Sealable wave bag assembly with integrated venting

Abstract

A plastic material wave bag assembly having a sheet-like first side panel and a sheet-like second side panel oriented in opposed congruent relationship to one another when in a folded condition. The wave bag assembly includes a single use closure adhesive strip disposed and oriented primarily laterally across an interior wall of the upper panel section of the first side panel at a location below the handle apertures. The closure adhesive strip is configured to selectively close and maintain the upper panel sections in a closed condition while the remaining portions of the first and second side panels are maintained in the receiving condition. The closure adhesive strip includes opposed closure adhesive strip distal ends formed and dimensioned to terminate proximate to a respective corner intersection such that at least one vent passage is formed between a corresponding closure adhesive strip distal end, in the closed condition, and the corresponding upper side edge end portion of the side edge of the first and second side panels. The vent passage is of a lateral dimension sufficiently large to enable the venting of steam while being sufficiently small to prevent the passage of a human hand therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plastic material wave bag assembly comprising:
 a sheet-like first side panel and a sheet-like second side panel oriented in opposed congruent relationship to one another when in a folded condition, each said first and second side panel being integrally joined together at common, opposed side edges thereof, and having a respective upper panel section that is defined by respective convexly contoured, generally parabolically shaped top edges, each said upper panel section further defines a congruently located handle aperture proximate a respective apex portion of the respective generally parabolically shaped top edge, each parabolically shaped top edge having a pair of opposed shoulder end portions terminating and intersecting respective upper side edge end portions of the respective opposed side edges at respective corner intersections thereof, each said first and second side panel further including a respective bottom edge oriented in congruent, adjacent relationship, in said folded condition, and cooperatively joined such that a bag interior cavity is formed when the generally parabolically shaped top edges are generally spaced apart to an opened condition, reorienting said first and second side panels to a receiving condition; and   a single use closure adhesive strip disposed and oriented primarily laterally across an interior wall of said upper panel section of at least one of said first and second side panels at a location below said handle apertures, said closure adhesive strip being configured to selectively close and maintain said upper panel sections generally, in a closed condition while the remaining portions of said first and second side panels are maintained in said receiving condition to hold content within said bag interior cavity, said closure adhesive strip having a pair of opposed closure adhesive strip distal ends formed and dimensioned to terminate proximate to a respective corner intersection such that at least one vent passage is formed between at least one closure adhesive strip distal end, in said closed condition, and the corresponding upper side edge end portion of the corresponding side edge of said first and second side panels, said at least one vent passage being of a lateral dimension sufficiently large to enable the venting of steam therethrough while being sufficiently small to prevent the passage of a human hand therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The plastic material wave bag assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each closure adhesive strip distal end is formed and dimensioned to terminate proximate to a respective corner intersection such that opposed vent passages are formed between a corresponding adhesive strip distal end, in said closed condition, and a corresponding upper side edge end portion of the corresponding side edge of said first and second side panels, each vent passage being of a lateral dimension sufficiently large to enable the venting of steam therethrough while being sufficiently small to prevent the passage of a human hand therethrough.   
     
     
         3 . The plastic material wave bag assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said opposed adhesive strip distal ends each terminate at an orientation vertically above the respective corner intersection.   
     
     
         4 . The plastic material wave bag assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein
 said closure adhesive strip extends generally horizontally across the corresponding upper panel section at a vertical orientation above the opposed corner intersections.   
     
     
         5 . The plastic material wave bag assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein
 said adhesive strip distal ends terminating at corresponding generally parabolically shaped top edges.   
     
     
         6 . The plastic material wave bag assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said opposed adhesive strip distal ends each terminate at an orientation vertically below the respective corner intersection, each said opposed adhesive strip distal ends not intersecting any one of said respective opposed side edge and said respective parabolically shaped top edge of said first and second side panels.   
     
     
         7 . The plastic material wave bag assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said closure adhesive strip tapers upwardly toward the respective apex portion from each said adhesive strip distal end.   
     
     
         8 . The plastic material wave bag assembly according to  claim 2 , further including:
 an alignment adhesive strip disposed and oriented laterally across said interior wall of said upper panel section of said least one of said first and second side panels, said alignment adhesive strip being oriented above said handle apertures, and said alignment adhesive strip being configured to selectively align, close and maintain said apex portions of said upper panel sections generally in said closed condition.   
     
     
         9 . The plastic material wave bag assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein
 said apex portions extend generally horizontally and linearly across and above said handle apertures.   
     
     
         10 . The plastic material wave bag assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein
 each said vent passage has a diameter in the range of about ½ inch to about 2½ inches.   
     
