Tamper-evident bag for protecting luggage, allowing inspection and reclosure, and methods

Abstract

A flexible bag for protecting luggage includes a bag that can secure the luggage, then be opened to allow for removal and inspection, then allow for reinsertion of the luggage, and finally be re-secured.

1 . A flexible bag for protecting luggage, the bag comprising:
 (a) a bag surrounding wall including first and second opposing panel sections, first and second side edges, and a gusset at a first end to form a containment region between the first and second panel sections;   (b) a mouth defined by the bag surrounding wall at a second end opposite to the first end;
 (i) the mouth being movable from an open position to a closed position; 
 (ii) the mouth providing access to the containment region when in the open position; 
   (c) a closure arrangement at the mouth for securing the mouth in the closed position, the closure arrangement including:
 (i) a first adhesive region including a first adhesive strip extending between first and second seal regions; 
 (ii) a flap arrangement integral to the first panel section; the flap arrangement including a plurality of flaps sealed to the first and second edges at the first and second seal regions; the flap arrangement being constructed and arranged to:
 fold over the mouth; 
 engage against the second panel section and be secured thereto by the first adhesive region; and 
 completely secure the mouth in the closed position closing all access voids to the containment region, and completely enclose the first and second seal regions and the first adhesive strip; 
 
   (d) an inspection cut line in at least one of the first and second panel sections, and extending at least partially between the first and second edges;
 (i) the inspection cut line being located nearer the gusset than the closure arrangement; 
 (ii) the inspection cut line being constructed and arranged to create an inspection opening in one of the first and second panel sections along the cut line and provide access to the containment region; and 
   (e) a second adhesive region held by one of the first and second panel sections; the second adhesive region including a second adhesive strip adjacent to the inspection cut line constructed and arranged to allow closure of the inspection cut line by attachment of one of the first and second panel sections to the second adhesive strip.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible bag of  claim 1  wherein the second adhesive strip includes a removable cover to cover and then expose the second adhesive region, when the cover is removed. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible bag of  claim 1  wherein the inspection cut line is perforated. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible bag of  claim 1  wherein the inspection cut line includes a visual indicator on one of the first and second panel sections indicating where to cut the respective panel section. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible bag of  claim 1  wherein the bag surrounding wall comprises high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible bag of  claim 1  wherein the bag surrounding wall comprises low density polyethylene. 
     
     
         7 . In combination, luggage and a disposable, tamper-evident flexible bag for protecting the luggage, the combination comprising:
 (a) a piece of luggage; and   (b) a bag including:
 (i) first and second opposing panel sections joined by a gusset at a first end; 
 (ii) the first and second panel sections being sealed together along first and second opposite edges with the gusset there between, to form a containment region between the first and second panel sections and bordered by the first and second edges and the gusset; the containment region holding the luggage between the first and second edges and over the gusset; 
 (iii) a mouth defined by the first and second panel sections at a second end opposite to the first end; the mouth being in a closed position; 
 (iv) a closure arrangement at the mouth sealing the mouth in the closed position, the closure arrangement including: an adhesive region including an adhesive strip extending between first and second seal regions; and a flap arrangement integral to the first panel section; 
   the flap arrangement including a plurality of flaps sealed to the first and second edges at the first and second seal regions; the plurality of flaps being folded over the mouth and being secured to the second panel section by the adhesive region to completely enclose the first and second seal regions and the adhesive strip to seal the mouth in the closed position closing all access voids to the containment region and the luggage;   (d) an inspection cut line in at least one of the first and second panel sections, and extending at least partially between the first and second edges;
 (i) the inspection cut line being located nearer the gusset than the closure arrangement; 
 (ii) the inspection cut line being constructed and arranged to create an inspection opening in one of the first and second panel sections along the cut line and provide access to the containment region; and 
   (e) a second adhesive region held by one of the first and second panel sections; the second adhesive region including a second adhesive strip adjacent to the inspection cut line constructed and arranged to allow closure of the inspection opening by attachment of one of the first and second panel sections to the second adhesive strip.   
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7  wherein:
 (a) the inspection cut line is cut creating the inspection opening, and the second adhesive region is against the surrounding wall to block access to the containment region through the inspection opening. 
 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 7  wherein the second adhesive strip includes a removable cover to cover and then expose the adhesive strip, when the cover is removed. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible bag of  claim 7  wherein the inspection cut line is perforated. 
     
     
         11 . A method for protecting luggage and allowing inspection, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a bag including a containment region and a mouth providing access to the containment region; the bag having a closed end opposite of the mouth;   (b) placing a piece of luggage in the containment region of the bag by passing the luggage through the mouth;   (c) completely sealing the mouth in a closed position to close all access voids to the containment region, and thereby prevent access to the luggage;   (d) creating an inspection opening by opening the bag along an inspection cut line; the inspection cut line being nearer the closed end than the mouth;   (e) accessing and removing the luggage in the containment region through the inspection opening;   (f) placing the luggage in the containment region of the bag by passing the luggage through the inspection opening; and   (g) completely sealing the inspection opening in a closed position using an adhesive strip adjacent to the inspection opening.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 (a) the step of providing a bag includes providing a bag including:
 (i) first and second panel sections sealed together along first and second edges; 
 (ii) a plurality of flaps sealed to the first and second edges at first and second seal regions; 
 (iii) a mouth region adhesive strip extending between the first and second seal regions; and 
   (b) the step of completely sealing the mouth includes folding the plurality of flaps over the mouth to engage the adhesive strip and completely enclose:
 (i) the first and second seal regions; and 
 (ii) the mouth region adhesive strip. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 (a) the step of creating an inspection opening by opening the bag along an inspection cut line includes cutting the inspection cut line. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 (a) the step of creating an inspection opening by opening the bag along an inspection cut line includes tearing a perforation in the inspection cut line. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 (a) the step of completely sealing the inspection opening in a closed position using an adhesive strip includes removing a cover over the adhesive strip to expose the adhesive.