Patent Publication Number: US-2015063727-A1

Title: Self-Sealing, Tamper-Evident Security Bag with Gauge Indicators

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to security bags. More specifically, the present invention is a self-sealing, tamper-evident security bag that allows a user to quickly gauge the quantity of units within the security bag. The present invention is primarily intended to store coin currency, but may alternatively store and transport medical equipment and casino chips, among other unit types. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Coin currency is often transported in sealed coin bags specifically designed to support the heavy weight of a large amount of coins. These coin bags are typically composed of clear, multilayer, high strength film to allow quick identification of inner contents. The coin bags are favored by financial institutions, retailers, and armored carriers due to their high strength film, durable side seams, and reinforced adhesive seals. To facilitate carry during transportation, most coin bags include one or two handles. Coins are generally wrapped in a paper or plastic roll and carried within a coin bag. Alternatively, loose coins may be stored within a coin bag as well. The total value and/or amount of coins within the coin bag are typically recorded by hand on a label on the exterior of the coin bag after counting. Coin bags are available in various capacities and are capable of supporting the large weight of coins. After the desired quantity has been placed, the coin bag is adhesively sealed with permanent, tamper-evident closures. Currently, the only way to identify and determine the total quantity of contents within a coin bag is through the manually recorded label located on the exterior of the coin bag. The present invention seeks to enhance and improve upon currently existing coin bags as well as security bags in general. 
     The present invention is a security bag that allows a user to quickly gauge the quantity of units within the security bag. In its preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a conventional security bag incorporating a plurality of highly visible indicator lines located along the surface of the security bag. The indicator lines extend horizontally across the width of the security bag and serve as gauges for the quantity of units within the security bag. The security bag is filled through an opening located at the lower end of the security bag. Alternatively, the opening may be located at the upper end of the security bag. The opening of the security bag is closed by means of an extruded flap located at the lower end of the security bag. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the security bag comprises two adhesive seals. The first adhesive seal is located on the front surface of the security bag directly above the flap. The second adhesive seal is located at the base of the rear surface of the flap. The indicator lines are utilized by first adhesively sealing the security bag after the contents have been placed within. The security bag is sealed by folding the flap upwards such that the security bag opening is closed and the first adhesive seal comes into contact with the flap, holding the flap in place. After the security bag has been sealed, the user may fold the lower portion of the security bag towards the upper portion. The folds are continued until the folds reach the appropriate indicator line for the quantity of units within the security bag. The second adhesive seal is used to secure the folded portion of the security bag in place at the indicator line. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the security bag is primarily intended for use during the storage and transportation of coin currency. As a result, the security bag incorporates features found in conventional coin bags including, but not limited to, a sequential alphanumeric numbering system, bar codes, tear-off customer and processor receipts, print surfaces for handwritten information, air evacuation hole(s), and handles. Additionally, the present invention is available in various capacities based on user need. Various alternative embodiments may incorporate multiple individual chambers for storing coins. While the present invention is primarily intended for use in the storage and transportation of coins, alternative embodiments of the present invention may have additional applications including, but not limited to, the transportation of units such as medical equipment and casino chips. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the security bag. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the security bag. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the security bag in a multiple chambered embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the security bag in a multiple chambered embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention is a security bag that facilitates identification and determination of quantity of units within the security bag. In its preferred embodiment, the present invention is primarily intended for use in the storage and transportation of coin currency. However, alternative embodiments of the present invention may be utilized in the storage and transportation of other unit types as well. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a security bag comprises an extrusion of material with a front surface, a rear surface, an upper end, and a lower end. The security bag is composed of thin, flexible, clear, lightweight, multilayer polyethylene film. The security bag further comprises a hollow, expandable inner chamber. The inner chamber is open to the exterior environment through an opening present at the lower end of the security bag. Alternatively, the inner chamber may be accessed by an opening at the upper end of the security bag. The upper end of the security bag comprises a handle. The handle is sized to facilitate grasping and carrying of the security bag. The lower end of the security bag comprises an extruded flap that extends from the rear surface of the security bag. The security bag further comprises an air evacuation hole. The air evacuation hole extends from the front surface to the rear surface through the hollow inner chamber of the security bag. The security bag further comprises a first adhesive seal and a second adhesive seal. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first adhesive seal is located at the lower end of the front surface of the security bag. The second adhesive seal is located at the lower end of the extruded flap and faces the rear surface of the security bag. Both the first adhesive seal and the second adhesive seal are sized to extend across the width of the security bag. 
     The present invention further comprises a plurality of indicator lines. The indicator lines are marked in a highly visible manner on the clear film of the security bag and extend across the width of the security bag. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the indicator lines are spaced along the length of the security bag in increments. These increments correspond to various quantities of the unit contained within the security bag when the lower flap of the security bag is folded in the upward direction onto the indicator lines. 
     The present invention is not limited with respect to the type of units that may be placed into the security bag. However, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the security bag is primarily intended for use during the storage and transportation of coin currency. As such, the security bag incorporates features found in conventional coin bags including, but not limited to, a sequential alphanumeric numbering system, bar codes, tear-off customer and processor receipts, and print surfaces for handwritten information. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide users with a means of quickly identifying and determining the quantity of units within the security bag. In its preferred embodiment, the hollow inner chamber of the security bag is filled with units such as coins through the opening at the lower end of the security bag. The coins may be wrapped in paper or plastic rolls and placed into the security bag. Alternatively, loose coins may be placed into the security bag as well. After the security bag has been filled to a desired level, the extruded flap at the lower end of the security bag is folded in the upward direction towards the front surface of the security bag. The first adhesive seal is used to close the lower end opening of the security bag. The user then continues to fold the lower end of the security bag in the upward direction. During the folding process, excess air within inner chamber of the security bag is expelled through the evacuation hole. The user stops folding at the indicator line corresponding to the quantity of units within the security bag inner chamber. The second adhesive seal is used to secure the folded portion of the security bag in place at the appropriate indicator line. This allows the user to quickly identify the type of unit through the clear material of the security bag as well as determine the quantity of the unit by means of the indicator line at which the security bag is sealed. 
     The present invention is not limited with respect to the size, capacity, and design of the security bag. An example alternative embodiment of the security bag is shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . In this alternative embodiment, the security bag comprises three individual inner chambers in contrast to the single inner chamber of the preferred embodiment. The openings of the three inner chambers are located a distance from the handle and upper end of the security bag. The openings are closed by means of a flap. A first adhesive seal is located on the inner surface of the flap to secure the flap in place on the front surface of the security bag. A second adhesive seal is located at the lower end of the rear surface of the security bag and is used to secure the folded portion of the security bag in place at the indicator line corresponding to the quantity of units within the three inner chambers. 
     In its preferred embodiment, the present invention is primarily intended for use during the storage and transportation of coin currency. However, the present invention has applications relating to various other unit types including, but not limited to, medical equipment and casino chips. 
     Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.