GB2243143A - Bag having means for indicating tampering - Google Patents

Abstract

A bag has a first closure strip (33) strongly adhered (35) to the back panel (14) and releasably adhered (35) to the rear surface of the front panel (12). The front panel (12) includes a separation line (36) intermediate the first closure strip and a second closure strip (38), adhered (58) on the front surface of the front panel to produce an upper portion (40) that can be removed to expose the first closure strip, which then can be folded over and adhered to the second closure strip (38). The adhesive may be pressure-sensitive. The second closure strip (38) is formed from a tamper-indicating tape comprising a light transmissive film (42) derived from a composition comprising 50 to 85 pbw of a first copolymer comprising at least one moiety derived from at least one olefinic monomeric unit and 50 to 15 pbw of a second copolymer comprising at least one moiety derived from at least one vinyl monomeric unit, said second copolymer being sufficiently incompatible with said first copolymer such that two phases are formed within said film, one of said phases being continuous. The film is printed with different coloured indicia (48, 50) and splits internally under any bag opening attempt. <IMAGE>

Description

FLEXIBLE BAG HAVING MEANS FOR INDICATING TAMPERING This invention relates to flexible plastic bags, and more particularly, to flexible plastic bags with closure strips utilizing pressure-sensitive adhesive.

There are many types of flexible bags made of plastic material and provided with some type of pressure-sensitive adhesive closure strip, making the same easy and convenient to close. Some designs incorporate a removable liner applied over the closure strip prior to use.

Security deposit bags are used to securely store and transport valuable articles such as documents, cash and currency, checks, jewelry, bank deposits, securities, criminal investigation evidence, and the like. Typically, security deposit bags include bags or envelopes constructed from sewn fabric, plastic film, or laminates thereof with a zippered closure. The zippered closure may be secured with a lock or seal. However, such conventional security deposit bags are bulky and expensive, and although they are reusable, they also generate a recurring expense in transporting the security deposit bag back to the sender for reuse.

Disposable security deposit bags that are adhesively secured and sealed have also been developed.

U.K. Patent Application No. GB 2145997A, entitled "Tamperproof Bag", illustrates one such disposable bag, which is constructed of polyethylene. An adhesive strip is applied to an inside surface of the bag adjacent the opening and is temporarily covered by a liner. Once the bag has been filled, the liner is removed and the bag sealed by the adhesive strip. The bond of the adhesive strip exceeds the strength of the plastic film used to construct the bag. Any attempt to open the bag will result in destruction or visible distortion of the bag material, thus indicating that the bag has been opened.

In another embodiment in U.K. Patent Application No. GB 2145997A, the bag comprises a flap that is intended to be folded over the opening to form a second seal. U.K.

Patent Application No. GB 2120638A discloses a plastic security bag having one or more lines of adhesive extending from both edges of the bag inside the bag in such a way that the bag can be completely sealed against egress of contents. Although the security deposit bags disclosed in U.K. Patent Application Nos. GB 2145997A and GB 2120638A are improvements over other conventional security deposit bags, they still exhibit several undesirable characteristics. It has been found that by subjecting the adhesive seal of the bag to extremely low temperature, e.g., -450C, by means of dry ice or dichlorodifluoromethane ("Freon"), the adhesive becomes non-tacky, thereby allowing the adhesive to become unsealed from the polyethylene layer to which it has been applied.One can then tamper with the contents of the package and finally reseal the bag when the adhesive reaches ambient temperature.

This invention provides a flexible plastic bag formed from front and back panels joined along bottom and side edges.

A first closure strip is adhered to the back panel and includes an adhesive surface releasably'adhered to the rear surface of the front panel. The first closure strip is secured to the back panel with a greater bond strength than the first closure strip is adhered to the front panel. The front panel includes a transverse separation line intermediate the first closure strip and a second closure strip, which is disposed on the front surface of the front panel. The portion of the front panel above the separation line can be removed from the bag to expose the first closure strip, and the back panel can be folded over so that the back panel can then be secured by adhering the first closure strip to the second closure strip on the front surface of the front panel to close the top of the bag.

The second closure strip is formed from a tamper-indicating tape comprising a light transmissive film having opposing first and second major surfaces, which film is derived from a composition comprising 50 to 85 parts by weight (pbw) of a first copolymer comprising at least one moiety derived from at least one olefinic monomeric unit and 50 to 15 pbw of a second copolymer comprising at least one moiety derived from at least one vinyl monomeric unit, said second copolymer being sufficiently incompatible with said first copolymer such that two phases are formed within said film, one of said phases being continuous.

In one embodiment of the second closure strip, first colored indicia are printed on the first major surface of the film and second colored indicia printed on the second major surface of the film. The first major surface of the film is the surface facing toward the front surface of the front panel. The second major surface of the film is the surface facing away from the front panel.

The first and second indicia have contrasting colors, e.g., red and blue. Adhesive means are provided for adhering the second closure strip to the front panel of the bag with a bond strength greater than the force required to split the film. Theadhesive means is coated on the first major surface of the film opposite the second indicia. In order to obscure the second colored indicia, the adhesive can be colored so as to be of the same color as the second colored indicia. Alternatively, if a transparent adhesive is desired, the first major surface of the film can be flood coated with a colorant having the same color as the second colored indicia to obscure the second colored indicia.

