REUSABLE BAG FOR FOOD STORAGE

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a reusable bag for food storage. The reusable bag has a nylon shell defining an interior compartment for receiving a food item, and an interior surface. The reusable bag also has a polymer-containing coating that at least partially covers the interior surface of the nylon shell. The polymer-containing coating is of the type that is suitable for contacting and handling the food item, and in one embodiment is formed of a liquid silicone rubber. The reusable bag advantageously provides for suitable food storage while also being durable and washable to allow repeated re-use of the bag.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to bags suitable for the storage and transport of food. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a reusable storage bag that is suitable for contacting and handling food, while also providing properties such as washability and durability that allow for continued re-use thereof.

2. Related Art

Sandwich bags are well known in the art as being suitable articles for the storage of food. Examples of such bags include the well-known Ziploc® bags, which are typically in the form of resealable plastic zipper bags. Such bags are often used for short term storage and transport of food, such as in lunch bags, and may also optionally be used for more long-term storage of food and food items. The storage bags come in a wide variety of sizes to accommodate different types and quantities of food and other items. The bags provide a convenient means of containing food items for storage and transport that protects the food items from the environment, while also advantageously reducing the incidence of leakage of the food contents from the bag.

However, a problem with conventional food storage bags is that, due to sanitary reasons, they are typically considered to be only minimally re-usable. This is because food items stored in the bag typically leave behind food residues that can be difficult and inconvenient to clean from the food bags. While the bags can be washed by hand, the thin plastic layers that make up most conventional sandwich are not suited for machine washing, making washing of the bags inconvenient and undesirable to most users. Thus, the food storage bags are often disposed of after only a single or few uses. In the past, the relative inability to re-use the food storage bags has not been much of a problem to many consumers who value the bags' “disposability.” However, as the public becomes aware of the need for environmentally friendly products, the disposal of such bags after a single or only a few uses is increasing viewed as wasteful and even environmentally harmful, and more consumers are seeking out alternative products that are reusable and thus more environmentally friendly.

Yet another problem with conventional food storage bags is that the relatively thin plastic layers typically used to form the bags have limited durability, and can readily puncture or rip if abraded or contacted with a sharp object. This susceptibility of the food storage bags to puncturing or ripping further limits the re-usability of conventional food storage bags. Furthermore, while more durable and/or washable materials are conventionally used for the transport of non-food items, such as synthetic or natural fabrics used in the fabrication of totes or purses, such materials are typically not suitable for contacting and/or handling food. For example, porous fabrics may undesirably absorb or leak food, and certain conventional materials may even contaminate food items upon contact therewith, rendering them unsuitable for use in the storage of food items.

Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for food storage bags, such as sandwich bags, that are re-usable to provide a more environmentally friendly food storage product. In particular, there is a need for food storage bags that are readily washable and/or that have increased durability to promote re-use thereof, while also being suitable for contact with and/or handling of food items.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention specifically addresses and alleviates the above-identified deficiencies in the art. In this regard, the present invention is directed to a reusable bag for food storage. The reusable bag has a nylon shell defining an interior compartment for receiving a food item, and an interior surface. The reusable bag also has a polymer-containing coating that at least partially covers the interior surface of the nylon shell. The polymer-containing coating is of the type that is suitable for contacting and handling the food item, and in one embodiment is formed of a liquid silicone rubber. The reusable bag advantageously provides for suitable food storage while also being durable and washable to allow repeated re-use of the bag.

The present invention is best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These as well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:

FIGS. 1A-1B are a schematic front views of an embodiment of a reusable bag for food storage according to the invention; and

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic front views of another embodiment of a reusable bag for food storage according to the invention.

Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and detailed description to indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and sequences of steps for constructing and operating the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments and that they are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention.

Reusable food storage bags 10 have been discovered that are suitable for multiple reuse. The reusable bags 10 are readily washable, such as machine-washable, to allow for easy cleaning of the bags 10 to prepare them for reuse. The reusable bags 10 also have improved durability to reduce the likelihood and extent of deterioration of the bags 10. The reusable bags 10 thus provide a convenient and environmentally friendly means of safely storing food items. Food items stored in the reusable bags 10 can include any of those stored in conventional sandwich and/or freezer bags, including but not limited to sandwiches, fruits and vegetables, snacks, and the like. It should furthermore be noted that the reusable bags 10 are not limited to the storage of food items, and can also advantageously be used for the storage of non-food items such as household items.

