TAMPER EVIDENT TAPE AND SEALED BAG ASSEMBLY FOR HANDLED BAGS AND METHOD

Abstract

A tamper evident delivery bag assembly includes a first and second that each includes an upper section terminating at an upper edge of the first panel and an opposed upper edge of the second panel. The upper edges cooperate to define a bag opening into a content receiving region. The upper sections are movable between an opened condition and a closed condition, the closed condition where the upper edges are oriented in opposed, adjacent, relationship to one another. A handle is mounted to each upper section of the first and second panels, and each handle includes a pair of spaced-apart leg portions that are aligned adjacent one another when the upper sections are oriented in the closed condition. A single use closure tape is laterally mounted to the first panel upper section, and includes an upper lateral portion extending laterally above the first edge thereof in an unsealed condition. The tape upper lateral portion includes a pair of cutouts strategically aligned with the first leg portion of the first handle. The tape upper lateral portion can be folded over the second edge of the second panel such that an adhesive of the tape is brought into contact with the exterior surface of the second panel, substantially sealing the bag opening in a sealed condition. The leg portions of the handles are received through the cutouts of the tape.

Claims

1. A tamper evident delivery bag comprising: a sheet-like first panel, an opposed sheet-like second panel, and a bottom gusset, each the first and second panel having an interior surface that faces the opposing panel and an exterior surface, each panel further including a top edge, the top edges of the first and second panels cooperating to at least partially define a bag opening into a content receiving region; a first loop handle attached to or integrally formed with an upper section of the first panel, the first handle having spaced-apart first leg portions; a second loop handle attached to or integrally formed with an upper section of the second panel, the second handle having spaced-apart second leg portions, wherein the first and second handles are configured to be collectively gripped at a location above the top edges of the first and second panels to facilitate carrying the tamper evident delivery bag; a sealing tape including a mounting portion, a closure portion, and an inner surface that includes inner surfaces of the mounting and closure portions, wherein (i) the inner surface of the mounting portion of the sealing tape is adhesively attached to an exterior surface of the first panel, and (ii) the closure portion of the closure tape includes two handle cutouts, each handle cutout being aligned with an associated one of the first handle leg portions thereby effectively defining three closure sections including a middle closure section positioned between the handle cutouts and side closure sections on opposite sides of the first loop handle, (iii) each of the closure sections extends beyond the top edge of the first panel and are configured to be folded over the top edge of the second panel; and (iv) a height of the middle closure section above the top edge of the panels is less than a loop height of the first and second handles such that the middle closure section can pass unobstructed through the first and second loop handles when folded over the top edge of the second panel; a closure adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the closure portion of the sealing tape, the closure adhesive being a single use adhesive; and a removable protective strip that covers the closure adhesive; and wherein the sealing tape is positioned such that when the first protective strip is removed and the top edges of the first and second panels are aligned in a closed state, the closure sections of the sealing tape can be folded over the top edge of the second panel to bring the closure adhesive into contact with an upper portion of the second panel to thereby seal the paper delivery bag in a tamper evident manner.

2. A tamper evident delivery bag as recited in claim 1, wherein the first leg portions of the first loop handle extend substantially in parallel upward from the top edge of the first panel and the second leg portions of the second loop handle extend substantially in parallel upward from the top edge of the second panel and the height of the middle closure section above the top edges of the first and second panels is less than a height of the substantially parallel first and second leg portions of the first and second loop handles above the top edges of the first and second panels.

3. A tamper evident delivery bag as recited in claim 1. wherein the height of the middle closure section above the top edges of the first and second panels is sufficiently less than the loop height of the first and second loop handles and the handle cutouts are sufficiently wide such that the middle closure section will not contact either of the first or second loop handle when folded along a fold line parallel to the top edges of the first and second panels.

4. A tamper evident delivery bag as recited in claim 1, wherein the height of the middle closure section above the top edges of the first and second panels is sufficiently less than the loop height of the first and second loop handles such that the middle closure section passes unobstructed through the loop handles when the middle 9, closure section is folded over the top edge of the second panel to be adhered to the external surface of the second panel.

5. A tamper evident delivery bag as recited in claim 1, wherein the height of the middle closure section is at least less than about ½ the loop height of the loop handles.

