Patent ID: 12186782

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technology of the present application will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the technology of the present application. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

The technology of the present application is described with specific reference to washing and drying plastic storage bags, such as, for example, a conventional ZIPLOC® storage bag. However, the technology described herein may be used with applications other than those specifically described herein. Moreover, the technology of the present application will be described with relation to exemplary embodiments. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Additionally, unless specifically identified otherwise, all embodiments described herein should be considered exemplary.

With reference now toFIG.1, is a perspective view of a plastic storage bag100usable with the technology of the present application. The plastic storage bag100, which is a conventional ZIPLOC® storage bag, is generally known in the art and will not be completely explained herein except as required to provide context for the technology of the present application. The plastic storage bag100may be a single ply, dual ply, or multi-ply bag having a first layer102with an outer edge margin104and a second layer106with an outer edge margin108. The first layer102and the second layer106are aligned and sealed along three (3) of four (4) edges110,111,112,113. The seal114may be a sonic weld, an adhesive, a heat fusion, or the like. The fourth edge113has a slider lock116with a first part118on the first layer102and a second part120on the second layer106. The first part118may be a groove and the second part120may be a tongue that snap fits into the groove to form an openable seal. The first layer102and the second layer106have a space122therebetween in which items may be kept, such as, for example, food or household items.

As can be appreciated, plastic storage bag100is flexible. Thus, without contents contained in the space122, the plastic storage bag100tends to flatten such that the inner surfaces of the first layer102and the second layer106touch. The flexibility, while good for storing items of inconsistent and random geometries, makes it difficult to wash and dry.

A perspective view of a bag washer200consistent with the technology of the present application is shown inFIG.2. The bag washer200is shown as a monolithic unit that is injection molded, but the bag washer200may be made by alternative methods and be comprised of parts that fit together. The bag washer200, for reference, has a longitudinal component shown by L and a transverse component shown by T and a depth component shown by D. The bag washer200, as shown, is formed of a vertical component202and a base component204. The vertical component202is generally shaped to be consistent in shape to the space122formed by the first layer102and the second layer106of the plastic storage bag100, above. In this exemplary embodiment, the bag washer has a first longitudinally extending side206and a second longitudinally extending side208opposite of and separated from the first side206. The first longitudinally extending side206and the second longitudinally extending side208are formed by a web210of material. The web210is formed of crisscrossed structs212, which are shown as diagonal but could be arranged in multiple ways, form gaps214(or fluid openings214) that allow for fluid flow from the internal space216between the first longitudinally extending side206and the second longitudinally extending side208to the outside of the vertical component202, which would be the space between the plastic storage bag100's inner surfaces and the vertical component202of the bag washer200.

The vertical component also comprises first transversely extending side218and second transversely extending side220opposite of and separated from the first transversely extending side218. As shown, the first and second transversely extending sides218,220are solid, but could be formed of a web of210of material as described above.

As can be appreciated on reading this disclosure, the first longitudinally extending side206is separated from the second longitudinally extending side208by the first, and second transversely extending sides218,220. Similarly, the first transversely extending side218is separated from the second transversely extending side210by the first and second longitudinally extending side206,208.

Also, while shown as distinct sides, the vertical component202may, in certain embodiments, formed by a cylindrical side, an oblong side, an elliptical side, a frustoconical side, to name but a few shapes. The vertical component also may be a customer designed shape, or a polygon shape. If the vertical component202is formed by a polygon shape, such as, for example, a rectangular shape in generally, or otherwise has edges, the edges of the shape may be chamfered or rounded such that the edges are less likely to damage the plastic storage bag100.

Referring back toFIG.2, the vertical component202has a top222. The top222is shown as a convergence of top sides224, shaped as triangles, to a pinnacle226. The first and second longitudinally extending sides206,208extend, outwardly and downwardly, from the edges228of the top side224.

The bag washer200also has a base component204. The base component204is a generally horizontal surface228from which the web first and second longitudinally extending sides206,208and the first and second transversely extending sides218,220extend. The surface228is shown as forming a contiguous perimeter around the vertical component202, but could be a non-contiguous perimeter.

