Abstract:
A privacy purchase sack adapted for permitting users to confidentially purchase items bearing a product identification code such as a UPC code. The privacy purchase sack includes a main body portion having a sack with a wall and at least one open end, the wall having at least one window formed therethrough; and a section of adhesive for aligning the at least one window with a UPC or other product identification code on an item to be purchased, wherein the item is placed within the walls the main body portion to conceal the identity of the item to be purchased except for the UPC or other product identification code showing through the window.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims priority on U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/780,453 filed on Mar. 7, 2006, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This invention relates to sacks and bags for carry other items, and more particularly to a sack for use purchasing in a confidential and private manner items bearing a UPC code and/or another product identification code. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention is a disposable privacy purchase sack for use by consumers who are purchasing items the identity of which the purchaser would rather not reveal to onlookers, including the checker. Like the plastic sacks available in the produce or the meat sections of a grocery store, these sacks would ideally be available in the aisles where personal hygiene items are sold, or similarly in aisles where liquor, birth control items, or other such personally sensitive items are sold. Each sack will bear a transparent window in a body of opaque material that makes up the balance of the sack. The transparent window will be aligned with a UPC code for the item to be purchased so that the checker at the checkout counter, other patrons in the store and other customers in the checkout line will not be able to identify the item being purchased. Depending on the store, sacks can be offered free of charge or the user can be charged for the privacy sacks. Likewise, the sack can be purchased by the consumer for elective use if it not provided by the retailer. 
         [0004]    As noted above, all items for purchase that the privacy purchase sack would be used for are labeled with a UPC code and/or some other product identification code. Hereinafter, however, the description will refer to UPC, with the understanding that it also encompasses other product identification codes. UPC codes are typically provided in two size formats. The privacy sack is constructed such that it is opaque except for a window, which window has a surrounding rim of adhesive. The window is sized to fully reveal the UPC code. If desired, the sacks themselves can be provided in a variety of sizes to accommodate smaller items, (e.g., a box of condoms) to larger items, (e.g., adult diapers, etc.) Likewise, in order to provide the ideal sized window, the sacks can be provided with both a smaller window and a larger window, which windows are covered up, e.g., by a perforated section of material that covers the windows. By the user selectively removing the desired window cover, the proper window size will be available to place over the UPC code on the item to be purchased. In order to main registration of the window with the UPC code, around the window there is an adhesive rim (e.g., a contact adhesive), which can be revealed by peeling away a release film. Alternatively, the window itself can be covered with contact adhesive so that the window can be stuck to the UPC code. In lieu of single sacks with two different sized windows, two different sets of sacks may be provided, each with its own size of window, or there may be a universal sack with a fixed window, which is the smaller of the two sizes, and a perforated periphery to this window, which, once fully punched out, produces the larger sized window. Again, the windows can either be surrounded with an adhesive rim that is exposed by removing a release sheet, or the window itself can be covered with contact adhesive that is exposed when a release sheet is removed. 
         [0005]    The sack is utilized by aligning the window of the sack with the UPC code on the item to be purchased such that the UPC code is visible through the window. The adhesive surrounding (or on) the window of the sack keeps the edges of the window adherent to the item to be purchased. The item is then inverted into the bag, turning the bag inside out. The window is placed toward the inferior-most aspect of the sack and the sack is sized generously enough to allow easy inversion of the item into the sack. The sack may have a closure to close off the open end of the bag. The closure can comprise a simple flap, without or without an adhesive to close it, or any other presently available or in the future developed closures. 
         [0006]    Once the item to be purchased is inside the sack, the sack and it enclosed item will be presented to the check out clerk without the clerk or other customers in check out line being able to identify the item. However, because the UPC code is visible, the item can still be scanned and charged easily. Furthermore, although the checker cannot see the item aside from the UPC code, he/she can easily ascertain by palpation of the sack&#39;s contents that the sack contains only the one item being purchased. Also, if desired, the display can include some description, such as “small box about 1″×2″×5″ to help the clerk confirm that the UPC for the item being scanned correlates to the item, to avoid possible fraud that might be perpetrated if a user were to attempt to apply the UPC code for different item than the item being purchased. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment of the invention, the software of the register is modified to display “personal item” or some other text on the check out computer screen and the receipt rather than the exact item that corresponds to the UPC code to thereby maintain the identity of the item to be confidentially purchased. However, the software will continue to identify the exact item for the purposes the store&#39;s financial, inventory and other requirements. 
