Reusable bag

Abstract

The disclosure provides a container (or bag) that is sufficiently rigid stand on its own yet is sufficiently flexible for a user to deform the bag to create a pour spout. Due to this balance of rigidity and flexibility, when open, the opening of the container maintains a shape and dimension that gives easy, one handed, access to the contents and allows contents to be poured into the container without need of support. The bag has a closure that may include a rod that nests within a channel. The rod and channel can be configured such that the rod can be pressed into the channel and pulled out of the channel repeatedly without causing damage to the container, thereby creating a convenient container for carrying food, or other items.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A reusable bag, comprising:
 a base having a first base edge and a second base edge spaced apart from the first base edge, the first base edge and the second base edge both extending from a first lateral side of the reusable bag to a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side;   a first sidewall extending substantially vertically from the first base edge to a first top edge of the first sidewall;   a second sidewall extending substantially vertically from the second base edge to a second top edge of the second sidewall;   a rod extending across the first top edge from the first lateral side to the second lateral side; and   a lip extending across the second top edge from the first lateral side to the second lateral side, the lip having an interior lip surface that is curved to form a concave channel configured to receive the rod such that the rod nests within the concave channel when the bag is in a closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The reusable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the lip and rod together define an opening of the reusable bag when the bag is in an open position. 
     
     
         3 . The reusable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first base edge and the second base edge each have an arcuate shape and come together at a first corner on the first lateral side and at a second corner on the second lateral side. 
     
     
         4 . The reusable bag of  claim 3 , wherein the first base edge and the second base edge together form a symmetric lens shape. 
     
     
         5 . The reusable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the lip has an exterior lip surface opposite the interior lip surface, wherein the exterior lip surface has a convex shape that corresponds with the shape of the channel. 
     
     
         6 . The reusable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the rod is cylindrical. 
     
     
         7 . The reusable bag of  claim 6 , wherein the rod has a diameter that is at least twice the thickness of the first sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . The reusable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the lip has a lip edge and a thickness that tapers toward the lip edge. 
     
     
         9 . The reusable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the reusable bag is a single molded piece of flexible material. 
     
     
         10 . A reusable bag, comprising:
 a base having a first base edge and a second base edge spaced apart from the first base edge;   a first sidewall extending substantially vertically from the first base edge to a first top edge of the first sidewall;   a second sidewall extending substantially vertically from the second base edge to a second top edge of the second sidewall;   a rod extending across the first top edge;   a lip extending across the second top, the lip having an interior lip surface that is curved to form a concave channel configured to receive the rod such that the rod nests within the concave channel when the bag is in a closed position; and   wherein the lip and rod together define an opening of the reusable bag when the bag is in an open position, the opening having a shape corresponding to the shape of the base.   
     
     
         11 . The reusable bag of  claim 10 , wherein the first base edge and the second base edge each have an arcuate shape and come together at a first corner on a first lateral side of the reusable bag and at a second corner on a second lateral side that is opposite the first lateral side. 
     
     
         12 . The reusable bag of  claim 11 , wherein the first base edge and the second base edge together form a symmetric lens shape. 
     
     
         13 . The reusable bag of  claim 10 , wherein the lip has an exterior lip surface opposite the interior lip surface, wherein the exterior lip surface has a convex shape that corresponds with the shape of the channel. 
     
     
         14 . The reusable bag of  claim 10 , wherein the rod is cylindrical. 
     
     
         15 . The reusable bag of  claim 14 , wherein the rod has diameter that is at least twice the thickness of the first sidewall. 
     
     
         16 . The reusable bag of  claim 10 , wherein the reusable bag is a single molded piece of flexible material. 
     
     
         17 . The reusable bag of  claim 10 , wherein the lip has a lip edge and a thickness that tapers toward the lip edge. 
     
     
         18 . The reusable bag of  claim 10 , wherein the lip has a ridge extending longitudinally along a portion of the lip that is adjacent to the top edge of the second sidewall, the lip edge and ridge are configured to retain the rod within the channel of the lip. 
     
     
         19 . A reusable bag, comprising:
 a base having a first base edge and a second base edge spaced apart from the first base edge;   a first sidewall extending substantially vertically from the first base edge to a first top edge of the first sidewall, the first top edge having an arcuate shape;   a second sidewall extending substantially vertically from the second base edge to a second top edge of the second sidewall, the second top edge having an arcuate shape;   a rod extending across the first top edge; and   a lip extending across the second top, the lip having an interior lip surface that is curved to form a concave channel configured to receive the rod such that the rod nests within the concave channel when the bag is in a closed position.   
     
     
         20 . The reusable bag of  claim 19 , wherein the arcuate shape of the first top edge has a center of curvature disposed below the first top edge; and
 wherein the arcuate shape of the second top edge has a center of curvature disposed below the second top edge.