Abstract:
The present invention provides a system for packaging and storing components for making a sandwich. The bread and the foodstuffs used for making a sandwich are introduced into and stored in pockets comprising a sandwich bag enclosure and removable barriers disposed therein to form compartments within the enclosure. The removable barriers comprise thin plastic film or sheets material sealably integrated with the sandwich bag enclosure. The present invention provides removable barriers for preventing the wetting of bread due to contact with moist or wet foodstuffs, sandwich components stored in a layered relationship one relative to the others, and easily removed barriers for convenient field preparation of fresh sandwiches.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention is directed to an apparatus for packaging food that keeps it fresh or separated until the time for consumption. The present invention is directed to a packaging system comprising one or more removable barriers for keeping a material, such as foodstuffs, fresh or isolated from other materials, such as bread, while in storage. The present invention is directed to a container having one or more simultaneously or sequentially removable barriers for keeping objects separated one from the other(s) until such time that contact between the objects is desired, and for facilitating or enabling the isolated storage of articles separated one from the other until the barriers are removed. The present invention is adaptable for storing materials, including foodstuffs, in strata and for isolating materials one from the other(s) until such time that contact between the strata is desired for use or consumption. For example, but not by way of limitation, the present invention may be applicable to batteries, explosives, incendiary devices, exothermic and/or endothermic chemical packs, photography, dye, stencils, fuel cells, and adhesives.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Plastic sandwich bags have long been used for providing temporary sealed storage for perishable food items. Resealable plastic bags, such as Zip-Lock® bags, are an example of a storage container. Tupperware® is an example of a storage container that is intended for multiple uses. Initially designed and marketed as a food or sandwich bag, these containers have since gained widespread popularity for much broader, food storage container applications. However, these products generally do not segregate materials or foods that are incompatible. While some plastic food containers do have interior walls or chambers for segregating foods, these generally require removal of lids, removal of the foods from the containers and assembly of sandwiches outside the containers. Such removal and assembly can be difficult in the field or in inclement weather, and the resulting empty container is generally not designed to be disposable.  
         [0005]     What is needed is an apparatus for storing sandwich components or other materials that comprises one or more removable barriers for preventing contact between incompatible materials or foods during storage. What is needed is a method of storing and preparing a sandwich that provides for isolation of generally flattened or stratified components one from the other(s) that provides for easy and convenient removal of the isolating barriers, and for convenient combination of the sandwich components to provide a freshly prepared sandwich without the need for manually removing foods from separate enclosures and combining them in the field.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In today&#39;s fast-moving world, people do not often find time for a meal at a table. Busy parents often feed their children in the back seat of a car on the way to school, baseball practice, gymnastics or dance classes. Often, these meals are purchased at fast-food restaurants at considerable expense and with generally poor nutritional and aesthetic value, or from vending machines.  
         [0007]     Eating “on the move” is not always a mere convenience. Modern military units are more mobile, and the need for portable, packaged foods lead to the development of Meals Ready to Eat, or “MREs,” or Mobility Enhancing Ration Components, or “MERCs,” to meet the nutritional needs of mobile military personnel. In 1995, U.S. soldiers were first issued shelf-stable pocket sandwiches in order to provide easy meals for soldiers in the field and in active operations. Within a short amount of time, these meals were being produced by NATO countries and by Israel due to their popularity among the U.S. soldiers.  
         [0008]     A shortcoming of the existing MREs, MERCs and shelf-stable pocket sandwiches is that the food does not remain in a fresh and tasty condition, especially where certain components, condiments or moist or wet foods may cause bread or other absorbent foods to become soggy when these foods are disposed in direct contact while in storage or transit. Many types of foods are delicious when eaten together, but are incompatible when kept in direct contact for hours or days before consumption. For example, but not by way of limitation, mustard, mayonnaise, pickles, relish, jelly or tomatoes will soak into dry bread, muffins, bagels and the like when left in direct contact for a prolonged period of time. The breads may become soggy as a result of prolonged contact with the moisture containing foods, and the resulting sandwich is substantially less tasty and less satisfying when consumed.  
