Bag for crushing objects

Abstract

The invention relates to a plastic bag suitable for crushing and dispensing an object, such as medicinal pill. The bag has an open end, is strong enough to withstand crushing forces, and includes a bottom seal that forms an angle of greater than 90° with the sides of the bag. For example, the bottom seal may be curved and concave toward the open end of the bag. The bag may also include a lip near the opening and formed by one of the bag walls The bag may also include a gripper on any of (1) the interior or exterior surfaces of the lip or (2) the interior or exterior surface of the other wall. The bag may also include an indicator mark, e.g., a colored line near the opening to serve as a visual and/or tactile indicator for the user of the bag.

1 . A bag suited for crushing an object and dispensing the crushed object, comprising: 
 A. a front wall of a material at least 5 mil thick and defining a front top edge, a front first side edge, a front second side edge, a front bottom edge, a front interior surface, and a front exterior surface;    B. a back wall of the material of at least 5 mil thick and defining a back top edge, a back first side edge, a back second side edge, a back bottom edge, a back interior surface, and a back exterior surface, in which: 
 i. the front first side edge is connected to the back first side edge to define a first side seal,  
 ii. the front second side edge is connected to the back second side edge to define a second side seal, and  
 iii. the front top edge and the back top edge define a bag opening; and  
   C. a bottom seal that: 
 i. connects the front interior surface to the back interior surface,  
 ii. extends from the front first side edge to the front second side edge, and  
 iii. defines: 
 a. a first vertex with the front first side edge defining a first angle α such that 90°<first angle α<180° and  
 b. a second vertex with the front second side edge defining a second angle α such that 90°<second angle α<180°.  
 
   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1  in which the first side seal and the second side seal are at least 0.125 inches wide.  
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 2  in which the material includes a static reducing agent.  
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 3  in which the material is low density polyethylene.  
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 4 , in which the back top edge is located farther from the bottom seal than the front top edge to define a lip portion.  
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 5 , further comprising an indicator mark on the bag near the bag opening.  
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 6  in which the indicator mark is a line substantially parallel to the front top edge.  
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 6  in which the indicator mark is printed on the bag.  
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 6 , further comprising a gripper on the bag near the bag opening.  
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 9  in which the gripper comprises a protrusion on the surface of the bag.  
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 10  in which the protrusion is substantially linear and of a length substantially equal to the distance between the first side seal and the second side seal.  
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 9  in which: 
 A. the front top edge is linear;    B. the front bottom edge is substantially parallel to the front top edge along at least a portion of the front bottom edge;    C. the back bottom edge is linear; and    D. the back bottom edge is substantially parallel to the back top edge along at least a portion of the back bottom edge.    
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 1  in which the material includes a static reducing agent.  
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 1  in which the material is a low density polyethylene.  
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 1  in which the back top edge is located farther from the bottom seal than the front top edge to define a lip portion.  
     
     
         16 . The bag of  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator mark on the bag near the bag opening.  
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 16  in which the indicator mark is a line substantially parallel to the front top edge.  
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 16  in which the indicator mark is printed on the bag.  
     
     
         19 . The bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a gripper on the bag near the bag opening.  
     
     
         20 . The bag of  claim 19  in which the gripper comprises a protrusion on the surface of the bag.  
     
     
         21 . The bag of  claim 20  in which the protrusion is substantially linear and of a length substantially equal to the distance between the first side seal and the second side seal.  
     
     
         22 . The bag of  claim 1  in which: 
 A. the front top edge is linear,    B. the front bottom edge is substantially parallel to the front top edge along at least a portion of the front bottom edge;    C. the back bottom edge is linear; and    D. the back bottom edge is substantially parallel to the back top edge along at least a portion of the back bottom edge.    
     
     
         23 . A bag suitable for crushing an object and dispensing the crushed object, comprising: 
 A. a front wall;    B. a back wall;    C. means for sealing the respective side edges of the front wall and the back wall to each other;    D. means for sealing the respective interior surfaces of the front wall and the back wall near the respective bottom edges of the front wall and the back wall;    E. means for indicating the open end of the bag; and    F. means for gripping a surface of the bag.