Flexible bag with dual-purpose detachable closures

Abstract

A flexible plastic bag having two sides, one sealed end, and one openable end. Molding strips consisting at least partly of laminated wire or other malleable material, are removably fixed parallel and adjacent to the edges of the openable end of the bag on the exterior surfaces of each side. Each molding strip extends across the entire width of the bag and each is fixed to the bag surface along its entire length thus forming a deformable reinforcing edge along the entire opening. Resultantly, the mouth of the bag can be shaped into an open position, and the open position will be retained until the molding strips are subsequently reshaped. The purposeful malleability of the bag edge allows its opening to be shaped into other specific configurations as well. Once the mouth of the bag is manipulated to the shape or degree of openness desired, the bag can be filled without undue obstruction or restriction, and the bag can also be passed over objects to encase them without initial frictional contact. Once the bag has been filled, or has fully encased its target object, the molding strips can be detached from the bag with a pulling motion to be used as flexible closure devices in a manner similar to commonly known “twist ties”. The molding strips may be individual elements adhesively attached to the surfaces of the bag, or they may be imbedded within, or part of, the bag structure and detachable by means of perforations along a tear line. The molding strips, if adhesively detachable, may include protruding tabs to aid in their disengagement from the bag. The bag body may be of clear plastic material to allow visibility of the contents within and may contain printing, labeling, or writeable exterior surfaces.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to flexible plastic bags with malleable reinforced openings wherein the elements used to reinforce and retain their shaped openings may also serve as readily detachable closures by which the bags may then be sealed. In one particular application, the present invention relates to flexible plastic bags whose openings can be formed into, and then retain, nearly circular open positions so that the bags can be neatly passed over wet paint roller covers in a manner that avoids messy contact between the leading edge of the bag and the wet roller covers. Once encased within the bag bodies, the wet roller covers can then be grasped in a “hands-clean”manner to be removed from their frames and may remain stored within the bags in a wet or moist condition for future reuse. The present invention relates to other possible applications as well, for example, instances where wet, oily, or otherwise contaminated articles or parts must be neatly encased for removal, storage, transport, or disposal, particularly instances where contact between such contaminants with other closure types might inhibit subsequent airtight seals. Further, the disclosed invention relates to applications generally in instances where the mouth of the bag must be retained in either a standard open position or other special configuration to receive outside objects.

As regards to the invention's applications in the painting industry, it is commonly known among painters that preventing air from drying out paint applicators, particularly paint brushes and paint roller covers, keeps them moist and ready for subsequent reuse, extends their useful life, and eliminates the need for laborious and time-consuming daily cleanup. In light of this knowledge, devices for keeping and storing paint brushes in moist condition have been patented as far back as the 19^th Century. In more modern times, devices such as plastic roller trays with fitted covers, storage tubes with caps, hinged plastic housings that snap together, tool-type boxes with lids, simple sheaths, and plastic covers have been anticipated for use with both paint brushes and paint roller covers for this purpose. Painters in modern times have also discovered seemingly simpler methods to keep their paint applicators moist such as wrapping them in plastic sheet wrap, aluminum foil, or placing them in plastic food storage bags. However, all of these methods and devices have drawbacks or limitations. The oldest known implements for storing paint brushes predate the plastics era and consist mostly of bulky devices manufactured from metal parts that would be relatively expensive and unnecessarily complicated to manufacture by today's standards. Many of those devices required that solvents or thinners be used with them, or they had to be used in conjunction with other containers. The more modern implements dating from the inception of plastics manufacturing until the present day are found to be unnecessarily complicated, relatively expensive to manufacture, not intended for long term storage, lack airtightness, or are simply too difficult to manage and clean when compared to the present invention. Some items painters now use which are not specifically manufactured for the purposes of preserving paint applicators, such as aluminum foil, plastic sheet wrap, and food storage bags, also have their drawbacks. Aluminum foil tears easily, plastic sheet wrap is difficult to handle while attempting to manage a wet painting device, and food storage bags typically have floppy or otherwise unsuitable openings that render passing them over saturated articles a difficult and messy proposition. Further, although rewrapping saturated roller covers in their original plastic packaging wrapper is sometimes possible, in most cases roller covers will expand to larger dimensions once saturated and simply will not fit back into their original wrappers. Additionally, the original packaging wrapper is typically not thick or durable enough for securely grasping the encased roller covers for removal, or for providing long term storage capabilities, and often incur punctures or tears at the store display level which renders them unsuitable for the purposes of the invention. Regardless, trying to squeeze a wet roller cover into a bag with a floppy or small opening is a very messy proposition at best.