         [0009]     A sandwich is an example of a structure that is comprised of two or more strata of dissimilar materials that are brought into contact one with the other(s) for use or consumption. Many other devices, apparatuses and systems exist where materials are formed or shaped into layers or strata that are isolated one from others until such time as the materials must be brought together to perform some function, reaction or combination. It is often advantageous to store these strata adjacent and in a prescribed arrangement or sequence one to the others, possibly with a specific ratio when combined.  
         [0010]     Removable barriers are used in storing chemicals and chemically treated materials used in fast-developing film for “instant” cameras, such as those manufactured and sold in the  1970   s  and  1980   s  by Polaroid®. Barriers that are subject to rupture have also been used in light sticks, cold packs and heat packs where chemicals may be combined upon demand to give off light or to produce or absorb heat through exothermic or endothermic chemical reaction.  
         [0011]     For example, but not by way of limitation, some electro-chemical batteries may contain components or cells that have a generally flattened configuration and that are best preserved for optimal performance on demand if these components or cells are isolated one from the others until electricity is needed. Selected battery components which can form cells having a generally stratified shape or generally flattened faces disposed therebetween may be isolated one from the other(s) using the removable barrier(s) of the present invention. The removable barrier(s) of the present invention may be installed between the battery components or cells upon assembly and later, when removed, to provide electrochemical contact between the adjacent faces or surfaces of battery components or cells to initiate electrochemical power generation.  
         [0012]     A chemical pack, either endothermic for providing cold compresses, or exothermic for providing heat, may comprise chemicals, sometimes in the form of liquids or gels, or chemically treated materials having a generally flattened or stratified components that are designed to remain isolated one from the other(s) until such time as the chemicals or chemically treated components are brought into contact and the desired heat generating or absorbing reaction is enabled in order to generate heat or cold, respectively. The removable barrier(s) of the present invention may be disposed between adjacent strata of chemicals, or chemically treated components, and later removed to provide contact between the chemicals or chemically treated components to enable chemical reaction(s).  
         [0013]     The removable barrier(s) of the present invention may be applied to isolate an ink or a dye or a material treated with ink or dye and having a generally flattened or stratified configuration from air, fabric and/or other materials that might react with and activate the dye. The removable barrier(s) may be removed to provide contact between the dye or the dye treated material and a substrate to be marked, tagged or labeled using dye. This application of the removable barrier(s) of the present invention may also include the use of templates, stencils or guides disposed between the dye or the dye treated material and the substrate to be marked, tagged or labeled so that a mark, number, icon, indicator, symbol, bar code or other message may be either temporarily or permanently imposed upon the targeted fabric, substrate. This application is particularly suited to the marking of the skin or clothing of persons, such as prisoners or detainees, animals, automobiles or military equipment, trees, automotive tires, tents or other fabric covers, etc. These removable barriers are advantageous for use in the field where it is impracticable to use conventional stencils, paint, tattoos or sewn labels.  
         [0014]     The present invention provides for easy and convenient storing of the components of a sandwich using one or more removable barriers to prevent contact between the components during storage, and for easy and convenient assembly of a sandwich from the isolated components by removal of the removable barriers to dispose the components into contact one with the others. One embodiment of the present invention provides a pair of removable barriers that are integrated with a containment enclosure or a sandwich bag for storing the sandwich components in position, one relative to the other(s), to instantly produce a fresh sandwich upon removal of the barrier(s). In one embodiment, the removable barrier(s) is (are) removed from their isolating positions between components using one or more tethers or pull sheets to slidably remove the removable barrier(s). The removable barrier(s) and or the tethers or pull sheets may be sealably integrated with a sandwich bag that combines with the removable barriers to create pockets for storing generally flattened or stratified sandwich components that may be later combined together to make a fresh sandwich. The removable barrier(s) serve to isolate sandwich components one from the others, and to thereafter facilitate the joining of stratified layers of foods into a sandwich that is ready for consumption upon removal of the barrier(s).  
