CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 65/514,975, filed Aug. 4, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is in the technical field of containers. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of single-ply flexible bag containers. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of single-ply flexible bag containers with radiant heat reflective properties.
Conventional single-ply flexible containers such as bags made of paper, cloth, clear plastic, translucent plastic or opaque plastic are designed for the purpose of transporting products in a collective manner and contain no properties that specifically protect heat sensitive contents from radiant heat generated by the direct or indirect exposure to sun light. Further, paper and cloth bags do not have properties that allow them to remain useable as intended if exposed to wet conditions or used in a manner that would expose it to products that can produce liquid during the course of use such as melting ice. Additionally, plastic bags, though repelling some non-corrosive liquids such as water, do not have the qualities of protecting heat sensitive contents from heat produced by the radiant effects of the sun. Further, though there exist multi-layered containers in the form of a bag that temporarily retain hot or cold temperatures from within the bag, these containers are not designed to specifically reduce the transmittance of radiant heat from the outside to the interior of the container. Further still, these multi-layered containers can be bulky and expensive to produce.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a single-ply flexible bag container with radiant heat reflective properties of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of a single-ply flexible bag container with radiant heat reflective properties of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a front view of a single-ply flexible bag container with radiant heat reflective properties of the present invention; and is shown with the top open and as it would be with contents inside.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a single-ply flexible bag container with radiant heat reflective properties of the present invention; and is shown with the top open and as it would be with contents inside.
FIG. 5 is a front view of a single-ply flexible bag container with radiant heat reflective properties of the present invention; and is shown with the top closed and as it would be with contents inside.
FIG. 6 is a side view of a single-ply flexible bag container with radiant heat reflective properties of the present invention; and is shown with the top closed and as it would be with contents inside.
FIG. 7 is a front view of a single-ply flexible bag container with radiant heat reflective properties of the present invention; and is shown with the open end inverted into a downward position and as it would be containing or covering contents.
FIG. 8 is a side view of a single-ply flexible bag container with radiant heat reflective properties of the present invention; and is shown with the open end inverted into a downward position and as it would be containing or covering contents.
FIG. 9 is a front view of a single-ply flexible bag container with radiant heat reflective properties of the present invention; and is shown adapted to the use such as containing an insulated plastic water cooler with an opening for the spigot to protrude from the bag and is also shown with the top closed and as it would be with contents inside.
FIG. 10 is a detail view of the open end of a single-ply flexible bag container with radiant heat reflective properties of the present invention; and is shown with the top closed and as it would be with contents inside and employing a fabric hook-and-loop fastener strap closing method.
FIG. 11 is a detail view of the open end of a single-ply flexible bag container with radiant heat reflective properties of the present invention; and is shown with the top closed and as it would be with contents inside and employing a cord or wire closing method.
FIG. 12 is a detail view of the open end of a single-ply flexible bag container with radiant heat reflective properties of the present invention; and is shown with the top closed and as it would be with contents inside and employing a elastic or rubber loop closing method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a single-ply flexible container in the form of a bag made of a single ply of approximately 0.012 mm thickness aluminized polyester film with radiant heat reflective properties, which repels non-corrosive liquids such as water and includes an attached apparatus for securing the open end in a closed position.
Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIG. 1 through FIG. 9 there is shown a single-ply flexible container in the form of a bag 1. This bag is comprised of a radiant heat reflective material such as an approximately 0.012 mm thickness aluminized polyester film, having one side of the bag 1 with an open end 2, with three sides of the bag 1 sealed in a manner, which allows for the formation of the container. At the open end 2 of the bag 1 there is a drawstring 3 devise for closing the opening, which encircles the open end 2. FIG. 1 through FIG. 8 show the bag with the drawstring 3 devise. FIG. 9 shows the bag 1 closed with an alternate closing method, an attached fabric hook-and-loop fastener strap 5.
In further detail, FIG. 10 shows an alternate closing method for the bag 1 using an attached fabric hook-and-loop fastener strap 5. FIG. 11 shows an alternate closing method for the bag 1 using an attached cord or wire 6, and FIG. 12 shows an alternate closing method for the bag 1 using an attached elastic or rubber loop 7.