It should also be noted that there presently exist several patents covering devices whose features include the removal of saturated roller covers from their frames in a “hands-clean” manner. However, as with the present invention, such removal is only one aspect of many features which might be taught by those devices and otherwise these devices cannot be compared to the present invention either in physical structure or method of use.

In other applications, it would be useful to provide flexible bags of the invention in cases where, for example, a greasy machine part or other contaminated object may need to be neatly encased for removal, containment, transport, or sanitary storage, particularly in instances where the closures must still function properly even if they inadvertently come in contact with the greasy or contaminated objects they are intended to contain. The bag of the invention could also be used generally to easily slide over and protect items of any kind from exposure to the elements.

Comparing the present invention against existing flexible bags and similar receptacles reveals that nothing presently exists in the prior art specifically for the purpose of neatly encasing and then storing saturated paint applicators in a neat and airtight manner. While certain known flexible bag types might generally serve to enclose and preserve wet paint applicators, none are purposefully designed to make the process of doing so clean and simple. Plastic bags with simple adhesive flaps, for example, would not prevent sloppy contact between the leading bag edges and the wet surfaces of roller covers without the user having to exercise extreme diligence because their openable ends are floppy and unstable. Additionally, wet paint contacting the adhesive closures of such bags could prevent an airtight reseal. Other bag types with interlocking or sliding type closures, while providing some degree of reinforcement and stability to their openable ends by default, nevertheless cannot be purposefully manipulated to retain a fully circular shape that avoids the unwanted messy contact just cited. Wet paint entering the channels of interlocking closures, or of sliding closures, could likewise inhibit airtight resealing.

Comparing the present invention against those devices that may be used in general packaging, storage, transportation, or containment applications, it must be noted that no known flexible bags or receptacles currently disclose malleable reinforced ends which can be purposefully shaped to avoid messy contact with the objects they are intended to encase and whereby the detachable closures which construct and reinforce the malleable edges are conveniently disposed and detachable to subsequently seal the bags in an airtight manner. No other bags were found in the prior art which provide for such a purposeful malleability of the openable end and whose openable ends may be manipulated to provide the advantage of avoiding or reducing unwanted contact either during the reception of extraneous objects or the encasement of target objects, and whereby the closures will still function properly even if contaminated to some degree by the objects they come into contact with.

Therefore, what is needed are disposably priced, simple to use, durable flexible bags to encase and then allow for “hands-clean” removal of saturated paint roller covers from their frames whereby the removed roller covers may remain in the bags in their wet conditions to be preserved for subsequent reuse and whereby the closures used to seal such bags are conveniently disposed on and detachable from the bags. What is also needed are bags of similar construction but different dimensional proportions whose openable ends can be manipulated to avoid contact with the wet bristles of a paint brush and wherein such wet brushes may be stored indefinitely for subsequent reuse. Further, what is needed are storage or containment bags of the invention's unique construction, wherein their malleably reinforced openable ends may be purposefully shaped to allow for the unhindered encasement of, or unobstructed acceptance of, extraneous objects and whereby such bags may subsequently be sealed in an airtight manner with the detachable closures cited previously. Finally, what is needed is a flexible bag whose closures will still function properly and reliably even if accidentally contaminated by wet, sticky, or oily substances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention resides in a flexible plastic bag having two sides, one sealed end, and one openable end. In the preferred embodiment, molding strips consisting of laminated wire are removably fixed parallel and adjacent to the edges of the openable end of the bag on the exterior surfaces of each side wall. Each molding strip straddles the entire width of the bag and each is fixed to the bag surface along its entire length thus forming a malleable reinforcing edge along the entire opening. Resultantly, the mouth of the bag can be hand manipulated into an open position, and the open position will be retained until the molding strips are subsequently reshaped. The purposeful malleability of the bag edge allows its opening to be shaped into other specific configurations as well. Once the mouth of the bag is manipulated to the shape or degree of openness desired, the bag can be filled without undue obstruction or restriction, or the bag can also be passed over objects to encase them without initial frictional contact. Once the bag has been filled, or has fully encased its target object, the molding strips can be detached from the bag with a pulling motion to then be used as flexible closure devices in a manner similar to commonly known “twist ties”. The molding strips are individual elements adhesively attached to the surfaces of the bag and include protruding tabs to aid in their disengagement from the bag. The bag body is of clear plastic material to allow for visibility of the contents within and may contain printing, labeling, or writeable exterior surfaces.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and photographs, which illustrate the principles of the invention by way of example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the molding strips are adhesively attached to the surfaces of the bag;

