Plastic bag with cinching means and methods of using same

Abstract

A bag for carrying items is provided having side panels, a bottom and at least one handle created integrally with at least one of the side panels. At least one opening is formed in one of the side panels opposite from the at least one handle. In the use of a bag created using the teachings of the present invention, the handle portion is fed through the at least one opening in a side panel, causing the closing, or cinching, of the bag such that the contents are better maintained therein. The bag is grasped by the cinched handle and carried or attached to a hook or other means to maintain the bag generally immobilized during transportation. The bag of the present invention provides the added feature of helping to maintain the required temperature of the contents by withstanding the flow of heat by closing the bag as well as aiding in the preventing of spillage.

1 . A bag for carrying items comprising: 
 a first side panel and a second side panel configured to create an enclosure having a bottom, and a top opening;    at least one of the first side panel and second side panel comprising a handle portion having means to facilitate carrying the bag;    at least the other one of the first side panel and second side panel comprises an opening in the panel, such that the handle of the other of the at least one of the first side panel or second side panel can be placed through the opening and pulled to cinch the bag and allow the use of the handle portion to carry the cinched bag.    
   
   
       2 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first side panel and second side panel are configured to form a flat bottom for the bag.  
   
   
       3 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein both the first side panel and second side panel comprise handles.  
   
   
       4 . The bag of  claim 3 , wherein both the first side panel and second side panel comprise openings in their respective panels.  
   
   
       5 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the bag is designed to carry specific packages, the first side panel and second side panel define a bottom portion, and the opening in the panel is generally placed at a point on the panel, above the bottom portion of the panel, equivalent to the sum of the height of the packages to be carried therein plus three quarters of the width of the packages to be carried therein.  
   
   
       6 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the panel is produced by punching the panel with a specifically shaped die.  
   
   
       7 . The bag of  claim 6 , wherein as the opening is punched into the panel the material punched-out remains attached to the panel.  
   
   
       8 . A bag for carrying items comprising: 
 a first side panel and a second side panel configured to create an enclosure having a bottom, and a top opening;    the first side panel and second side panel each comprising a handle portion having means to facilitate carrying the bag;    the first side panel and second side panels both comprising a cinching opening in their respective panels, such that the handle of one of the first side panel or the second side panel can be placed through the cinching opening in the other of the first side panel or second side panel and pulled to cinch the bag and allow the use of the handle portion to carry the cinched bag.    
   
   
       9 . The bag of  claim 8 , wherein the first side panel and second side panel are configured to form a flat bottom for the bag.  
   
   
       10 . The bag of  claim 9 , wherein the bag is designed to carry specific packages, the first side panel and second side panel define a bottom portion, and the cinching opening in each of the panels is generally placed at a point on each panel, above the bottom edge of the panels, equivalent to the sum of the height of the packages to be carried therein plus three quarters of the width of the packages to be carried therein.  
   
   
       11 . The bag of  claim 8 , wherein the opening in the panel is produced by punching the panel with a specifically shaped die.  
   
   
       12 . The bag of  claim 11 , wherein as the opening is punched into the panel the material punched-out remains attached to the panel.  
   
   
       13 . A method of using the cinch bag of the present invention including the steps of: 
 providing a bag having a first side panel and a second side panel, wherein at least one of the first side panel and second side panel includes a handle;    providing an opening on at least the one of the first side panel and second side panel opposite the side panel having a handle;    taking the at least one side panel having a handle and pushing the handle through the opening in the other side panel and subsequently pulling the handle and panel having a handle through the opening so as to cinch the bag.    
   
   
       14 . The method of using the cinch bag of  claim 13 , including the steps of continuing to pull the handle and panel having the handle through the cinching opening such that the bag is closed and the contents are contained therein.  
   
   
       15 . The method of using the cinch bag of  claim 14 , including the steps of carrying the cinched bag by the handle that has been pulled through the cinch opening.  
   
   
       16 . The method of using the cinch bag of  claim 14 , including the steps of attaching the bag by its handle to an appropriate protuberance in the interior of an automobile for transportation.  
   
   
       17 . The method of using the cinch bag of  claim 13 , wherein each of the handle is a handle portion and a handhold opening is formed on the handle to aid in grasping the bag.  
   
   
       18 . A method of using the cinch bag of the present invention including the steps of: 
 providing a bag having a first side panel and a second side panel, wherein each of the first side panel and second side panel includes a handle portion having a handhold opening for grasping the handle;    providing a cinching opening on at least the one of the first side panel and second side panel opposite the side panel having a handle;    taking one side panel having a handle and pushing the handle through the opening in the other side panel and subsequently pulling the handle and panel having a handle through the opening so as to cinch the bag; and    continuing to pull the handle and panel having the handle through the cinching opening such that the bag is closed and the contents are contained therein.    
   
   
       19 . The method of using the cinch bag of  claim 18 , including the steps of carrying the cinched bag by the handle that has been pulled through the cinch opening.  
   
   
       20 . The method of using the cinch bag of  claim 18 , including the steps of attaching the bag by its handhold opening to an appropriate protuberance in the interior of an automobile for transportation.  
   
   
       21 . The method of using the cinch bag of  claim 20 , including the steps of providing an elongated protuberance in an automobile whereon multiple bags can be attached by their handhold openings for transportation.