Abstract:
A flexible storage bag defines an inner storage area within which is provided a flexible barrier. A user can select a first storage mode wherein the flexible barrier is positioned to one side such that only a single storage zone is available for storing products; or a dual storage mode wherein the barrier divides the storage area into first and second storage zones. The bag preferably includes an upper closure assembly having a loop extending therefrom to aid a user in sealing the bag, as well as potentially hanging the bag from a hook. The bag optionally includes a lower closure assembly on the flexible barrier for selectively sealing one of the multiple storage zones. Offset tabs may be provided to aid a user in opening the bag. In some embodiments, the bag includes a graphical image puzzle constituting multiple graphic images that combine to form a completed image.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/419,103, filed Dec. 2, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention pertains to the art of flexible, plastic, resealable storage bags and, more particularly, to a storage bag including an internal barrier. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Dual compartment sandwich bags including separate, sealable side-by-side compartments are known in the art as demonstrated by U.S. Design Pat. No. D563,241. Further, plastic storage bags which seal with the aid of a zipper are known as demonstrated by U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0066984. Regardless of these known bag arrangements, there still exists room for improvement within the storage bag arts. For example, there still exists the need for a simple plastic storage bag which is easy to use and provides for separating moist or wet components from dry components without the need for large, unnecessary packaging. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is directed to a flexible storage bag including an inner flexible barrier. More specifically, the flexible storage bag starts with interconnected first and second side wall portions that define an inner storage area having an opening. The flexible barrier is located within the inner storage area and preferably extends substantially the entire width of the inner storage area. The flexible barrier is connected to at least one of the respective bottom and opposing side edge sections of each of the first and second side wall portions such that the flexible barrier is retained within the inner storage area. 
         [0007]    With this configuration, a user can select a first storage mode wherein the flexible barrier is positioned to one side of the storage area such that only a single storage section is available for storing products, or a second storage mode wherein the flexible barrier is positioned to divide the storage area into distinct first and second storage sections for separately storing one or more products. In this way, moist or wet food products such as vegetables or dip can be kept separate from dry products such as bread or chips. 
         [0008]    An upper closure assembly is provided for selectively closing the opening of the flexible storage bag, and preferably includes a zipper having a loop extending therefrom to aid a user in zipping or unzipping the flexible storage bag and for hanging the flexible storage bag from a hook or the like. A top edge portion of the flexible barrier is provided within the flexible storage bag below a level of top side edge sections of each of the first and second side wall portions such that the flexible barrier member does not interfere with the function of the upper closure assembly. The flexible storage bag may also include a lower closure assembly for sealing the flexible barrier to one or both of the side wall portions. The flexible storage bag may also include other features such as offset tabs to aid in opening the bag and a graphical image puzzle for a user&#39;s entertainment and/or education. 
         [0009]    Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  perspective view of a flexible storage bag constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the flexible storage bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of the flexible storage bag of  FIG. 1 , wherein both storage sections of the bag are utilized; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a top view of the flexible storage bag of  FIG. 1 , wherein only one storage section of the bag is utilized; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  shows the flexible storage bag of  FIG. 1  being opened by a child; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  shows the flexible storage bag of  FIG. 1  hung from a hook in a storage position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5A  shows a flexible storage bag of the present invention including offset tabs for opening the storage bag; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5B  shows the flexible storage bag of  FIG. 5A  opened; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6   a  is an exploded view of a flexible storage bag of the present invention including a graphical image puzzle constituted by separate graphical images; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6   b  is a front view of the flexible storage bag of  FIG. 6   b , showing a completed graphical image; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the flexible storage bag with one side wall shown partially torn back to better illustrate internal structure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , a flexible storage bag  10  includes first and second side wall portions  12  and  13  connected to form an inner storage area  14  having an opening  15 . In one embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2 , first side wall portion  12  includes top, bottom and opposing side edge sections  16 - 19 , while second side wall portion  13  includes top, bottom and opposing side edge sections  20 - 23 . First and second side wall portions  12  and  13  are preferably made of a suitable plastic film material and are fused or otherwise interconnected at their respective bottom and opposing side edge sections  17 - 19  and  20 - 23  in a manner known in the art. Alternatively, first and second wall portions  12  and  13  may be constituted by a single folded sheet of flexible plastic material which is fused along side edge sections  18 - 19  and  21 - 23  in a manner also known in the art. At this point it is noted that materials suitable for use in the manufacture of plastic storage bags, as well as methods of forming plastic storage bags with a single storage compartment, are well known in the art and need not be detailed herein. Instead, the present invention is directed to a novel flexible storage bag  10  including an inner flexible barrier  24 , as will be more specifically discussed below. 