         [0015]     The removable barrier of the present invention may also be applied for storing and selectively isolating materials other than foods. The removable barrier disclosed herein may be used in connection with batteries where it is desirable to store the electrodes or electrochemical components thereof in a condition isolated one from others or from an electrolyte until such time as the user wishes to activate the battery for use. The removable barriers of the present invention may be used to conveniently and efficiently dispose previously isolated components into working and functioning contact one with others without time-consuming unpackaging of separately isolated components, removal of components from wrappers or packaging, or reassembly of components into assembled devices or structures. The removable barrier of the present invention may also be applied for preventing contamination of materials stored using the barriers. The application of the present invention to foods will be discussed in detail, but those skilled in the art of batteries, adhesives, explosives, chemical packs, dyes, fuel cells and the like will appreciate the adaptability of the present invention to other fields and applications. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     So that the above recited features and advantages of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The drawings are designed to illustrate the configuration of thin structures and their positions and interaction, and the relative thickness, length or proximity may be exaggerated to some extent for purposes of better communicating structure, function, movement or interaction.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the removable barrier of the present invention in the isolating position and having two generally planar removable barriers adjacent one to the other.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of one embodiment of the removable barrier of the present invention in the isolating position and having two generally planar removable barriers adjacent one to the other.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of one embodiment of the removable barrier of the present invention in the isolating position and having two generally planar removable barriers adjacent one to the other.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of one embodiment of the present invention in the isolating position and having two generally planar removable barriers generally parallel one relative to the other and positioned to isolate each of the two strata of material (in this case, two slices of bread) from an intermediate stratum of material positioned between the two generally planar removable barriers.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  of the removable barriers of the present invention partially slidably removed from their isolating positions toward their removed positions.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the traveling fold portion of one embodiment of a removable barrier of the present invention as it is slidably removed from its isolating position toward its removed position.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of one embodiment of the removable barriers of the present invention in the isolating position and having two generally planar removable barriers generally parallel one to the other and positioned on either side of an intermediate stratum of material to isolate the slices of bread from the stratum of material positioned between the removable barriers. The removable barriers and the stratum of material and bread slices separated thereby may all be received within and sealably contained within a sandwich bag that is integral with the removable barriers.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the embodiment of the removable barriers described and shown in  FIG. 7 , but with the bottom and/or edge portions of the sandwich bag ruptured along frangible zones in order to allow the removable barriers to be slidably removed from their isolating positions by application of a pulling force on the tether or pull tab that is coupled to the removable barriers.  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of the same embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 9  shows an intermediate configuration of the removable barriers while being removed from their isolating positions with the pull tab displaced downwardly away from the opened bottom of the sandwich bag by application of a pulling force.  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention with two removable barriers with each removable barrier comprising a single loop of thin sheet film adapted to receive a generally flat frame therein for imparting a generally planar and flattened configuration to the loop.  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention having a pair of removable barriers received within a sealable enclosure with two compartments for receiving a dye in one compartment and one or more stencils in the other compartment.  
         [0029]      FIG. 13  is a cross-section side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention having a pair of generally adjacent compartments, each having at least one removable barrier for selectively disposing the compartment in communication with a material that may be in the adjacent compartment or it may be outside the compartments.  
         [0031]      FIG. 15  is a cross-section side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0032]     Embodiments of the present invention are shown in the attached drawings. It should be understood that the removable barriers and related apparatuses have a variety of configurations that all serve the purpose of the invention. The purpose served by the removable barriers and related apparatuses is to provide one or more substantially impermeable isolating barriers that prevent reactants, agents, solvents, vapors, flavor, smell, chemicals, ions, cations or anions, moisture or water content from one food or material from soaking into, spoiling, reacting with or otherwise fouling another food or material that may be stored or positioned on the opposite side of a removable barrier before communication is desired. The removable barrier(s) of the present invention must be physically disposed in a manner that provides for easy removal from the isolating position without damaging, dragging, disturbing or otherwise substantially diminishing the condition or amount of foods or material to which the removable barrier might adhere.  
         [0033]     The application of the present invention to foods in the embodiments disclosed herein is for purposes of illustrating and explaining the structure, function, removal and interaction of the removable barriers and related apparatuses. The removable barriers are also adapted for use with adhesives, batteries, incendiary devices, explosives, exothermic and endothermic chemical packs and the like where chemicals or chemically treated materials may be stored and later activated or combined, all while remaining in common enclosures or packaging.  
