Reduced Opening Elastic Drawstring Bag

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward an improved construction of an elastic drawstring trash bag. The elastic drawstring trash bag described herein is comprised of a plastic bag made from two panels. An elastic drawstring is provided within hems running along the top of the two panels. The upper opening of the elastic drawstring bag is reduced (when the bag is in a relaxed state) by decreasing the distance between the interior edges of the short seals used to weld the drawstrings and bag together. Like an ordinary non-elastic drawstring bag, the elastic drawstring is pulled through access cutouts centrally located along the upper edge of the bag. When the bag of the present invention is in a relaxed state, the reduced upper opening width of the elastic drawstring bag is therefore less than bag proper width, allowing a consumer to pull the elastic drawstring bag over the lip of a trash receptacle and allowing the elastic drawstrings to snugly fit around the trash can.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A drawstring trash bag comprising:
 a polymeric bag comprised of a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and the second panel joined at a first side seal and a second side seal and a bottom, the first panel and the second panel each having an upper edge,   a first hem formed in the first panel, the first hem having a first elastic drawstring disposed therein,   a first short seal, the first short seal inseparably welding the first panel, the first elastic drawstring, and the second panel together, an interior edge of the first short seal defined by the first short seal,   a second short seal, the second short seal inseparably welding the first panel, the first elastic drawstring, and the second panel together, an interior edge of the second short seal defined by the second short seal,   a bag proper width defined by a distance between an interior edge of the first side seal and an interior edge of the second side seal, and   a relaxed upper opening width defined by a distance between the interior edge of the first short seal and the interior edge of the second short seal when the bag is in a relaxed state, the relaxed upper opening width being less than the bag proper width.   
     
     
         12 . The drawstring bag of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the first panel and the second panel are joined at the bottom by a bottom fold between the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         13 . The drawstring bag of  claim 11 , further comprising: the first short seal extends downward at least to a first hem seal. 
     
     
         14 . The drawstring bag of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an interior edge of the first short seal extends downward at least to a first hem seal.   
     
     
         15 . The drawstring bag of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the first short seal is not immediately adjacent to a side edge of the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         16 . The drawstring bag of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an exterior edge of the first short seal defined by the first short seal, the exterior edge of the first short seal is not immediately adjacent to a side edge of the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         17 . The drawstring bag of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an exterior edge of the first short seal defined by the first short seal, the exterior edge of the first short seal is located outwardly from the first side seal.   
     
     
         18 . The drawstring bag of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a ratio of the relaxed upper opening width to the bag proper width being less than 97%.   
     
     
         19 . The drawstring bag of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a ratio of the relaxed upper opening width to the bag proper width being greater than 94%.   
     
     
         20 . The drawstring bag of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a ratio of the relaxed upper opening width to the bag proper width being less than 97% and greater than 94%.   
     
     
         21 . The drawstring bag of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a ratio of the relaxed upper opening width to the bag proper width being less than 94%.   
     
     
         22 . A drawstring trash bag comprising:
 a polymeric bag comprised of a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and the second panel joined at a first side seal and a second side seal and a bottom, the first panel and the second panel each having an upper edge,   a first hem formed in the first panel, the first hem having a first elastic drawstring disposed therein,   a second hem formed in the second panel, the second hem having a second elastic drawstring disposed therein,   a first short seal, the first short seal inseparably welding the first panel, the first elastic drawstring, the second elastic drawstring, and the second panel together, an interior edge and an exterior edge of the first short seal defined by the first short seal, the interior edge of the first short seal is located inwardly from the first side seal, and   a second short seal, the second short seal inseparably welding the first panel, the first elastic drawstring, the second elastic drawstring, and the second panel together, an interior edge and an exterior edge of the second short seal defined by the second short seal.   
     
     
         23 . The drawstring bag of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 the first panel and the second panel are joined at the bottom by a bottom fold between the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         24 . The drawstring bag of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 the first short seal extends downward at least to a first hem seal.   
     
     
         25 . The drawstring bag of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 an interior edge of the first short seal extends downward at least to a first hem seal.   
     
     
         26 . The drawstring bag of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 the first short seal is not immediately adjacent to a side edge of the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         27 . The drawstring bag of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 the exterior edge of the first short seal is not immediately adjacent to a side edge of the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         28 . The drawstring bag of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 the exterior edge of the first short seal is located outwardly from the first side seal.   
     
     
         29 . The drawstring bag of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a distance between the interior edge of the first short seal and the interior edge of the second short seal being less than 97% of a distance between the first side seal and the second side seal.   
     
     
         30 . The drawstring bag of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a distance between the interior edge of the first short seal and the interior edge of the second short seal being greater than 94% of a distance between the first side seal and the second side seal.   
     
     
         31 . The drawstring bag of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a distance between the interior edge of the first short seal and the interior edge of the second short seal being less than 97% and greater than 94% of a distance between the first side seal and the second side seal.   
     
     
         32 . The drawstring bag of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a distance between the interior edge of the first short seal and the interior edge of the second short seal being less than 94% of a distance between the first side seal and the second side seal.   
     