6. A tamper evident delivery bag as recited in claim 1, wherein the sealing tape includes a plurality of scoring slits.

7. A tamper evident delivery bag as recited in claim 6, wherein the scoring slits include at least one of letter-shaped slits and number-shaped slits.

8. A tamper evident delivery bag as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second loop handles are rope handles.

9. A tamper evident delivery bag as recited in claim 1, wherein a height of the protective strip above the top edges of the first and second panels is less than the loop height of the loop handles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The assembly of the present invention has other objects and features of advantage which will be more readily apparent from the following description of the best mode of carrying out the invention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a sealable, handled bag assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention with an upper section thereof in an opened condition.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the bag assembly of FIG. 1, illustrating a tape member in an unsealed condition.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view thereof, illustrating removal of a protective strip from an adhesive of the tape member

[0024] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the bag assembly of FIG. 3.

[0025] FIG. 5 is an exploded, front perspective view of the bag assembly of FIG. 4, illustrating the protective strip fully removed.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the bag assembly of FIG. 5, illustrating an upper section thereof in a closed condition.

[0027] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the bag assembly of FIG. 6, illustrating the tape member in a sealed condition.

[0028] FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view thereof.

[0029] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the bag assembly of FIG. 1.

[0030] FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view thereof.

[0031] FIG. 11 is a right side elevation view of the bag assembly of FIG. 9.

[0032] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, rear elevation view taken along the plane of the line 12-12.

[0033] FIG. 13 is a top plan view thereof.

[0034] FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view thereof.

[0035] FIG. 15 is an alternative embodiment sealable bag assembly.

[0036] FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the tape member.

[0037] FIG. 17 is rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the bag assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] While the present invention will be described with reference to a few specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications to the present invention can be made to the preferred embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be noted here that for a better understanding, like components are designated by like reference numerals throughout the various figures.

[0039] Turning now to FIGS. 1-8, a tamper evident delivery bag assembly, generally designated 20, is provided having a sheet-like first panel 21, an opposed sheet-like second panel 22, and a bottom gusset 26. Each the first and second panel 21, 22 having an interior surface that faces the opposing panel and an exterior surface. Moreover, each panel 21, 22 further includes a respective upper section 36, 37 terminating at an upper first edge 31 of the first panel 21, and an opposed upper second edge 32 of the second panel 22. The first and second edges 31, 32 cooperating to at least partially define a bag opening 35 into a content receiving region extending between the bag opening 35, panels 21, 22 and the bottom gusset 26. The upper sections 36, 37 being movable between an opened condition (FIGS. 1-5) and a closed condition (FIGS. 6-8), orienting the first and second edges 31, 32 generally in opposed, adjacent, relationship to one another. The bag assembly further includes a first handle 27 mounted to the upper section 36 of the first panel 21, and includes a pair spaced-apart first leg portions 40, 41 upstanding from the first edge 31. A second handle 28 is also included which is mounted to the upper section 37 of the second panel 22, and also includes a pair spaced-apart second leg portions 42, 43 upstanding from the second edge 32. The first and second leg portions 40, 41 and 42, 43 being generally aligned adjacent one another when the upper sections 36, 37 are oriented in the closed condition (FIGS. 6-8). In accordance with the present invention, the bag assembly further includes a single use closure tape member 30 laterally mounted to the first panel upper section 36, and having an upper lateral portion extending laterally above the first edge 31 thereof in an unsealed condition (FIGS. 1-6). The tape member 30 further includes an adhesive 38 (FIG. 3) disposed on an interior surface of the tape upper lateral portion facing the second panel 22 when in the unsealed condition. The tape upper lateral portion includes a pair of cutouts 45, 46 strategically aligned with the respective leg portions 40, 41 of the first handle 27. A removable protective strip 33 is provided that covers the adhesive 38. When the protective strip 33 is removed, and the panel upper sections 36, 37 are aligned in the closed condition (FIG. 3), the tape upper lateral portion can be folded over the second edge 32 of the second panel 22 such that the adhesive is brought into contact with the exterior surface of the second panel 22, substantially sealing the bag opening in a sealed condition (FIGS. 7 and 8). In this arrangement, the leg portions 40, 41 and 42, 43 of the first and second handles 27, 28 are received through the respective cutouts 45, 46 of the tape member 30.

