Tamper evident sealable bag assembly with note tab and method

Abstract

A tamper-evident bag assembly that can be sealed to enclose contents within the bag assembly in a tamper-evident manner. The bag assembly is provided with closure tabs that can be folded over the top edges of the bag assembly and sealed to a side panel of the bag. Strategic portions of the bag assembly can be scored to indicate tampering if unsealing of the adhesive takes place. The bag assembly is also provided with a pull tab designed facilitate opening of the sealed bag assembly to reveal the contents contained therein. When the pull tab is used to open the sealed bag, the bag cannot be re-sealed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tamper-evident bag assembly, comprising:
 a first sheet-like panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the first sheet-like panel having an upper edge, wherein the first sheet-like panel includes a first upper section that includes an integrally formed upper lateral portion extending laterally above the upper edge, wherein the upper lateral portion includes a plurality of tamper-evident scores;   a second sheet-like panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the first sheet-like panel faces the interior surface of the second sheet-like panel, the second sheet-like panel having an upper edge, wherein the second sheet-like panel includes a second upper section, the first and second upper sections being movable between an opened position and a closed position;   a sheet-like bottom gusset coupled to bottom edges of the first and second panels, wherein respective interior surfaces of the first and second sheet-like panels and an interior surface of the bottom gusset collectively define a content-receiving region of the bag assembly; and   an adhesive disposed on the bag assembly configured to substantially seal the content-receiving region of the bag assembly when an interior surface of the upper lateral portion is brought into contact with the exterior surface of the second sheet-like panel, wherein each of the tamper-evident scores is disposed at least partially over the adhesive.   
     
     
         2 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the tamper-evident scores is substantially V-shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a score line of each of the substantially V-shaped scores is not positioned over the adhesive when the interior surface of the upper lateral portion is brought into contact with the exterior surface of the second sheet-like panel. 
     
     
         4 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of tamper-evident scores is substantially S-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of tamper-evident scores is substantially X-shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first handle mounted to the upper section, wherein the first handle includes a pair of spaced-apart leg portions upstanding from the upper edge of the first sheet-like panel; and   wherein the upper lateral portion includes a pair of handle openings, wherein each handle opening is aligned with a respective leg portion of the first handle and the handle openings divide the upper lateral portion into first, second, and third closure sections on which the tamper-evident scores are disposed, wherein each of the closure sections can fold over the upper edge of the second sheet-like panel.   
     
     
         7 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a removable protective strip that covers the adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 7 , wherein when the protective strip is removed, and the first and second upper sections are aligned in the closed position, each of the three closure sections can be folded over the upper edge of the second sheet-like panel to substantially seal the content-receiving region of the bag assembly in a sealed position. 
     
     
         9 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the leg portions of the first handle are received through the respective handle openings of the upper lateral portion in the sealed position. 
     
     
         10 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 9 , wherein each of the scores extends only partially over the adhesive in the sealed position. 
     
     
         11 . A tamper-evident bag assembly, comprising:
 a first sheet-like panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the first sheet-like panel having an upper edge, wherein the first sheet-like panel includes a first upper section that includes an integrally formed upper lateral portion extending laterally above the upper edge, wherein an adhesive is disposed on an interior surface of a distal portion of the upper lateral portion and the upper lateral portion includes a plurality of tamper-evident scores disposed at least partially over the adhesive;   a second sheet-like panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the first sheet-like panel faces the interior surface of the second sheet-like panel, the second sheet-like panel having an upper edge, wherein the second sheet-like panel includes a second upper section, the first and second upper sections being movable between an opened position and a closed position; and   a sheet-like bottom gusset coupled to bottom edges of the first and second panels, wherein respective interior surfaces of the first and second sheet-like panels and an interior surface of the bottom gusset collectively define a content-receiving region of the bag assembly.   
     
     
         12 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first handle mounted to the upper section, wherein the first handle includes a pair of spaced-apart leg portions upstanding from the upper edge of the first sheet-like panel; and   wherein the upper lateral portion includes a pair of handle openings, wherein each handle opening is aligned with a respective leg portion of the first handle and the handle openings divide the upper lateral portion into first, second, and third closure sections on which the tamper-evident scores are disposed, wherein each of the closure sections can fold over the upper edge of the second sheet-like panel.   
     
     
         13 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 11 , wherein each of the tamper-evident scores is substantially V-shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 12 , wherein each of the handle openings tapers laterally outwardly from proximate the upper edge of the first sheet-like panel to a distal edge of the upper lateral portion. 
     
