Polymeric bags with narrowing seals

Abstract

A polymeric film bag having first and second panels that are joined to each other along a pair of opposing sides and a closed bottom bridging the opposing sides. Each of the first and second panels has an original width. A first narrowing seal extends inwardly from near or at one of the pair of opposing sides. The first narrowing seal seals the first and second panels together such that a second width of the first and second panels is created that is smaller than the original width of the first and second panels.

1 . A polymeric bag comprising: 
 a first panel;    a second panel, the first and the second panels being joined to each other along a pair of opposing sides and a closed bottom bridging the opposing sides creating an open top, the first and second panels each having an original width;    a first narrowing seal extending inwardly and downwardly from near or at one of the pair of opposing sides before extending back to the bag sides, the first narrowing seal sealing the first panel to the second panel such that a second width of the first and second panels is created that is smaller than the original width of the first and second panels; and    a second narrowing seal extending inwardly and downwardly from near or at one of the pair of opposing sides before extending back to the bag sides, the second narrowing seal sealing the first panel to the second panel such that a third width of the first and second panels is created that is smaller than the original width and the second width of the first and second panels, the second narrowing seal being located in a different vertical position on the bag than the first narrowing seal.    
   
   
       2 . The bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a third narrowing seal, and a fourth narrowing seal, the third narrowing seal extending inwardly and downwardly from near or at the other pair of opposing sides as the first seal, the third seal being located at substantially the same vertical position on the bag as the first seal, the fourth narrowing seal extending inwardly and downwardly from near or at the other pair of opposing sides as the second seal, the fourth seal being located at substantially the same vertical position on the bag as the second seal.  
   
   
       3 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second narrowing seals are arcuate.  
   
   
       4 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second narrowing seals are formed by heat sealing the first and second panels.  
   
   
       5 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second narrowing seals are formed by adhering the first and second panels.  
   
   
       6 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the bag is formed by folding the first and second panels.  
   
   
       7 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein one of the pair of opposing sides of the bag is formed by folding the first and second panels.  
   
   
       8 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels are formed from two separate polymeric sheets.  
   
   
       9 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the original width is about 24 inches, the second width is about 21 inches, and the third width is about 19 inches.  
   
   
       10 . The bag of  claim 1  further comprising a drawstring.  
   
   
       11 . The bag of  claim 1  in combination with a bag-engaging periphery.  
   
   
       12 . A polymeric bag comprising: 
 a first panel;    a second panel, the first and the second panels being joined to each other along a pair of opposing sides and a closed bottom bridging the opposing sides creating an open top, the first and second panels each having an original width;    a first narrowing seal extending generally parallel to one of the pair of opposing sides, the first narrowing seal being spaced inwardly a distance from one of the pair of opposing sides, the first narrowing seal sealing the first panel to the second panel such that a second width of the first and second panels is created that is smaller than the original width of the first and second panels; and    a second narrowing seal extending generally parallel to one of the pair of opposing sides, the second narrowing seal being spaced inwardly a distance from one of the pair of opposing sides, the second narrowing seal sealing the first panel to the second panel such that a third width of the first and second panels is created that is smaller than the original width and the second width of the first and second panels, the second narrowing seal being located in a different vertical position on the bag than the first narrowing seal.    
   
   
       13 . The bag of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second narrowing seals are formed by heat sealing the first and second panels.  
   
   
       14 . The bag of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second narrowing seals are formed by adhering the first and second panel.  
   
   
       15 . The bag of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom of the bag is formed by folding the first and second panels.  
   
   
       16 . The bag of  claim 12 , wherein one of the pair of opposing sides of the bag is formed by folding the first and second panels.  
   
   
       17 . The bag of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second panels are formed from two separate polymeric sheets.  
   
   
       18 . The bag of  claim 12 , wherein the original width is about 24 inches, the second width is about 21 inches, and the third width is about 19 inches.  
   
   
       19 . The bag of  claim 12  further comprising a drawstring.  
   
   
       20 . The bag of  claim 12  in combination with a bag-engaging periphery.  
   
   
       21 . A polymeric bag comprising: 
 a first panel;    a second panel, the first and the second panels being joined to each other along a pair of opposing sides and a closed bottom bridging the opposing sides creating an open top, the first and second panels each having an original width; and    at least a first narrowing seal, the at least a first narrowing seal sealing the first panel to the second panel such that a second width, a third width, and a fourth width of the first and second panels are created that are smaller than the original width of the first and second panels, wherein the at least a first narrowing seal comprises at least a first narrowing seal section, a second narrowing seal section, a third narrowing seal section, a fourth narrowing seal section, and a fifth narrowing seal section, 
 the first narrowing seal section extending generally parallel to one of the pair of opposing sides, the first narrowing seal section being spaced inwardly a first distance from one of the pair of opposing sides, the first narrowing seal section sealing the first panel to the second panel such that a second width of the first and second panels is created that is smaller than the original width of the first and second panels,  
 the second narrowing seal section extending generally parallel to the first narrowing seal section, the second narrowing seal section being spaced inwardly a second distance from one of the pair of opposing sides, the second distance being less than the first distance, the second narrowing seal section sealing the first panel to the second panel such that a fourth width of the first and second panels is created that is smaller than the original width of the first and second panels, but larger than the second width,  
 the third narrowing seal section extending generally parallel to the first narrowing seal section, the third narrowing seal section being spaced inwardly a third distance from one of the pair of opposing sides, the third distance being more than the first distance, the third narrowing seal section sealing the first panel to the second panel such that a third width of the first and second panels is created that is smaller than the original, second, and fourth width of the first and second panels,  
 the fourth narrowing seal section extending outwardly and downwardly from the first narrowing seal section to the second narrowing seal section, and  
 the fifth narrowing seal section extending inwardly and downwardly from the second narrowing seal section the third narrowing seal section.  
   
   
   
       22 . The bag of  claim 21 , wherein the at least a first narrowing seal is formed by heat sealing the first and second panels.  
   
   
       23 . The bag of  claim 21 , wherein the at least a first narrowing seal is formed by adhering the first and second panel.  
   
   
       24 . The bag of  claim 21 , wherein the bottom of the bag is formed by folding the first and second panels.  
   
   
       25 . The bag of  claim 21 , wherein one of the pair of opposing sides of the bag is formed by folding the first and second panels.  
   
   
       26 . The bag of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second panels are formed from two separate polymeric sheets.  
   
   
       27 . The bag of  claim 21 , wherein the original width is about 24 inches, the second width is about 21 inches, and the third width is about 19 inches.  
   
   
       28 . The bag of  claim 21  further comprising a drawstring.  
   
   
       29 . The bag of  claim 21  in combination with a bag-engaging periphery.  
   
   
       30 . A polymeric bag comprising: 
 a first panel;    a second panel, the first and the second panels being joined to each other along a pair of opposing sides and a closed bottom bridging the opposing sides creating an open top, the first and second panels each having an original width,    the first narrowing seal extending inwardly and downwardly from near or at one of the pair of opposing sides before extending back to the bag sides, the first narrowing seal sealing the first panel to the second panel such that a second width of the first and second panels is created that is smaller than the original width of the first and second panels, the second width being adapted to be stretched over a bag-engaging periphery of a trashcan to allow the polymeric bag to grip the bag-engaging periphery of the trashcan; and    a drawstring extending around a periphery of the open top of the bag.