SECURE FOOD TRANSPORT BAGS

Abstract

A first embodiment of a secure food transport bag has front and rear walls. An upper portion of the front wall has an attached tamper-proof compound affixed to its interior surface. To seal the bag, a protective strip is removed from the compound and the upper portion is pivoted upwardly and pressed to an interior surface of the back wall of the bag. A folded strip handle is attached to the back wall and sealed between the front and back walls. A second embodiment of the bag has a tamper-proof adhesive compound affixed to an interior portion of the back wall and covered with a protective strip. A folded portion of the front wall is sealed to the front wall at side edges and two center seals adjacent the center of the bag. These center seals form a handle opening when the back wall is sealed to the folded portion.

Claims

1. A secure food transport bag comprising: a front wall and a back wall, said front and back walls being formed of flexible film material and having top and bottom edges and first and second side edges; said front and back walls being joined together along their first and second side edges at first and second side seams and along their bottom edges at a bottom seam to form a bag with an open mouth; said first and second side seams having first and second cuts, said first and second cuts being disposed adjacent upper ends of said first and second side seams and extending from said top edges downwardly toward said bottom edges for a first predetermined distance; said front wall having a fold, said fold being parallel to said top edge of said front wall and being disposed at a point spaced downwardly from said top edge; said fold defining an interior surface portion of said front wall and disposing said interior surface portion in a coplanar position with an exterior surface of said front wall; a tamper-proof adhesive compound, said compound being affixed to said interior surface portion of said front wall and extending from said first side edge to said second side edge; said tamper-proof adhesive compound being removable from said flexible film material only with force sufficient to tear said material; a removable protective strip, said protective strip being adhered to said tamper-proof adhesive compound to prevent its attachment to said flexible film material until closing of said bag; a separate film handle, said handle being formed from a flat strip of flexible film material formed into a handle loop and sealed at its distal ends to said interior portion of said back wall adjacent said top edge of said back wall, a central portion of said handle loop extending above said top edges of said front wall and said back wall; wherein, when said interior surface portion of said front wall is sealed to said interior portion of said back wall, said distal ends of said film handle loop will be sealed between said front wall and said back wall; and wherein after placing a food item into said bag, said protective strip is removed from said interior surface portion of said front wall and said interior surface portion is folded upwardly and pressed to an interior portion of said back wall adjacent said top edge of said back wall, thereby sealing the bag with the food item inside with a tamper-proof seal.

2. The secure food transport bag, as described in claim 1, further comprising at least one rectangular vent opening, said rectangular vent opening formed as a notch in said front wall and said back wall, said notch extending downwardly from said top edges and inwardly from either of said first and second side edges.

3. The secure food transport bag, as described in claim 1, further comprising a bottom gusset, said bottom gusset being folded inwardly from said bottom seam and sealed to said first and second side edges in said first and second side seams.

4. The secure food transport bag, as described in claim 1, wherein said tamper-proof adhesive compound is a pressure sensitive adhesive comprising 0%-100% rosin ester and an elastomer selected from the group comprising acrylics, bio-based acrylate, butyl rubber, ethylene-vinyl acetate, natural rubber, nitriles, and silicone rubbers.

5. The secure food transport bag, as described in claim 1, wherein said flexible film material comprises 25% to 75% high density high molecular weight polyethylene resin, 20% to 75% linear low polyethylene resin, 0% to 20% low density polyethylene, 0% to 10% color concentrate, 0% to 15% calcium fillers, 0% to 20% post-consumer resin and 0% to 4% other additives.

6. The secure food transport bag, as described in claim 1, wherein said flexible film material comprises 0%-100% corn based products.

7. A secure food transport bag comprising: a front wall and a back wall, said front and back walls being formed of flexible film material and having top and bottom edges and first and second side edges; said front wall having a folded portion, said folded portion having an upper edge, said upper edge being parallel to said top edge, said folded portion extending downwardly from said top edge for a first predetermined distance; said front and back walls being joined together along their first and second side edges at first and second side seams, said first and second side seams securing first and second distal ends of said folded portion to an outer surface of said front wall, and along their bottom edges at a bottom seam to form a bag with an open mouth; said folded portion being sealed to said outer surface of said front wall with first and second vertical seals, said first and second vertical seals being spaced from a center point of said folded portion to form a handle opening; a tamper-proof adhesive compound, said compound being affixed to an interior surface portion of said back wall adjacent said top edge and extending from said first side edge to said second side edge; said tamper-proof adhesive being removable from said flexible film material only with force sufficient to tear said material; a removable protective strip, said protective strip being adhered to said tamper-proof adhesive to prevent its attachment to said flexible film material until closing of said bag; wherein after placing a food item into said bag, said protective strip is removed from said interior surface portion of said back wall and said interior surface portion is folded downwardly and pressed to an outer surface of said folded portion of said front wall, thereby sealing the bag with the food item inside with a tamper-proof seal.

