PACKAGE SYSTEM FOR HOLDING PRODUCTS

Abstract

A package is provided with a flexible skin and a multi-ring binding device attached to the flexible skin. One or more plastic bags are mated with the multi-ring binding device that receive and store products. The flexible skin wrap around the mated plastic bags to protect the bags when transported. The plastic bags may include a zipper that mates with a safety lock to seal and unseal the bag. The plastic bag may contain multiple compartments that are each separately sealable with a second re-sealable seal.

Description

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/970,883 filed Sep. 7, 2007

BACKGROUND

This application relates to a package system and more specifically to a package system for storing and organizing products for transport.

Medicinal products, when packaged, are typically carried in a specialized container. These containers are often large and bulky. Further many of these containers look too much alike. When containers are transported together, they take up a large amount of space. Thus searching to locate any individual container to find a particular medicinal product can often be time consuming and possibly dangerous. Correctly identify supplements or medications for the elderly is extremely important and could have serious consequences if such products are incorrectly identified and ingested.

One solution for storing medicinal products is to store them in sealed packages or bags. When the consumer wants to use the product, the consumer opens up the package. But once the package is opened, if it is not again resealed, the contents of the package could spoil. Plastic zip lock bags were developed to provide consumers re-sealable bags. But these bags are also unwieldy when being transported as it is often difficult to determine what is in a bag. Further, these bags are unprotected and can be easily punctured or easily lost.

Medicinal products can often contain prescription drugs that can make children sick if ingested by the child. Child protection containers have special tops that allow an adult to open the container, but make it more difficult for a child to open the container. Many of these special tops; however, require two hands to open and are difficult for a person with a handicap, such as arthritis, from opening the container to access the prescription. Thus there is a need to provide a re-sealable package that prevents children from being able to easily access the packages contents while allowing handicapped individual to access the contents.

Sometimes certain related drugs need to be taken together. In order to remind the consumer that the drug needs to be taken with a related drug, there needs to be a mechanism to store these drugs in close proximity to each other. When they are stored near each other, the drugs need to be able to be accessed without opening a package for the related drug and spoiling the related drug.

SUMMARY

In one implementation of the claimed embodiment, a package systemage is provided. The package system includes a flexible skin, a multi-ring binding device attached to the flexible skin, and plastic bags. The plastic bags have holes or openings at one end. The bags are mated with the multi-ring binding device via the openings at one end of the bags. The plastic bags having a sealable opening at another end to receive and store the medicinal products. The flexible skin can wrap around the mated plastic bags to protect the bags when they are transported and adds an additional layer of security from children due to the available locking mechanism option on the outer buckle.

In another implementation, a plastic bag includes a first sheet and a second sheet. The sheets are joined together on three sides around their perimeter and form an opening on a forth side. The sheets are also joined together along a line perpendicular to the opening to create two compartments within the bag. A first re-sealable seal is formed in the sheets adjacent to and along a length of the opening on the forth side. The first seal is formed such that the slide zip lock seal can be open to expose one compartment without opening the seal to expose the second compartment. On either bag a second re-sealable seal is formed in the sheets along the length of the opening on the forth side between the first seal and the opening this dual zip allows for an air tight seal.

A safety lock system may be provided with a bag. The safety lock system includes a slide lock seal, a safety lock mechanism and a zipper. The slide lock seal is formed in a bag adjacent to and along the length of the bags opening. The zipper slides along the slide lock seal to seal and unseal the slide lock seal. The zipper has a protrusion. A first and second rotatable cone shaped portion form a grove around the perimeter safety lock, and an aperture is formed between the portions in a section of the groove to receive the protrusion. The safety lock mechanism may be depressed and rotated to prevent the zipper from opening the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference number in different figures indicates similar or identical items.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the package system in an open position.

FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate a side view of the package demonstrating closing of the pack to protect its contents.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the package system in a closed position.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of an exemplary plastic bag used in the package system.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of an exemplary sealing mechanism used to seal and reseal the bag shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6a-6c illustrates a side view of an exemplary safety seal system on a bag demonstrating a technique for closing and locking a bag.

FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrates a side sectional view of a safety seal mechanism on a bag, demonstrating the technique for using the sealing mechanism to lock a bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure is directed to storing medicinal products in a bag within a package system, and for sealing the bag to prevent exposing of the bags contents. Although this disclosure refers to storing medicinal products, such as prescription drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, health store items, the techniques may be used to store other items or products such as food, sporting goods and personal hygiene items. According medicinal products may include such food and personal hygiene and is not limited to drugs, vitamins or dietary supplements. Other examples of such products that may be stored in the bag, include but are not limited to, fishing/marine items, sporting goods, hiking items, crafts items, jewelry, stones, vitamins, food supplements, snacks or other food products.

These techniques help organize products and protect them during travel. The techniques also prevent young children from easily obtaining access to medicinal products. Various examples of a package system, bag to store products and safety seal systems are described below with reference to FIGS. 1-7.

Example Package

FIG. 1 illustrates an example package system 100 in which medicinal products may be stored and protected. The package system 100 includes a flexible skin 102 on which a multi-ring binder 104 is mounted. The binder 104 holds one or more plastic bags 106(a-n) that may contain medicinal content.

Flexible skin 102 may be constructed from any material that allows the system to wrap around the bags 106(a-n) when mounted on the binder. Flexible skin should be strong enough to support binder 104 without tearing. In one implementation, flexible skin is semi-rectangular shaped. Examples of the materials used to construct the flexible skin include, leather, vinyl, plastic, leatherette, paper, silicon, rubber, etc. Flexible skin may be tapered at one end to provide ease in wrapping.

Binder 104 may be a standard multi-ring binder. Although a two ring binder is discussed, any number of rings may be used. Binder 104 is mounted to skin 102 at binder's ends using mounting rivets 108. In one implementation, binder 104 is mounted along a line intersecting a center point of skin 102. Binder 104 may be opened and closed by applying opening pressure or closing pressure to rings 108 and 110. When rings 108 and 110 are opened, new bags may be added to or existing bags may be removed from the package system 100.

Bags 106a-106n, are formed by sealing two identical sheets of plastic around most of its edges. Bags 106a-106n include holes or apertures 112 and 114 for mating with the rings 108 and 110 respectively on binder 104. Bags 106a-106n are permanently heat sealed at one side adjacent holes 112 and 114 along the length of bag to form a compartment 116. The bags 106a-106n also include a zip lock or zipper re-sealable seal 118 extending along an opening at bags 106a-106n other end. Bags 106a-106n may have a writing strip 120 etched into (or printed on) the bag to permit a user to write on the strip 120 information denoting the contents of the bags 106a-106n. Alternatively stickers or preprinted labels may be stuck to the bag to denote their contents. One example of such label is a Drug Prescription labels. These labels may be marked with the days of the week, the number of pills to take and/or the contents of the bags. The bags may also be organized in an order to allow a user to manage their prescription drugs or dietary supplements. Examples of other bag types and the bags locking mechanism are described in more detail in FIGS. 3-7.

Bags 106a-106n may be made from a visible plastic that is approved for products which are ingested. Example of such plastic material includes “polyethylene”. The bags 106a-106n may vary in size and may be selected depending on the content. The bags can have a thickness selected to prevent puncturing by its contents and can be selected to accommodate the product that will be stored in the bag. The bags can be coated with an Ultraviolet additive to prevent harm to the bags contents from the sun or the environment. The bag may also be made from a material that does not transfer to food stored in the bag or that is not harmful to humans if transferred to the food.

Illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b are the steps to wrap bag 106 with the flexible skin 102. First the package system 100 is placed in an open position shown in FIG. 1. Next the medicinal products are inserted in the bags 106a-106n and are placed in the binder 104. In FIG. 2a, a first portion 202 of package 200 (referred to as 100 in FIG. 1) is wrapped around the plastic bag. In FIG. 2b, a second portion 204 of package 200 is wrapped around the first portion 202.

