Pouches and totes and systems comprising pouches and totes having adjustable dividers

Abstract

Provided are systems comprising a tote and one or more pouch fabricated out of a flexible or semi-flexible relatively thermal insulating material, optimally configured for holding, protecting, and carrying a standard reclosable or “zip lock” plastic storage bag. Totes described herein comprise one or more adjustable dividers that reversibly and adjustably fit within the interior compartment of the tote to create subcompartments that support each of the one or more pouches in registered alignment. In combination, the pouches and tote form a system for holding, protecting, and carrying conventional reclosable plastic storage bags.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 968,011, filed Aug. 24, 2007, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0002]1. Technical Field of the Disclosure[0003]The present disclosure relates, generally, to systems comprising a tote and one or more pouches fabricated from a thermally insulating fabric, such as neoprene, wherein each pouch is dimensioned for holding, storing, protecting, and / or transporting a conventional reclosable storage bag.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]In 1960, the fold-over sandwich bag was created. In 1964, The Glad Products Company (Oakland, Calif.) created a new, more efficient system for closing a plastic storage bag using a so-called “zip lock” method. Inventors continue to refine and add to the art surrounding reclosable plastic storage bags. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,029,178, issued on Apr. 19, 2006, claims a reclosable ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The present disclosure fulfills these and other related needs by providing pouches, totes, and systems for holding, protecting, and carrying standard reclosable plastic storage bags and resealable storage containers in a safe, secure, and efficient fashion. Pouches and totes described herein are typically fabricated from a thermally insulating material such as, for example, neoprene, and are dimensioned for securely holding one or more conventional reclosable plastic storage bags.

[0011]Thus, the present disclosure provides totes for securely and conveniently holding, protecting, and carrying conventional reclosable plastic storage bags, resealable storage containers, and the like, which themselves can be securely held by the pouches described in this disclosure. As discussed in greater detail herein, totes are sized to optimally carry and accommodate one or more rows of standard sized conventional reclosable plastic storage bags.

Problems solved by technology

The art fails, however, to disclose pouches, totes, or other containers specifically designed to hold, protect, carry, and transport plastic storage bags.

None of these existing carriers and cases is constructed to specifically hold, protect, and transport conventional reclosable plastic storage bags.

Despite the locking mechanisms found on most contemporary “zip lock” type storage bags, such bags can and do leak if turned upside down, locked imperfectly, or carried in a standard bag or backpack with other articles.

Other objects and articles, such as books or pens, can puncture plastic storage bags, spilling and spoiling their contents and perhaps damaging or ruining other articles.

If reclosable plastic storage bags are stored, packaged, or carried with other objects, those objects can put pressure on the reclosable plastic storage bags, causing the contents to, again, escape past the locking seal and spill out.

And, conventional reclosable storage bags lack substantial thermal insulation thereby offering little protection against changes in environmental temperature.

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