8. The secure food transport bag, as described in claim 7, further comprising first and second angled seals, said first and second angled seals extending from said first and second vertical seals upwardly at an angle toward said upper edge of said folded portion, thereby forming a contoured shape for said handle opening.

9. The secure food transport bag, as described in claim 7, further comprising a bottom gusset, said bottom gusset being folded inwardly from said bottom seam and sealed to said first and second side edges in said first and second side seams.

10. The secure food transport bag, as described in claim 7, wherein said tamper-proof adhesive compound is a pressure sensitive adhesive comprising 0%-100% rosin ester and an elastomer selected from the group comprising acrylics, bio-based acrylate, butyl rubber, ethylene-vinyl acetate, natural rubber, nitriles, and silicone rubbers.

11. The secure food transport bag, as described in claim 7, wherein said flexible film material comprises 25% to 75% high density high molecular weight polyethylene resin, 20% to 75% linear low polyethylene resin, 0% to 20% low density polyethylene, 0% to 10% color concentrate, 0% to 15% calcium fillers, 0% to 20% post-consumer resin and 0% to 4% other additives.

12. The secure food transport bag, as described in claim 1, wherein said flexible film material comprises 0%-100% corn based products.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the invention illustrating the tamper-proof adhesive compound and protective strip attached to interior surface portion of the front wall of the bag;

[0038] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment illustrating closure of the bag and a cutaway view of a bottom gusset;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment in fully closed condition;

[0040] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment illustrating the vent located at the upper corner of the bag;

[0041] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment illustrating the bag handle and its attachment to the bag;

[0042] FIG. 6 is a front view of a second embodiment of the bag illustrating the tamper-proof adhesive compound, protective strip and handle opening seals;

[0043] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the FIG. 6 embodiment illustrating closure of the bag;

[0044] FIG. 8 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the FIG. 6 embodiment illustrating a bottom bag gusset;

[0045] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the FIG. 6 embodiment in fully closed condition; and

[0046] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the FIG. 6 embodiment illustrating use of the handle opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0047] (1) FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a secure food transport bag 10 providing all of the desired features that can be constructed from the following components. A front wall 14 and a back wall 18 are provided. The front 14 and back 18 walls are formed of flexible film material 22 and have top 26 and bottom 30 edges and first 34 and second 38 side edges. The front 14 and back 18 walls are joined together along their first 34 and second 38 side edges at first 42 and second 46 side seams and along their bottom edges 30 at a bottom seam 50 to form a bag 10 with an open mouth 54.

[0048] The first 42 and second 46 side seams have first 58 and second 62 cuts. The first 58 and second 62 cuts are located adjacent upper ends 66, 70 of the first 42 and second 46 side seams and extend from the top edges 26 downwardly toward the bottom edges 30 for a first predetermined distance 74. The front wall 14 has a fold 78. The fold 78 is parallel to the top edge 26 of the front wall 14 and is located at a point 82 spaced downwardly from the top edge 26. The fold 78 defines an interior surface portion 86 of the front wall 14 and locates the interior surface portion 86 in a coplanar position with an exterior surface 90 of the front wall 14.

[0049] A tamper-proof adhesive compound 94 is provided. The compound 94 is affixed to the interior surface portion 86 of the front wall 14 and extends from the first side edge 34 to the second side edge 38. The tamper-proof adhesive compound 94 is removable from the flexible film material 22 only with force sufficient to tear the material 22. A removable protective strip 98 is provided. The protective strip 98 is adhered to the tamper-proof adhesive compound 94 to prevent its attachment to the flexible film material 22 until closing of the bag 10. After placing a food item 102 into the bag 10, the protective strip 98 is removed from the interior surface portion 86 of the front wall 14 and the interior surface portion 86 is folded upwardly and pressed to an interior portion 106 of the back wall 18 adjacent the top edge 26 of the back wall 18, thereby sealing the bag 10 with the food item 102 inside with a tamper-proof seal 110.

[0050] (2) In a variant of the invention, a film handle 114 is provided. The handle 114 is formed from flexible film material 22 and sealed to the interior portion 106 of the back wall 18 adjacent the top edge 26 of the back wall 18. When the interior surface portion 86 of the front wall 14 is sealed to the interior portion 106 of the back wall 18, the film handle 114 is partially sealed between the front wall 14 and the back wall 18.

