Reclosable bag with tear-away feature

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a polymeric or similar reclosable specimen package or bag wherein the bio-hazard symbol is printed, typically sideways, on the tear zone. This provides for obliteration of the bio-hazard symbol upon opening of the package and the disposal, if appropriate, of the specimen package or bag in regular trash.

1 . A reclosable package or bag including:
 a front panel;   a primary rear panel joined to the front panel thereby creating a specimen storage space;   a tear zone formed along the front panel; and   a symbol or text printed in the tear zone so as to be rendered unreadable when the tear zone is torn.   
     
     
         2 . The reclosable package of  claim 1  further including a mouth formed between the front panel and the primary rear panel, the mouth leading to the specimen storage space. 
     
     
         3 . The reclosable package of  claim 2  further including a zipper which can reclosably close the mouth. 
     
     
         4 . The reclosable package of  claim 3  wherein the front and rear panels are formed of polymeric material. 
     
     
         5 . The reclosable package of  claim 4  wherein the symbol or text includes a bio-hazard symbol or marking. 
     
     
         6 . The reclosable package of  claim 5  wherein at least a portion of the text is printed in a direction perpendicular to that of the tear zone. 
     
     
         7 . The reclosable package of  claim 6  further including a secondary rear panel adjacent to the primary rear panel thereby forming a documentation storage space between the primary and secondary rear panels. 
     
     
         8 . The reclosable package of  claim 7  wherein the secondary rear panel is sealed along a lower seal to the primary rear panel proximate to a bottom of the reclosable package. 
     
     
         9 . The reclosable package of  claim 8  wherein the secondary rear panel includes a lower portion which extends below the lower seal line. 
     
     
         10 . The reclosable package of  claim 9  wherein the lower portion of the secondary rear panel includes a first line of weakness. 
     
     
         11 . The reclosable package of  claim 10  wherein the lower portion of the secondary rear panel includes a label portion which is removable by tearing the first line of weakness. 
     
     
         12 . The reclosable package of  claim 11  wherein the primary rear panel includes an upper fold and an extension extending from the upper fold to the secondary rear panel. 
     
     
         13 . The reclosable package of  claim 12  wherein the extension is sealed to the secondary rear panel by a hard seal. 
     
     
         14 . The reclosable package of  claim 12  wherein the extension is sealed to the secondary rear panel by an adhesive seal. 
     
     
         15 . The reclosable package of  claim 12  wherein the secondary rear panel includes a second line of weakness. 
     
     
         16 . The reclosable package of  claim 15  wherein the second line of weakness is downwardly adjacent from the extension. 
     
     
         17 . The reclosable package of  claim 16  wherein the second line of weakness provides access to the document storage space. 
     
     
         18 . The reclosable package of  claim 17  wherein the front panel includes usage instructions. 
     
     
         19 . The reclosable package of  claim 18  wherein the front panel includes a checklist to identify proper treatment of a specimen within the specimen storage space. 
     
     
         20 . The reclosable package of  claim 19  wherein the tear zone comprises a plurality of side-ways V-shaped lines of weakness.