Patent Publication Number: US-2013230260-A1

Title: Seam Sealed Reusable Wet Bag For Transporting And Storing Wet Items

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/118,132 filed Nov. 26, 2008, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to wet bags, and more particularly, some embodiments relate to a seam sealed wet bag. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to wet bags, and more particularly, some embodiments relate to a seam sealed waterproof wet bag and a method of making same. A flaw with many wet bags presently being sold is that they wick or leak at the seams. Often this is due to the fact that the seams are sewn with no other measures to prevent address the holes in the waterproof material of the wet bag at the sewn seams. The present invention addresses this problem. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, a seam sealed wet bag for transporting and storing wet items comprises an outer decorative bag and an inner bag resistant to wetting, connected to and enveloped by the outer decorative bag. The inner bag has at least one side formed from two side edges seam sealed together via a heat and pressure process to form a seam sealed region. 
     In a variant, the seam sealed wet bag has a plurality of stitches sewn through the seam sealed region, along the length of the side. 
     In another variant, the seam sealed wet bag has a bag closing mechanism for repeatably opening and closing the wet bag. Optionally, the inner bag and outer bag are connected via the bag closing mechanism. 
     In a further variant, the seam sealed wet bag has a pocket disposed in the outer bag for storing dry items. The seam sealed wet bag contains a location for storing wet items in the inner bag and a location for storing dry items in the pocket of the outer bag and thus dry and wet items can be stored or toted separately, without the need for water repellant material in the dry pocket of the outer bag. 
     In still another variant of the seam sealed wet bag, the seam seal is formed from a process using heat at in temperature range from about 300 degrees to about 360 degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure in a range from about 80 PSI to about 90 PSI. 
     In yet a further variant of the seam sealed wet bag, the bag closing mechanism is a zipper assembly, comprising two tracks each connected to a side support. The outer bag and the inner bag are attached to the zipper side supports. 
     In another variant of the seam sealed wet bag, the inner bag comprises at least two non-continuous seam sealed sides formed from two unconnected side edges seam sealed together via a heat and pressure process to form a seam sealed region. 
     In a further variant of the seam sealed wet bag, the inner bag comprises three seam sealed sides. Two sides are formed from two unconnected side edges seam sealed together via a heat and pressure process to form a seam sealed region. A third side is formed from two sides of a single piece of material connected via a fold in the material and seam sealed together via a heat and pressure process to form a seam sealed region. 
     In still another variant of the seam sealed wet bag, the inner bag comprises a material having a water repellant coating. 
     In yet a further variant of the seam sealed wet bag, the coating is a polyurethane coating and the bag is made from a polyester material. 
     In another variant, a seam sealed wet bag for transporting and storing wet items that is resistant to wetting, comprises two side panels having a water repellant coating. The wet bag comprises two seams formed from two side edges having the water repellant coating seam sealed together via a heat and pressure process to form a seam sealed region. A plurality of stitches is sewn through the seam sealed region, along the length of the side. 
     In a further variant, an apparatus for storing or toting wet and dry items, comprises: a bag closing assembly, comprising side supports; an outer decorative bag having to side panels each attached to a side support; and an inner bag comprising the seam sealed wet bag described in the immediate previous section, that is enveloped by the outer decorative bag, and has two side panels having a water repellant coating and each attached to a respective side support of the bag closing assembly. 
     In yet another variant, the apparatus for storing or toting wet and dry items has a pocket disposed in a side panel of the outer decorative bag. The apparatus contains a location for storing wet items in the inner bag and a location for storing dry items in the pocket of the outer bag and thus dry and wet items can be stored or toted separately, without the need for water repellant material in the dry pocket of the outer bag. 
     In still a further variant, a process for making a seam sealed wet bag comprises: providing a piece of fabric having a water repellant coating; folding the fabric into two halves and aligning side edges of the halves; and applying heat and pressure for a predetermined length of time to the aligned side edges to form a seam sealed region along the side edges. A water repellant bag is thus formed with an open end. 
     In another variant of the process for making a wet bag: the heat and pressure are applied together for between 8 and 12 seconds; the heat is applied at a temperature range from about 300 to about 360 degrees Fahrenheit; and the pressure is applied from about 80 PSI to about 90 PSI. 
     In a further variant of the process for making a wet bag, the stitching is sewn along the side edges of the fabric before heat and pressure is applied. 
     In still another variant of the process for making a wet bag, stitching is sewn along the side edges of the fabric after heat and pressure is applied. 
     In yet a further variant of the process for making a wet bag, the process may optionally comprise: connecting the open end of the bag to a bag closing mechanism; and enveloping an outer bag having an open around the water repellant bag and connecting the outer bag to the bag closing mechanism. 
     In another variant of the process for making a wet bag, the heat and pressure are applied by a rotating instrument. 
     In a further variant of the process for making a wet bag, the heat and pressure are applied by a non-rotating instrument. 
     Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims attached hereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments of the invention. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader&#39;s understanding of the invention and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the invention. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale. 
