Upright Plastic Storage Bags

Abstract

To provide a plastic storage bag allowed to shift between a flat configuration and an upright configuration allowing the bag to be charged easily.SOLUTION: A storage bag is (a) shifted between (i) a flat configuration in which a first sidewall and a second sidewall are arranged adjacently to each other and (ii) an upright configuration in which the first sidewall and the second sidewall are distant from each other such that the bag has a substantially flat bottom. In the upright configuration, the bag is shifted as to first, second, third and fourth shift regions of the first sidewall such that a substantially flat bottom is formed in the bag, and is (b) shifted as to a cuff line in each of the first and second sidewalls so that a cuff region allows the bag to shift into a fold-back position for folding the bag on the cuff line in each of the first and second sidewalls forming an opening to the bag.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] [CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 204,075, filed Mar. 11, 2014, which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 204,075, filed Nov. 7, 2014. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 535,667, filed on Oct. 13, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a storage bag, and more particularly to a plastic storage bag that can be shifted between a flat configuration and an upright configuration that allows the bag to be easily filled. [Background technology]

[0003] Storage bags made from flexible plastic materials are well known. Such plastic storage bags come in a variety of sizes and can be used to contain a variety of items including food, utensils, clothing, tools, etc. These storage bags often include a zipper-like closure mechanism for releasably sealing the interior of the bag. Plastic storage bags with various types of closure mechanisms are sold by the assignee of the present application under the name ZIPLOC®.

[0004] It is desirable to configure the plastic storage bag so that the bag stands upright and the user can set the bag in an open position without the user having to hold the top of the bag. That is, the plastic storage bag should stand upright with its closure mechanism open and without the user having to grip the bag. In such an upright open position, the user's hands are free to fill the bag with items. However, at other times, it is desirable for the plastic storage bag to be as flat as possible. For example, a flat bag may be more compact when the bag is not in use.

[0005] In order to provide a plastic storage bag that can stand upright without a user having to hold the top of the bag, pleats or gussets may be added to the bottom of the bag. "Pleat" or "gusset" refers to additional material provided between other portions of the bag, e.g., folds formed by doubling the material forming the bag over itself. An example of such a pleat / gusset arrangement of a bag can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,565. In addition to pleats, the storage bag can be made thicker across its sides and bottom to better support itself in an upright position. However, both pleats and thicker bags require the use of additional material to form the bag, thereby increasing the costs associated with manufacturing the bag. Additionally, pleats and additional material reduce the ability of the bag to lie flat, e.g., when not in use and when stored. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In one aspect, the invention is directed to a storage bag including a first sidewall, the first sidewall including at least one shift area provided at a bottom portion of the first sidewall and a cuff line. A second sidewall is directly connected to the first sidewall along three sides of the bag to form an interior of the bag having an opening, the second sidewall including at least one shift area provided at a bottom portion of the second sidewall and a cuff line. A cuff area is disposed below a top edge of the first sidewall and a top edge of the second sidewall, the cuff area extending from a point below each of the top edges of the first and second sidewalls to the cuff line of each of the first and second sidewalls. The bag includes: (i) a first sidewall; and the second side wall are disposed adjacent one another; and (ii) an upright configuration, shiftable about at least one shift region of the first side wall and at least one shift region of the second side wall. In the upright configuration, a substantially flat base is formed for the bladder. The bladder is further shiftable about the cuff line such that the bladder can be shifted into a folded position in which the bladder is folded over the cuff line and the cuff region forms an opening to the bladder.

[0007] In another aspect, the invention is directed to a storage bag including a first side wall, the first side wall including at least one shift area provided at a bottom portion of the first side wall. A second side wall is directly connected to the first side wall along three sides of the bag to form an interior of the bag with an opening, the second side wall including at least one shift area provided at a bottom portion of the second side wall. A cuff area is disposed below a top edge of the first side wall and a top edge of the second side wall, the cuff area including at least one shift area. The bag can be configured in two configurations: (i) a flat configuration, in which the first side wall and the second side wall are disposed adjacent to one another, and (ii) an upright configuration, in which the bag is shiftable with respect to the at least one shift area of ​​the first side wall and the at least one shift area of ​​the second side wall. In the upright configuration, a substantially flat base is formed for the bag. The bag is shiftable with respect to at least one of the cuff regions such that the bag can be shifted into a folded position by folding the bag over the at least one shift region and the cuff region forming an opening to the bag.

[0008] These and other advantages and features will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1A] FIG. 2 is a side view of a bag according to the present invention in a flat configuration. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B is a detailed view of section A of the bag shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 2A]FIG. 2 is an end view of a bag according to the present invention in a flat configuration. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of a bag according to the present invention in an upright configuration. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of a bag according to the present invention in an upright configuration. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a side view of a bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6A] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a bag according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6B] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a bag according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6C] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a bag according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6D] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a bag according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6E] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a bag according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6F] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a bag according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6G] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a bag according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a side view of a bag according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a side view of a bag according to a further embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9A] FIG. 13 is a partial side view of a bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9B] FIG. 13 is a partial side view of a bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9C] FIG. 13 is a partial side view of a bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9D] FIG. 13 is a partial side view of a bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9E] FIG. 13 is a partial side view of a bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10A] 9B is a perspective view of a bag according to the embodiment of FIG. 9A in an upright configuration. [Figure 10B] FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the bag shown in FIG. 10A with the top of the bag folded over. [Figure 11A] FIG. 13 is a side view of a bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11B] FIG. 13 is a side view of a bag according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11C] FIG. 13 is a side view of a bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The present invention relates to a plastic storage bag that includes features for shifting the bag between a flat configuration and an upright configuration in which the bag stands on a substantially flat base without needing to be grasped by a user to allow for easy filling of the bag.