FIG. 1a is an exploded perspective closeup view of the adhesively attached molding strips of the preferred embodiment shown detached from the bag surfaces;

FIG. 1b is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing the molding strips retaining the bag mouth in the open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment wherein the molding strips are integral with the bag structure and detachable at a perforated tear line;

FIG. 2a is a closeup perspective view of the integral molding strips of the alternative embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2b is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 2 showing the integral molding strips retaining the mouth of the bag in the open position;

FIG. 3 is a frontal view showing the bag of the preferred embodiment with its openable end retained in a circular position for receiving an extraneous object, in this case the extraneous object is a saturated paint roller cover;

FIG. 3a is a frontal view showing the extraneous object of FIG. 3 fully encased within the bag of the preferred embodiment and showing one of the two molding strips almost completely detached from one side wall of the bag body;

FIG. 3b is a frontal view of the bag of FIG. 3 showing the detached molding strip being twisted around the gathered opening of the bag to seal it shut in an airtight manner;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing the malleable opening of the bag of the preferred embodiment being manipulated into a circular open position;

FIG. 4a is a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 4, with its opening retained in the fully circular open position, being passed over a wet paint roller cover with minimal contact between the leading edge of the bag and the wet roller cover;

FIG. 4b is a perspective view showing the bag of FIG. 4, and hence the wet roller cover, being simultaneously grasped and pulled from the roller frame;

FIG. 4c is a perspective view showing one of the adhesively attached molding strips being pulled from the side wall of the bag of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4d is a perspective view of the detached molding strip being manipulated in the manner similar to a commonly known “twist-tie” to seal the bag of FIG. 4 shut in an airtight manner;

FIG. 4e is a perspective view of a detached molding strip from the bag of FIG. 4 alternatively being used to seal the end of the bag while the roller cover is still attached to its frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in the drawings Sheet 1 of 4, Sheet 3 of 4, and photograph Sheet 4 of 4, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is concerned with a flexible bag designated by the reference number 10. The bag 10 is generally comprised of a body 12 consisting of two side walls 14, a bottom sealed end 17, and an openable end 16. The bag body 12 is constructed of clear flexible plastic so that the contents within are clearly visible. Two preshaped molding strips 20 consisting of malleable wires 26 laminated with flexible plastic material are attached to the exterior faces of each side wall 14 with adhesive applied to the back side 22 of each. The molding strips 20 are affixed with their top edges 29 parallel and adjacent to the top edges 16 of the side walls 14 of the bag body 12. The molding strips 20 have protruding portions void of adhesive to serve as pull tabs 32 which may be located anywhere along their bottom edges 30. Because the molding strips 20 are adhesively affixed to the side walls 14 along their entire lengths, they effectively serve to malleably reinforce the openable edges 16 of the bag body 12. The adhesive used to attach the molding strips 20 to the bag body 12 are of such composition to allow solid adhesion to the bag body 12 when needed as malleable reinforcing members for the openable end 16, yet are detachable without undue effort when needed as closure members. The bags 10 may be of similar structure but various dimensions to accommodate different types and sizes of objects to be encased or accepted within.

In another embodiment, as illustrated on drawing Sheet 2 of 4, the bag 10 is generally comprised of a body 12 consisting of two side walls 14, a bottom sealed end 17, and an openable end 16 as in the preferred embodiment. In this alternative embodiment, however, the molding strips 20 consist of lineally thickened material 28 in instances where the bag material itself has characteristics of malleability, or of wire or similarly malleable material 28 embedded or molded directly within the physical structure of the side walls 14 of the bag body 12. In either case, the molding strips 20 are located parallel and adjacent to the openable end of the bag 16 as in the preferred embodiment but are defined by, and detachable at, perforations or tear lines 18 in each side wall 14 of the bag body 12.