     
         33 . The drawstring bag of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 the interior edge of the second short seal is located inwardly from the second side seal.   
     
     
         34 . The drawstring bag of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a first air ventilation slit provided in the first hem, the first air ventilation slit located between the first short seal and the second short seal along the first hem.   
     
     
         35 . A drawstring trash bag comprising:
 a polymeric bag comprised of a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and the second panel joined at a first side seal and a second side seal and a bottom, the first panel and the second panel each having an upper edge,   a first hem formed in the first panel, the first hem having a first elastic drawstring disposed therein,   a first short seal, the first short seal located within a first inseparable region of the polymeric bag and welding the first panel, the first elastic drawstring, and the second panel together, an interior edge of the first short seal defined by the first short seal,   a second short seal, the second short seal located within a second inseparable region of the polymeric bag and welding the first panel, the first elastic drawstring, and the second panel, an interior edge of the second short seal defined by the second short seal,   a bag proper width defined by a distance between an interior edge of the first side seal and an interior edge of the second side seal, and   a relaxed upper opening width defined by a distance between the interior edge of the first short seal and the interior edge of the second short seal when the bag is in a relaxed state, the relaxed upper opening width being less than the bag proper width.   
     
     
         36 . The drawstring bag of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 the first panel and the second panel are joined at the bottom by a bottom fold between the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         37 . The drawstring bag of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 the first short seal extends downward at least to a first hem seal.   
     
     
         38 . The drawstring bag of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 an interior edge of the first short seal extends downward at least to a first hem seal.   
     
     
         39 . The drawstring bag of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 the first short seal is not immediately adjacent to a side edge of the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         40 . The drawstring bag of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 an exterior edge of the first short seal defined by the first short seal, the exterior edge of the first short seal is not immediately adjacent to a side edge of the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         41 . The drawstring bag of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 an exterior edge of the first short seal defined by the first short seal, the exterior edge of the first short seal is located outwardly from the first side seal.   
     
     
         42 . The drawstring bag of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 a ratio of the relaxed upper opening width to the bag proper width being less than 97%.   
     
     
         43 . The drawstring bag of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 a ratio of the relaxed upper opening width to the bag proper width being greater than 94%.   
     
     
         44 . The drawstring bag of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 a ratio of the relaxed upper opening width to the bag proper width being less than 97% and greater than 94%.   
     
     
         45 . The drawstring bag of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 a ratio of the relaxed upper opening width to the bag proper width being less than 94%.   
     
     
         46 . A drawstring trash bag comprising:
 a polymeric bag comprised of a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and the second panel joined at a first side seal and a second side seal and a bottom, the first panel and the second panel each having an upper edge,   a first hem formed in the first panel, the first hem having a first elastic drawstring disposed therein,   a second hem formed in the second panel, the second hem having a second elastic drawstring disposed therein,   a first short seal, the first short seal located within a first inseparable region of the polymeric bag and welding the first panel, the first elastic drawstring, the second elastic drawstring, and the second panel together, an interior edge and an exterior edge of the first short seal defined by the first short seal, the interior edge of the first short seal is located inwardly from the first side seal, and   a second short seal, the second short seal located within a second inseparable region of the polymeric bag and welding the first panel, the first elastic drawstring, the second elastic drawstring, and the second panel together, an interior edge and an exterior edge of the second short seal defined by the second short seal.   
     
     
         47 . The drawstring bag of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 the first panel and the second panel are joined at the bottom by a bottom fold between the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         48 . The drawstring bag of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 the first short seal extends downward at least to a first hem seal.   
     
     
         49 . The drawstring bag of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 an interior edge of the first short seal extends downward at least to a first hem seal.   
     
     
         50 . The drawstring bag of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 the first short seal is not immediately adjacent to a side edge of the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         51 . The drawstring bag of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 the exterior edge of the first short seal is not immediately adjacent to a side edge of the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         52 . The drawstring bag of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 the exterior edge of the first short seal is located outwardly from the first side seal.   
     
     
         53 . The drawstring bag of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 a distance between the interior edge of the first short seal and the interior edge of the second short seal being less than 97% of a distance between the first side seal and the second side seal.   
     
     
         54 . The drawstring bag of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 a distance between the interior edge of the first short seal and the interior edge of the second short seal being greater than 94% of a distance between the first side seal and the second side seal.   
     
     
         55 . The drawstring bag of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 a distance between the interior edge of the first short seal and the interior edge of the second short seal being less than 97% and greater than 94% of a distance between the first side seal and the second side seal.   
     
     
         56 . The drawstring bag of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 a distance between the interior edge of the first short seal and the interior edge of the second short seal being less than 94% of a distance between the first side seal and the second side seal.   
     
     
         57 . The drawstring bag of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 the interior edge of the second short seal is located inwardly from the second side seal.   
     
     
         58 . The drawstring bag of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 a first air ventilation slit provided in the first hem, the first air ventilation slit located between the first short seal and the second short seal along the first hem.