One embodiment of a reusable bag 10 according to the invention is depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B. The reusable bag 10 comprises a shell 12 that defines an interior compartment 14 for receiving the food item. The shell 12 is preferably formed of a relatively durable and washable material, such as for example a natural or synthetic woven or unwoven material. In a preferred embodiment the shell 12 is formed of nylon, which is a synthetic material formed from polyamide polymers as known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Nylon materials have many advantages in that they have high abrasion resistance and durability, and are resistant to mold and fungi. Nylon materials are also readily washable, and may even be provided in a machine washable form. The nylon shell 12 can comprise various shapes, sizes and configurations according to the type of food item to be stored therein, including but not limited to sandwich bag and/or a freezer bag shapes.

The reusable bag 10 further comprises a polymer-containing coating 16 that at least partially covers an interior surface 18 of the shell 12, and that is suitable for contacting and handling the food item, such as to render the bag 10 suitable for use in food storage. In one version, the polymer-containing coating 16 comprises a silicone-containing coating, such as a liquid silicone rubber. For example, a suitable silicone-containing coating may comprise the product sold as Elastosil® LR 6294 A/B, which is a liquid silicone rubber developed by Wacker Silicones Corp. This silicone rubber product has been determined by the FDA to meet food contact suitability criteria by being suitable for repeated food contact use as indicated in Food Contact Title 21 CFR 177.2600 (Rubber Articles for Repeated Use). In particular, the Wacker silicone rubber product has been determined to be suitable under this title for a number of different types of foods, including but not limited to aqueous products including acid or nonacid products, dairy products including water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions that are high or low-fat, low-moisture fats and oils, beverages containing up to or more than 8 percent of alcohol or nonalcoholic beverages, bakery products including moist bakery products with a surface containing free fat or oil or containing no free fat or oil, and dry solids with a surface containing free fat or oil or containing no free fat or oil. The silicone rubber product is also suitable for various different types of food storage conditions, including but not limited to high temperature heat-sterilized, boiling water sterilized, hot filled or pasteurized above or below 150° F., room temperature filled and stored, refrigerated storage, frozen storage, ready-prepared foods intended to be reheated in container at time of use, and cooking at temperatures exceeding 250° F. The coating 16 covers at least those portions of the interior shell surface 18 that contact the food item to provide an appropriate surface for handling the food, and even preferably covers substantially the entire interior surface 18 of the shell 12. The bag 10 can thus be understood to advantageously combine the durability and washability of the bag shell 12, with the suitable food handling/contacting properties of the interior coating 16, to provide a bag 10 that is capable of being reused multiple times for the safe and secure storage of food items.

The reusable bag 10 as shown in FIGS. 1A-1B further comprises one or more closure means 20 operative to open and close the interior compartment 14, such as when removing a food item from, or placing a food item into, the interior compartment 14. The closure means 20 can comprise any of those conventionally used in the art to close storage or other bags, including but not limited to closures of the hook and loop type (i.e. Velcro™), slidable closures (i.e. Ziploc® closures), snaps, buttons, magnets, zippers, and the like, and may be located about the opening 22 to the interior compartment 14. The more durable shell 12 provided as a part of the reusable bag 10 also advantageously allows for the use of closure means 20 that are typically not used or that are difficult to incorporate conventional plastic sandwich and/or freezer bags. For example, the shell 12 may provide a sufficiently durable framework for the incorporation of Velcro™, snaps, buttons and/or zippers that are otherwise unsuitable for use with the thin plastic layers typically used with conventional bags. In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the closure means 20 comprises a hook and loop type closure (i.e. Velcro™), with a first closure strip 24 being attached to a first side 28 of the shell interior surface 18, and a second closure strip 26 being attached to the opposing second side 30 of the shell interior surface 18, the first and second strips 24, 26 being complimentary to one another such that the strips grasp each other upon closure of the shell opening 22.