         [0022]    Flexible storage bag  10  further includes an upper closure assembly generally indicated at  26 . As best shown in FIGS.  2  and  3 A- 3 B, upper closure assembly  26  includes a male connection element  28  extending along an inner wall  30  of the first wall portion  12 , and a female connection element  32  extending along an inner wall  31  of the second wall portion  13 . In a manner known in the art, female connection element  32  includes first and second ridges indicated at  34  defining a channel  35  into which male connection element  28  is received to seal the top edge sections  16  and  20  of the first and second side wall portions  12  and  13  together, thereby sealing inner storage area  14 . In a preferred embodiment, upper closure assembly  26  also include a zipper  36  slidably connected to the top edge sections  16  and  20  of the first and second side wall portions  12  and  13  and adapted to forcibly engage the male and female connection elements  28  and  32  to selectively zip or seal flexible storage bag  10  when slid in one direction and to unzip or unseal flexible storage bag  10  when slid in an opposing direction. As the manner in which a zipper element can cooperate with male and female connection elements to zip or unzip a storage bag is known in the art, it will not be detailed further herein. However, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, zipper  36  preferably includes a loop  38  sized to allow the finger of a user, even a small child, to be inserted into the loop (see  FIG. 4A ) in order to pull zipper  36  to aid the user in zipping and unzipping flexible storage bag  10 . Loop  38  can be integrally formed with zipper  36 , or can be attached to zipper  36  via a hinge, or another connection arrangement such as tying a string or strap thereto. Additionally, loop  38  can advantageously function as a means for hanging flexible storage bag  10  from a peg, nail or the like (see  FIG. 4B ). 
         [0023]    As best seen in  FIG. 2 , inner flexible barrier  24  includes top, bottom and opposing side edge portions  50 - 53 . In a first embodiment, at least one of the bottom and opposing side edge portions  51 - 53  is connected to the corresponding bottom and opposing side edge sections  17 - 19  and  21 - 23  of side wall portions  12  and  13 . For example, in one embodiment, bottom edge portion  51  is sealed to bottom edge sections  17  and  19  of respective first and second wall portions  12  and  13  to retain flexible barrier  24  within storage area  14 , while maintaining top edge section  51  at a level below the level of upper closure assembly  26  so as to not interfere with the sealing of flexible storage bag  10 . Flexible barrier  24  may have a width W 1  that is smaller than the width W 2  of side wall portions  12  and  13  such that opposing side edge portions  52  and  53  of flexible barrier  24  are not sealed to the flexible storage bag  10  during the manufacturing process, or width W I  may be slightly larger than width W 2  to allow flexible barrier  24  to more easily be re-arranged within storage area  14 . The flexible barrier  24  of this configuration can be advantageously used to selectively divide storage area  14  into first and second storage sections  60  and  61 , as depicted in  FIG. 3A , or may be flipped or pushed to one side of the flexible storage bag  10  such that flexible barrier  24  is pressed against the interior wall  30  or  31  of one of the first and second wall portions  12  and  13  to provide a single storage area  60 ′ as depicted in  FIG. 3B . That is,  FIG. 3B  depicts storage bag  10  being utilized as a single compartment bag for snacks  64 , wherein the flexible barrier  24  is pushed to the side of the storage bag  10  before filling with snacks  64  such that only a single storage area  60 ′ is utilized. 
         [0024]    In a more preferred embodiment, each of the bottom and side edge portions  51 - 53  are sealed to the corresponding bottom and side edge sections  17 - 19  and  21 - 23  of respective first and second wall portions  12  and  13 . Again, top edge portion  50  is preferably sized such that it is just below the male and female elements  28  and  34  of the upper closure assembly  26  so as not to interfere with the sealing of flexible storage bag  10 , but provides a substantial barrier between first and second storage sections or zones  60  and  61 . This embodiment, while not providing a total seal between the top of first and second storage zones  60  and  61 , defines first and second storage zones  60  and  61  as separate containers. Thus, the first and second storage zones  60  and  61  can be advantageously utilized to separate moist or wet objects such as tomatoes, dip or blueberries indicated at  66  in  FIG. 3A , from relatively dry objects such as snacks  64 . 
