Abstract:
The present invention is a bag sealing apparatus, which allows a user to fold, seal and carry bags including food bags. The present invention also allows the content of the engaged bag to stay fresh and wholesome for later uses. The present invention can be carried to a workplace of the user conveniently with one hand. The bag sealing apparatus is comprised of a bag securing rod and an elongated tube, whereto the bag securing rod is securely engaged. The bag securing rod is engaged to the elongated tube via the engagement of a raised dot on the bag securing rod to a fastener hole on the elongated tube. The engagement of the bag securing rod to the elongated tube allows the bag to be attached to both the bag securing rod and the elongated tube. Thus, the engagement allows the bag to be sealed by the bag sealing apparatus.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method of sealing opened bags to keep the contents therein fresh for extended periods of time. The apparatus can also be used to seal bags which contain non-edible objects such as toys, school supplies, crafts, and jewelry. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many food products are offered for sale in hermetically sealed bags to prevent the contamination of the products therein, and to generally preserve the quality of the products prior to sale. When a bag is opened by a consumer, the product contained therein is exposed to air, which may progressively degrade the quality of the product. For example, where the product is a food product, an opened bag generally exposes the product to microbial agents such as bacteria that accelerate the decay of the product. The food product may also be exposed to atmospheric moisture that may render the food product less appealing. Alternatively, moisture present in the food product may be lost to the atmosphere, so that the food product becomes dehydrated. As a consequence, it is necessary to reseal a bag after opening in order to preserve the food product. 
         [0003]    The present invention is not only used to preserve food products but also to store objects containable within the present invention. The containable objects include, but are not limited to toys, school supplies, crafts, jewelry, and fish baits. 
         [0004]    The present invention comprises a handle and a label panel. The handle allows the user to carry the present invention and the attached bag on-the-go and to his or her workplace. In addition to transportability, the handle also allows the present invention to be hooked onto or engaged to a surface with a receiver such as a wall with a nail or anywhere with a hook. Thus, the present invention can be hung and stored. The label panel of the present invention allows the user to place user-generated indicia onto an erasable surface thereof. Furthermore, the label panel also allows the user to imprint any arbitrary trademark, logo and design onto either surface thereof for marketing and advertising purposes. The present invention can be manufactured at various lengths, diameters, and slit sizes for different sizes of bags. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a front exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the plane upon which a lateral cross-sectional view is taken and shown in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a back exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a back exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a front closed view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the plane upon which a lateral cross-sectional view is taken and shown in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a closed cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a front exploded view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a front exploded view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a back exploded view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a front exploded view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention, showing the plane upon which a lateral cross-sectional view is taken and shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional exploded view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention. taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    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. 
         [0019]    The present invention is a bag sealing apparatus and a method of use thereof. The bag sealing apparatus comprises a bag securing rod  1  and an elongated tube  5 , which the bag securing rod  1  situates therewithin. The bag securing rod  1  is to be engaged to the elongated tube  5 . Therefore, the bag securing rod  1  can be sheathed by the elongated tube  5  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In the preferred embodiment, the bag securing rod  1  is an elongated rod comprising a pull tab  2 , a raised dot  3 , a bent end  4 , and a triangular elongated solid body  15 . The elongated tube  5  is an elongated cylindrical tube comprising a hollow space  6 , a slit  7 , a plurality of ventilation holes  8 , and a fastener hole  14 . 