[0040] Accordingly, a single-use, tamper evident delivery bag assembly is provided that can be one-time sealed in a manner that will exhibit visible signs of tampering and destruction should someone attempt to access its contents, yet provides venting of the contents simply by the positioning of the closure adhesive and seal in such a manner to create venting. This single-use bag assembly is particularly useful in the food delivery service industry since the size of the vent or vents, while providing venting of steam for example, is sufficiently small so that delivery personal cannot tamper with the bag contents without tearing of the bag or seal.

[0041] In accordance with the present invention, the delivery bag assembly 20 includes a fairly conventional handled bag assembly with the sheet-like first panel 21 and the opposed sheet-like second panel 22 either directly joined at the opposed panel side edges 44, 47 and 48, 49, forming common opposed side seams (not shown) or joined at respective panel side edges by an opposed pair of sheet-like, vertically creased, side gussets 23, 25 therebetween. The folded sheet-like bottom gusset 26 is coupled to the bottom edges of the first and second panels 21, 22, and the bottom edges of the opposed side gussets 23, 25. The respective interior surfaces of the first and second panels 21, 22, the side gussets 23, 25, and the bottom gusset 26 collectively define the content receiving region. Moreover, the pair of opposed handles 27, 28 are preferably provided by conventional twisted loop handles, flat plastic or paper folded handles (FIG. 15), rope handles, etc., that are widely available for easy carrying. These handles 27, 28 each include a pair of leg portions 40, 41 and 42, 43 which are mounted to either, the respective interior surface or the exterior surface of the respective upper sections 36, 37 of the first and second panels 21, 22.

[0042] Briefly, it will be appreciated that while the present invention is particularly suitable for conventional handled paper bags, this tamper evident seal assembly can be applied to plastic bags as well as any other conventional bag materials utilized in the food delivery industry. Moreover, while the present invention is shown with bag assemblies with two handles, one mounted to each panel, it will be appreciated that the present invention applies to bag assemblies with only a single handle (e.g., only a single handle 27 mounted to the first panel 21, and no second handle 28 mounted to the second panel 22).

[0043] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 16, the bag assembly 20 includes an elongated, single-sided adhesive or tape member 30 mounted to the exterior surface, and at the first and second edges 31, 32 of either the sheet-like first and second panel 21, 22. For the sake of clarity, the tape member will be described with reference to mounting, initially, only to the exterior surface of the first panel 21, although it will be appreciated that the tape member could be mounted to the exterior surface of the second panel 22 or to either interior surfaces thereof. Hence, the elongated tape member 30 is initially adhered or mounted to the exterior surface of the first panel 21, extending laterally along the corresponding upper first edge 31 thereof. In general, less than about one-half of the tape member 30 (i.e., a lower lateral portion thereof) is positioned below the corresponding first edge of the first panel 21, while being mounted to exterior surface thereof. The remaining upper lateral portion of the tape member 30 extends above the corresponding first edge 31, in the unsealed condition (FIGS. 1-6), and is initially not mounted or adhered to anything other than its protective strip 33. In one example, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4-6 and 9, the height of the lower lateral portion (mounted to the exterior surface of the first panel 21) and that of the upper lateral portion of the tape member 30 are generally equal to one another. In another example, as shown in FIG. 15, the height of the upper lateral portion may be significantly higher than that of the lower lateral portion. For instance, the height of the lower lateral portion may be ½″ while that of the upper lateral portion is 1½″ above the first edge 31.

[0044] The remaining upper lateral portion of the tape member 30 is configured to be folded over the opposing second edge 32 of the second panel 22 (FIG. 5), when the opening 35 into the bag interior of the bag is positioned in a closed condition (FIG. 6), prior to sealing of the opening in a sealed condition (FIGS. 7 and 8). It will be appreciated that in this closed position, the opposed first and second edges 31, 32 of the sheet-like first and second panels 21, 22, as well as the handles 27, 28, will be oriented generally parallel to and adjacent one another.