         [0008]    Another aspect of the invention discloses a method and system for confidentially purchasing items without other customers or the checkout clerk from knowing the identity of the item purchased. The system uses a sack or other overlay to conceal the identity of the item to be purchased except for its UPC code. In the system, the clerk who is checking out items will need to identify for the scanning system that the item to be purchased is to remain private. In order to do this, the sack itself can bear its own UPC code or other 2-D privacy directive code. By scanning this special UPC code, the software can, if desired, add a charge for the price of the privacy sack (if applicable) and also indicate that the next UPC code to be scanned is not to appear on the checkout software or on the receipt given to the purchaser. Alternately, when a checker encounters a privacy sack, the checker can manually activate a “no-show” function on the cash register so that the next item to be scanned is not identified by its contents on the display screen(s) of the cash register or the printed receipt. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic top view of an exemplary embodiment of a privacy purchase sack of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a detail showing the window portion of the exemplary embodiment of the privacy purchase sack of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a detail showing a dual size window before being enlarged from its smaller size window to its larger sized window. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a detail showing the dual size window of  FIG. 3  after being enlarged. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic isometric view showing a window of a privacy sack of the invention being aligned with a UPC code on an item to be purchased. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic isometric view showing an item in the privacy sack after the privacy sack is inverted to enclose the item. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the item in the privacy sack with its UPC code revealed through the window. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic top view of another exemplary embodiment of a privacy purchase sack of the invention having an elongate window. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic top view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a privacy purchase sack of the invention having a flat sheet with a window for overwrapping items while revealing the UPC code. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic top view of yet a further exemplary embodiment of a privacy purchase sack of the invention having an open window with a clear adhesive tab. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing an exemplary embodiment of a privacy sack purchasing system of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic top view of an exemplary privacy purchase sack  10  of the invention. It has a main bag portion  12  shown before it is inverted around the item to be purchased, and will be referred to as being in a “pre-inverted” state. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , smaller window portion  14  and larger window portion  16  are shown formed through the bag. Each of the two windows  14  and  16  will be covered with opaque window covers  18  and  20 , respectively, (not shown) with the window to be exposed having its window cover  18  or  20  removed and discarded. In the pre-inverted state, a first surface  22  is shown facing outwardly and the second surface  24  is shown through an opened end  38  of the privacy sack  10  facing inwardly. Instead of providing the main bag portion  12  with two windows  14  and  16 , a single window of the desired size may be provided (not shown). Each window  14 ,  16  has a transparent layer  26 ,  28  which is affixed to cover an opening  30 ,  32  formed in the main body portion  12 . It is also possible to eliminate the transparent layer  26 ,  28  and instead simply use the openings  30 ,  32  formed in the main body portion  12  without any transparent layer. A rim of contact adhesive  34 ,  36  is formed around the openings  30 ,  32  on the first surface  22  of the main body portion  12 . These rims of contact adhesive  34 ,  36  can be exposed by removing a release sheet (which can comprise the opaque window covers  18 ,  20 , respectively). In lieu of a rim of contact adhesive around the openings  30 ,  32 , the transparent layer  26 ,  28  can itself be covered with a transparent contact adhesive (which does not mask the UPC) to which the transparent layer  26 ,  28  can be attached (not shown). If desired, the main bag portion  12  can include a closure  40 , such as a flap and can also include an adhesive sealing strip  42  (shown in phantom on the opposite side of the flap), which can be covered with a release film, to seal the bag  10  closed, which is described below. Also, for ease of manufacturing, it is possible to form a window or windows in the privacy sack by die cutting serrated lines through both the front and rear wall of the privacy sack, which the user can tear out the die cut rectangular window portion that is surrounded by the adhesive (not shown). 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a detail showing a window portion  16  of the exemplary privacy purchase sack of  FIG. 1  and its transparent layer  28  which is affixed to cover the opening  32  formed in the main body portion  12 . The rim of contact adhesive  36  is shown formed around the openings  32  on a first surface  22  of the main body portion  12 . The window cover  20  is shown in phantom affixed to the adhesive rim  36 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a detail showing an exemplary privacy purchase sack  50  with dual size window  52  before being enlarged from its smaller size window  54  to its larger sized  56  window, as shown in  FIG. 4 , by tearing off a sizing frame  58  from the wall of the main bag portion  60  along serration lines  62 . The release sheet  64  is shown covering the window  54 ,  56 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic isometric view showing a window  14  of a privacy sack  10  being aligned with a UPC code  70  on an item  72  to be purchased. The adhesive rim  34  around the window  14  on the first surface  22  of the privacy sack  10  can be exposed by removing the contract sheet (not shown), and attaching it around the perimeter of the UPC code  70 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic isometric view showing the item  72  (in phantom) to be purchased in the privacy sack  10  after the privacy sack has been inverted to enclose the item  72 , and  FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic top view showing the item  72  in the privacy sack with its UPC code  70  revealed through the window  16 . The privacy sack  10  itself can bear its own 2-D privacy directive code  74  on the second surface  24  and preferably some instructional text  76 , e.g., “SCAN HERE 1 st ”. The privacy directive code  74  can be a bar code itself such as a UPC code. As an alternative, the privacy directive code can be located on another surface, such as a booklet of UPC codes. By scanning this privacy directive code  74 , the software can add a charge for the privacy sack (if desired) and also instruct the checkout software that the next UPC code to be scanned is the UPC code  70  for the item to be purchased  72  and is not to be displayed on the cash register or printed receipt. Adjacent to the window  30  instructional text  78 , e.g., “SCAN HERE 2 nd ,” can be printed adjacent to the window  14  so that there is no confusion as to which UPC is to be scanned first. Alternately, when a checker encounters a privacy sack, the checker can manually activate a “no-show” function on the cash register so that the next item to be scanned is not identified by its contents on the display screen(s) of the cash register or the printed receipt, but, for example, display “personal item” or some other text on the check out screen and the receipt. However, the software will continue to identify the exact item for the purposes the store&#39;s financial, inventory and other requirements. In lieu of providing a sack, a flat sheet of opaque material with a window can instead be used to mask the identity of the item to be purchased. Adhesive strips can be used to close off the panel around the item to be purchased. 