     
         15 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a removable protective strip that covers the adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the protective strip spans the handle openings. 
     
     
         17 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 15 , wherein when the protective strip is removed, and the first and second upper sections are aligned in the closed position, each of the three closure sections can be folded over the upper edge of the second sheet-like panel such that the adhesive is brought into contact with an exterior surface of the second sheet-like panel, thereby substantially sealing the opening in a sealed position. 
     
     
         18 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the adhesive is disposed such that each of the tamper-evident scores is only partially adhered to the exterior surface of the second sheet-like panel. 
     
     
         19 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the leg portions of the first handle are received through the respective handle openings of the upper lateral portion in the sealed position. 
     
     
         20 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 19 , wherein each of the scores extends only partially over the adhesive in the sealed position. 
     
     
         21 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of a score line of each of the substantially V-shaped scores is not positioned over the adhesive when the interior surface of the distal portion of the upper lateral portion is brought into contact with the exterior surface of the second sheet-like panel. 
     
     
         22 . A tamper-evident bag assembly, comprising:
 a first sheet-like panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the first sheet-like panel having an upper edge, wherein the first sheet-like panel includes a first upper section;   a first handle having a pair of spaced-apart leg portions;   an upper lateral portion that is adhered to the interior surface of the first upper section and extends laterally above the upper edge of the first sheet-like panel, wherein an adhesive is disposed on an interior surface of a distal portion of the upper lateral portion and the upper lateral portion adheres the first handle to the first upper section with the pair of spaced-apart leg portions positioned between the first sheet-like panel and the upper lateral portion, the upper lateral portion including a pair of handle openings, wherein each of the handle openings is aligned with a respective leg portion of the first handle and tapering laterally outwardly from proximate the upper edge of the first sheet-like panel to a distal edge of the upper lateral portion, and wherein the upper lateral portion includes a plurality of tamper-evident scores disposed at least partially over the adhesive;   a second sheet-like panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the first sheet-like panel faces the interior surface of the second sheet-like panel, the second sheet-like panel having an upper edge, wherein the second sheet-like panel includes a second upper section, the first and second upper sections being movable between an opened position and a closed position; and   a sheet-like bottom gusset coupled to bottom edges of the first and second panels, wherein respective interior surfaces of the first and second sheet-like panels and an interior surface of the bottom gusset collectively define a content-receiving region of the bag assembly.   
     
     
         23 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of tamper-evident scores is substantially V-shaped. 
     
     
         24 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising a removable protective strip that covers the adhesive. 
     
     
         25 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the protective strip spans the handle openings. 
     
     
         26 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 24 , wherein when the protective strip is removed, and the first and second upper sections are aligned in the closed position, each of the three closure sections can be folded over the upper edge of the second sheet-like panel such that the adhesive is brought into contact with an exterior surface of the second sheet-like panel, thereby substantially sealing the opening in a sealed position. 
     
     
         27 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the leg portions of the first handle are received through the respective handle openings of the upper lateral portion in the sealed position. 
     
     
         28 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 27 , wherein each of the scores extends only partially over the adhesive in the sealed position. 
     
     
         29 . The tamper-evident bag assembly as recited in  claim 23 , wherein at least a portion of a score line of each of the substantially V-shaped scores is not positioned over the adhesive when the interior surface of the distal portion of the upper lateral portion is brought into contact with the exterior surface of the second sheet-like panel. 
     
     
         30 . A tamper-evident bag assembly, comprising:
 a first sheet-like panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the first sheet-like panel having an upper edge, wherein the first sheet-like panel includes a first upper section that includes an integrally formed upper lateral portion extending laterally above the upper edge, wherein the upper lateral portion includes a plurality of tamper-evident scores;   a second sheet-like panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the first sheet-like panel faces the interior surface of the second sheet-like panel, the second sheet-like panel having an upper edge, wherein the second sheet-like panel includes a second upper section, the first and second upper sections being movable between an opened position and a closed position;   a sheet-like bottom gusset coupled to bottom edges of the first and second panels, wherein respective interior surfaces of the first and second sheet-like panels and an interior surface of the bottom gusset collectively define a content-receiving region of the bag assembly; and   an adhesive disposed on the bag assembly, the adhesive being configured to secure an interior surface of the upper lateral portion to the exterior surface of the second sheet-like panel to thereby substantially seal the content-receiving region of the bag assembly when a selected region of the interior surface of the upper lateral portion is brought into contact with a selected region of the exterior surface of the second-sheet like panel such that at least portions of each of the tamper-evident scores are adhered to the exterior surface of the second sheet-like panel by the adhesive.