[0051] (3) In another variant, at least one vent opening 118 is provided. The vent opening 118 is formed as a notch 122 in the front wall 14 and the back wall 18. The notch 122 extends downwardly from the top edges 26 and inwardly from either of the first 34 and second 38 side edges.

[0052] (4) In still another variant, a bottom gusset 126 is provided. The bottom gusset 126 is folded inwardly from the bottom seam 50 and sealed to the first 34 and second 38 side edges in the first 42 and second 46 side seams.

[0053] (5) In yet another variant, the tamper-proof adhesive compound 94 is a pressure sensitive adhesive comprising 0%-100% rosin ester and an elastomer selected from the group comprising acrylics, bio-based acrylate, butyl rubber, ethylene-vinyl acetate, natural rubber, nitriles, and silicone rubbers.

[0054] (6) In a further variant, the flexible film material 22, includes 25% to 75% high density high molecular weight polyethylene resin, 20% to 75% linear low polyethylene resin, 0% to 20% low density polyethylene, 0% to 10% color concentrate, 0% to 15% calcium fillers, 0% to 20% post-consumer resin and 0% to 4% other additives.

[0055] (7) In still a further variant, the flexible film material 22, includes 0%-100% corn-based products.

[0056] (8) In yet a further variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-10, a secure food transport bag 130 includes a front wall 134 and a back wall 138. The front 134 and back 138 walls are formed of flexible film material 22 and have top 142 and bottom 146 edges and first 150 and second 154 side edges. The front wall 134 has a folded portion 158. The folded portion 158 has an upper edge 162. The upper edge 162 is parallel to the top edge 142. The folded portion 158 extends downwardly from the top edge 142 for a first predetermined distance 166. The front 134 and back 138 walls are joined together along their first 150 and second 154 side edges at first 170 and second 174 side seams. The first 170 and second 174 side seams secure first 178 and second 182 distal ends of the folded portion 158 to an outer surface 186 of the front wall 134. The front 134 and back 138 walls are joined together along their bottom edges 146 at a bottom seam 190 to form a bag 130 with an open mouth 194.

[0057] The folded portion 158 is sealed to the outer surface 186 of the front wall 134 with first 198 and second 202 vertical seals. The first 198 and second 202 vertical seals are spaced from a center point 206 of the folded portion 158 to form a handle opening 210. A tamper-proof adhesive compound 94 is provided. The compound 94 is affixed to an interior surface portion 214 of the back wall 138 adjacent the top edge 142 and extends from the first side edge 150 to the second side edge 154. The tamper-proof adhesive 94 is removable from the flexible film material 22 only with force sufficient to tear the material 22.

[0058] A removable protective strip 98 is provided. The protective strip 98 is adhered to the tamper-proof adhesive 94 to prevent its attachment to the flexible film material 22 until closing of the bag 130. After placing a food item 102 into the bag 130, the protective strip 98 is removed from the interior surface portion 214 of the back wall 138 and the interior surface portion 214 is folded downwardly and pressed to an outer surface 218 of the folded portion 158 of the front wall 134, thereby sealing the bag 130 with the food item 102 inside with a tamper-proof seal 222.

[0059] (9) In another variant of the invention, first 226 and second 230 angled seals are provided. The first 226 and second 230 angled seals extend from the first 198 and second 202 vertical seals upwardly at an angle toward the upper edge 162 of the folded portion 158, thereby forming a contoured shape 234 for the handle opening 210, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0060] (10) In still another variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-10, a bottom gusset 238 is provided. The bottom gusset 238 is folded inwardly from the bottom seam 190 and sealed to the first 150 and second 154 side edges in the first 170 and second 174 side seams.

[0061] (11) In yet another variant, the tamper-proof adhesive compound 94 is a pressure sensitive adhesive comprising 0%-100% rosin ester and an elastomer selected from the group comprising acrylics, bio-based acrylate, butyl rubber, ethylene-vinyl acetate, natural rubber, nitriles, and silicone rubbers.

[0062] (12) In a further variant of the invention, the flexible film material 22 includes 25% to 75% high density high molecular weight polyethylene resin, 20% to 75% linear low polyethylene resin, 0% to 20% low density polyethylene, 0% to 10% color concentrate, 0% to 15% calcium fillers, 0% to 20% post-consumer resin and 0% to 4% other additives.

[0063] (13) In a final variant, the flexible film material includes 0%-100% corn-based products.

[0064] The secure food transport bags 10 and 130 have been described with reference to particular embodiments. Other modifications and enhancements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.