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention with twin removable barriers  31   a ,  31   b . Each barrier is shown in the isolating configuration, folded to form a generally rectangular barrier with double thickness. The two removable barriers  31   a ,  31   b  are generally formed adjacent one to the other, and adapted for being spaced apart to accommodate an isolatable strata therebetween. The two barriers shown in  FIG. 1  are the first barrier  31   a  and the second barrier  31   b , and each is comprised of a single elongated and thin sheet  30  of plastic or some similar material. The sheet shown in  FIG. 1  has a first end  20   a  and a second end  20   b , the first and second ends  20   a ,  20   b  being joined together to form a pull tab  20  for removing the removable barriers  31   a ,  31   b  from their isolating positions. The portion of the sheet  30  between the first and second ends  20   a ,  20   b  having a first set of folds  30   a  and  33   a  and second set of folds  30   b  and  33   b  to form a pair of parallel, generally planar folded portions. The first folded portion comprises a pulled portion  32   a  and peeled portion  34   a , and the second folded portion comprises a pulled portion  32   b  and peeled portion  34   b . Each area of each folded portion is determined by the locations in the elongated sheet  30  of the folds  30   a ,  30   b ,  33   a  and  33   b . The preferred embodiment has the folded portions of equal size with substantially equal spacing between the folds that form the folded portions.  
         [0035]     The folded portions of the elongated sheet  30 , when positioned on each side of a foodstuff having a generally flattened shape, isolate the foodstuff from other materials, such as bread slices, that may then be stored on the outer sides and/or between of the folded portions of the removable barrier portion  10 . For example, but not by way of limitation, several slices of ham, which is a foodstuff, may be positioned between the removable barriers. The ham would be brought in contact with the interior surfaces of each peeled portion  34   a ,  34   b  of the removable barriers. Slices of bread could then be brought into contact with the exterior surfaces of the pulled portions  32   a ,  32   b  of the removable barriers to form a sandwich. The impermeable removable barriers prevent moisture from the ham from being absorbed by the dry bread, thereby keeping the ham fresh and the bread dry and not soggy.  
         [0036]     The material thickness and spacings in  FIG. 1  are exaggerated to better show the configuration of the removable barrier  10 . There generally will not be any visible spacing between the interior side of the pulled portion  32   a  and the exterior side of the peeled portion  34   a , and there generally will not be a visible spacing between the interior side of the pulled portion  32   b  and the exterior side of the peeled portion  34   b . There will generally be a visible spacing between the interior side of the peeled portion  34   a  and the interior side of the peeled portion  34   b  to accommodate the foodstuff that is isolated from the bread slices placed against the exterior sides of the pulled portion  32   a  and the pulled portion  32   b . The foodstuff may be of a type that will adhere to the interior side of the peeled portion  34   a  and to the opposing interior side of the peeled portion  34   b , much like the slice of cheese adheres to the smooth sheet of plastic film used for wrapping individual cheese slices. This adhesion is the reason that the peeling action is best suited for removal of the removable barrier from its isolating position between the foodstuff and the bread. The dry bread does not generally adhere to thin plastic film or sheet, and the pulled portion of the sheet is disposed toward the bread to provide low friction sliding and wiping contact along the face of the bread while providing peeling action to remove the removable barrier from its contact with the moist or wet foodstuff. If two materials, each disposed to adhering to a film barrier are separated one from the other, then the embodiment of the removable barrier described later in connection with  FIGS. 12 and 13  are better suited for this application.  
         [0037]     The material selected for the sheet should be a thin film sheet of plastic or other material having a low coefficient of friction and adequate strength so that the pulled portions slide easily against the peeled portion when the removable barriers are removed, as described below.  
         [0038]     Folds  30   a , and  30   b  may comprise a single fold, two folds, or they may comprise a generally “U”-shaped portion of the sheet  30  formed to couple peeled portion  34   a  to peeled portion  34   b . In an alternative embodiment, the removable barrier may have two elongated sheets, each having the end joined back to sheet to form a loop at the end of each elongated sheet, each of which may be coupled to a tether, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the removable barrier portion of the packaging system of the present invention in the isolating position with two removable barriers adjacent one to the other. Again, the spacing between the proximal peeled portion  34   a  and the distal peeled portion  34   b  is exaggerated in order to illustrate the structure of the removable barrier portion of the packaging system. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the pull tab  20  is comprised of the first end  20   a  and the second end  20   b , and the pull tab  20  is coupled to the proximal pulled portion  32   a  and the distal pulled portion  32   b .  FIG. 2  shows how the sheet that makes up the two removable barriers and the pull tab  20  may be of uniform thickness.  