         [0020]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the elongated tube  5  comprises a hollow space  6  and a slit  7 , both of which are positioned longitudinally along the elongated tube  5 . The slit  7  is along the length of the elongated tube  5  as the hollow space  6  is along the inside length of the elongated tube  5 . Specifically, the slit  7  traverses along the elongated cylindrical tube. In the preferred embodiment, the hollow space  6  is cylindrically shaped inside the elongated tube  5 . The slit  7  allows not only the diameter and the circumference of the elongated tube  5  to be expandable, but the slit  7  also allows the width of an engaged bag to be secured along therewithin. Due to the expandable cross-section of the elongated tube  5 , the bag securing rod  1  along with the engaged bag can thus be inserted into hollow space  6  and the slit  7 , respectively. Therefore, the bag securing rod  1  can be situated within the hollow space  6  of the elongated tube  5 . Due to the slit  7  being positioned along the length of the elongated tube  5  and the cross-section of the elongated tube  5  being expandable, the bag securing rod  1  can be inserted laterally through the slit  7  and into the elongated tube  5 . The circumferential surface of the elongated tube  5  may be decorated with various designs such as bubbles, lines, balls, alphabets, numbers and logos. These various designs may be imprinted by any method onto the circumferential surface of the elongated tube  5 . Furthermore, these various designs may be imprinted onto a handle  9 , which is attached longitudinally to the elongated tube  5 . The elongated tube  5  further comprises a plurality of rings which stabilizes the overall tubular structure thereof. The plurality of rings is evenly distributed along the elongated tube  5  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The plurality of ventilation holes  8  are also evenly distributed along the elongated tube  5  and in between the plurality of rings. 
         [0021]    While the slit  7  traverses along the length of the elongated tube  5  opposite to the handle  9 , the plurality of ventilation holes  8  traverses laterally through the elongated tube  5 . Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, there is a plurality of ventilation holes  8  traversing through the frontal portion of the elongated tube  5  as there is another plurality of ventilation holes  8  traversing through the back portion of the elongated tube  5 . The plurality of ventilation holes  8  located on the frontal portion of the elongated tube  5  are parallel to the plurality of ventilation holes  8  located on the back portion of the elongated tube  5 . The purpose of the plurality of ventilation holes  8  is to push out the air inside the bag while the bag is being slid through the elongated tube  5 . In the preferred embodiment, there are four ventilation holes on the frontal portion and the back portion of the elongated tube  5 . The number of the ventilation holes required for the present invention is dependent on the length of the present invention as the present invention may be of various lengths to accommodate various bag sizes. Large bags such as those used in containing pet food and lawn care products may need six to eight ventilation holes on both the frontal portion and the back portion of the elongated tube  5 . Smaller bags such as cocoa mix or snack bags or seeds may need only two ventilation holes on both the frontal portion and the back portion of the elongated tube  5 . 
         [0022]    The bag securing rod  1  is situated within the hollow space  6  of the elongated tube  5  in a manner wherein the circumference of the bag securing rod  1  is smaller than the inner circumference of the elongated tube  5  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Specifically, the bag securing rod  1  is fit securely within the elongated tube  5  so the bag securing rod  1  will not slip out thereof. The secure engagement between the bag securing rod  1  and the elongated tube  5  is facilitated by the triangular elongated solid body  15  of the bag securing rod  1  and an attachment between the raised dot  3  and the fastener hole  14 . Both the raised dot  3  and the fastener hole  14  are built-in features to secure the bag securing rod  1  to the elongated tube  5 . The triangular elongated solid body  15  has an isosceles cross-section. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the triangular elongated solid body  15  of the bag securing rod  1  is positioned in a manner wherein the lower edge of the triangular elongated solid body  15  is pointing toward the slit  7 , whereas the first top edge is pointing toward the front of the present invention and the second top edge is pointing toward the back of the present invention. Both of the first top edge and the second top edge are positioned above the lower edge. Specifically, the first top edge and the second top edge are pointing away from each other in opposite directions, above the lower edge. Therefore, when the engaged bag is wrapped around the triangular elongated solid body  15  of the bag securing rod  1 , the first top edge and the second top edge are thickened. Consequently, the first top edge and the second top edge push the engaged bag against the inside circumference of the elongated tube  5  during the engagement process between the bag securing rod  1 , the engaged bag, and the elongated tube  5 . Therefore, the triangular elongated solid body  15  of the bag securing rod  1  provides the present invention a unique sealing mechanism. This unique sealing mechanism allows the engaged bag to be tightly sealed with the sharp edges of the triangular elongated solid body  15  of the bag securing rod  1 . If the cross-section of the bag securing rod  1  was circular, the engaged bag and the bag securing rod  1  would not be securely engaged to the elongated tube  5 . The lower edge of the triangular elongated solid body  15  is to situate securely within the slit  7  whereas the first top edge and the second top edge of the triangular elongated solid  15  are to gather both sides of the folded subject bag together in a secure manner. 