Mounted on the outside of the flexible skin 102 are buckles 206 and 208. Buckle 206 is attached to flexible skin at one end, and buckle 208 is attached to the outside of flexible skin 102 at the other using a strap. Buckle 206 provides a locking mechanism for the straps.

Buckle 206 may have a rubber (or other materials, such as flexible plastic, metal or hard plastic) locking sleeve 210 that may slide over the buckle to hold the buckle 206 in place when the buckle 206 is closed. This sleeve 210 provides an additional locking mechanism to the buckle 206. The buckle sleeve 210 may have inner rubber ridges to hold the sleeve in place when closed, may prevent a child from easily opening the buckle 206. The sleeve 210 may have a metal top encased by the rubber sleeve to allow for ads/logo placement on the metal.

When the second portion 204, is wrapped around the first portion 206, the buckles 208 may be joined to lock the skin 102 place and prevent it from unraveling. Buckles 206 and 208 may be constructed with a generally known buckle locking system. Alternatively, buckles 206 and 208 may be joined using any hook and fastener system such as a Velcro connection.

In FIG. 3 there is shown package 300 (100 in FIG. 1) with flexible skin 102 wrapped up and locked using buckles 206 and 208. Buy wrapping medicinal products using skin 102, the products are protected. Further, the buckle 206 and 208 may includes an adjustable strap 302 to allow the package to expand by adding additional bags and be still held in the wrap position using the buckles. In one implementation buckles and their straps completely wrap around package 300.

Example Product Bag

FIG. 4 illustrates an example bag 400 for storing medicinal or other products such as the products/items previously mentioned. In one implementation, bag 400 is constructed from a flexible transparent plastic material that is government approved to hold medicinal and food products. Bag 400 is constructed by heat sealing the edges 402, 404, 406, of two rectangular sheets of plastic and heat sealing the plastic along a center line 408 to form two compartments 410 and 412 in the bag. A first zip lock strip 414 (also referred to herein as a first zip lock track or track) extends along an open side of the bag, and a second zip lock strip 416 (also referred to herein as a second zip lock track or track) also extends also extends along the open side of bag 400 to seal, unseal and re-seal the bag 400. In one implementation zip lock strip 416 may use a zipper 420 to seal the bag 400. Such zipper 420 may be constructed to mate with a child protection mechanism 422 as describe in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Zip lock strip 416 extends along the length of the open edge of bag and connects to the heat seal along center line 408. A portion of zip lock strip 414a allows compartment 410 to be sealed and unsealed separately from compartment 412. Another portion of zip lock strip 414b allows compartment 412 to be sealed and unsealed separately from compartment 410. Second zipper strip 416 (with zipper 420) enables the bag to be locked and be prevented from being opened. First strip 414 enables individual compartments, e.g. 410 and 412 to be opened without the other compartment being opened while still allowing the bag 400 to be safety sealed. By adding a second seal, the bag 400 is protected from leakage and exposure of its contents to the outside elements. Apertures or holes 420 are stamped out of the bag 400 adjacent its bottom edge to allow bag 400 to mate with binder 104.

Illustrated in FIG. 5 is a front view of bag 400 illustrating how the bag is sealed. In one implementation tracks 414 and 416 are heat sealed to the bag. On portion of the track is sealed to one sheet of plastic, such as sheet 502. The other portion of the track is sealed to another sheet of plastic, such as sheet 504. The tracks 414 and 416 may include a tong and groove mechanism so that when sheet 504 is pressed against sheet 502, track 414 and 416 are sealed together. In another implementation, a zipper (not shown) is used on track 416. Zipper would slide up and down track 416 to seal the track. Examples of a zipper system are described in FIGS. 6 and 7. By using two tracks to seal the bag 400, an air tight seal of the bags contents may be provided.

Example Safety Seal System

FIG. 6a-6c illustrates an example of a safety seal system 600. System 600 includes zipper 602, safety seal mechanism 604 and zip lock track 606 (also referred to herein as a slide lock seal device) mounted to bag 608.