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the removable barrier portion  10  of the packaging system of the present invention in the isolating position with two removable barriers adjacent one to the other.  FIG. 3  shows how the sheet that makes up the two removable barriers and the pull tab  20  is preferably of uniform width.  
         [0041]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show how one embodiment of the removable barrier portion of the present invention may be used to store and isolate materials.  FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of one embodiment of the packaging system of the present invention in the isolating position with two removable barriers generally parallel and planar one to the other and positioned to isolate slices of bread from the foodstuff mass disposed between the removable barriers. The foodstuff mass, in this case ham  16   c  and slices of cheese  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   d  and  16   e , are placed together to form a generally flattened foodstuff mass having approximately the cross-sectional area or shape of a slice of bread. This foodstuff mass is placed in the interior spacing formed between the removable barriers of the removable barrier portion of the present invention in the manner shown in  FIG. 4 . The mass is in contact with the interior side of the peeled portion  34   a  on one side and in contact with the interior side of the peeled portion  34   b  on the other side. Unlike the exaggerated drawings of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  FIGS. 4 and 5  show the peeled portion  34   a  in generally planar contact with pulled portion  32   a , and peeled portion  34   b  in generally planar contact with pulled portion  32   b . The removable barriers are removed from their isolating position shown in  FIG. 4  by pulling and displacing the pull tab  20  upwardly (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) and away from the sandwich. When the pull tab  20  is grasped and pulled, tension in the pulled portions  32   a  and  32   b  causes the removable barriers to be removed. Specifically, the tension in pulled portion  32   a  causes the sheet  30  to peel away from the slice of cheese  16   e  starting at fold  33   a , and the exterior side of pulled portion  32   a  to slide along the interior face of the bread slice  12   a  in the direction of the pulled pull tab  20 . At the same time, the tension in pulled portion  32   b  causes the sheet  30  to peel away from the slice of cheese  16   a  starting at fold  33   b , and the exterior side of pulled portion  32   b  to slide along the interior face of the bread slice  12   b  in the direction of the pulled pull tab  20 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of one embodiment of the removable barrier portion  10  of the packaging system of the present invention partially removed from its isolating position with two partially removed removable barriers adjacent one to the other, and separating slices of bread from the foodstuff mass between the removable barriers.  FIG. 5  shows the progression of the peel points  50   a  and  50   b  (that started as  33   a  and  33   b  in  FIG. 4 ) as the removable barriers are removed from their isolating positions shown in  FIG. 4  to prepare the sandwich for consumption.  FIGS. 4 and 5  provide a sliding contact (between thin film sheet portion  34   a  and  16   e  and between thin film sheet portion  34   b  and  16   a ) and a peeling contact (between thin film sheet portion  32   a  and piece of bread  12   a  and also between thin film sheet portion  34   a  and slice bread  12   a ) for each removable barrier, then the optimal use of the embodiment of the removable barriers shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  is to place the sliding contact between the thin film sheet and the low coefficient of friction strata (dry bread) and the peeling contact between the thin film sheet and the high coefficient of friction strata (cheese). A lubricant, such as powdered sugar or cornstarch, may be disposed on the sliding surface to promote smooth sliding.  
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the folded portion of one embodiment of one of the removable barriers having a moving peel point  50   b . The arrow shows the direction of travel of the pulled portion  32   b  as the pull tab  20  is pulled to remove the removable barriers from their isolating position shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of one embodiment of the packaging system of the present invention in the isolating position with two removable barriers generally parallel and planar one to the other and positioned to isolate slices of bread from the material between the removable barriers. The packaging system and the foodstuff mass and bread separated thereby are all received within, and sealably contained within, a sandwich bag  92  sealably coupled to the removable barrier system and having a frangible zone  24  for selectively providing for a predetermined location of rupture when the pull tab  20  is gripped and pulled downward generally along the centerline of the sandwich and in a direction away from the removable barriers. This coupling may be located at or near the pull tab  20 . The sandwich bag  92  may sealably couple to the removable barrier pull tab  20  using adhesive or using any of a number of methods known to those skilled in the art for sealably fusing or coupling one plastic film to another including, but not limited to, adhesive and thermo-bonding. The sandwich bag  92  may further comprise a rupture line  24  generally located on the opposite end of the sandwich bag  92  from a closure  90 . The rupture line  24  is a line that goes substantially all of the way around the sandwich bag  92  in a direction that is generally parallel to the direction of the closure  90  at the opposite end of the sandwich bag  92  and also generally parallel to the end of the pull tab  20  that is generally adjacent to the rupture line  24 . The rupture line  24  is a portion of the sandwich bag  92  material that is predisposed, usually by mechanical modification, to structural failure by rupture when the pull tab  20  is pulled by the user with sufficient force to rupture the material along the rupture line  24 . Rupture along the rupture line  24  provides for easy removal of the removable barriers by the user.  
