) generally rectangular confronting front and rear panels, each of said front panel and said rear panel having an inner surface and an outer surface; 
         [0013]    (b) pleated generally rectangular side panels interconnecting said front and rear panels, each of said side panels having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surfaces of said front, rear and side panels defining a generally rectangular volumetric shape; 
         [0014]    (c) said front, rear and said side panels defining a top opening for the bag structure at a first end of said panels, said front, rear and side panels folded together at a second end of said panels to form a closed bottom for the bag structure; 
         [0015]    (d) each of said side panels having pleats whereby said side panels are foldable inwardly between said front and rear panels in a closed condition for the bag structure; 
         [0016]    (e) each of said front and rear panels including a marginal extension in the form of a closure flap at said first ends of said front and rear panels; and 
         [0017]    (f) an adhesive strip disposed on the inner surface of at least one of said closure flaps along the width of said opening and in confronting relationship with the inner surface of the other said closure flap, whereby said closure flaps adhere to each other in said closed condition. 
         [0018]    The invention further relates to a sealable product containment bag structure comprising 
         [0019]    (a) generally rectangular confronting front and rear panels, each of said front panel and said rear panel having an inner surface and an outer surface; 
         [0020]    (b) pleated generally rectangular side panels interconnecting said front and rear panels, each of said side panels having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surfaces of said front, rear and side panels defining a generally rectangular volumetric shape; 
         [0021]    (c) said front, rear and said side panels defining a top opening for the bag structure at a first end of said panels, said front, rear and side panels folded together at a second end of said panels to form a closed bottom for the bag structure; 
         [0022]    (d) each of said side panels having pleats whereby said side panels are foldable inwardly between said front and rear panels in a closed condition for the bag structure; 
         [0023]    (e) one of said front and rear panels including a marginal extension in the form of a closure flap at said first end of said one of said front and rear panels; and 
         [0024]    (f) an adhesive strip disposed on the inner surface of said closure flap along the width of said opening, said closure flap foldable over said opening and sealable to the outer surface of the other of said front and rear panels in said closed condition. 
         [0025]    The invention overcomes the deficiencies in previously available gift or shopping bag structures as suggested above, by providing a product containment bag structure having a sealable adhesive closure at the top of the bag structure so that a product, gift, or other item can be sealably contained inside the bag. The sealable gift bag embodiment of the invention can be securely closed in order to conceal the item contained in the bag, the use of which can eliminate the need for a more expensive gift box or gift wrapping. Because the shopping bag of the invention can be sealed, such as at the point of retail sale, additional security benefits are provided in that an item contained in the bag is substantially protected from being taken from the purchaser surreptitiously, and, additionally, other items cannot easily be inserted into the bag after it is sealed. Further, the adhesive comprising the closure structure of the bag top opening can be selected to render the bag reclosable. In one or more of the embodiments of the invention a substantially tight seal at the top opening of the product containment bag may be accomplished, which helps to preserve freshness of consumable products contained in the bag. Further, for embodiments of the product containment bag structure comprising insulating materials, hot or cold items such as might be purchased at a food market or fast food or carryout restaurant can be insulated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    The invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of representative embodiments thereof read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that form a part of this disclosure, wherein: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bag structure representative of the invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bag structure of  FIG. 1  as viewed generally from the bottom of the bag. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the bag structure of  FIG. 1  in the folded condition. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  shows the upper portion of the  FIG. 1  bag structure in a partially closed condition. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  shows the upper portion of the  FIG. 1  bag structure in a substantially fully closed condition. 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the bag structure representative of further embodiments of the invention with respect to the top opening and adhesive closure structure. 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  shows a view of the top portion of the bag structure of  FIG. 6  illustrating an adhesive closure structure embodiment of the invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  shows a view of the top portion of the bag structure of  FIG. 6  illustrating another closure structure embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view a bag  10  structure representative of one embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bag  10  of  FIG. 1  as viewed generally from the bottom of bag  10 . It is noted at the outset that a highly useful application of the invention is as described herein as a gift bag for sealably concealing a gift item as a surprise for a recipient on a gift giving occasion. However, the invention in one or more of the embodiments described herein can find use as a shopping bag, product containment at point of retail sale, containment (including insulated containment) for fast food, or other use as would occur to the skilled artisan guided by these teachings. 
         [0036]    Bag  10  comprises a generally rectangular structure having a front panel  11  and back panel  12  and side panels  13  and  14  defined by folded corners  15 ,  16 ,  17  and  18 , each of said front, back and side panels having respective outer surfaces and inner surfaces defining an interior volume  20  for receiving a gift, food item, retail sales item or other product. The panels  11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14  define an opening  19  at a first end of the structure providing access to the interior volume  20  of bag  10  for inserting items therein. Side panels  13  and  14  are creased respectively as at folding lines  13   a ,  13   b , and  13   c  (see  FIG. 2 ) and at folding lines  14   a ,  14   b  and  14   c  (see  FIG. 1 ) and one of the front or back panels  11  or  12  is creased such as at  11   a  in order facilitate the inwardly folding of sides  13  and  14  to the folded condition suggested in  FIG. 3 . Bottom panel  22  defines a closed end for bag  10  at the second end of the bag structure opposite to opening  19 . 
         [0037]    Bag  10  and other embodiments of the invention as described herein may be formed of substantially any sheet materials customarily used in the manufacture of gift or shopping bags for retail use, such materials including cloth fabrics, plastics, paper, or materials for hot or cold insulation, or others, the same not considered limiting of the invention. In forming bag  10  using sheet material, a piece of substantially rectangular material is formed into the generally rectangular volumetric shape as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  by folding as at corners  15  to  18 , and joined as at  24  using an adhesive in substantially conventional fashion. The bottom  22  of bag  10  can then be closed to the configuration suggested in  FIG. 2  by inwardly folding portions of the bottom ends of sides  13  and  14  to the form of gussets  27  and  28  and then folding together base panels  30  and  31  of respective front panel  11  and back panel  12  and joining as at  32  using an adhesive, tape (including decorative tape) or other joining means. 
