Patent ID: 12252301

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, a bag constructed of polymeric material according to the principles of the present invention is designated generally at10. The bag has multiple compartments, including a first compartment12comprising a first panel14and a second panel16in opposed relation to the first panel. The first and second panels14,16have opposite side edge margins, top edge margins and bottom edge margins. The side edge margins and the bottom edge margins are operatively connected together. The opposing side edge margins and bottom edge margins of the first and second panels14,16can be directly connected to each other or connected by intervening structure. For example, the bottom margins can be connected together by expandable gussets, as illustrated in the drawings. The gussets will be described more fully hereinafter. The connection or joining of the side edge margins and bottom edge margins define a first compartment volume between the first and second panels14,16for receiving and holding items in the first compartment12.

The first compartment further includes a first closure in the form of a zipper comprising a first (e.g., male) zipper element18and a second (e.g., female) zipper element20. The first and second zipper elements18,20are attached to the first and second panels14,16, respectively generally at the top margins of the first and second panels. The zipper can be selectively opened and closed by pressing the first and second zipper elements18,20together and pulling them apart. When the first and second zipper elements18,20are separated, the first and second panels14,16define a first opening at the top of the first compartment12. Items can be passed into and out of the first compartment12through the first opening. The first opening opens upwardly as the bag10is oriented in the drawings.

The bag10further includes a second compartment28having a third panel26that is in opposed relation with the second panel16, but on an opposite side of the second panel from the first panel14. The third panel26has opposite side margins, a top edge margin and a bottom edge margin. The opposite side edge margins of the third panel26are joined together with the side edge margins of the second panel16. The top edge margin of the third panel26is operatively connected to the top edge margin of the second panel16. The connection of the second and third panels16,26in this manner forms a second compartment volume for receiving and holding items in the second compartment28. The second compartment is defined by the second and third panels16,26.

A second closure in the form of a zipper comprising a first (e.g., male) zipper element30and a second (e.g., female) zipper element32is located generally at the bottom edge margins of the second and third panels16,26. The first and second zipper elements30,32are attached to the second and third panels16,26, respectively generally at the bottom margins of the second and third panels. The zipper can be selectively opened and closed by pressing the first and second zipper elements30,32together and pulling them apart. When the first and second zipper elements30,32are separated, the second and third panels16,26define a second opening at the bottom of the second compartment28. Items can be passed into and out of the second compartment28through the second opening. The second opening opens downward as oriented in the drawings.

A third compartment36of the bag10includes a fourth panel38. The fourth panel is in opposed relation to the third panel26of the second compartment28, but on an opposite side of the third panel from the second panel16. The fourth panel38includes opposite side edge margins, a top edge margin and a bottom edge margin. The opposite side edge margins of the fourth panel38are joined together with the corresponding opposite side edge margins of the third panel26. The bottom edge margin of the fourth panel38is joined to the bottom edge margin of the third panel26. The joinder of these edge margins of the third and fourth panels26,38forms a third compartment volume for receiving and holding items in the third compartment36. The third compartment is defined by the third and fourth panels26,38.

A third closure in the form of a zipper comprising a first (e.g., female) zipper element40and a second (e.g., male) zipper element42is located generally at the top edge margins of the third and fourth panels26,38. The first and second zipper elements40,42are attached to the third and fourth panels26,38, respectively generally at the top margins of the third and fourth panels. The zipper can be selectively opened and closed by pressing the first and second zipper elements40,42together and pulling them apart. When the first and second zipper elements40,42are separated, the third and fourth panels26,38define a third opening at the top of the third compartment36. Items can be passed into and out of the third compartment36through the third opening. The third opening of the third compartment36opens upwardly in the orientation shown in the drawings.

It will be understood that although three compartments12,28,36are illustrated, any number of compartments could be formed by simply continuing the pattern of construction illustrated inFIG.1. In the illustrated embodiment, a single sheet of polymeric material extends from the first panel14through the second and third panels16,26to the fourth panel38. Stated another way, the first through fourth panels14,16,26,38are all formed as a single piece of polymeric material. It will be further understood that the first and second closures may be other than the zippers disclosed herein, including without limitation lines of adhesive.

Referring toFIG.1, the bag10includes a first gusset46located between the first panel14and the second panel16at the bottom edge margins of the first and second panels. The first gusset46comprises a first fold46A and a second fold46B. The first and second folds can be folded together so that bottom exterior portions of the folds46A,46B are in face-to-face relation and the first compartment12is collapsed (e.g., the compartment volume goes to essentially zero). However, the first and second folds46A,46B can be expanded (e.g., unfolded) to increase the magnitude of the first compartment volume. A second gusset48joins the second panel16and the third panel26at top margins of the second and third panels. The second gusset48comprises a first fold48A and a second fold48B. The first and second folds48A,48B can be folded together so that top exterior surfaces of the folds are in face-to-face engagement and the second compartment28is collapsed (e.g., the compartment volume goes essentially to zero). However, the first and second folds48A,48B can be expanded (e.g., unfolded) to increase the magnitude of the volume of the second compartment28. A third gusset50joins the third and fourth panels26,38at the bottom margins of the third and fourth panels. The third gusset50comprises a first fold50A and a second fold50B. The first and second folds50A,50B can be folded together so that bottom exterior surfaces of the first and second folds are in face-to-face engagement and the third compartment36is collapsed (e.g., the volume of the third compartment goes essentially to zero). However, the first and second folds50A,50B can be expanded (e.g., unfolded) to increase the magnitude of the volume of the third compartment36. It will be understood that the first, second and third gussets46,48,50can take on other constructions than illustrated herein. Moreover, it is possible that some of the compartments may include gussets and others may not. The gussets could be eliminated entirely. Moreover, in general when gussets are employed, there would be one gusset for each compartment, and as noted above the number of compartments can be more than three.

As previously stated herein, the first side edge margins of the first and second panels14,16, second and third panels16,26, and third and fourth panels26,38are joined together over their entire lengths. The joining can be made in any suitable manner, such as by ultrasonic or heat sealing. More particularly and in reference toFIG.2, the joining between the adjacent panels includes narrow first seals54extending over the full lengths of the side margins and wider second seals56extending within the top and bottom regions of the side margins. The wider second seals56can be made in any suitable manner such as by ultrasonic weld or wide stamp seal. The second seals56are specifically located to overlap the zipper elements18,20,30,32,40,42. The second seals facilitate56a good connection between the first, second and third gussets46,48,50at these locations. It will be understood that the second seals56can be eliminated within the scope of the present invention.

As various changes could be made in the above products and methods without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Moreover, directional terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “side” are used for convenience of description and to not require the article to have any particular orientation.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the disclosure are achieved and other advantageous results attained.