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic top view of another exemplary embodiment of a privacy purchase sack  80  of the invention. In this embodiment, the sack  80  has an elongate window  86  formed in a wall  82  of the sack, which window  86  is surrounded by an adhesive rim  84 . As with the other embodiments, the adhesive rim  84  is preferably a pressure sensitive adhesive and has a release sheet (not shown) that may be removed when it is time to use the privacy sack. One feature of this embodiment is that the width of the window  86  is sufficient to traverse the dimension of a UPC code of any length but has a sufficient height such that the UPC code can be scanned, but the height is not large enough to permit easy visual recognition of the bag&#39;s contents. 
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic top view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a privacy purchase overwrap material  88  of the invention. In this embodiment, rather than being in the form of a sack, the overwrap material  88  comprises a flat sheet  90  (e.g., rectangular) with a window  92  formed therein which is surrounded by an adhesive rim  94 . Release film (not shown) can be removed from the adhesive  94  around the window  92  to adhere it to the item to be concealed. In order to secure the overwrap material  88  around the item to be concealed, adhesive strips  96  may be provided around at least a portion of the perimeter  98  of the sheet  88 . Release film (not shown) on the adhesive strips  96  around the perimeter  98  of the sheet  90  may then be removed so that the sheet can be overwrapped around the item to be concealed. Unlike the other embodiments, this embodiment of the invention does not require inverting a sack around the item to be concealed. 
         [0027]      FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic top view of yet a further exemplary embodiment of a privacy purchase sack  100  of the invention having an open window  104  with a clear adhesive tab  106  that is partially attached to the wall  102  of the sack  100 . A release film  108  can be removed from the clear adhesive tab  106  and discarded, so that once the window  104  is aligned with the UPC code, the clear adhesive tab  106  can be swung down and stuck to the UPC code area of the item to be concealed. 
         [0028]    Another aspect of the invention discloses a method and system for confidentially purchasing items without other customers or the checkout clerk knowing the identity of the purchased item.  FIG. 11  is a layout showing the confidential privacy sack purchasing system  110  of the invention. The first step  112  is to provide a privacy sack such as described above or some other overlay that conceals the identity of the item to be purchased, except for its UPC code. In the next step  114 , the item to be purchased is placed in the privacy sack with UPC code showing through the window of the privacy sack. This is done as described above, namely by aligning the window of the privacy sack with the item to be purchased UPC code and inverting the privacy sack around the item to be purchased to fully enclose it. In the next step  116 , there is provided a computerized checkout system with software that includes the option not to display the product identification on the display screens of the cash register or on receipt. The next step  118  is to invoke the “no show” feature. For example, this can be done by scanning a privacy directive code that is printed on the privacy sack itself or placed somewhere else (e.g., in a binder of UPC codes). Likewise, this can be done by manually directing the cash register software not to display the description of item to be purchased. For example, if there are no specifically programmable keys, the software of the cash register can design so that certain combinations of keystrokes will activate the no-show feature for the next items to be scanned. A following step  120  is to scan the UPC code of item to be purchased through the window in the privacy sack. In the last step  122 , the checkout system displays and prints a receipt showing the price only and a generic description, e.g., “Personal Item”, but internally recognizes the purchased item. The purchaser can thus have achieved a completely confidential purchase of goods without others knowing what was purchased. 
         [0029]    Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary is intended to cover various modifications and/or equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.