CONVERTIBLE FOOD BAG

Abstract

The invention provides for sanitary consumption of a meal including a bagged sandwich and makes it easier for consumers to eat while using condiments. Once opened along the perforations, the opened bag creates three separate surfaces, two flat surfaces on each end and a bowl located at its center. The bowl creates a safe location to securely store condiments while consuming the food item.

Claims

1. A convertible food bag comprising: material formed into the shape of a bag having a front, back, sides, bottom, and top, lateral perforations extending from the top towards the bottom ending before the bottom, wherein tearing the perforations provides two flat surfaces and a bowl.

2. The convertible food bag of claim 1 further comprising a reinforcement ring near the bottom of the bag to which the perforations extend.

3. The convertible food bag of claim 2 wherein the reinforcement ring is paper.

4. The convertible food bag of claim 2 wherein the reinforcement ring is metal.

5. The convertible food bag of claim 2 wherein the reinforcement ring is plastic.

6. The convertible food bad of claim 1 wherein the perforations are on the sides of the bag.

7. The convertible food bag of claim 6 further comprising a reinforcement ring near the bottom of the bag to which the perforations extend.

8. The convertible food bag of claim 7 wherein the reinforcement ring is paper.

9. The convertible food bag of claim 7 wherein the reinforcement ring is metal.

10. The convertible food bag of claim 7 wherein the reinforcement ring is plastic.

11. The convertible food bag of claim 7 further comprising parallel perforations on the sides adjacent to the ring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be given to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates the perforated bag from the front in its unopened state.

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates the perforated bag from the side in three different bottom shaped bags: V shape, U shape, and square shape.

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates the perforated bag in its fully opened state in three different bottom shaped bags: V shape, U shape, and square shape.

[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the bag in an opened state.

[0018] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

[0019] While one or more embodiments may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular form disclosed, but to the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates the perforated bag from the front in its unopened state. The left perforation side of the bag 1 is further designated by way of a dashed line. The right perforation side of the bag 2 is further designated by way of a dashed line. A reinforced ring 3 is further designated by a solid line with diagonally running lines throughout. The lower exterior front portion of the bag 4 forms the bowl of the bag. The upper exterior of the bag 5 forms the bottom of the table mat when the bag is in an opened state.

[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates the perforated bag from the side in three different bottom shaped bags: V shape, U shape, and square shape. The right portion of the side of the exterior of the bag 6 is framed in by the perforated edge and the upper exterior of the bag 5. The left portion of the side of the exterior of the bag 7 is framed in by the perforated edge and the upper exterior of the bag 5. The lower exterior side portion of the bag 8 forms the bowl of the bag.

[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates the perforated bag in its fully opened state in three different bottom shaped bags: V shape, U shape, and square shape. The upper interior portion of the bag 9 forms the top half of the table mat when the bag is in an opened state. The upper interior portion of the bag 10 forms the bottom half of the table mat when the bag is in its opened state. The interior portion of the bowl 11 is formed when the bag is in an opened state.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, starting at the open end of the sandwich bag and continuing along the middle of the two sides, a perforation in the material continues down the length of the bag as shown in FIG. 1 but will not continue down the entire length of the bag. Depending upon the size of the bag, the perforation stops at approximately ¾ to ⅞ down the sandwich bag as shown in FIG. 1.

[0024] At the point where the perforation stops, a reinforcement ring may be installed around the circumference of the bag as shown in FIG. 1. The ring may be one continuous strip or may have breaking points at the folding points of the bag. This can be done several different ways and with a number of different materials, which would be dependent upon the material selected for the bag to which this invention would apply. The ring preferably has rigidity so it will hold a form if pinched or pulled apart. For example, a cylinder metal wire may be at the ring center.

[0025] If the bag has U or squared shaped sides, additional perforations are recommended that run parallel and adjacent with the ring on the sides of the bag, but do not extend over the front or back portions of the bag. This allows the bag to open more freely to access the bowl formation at its center.

[0026] Depending upon the end user, the ring may be weak or strong. A weak ring may cost and weigh less, but will provide less support. A strong ring may allow the end user to squeeze the ring together to form a makeshift seal to help prevent remaining condiment from spilling out, once ready to discard.

[0027] The ring creates a sturdy stopping point for the consumer to feel resistance when pulling apart along the perforated edges. The ring forms the top of the bowl formation created at the base of the opened bag as shown in FIG. 3.

[0028] Once the bag is opened along the perforated edges, there are two flat surfaces on opposite ends as shown in FIG. 3 to place the sandwich and any other item being consumed. At its center, between the two flattened surfaces, a bowl is formed for the consumer to place desired condiments as shown in FIG. 3. The consumer may pour the condiment directly into the bowl or simply put one of the single serving condiment containers in the bowl as a holding base. This helps prevent the container from moving while the consumer accesses the condiment.

[0029] On both interior flattened sides of the opened bag as shown in FIG. 3, the bag can be left blank or customized with art, advertising, an inspirational message, or direction on how to use the bag. For example, one side of the opened bag may contain a circle or square depending on type of sandwich with the statement “place sandwich here” and the other side may have the company logo or message to be delivered to the consumer.

[0030] In addition, the center bowl may also be left blank or contain additional customized art, advertising, inspirational messages or directions on how to use the space. For example, the center may be an entirely different color than the remaining parts of the interior of the bag and include a statement saying “Place condiments here” or “Feed me condiments!” The center bowl keeps the condiment contained and reduces risk of spilling.

[0031] All publications and patent documents cited in this application are incorporated by reference in pertinent part for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent document were so individually denoted. By citation of various references in this document, Applicants do not admit any particular reference is “prior art” to their invention. It is to be appreciated that the foregoing Detailed Description section, and not the Abstract section, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Abstract section may set forth one or more, but not all, exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, is not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims in any way.

[0032] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments should fully reveal the general nature of the invention so that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention.

[0033] Moreover, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary and illustrative embodiments, but should similarly be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

[0034] Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. From the foregoing, it will be seen that this application is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

[0035] It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.