Zipper 602 slides along track 606 to seal bag 608. Zipper 602 includes an integrally connected protrusion 610 and wings 612a and 612b. Wings 612a and 612b and protrusion 610 extend away from zipper 602 toward mechanism 604.

Safety seal mechanism 604 is connected to bag 608. Mechanism 604 includes rotating cone portion 614 that forms an aperture 616 to receive protrusion 610. Mechanism 604 includes a channel along its parameter (See FIG. 7) to hold protrusion in place while cone portion 614 is rotated. Mechanism 604 includes a cap portion 618 than can be pressed by a user to receive protrusion 610. Further details of the operation of cap portion 618 with mechanism 604 are explained in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 6a, during operation zipper 602 slides along track 606 to seal bag 608. As zipper 602 approaches mechanism 604, protrusion 610 enters aperture 616 as shown in FIG. 6b. Further, wings 612a and 612b contact cone portion 614 to limit the amount of insertion of protrusion 610 into mechanism 604. Once protrusion 610 is inserted into mechanism 604, cap portion 618 may be pressed. Pressing cap portion 618 enables cone portion 614 to be rotated around protrusion 610 as shown in FIG. 6c. Rotating cone portion 614 and pressing cap portion 618 secures or locks zipper 602 and prevents zipper 602 from moving along track 606 to unseal bag. Cap portion 618 may again be pressed while cone portion 614 is rotated back to release zipper from mechanism 604.

Illustrated in FIGS. 7a and 7b is safety seal mechanism 700 (mechanism 604 of FIGS. 6a-6c). Mechanism 700 is connected to bag 702 and includes a first cone portion 704, a second cone portion 706, and a cap portion 708 coupled to a plastic spring portion 710. Plastic spring portion 710 connects mechanism 700 to bag 702. Extending downward along a lower perimeter of cone portion 704 is lip 712. Disposed on an upper surface of second cone portion 706 is detent 714. A channel 716 is formed around a perimeter of mechanism 700. Protrusion 720 is received and held (or locked) in channel 716 when cone portions 704 and 706 are rotated.

Referring to FIG. 7a, during operation protrusion 720 (610 in FIG. 6) is inserted into aperture 616 and into channel 716. Referring to FIG. 7b, cap portion 708 is then pressed by a user resulting in the first cone portion 704 compressing and lip 712 expanding the opening in channel 716. Subsequently first and second cone portions 704 and 706 are rotated until detent 714 contacts protrusion 720. Cap portion 708 is then released to secure and lock protrusion 720 in place within safety seal mechanism 700. Cap portion may again pressed and portions 704 and 706 may rotated in the opposite direction to release protrusion 720 (and zipper 602) from mechanism 700.

CONCLUSION

In closing, although the invention has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claimed invention.

Claims

1. A package comprising:

a flexible skin;

a multi-ring binding device attached to the flexible skin; and

a plurality of plastic bags mated with the attached multi-ring binding device via openings at one end of the bags, said plastic bags having a sealable opening at another end to receive and store products, wherein said flexible skin is operable to wrap around the mated plastic bags to protect the bags when transported.

2. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein each plastic bag form two separately sealable compartments that are operable to receive separate products when the bags are mated.

3. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein each bag is constructed from a transparent material to view products stored in the bags, and wherein bags have non-transparent writing strip to enable a user to note contents of bags

4. The package as recited in claim 3, wherein each of the strips is viewable to a user when the bags are mated with binding.

5. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the binding can be opened to remove bags and add new bags.

6. The package as recited in claim 1, further comprising a strap connected to the skin to prevent the skin from unraveling when wrapped around the plastic bags.

7. The package as recited in claim 6, wherein the strap includes a buckle, and wherein the buckle includes a locking mechanism.

