PLURAL COMPARTMENT RESEALABLE BAG

Abstract

A plural compartment resealable bag for storing multiple discrete items without mixing the same includes a bag base having a closable bag opening and a dividing seam. The bag base is constructed in a similar manner as conventional press-to-seal resealable flexible plastic bags and includes an enclosed interior storage area. The bag opening provides selective access to the interior storage area, while also including a fastening system which allows the interior storage area of the bag base to be closed into a fluid tight enclosure. The dividing seam extends across the bag base from the fastening system to the edge opposite the bag opening, thereby dividing the interior storage area into a first discrete compartment and a second discrete compartment.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to storage receptacles and, more particularly, to a resealable bag having a plurality of discrete compartments.

Description of the Prior Art

The use and design of conventional resealable storage bags is well known. Typical resealable storage bags define single compartment, plastic bags having flexible sides and a single opening which includes press-to-seal zipper strips integral therewith that allows the opening to be selectively opened and sealed closed. A problem which still exists, however, is that such conventional resealable storage bags are unable to store a plurality of different types of food while keeping the different food types from mixing or otherwise contacting one another. While multi-compartment receptacles do exist, they customarily are available only with rigid containers. Thus, there remains a need for a plural compartment resealable bag which would include a fixed, integral barrier in the storage area of the bag to keep items in various compartments from mixing. It would be helpful if such a plural compartment resealable bag employed a permanent seam as the integral barrier positioned between discrete compartments. It would be additionally desirable for such a plural compartment resealable bag to employ a unitary fastener system to open and close each compartment.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a plural compartment resealable bag adapted to allow a user to store different food items in separate compartments in a single bag. The primary aspects of Applicant's plural compartment resealable bag are a bag base with an reclosable bag opening and a dividing seam. When in operation, the plural compartment resealable bag enables more efficient use of a storage bag. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A plural compartment resealable bag for storing multiple discrete items without mixing the same. The plural compartment resealable bag comprises a bag base having a closable bag opening and a dividing seam. The bag base is constructed in a similar manner as conventional press-to-seal resealable flexible plastic bags and includes an enclosed interior storage area. The bag opening provides selective access to the interior storage area, while also including a fastening system which allows the interior storage area of the bag base to be closed into a fluid tight enclosure. The dividing seam extends across the bag base from the fastening system to the edge opposite the bag opening, thereby dividing the interior storage area into a first discrete compartment and a second discrete compartment.

It is an object of this invention to provide a plural compartment resealable bag which includes a fixed, integral barrier in the storage area of the bag to keep items in various compartments from mixing.

It is another object of this invention to provide a plural compartment resealable bag which employs a permanent seam as the integral barrier positioned between discrete compartments.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a plural compartment resealable bag which employs a unitary fastener system to open and close each compartment.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a plural compartment resealable bag built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a plural compartment resealable bag built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a plural compartment resealable bag built in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, a plural compartment resealable bag 10 is shown as a bag base 11 having a selectably closable bag opening 12 and a dividing seam 13. The bag base 11 is constructed in a similar manner as conventional press-to-seal resealable (or “recloseable”) flexible plastic bags, having an enclosed interior storage area formed from opposing plastic film sheets which form opposing side panels and have their edges aligned and attached together. It is contemplated that the bag base 11 may be defined by three edges of the opposing plastic film sheets permanently attached and a top edge having the bag opening 12 which renders it at least in part selectably closeable. In the preferred embodiment the bag base 11 the closed edges are heat sealed together.

It is appreciated that the bag base may define a single plastic film sheets which has been folded such that the three remaining edges (other than the fold) are aligned and closed (or are closeable).

It is further appreciated that the bag opening 12 may define the entire edge with which it is integrated, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or less that the entire edge with the remaining portion of the edge heat sealed together

In the preferred embodiment, the bag opening 12 includes a press-to-seal fastening system which is defined by a corresponding portions of a press-to-seal zipper strip aligned on opposing portions of the bag opening 12, thereby enabling the opposing portions to be placed in frictional contact with one another and sealed together through the application of mechanical force. It is appreciated that when the bag opening 12 is sealed by way of the press-to-seal fastening system, the interior storage area of the bag base 11 defines a fluid tight enclosure. On the other hand, when the bag opening 12 is open, the interior storage area is enclosed on three sides but accessible through the bag opening 12.

Extending across the bag base 11 from press-to-seal fastening system to the edge opposite the bag opening 12 is the dividing seam 13. In one embodiment, the dividing seam 13 defines a heat sealed section which permanently attaches the opposing side panels which form the bag body 11 along the dividing seam 13, thereby dividing the interior storage area into a first discrete compartment 14 and a second discrete compartment 15.

It is contemplated that the each of the first discrete compartment 14 and second discrete compartment 15 are accessible through the bag opening 12. Advantageously, the use of a single bag opening 12 (and thus single press-to-seal fastening system) to provide selective access to either or both compartments 14, 15 provides enhanced stability across the entirety of the bag base 11 and reduces the risk of failure of the seal of fastening system (having multiple discrete fastening systems inherently increases the risk of failure of one of them).

Referring now to FIG. 3, in alternate embodiment of a plural compartment resealable bag 20, a dividing seam 23 includes both an orthogonal portion 23′ adjacent to the fastening system and an angled portion 23″ distal to the fastening system. Advantageously, this design (particularly the angled portion 23″) allows for the size of one of the compartments to be increased without negatively impacting the accessibility of items in either compartment.

It is contemplated that other embodiments of the plural compartment resealable bag in accordance with the present invention may include more than two discrete compartments, all of which are accessible from a single bag opening.

In some embodiments, the dividing seam includes a reinforcing insert integral therewith so as to increase the strength of bag body. Such a reinforcing insert may define a rigid member or a solid, flexible member having greater strength than the plastic film which defines the bag body.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A plural compartment resealable bag, comprising:

a bag base defining a receptacle having opposing side panels fastened together to form an enclosed interior storage area bordered by at least one sealed edges and a top edge;

a closeable bag opening integral with the top edge, wherein the closeable bag opening includes a fastening system which allows the bag opening to be selectively sealed such that the interior storage area defines a fluid tight enclosure; and

a discrete dividing seam integral with the bag base, wherein said dividing seam is configured to divide the interior storage area into at least a first discrete compartment and a second discrete compartment, wherein the dividing seam includes at least an orthogonal portion adjacent to the fastening system and an angled portion distal to the fastening system.

2. The plural compartment resealable bag of claim 1, wherein the dividing seam extends from the fastening system, through the interior storage area, and to the at least one sealed edge such that the closeable bag opening is adjacent to both the first discrete compartment and second discrete compartment.

3. The plural compartment resealable bag of claim 1, wherein the dividing seam defines a heat sealed section along which the opposing side panels which form the bag body are permanently attached.

4. The plural compartment resealable bag of claim 1, wherein the closeable bag opening defines the entire with the top edge.

5. (canceled)

6. The plural compartment resealable bag of claim 1, wherein the fastening system defines a press-to-seal fastening system.