FIG.3shows an elevation view of the bag washer200. As can be seen, the bag washer200includes the base component204, first (or second) longitudinally extending side206(208), first transversely extending side218, second transversely extending side220, the top sides224converging at the pinnacle226. The first (or second) longitudinally extending side206(208) is shown as a web210. In certain embodiments, one or more of the spaces formed by the crisscrossed structs212may be completely filled with the material. This may be for strength and/or an artifact of a production process. The material may be a plastic sufficient to not be deformable at the maximum temperature of a dishwasher.

FIG.4shows a top plan view of the bag washer200. The bag washer has the base component204and the vertical component202. The base component includes the horizontal surface228. The first and second longitudinally extending sides206,208and the first and second transversely extending sides218,220extend from the base component204to the top222, which includes the top side224that converge at the pinnacle226.

FIG.5shows a bag washer300. The bag washer300is similar to the bag washer200described above in that it comprises a vertical component202and a base component204. The vertical component comprises a generally cylindrical wall302formed from structs304that crisscross to form opening306that allow fluid to move across the cylindrical wall302. The cylindrical wall302has a top308, or cover308, that is shown as generally solid portion that converges to a pinnacle.

The base component204also comprises a horizontal surface228, similar to the above. However, the surface228is perforated by holes310. Also, the surface228has an outer edge312with an annular rim314such that a channel316is formed. As shown best inFIG.6, the fourth edge113can be fitted into the channel316to hold the plastic storage bag100in place when the bag washer300is fitted into the space122formed between the first layer102and the second layer106. Optionally, an elastic member such as a rubber band or the like may be used to secure the plastic storage bag100, or the fourth edge113, to the vertical component202. As can be appreciated fromFIG.6, the bag washer300(or200) in placed into the plastic storage bag100, and the combined unit320of the bag washer300(or200) and plastic storage bag100may be placed into a dishwasher. During the normal wash and dry cycle of the dishwasher, the openings306(or gaps214) allow fluid communication across the base washer300, whether water, air, or other fluid, to wash and/or dry the plastic storage bag.

FIGS.7and8show other configurations of possible bag washers. As can be appreciated, the vertical components700inFIGS.7and8may differ but the openings or gaps are present to allow fluid movement from inside to outside of the vertical component700.

FIGS.9A-9Hcomprise views of a bag washer900consistent with the technology of the present application for a quart (non-limiting) storage bag.FIG.9Ais a bottom view.FIG.9Bis a front view.FIG.9Cis a front view with non-limiting dimensional information.FIG.9Dis an isometric view.FIG.9Eis a side view with non-limiting dimensional information.FIG.9Fis a side view.FIG.9Gis a top view.FIG.9His a top view with non-limiting dimensional information.

FIGS.10A-10Hcomprise views of a bag washer1000consistent with the technology of the present application for a gallon (non-limiting) storage bag.FIG.10Ais a bottom view.FIG.10Bis a front view.FIG.10Cis a front view with non-limiting dimensional information.FIG.10Dis an isometric view.FIG.10Eis a side view with non-limiting dimensional information.FIG.10Fis a side view.FIG.10Gis a top view.FIG.10His a top view with non-limiting dimensional information.

Although the technology has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and materials, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and materials described. Rather, the specific aspects are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Because many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, such as those expressing dimensions, physical characteristics, etc. used in the specification (other than the claims) are understood as modified in all instances by the term “approximately.” At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the claims, each numerical parameter recited in the specification or claims which is modified by the term “approximately” should at least be construed in light of the number of recited significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass and provide support for claims that recite any and all subranges or any and all individual values subsumed therein. For example, a stated range of 1 to 10 should be considered to include and provide support for claims that recite any and all subranges or individual values that are between and/or inclusive of the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less (e.g., 5.5 to 10, 2.34 to 3.56, and so forth) or any values from 1 to 10 (e.g., 3, 5.8, 9.9994, and so forth).