[0011] As will be apparent from the description herein, the terms "bag" and "storage bag" encompass a wide range of structures designed to contain items. Such bag structures may also be referred to as pouches, envelopes, packets, and the like. In general, the terms "bag" and "storage bag" as used herein simply refer to a container with some degree of flexibility with an opening such that the bag can carry any number of items. Storage bags can be tailored for a particular use, for example, in some embodiments, a bag may be used to store food in a refrigerator, or in other embodiments, a bag may be used to store food in a freezer.

[0012] 1A, 1B and 2-4 are diagrams of a storage bag 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The bag 100 includes a first side wall 102 and a second side wall 104 that are connected along side edges 106 and 110 and along a bottom edge 108. The top of the bag 100 is formed with an opening 112 through which an item can be placed inside the bag 100. In particular, the bag 100 does not include pleats or gussets in a bottom portion 118 between the first side wall 102 and the second side wall 104. That is, the first side wall 102 and the second side wall 104 are directly connected to each other along the bottom edge 108 of the bag 100 without any type of folding or expandable structure provided between the side walls 102 and 104. Additionally, the first side wall 102 and the second side wall 104 are directly connected along the side edges 106 and 110 without any pleats or gussets connecting the two side walls 102 and 104.

[0013] Opening 112 may be sealed by interlocking closure structures 114A, 114B, 116, and 116B. Interlocking closure structures for plastic storage bags are well known in the art, and examples of various shapes and configurations of interlocking members that may be used with storage bag 100 of the present application can be found in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,070,584, 7,784,160, 7,886,412, 7,946,766, and 8,061,898, as well as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0324141, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. As an alternative to closure structures 114A, 114B, 116A and 116B, in other embodiments, a slider-type closure structure may be used to seal the opening 112 of the bag 100 along the top edges of the first and second side walls 102, 104. Examples of slider-type closure structures can be found in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,664,299, 5,836,056, and 7,052,181, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0014] Exemplary plastic materials that may be used to form the bag 100 include, for example, polyolefin plastomers, as well as combinations and blends thereof, such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), metallocene polyethylene (mPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), ultra low density polyethylene (ULDPE), biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BPET), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Still other materials that may be used include styrene block copolymers, polyolefin blends, elastomeric alloys, thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic copolyesters, thermoplastic polyamides, polymers and copolymers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), saran polymers, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymers, cellulose acetate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), ionomers, polystyrene, polycarbonate, styrene acrylonitrile, aromatic polyesters, linear polyesters, and thermoplastic polyvinyl chloride (PVDC). Examples of suitable plastic materials include vinyl alcohol. Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of other materials may also be used to form the storage bag 100. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that by using the plastic materials described above, the storage bag 100 may be made in a range of colors and transparencies.

[0015] A variety of manufacturing techniques may be used to form the plastic storage bag 100. As one specific example, the side walls 102 and 104 of the bag 100 may be extruded together as a single sheet, with a portion of the first side wall 102 and a portion of the second side wall 104 being joined together to form the bag structure, for example, using a thermoplastic welding technique. As another example, the first side wall 102 and the second side wall 104 may be formed as separate structures that are joined together along three edges 106, 108, and 110. In this context, when the side walls 102 and 104 are referred to herein as being "connected" together, the side walls may be integrally formed, or alternatively, the side walls 102 and 104 may be separate structures that are joined together at a connection. Configurations of certain additional features of the bag 100 are described below.

[0016] A storage bag 100 according to the present invention can be shifted between a flat configuration, as shown in Figures 1A, 1B and 2, and an upright configuration, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The bag 100 maintains an upright position even though it does not include pleats or gussets adjacent the bottom edge 126. Instead, the bag 100 stands upright due to the unique configuration of the bottom portions 118 of the side walls 102 and 104, which will be described below.

[0017] As shown in Figures 1A and 3, bottom portion 118 of first sidewall 102 is formed with a number of shifting areas 122A, 122B, 123A, 123B, 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 126 and 128. Figure 1B shows a detail of area A of Figure 1A, including additional shifting areas 125A, 125B and 125C. The shifting areas are configured to allow the bag to be easily shifted between flat and upright configurations, as described in more detail below. In some embodiments, shift areas 122A, 122B, 123A, 123B, 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 125A, 125B, 125C, 126, and 128 are slight indentations, scores, or crimps formed in side walls 102 and 104 of bag 100 that are made to a depth such that bag 100 can easily shift about that area, but the shift areas 122A, 122B, 123A, 123B, 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 125A, 125B, 125C, 126, and 128 are not made to a depth that would substantially weaken the integrity of bag 100. Those skilled in the art will recognize that shifting regions 122A, 122B, 123A, 123B, 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 125A, 125B, 125C, 126, and 128 can be formed using a variety of techniques, such as cutting bag 100 with a mechanical structure, or, as another example, by using ultrasonic cutting. As yet another example, shifting regions 122A, 122B, 123A, 123B, 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 125A, 125B, 125C, 126, and 128 can be formed by deforming a portion of side walls 102 and 104 of storage bag 100 by compressing side walls 102 and 104 to permanently deform a portion of the shape of the shifting regions.

[0018] Using shifting regions 122A, 122B, 123A, 123B, 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 125A, 125B, 125C, 126, and 128, bag 100 can be shifted between a flat configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, and an upright configuration, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the flat configuration, first side wall 102 and second side wall 104 are disposed adjacent to one another. In the upright configuration, first side wall 102 and second side wall 104 are spaced apart from one another. To space first side wall 102 and second side wall 104 apart, bottom portion 118 of the bag is shifted such that bottom portion 118 is substantially flat to straighten bag 100. 12. Shifting in this manner causes the ends of bottom portion 118 adjacent corners 120 and 121 to expand outwardly in a triangular configuration, such that bottom portion 118 of bag 100 is outlined by shifting regions 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 126 and 128. When shifting from the flat configuration to the upright configuration, bag 100 also moves relative to shift regions 122A and 122B, such that portions 130A and 130B of first side wall 102 shift over other portions 128A and 128B of first side wall 102. Shifting to the upright configuration is facilitated by gripping the bag 100 at portions 130A and 130B which actually act as hinges that naturally cause the bag 100 to shift into the upright configuration.