[0045] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4-6, to accommodate the lower leg portions 40, 41, 42, 43 of the opposed handles 27, 28 that are mounted to the corresponding first and second panels 21, 22, the upper lateral portion of the tape member 30 includes corresponding cutouts 45, 46 aligned therewith. These aligned cutouts 45, 46 separate the remaining upper lateral portion into three closure sections 50, 51 and 52, enabling the tape upper lateral portion to be folded over the corresponding second edge 32 of the second panel 22. Accordingly, once the protection strip 33 has been removed (FIGS. 5 and 6), as will be described in greater detail below, the exposed adhesive 38 on each closure section of the tape member can be adhered to the corresponding exterior surface of the second panel upper section, thereby sealing the bag closed in a sealed condition (FIGS. 7 and 8).

[0046] It will be appreciated that the cutouts 45, 46 can be any shape, but must be sufficiently dimensioned to accommodate the lower leg portions 40-43 of the handles 27, 28 when the panel upper sections are oriented in the closed condition and the tape member is in the sealed condition. Moreover, it will be understood that integral cutout vent apertures 60, 61 into the bag interior are formed by the cutouts themselves when the tape member seals the bag opening (FIGS. 7 and 8). Thus, these vent apertures 60, 61 are essentially formed between the interior distal edges of the outer closure sections 50, 52 of the tape member 30 and the first and second edges 31, 32 of the corresponding panels 21, 22.

[0047] Further, the outer vent apertures 62-65 are formed by the spacing between the outer distal edges of the outer closure section 50, 52 of the tape member 30 and the corresponding opposed side edges of the first and second panels 21, 22. In this manner, when the outer closure sections 50, 52 of the tape member are sealed against the exterior surface of the second panel 22, the distal ends of the tape member 30 and the end creases of the corresponding folded side gussets 23, 25 form these four outer vent apertures 62-65. In contrast when the opposed side edges 44, 47 and 48, 49 of the panels 21, 22 are directly joined at side seams (not shown) whereby the upper side gussets are eliminated, only two outer vent apertures are formed between the outer distal edges of the tape outer closure section 50, 52 and the corresponding joined side edges of the panels.

[0048] Collectively, these vent apertures provide venting of contents sealed within the bag interior. This will of course assures proper steam venting of hot food content therein, for instance, when the bag assembly is being carried by the handles 27, 28. It will be appreciated, however, that each vent aperture or passage is of a lateral dimension sufficiently large to enable adequate venting of steam therethrough while being sufficiently small to prevent the passage of a human hand therethrough. These vent apertures are preferably in the range of opening to at least about 3.2 mm in diameter to no more than about 25.4 mm in diameter, and more preferably about 12.7 in diameter.

[0049] When the tape member 30 is folded over, using the adhesive 38 to seal off the bag opening, the bag assembly is temporarily closed while retaining the container contents in the content receiving region. The adhesive 38 of the tape member will maintain the closure of the bag assembly until forcibly opened and/or torn. Accordingly, a tamper evident seal is created, assuring both the food preparer/provider, the food delivery driver, and the customer that content contained in the bag assembly 20 has not been tampered with.

[0050] The character and properties of the adhesive of the closure tape member 30 is preferably similar to that of the relatively strong adhesives and adhesive tapes employed for those used on overnight delivery packages, for instance. That is, the adhesive strength must be sufficiently strong so that any attempt to open the sealed bag assembly would show visible signs of tampering (e.g., stretching, tearing, etc. of the bag material and/or closure adhesive). Suitable closure adhesive tape materials include, for example, 3M® 9086, 9888T, CT6348, 9088, 9088FL, and 55256 double-sided adhesive.

[0051] To prevent inadvertent closure or contact of the adhesive 38 of the remaining upper lateral portion of the tape member 30, as mentioned, the tape member 30 includes a manually removable protective strip 33 (FIGS. 1-4). Thus, the adhesive 38 of the closure sections 50, 51, and 52 are protected until needed and utilized. Generally, however, even when the protective strip is removed released from the tape member 30, the adhesive, when still oriented in the unsealed condition, will not inadvertently contact the exterior surface of the second panel 22 until the tape upper lateral portion is manually folded over the first and second edges of the bag, and sealed against the second panel.