         [0023]    Along with the triangular elongated solid body  15 , the bag securing rod  1  comprises the raised dot  3 , the pull tab  2 , and the bent end  4  as shown in  FIG. 3 . In the preferred embodiment, the raised dot  3  is positioned on a front side of the triangular elongated solid body  15 , adjacent to the pull tab  2 . Both the edges of the triangular elongated solid body  15  and the raised dot  3  help the bag securing rod  1  to be securely attached to the elongated tube  5 . The raised dot  3  is a nub or a small protrusion which is to be complementarily fit into a fastener hole  14  correspondingly positioned on the elongated tube  5 . The raised dot  3  and the fastener hole  14  provide enhanced securement to the present invention when the bag securing rod  1  is engaged to the elongated tube  5 . As illustrated  FIG. 2 , both the raised dot  3  and the fastener hole  14  are positioned on a front side of the present invention, next to the pull tab  2 . Located between the raised dot  3  and the pull tab  2  is a stopper tab, which stops the bag securing rod  1  from sliding further down the elongated tube  5  during the engagement and the disengagement processes. 
         [0024]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the bag securing rod  1  is slightly longer than the elongated tube  5 . The longer length of the bag securing rod  1  is due to an affixation of the pull tab  2  to an end thereof. The pull tab  2  affixed to the end of the bag securing rod  1  allows the user to pull out the bag securing rod  1  to remove the bag securing rod  1  from the elongated tube  5  and to disengage the engaged bag from the elongated tube  5 . This disengagement will allow the engaged bag to be unwound and thus disengaged from the present invention. Alternatively, the pull tab  2  can also be used to facilitate engagement between the bag securing rod  1 , the engaged bag, and the elongated tube  5 . Additionally, the user may utilize any portion of the elongated tube  5  to slide through the subject bag. Furthermore, the pull tab  2  also allows the user to twist the bag securing rod  1  to coil in the engaged bag along the width thereof prior to the engagement. The pull tab  2  can be of any arbitrary shape and design. The shapes include but are not limited to circle, square, triangular, polygon and irregular shapes. The designs include but are not limited to animals, vegetables, fruits, etc. The pull tab  2  is abutted to an end of the bag securing rod  1 , whereas the bent end  4  is abutted to the opposite end of the bag securing rod  1 . The pull tab  2  and the bent end  4  are abutted opposite to each other along the bag securing rod  1 . 
         [0025]    The bent end  4  gives the user better control in guiding the engaged bag into the hollow space  6  and through the elongated tube  5  via the slit  7 . The bent end  4  comprises a ball  16  at a tip thereof. The ball  16  allows the bent end  4  and consequently the bag securing rod  1  to easily glide through the hollow space  6  within the elongated tube  5 . Moreover, the ball  16  of the bent end  4  also allows the user to easily glide through the width of a folded bag prior to engaging the bag to the elongated tube  5 . In order for the bag securing rod  1  with the bent end  4  to fit within the elongated tube  5 , the base of the elongated tube  5  located correspondingly to the bent end  4  has been removed to allow bent end  4  to point toward the slit  7 . Moreover, the removed base of the elongated tube  5  allows the bag securing rod  1  to fit concentrically within the elongated tube  5  with both the elongated tube  5  and the triangular elongated solid body  15  being parallel to each other. 
         [0026]    Attached to the elongated tube  5  is a handle  9 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the slit  7  is positioned opposite to the handle  9 . The handle  9  comprises an handle portion  13  which allows the user to grapple his or her hand thereupon. The handle portion  13  is located above a handle hole  10 . The handle  9  is attached longitudinally to the elongated tube  5 . The handle  9  comprises a label panel  11  and the handle hole  10 . The label panel  11  is a flat tab longitudinally attached to the elongated tube  5 . The label panel  11  comprises a front surface  17  and a back surface  18 . The front surface  17  is an erasable surface, which can be written upon with erasable pens and markers by the user. The user-generated indicia can be erased and reproduced repeatedly on the front surface  17  of the label panel  11 . The user-generated indicia may include any text pertaining to names, dates such as storage dates and expiration dates, subjects, purposes and assignments related to product contained within the engaged bag or the present invention itself. If the bag contained a food product, an expiration date or a storage date may be written on the front surface  17 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the back surface  18  may comprise textual indicia, graphic indicia and a combination thereof. The textual indicia and the graphic indicia may also be included in the form of embossed and debossed indicia integral to the surface of the back surface  18  of the label panel  11 . Moreover, the textual indicia and the graphic indicia may be in the form of decals and labels which all comprise indicia adhesively applied to the surface of the back surface  18  of the label panel  11 . The back surface  18  may even have a combination of decals, embossing, and debossing. The back surface  18  may not only be labeled, debossed, or embossed, but the surface may be decorated and branded with trademarks and brand names of various companies and manufacturers including food manufacturers for marketing and advertising purposes. For example, the back surface  18  of the preferred embodiment has been branded with the trademark “Handy Seal.” 