[0019] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1A-4, shift areas are provided at both bottom corners of both side walls 102 and 104 of the bag 100. In particular, as can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, a plurality of shift areas 124C, 124D, and 128 are provided at the second side wall 104 corresponding to the shift areas 124A, 124B, and 126 provided at the first side wall 104. Note that "corresponding" means that the shift areas are at the same relative positions on the first side wall 102 and the second side wall 104. However, in other embodiments, fewer shift areas may be provided. For example, a shift area may be provided at only one corner of one of the side walls 102 and 104. In still other embodiments, shift areas may be provided at two bottom corners of one of the side walls 102 and 104, and not provided at the other of the side walls 102 and 104. In yet other embodiments, a shift area may be provided at a bottom corner of one of the side walls 102 and 104 and another shift area may be provided at a bottom corner of the other side of the other side wall 102 or 104, such that the shift area on one side of the bag 100 does not correspond to the shift area on the other side of the bag 100.

[0020] Similarly, bag 100 may include some but not all of the illustrated shifting regions 122A, 122B, 123A, 123B, 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 125A, 125B, 125C, 126, and 128. For example, in one embodiment, bag 100 may include shifting regions 122A, 122B, 124A, and 124B, but may not include any of the other illustrated shifting regions 123A, 123B, 124C, 124D, 125A, 125B, 125C, 126, and 128. In such an embodiment, shifting regions 122A, 122B, 124A, and 124B function independently to shift bag 100 from a flat configuration to an upright configuration. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, shift areas 122A, 122B, 123A, 123B, 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 125A, 125B, 125C, 126, and 128 are shown as extending solid lines. However, in other embodiments, shift areas 122A, 122B, 123A, 123B, 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 125A, 125B, 125C, 126, and 128 may not be contiguous. For example, any one of the shift areas may be formed as multiple separate line segments, dots, or the like. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the number and continuity of shift areas provided on a bag in accordance with the present invention may be adjusted to make shifting of the bag somewhat easier, or the number and continuity of the shift areas may be adjusted based on other factors, such as aesthetics and cost of manufacturing the bag. In this context, in some embodiments, the bag may include only one of shifting regions 122A, 122B, 123A, 123B, 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 125A, 125B, 125C, 126 and 128.

[0021] 1A and 1B, shift regions 122A, 122B, 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 126 and 128 form two angles α and β with side edges 106 and 110 and bottom edge 108. Additionally, reference lines 134A and 134B form two angles α and β with side edges 106 and 110 and bottom edge 108. 4B are used to define the areas 128A, 128B, 132A and 132B. It should be noted that the reference lines 134A and 134B are provided in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B for the purpose of understanding the present invention, but are not actually the structure of the bag 100. As is apparent from the figures, the magnitude of the angles α and β determine the relative sizes of the areas 128A, 128B, 132A and 132B. Generally speaking, it has been found that in order to facilitate the shifting movement from the flat configuration to the upright configuration, the areas 128A and 128B should be approximately equal to the areas 132A and 132B. Furthermore, it has been found that the shifting is significantly facilitated when the angles α and β satisfy the following formula (1):

number

[0022] The horizontal shift regions 126 and 128 extend above the bottom edge 108 of the bag 100 to a height H. This height H actually determines the width of the flat base of the bag 100 when the bag 100 is in an upright configuration. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the width of the base of the bag 100 is about 2H at the center region of the bag. In an embodiment of the invention, the height H is about 1 inch to about 3.5 inches, more specifically about 1.5 inches to about 3 inches, and even more specifically about 2 inches to about 2.5 inches. The width of the base of the bag will be about twice these heights, i.e., about 2 inches to about 7 inches, more specifically about 3 inches to about 6 inches, and even more specifically about 4 inches to about 5 inches. In a particular embodiment, the height H is about 2 inches, and therefore the width of the base of the bag is about 4 inches. Generally speaking, such ranges allow a standard size storage bag, such as one for storing food, to stand upright.

[0023] 1A-4, the bag 100 may be made to stand upright without the need for additional structural features. For example, unlike other bags known in the art, the bag 100 need not include pleats or gussets between the bottom portion of the first side wall 102 and the bottom portion of the second side wall 104. Moreover, because pleats or gussets are not required, the side walls 102 and 104 of the bag 100 may be made of a relatively uniform thickness. In this context, in some embodiments, the side walls 102 and 104 may be only about 1.6 mils to about 2.6 mils thick. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a thickness of about 1.6 mils is substantially less than the thickness of many types of upright plastic storage bags.

[0024] While the bag 100 will remain in an upright configuration when the side walls 102 and 104 are of uniform thickness, in other embodiments, certain portions of the bag 100 are made thicker to further facilitate an upright configuration. In one example, the area of ​​the bottom portion 108 of the side walls 102 and 104 of the bag 100 is made thicker than the remainder of the bag 100. Specifically, the bottom portion 108 is approximately twice as thick as the other portions of the side walls 102 and 104. In other embodiments, the area of ​​the bottom portion 108 is made thicker than the other portions of the side walls 102 and 104. If extrusion techniques are used to manufacture bag 100, the amount of material used to form bottom portion 108 compared to the other portions may be adjusted to, for example, adjust the extrusion process so that bottom portion 108 is approximately 1 mil thicker while the thickness of the other portions of side walls 102 and 104 is reduced by approximately 0.1 mil. This allows the bottom portion 108 to be made thicker.