To use the bag 10 of the preferred embodiment to remove a wet paint roller cover 34 from its frame and then keep the roller cover 34 preserved in its moist condition for later reuse, a painter gently presses the side edges of the bag body 12 at the ends of the molding strips 20 by which such gentle pressing causes the openable end 16 of the bag body 12 to spread apart. Fingers may then be inserted into the openable end 16 of the bag body 12 to spread the mouth of the bag 10 open further and then to manipulate the attached molding strips 20 into a nearly circular shape. The deformed molding strips 20 will now retain the openable end 16 of the bag body 12 in a fully open, preferrably circular, position. The bag 10 can now be held lightly by the molding strips 20 to be passed entirely over the wet roller cover 34, and the retained open configuration of the mouth will help to prevent the leading openable end 16 of the bag body 12 from making messy contact with the wet surface of the roller cover 34 as it is passed over. Once the wet roller cover 34 is completely surrounded by the bag body 12, the bag 10 and roller cover 34 can be simultaneously grasped and pulled from the roller frame. The bag 10 has thus served to prevent paint from getting on the hand of the painter during the removal procedure. Once the bag 10 containing the saturated roller cover 34 is fully disengaged from the roller frame, either of the two molding strips 20 may be detached from the bag body 12 by grasping its pull tab 32. The molding strips 20 are then used in a manner similar to commonly known twist ties to seal the openable end 16 of the bag 10 in an airtight manner. The roller cover 34 will remain in its wet or moist condition as long as the bag 10 remains sealed because damaging air cannot enter the bag body 12. Because the bag body 12 is made from clear plastic, the roller cover, and thus the color of the paint having been used, remains clearly visible within. Also, the bag can be marked with a felt-tipped or similar type of marking pen on its writable surface area to note dates or type of paint used.

The process for removing and storing wet roller covers 34 is the same when using the alternative embodiments of the bag 10 except that the molding strips 20 used as closures to seal the bag 10 shut are detachable from the bag body 12 by tearing along perforations 18 in the side walls 14 of the bag body 12. Whichever embodiment of the invention is employed, it is a distinct and purposeful advantage that the molding strips 20 will still function as reliable closures even in the event that wet paint may mistakenly come in contact with them during the removal or storage procedures.

To use the bag 10 to store a wet paint roller cover 34 for briefer periods of time, such as during lunch breaks or overnight, or in instances where a painter does not wish to remove the roller cover 34 from its frame for such shorter periods of time, the painter proceeds to encase the roller cover 34 within the bag body 12 in the manner described previously. However, one or the other of the molding strips 20 is detached from the bag 10 while the roller cover 34 is still mounted on its frame and the removed molding strip 20 is then used to wrap the openable end 16 of the bag body 12 tightly against the stem of the roller frame. It is therefore another distinct advantage of the bag 10 of this invention to provide the ability to completely encase wet roller covers in an airtight manner 34 while they are still attached to their frames.

To reinstall a previously removed roller cover 34 onto a roller frame in a “hands-clean”manner to continue using it, a painter simply opens the bag 10 by removing the molding strip 20 and untwisting the gathered end of the bag body 12. While holding the encased roller cover 34 with one hand, the painter inserts the leading edge of the roller frame into the roller cover 34 through the opening of the bag body 12 with the other hand. The wet roller cover 34 can now be pulled from the bag body 12 by the roller frame handle and messy contact with the hands has been thus avoided.

The bag 10 of the invention may also be used for storing wet paint brushes or other similarly configured paint applicators. In such instances, the bags 10 comprise the same materials and structural characteristics as those used for roller covers 34 but with varying dimensions. As with the procedure for use with roller covers 34, the malleable open ends 16 of the bags 10 are formed into receptive open positions by the purposeful manipulation of their molding strips 20. The retained opening of the bag body 12 allows the wet bristles of saturated paint brushes to avoid contact with the leading edges of the bags 10 as they are inserted. The paint brushes may sit fully within the bags 10 when stored, or the bags 10 may be secured by wrapping the bag ends tightly to the handles of the brushes.

To use the bag 10 of the invention for the encasement, containment, removal, or storage of wet, greasy, or otherwise contaminated fixed objects, the user simply opens the bag and manipulates the malleable reinforced molding strips 20 of the bag body 12 into an open configuration generally matching, but slightly larger than, the shape of the target object. The manipulation of the openable bag end 16 may be done by hand, machine, or with tools. The bag is slid over the target object with the user being careful to avoid contact between the reinforced leading edges of the bag 10 and the object to be encased. Once the target object is fully encased within the bag body 12, it can then be grasped in a hands-clean” manner for removal, transport, storage, or disposal and the bag body 12 may be sealed with the detachable molding strip 20 used as closures. Alternatively, the encased object may be left in place and the closures used to seal the bag material against the supporting device to which the object is attached thereto. The same principles of shaping the openable end 16 of the bag body 12 to retain an open configuration may also be applied in instances where it is desirable to have the bag 10 filled with, or receive, outside objects.

Although different embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited, except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A flexible bag comprising side walls, a sealed end, and an openable end whereby its openable end is reinforced by material elements consisting at least partly of malleable or deformable material and whereby said elements may be manipulated to retain the openable end of the bag in a purposefully shaped or fully open position and whereby said elements may also be subsequently detached from the bag to serve as its closure device.