In more detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 1 through FIG. 6 and FIG. 9, the bag 1 is orientated with the open end 2 towards the top, and as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, to allow for contents 4 as shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 9 to be inserted inside the bag 1. At the open end 2 of the bag 1 there is a closing device in the form of a drawstring 3 encircling the open end 2 which by enacting the drawstring 3, the material of the bag 1 is gathered in a manner as to close the bag 1 as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. Referring now to FIG. 10, the figure shows an alternate closing method for the bag 1 using a fabric hook-and-loop fastener strap 5, a small section of which is attached to one side of the bag 1 and allowing for the gathering of the bag 1 material and an encircling with the fabric hook-and-loop fastener strap 5 in a manner as to close the bag 1. FIG. 11 shows an alternate closing method for the bag 1 using a cord or wire 6, a small section of which is attached to one side of the bag 1 and allowing for the gathering of the bag 1 material and an encircling with the cord 6 which can be tied in a knot or twisted in a manner as to close the bag 1. FIG. 12 shows an alternate closing method for the bag 1 using and an elastic or rubber loop 7, a small section of which is attached to one side of the bag 1 and allowing for the gathering of the bag 1 material and an encircling with the elastic or rubber loop 7 in a manner as to close the bag 1. The bag 1 can be opened from the closed position by enacting any of the closing device in the opposite manner.
In further detail referring now to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the open end 2 can be oriented to the bottom of the bag 2 to allow for the bag 1 to be placed over the top of contents 4 located on a surface and with the drawstring 3 closure method as shown or an alternate method such as in FIG. 10, the closed position of the bag 1 open end 2 makes contact with the contents 4 in a manner as to effect a tight closure, keeping the bag 1 attached to the contents until such time as the process is reversed in order to return the open end 2 of the bag 1 to the original open position for removal from over the top of the contents 4.
In further detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 1 through FIG. 9, the bag 1 is of sufficient width, depth and height to allow for contents 4 to be placed inside and maintain an abundance of clearance between the inside of the bag 1 and the contents 4 such as 1 to 18 inches on all sides and the top. The original state of the bag 1 is as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.2, being relatively flat, formed by two sides which shapes conform somewhat to the contents 4 when placed inside resulting in a more voluminous bag 1 shape as shown in FIG. 3 through FIG. 9.
Further, in FIG. 9, the bag 1 is shown with contents 4 such as a water cooler or an insulated ice chest that contains a spigot for the release of water. FIG. 9 also shows a hole 8 in the bag 1 in a generally accepted location of a spigot for the purpose of placing the spigot through the hole 8 for accessing the spigot from the exterior of the bag 1.
The construction details of the invention as shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 9 are that the bag 1 is made of an aluminized polyester film or of any other sufficiently radiant heat reflective film material that is single-ply, approximately 0.012 mm in thickness and repellent to some liquids such as water and is pliable for the purpose of forming the bag 1, receiving contents 4 and allowing for the closing function. Further, the other components of the bag 1, such as the various closing devices, can be made from multiple different materials and methods as some are shown in FIG.10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. The dimensions of the bag 1 can vary according to the size of various contents 4 that will be placed in the bag 1 as shown in FIG. 3 through FIG. 6 and FIG. 9 or the size of various contents 4 that the bag 1 can be placed over as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 while allowing for an abundance of clearance between the inside of the bag 1 and the contents 4.
In the case of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 where the bag 1 is placed over the contents 4, a closing devise will not be required when the size of the bag 1 is of sufficient weight as to hold itself on top of the contents 4 by its own weight and shape.
The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, that it is radiant heat reflective which reduces the amount of radiant heat reaching the heat sensitive contents of the bag, thereby allowing the contents to remain at a cooler temperature for a longer period of time than if the contents are not in the bag. The invention is of a simple design, which is also very light and foldable, making it easily portable. Further, it repels non-corrosive liquids such as water. Also the bag is made from a single-ply material that is readily available, contains a minimum number of components and can be easily manufactured.
In broad embodiment, the present invention is a single-ply flexible bag container that reflects radiant heat.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, there are numerous methods for closing the bag, either by gathering it together, folding, or rolling the open end and using a device for securing it closed. Further, the shape of the bag can be in various sizes and dimensions in order to address specific needs or uses.