[0025] In some embodiments, the bottom portion 108 of the first and second side walls 102, 104 can be visually distinct from other portions of the first and second side walls 102, 104. For example, a visually distinct texture can be formed in the bottom portion 108 between the horizontal shift region 126 of the first and second side walls 102, 104 and the horizontal shift region 128 of the second side wall 104. Such a texture can assist a user in identifying the shifting bottom portion 108. Additionally, the texture can increase base friction when the bag 100 is in an upright configuration, thereby further stabilizing the bag 100.

[0026] To further facilitate upright configuration of the bag 100, other portions of the side walls 102 and 104 above the bottom portion 108 may be made more rigid. Examples of such more rigid portions are the areas labeled 140, 142, 144, and 146 on the first side wall 102 in FIG. 1A. Although not shown, corresponding more rigid areas may be formed on the second side wall 104. The more rigid portions 140, 142, 144, and 146 provide structural support to the side walls 102 and 104 to help maintain the bag in a straight, upright configuration. The more rigid areas 140, 142, and 146 extend into the side wall 102, while the more rigid area 144 extends from the edge 106 to the edge 110 of the side wall 102. By extending the entire length of the side wall 102 and being located adjacent the opening 112 of the bag 100, the stiffer region 144, together with the corresponding stiffer region on the second side wall 104, helps to maintain the opening 112 in an open position when the bag 100 is in an upright configuration and the closure structures 114A, 114B, 116A and 116B are not sealed. At the same time, the vertical stiffer regions 140 and 142, as well as the corresponding stiffer regions on the side wall 104, help to push the sides of the bag out in the upright configuration. Thus, the bag 100 can be maintained in an upright position for easy filling by the user.

[0027] The stiffer regions 140, 142, 144, and 146 may be formed by extruding the side walls 102 and 104 of the bag such that the regions 140, 142, 144, and 146 on the first side wall 102, and corresponding portions on the second side wall 104, are thicker than other portions of the side walls 102 and 104. Alternatively, the stiffer regions 140, 142, 144, and 146 may be formed by applying additional material onto the side walls 102 and 104.

[0028] In yet other embodiments of the present invention, the upper portion of the bag is made more rigid to help maintain the opening 112 in an open position. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the lip is the area of ​​the bag above the closure structures (i.e., the area between the closure structures 116A / B and the top edge of the bag as shown in FIG. 1A). In some embodiments, one or both of the lips of the bag are made more rigid, which allows the opening 112 to more easily remain in an open position.

[0029] Those skilled in the art will recognize many different ways in which the lip of the bag can be made more rigid. For example, additional material may be added to the lip area in a manner similar to the manner in which additional material is added to form areas 140, 142, 144, and 146 described above. That is, the lip can be made more rigid by providing additional material to the lip area such that the lip is thicker than the rest of the bag. In this regard, making the lip thicker has the added benefit of making the lip easier to grip, for example, when the bag is open. In a particular example, the lip can be 20% stiffer than the rest of the bag, and This allows the bag to stay in the open position more easily and makes the lips easier to grip.

[0030] The added material provided to make the lip more rigid can be the same material as the material used to form the rest of the bag. Alternatively, a different material may be used to make the lip more rigid. For example, the bag can be made of PE, and HDPE can be added to the lip area to make the lip more rigid. In other embodiments, the lip itself can be at least partially formed of a different, more rigid material than the rest of the bag. For example, when the bag is formed primarily of PE, the lip can be formed separately of HDPE, the higher density HDPE making the lip more rigid than the rest of the bag. Of course, the material used to form the lip, or the added material added to the lip that is added to the lip area, can be any material that is compatible with the other materials used to form the bag.

[0031] As described above, the closure structure or structures of the bag are located near the opening. Thus, in addition to or as an alternative to making the lip harder, the closure structure or structures of the bag can be formed of a harder material than the rest of the bag, which allows the bag to more easily remain in an open position (when the closure structure is not functioning to close the opening). In embodiments including a harder closure structure, the closure structure is made of HDPE while the remainder of the bag is made of PE.

[0032] 5 is a side view of a bag 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Bag 200 includes some of the features provided in the above-described embodiments, including side walls 202 and 204 and closure structures 224A, 224B, 226A and 226B. However, in bag 200, shift regions 222A, 222B, 224A and 224B do not extend entirely around corners 220 and 221. Instead, shift regions 222A, 222B, 224A and 224B extend from locations that are proximate to, but not directly adjacent to, corners 220 and 221. In this regard, the shift region in embodiments of the invention can extend from a position "near" the corner, in that the shift region extends from a position directly adjacent to the corner, as shown in FIG. 1A for bag 100, or from another position "near" the corner, and in that the shift region extends from a position adjacent to the corner, as shown in FIG. 5 for bag 200.

[0033] The shift regions 222A, 222B, 224A, and 224B of the bag 500 are not straight, but instead have a curved shape. The bag 200 can be shifted between flat and upright configurations by shifting about the curved shift regions 222A, 222B, 224A, 224B, and 226 in a manner similar to the way the bag 100 shifts between flat and upright configurations as described above. With the curved shift regions 222B and 224B, the angle α is measured between the side 210 and a line T1 that is tangent to a point at the midpoint of the shift region 222B, and the angle β is measured between the bottom 208 and a line T2 that is tangent to a point at the midpoint of the shift region 224B. Although not shown, similar angles α and β can be measured between the lines tangent to the shift regions 222A, 224A and the side and bottom edges 206 and 208. The angles α and β can be related by equation (1) as described above.