The configurations of the reusable bag embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A-1B and 2A-2B will now be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 1A-1B, the nylon shell 12 comprises a bottom panel 32 and surrounding side panels 34 that are sewn into the bottom panel 32 and to each other. The nylon shell 12 thus comprises an overall cylindrical configuration that is other than that typically provided in conventional sandwich bags, and that provides an increased interior compartment volume for the storage of food items. In the version shown, the closure means 20 is of the hook and loop variety, as discussed above, and the shell 12 may also advantageously be provided with grasping loops 36a, 36b or straps on opposing exterior sides of the shell 12, to aid in opening of the bag 10 for insertion/removal of food items.

In the version shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the nylon shell 12 comprises a single panel 38 of material folded back upon itself and sewn together along the sides 40 and bottom 42 to form a pouch-like bag 10. The nylon shell 12 also comprises a closure means 20 of the hood and loop variety as in FIGS. 1A-1B, with the closure means differing from that shown in FIGS. 1A-1B in that the first closure strip 24 comprises a vertically oriented strip attached to a first side 28 of the shell 12 on a shell exterior surface 44, and the second closure strip 26 comprises a complimentary strip attached to an opposing second side 30 of the shell on the shell interior surface 18, and towards the shell opening 22. Folding the second side 30 over the first side 28 thus brings the first and second strips 24, 26 in contact and closes the reusable bag 10. In this embodiment, the second strip 26 may be folded to contact the first strip 24 at a vertical height along the strip 24 that is selected to provide a desired interior compartment size. For example, the second strip 26 may be placed in contact with the top 46a of the first strip 24 to provide a larger interior compartment size, or may be placed in contact with the bottom 46b of the first strip 24 to provide a smaller interior compartment size.

Thus, the improved reusable bag 10 provides significant advantages over conventional food storage bags. The reusable bag 10 is preferably made of materials, such as nylon, that are readily washable, and even machine washable. The reusable bag 10 also exhibits improved durability and abrasion resistance, and thus can be fabricated in non-conventional configurations and with closure means 20 that are other than those typically used for conventional plastic storage bags. The reusable bag 10 also provides the advantages of conventional storage bags in that the reusable bag is food-safe, and thus suitable for handling and storing food, and can be used for freezing, transporting or otherwise storing food items as well as other storable items. Thus, the reusable bag 10 advantageously combines durability and washability with the ability to store food items, thus rendering the bag 10 capable of being washed and re-used multiple times to provide a convenient and environmentally friendly means of storing food and other items.

Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention may also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the particular combination of components and steps described and illustrated herein is intended to represent only certain embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to serve as limitations of alternative devices and methods within the spirit and scope of the invention. Along these lines, it should be understood that the reusable bag can comprise sizes, shapes and configurations other than those specifically shown, and may take any of a variety of forms that are known or later developed in the art, and further contemplates that existing or newly formed storage bag forms, should fall within the scope of the present invention. Also, it should be understood that the closure means can be other than that specified. Furthermore, the bag shell 12 and interior coating 16 can further comprise various different materials that are other than those specifically described, such as combinations of nylon with other materials, and coatings comprising alternative, food safe, polymeric coatings.

Claims

1. A reusable bag for food storage comprising:

(a) a nylon shell defining an interior compartment for receiving a food item, the nylon bag comprising an interior surface; and

(b) a polymer-containing coating at least partially covering the interior surface of the nylon shell, the polymer-containing coating being suitable for contacting and handling the food item.

2. The reusable bag according to claim 1, wherein the polymer-containing coating comprises a silicone-containing coating.

3. The reusable bag according to claim 1, wherein the silicone-containing coating comprises a liquid silicone rubber.

4. The reusable bag according to claim 1, wherein the polymer-containing coating covers portions of the interior surface that contact the food item.

5. The reusable bag according to claim 4, wherein the polymer-containing coating covers substantially the entire interior surface of the nylon shell.

6. The reusable bag according to claim 1, wherein the nylon shell further comprises one or more closure means attached thereto operative to close the interior compartment.

7. The reusable bag according to claim 6 wherein the closure means comprises at least one of a hook and loop closure, slidable closure, snaps, and magnets.

8. The reusable bag according to claim 1, wherein the nylon shell is in the shape of a sandwich bag.

9. The reusable bag according to claim 1, wherein the bag is machine-washable.

10. A method of storing a food item, the method comprising:

(a) providing the reusable bag of claim 1;

(b) inserting the food item into the interior compartment of the bag; and

(c) closing the bag.