Abstract:
At least one graspable element is attached substantially at the main aperture of a drawstring bag, thereby affording a superior, more comfortable bag-opening experience in comparison to that of traditional drawstring bags.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to devices for opening and closing bags.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This Non-Provisional Patent Application is based on Provisional Patent Application No. 60/398,129 filed Jul. 25, 2002. There is a need for an enhanced means for opening a drawstring bag. The means for closing this type of bag are well-known in the art and are relatively easy for the average user to operate: The drawstring(s) of a conventional bag simply is/are grasped, and one side of the “neck” of the bag aperture is forced to meet the other side as closely as possible. By so doing, the neck of the aperture is easily constricted and closed.  
           [0003]    Unlike the closing operation, however, the means for opening the simple and usually inexpensively produced drawstring bag, are rather difficult and cumbersome. Until the disclosure of the system of this invention, the few opening methods for this style of bag have been well known in the art because they are extremely elemental. All have the drawback, however, that, while ultimately functional, the opening experience is not the most comfortable one possible.  
           [0004]    Traditionally, a user attempts to open a closed drawstring bag by forcing at least one index finger, and usually both, into the tightly compressed middle of the constricted aperture of the bag. Then begins the strenuous effort of plying apart the bag&#39;s bunched material by moving hands in opposite directions away from each other. The primary disadvantage with the traditional means for opening a conventional drawstring bag is as follows: When the bag is in the closed position, the aperture-constricting element, usually a string or cord located around the circumference, about the “neck” of the bag&#39;s aperture, is, naturally, most often drawn very tightly. This serves to crimp the aperture in an attempt to best ensure that the contents of the bag are prevented from spilling out. Consequently, the a task of trying to wedge fingers into this tightly constricted aperture most often requires the exertion of a significant force. In many cases it even requires excessive force, which can lead to carpal-tunnel causing strains, or, particularly in the case of women, to an even more calamitous event: finger nail breakage. Forcing one&#39;s digits into a tightly constricted neck, certainly is not as simple, easy and comfortable an opening action as, for example, the operation of Velcro™ or a traditional zipper.  
           [0005]    Nevertheless, prior art opening methods have remained unchanged and unenhanced since the first production of drawstring containers and bags. Perhaps the main reason that few enhancements have rarely, if ever, been made to the opening system for drawstring bags is that the simple and inexpensive general nature of the bag does not invite innovation. Historically, the contention among drawstring bag manufacturers has been that any improvements incorporated into the manufacturing process would likely increase production costs. Manufacturers have felt that any research and development costs could not be justified for the simple, drawstring-type bag which is designed to be sold inexpensively. There has been yet another important factor that has inhibited developmental enhancements to the drawstring bag. Retail store buyers&#39; fear of the potential for their end-user consumers to be confused by the requirement for learning to operate a new opening system is another barrier to drawstring bag innovation. The fear of conceivably confusing the end-using consumers and thereby making the traditional-style drawstring bag less desirable to purchase, has removed the demand by bag retailers to invite drawstring bag manufacturers to innovate. Moreover, since drawstring bags in the past have not been designed to be lockable, furthermore, significantly less attention has been given to the use and operation of drawstring bags than other types of bags.  
           [0006]    The invention disclosed herein affords users a more comfortable means for opening a drawstring bag by providing an graspable opening system which may include a tab-like, handle or handles. These tabs, which may also display brand indicia, are designed to be easily gripped and pulled apart—in directions opposite to one another. Since, in a preferred embodiment, the handles are attached substantially around the “neck” area of the drawstring bag, they offer leverage in the opening process and remove the need for users to wedge fingers into constricted bag apertures.  
           [0007]    The easy-opening system for drawstring bags affords easy grasping for the hands when it is desirable to open a drawstring bag. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and claims.  
         SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention is a system which improves the ease-of-opening process for a drawstring bag.  
           [0009]    An object of this invention is to provide an opening system which offers handle-like elements which can be easily grasped in order to facilitate the opening of a closed drawstring bag.  
           [0010]    Another object of this invention is to provide an opening system which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and also to incorporate into a drawstring bag&#39;s construction.  
           [0011]    Yet still another object of this invention is to provide an opening system which is suitable for displaying messages such as trademark indicating indicia.  
           [0012]    Yet still another and further object of this invention is to provide an opening system which can offer the extra value as to function as part of a locking system for a drawstring bag.  
           [0013]    Yet another, further object of this invention is to produce a system which, if so desired could be adapted to be impregnable with scent in order to afford a pleasant aroma to the drawstring bag over a prolonged period of time.  
           [0014]    Yet still another, further object of this invention is to provide a packaging format that includes a vapor-barrier properties which can substantially contain a scent trapped within the packaging until product use is desired.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a side view of a tab that has built-in cord-channels that are integrally molded with the tab;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a side view of a cord-channel that has a ridge into which a tab may be glued or sonically-welded;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a side view of a cord-channel with no ridge onto which a tab may be glued or sonically-welded;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a side view of a tab that has a thinner section that a sewing needle may more easily penetrate;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a side view of a tab that is of a uniform thickness;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a frontal view of a closed bag with a rounded end and an air hole vent;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a frontal view of an opened bag with a rounded end and an air hole vent;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a cutaway frontal view of an opened bag having plastic end clips;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is a side view of a tab having built-in cord-channels which is sewn into the bag material and having inserted cords;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 is a frontal view of an opened bag with sewn-in handles;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 is a frontal view of an opened bag with means to attach cord ends to the bag body;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 12. is a cutaway frontal view of an opened bag with only one drawstring and tab handle;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 13. is a frontal view of a closed version of FIG. 12;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 14. is a frontal view of a locking system which can be incorporated into the opening system.  