[0034] In the above-described embodiment, the bag according to the present invention has been described as comprising a shift area formed as a depression in the bag. However, in other embodiments, the location at which the bag shifts between a flat and an upright configuration may be formed in a different manner, such as by providing additional polymeric material to the sides of the bag. For example, polyethylene may be provided to the sides of the bag in the same locations as the above-described shift areas of the bag. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the various techniques that may be used to apply such additional material, for example, a nozzle that turns on and off to rapidly deposit material in the pattern of the shift area. Other embodiments In the embodiment, the locations about which the bag can shift are provided as areas of varying thickness, height, etc. at the sides of the bag. In this regard, Figures 6A-6G are cross-sectional views of a portion of a bag according to an embodiment of the invention, the cross-section including different shifting regions 600A-600G. Any of the shifting regions 600A-600G may be provided in locations about which the bag can shift between a flat configuration and an upright configuration, such as the locations of the shifting regions in the embodiments described above. Thus, the shifting regions 600A-600G provide a base when the bag is in the upright configuration, and the bag need not include pleats or gussets formed between the side walls at the bottom of the bag.

[0035] Figure 7 shows an example of how shift regions such as those generally shown in Figure 6B can be used in a bag according to the present invention. Bag 700 includes shift regions 727A, 727B, 724A, 724B, 726, and 728 (region 728 is provided on sidewall 704 opposite sidewall 702 as shown). In this embodiment, shift regions 726 and 728 have a bead-like configuration. Note that bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 correspond in their location to shift regions 126 and 128 of bag 100 shown above. Thus, the shift regions form the base edges of bag 700 when the bag is shifted to an upright configuration.

[0036] The bead-shaped shift regions 726 and 728 can be formed of the same material as the material of the bag, for example, specifically by extruding the material forming the sidewalls 702 and 704 such that the shift regions 726 and 728 are formed in a bead shape. Alternatively, the bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 can be formed by forming the sidewalls 702 and 704 at the same time as forming the shift regions 726 and 728 using a different material, forming the sidewalls of the bag using a different material, or by forming the sidewalls 702 and 704 and then adding a different material to form the shift regions 726 and 728. In this regard, the shift regions 726 and 728 can be formed of any of the plastic materials discussed above. As another example, the material used to form the bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 can be an adhesive, ink, or wax material. In some cases, the add-on material used to form the beaded shift regions 726 and 728 is not directly attached to the side walls 702 and 704 of the bladder, but rather one or more intermediate layers are formed between the beaded shift regions 726 and 728 and the side walls 702 and 704. In yet other embodiments, the beaded regions 726 and 728 themselves are formed of multiple layers of one or more materials.

[0037] The bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 can be formed to any thickness such that they facilitate shifting of the bladder as described above, although in some embodiments, the bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 are from about 2 to about 20 times thicker than the bladder sidewalls 702 and 704. In more specific embodiments, the bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 are from about 2 to about 10 times thicker than the bladder sidewalls 702 and 704. And, in certain embodiments, the bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 extend about 15 mils from the surface of the sidewalls 702 and 704.

[0038] It should be noted that while the bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 are shown on the outer surfaces of the sidewalls 702 and 704, as with all of the shift regions described herein, one or both of the bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 may be provided on the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 702 and 704 (i.e., on the interior of the bag). It should also be noted that while the bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 have a generally rounded shape as shown in FIG. 6B, the bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 may be more or less rounded than shown. In fact, the bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 may not be rounded and may be formed in any shape, for example, a square, rectangular, or triangular shape.

[0039] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the bead-type shift regions 726 of the sidewall 702 are slightly offset from the corresponding bead-type shift regions 728 of the sidewall 704 such that the bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 are disposed immediately adjacent to one another when the bag 700 is in a flat configuration. While this offset is not required, it can minimize the creation of leakage, and the shift regions 726 and 728 abut the sides 106 and 110 of the bag. Of course, as generally discussed above, in some embodiments, the bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 do not extend to the sides 106 and 110, but rather extend only a portion of the length of the sidewalls 702 and 704 of the bag. Furthermore, as generally discussed above, the bead-type shift regions 726 and 728 may or may not be contiguous.

[0040] A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 8. This embodiment includes additional shift regions on the side walls 804 and the lower and upper portions of 804 of the bag 800. For the bottom portion, a pattern of seven shift regions 822A, 824A, 826A, 828A, 830A, 832A and 834A is provided near one of the bottom corners of the side wall 804, and a similar pattern of seven shift regions 822B, 824B, 826B, 828B, 830B, 832B and 834B is provided at the other corner of the side wall 804. The shifting regions 822A, 824A, 826A, 828A, 830A, 832A, 834A, 822B, 824B, 826B, 828B, 830B, 832B, and 834B can take any of the forms described above, such as indentations, scores, beads, and the like. In particular, the patterns of the shifting regions are such that some of the shifting regions intersect with one or more of the other shifting regions. For example, shifting region 828A intersects with shifting region 830A and shifting region 832A. As another example, shifting region 824A intersects with shifting regions 826A, 828A, and 830A. It has been found that a pattern in which at least one shifting region intersects with another shifting region facilitates the shifting function, thereby making it easier to move the bag between a flat configuration and an upright configuration. Also, intersecting multiple shifting regions with two or more shifting regions improves the shifting function. 8, it should be noted that a similar pattern of shift regions can be formed in the two bottom corners of opposing sidewalls 804 of bag 800. Additionally, any combination of such shift regions can be formed in the corners of the bag, for example, a shift region is provided in only one corner of sidewall 802 and one corner of sidewall 804. Additionally, the illustrated pattern may be modified to omit one or more of the shift regions or to provide one or more additional shift regions.