       Some of the figures included herein illustrate various embodiments of the invention from different viewing angles. Although the accompanying descriptive text may refer to such views as “top,” “bottom” or “side” views, such references are merely descriptive and do not imply or require that the invention be implemented or used in a particular spatial orientation unless explicitly stated otherwise. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a seam sealed wet bag in accordance with the principles of the invention with a portion cut away for the purposes of illustration; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of a seam sealed wet bag in illustrating an optional outer pocket; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of a piece of fabric used in the process of constructing a waterproof inner bag; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of a waterproof inner bag; 
         FIG. 5A  is an illustration of a variant of a water repellant inner bag having a sewn seam; 
         FIG. 5B  is an illustration of a variant of a water repellant inner bag having a sewn seam and optional sealed region along the fold; 
         FIG. 5C  is an illustration of a variant of a water repellant inner bag constructed to two pieces of fabric having sealed seam regions on three sides and optional sewn seams; 
         FIG. 6A  is an illustration of an apparatus that may be used for making a seam sealed wet bag; 
         FIG. 6B  is a conceptual diagram of another apparatus that may be used for making seam sealed wet bags. 
         FIG. 7  is illustration of the relationship of the inner and out bags; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the wet bag of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  8 ′- 8 ′; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the wet bag of  FIG. 2  taken along the line  9 ′- 9 ′; 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart of a process of making a seam sealed wet bag; and 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart of another process of making a seam sealed wet bag. 
     
    
    
     The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the invention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     From time-to-time, the present invention is described herein in terms of example environments. Description in terms of these environments is provided to allow the various features and embodiments of the invention to be portrayed in the context of an exemplary application. After reading this description, it will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art how the invention can be implemented in different and alternative environments. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All patents, applications, published applications and other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. If a definition set forth in this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth in applications, published applications and other publications that are herein incorporated by reference, the definition set forth in this document prevails over the definition that is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The present invention is directed toward a seam sealed reusable wet bag  10  for transporting and storing wet and or dirty items. The wet bag  10  may be reusable, washable and dryable with conventional clothes washing equipment. The wet bag can store liquid soaked items, and prevent the passage of the liquid, for example water, to the environment outside the bag. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, referring to  FIG. 1 , a seam sealed reusable wet bag  10  comprises a outer cotton bag  15  and a seam sealed water repellant inner bag  20 .  FIG. 1  is a diagram of a wet bag  10  with a portion of the outer bag  15  cut away to expose the inner bag  20  for the purposes of illustration. The inner  20  and outer  15  bags may be made of fabric designed to be washable and dryable with conventional automatic clothes washing equipment. 
     In one variant, the outer bag  15  is a dry bag and generally will not prevent moisture from escaping, and it may be constructed of cotton. The outer bag  15  is preferably aesthetically pleasing and may contain a pleasing design or pattern for the user. 
     The inner bag  20  comprises an opening  25  and two side edges  30  each having a seam seal  35  formed by heat and pressure applied over time. The inside surface of inner bag  20  contains a water repellant coating  40 . In one variant, the water repellant coating may comprise FABUTHANE® which is an aromatic polyether polyurethane film/sheet product. Other water repellant coatings may be used which are capable of bonding to fabric and being heat sealed with temperature and pressure to another fabric surface containing the coating. Other coated fabrics may include, ProCare™ vinyl or polyester fabrics with either a vinyl or polyurethane coating. 
     The configuration and construction of the inner bag  20  is illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , in a variant, the inner bag comprises at least two non-continuous seam sealed sides formed from two unconnected side edges seam sealed together via a heat and pressure process to form a seam sealed region. 
     In another variant, a water repellant coated fabric  45  may be provided with generally a rectangular shape. The fabric  45  is folded to form a fold  50  along a middle of the fabric  45 , so that two faces  52  of the fabric  45  containing the water repellant coating are placed adjacent to each other. Optionally, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5A , the fabric may be sewn  58  down the middle of a region  55  where the two faces  52  of fabric  45  will be sealed together. The sealed region runs along the side of the bag. A bag having a combined seal  35  and sewn seam  58  comprising stitches, may advantageously provide extra strength and waterproofing ability whereby water or liquid is prevented from escaping the bag through the combined sides  30 . Also, the sewn seam  58  also helps to hold the fabric  45  in a configuration for applying heat and pressure to form the seal  35 . However, the inner bag may optionally be constructed without stitches and with the seam seal only. Construction in this manner provides the advantage of quicker construction of the bag over creating the seam with stitches for sewing. 
     After the fabric  45  is folded (and optionally sewn  58 ), the fabric  45  is sealed along a rectangular region  55  by applying heat and pressure over time with a heat sealing apparatus. The region may vary in width, for example, various embodiments may have a seam sealed region between 0.25 and 1 inch in width. In a preferred embodiment, the width is about 0.5 inches. 