8. A plastic bag comprising:

a first sheet and a second sheet, said sheets being joined together on three sides around their perimeter and forming an opening on a forth side, said sheets being joined together along a line substantially perpendicular to the opening to create two compartments;

a first seal being formed in the sheets adjacent to and along a length of the opening on the forth side, said first seal being formed such that a portion of the seal can be open to expose one compartment without opening another portion of the seal to expose the second compartment; and

a second seal being formed in the sheets along the length of the opening on the forth side between the first seal and the opening.

9. The plastic bag as recited in claim 8 wherein the second seal includes a slide lock with a zipper device that inserts into a safety lock mechanism, wherein the safety lock mechanism is connected to the sheets at one corner of the forth side.

10. The plastic bag as recited in claim 9 wherein the zipper device includes a protrusion that mates with the safety lock mechanism, and wherein the safety lock mechanism forms an aperture to receive a protrusion of the zipper device

11. The plastic bag as recited in claim 10 wherein the safety lock mechanism comprises a first and second rotatable cone shaped portion forming a channel around the perimeter safety lock mechanism, and the aperture is formed between the portions in a section of the channel.

12. The plastic bag as recited in claim 11, wherein the cones portions are operable to be pressed together, and wherein the safety lock mechanism is operable to expand the channel when the cone portions are pressed together.

13. The plastic bag as recited in claim 12, wherein the safety lock mechanism is operable to lock the protrusion to the safety lock mechanism by expanding the channel and rotating the cone shaped portion.

14. The plastic bag as recited in claim 13, wherein a detent is mounted to one of the cones and inserts inter the channel to limit an amount of rotation of the cone shaped portion when the protrusion is inserted into the safety lock mechanism.

15. A safety lock system comprising:

a slide lock seal being formed in sheets of a container bag along the length of and adjacent to an opening in the bag;

a zipper to slide along the slide lock seal to seal and unseal the slide lock seal, said zipper having a protrusion; and

a safety lock mechanism including a first and second rotatable cone shaped portion forming a channel around the perimeter safety lock mechanism, and an aperture is formed between the first and second rotatable cone shaped portions in a section of the channel to receive the protrusion.

16. The safety lock system as recited in claim 15, wherein the safety lock mechanism is connected to the bag in a corner of the bag adjacent the opening.

17. The safety lock system as recited in claim 16, wherein the safety lock mechanism forms an aperture to receive a protrusion of the zipper device.

18. The safety lock system as recited in claim 15, wherein the cones portions are operable to be pressed together, and wherein the safety lock mechanism is operable to expand the channel when the cone portions are pressed together.

19. The safety lock system as recited in claim 18, wherein the safety lock mechanism is operable to lock the protrusion to the safety lock when the channel is expanded and the cones shaped portions are rotated.

20. A method for organizing products, the method comprising:

providing a flexible skin with a multi-ring binding device attached to the flexible skin;

providing one or more plastic bags, said bags forming holes at one end to receive the binding device and having a first re-sealable opening at its other end;

mating one or more bags with the attached multi-ring binding device via the openings at one end;

inserting products through the re-sealable opening of one or more of said plastic bags to store the products; and

wrapping said flexible skin around the mated plastic bags to protect the bags when transported.

21. The method as recited in claim 20 the products are medicinal products, and wherein dual compartments are formed in at least one of the plastic bag to receive and to isolate in the bag separate medicinal products; and sealing and unsealing one compartment in the bag using a first re-sealable track without disturbing the seal of another compartment in the bag.

22. The method as recited in claim 21 further comprising sealing each of the compartments with a second re-sealable track extending along one side of the bag parallel and adjacent to the first re-sealable track.

23. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the bags are transparent to view content in the bag.

24. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein the bags have writing strips embedded in the bags, and wherein the method further comprises writing on the strip the contents of bags.

25. The method as recited in claim 24 wherein strips viewable when mated with binding.

26. The method as recited in claim 20 further comprising opening the binding to remove bags in the bindings and add new bags to the binding.

27. The method as recited in claim 20 further comprising connecting a strap two ends of a strap to the skin to prevent the skin from unraveling when wrapped around the plastic bags.

28. The method as recited in claim 27 connecting the two ends of the strap using a buckle.