[0041] With respect to the upper portion of the bag 800, shift areas 836A and 838A are provided below the closure structures 814A / B and 816A / B on the sidewall 804 with shift areas 836A and 836B extending from the side 806 of the bag 800. Similarly, shift areas 836B and 838B are provided extending from the side 810. The additional shift areas 836A, 836B, 838A and 838B help maintain the bag opening 812 in an open position by deflecting a portion of the bag 800 along the shift areas 836A, 836B, 838A and 838B when the bag 800 is opened. These shift areas 836A, 836B, 838A and 838B can take any of the shift area forms described above, e.g., indentations, scores, beads, etc. Also, shift areas 836A, 836B, 838A and 838B may be provided anywhere in the general area of ​​the upper portion near sides 806 and 808. However, in certain embodiments, shift areas 836A and 836B are approximately 1 inch below closure structures 814A / B, measured along sides 806 and 810, and shift areas 838A and 838B are approximately ½ inch below shift areas 836A and 836B (approximately 1.5 inches below closure structures 814A / B), measured along sides 806 and 810. In certain embodiments, shifting areas 836A, 836B, 838A and 838B extend approximately 1 inch along sidewall 804, measured perpendicular to sides 806 and 810.

[0042] In some embodiments, shift areas corresponding to shift areas 836A, 836B, 838A and 838B are provided in second side wall 804 of bag 800. One skilled in the art will recognize that more or fewer shift areas may be provided in either side wall 804 and the upper portion of 804, similar to 836A, 836B, 838A and 838B.

[0043] Any of the shifting regions provided in bag 800 may be combined with any of the other embodiments of bags of the present application as described herein. For example, shifting regions 836A, 836B, 838A, and 838B may be provided in bags 100 and 200 as described above. Additionally, bag 800 may include features according to other embodiments described herein. For example, if desired, the visually distinct textures described above may be provided on the bottom portion of bag 800. More generally, any of the features described herein with respect to a particular embodiment may be combined with or substituted for features of another particular embodiment, as will be fully understood by those skilled in the art. For example, a bag according to the present invention may be formed with a combination of (1) stiffer portions 140, 142, 144 and 146 as described in connection with bag 100, (2) curved shift regions 222A, 222B, 224A and 224B as described in connection with bag 200, (3) beaded shift regions as described in connection with bag 700, and (4) shift regions 836A, 836B, 838A and 838B as described in connection with bag 800.

[0044] FIG. 9A is a partial side view of a bag 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The bag 300 includes some of the features provided in the above-described embodiments, including side walls 302 and 304 connected along side edges 306 and 310, and interlocking closure structures 314A, 314B, 316A, and 316B. Although not shown in FIG. 9A, the bottom of the bag 300 in this embodiment includes multiple shift areas (not shown) that allow the bag 300 to be shifted between a flat configuration and an upright configuration according to various above-described embodiments. The bag 300 maintains an upright position even though it does not include pleats or gussets adjacent the bottom edge. Instead, the bag 300 stands upright due to the unique configuration described above and shown, for example, in FIGS. 1A-8.

[0045] The bag of the embodiment of FIG. 9A further includes a cuff region 320 that extends from a cuff line 322 to a point at or below a top edge 324 of the bag 300, for example, to a point at or below the interlocking closure structures 314A, 314B, 316A, and 316B. The cuff line 322 of the cuff region 320 is formed in the side walls 302 and 304 of the bag 300, such as those used to form the shift region of the embodiments described above, and includes a slight indentation, score line, or crimp of a depth that allows the bag 300 to be easily folded about the cuff line 322, provided that the cuff line 322 is not of a depth that substantially weakens the integrity of the bag 300. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the cuff line 322 can be formed using a variety of techniques, such as cutting the bag 300 with a mechanical structure or by using ultrasonic cutting. Alternatively, the cuff line 322 may comprise a dashed line (see, e.g., 322' in FIG. 9B), a curved line (see, e.g., 322'' in FIG. 9C), or a partial line that does not extend the entire length of the bladder 300 (see, e.g., 322''' in FIG. 9D). The cuff region 320 may further comprise a number of shift or bend regions (see, e.g., 323A-323G in FIG. 9E), such as those described in the embodiments above, to assist in actuating the cuff by the user.

[0046] Cuff region 320, cuff lines 322, 322', 322'', 322''', and / or shift regions 323A-323G may allow a user to easily fold or fold bladder 300 about cuff region 320, cuff lines 322, 322', 322'', 322''', and / or shift regions 323A-323G, thereby making it easier to fill, especially when bladder 300 is in an upright configuration (see, e.g., FIGS. 10A and 10B ); and The bag is provided with a wide opening to prevent zipper contamination when filling the bag and the ability to easily pour contents out of the bag. The cuff lines 322, 322', 322'', 322''' can be positioned along the bag at a desired location for a user to fold or fold the bag 300. In one embodiment, the cuff lines 322, 322', 322'', 322''' are positioned about 1 / 8 inch to about 2 inches below the lower closure structures 314A and 314B. In one preferred embodiment, the cuff lines 322, 322', 322'', 322''' are positioned about 5 / 8 inch below the lower closure structures 314A and 314B.

[0047] As also shown in FIG. 9A, the cuff region 320 includes a pattern band 326 provided between the interlocking closure structures 314A, 314B, 316A, and 316B and the cuff line 322. The pattern band 326 can include a printed pattern formed by various printing techniques. The pattern band 326 can also alternatively include a texture that can be formed by various techniques including, for example, embossing, extrusion, ultrasonic molding and blasting with a sand jet or water jet, scratching the surface with a laser or other means, and the like. The pattern band 326 can cover the cuff line 322 as well as any shift or flex areas to aid in initiating the cuffing action by the user. The pattern band 326 can also add some stiffness to the cuff region 320, for example, to aid in maintaining the wide open mouth 300 of the bag when the bag 300 is folded over (see FIG. 10B). The pattern band 326 may further provide an indication to the user as to where to make folds along the cuff region 320 and where to fold the bladder 300 along the cuff line 322. The pattern band 326 may be of any width and may extend above the cuff line 322, below the cuff line 322, or even above the cuff line. In one particular embodiment, the pattern band extends from the lower closure structures 314A and 314B (or from a point just below the lower closure structures 314A and 314B) to the cuff line 322. The bladder 300 of FIG. 9A may further include a graphic area 350 where an indication such as a message or image may be displayed to the user indicating that the bladder 300 may be folded along the cuff region 320 and / or cuff line 322. The graphic area 350 may be formed by a variety of printing techniques.