     
         11 . The plastic material wave bag assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said cooperative joining between said respective bottom edges includes a bottom gusset portion positioned therebetween and integrally joined at respective opposed gusset side edges of said gusset portion to a respective bottom edge of the first and second side panel, said gusset portion having a central fold line that is centrally disposed between lower portions of said first and second side panels, when in said folded condition, and is unfolded to form a generally flat bottom of said wave bag assembly, when in said receiving condition.   
     
     
         12 . The plastic material wave bag assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said closure adhesive strip includes a double sided tape.   
     
     
         13 . The plastic material wave bag assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a width of said closure adhesive strip is in the range of about ¼ inch to about ¾ inch.   
     
     
         14 . The plastic material wave bag assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said closure adhesive strip is continuous from one end portion to an opposite end portion thereof.   
     
     
         15 . A tamper proof method for transporting one or more food containers comprising:
 providing a plastic material wave bag assembly having a sheet-like first side panel and a sheet-like side panel oriented in opposed congruent relationship to one another when in a folded condition, each side panel integrally joined at common, opposed side edges thereof, and having upper panel sections that are defined by respective convexly contoured, generally parabolically shaped top edges, each said upper panel section further defines a congruently located handle aperture proximate a respective apex portion of the respective generally parabolically shaped top edge, each parabolically shaped top edge having a pair of opposed shoulder end portions terminating and intersecting respective upper side edge end portions of the respective opposed side edges at respective corner intersections thereof, each said first and second side panel further including a respective bottom edge oriented in congruent, adjacent relationship, in said folded condition, and cooperatively joined such that a bag interior cavity is formed when the generally parabolically shaped top edges are generally spaced apart to an opened condition, reorienting said first and second side panels to a receiving condition;   repositioning said wave bag assembly from said folded condition to said opened condition, reorienting said first and second side panels to said receiving condition;   placing said one or more food containers into said bag interior in said receiving condition;   substantially one-time sealing said opposed upper panel sections together to a closed condition, while said one or more food containers are maintained in said bag interior in said receiving condition by contacting a single use closure adhesive strip, disposed below said handle apertures, into contact with opposed interior walls of said opposed upper panel sections,   wherein said closure adhesive strip is formed and dimensioned to facilitate the creation of at least one vent passage, while said opposed upper panel sections are maintained in said closed condition, said vent passage being of a lateral dimension sufficiently large to enable the venting of steam therethrough from said bag interior while being sufficiently small to prevent the passage of a human hand therethrough.   
     
     
         16 . The tamper proof method according to  claim 15 , wherein
 said substantially one-time sealing said opposed upper panel sections together includes peeling a protective cover from said closure adhesive strip.   
     
     
         17 . The tamper proof method according to  claim 15 , further including:
 prior to said substantially one-time sealing said opposed upper panel sections together, aligning said apex portions with one another.   
     
     
         18 . The tamper proof method according to  claim 17 , further including:
 prior to said substantially one-time sealing said opposed upper panel sections together, contacting an alignment adhesive strip, disposed above said handle apertures, into contact with said opposed interior walls of said opposed upper panel sections.   
     
     
         19 . A tamper proof method for transporting one or more food containers comprising:
 providing a plastic material wave bag assembly having a sheet-like first side panel and a sheet-like side panel oriented in opposed congruent relationship to one another when in a folded condition, each side panel integrally joined at common, opposed side edges thereof, and having upper panel sections that are defined by respective convexly contoured, generally parabolically shaped top edges, each said upper panel section further defines a congruently located handle aperture proximate a respective apex portion of the respective generally parabolically shaped top edge, each parabolically shaped top edge having a pair of opposed shoulder end portions terminating and intersecting respective upper side edge end portions of the respective opposed side edges at respective corner intersections thereof, each said first and second side panel further including a respective bottom edge oriented in congruent, adjacent relationship, in said folded condition, and cooperatively joined such that a bag interior cavity is formed when the generally parabolically shaped top edges are generally spaced apart to an opened condition, reorienting said first and second side panels to a receiving condition;   repositioning said wave bag assembly from said folded condition to said opened condition, reorienting said first and second side panels to said receiving condition;   placing said one or more food containers into said bag interior in said receiving condition;   forming a pair of opposed vent passages by contacting a single use closure adhesive strip, disposed on an interior wall of the upper panel section of the first side panel, below said handle apertures, and into contact with an opposed interior wall of the second side panel,   wherein said closure adhesive strip is formed and dimensioned to facilitate the creation of said opposed vent passages, while said opposed upper panel sections are maintained in said closed condition, said vent passages being of a lateral dimension sufficiently large to enable the venting of steam therethrough from said bag interior while being sufficiently small to prevent the passage of a human hand therethrough.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19  further including:
 before forming the pair of opposed vent passages, aligning the respective apex portions of said upper panel sections together; and 
 contacting an alignment adhesive strip, disposed on said interior wall of the upper section of the first side panel, oriented above said handle apertures, and into contact with said opposed interior wall of the second side panel.