Storage Bag With Visually Distinct Features Providing The Bag With An Asymmetric Appearance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190475-A9
Application number	US-201313804234-A
Country	US
Kind code	A9
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Sep 28, 2012
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A storage bag is provided with visually distinct features that facilitate opening and closing of the bag. The visually distinct features result in the bag having an asymmetric appearance about one or more imaginary lines along the bag. The visually distinct features and resulting asymmetries provide a visual cue for a user as to how the bag should be grasped when being opened. The visually distinct features, as well as other features of the bag, may also facilitate manufacturing of the bag.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A storage bag comprising:
a first side surface; a second side surface, the second side surface connected to the first side surface, the connected first and second side surfaces forming an interior of the bag with an opening to the interior; a first closure profile connected to the first side surface and positioned adjacent to the opening of the bag, the first closure profile including an interlocking member that extends between a first side of the first closure profile and a second side of the first closure profile, the first closure profile forming a lip between the interlocking member and a top edge of the first closure profile; and a second closure profile connected to the second side surface and positioned adjacent to the opening of the bag, the second closure profile including an interlocking member that extends between a first side of the second closure profile and a second side of the second closure profile, the second closure profile forming a lip between the interlocking member and a top edge of the second closure profile, wherein a portion of the top edge of the first closure profile is offset from a portion the top edge of the second closure profile when the bag is viewed towards the first side surface, with the offset portions of the top edges of the first and second closure portions not being mirror images of each other about any plane that extends through at least one of the first closure profile and the second closure profile at a perpendicular angle to the at least one of the first closure profile and the second closure profile, and wherein an outline of the area defined by the first side surface and the first closure profile cannot be matched to an outline of the area defined by the second side surface and the second closure profile.

2 . A storage bag according to claim 1 , wherein the top edge of the first closure profile extending a distance H 1 from the interlocking member of the first closure profile at the first side of the first closure profile,
wherein the top edge of the second closure profile extending a distance H 2 from the interlocking member of the second closure profile at the first side of the second closure profile, and
wherein the distance H 1 is greater than the distance H 2 such that the top edge of the first closure profile is spaced from the top edge of the second closure profile at the first sides of the first and second closure profiles.

3 . A storage bag according to claim 2 , wherein the top edge of the first closure profile extends a distance H 3 from the interlocking member of the first closure profile at the second side of the first closure profile,
wherein the top edge of the second closure profile extends a distance H 4 from the interlocking member of the second closure profile at the second side of the second closure profile, and
wherein the distance H 3 is greater than the distance H 4 such that the top edge of the first closure profile is spaced from the top edge of the second closure profile at the second sides of the first and second closure profiles.

4 . A storage bag comprising:
a first side surface extending in an x-direction and in a y-direction that is orthogonal to the x-direction; and a second side surface extending in the x-direction and in the y-direction, the second side surface connected to the first side surface in a z-direction that is orthogonal to the x- and y-directions, the connected first and second side surfaces forming an interior of the bag with an opening to the interior, wherein the bag includes at least one pair of visually distinct features provided adjacent to the opening, with at least one of the visually distinct features provided on one side of a plane that bisects the first or second side surfaces in the x-direction, with at least one of the visually distinct features provided on the other side of the plane, and wherein the bag appears to be asymmetric about the plane as a result of the at least one pair of visually distinct features.

5 . A storage bag according to claim 4 , wherein the pair of visually distinct features includes a texture provided to the bag.

6 . A storage bag according to claim 4 , wherein the visually distinct features include gripping ridges.

7 . A storage bag according to claim 4 , wherein the bag further comprises a visually distinct feature provided between the pair of visually distinct features, and
wherein the visually distinct feature between the pair of visually distinct features is provided on both sides of the plane.

8 . A storage bag comprising:
a first side surface extending in an x-direction and in a y-direction that is orthogonal to the x-direction; and a second side surface extending in the x-direction and in the y-direction, the second side surface connected to the first side surface in a z-direction that is orthogonal to the x- and y-directions, the connected first and second side surfaces forming an interior of the bag with an opening to the interior, wherein the bag includes at least one pair of visually distinct areas provided adjacent to the opening, with at least one of the visually distinct areas provided on one side of a plane that bisects the first or second side surfaces in the x-direction, with at least one of the visually distinct areas provided on the other side of the plane, and wherein the bag appears to be asymmetric about the plane as a result of the at least one pair of visually distinct areas.

9 . The storage bag according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of the visually distinct areas includes at least one of a first texture, a first color, and a first shade of color, and another of the visually distinct areas includes at least one of a second texture, a second color, and a second shade of color.

10 . The storage bag according to claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first texture, the first color, and the first shade of color is different than at least one of the second texture, the second color, and the second shade of color, respectively.

11 . A storage bag according to claim 8 , wherein the bag further comprises a visually distinct area provided between the pair of visually distinct features, and wherein the visually distinct area between the pair of visually distinct features is provided on both sides of the plane.

12 . A storage bag comprising:
a first side surface; a second side surface, the second side surface connected to the first side surface, the connected first and second side surfaces forming an interior of the bag with an opening to the interior; a first closure profile connected to the first side surface and positioned adjacent to the opening of the bag, the first closure profile including an interlocking member that extends between a first side of the first closure profile and a second side of the first closure profile, the first closure profile forming a lip between the interlocking member and a top edge of the first closure profile, with the top edge of the first closure profile extending a distance H 1 from the interlocking member of the first closure profile at the first side of the first closure profile; and a second closure profile connected to the second side surface and positioned adjacent to the opening of the bag, the second closure profile including an interlocking member that extends between a first side of the second closure profile and a second side of the second closure profile, the second closure profile forming a lip between the interlocking member and a top edge of the second closure profile, with the top edge of the second closure profile extending a distance H 2 from the interlocking member of the second closure profile at the first side of

Assignees

• Johnson & Son Inc S C

Inventors

• Dais Brian C
• Musaliar Imtiaz A
• Ly Bunlim
• Horn Jonathan David
• Weisenberger Pamela J
• Porchia Jose
• Althoff Charles P
• Eden Cohen Erica

Classifications

• B67B7/00

  Hand- or power-operated devices for opening closed containers (nail pullers or extractors B25C11/00; attached to, or incorporated in, containers or container closures {B65D75/58, B65D77/30}) · CPC title

• B65D33/2508

  using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor · CPC title

• B65D33/004 Primary

  Information or decoration elements, e.g. level indicators, detachable tabs or coupons · CPC title

• B65D33/16 Primary

  End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices (valves of valve bags {B65D31/14}; closures of filled bags B65D77/10) · CPC title

• B65D33/007 Primary

  for facilitating the separation of the two walls, e.g. walls of inequal height, tabs; for maintaining the mouth of the sack or bag open · CPC title