[0048] Figure 10A shows the bag 300 of the embodiment of Figure 9A in an upright configuration. As discussed above with respect to Figure 3, when the bag 300 is in the upright configuration, the first side wall 302 and the second side wall 304 are spaced apart from one another. As also shown in Figure 10A, the interlocking closure structures 314A, 314B, 316A and 316B are also spaced apart from one another, thus forming an opening 312 along a top edge 324 of the bag 300 that provides access to the interior of the bag 300. To separate the first side wall 302 and the second side wall 304, the bottom portion 318 of the bag moves relative to the shift regions (e.g., 122A, 122B, 123A, 123B, 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 125A, 125B, 125C, 126, and 128 in FIG. 3) such that the bottom portion 318 forms a substantially flat base for the straight bag 300. The bottom portion 318 of the bag 300 is thereby outlined by the shift regions (e.g., 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 126, and 128 in FIG. 3). As discussed above, shifting of the bag 300 to the upright configuration is facilitated by gripping the bag 300 at a portion of the bottom of the bag 300 (e.g., 130A and 130B in FIG. 3) that actually acts as a hinge that naturally causes the bag 300 to shift to the upright configuration. However, the bag 300 in FIG. 10A is in an upright configuration but has not yet been folded back onto the user. In other words, the cuff region 320 in FIG. 10A is located below the interlocking closure structures 314A, 314B, 316A and 316B, and the opening 312 of the bag 300 is still formed along the top edge 324 of the bag 300.

[0049] Figure 10B shows the bladder 300 of Figure 10A in an upright configuration and after being folded over by the user, with the cuff region 320 folded over the cuff line 322. In the folded over position of Figure 10B, the cuff region 320 of the bladder 300 as well as the pattern band 326 are located at the top of the bladder 300. As also shown in Figure 10B, when the bladder 300 is in the folded over position, the cuff region 320 is folded over the cuff line 322, so that the cuff line 322 now forms the top final edge of the bladder 300 which forms the opening 312 that provides access to the interior of the bladder 300. Folding cuff region 320 over cuff line 322 positions interlocking closure structures 314A, 314B, 316A and 316B along the exterior of bag 300, thus preventing contamination of interlocking closure structures 314A, 314B, 316A and 316B during filling of the bag. Additionally, folding bag 300 by folding cuff region 320 over cuff line 322 creates a wider opening 312 for easier filling, as well as the ability to easily pour contents out of bag 300.

[0050] 11A illustrates one embodiment of a bag 300 in which a first pattern region 360 (e.g., pattern band 326) is provided between the interlocking closure structures 314A, 314B, 316A, and 316B and the cuff line 322, and a second pattern region 370 is provided at a bottom portion 318 of the first and second side walls 302, 304. The pattern regions 360, 370 can be made visually distinct from other portions of the first and second side walls 302, 304, for example, by printing techniques, embossing, extrusion, ultrasonic molding and blasting with a sand or water jet, scratching the surface with a laser or other means, etc. In one embodiment, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 11A, the first pattern region 360 comprises a pattern that is identical or substantially identical to the pattern of the second pattern region 370. Alternatively, the first pattern region 360 and the second pattern region 370 may, for example, comprise different patterns (see 360' and 370 in FIG. 11B).

[0051] As discussed above, a first pattern region 360 is provided between the interlocking closure structures 314A, 314B, 316A, and 316B and the cuff line 322 to (i) cover the cuff line 322, (ii) add some stiffness to the cuff region 320, and / or (iii) provide a marker to the user as to where to fold along the cuff region 320 and fold the bag 300 back along the cuff line 322. As also discussed above with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 1A, a second pattern region 370 or texture can be formed in the bottom portion 318 of the first and second side walls 302, 304 between the horizontal shift regions of the first and second side walls 302, 304. Such a pattern region 370 or texture can assist a user in identifying the bottom portion 318 to shift. Additionally, the patterned area 370 or texture may increase the friction at the base when the bag 300 is in an upright configuration, thereby further stabilizing the bag 300.

[0052] 11C illustrates an alternative embodiment of the bag 300 in which the pattern region 380 extends across a majority of the bag 300. Specifically, in the embodiment of FIG. 11C, the pattern region 380 extends from beneath the interlocking closure structures 314A, 314B, 316A, and 316B to the bottom edge 308 of the bag 300, covering both the cuff line 320 and the shift area of ​​the bottom portion 318. As discussed above, the pattern region 380 can be made visually distinct from other portions of the first and second side walls 302, 304 by, for example, printing techniques, embossing, extrusion, ultrasonic molding and blasting with a sand or water jet, scratching the surface with a laser or other means, etc.

[0053] With respect to the various pattern regions discussed above (e.g., 326, 360, 360', 370, 380), various patterns and / or textures may be used to generate these regions. Additionally, the pattern regions may include, for example, parallel lines, intersecting lines, intermittent lines, and the like. , cross-hatching, curved lines, diagonal lines, diamond shapes, circular shapes, triangular shapes, X shapes, S shapes, cloud shapes, flower shapes, star shapes, heart shapes, etc., and any combination thereof. The patterned areas (e.g., 326, 360, 360', 370, 380) may further comprise raised portions, for example, created by ultrasonic embossing or embossing with a die press. Additionally, the patterned areas (e.g., 326, 360, 360', 370, 380) may have the same or substantially the same thickness as the side walls 302 and 304 of the bag 300. In other embodiments, the patterned areas (e.g., 326, 360, 360', 370, 380) of the bag 300 are made thicker to further facilitate an upright configuration (e.g., as shown in FIG. 10B) as well as folding of the bag 300.

