Tamper-Evident Bag Seal and Tamper-Evident Bags and Methods

Abstract

Tamper-evident bag is disclosed. In one embodiment, the tamper-evident bag may include a bag body. The bag body may include a first side and a second side and a first collapsible side and a second collapsible side transverse to the first and second sides with a bag bottom and a bag opening at a top of the bag body. The tamper-evident bag may further include, a loop-style handle secured to the first side of the bag body and a loop-style handle secured to the second side of the bag body with the loop-style handles arranged with respect to the bag opening; and a sealable flap extending up from the first bag side at an edge of the bag opening of the bag body. The sealable flap may include a perforated fold along the sealable flap and slots in a portion of the sealable flap that extends above an edge of the bag body at the bag opening of the bag body, the slots may be positioned on the sealable flap with respect to the handles to provide clearance for the handles when the sealable flap is folded along the perforated fold to be secured to the second side of the bag body.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A tamper-evident bag comprising:
 a. a bag body comprising a first side and a second side and a first collapsible side and a second collapsible side transverse to the first and second sides with a bag bottom and a bag opening at a top of the bag body;   b. a loop-style handle secured to the first side of the bag body and a loop-style handle secured to the second side of the bag body with the loop-style handles arranged with respect to the bag opening; and   c. a sealable flap extending up from the first bag side at an edge of the bag opening of the bag body, the sealable flap comprising a perforated fold along the sealable flap and slots in a portion of the sealable flap that extends above an edge of the bag body at the bag opening of the bag body, the slots being positioned on the sealable flap with respect to the handles to provide clearance for the handles when the sealable flap is folded along the perforated fold to be secured to the second side of the bag body.   
     
     
         2 . The tamper-evident bag seal of  claim 1 , wherein the perforated fold comprises an attachment interface of the sealable flap at the edge of the bag body at the bag opening. 
     
     
         3 . The tamper-evident bag seal of  claim 2 , wherein the perforated fold comprises a tamper-evident feature. 
     
     
         4 . The tamper-evident bag seal of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive strip on at least one of the bag body or the sealable flap, the adhesive strip configured to secure the sealable flap to the bag body when the tamper-evident bag is in a closed and sealed state. 
     
     
         5 . The tamper-evident bag seal of  claim 4 , wherein the adhesive strip is on the second side of the bag body and near the bag opening. 
     
     
         6 . The tamper-evident bag seal of  claim 5 , wherein the sealable flap is foldable down and into contact with the adhesive strip on the side of bag body with the slots in the sealable flap providing clearance for the handles, so that sealable flap is affixed and held secure to the second side of bag body. 
     
     
         7 . A tamper-evident bag comprising:
 a. a bag body comprising a first side and a second side and a first collapsible side and a second collapsible side transverse to the first and second sides with a bag bottom and a bag opening at a top of the bag body;   b. a hand opening in the first side of the bag body and a hand opening in the second side of the bag body with the hand openings arranged with respect to the bag opening; and   c. a sealable flap extending up from the first bag side at an edge of bag body at the bag opening of the bag body, the sealable flap comprising:
 i. a sealable flap hand opening in a portion of the sealable flap that extends above the edge of the bag body at the bag opening of the bag body; and 
 ii. an attachment portion near an edge of the sealable flap farthest from the edge of bag body at the bag opening of the bag body for securing the sealable flap to the second side of the bag body, the sealable flap hand opening being alignable with the hand opening in the second side of the body when the sealable flap is folded to be secured to the second side of the bag body; and 
   d. a tear-away strip integrated into the sealable flap between the edge of the bag body at the bag opening of the bag body and the attachment portion of the sealable flap, the tear-away strip comprising a tamper-evident feature.   
     
     
         8 . The tamper-evident bag seal of  claim 7 , further comprising an adhesive strip on at least one of the bag body or the sealable flap at the attachment portion, the adhesive strip configured to secure the sealable flap to the bag body when the tamper-evident bag is in a closed and sealed state. 
     
     
         9 . The tamper-evident bag seal of  claim 8 , wherein the adhesive strip is on the sealable flap at the attachment portion. 
     
     
         10 . The tamper-evident bag seal of  claim 7 , wherein the tear-away strip resides between the hand opening in the sealable flap and the attachment portion of the sealable flap.