     An example one type of apparatus  60  which may be used is shown in  FIG. 6A . Optionally, the heat sealing apparatus  60  may comprise an upper heated bar  65  that is 0.5 inches in thickness and preferably has features to adjust the temperature and pressure settings. The inner bag  20  is set under the bar  65  and the bar  65  is lowered to provide mechanical pressure on the region  55  where the two faces  52  will be sealed together. The bar  65  forms a 0.5 inch seal  35  on the sides  30  of the bag  20 . Optionally, a second lower heated bar  70  may be used directly below the upper heated bar  65 . Optionally, referring to  FIG. 5B , the fold  50  may be seam sealed with the same temperature, pressure and times settings as the other seams form a seam sealed region  55  along the fold. Optionally, referring to  FIG. 5C , the inner bag  20  may be constructed from 2 separate pieces, for example, rectangular pieces and the seam sealed applied to three sides to form a wet bag. Optionally, the inner bag  20  constructed from two separate pieces may have stitches  58  along the seam sealed regions  55 . 
     Another example of an apparatus  61  which may be used to create the seal is conceptually illustrated in  FIG. 6B  and may comprise rollers for continuously seam sealing the fabric to construct the wet bags  10 . 
     In one variant, a 1 millimeter thickness of FABUTHANE® fabric is used as the fabric for the inner bag  20 . For a 1 millimeter thickness of FABUTHANE® a temperature of 330 degrees Fahrenheit, a time of 10 seconds of application, and at 80 PSI are used to form the seam seal  35 . Other thickness fabric may be used, for example, a 2 millimeter thickness fabric, however, a 2 millimeter thickness fabric will require a different temperature, pressure and time setting for the apparatus  60  to properly form the seal  35 . A higher PSI setting may be used if the temp and time is decreased. 
     In another variant, referring to  FIG. 10 , a process  200  for making a seam sealed wet bag comprises: in a step  205  providing a piece of fabric having a water repellant coating; in a step  210  folding the fabric into two halves and aligning side edges of the halves; and in a step  215  applying heat and pressure for a predetermined length of time to the aligned side edges to form a seam sealed region  55  along the side edges. A water repellant bag is formed with an open end. 
     In a further variant  201  of the process for making a wet bag, referring to  FIG. 11 , step  215  can be carried out as follows: the heat and pressure are applied together for between 8 and 12 seconds; the heat may be applied at a temperature in a range from about 300 to about 360 degrees Fahrenheit, but preferably about 330 degrees Fahrenheit; and the pressure may be applied in a range from about 80 PSI to about 90 PSI, but preferably about 80 PSI. 
     In a further variant of the process for making a wet bag, referring to in a step  212  stitching is sewn along the side edges of the fabric before heat and pressure is applied. 
     In still another variant of the process for making a wet bag, stitching is sewn along the side edges of the fabric after heat and pressure is applied. 
     In yet a further variant of the process for making a wet bag, the process further comprises in a step  220 : connecting the open end of the bag to a bag closing mechanism; and enveloping an outer bag having an open around the water repellant bag and connecting the outer bag to the bag closing mechanism. 
     The application of heat and pressure forms a water repellant seal  35  over the region  55 . The seal  35  prevents the escape of water through the seal  35 . A seal  35  is formed on both sides  30  of the folded fabric  45 , so that the fold  50  and two seals  35  define a bag  20  having an opening  25 , capable of preventing moisture and water and other liquids from escaping. The seam seal also advantageously provides a more aesthetically please appearance than stitching alone. 
     Sectional views of the bags  15 ,  20  taken along the line  8 ′- 8 ′ in  FIG. 1  are illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in one variant the seam sealed wet bag  10  is optionally constructed with the inner bag  20  inside and enveloped by an outer bag  15  and both bags  15 ,  20  are sewn to side supports  75  of a bag closing mechanism  77  along sewn seams  80 ,  85 , illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The bag closing mechanism is for repeatable opening and closing the bag. In a variant, the bag closing mechanism may be a zipper assembly and the side supports  75  hold zipper tracks  87 . 
     In a variant of the seam sealed wet bag  10 , referring to  FIG. 1 , the bag  10  includes a handle  90 . In another variant of the seam sealed wet bag  10 , referring to  FIGS. 2 and 9 , the bag  10  may include an outer zippered pocket  95  located on a side panel  105  the outer bag  15 . The outer bag may be decorative and may be formed form side panels  105 . The side panels may include the pocket  95  for storing dry items. Because the inner bag  20  is formed from panels coated with a water repellant substance, wet items can be stored or toed there and dry items can be stored or toted in the pocket  95  of the outer bag  15 , without the need for forming the outer pocket with expensive water repellant coated fabrics. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but the desired features can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implemented to implement the desired features of the present invention. Also, a multitude of different constituent module names other than those depicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and method claims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall not mandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recited functionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise. 
     Although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments. 
     Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or the like; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future. 
     A group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the invention may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. 
     The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of the term “module” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, can be combined in a single package or separately maintained and can further be distributed across multiple locations. 
     Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.