         [0045]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the rupture line  24  of the present invention described in connection with  FIG. 8  above. The rupture line  24  shown in  FIG. 8  comprises a frangible zone that extends substantially all of the way around the outwardly directed periphery of the sandwich bag  92 . The frangible zone  24  may comprise a zone of decreased thickness of the material to provide an overall sheet thickness that is less than that of the surrounding material of the sandwich bag  92 , or it may comprise a zone of material that has been mechanically altered in some manner, such as a series of perforations, to weaken the material within the predetermined frangible zone and to define the desired zone of failure. When tension is applied to the sandwich bag  92  by pulling the pull tab  20 , the rupture line  24  is predisposed to failure along the predetermined line of decreased thickness, thereby allowing the pull tab  20  to move outwardly away from the sandwich bag  92  and to remove the removable barriers from their isolating positions shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the same embodiment of the packaging system of the present invention shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 9  shows the configuration of the removable barriers with the pull tab  20  displaced a distance away from the sandwich bag  92  by pulling. The displacement of the pull tab  20  has pulled the pulled portions  32   a ,  32   b  downwardly and peeled the peel portions  34   a ,  34   b  downwardly along the interface between the peel portions  34   a ,  34   b  and the foodstuffs mass  16   a ,  16   e , respectively. As can be seen in  FIG. 9 , further displacement of the pull tab  20  away from the sandwich bag  92  will result in the complete removal of the removable barriers from their isolating position, and this will leave the bread slices  12   a ,  12   b  in contact with the foodstuffs  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c ,  16   d  and  16   e  in a condition such that the sandwich is assembled and ready to consume upon removal of the prepared sandwich from the sandwich bag  92 .  
         [0047]      FIGS. 10 and 11  show another embodiment of the removable barrier of the present invention.  FIGS. 10 and 11  show a pair of removable barriers positioned side by side. The removable barriers shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  are comprised of two loops  40   a  and  40   b , each formed of a thin film sheet. The loops  40   a  and  40   b  may be formed by coupling the ends of an elongated thin film sheet. This embodiment of the removable barriers  10  further comprises inserts  42   a  and  42   b , which may be any generally structurally rigid frame, such as a card. The inserts  42   a  and  42   b  may be approximately the size and shape of a flattened slice of bread and each is received within a loop  42   a  and  42   b , respectively, to support and maintain the loop in its generally planar and flat configuration. Accordingly, each loop  40   a  and  40   b  is formed from an elongated film sheet having a length slightly greater than twice the height of a slice of bread such that a loop formed by joining one end to the other end will flatten and receive the insert therein. Just as the spacing between adjacent portions of the thin film sheet are exaggerated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  to better show the structure of the removable barrier (but shown to be in sliding contact in  FIGS. 4, 5 ,  6 ,  7  and  9 ), the spacing between adjacent portions of the thin film sheet in  FIGS. 10 and 11  are also exaggerated to better show the structure of this embodiment of the removable barrier. In actual use, the portions of the loop  40   a , on each side of the insert  42   a  received within the loop  40   a , are in sliding contact as the removable barrier is removed from its isolating position between two strata. Similarly, the portions of the loop  40   b , on each side of the insert  42   b  received within the loop  40   b , are in sliding contact as that removable barrier is removed from its isolating position between two strata.  