         [0025]    Advantageously, the present invention allows for a standard size storage bag to be utilized in a single storage mode wherein a single storage zone  60  is defined, or in a dual storage mode wherein contents within the storage area  14  can be separated by an inner flexible barrier  24  into first and second distinct storage zones  60  and  61 . When used in the single storage section mode, storage bag  10  of the invention mimics the functionality of standard zip-locking plastic bags. However, the inclusion of inner flexible barrier  24  adds significantly more functionality, enabling various food items, which would normally need to be stored in two separate bags, to be located in separate compartments of storage bag  10 . For instance, bread and meat for a sandwich can be separated from lettuce, tomato, pickles and the like, with the overall sandwich being readily assembled upon removing all the items from the single storage bag without the fear of soaking the bread. Certainly, an abundance of separable items may be stored, even non-food items, such as game parts, different types of fasteners, and even toiletries for airplane travel. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , an alternative feature of the flexible storage bag of the present invention is shown at  110 . In the embodiment shown, first and second tabs  70  and  71  extend from respective top edge sections  16  and  20  of the first and second side wall portions  12  and  13  above upper closure assembly  26 . Preferably, first and second tabs  50  and  51  are at least partially offset from one another either horizontally, vertically, or both horizontally and vertically. With this configuration, a user can easily grasp the respective first and second tabs  70  and  71  in order to pull the first and second tabs  70  and  71  is opposite directions to unseal upper closure assembly  26 , as depicted in  FIG. 5   b . Although only two tabs are shown, it should be understood that additional tabs could be added to respective top edge sections  16  and  20 . 
         [0027]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  depict a further aspect of the present invention, wherein a flexible storage bag  210  includes a graphical image puzzle generally indicated at  80 . Graphical image puzzle  80  comprises a plurality of graphical image pieces or elements indicated at  82 ,  83  and  84 . In the embodiment shown, the first graphical image piece  82  is disposed on the first side wall portion  12 , the second graphical image piece  83  is disposed on the flexible barrier  24 , and the third graphical image piece  84  is disposed on the second side wall portion  13 . Each graphical image piece  82 ,  83 ,  84  represents a portion of a completed graphical image indicated at  86  in  FIG. 6B . More specifically, when the graphical image pieces  82 ,  83  and  84  are situated adjacent one another, as depicted in  FIG. 6   b , the graphical image pieces  82 ,  83  and  84  combine to form the completed graphical image  86 , which is viewable by a user from outside of the flexible storage bag  210 . In the embodiment shown, graphical image pieces  82 ,  83  and  84  combine to show a stylized mathematical formula 1+2=3. With this configuration, it should be understood that the first and second side wall portions  12 ,  13  and the flexible barrier  24  are transparent, while the graphical image pieces  82 ,  83  and  84  are at least partially opaque. It should also be understood that separating the graphical image pieces  82 ,  83  and  84  obscures the completed graphical image  86 . For example, if a food item is placed within one of the first and second distinct storage zones  60  and  61  of flexible storage bag  210  between the graphical image piece  83  and one of the graphical image pieces  83  or  84 , then a viewer would be unable to see all of the combined graphical image pieces  82 ,  83  and  84  such that the completed graphical image  86  would not be viewable or the view by a user would be obscured from outside of the flexible storage bag  210 . Although shown with three graphical image pieces  82 ,  83  and  84 , it should be understood that different combinations of graphical image pieces could be utilized with the present invention. For example, if graphical image piece  83  were removed, then graphical image pieces  82  and  84  could be combined to form a completed graphical image. 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  depicts another aspect of the present invention with the second side wall portion  13  shown pulled back to expose details of a lower closure assembly  90  within a flexible storage bag  310 . Preferably, flexible storage bag  310  includes an upper closure assembly  26  identical to the one described above with respect to  FIG. 2 . Additionally, lower closure assembly  90  is provided below upper closure assembly  26  to selectively seal one of the storage zones  60  and  61  of flexible storage bag  310 . Preferably, lower closure assembly  90  is constituted by male and female connection elements  94  and  95  that selectively zip to seal one of the storage zones  60  and  61  of flexible storage bag  310 . More specifically, male element  94  is located on one of the first and second side wall portions  12 ,  13  or on flexible barrier  24 , and female element  95  is located opposite male element  84  on another of the first and second side wall portions  12 ,  13  or flexible barrier  24  such that male and female elements  94  and  95  can be selectively engaged to seal one of the first and second storage zones  60  and  61  in a manner directly corresponding to upper closure assembly  26 . Although not depicted, it should be understood that a second lower closure assembly could be provided identical in construction to the first lower closure assembly, such that the first lower closure assembly selectively seals first storage zone  60 , the second lower closure assembly selectively seals the second storage zone  61  and upper closure assembly  26  selectively seals opening  15 . 
         [0029]    Although described with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, although the inner flexible barrier  24  and first and second wall portions  12  and  13  are shown as separate plastic sheets, it should be understood that a single plastic sheet may be folded multiple times and welded together to form the first and second wall portions  12  and  13  and the inner flexible barrier  24 . Additionally, it should be clear that all of the various features and aspects discussed above can be combined in different combinations to form flexible storage bags with multiple features, such a graphical image puzzle  80  and upper and lower closure assemblies  26  and  90 . In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.