                                                   Tab 22           Tab 22a           Cord-Channel 24           Cord-Channel Ridge 26           Cord-Channels Insertion Ridge 28           Ridgeless Cord-Channel 30           Tab Ridge 32           Ridgeless Tab 34           Closed Bag Neck 36           Bag Clip 38           Cord Knot 40           Air Vent 42           Cord End Clips 44           Bag Seam 46           Cords 48           Bag Material 50           Bag Handles 52           Cord Tip Securing Tabs 56           Single Cord 62           Single Integral Tab 64           Closed Aperture Bag Neck 66           Locking Mechanism 72           Securing Lock-Cord 76           Tab Hole 78                        
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0029]    The most common construction of a drawstring bag, the typical preferred embodiment, takes the form of a substantially square or rectangular piece of fabric folded in half to form a rectangular or square shape; and after this fold, at least one seam  46  is sewn on each side of the folded material. These two side-seems  46  provide for the creation of a material “envelope” which constitutes the “body” of the bag. The “top” or “neck” of the bag defines an open, as yet unsewn side.  
         [0030]    Along each of the open, unstitched edges of the bag neck a “downwards” fold is made in the material. These folds can be approximately 1 inch from the top edge of each “side” the material of the neck. These folds are sewn in order to form a tubular canal through which a constricting elements, Cords  48  or Single Cord  62  may be drawn. This/These constricting element(s) is/are slidably disposed within the tubular canal and are integral to the closing process for a drawstring bag. This is commonly known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0031]    Prior to molding or extruding some prospective elements of the system of this invention, such as Tab  22 , a traditional, common, conventional plastic pelletized resin is obtained. This information is also well known to one skilled in the art. If a scent is desired to be imparted to Tab  22 , an essential oil-impregnated resin is obtained and then fed into a conventional molding machine. The one utilizable plastic is a 50% PVC. This material is strong enough to withstand ripping away from Bag Material  50  when subjected to the pressure of being pulled by human hands, and yet, if Tab  22  is to be sewn to the body of the bag, soft enough to permit conventional sewing needles to puncture its body. In this case, the thickness of Tab  22  should be about 1-2 mm. Of course, a thicker Tab  22  may be used if the tab will be glued instead of sewn when attached to Bag Material  50 . If sewn, Tab  22  should be sewn as close to the neck of the bag as possible in order to provide the greatest amount of leverage towards opening a closed bag, which is usually closed very tightly. When opening the bag of the preferred embodiment having two graspable handles, Tab  22  and Tab  22   a , flanking the sides of Bag Seams  46 , and located essentially adjacent to Closed Bag Neck  36  are grasped, and pressure is then applied in opposing directions to move Tabs  22  and  22   a  away and apart from each other. In so doing, Closed Bag Neck  36 , must necessarily open since Bag Material  50  is attached to Tabs  22  and  22   a.    
         [0032]    By inserting Cords  48  into Cord-Channels  24  on either side of one version of Tabs  22 , it is possible to reduce the chances for the Cords  48  and, consequently, Cord End Clips  44  to flail about uncontrollably. The Cords  48  should be at least as long and preferably at least slightly longer than the circumference of the tubular envelope around the neck of the drawstring bag. Bag Clip  38  is used to allow two bags to be separable if separation is desired when they are clipped together. Air Vent  42  is useful for allowing air to penetrate a bag. This is particularly relevant to shoe-holding bags.  
         [0033]    Cord Tip Securing Tabs  56  are primarily decorative, however, they can prevent scratching of clothing and skin. Single Cord  62  represents one cord only, as opposed to the two-cord closure method of the preferred embodiment. Likewise, Single Integral Tab  64  discloses an alternate embodiment using only one single Tab  22 . Closed Aperture Bag Neck  66  features what the drawstring bag looks like when tightly closed. Locking Mechanism  72  represents any traditional lock means, and Securing Lock-Cord  76  demonstrates one preferred embodiment for preventing Tabs  22  and  22   a  from separating, thereby “locking” the drawstring bag. Tab Hole  78  is the aperture through which the locking mechanism may function.  
         [0034]    When Tab  22  is molded, logos may be silk-screened, embossed or molded into its body. After the Tabs  22  molding process is completed and it is sewn or glued in place, the completed drawstring bag is overwrapped in a conventional fashion by any traditional plastic, or in a special case of scented materials, a film having vapor-barrier characteristics made of plastic or metallized packaging materials that will contain a fragrance preferably composed of a plastic polymer material such as EVOH™ which is extremely resistant to scent dissipation.  
         [0035]    Disclosed FIGS.  1 - 5  illustrate some different methods of creating Tab  22 ; Tab  22  can be made with the tab section integrally produced with Cord Channel  24 , or attached to Cord Channel  24  via Cord Channels Insertion Ridge  28 . Cord Channel Ridge  26  is useful in the sewing or gluing process of Tab  22  to Bag Material  50 . Alternatively, the primary body of Tab  22  may simply be welded in a sonic-welding format to Cord Channel  24  without any Cord Channels Insertion Ridge  28 , as disclosed by Ridgeless Cord Channel  30 . Simpler forms of Tab  22  are Tab Ridge  32  and Ridgeless Tab  34  which are designed to be either glued or sewn into Bag Material  50 .  
         [0036]    While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described and illustrated, it is understood by one skilled in the art that the preferred embodiment is capable of variation, addition, omission and modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.