         [0048]     The removable barriers shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  are designed to be removed by movement in the upward direction. The removal of the removable barriers is accomplished by pulling tether sheets  21   a  and  21   b . Displacement of the pull tab  20  that is coupled to the tether sheets  21   a  and  21   b  cause each of the loops  40   a  and  40   b  to progress or rotate about the insert or frame received therein, with relative motion similar to that of a track on a bulldozer, but having a much flatter profile. Each loop  40   a  and  40   b  is coupled to one end of a tether sheet  21   a  and  21   b , respectively, and, when the removable barriers are deployed in their isolating positions, the tether sheets couple to the end of the generally flattened loop. The other end of the tether sheets are joined together at a pull tab  20 .  
         [0049]     The insert received within each loop should be of a material that provides for a generally low coefficient of friction with the thin film sheet material from which the loop is made to provide for smooth sliding contact between the insert and the interior surface of the loop for progressing or rotation of the loop about the insert for removal of the removable barrier. By rotation, it is not suggested that a point on the loop makes a circular path relative to the insert, but instead that a point on the loop will follow an elongated and flattened path generally around and near to the insert, and generally along the path defined by the cross-section of the material from which the loop is made.  
         [0050]     The removable barrier pairs in the embodiment of the present invention described above in connection with  FIGS. 1-9  may comprise a single elongated sheet folded at a plurality of positions along the continuous sheet to form a pair of generally parallel and identical removable barriers. There are variations of using a single elongated sheet that can form one or more of the removable barriers of the present invention, and such variations may, like those described in connection with  FIGS. 7-9 , function with the sandwich bag enclosure in a manner similar to that described above in connection with  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the twin loop design. Similarly, the “T”-shaped configuration disclosed below in the connection with  FIGS. 12 and 13  may also function with a sandwich bag enclosure.  
         [0051]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the removable barrier of the present invention.  FIG. 13  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12 . This embodiment of the removable barrier comprises a thin film sheet material having a “T”-shaped configuration comprising a right wing  52   a  and a left wing  52   b , each coupled to a center pull sheet  21  that is coupled at its bottom to a pull tab  20 . The right wing  52   a  and the left wing  52   b  are each coupled along a line of intersection to the pull sheet  21 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the right wing  52   a , left wing  52   b  and the pull sheet  21  are all joined together along a common line of intersection  54  into a single removable barrier  10 . The spacing between the right wing  52   a  and the pull sheet  21 , and the spacing between the left wing  52   b  and the pull sheet  21 , as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , are exaggerated to show the structure and relationship between the components of this embodiment of the removable barrier. When in its deployed or isolating position, the right wing  52   a  may be disposed in contact with and adjacent to the pull sheet  21 , and the left wing  52   b  may be disposed in contact with and adjacent to the pull sheet  21 . It is important to note that although the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  has two wings  52   a  and  52   b , the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  is a single removable barrier, not a pair of removable barriers as is shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  4 ,  5 ,  7 , and  9 - 11 . Where the embodiment of the removable barrier shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  4 ,  5 ,  7 , and  9 - 11  has both peeling contact with one stratum and sliding contact with an adjacent stratum during removal, the two wings  52   a  and  52   b  provide outwardly opposite surfaces of a single barrier, both having peeling contact removal from the adjacent strata, and the sliding contact is, on one side, between the inwardly disposed surface of the right wing  52   a  and the adjacent surface of the pull sheet  21  and, on the other side, between the inwardly disposed surface of the left wing  52   b  and the adjacent surface of the pull sheet  21 . This embodiment of the present invention provides two peel surfaces per removable barrier as opposed to one peel surface per removable barrier as is provided by the embodiments of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  4 ,  5 ,  7 , and  9 - 11 .  
         [0052]     The preferred method of using the removable barriers of the present invention depend on the configuration, the application and the embodiment. However, the removable barrier of the present invention is adapted to isolate a stratum from an adjacent stratum, and that placement of the strata on either side of the removable barrier of the present invention can be done without damaging distorting or unduly affecting or otherwise impairing the shape of the strata during removal of the removable barrier.  
         [0053]     As is shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the pull tab  20  is coupled to the pull sheet  21 , and when the pull tab  20  is grasped and pulled upwardly and away from the strata (not shown) separated by the removable barrier comprised of the three layers, the right wing  52   a , the left wing  52   b  and the pull sheet  21  therebetween, the pull sheet  21  pulls and progressively peels both the right wing  52   a  and the left wing  52   b  away from the strata. This mechanical action is similar to that shown in connection with FIGS.  1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7  and  9 , except that there is no sliding contact between the strata and the thin film sheet.  