[0052] In accordance with the present invention, a single unit protective strip 33 is applied, spanning the voids created by the cutouts 45, 46 of the upper lateral portion of the tape member. In this manner, the protective strip can be removed as one unit rather than removing three separate units. This significantly reduces the time and effort required to remove the protective strip during sealing the bag assembly 20.

[0053] In one configuration, the tape member 30 includes strategic cuts or scoring 70 (e.g., FIGS. 1, 4 and 16) to easily cause breakage of the tape member should removal of the tape be attempted. Such scoring, thus, easily shows any evidence of tampering due to visual separation of the scored portion of the tape member 30 should tampering of the tape member be attempted. While the scoring 70 is shown in the figures as a plurality of adjacent S-shaped slits that extend traversely across the tape member, the scoring marks can be provided by any convention designs. For example, the slits may be in the form of designs. In one specific example, more distinctive designs include lettering or the like, and can provide personal advertising such as the “S2G” design (Seal-2-Go) shown in FIG. 16.

[0054] In another aspect of the present invention, the tape member 30, alone, may be provided for mounting of the lower lateral portion of the tape member to the upper section 36 of the first panel 21 (FIG. 16). The tape member would be provided with pre-cut cutouts 45, 46 that are to be aligned with the leg portions 40, 41 of the first handle 27. In this configuration, the tape member includes a lower protective cover 34 similar to the protective strip 33 that protects an adhesive mounted to the lower lateral portion (not shown). This protective cover 34 may removed prior to aligned adhered mounting of the lower lateral portion to the first panel upper section 36 without requiring removal of the protective strip 33.

[0055] In still another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for tamper evident delivering of one or more food containers in a handled bag assembly 20. The method includes providing a handled delivery bag assembly 20 having a sheet-like first panel 21, and an opposed sheet-like second panel 22. Each the first and second panel includes an interior surface that faces the opposing panel and an exterior surface. Each panel 21, 22 further includes a respective upper section 36, 37 terminating at an upper first edge 31 of the first panel and an opposed upper second edge 32 of the second panel. The first and second edges 31, 32 cooperate to at least partially define a bag opening 35 into a content receiving region extending between the bag opening and the first and second panels 21, 22. The upper sections 36, 37 are movable between an opened condition (FIGS. 1-5) and a closed condition (FIGS. 6-8), orienting the first and second edges 31, 32 generally in opposed, adjacent, relationship to one another. The bag assembly further includes a first handle 27 mounted to the upper section 36 of the first panel 21 having a pair spaced-apart first leg portions 40, 41 upstanding from the first edge 31, and a second handle 28 mounted to the upper section 37 of the second panel having a pair spaced-apart second leg portions 42, 43 upstanding from the second edge 32. The first and second leg portions are generally aligned adjacent one another when the upper sections 36, 37 are oriented in the closed condition (FIGS. 6-8). The bag assembly further includes a single use closure tape member 30 laterally mounted to the first panel upper section 36, and having an upper lateral portion extending laterally above the first edge 31 thereof in an unsealed condition (FIGS. 1-6) wherein the tape upper lateral portion having a pair of cutouts 45, 46 strategically aligned with the leg portions 40, 41 of the first handle 27. The method further includes reorienting the upper sections 36, 37 of the bag assembly 20 to the opened condition (FIGS. 1-5) to enable receipt of the one or more food containers in the content receiving region, and repositioning the upper sections of the bag assembly from the opened condition to the closed condition (FIGS. 6-8). This orients the first and second edges, and the leg portions of the handles, generally in opposed, adjacent, relationship to one another. Next, the method includes exposing a closure adhesive 38 disposed on an interior surface of the tape upper lateral portion facing the second panel 22 when in the unsealed condition, and folding the tape upper lateral portion over the second edge 32 of the second panel 22 such that the adhesive is brought into contact with the exterior surface of the second panel, substantially sealing the bag opening 35 in a sealed condition (FIGS. 7 and 8). In this manner, the leg portions 40-43 of the first and second handles are received through the respective cutouts 45, 46 of the tape member 30.

[0056] In one specific embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, the exposing the closure adhesive 38 includes removing a protective strip 33 from the closure adhesive.

[0057] While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred form of practicing it and modifications thereto, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that many other modifications can be made thereto within the scope of the claims that follow. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the invention in any way be limited by the above description, but instead be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.