         [0038]    Reference is now made additionally to  FIG. 4  that shows a partial view (upper portion) of bag  10  as suggested in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  folded to a partially closed condition. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, strips of pressure sensitive (e.g., non-hardening) adhesive layers  41  and  42  are disposed on the inner surfaces respectively of front panel  11  and back panel  12  near the upper end of bag  10  near opening  19 . Adhesives that can be typically used in any of the embodiments of the invention as described herein include any of the pressure sensitive adhesives or cohesive-adhesive systems, or other conventional adhesive as would occur to the skilled artisan practicing the invention as taught herein, the specific adhesive selected not considered limiting of the invention or of the appended claims. Protective removable (peel-off) strips  43  and  44  of paper, plastic or other material are disposed over respective adhesive layers  41  and  42  to protect the adhesive prior to an intended use of bag  10 . The protective strips may be removed and the upper end of bag  10  folded substantially as suggested in  FIG. 4  and closed as at opening  19  by joining confronting adhesive layers  41  and  42  to form a sealed closure  45  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . In the sealed closure  45 , end portions of each of the adhesive layers  41  and  42  adhere to inner surfaces of the upper ends of side panels  13  and  14  in the folded-in condition shown in  FIG. 5 . By selecting an adhesive for the adhesive layers in the structure of bag  10  that is releasable, the bag may be reusable. 
         [0039]    In a further aspect of the invention, adhesive layers  48  and  49  are disposed on side panels  13  and  14  near the top of the bag  10  structure as suggested in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the layers  48  and  49  having respective removable protective strips  50  and  51  thereon similarly to the structures of adhesive layers  41  and  42 . Adhesive layers  48  and  49  can provide additional closure seal to the folded-in portions of side panels  13  and  14  in the folded condition suggested in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0040]    In yet another aspect of the invention, handles  62  and  63  may be attached in any conventional manner to the outer or inner surfaces of panels  11  and  12 , such as suggested in  FIG. 5 , in order to provide a convenient means for carrying bag  10 . 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , shown therein is a perspective view of a bag  70  structure representative of further structural embodiments of the invention for the top opening and adhesive closure. The bottom view of bag  70  is substantially the same as that displayed for bag  10  in  FIG. 2 . Bag  70  comprises a generally rectangular structure having a front panel  71  and back panel  72  and side panels  73  and  74  defined by folded corners  75 ,  76 ,  77  and  78 , each of said front, back and side panels having respective outer surfaces and inner surfaces defining an interior volume  80  for receiving a gift, food item, retail sales item or other product similarly to that for bag  10  of  FIG. 1 . The panels  71 ,  72 ,  73  and  74  define an opening  79  at a first end of the structure providing access to the interior volume  80  of bag  70  for inserting items therein. Side panels  73  and  74  are creased respectively as at folding lines  73   a ,  73   b , and  73   c  (not shown in  FIG. 6 ) and at folding lines  74   a ,  74   b  and  74   c  shown in  FIG. 6 . One of the front or back panels  71  or  72  is creased such as at  71   a  in order facilitate the inwardly folding of sides  73  and  74  similarly to that shown for bag  10  in  FIG. 3 . The bottom panel of bag  70  defines a closed second end for bag  70  opposite to opening  79 . Bag  70  may be fabricated substantially as described in relation to  FIG. 2  for bag  10 . 
         [0042]    With further reference now to  FIG. 6 , one or both of panels  71  and  72  can include marginal extensions in the form of substantially similar confronting closure flaps  81  or  82 .  FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment including both closure flaps  81  and  82 , and  FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment using only one closure flap, such as in the example shown, closure flap  82 . 
         [0043]    With further reference now specifically to  FIG. 7  in conjunction with  FIG. 6 , shown is a partial view (upper portion) of bag  70  folded to a closed condition. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, strips of pressure sensitive (preferably non-hardening) adhesive layers  91  or  92  are disposed on the inner surface of at least one of closure flaps  81  and  82 . Protective removable (peel-off) strips  93  and  94  of paper, plastic or other material are disposed over respective adhesive layers  91  and  92  similarly to that described for bag  10  of  FIG. 1 . The protective strips may be removed and the upper end of bag  7  folded substantially as suggested in  FIG. 7  and closed as at opening  79  by joining confronting adhesive layers  91  and  92  to form a sealed closure  96  as suggested in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0044]    With further reference now specifically to  FIG. 8 , shown is a partial view (upper portion) of a second form of bag  70  having one closure flap  82  folded to a closed condition. In this aspect of the invention, flap  82  having a strip of pressure sensitive adhesive layer  92  is folded over the top of panel  71  and sealed to the outer top surface of panel  71  to form the desired releasable seal  96  ( FIG. 8 ). 
         [0045]    In a further aspect of the invention, and with reference again to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 6 , a containment bag of the invention may include on the outer surfaces thereof pictures, drawings, printing or other decorative indicia  60  or other printed matter relating to the type of product enclosed, such as might be appropriate for enclosing a gift in celebration of a holiday, birthday, new-born event, or any other gift-giving event. Alternatively, indicia  60  may comprise a retail advertisement in the use of the invention as a shopping bag or fast food container or other use. 
         [0046]    The invention therefore provides a sealable product containment bag structure. It is understood that modifications to the invention may be made as might occur to one with skill in the field of the invention within the scope of the appended claims. All embodiments contemplated hereunder that achieve the benefits of the invention have therefore not been shown in complete detail. Other embodiments may be developed without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.