         [0054]      FIGS. 14 and 15  show an embodiment of the removable barriers of the present invention used for removably isolating one chamber or compartment within a resealable enclosure from another adjacent chamber or compartment. This embodiment may be used for applying dye to a surface using a stencil.  
         [0055]      FIG. 14  shows one embodiment of a plastic enclosure  110 , such as a sandwich bag, having generally parallel exterior walls  62  and  70 , but also having in interior intermediate wall  66  sealably separating the enclosure  110  into two separate compartments  64  and  68 , the first compartment  64  defined by walls  62  and  66 , and the second compartment  68  defined by walls  66  and  70 . Each compartment has a resealable closure, such as that used in a Zip-Lok® bag. Compartment  64  closes using the sealing closure comprising edge  81  and  82 . Edge  82  is a bi-directional sealing closure, so that compartment  68  closes using the sealing closure comprising edges  82  and  83 .  
         [0056]     Wall  66  is comprised at least in part by a removable barrier of the present invention. Wall  66  is comprised of a film having a window,  66   b  which may be an aperture or a plurality of apertures in wall  66  for providing communication between the two compartments  64 ,  68  separated by the wall  66  and the window  66   b  the window  66   b  is in the wall  66 , which is interior to the exterior walls  62  and  70 . The plurality of apertures may comprise a pattern such that removal of the removable barrier from the wall  66  to establish communication between compartments  64 ,  68  may provide fluid communication between compartments while containing any ink pads, dye pads or stencils that are disposed in one or more of the compartments.  
         [0057]     The wall  66  comprises, in at least some portions, at least two layers, one being a removable barrier. In  FIG. 15 , the removable barrier comprised of film  67   b  coupled to tether  67   a  comprises a layer of wall  66 . Film  67   b  may be releasably secured to the side of the wall  66  in a manner to cover the window  66   b , or an aperture or plurality of apertures, therein until such time that the film  67   b  can be removed by pulling the tether  67   a  to peel the film  67   b  from the wall  66  to establish communication between compartments  64 ,  68 . Similarly, an exterior wall of the enclosure of the present invention may be adapted for being opened or for exposing a window, which may be an aperture or plurality of apertures. As shown in  FIG. 15 , film  69   b  is releasably secured to the interior side of the exterior wall  70  in a manner to cover a window (not shown), aperture or plurality of apertures in the exterior wall  70  until such time that the film  69   b  can be removed by pulling the tether  69   a  to peel the film  69   b  from the exterior wall  70 .  
         [0058]     This embodiment of the present invention has many uses. For example, but not by way of limitation, a liquid dye pad or an absorbent material substantially saturated with dye or ink may be inserted and sealed into compartment  64 , and a stencil having a message within it, such as a number or bar code, may be disposed in the adjacent compartment  68 . The dye and or the stencil may remain sealed within their respective compartments  64  and  68  until such time that the user desires to apply a message to a surface such as a tree, fence, wall, automobile, animal or even to a human. The message is applied by placing the exterior wall  70  having a removable film  69   b  thereon against the object on which the message is to be applied, and by applying generally uniform pressure to the opposite wall  62 , and then by removing the removable film  67   b  and  69   b  from wall  66  and exterior wall  70 , respectively, to allow the dye or ink to contact the object through the now opened window  66   b  of the interior wall  66 , the stencil (not shown) and the aperture or apertures opened in exterior wall  70 .  
         [0059]     Materials used for the removable barriers must be lightweight, flexible and suitable for sealably engaging other materials used to make the sandwich bag enclosure. The materials should also have a low coefficient of friction. The preferred materials for the removable barriers described herein are thin film sheets, such as that used to individually wrap cheese slices sold commercially in grocery stores. The preferred materials for the sandwich bag portions that may be sealably integrated with the removable barriers.  
         [0060]     It will be understood from the foregoing description that various modifications and changes may be made in the preferred embodiment of the present invention without departing from its true spirit. It is intended that this description is for purposes of illustration only and should not be construed in a limiting sense. The scope of this invention should be limited only by the language of the following claims.