[0054] The bag according to the present invention is highly functional since it can be made to stand upright without being held by the user. The bag can then be set on a flat surface and easily filled by the user. This upright configuration is achieved without the use of pleats, gussets or other additional structures in the bottom portion of the bag. Thus, the bag is substantially flat when not in use, thereby allowing for compact storage. Furthermore, by not including additional structures in the bottom portion, the bag can be made with substantially less material than other upright bags known in the art. Those skilled in the art will recognize numerous other advantages of the bag of the present application based on the above description.

[0055] Although the present invention has been described in certain specific exemplary embodiments, many further modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure. It is therefore to be understood that the present invention can be practiced other than as specifically described. The present exemplary embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention should be determined not by the foregoing description, but by any claims and their equivalents that can be supported by the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0056] The invention described herein can be used in the commercial production of storage bags, which have a wide variety of uses, such as for storing food, medicines, or other substances.

Claims

1. In the storage bag, (A) a first sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion, the first sidewall including at least one shift line provided in the bottom portion of the first sidewall; (B) a second side wall connected to the first side wall along three sides of the bag to form an interior of the bag having an opening, the second side wall having a top portion and a bottom portion; (C) a cuff region between an edge of the top portion of each of the first and second side walls and a cuff line on at least one of the first and second side walls; Equipped with The bag, (a) shifting between (i) a flat configuration in which the first side wall and the second side wall are generally in contact, and (ii) an upright configuration in which the first side wall and the second side wall are spaced apart from one another such that the bag has a substantially flat base by folding the first side wall along the at least one shift line; (b) folding the cuff region outwardly over the cuff line when the bladder is in the upright configuration, such that the cuff region defines the opening of the bladder; the at least one shift line on the first sidewall includes: (i) a first shift line extending from near a first corner of the first sidewall; (ii) a second shift line extending from near the first corner of the first sidewall; (iii) a third shift line extending from near a second corner of the first sidewall; and (iv) a fourth shift line extending from near the second corner of the first sidewall; and in the upright configuration, the first side wall is folded on the first, second, third and fourth shift lines of the first side wall such that the substantially flat base is formed on the bag. storage bag.

2. In the storage bag, (A) a first sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion, the first sidewall including at least one shift line provided in the bottom portion of the first sidewall; (B) a second side wall connected to the first side wall along three sides of the bag to form an interior of the bag having an opening, the second side wall having a top portion and a bottom portion; (C) a cuff region between an edge of the top portion of each of the first and second side walls and a cuff line on at least one of the first and second side walls; Equipped with The bag, (a) shifting between (i) a flat configuration in which the first side wall and the second side wall are generally in contact, and (ii) an upright configuration in which the first side wall and the second side wall are spaced apart from one another such that the bag has a substantially flat base by folding the first side wall along the at least one shift line; (b) folding the cuff region outwardly over the cuff line when the bladder is in the upright configuration, such that the cuff region defines the opening of the bladder; the second sidewall further comprises at least one shift line, the second sidewall being foldable on the at least one shift line, the at least one shift line being provided on the bottom portion of the second sidewall, the at least one shift line comprising a score line formed in the second sidewall; the at least one shift line on the second sidewall includes: (i) a first shift line extending from near a first corner of the second sidewall; (ii) a second shift line extending from near the first corner of the second sidewall; (iii) a third shift line extending from near a second corner of the second sidewall; and (iv) a fourth shift line extending from near the second corner of the second sidewall; a storage bag, wherein in the upright configuration, the second side wall is folded on first, second, third and fourth shift lines of the second side wall such that the substantially flat base is formed in the bag.

3. The storage bag of claim 1 or 2, wherein the cuff line is formed in the first side wall.

4. The storage bag of claim 3 , wherein the cuff line of the first side wall includes a score line formed in the first side wall.

5. The storage bag of claim 3 , wherein the cuff line is formed in the second side wall.

6. The storage bag of claim 5 , wherein the cuff line of the second side wall includes a score line formed in the second side wall.

7. 6. The storage bag of claim 5, wherein the cuff line of each of the first and second side walls comprises a straight line extending from a first edge to a second edge of a corresponding side wall.

8. 6. The storage bag of claim 5, wherein the cuff line of each of the first and second side walls comprises a dashed line extending from a first edge to a second edge of a corresponding side wall.

9. 6. The storage bag of claim 5, wherein the cuff line of each of the first and second side walls comprises a curve extending from a first edge to a second edge of the corresponding side wall.

10. 3. The storage bag of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first side wall further comprises a first interlocking closure structure and the second side wall further comprises a second interlocking closure structure, the first interlocking closure structure configured to interlock with the second interlocking closure structure to seal the opening of the bag.

11. 11. The storage bag of claim 10, wherein the first sidewall further includes a third interlocking closure structure disposed below the first interlocking closure structure, and the second sidewall further includes a fourth interlocking closure structure disposed below the second interlocking closure structure, the third interlocking closure structure configured to interlock with the fourth interlocking closure structure to seal the opening of the bag.

12. the at least one shift line on the first sidewall includes: (i) a first shift line extending from near a first corner of the first sidewall; and (ii) a second shift line extending from near a second corner of the first sidewall; 3. The storage bag of claim 2, wherein in the upright configuration, the first side wall is folded over on the first and second shift lines of the first side wall such that the substantially flat base is formed for the bag.

13. a bottom portion of at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall comprises a pattern area that is visually distinct from other portions of the first sidewall and the second sidewall; 3. The storage bag of claim 2, wherein the pattern area on each of the first and second side walls is provided to at least one of: (i) cover the at least one shift line on each of the first and second side walls; (ii) increase friction on a bottom portion of at least one of the first and second side walls; and (iii) provide a guide to a user as to where to fold the bag.

14. The storage bag of claim 13, wherein the patterned area is formed by embossing.

Images