         [0027]    Attached above the label panel  11  is the handle hole  10 , which allows the user to carry and transport the present invention conveniently with only one hand or one finger. The handle hole  10  also allows the present invention to be carried to the work space of the user and to be hung onto a hook or a nail on a wall. The handle hole  10  further allows the user to control and hold the elongated tube  5  in place while the user is either engaging or disengaging both the bag and the bag securing rod  1  to and from the elongated tube  5  enclosing the handle portion  13  and both ends of the label panel  11  of the handle  9  is a handle grip  12  made of comfortable materials. The handle grip  12  provides extra comfort to the palm of the user while he or she is gripping the handle portion  13  of the handle  9 . The handle grip  12  also prevents the sharp edges of the handle hole  10  from cutting into the palm of the user. 
         [0028]    The present invention further comprises the method of use thereof. The method of use is initiated by the user folding a top portion of a bag over a body of the bag to create an empty folded space. Then, the user inserts a bent end  4  of the bag securing rod  1  into the empty folded space by gliding the bent end  4  of the bag securing rod  1  through to the other side of a width of the bag so the width thereof completely covers a length of the bag securing rod  1 . The user then guides a folded width of the bag past a slit  7  of the elongated tube  5  and into a hollow space  6  of the elongated tube  5 . In the process of feeding the folded width of the bag past the slit  7  and into the hollow space  6 , the user rotates the bag securing rod  1  axially via the pull tab  2  until the engaged bag is securely attached to the present invention. Afterwards, the user may carry the engaged bag and the present invention via a handle  9 . When the user desires to detach the bag from the bag sealing apparatus, the user may remove the bag by pulling and rotating the pull tab  2  axially and pulling the subject bag out from the opposite end of the elongated tube  5 . The disengagement of the bag from the present invention involves rotating the bag securing rod  1  axially via the pull tab  2  and pulling the bag away from the bag sealing apparatus. The length of the bag securing rod  1  and the length of the elongated tube  5  are arbitrary as the widths of various bags are also arbitrary. The present invention is convenient for household usage. The sealing effectiveness and performance are dependent on the material, the strength, and the quality of the bag. 
         [0029]    The present invention comprises an alternative embodiment. The alternative embodiment of the present invention is similar to the preferred embodiment. Unlike the preferred embodiment, the alternative embodiment does not comprise the handle hole  10 , but only the label panel  11  and the handle grip  12  as illustrated from  FIG. 9  to  FIG. 13 . The label panel  11  is perimetrically covered by the handle grip  12 . Similar to the preferred embodiment, the front surface  17  of the label panel  11  of the alternative embodiment is also erasable. The back surface  18  is also customizable with all types of indicia of brand names and trademarks. Similar to the preferred embodiment, the back surface  18  of the alternative embodiment also comprises an indicium of “Handy Seal” which is centrally positioned thereof. Similar to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the alternative embodiment also comprises the elongated cylindrical tube with the plurality of ventilation holes  8  traversing laterally therethrough. Moreover, the bag securing rod  1  of the alternative embodiment also comprises the triangular elongated solid body  15  like that of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the preferred embodiment, the bag securing rod  1  of the alternative embodiment also comprises the raised dot  3 , which is to be snapped into the fastener hole  14  located on the bag securing rod  1 . Furthermore, the alternative embodiment also comprises the pull tab  2  and the bent end  4  with the ball. 
         [0030]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.