Food storage systems and methods

Abstract

Described herein is a multi-chambered sandwich bag that keeps food components fresh until they are ready to be consumed. The bag can include an outer sleeve having a first outer layer and a second outer layer, and an inner sleeve having a first inner layer and a second inner layer. The respective side edges of the first and second outer layers can be coupled to one another, sealing the sides of the outer sleeve. The bottom edges of all four layers (the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer) can be removably coupled to one another. By being removably coupled, the bottom edges can be separated from one another. This allows a user to remove the inner sleeve and join the contents of the inner sleeve with the contents of the outer sleeves.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A three-chambered sandwich bag, comprising:
 an outer sleeve having a first outer layer and a second outer layer, each outer layer having a top edge, two side edges, and a bottom edge; and   an inner sleeve having a first inner layer and a second inner layer, each inner layer having a top edge, two side edges, and a bottom edge,   wherein the respective side edges of the first and second outer layers are coupled to one another, and   wherein the bottom edges of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer are removably coupled to one another.   
     
     
         2 . The sandwich bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a decoupling tab positioned along the bottom edges of the respective layers, wherein operating the decoupling tab decouples the bottom edges of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer. 
     
     
         3 . The sandwich bag of  claim 2 , wherein the decoupling tab is a slider that separates interlocking plastic strips. 
     
     
         4 . The sandwich bag of  claim 2 , wherein the decoupling tab is a pull-tab that removes a portion of material from one or more of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer. 
     
     
         5 . The sandwich bag of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer, include perforations such that the bottom edges of the respective layers can be removed by tearing along the perforations. 
     
     
         6 . The sandwich bag of  claim 5 , wherein the perforations extend along at least one side edge of each of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer, such that tearing along the perforations removes the respective side edge from the layers. 
     
     
         7 . The sandwich bag of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom edges of the first outer layer and second outer layer are removably coupled via interlocking plastic strips, and wherein the bottom edges of the first inner layer and second inner layer are removably coupled via interlocking plastic strips. 
     
     
         8 . The sandwich bag of  claim 1 , wherein the top edges of the first and second outer layers are removably coupled to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The sandwich bag of  claim 1 , wherein the top edges of the first and second inner layers are removably coupled to one another. 
     
     
         10 . A method of making a multi-chambered sandwich bag, comprising:
 providing a first outer layer and a second outer layer, each outer layer having a top edge, two side edges, and a bottom edge;   providing a first inner layer and a second inner layer, each inner layer having a top edge, two side edges, and a bottom edge;   joining the respective side edges of the first and second outer layers to one another;   joining the respective side edges of the first and second inner layers to one another; and   removably coupling the bottom edges of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer to one another.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein removably coupling the bottom edges comprises installing a decoupling tab that, when operated, decouples the bottom edges of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the decoupling tab is a slider that separates interlocking plastic strips. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the decoupling tab is a pull-tab that removes a portion of material from one or more of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein removably coupling the bottom edges comprises forming perforations proximate the bottom edges of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising forming perforations proximate to at least one side of each of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein removably coupling the bottom edges comprises interlocking plastic strips of at least two of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer. 
     
     
         17 . A multi-chambered sandwich bag, comprising:
 an outer sleeve having a first outer layer and a second outer layer, each outer layer having a top edge, two side edges, and a bottom edge; and   an inner sleeve having a first inner layer and a second inner layer, each inner layer having a top edge, two side edges, and a bottom edge,   wherein respective sets of side edges of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer are removably coupled to one another, and   wherein the bottom edges of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer are coupled to one another.   
     
     
         18 . The sandwich bag of  claim 17 , wherein each set of side edges of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer comprise a decoupling tab that decouples the respective side edges. 
     
     
         19 . The sandwich bag of  claim 18 , wherein the decoupling tab is a pull-tab that removes a portion of material from one or more of the first outer layer, second outer layer, first inner layer, and second inner layer. 
     
     
         20 . The sandwich bag of  claim 17 , wherein the respective sets of side edges include perforations proximate the side edges, such that tearing along the perforations removes the respective side edges from the layers.