Sealable Bag Assembly

Abstract

A bag assembly including a bag body, and two bag handles. The body includes a first side, and a second side substantially parallel to the first. The body has formed therein: a first horizontal pre-fold a first distance from the top of the body, and a horizontal second pre-fold at a second distance from the top of the body greater than twice the first distance. Each bag handle is attached to an opposing side of the body across handle attachment areas. The topmost extent of each handle attachment areas not extending into an area defined by a first bottom border measured from the top of the bag body down the second distance.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A bag assembly comprising:
 a bag body comprising a first side, and a second side substantially parallel to the first side;
 the bag body having formed therein a first pre-fold horizontally in the direction of the first side of the bag body a first distance from the top of the bag body, and a second pre-fold horizontally in the direction of the first pre-fold and at a second distance from the top of the bag body, the second distance being greater than twice the first distance; 
   a first bag handle attached to the first side of the bag body across one or more first handle attachment areas, the topmost extent of the first handle attachment areas not extending into an area defined by a first bottom border measured from the top of the bag body down the second distance; and   a second bag handle, similar to the first bag handle, and attached to the second side of the bag body across one or more second handle attachment areas, the topmost extent of the second handle attachment areas not extending into an area defined by a second bottom border measure from the top of the bag body down the second distance.   
     
     
         2 . The bag assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second distance is greater than twice the first distance by approximately the thickness of the first side plus the thickness of the second side. 
     
     
         3 . The bag assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bag body further comprises an adhesive in the area above the first pre-fold on the second side. 
     
     
         4 . The bag assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each pre-fold is a heat-formed pre-fold. 
     
     
         5 . The bag assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the bag body has further formed therein an adhesive label attachment area below the second pre-fold;   the first bottom border is measured from the top of the bag body down the second distance plus an adhesive label attachment area; and   the second bottom border is measured from the top of the bag body down the second distance plus an adhesive label attachment area.   
     
     
         6 . The bag assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive label sized to cover a horizontal portion of the area of the second wide side of the bag body between the first pre-fold and the second pre-fold and at least a portion of the adhesive label attachment area adjoining the first fold when the bag assembly is in a sealed configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The bag assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the adhesive label comprises a release strip. 
     
     
         8 . A method for packaging, comprising:
 providing a bag assembly, comprising
 a bag body comprising a first side, and a second side substantially parallel to the first side;
 the bag body having formed therein a first pre-fold horizontally in the direction of the first side of the bag body a first distance from the top of the bag body, and a second pre-fold horizontally in the direction of the first pre-fold at a second distance from the top of the bag body, the second distance being greater than twice the first distance; 
 
 a first bag handle attached to the first side of the bag body across one or more first handle attachment areas, the topmost extent of the first handle attachment areas not extending into an area defined by a first bottom border measured from the top of the bag body down the second distance; and 
 a second bag handle, similar to the first bag handle, and attached to the second side of the bag body across one or more second handle attachment areas, the topmost extent of the second handle attachment areas not extending into an area defined by a second bottom border measure from the top of the bag body down the second distance. 
   opening the bag assembly;   inserting items into the interior of the bag assembly   folding the bag body at a first pre-fold, then   folding the bag body at a second pre-fold, and   sealing the bag body using an adhesive label.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second distance is greater than twice the first distance by approximately the thickness of the first side plus the thickness of the second side. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the bag body further comprises an adhesive in the area above the first pre-fold on the second side. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each pre-fold is a heat-formed pre-fold. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the bag body has further formed therein an adhesive label attachment area below the second pre-fold;   the first bottom border is measured from the top of the bag body down the second distance plus an adhesive label attachment area; and   the second bottom border is measured from the top of the bag body down the second distance plus an adhesive label attachment area.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising an adhesive label sized to cover a horizontal portion of the area of the second wide side of the bag body between the first pre-fold and the second pre-fold and at least a portion of the adhesive label attachment area adjoining the first fold when the bag assembly is in a sealed configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the adhesive label comprises a release strip.