The strength of the bond between the adhesive means and the film, i.e., the peel strength, should exceed the cohesive strength of the film. When the film is split internally, such as when the bag is opened after being closed and sealed, the film becomes opaque so that the first indicia are obscured when viewed through the split film, but the second indicia are perceptible over the split film, thereby indicating that an attempt has been made to open the bag.

In another embodiment of the second closure strip, first colored indicia are printed on the first major surface of the film and second colored indicia are printed on the second major surface of the film. The colors of the first and second indicia are contrasting, e.g., red and blue. Third colored indicia capable of masking the first colored indicia of the film are applied to the second major surface of the film. Third colored indicia are typically of the same color as first colored indicia. Third colored indicia is in register with first colored indicia. Second colored indicia is in register with neither first colored indicia nor with third colored indicia.

Means for adhering the film to the front panel of the bag are provided on said first major surface of the film. The strength of the bond between the adhesive means and the film, i.e., the peel strength, should exceed the cohesive strength of the film. In order to obscure the second colored indicia, the adhesive can be colored so as to be of the same color as the second colored indicia. Alternatively, if a transparent adhesive is desired, the first major surface of the film can be flood coated with a colorant having the same color as the second colored indicia to obscure the second colored indicia.

When the film is split internally, such as when the bag is opened after being closed and sealed, the film becomes opaque so that the first colored indicia are obscured when one views the split film, but the second colored indicia are perceptible when one views the split film, thereby indicating opening of the bag and any attempts at resealing would be evident.

In this embodiment, a back-up warning message is also included in the event a skilled tamperer should devise a method to obliterate the primary warning message.

Thus, bags utilizing tamper-indicating tapes made from a light transmissive film are provided that are effective, easy to use, and capable of providing either a single warning message or both an initial warning message and back-up warning message to the user of the bag.

The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts in the several views, and wherein: FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a flexible plastic bag constructed according to this invention.

FIG. 2A is a partial cross-sectional view of the bag of FIG. 1 along plane 2A-2A.

FIG. 2B is a partial cross-sectional view of the bag of FIG. 2A with a portion of the front panel of the bag removed above a separation line.

FIG. 2C is a partial cross-sectional view of the bag of FIG. 2B with the back panel secured to the front panel by the closure strips mounted on the back panel and on the front panel.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a tamper-indicating tape useful in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the tamper-indicating tape of FIG. 3 with the film split internally.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a tamper-indicating tape useful in this invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the tamper-indicating tape of FIG. 5 with the film split internally.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a tamper-indicating tape useful in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the tamper-indicating tape of FIG. 7 with the film split internally.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a tamper-indicating tape useful in this invention.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the tamper-indicating tape of FIG. 9 in which the primary warning message is visible.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the tamper-indicating tape of FIG. 9 with the film split internally, showing the back-up warning message.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, and 2C, there is shown bag 10, which is of a construction suitable for the present invention. Bag 10 can be made of any flexible plastic material found advantageous in a particular application, and, in particular, can be made from any flexible polymeric material. The following polymeric materials can be used to make the flexible bag of this invention: polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester.

The foregoing list is not exclusive, i.e., the bag can be made from other polymeric materials. The bag illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a single continuous sheet of plastic material folded to form front panel 12, back panel 14, sealed bottom edge 16, and frontXand rear end edges 18 and 20, respectively. Side edges 22 and 24 of front panel 12 and back panel 14, respectively, are sealed together to form the bag. Front panel 12 includes front surface 26 and rear surface 28. Back panel 14 includes front surface 30, which opposes rear surface 28 of front panel 12, and rear surface 32.

A first closure strip 33 comprising a backing 34 bearing a layer of adhesive 35 on one major surface thereof is adhered to back surface 30 of back panel 14 by said layer of adhesive 35. Alternatively, first closure strip 33 can be formed by depositing a layer of adhesive transfer tape or the like in a desired location on the front surface 30 of back panel 14. The adhesive is bonded more securely to back panel 14 than it is bonded to front panel 12. First closure strip 33 runs transversely from side edge 22 to side edge 24. Backing 34 can be made from any flexible polymeric material, and is preferably made from the polymeric material that is used to make bag 10.

The adhesive for adhesive layer 35 is preferably a pressure-sensitive adhesive. It is preferred that layer of adhesive 35 comprise a pressure-sensitive adhesive, such as a resin tackified synthetic rubber adhesive, and, in particular, styrene-butadiene rubber, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, and styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer; an acrylic adhesive, and, in particular, isooctylacrylate-acrylic acid; or a tackified natural rubber adhesive.

A separation line 36 is formed in front panel 12 intermediate said first closure strip 33 and a second closure strip 38 adhered to front surface 26 of front panel 12 of the bag. Separation line 36 may be formed by a series of perforations in front panel 12, or may be formed by cutting of the material of front panel 12.

Preferably, separation line 36 extends between side edges 22 and 24 of bag 10, with portion 40 of front panel 12 held in place by the exposed adhesive surface of first closure strip 33. Second closure strip 38 runs transversely from side edge 22 to side edge 24.

Referring to FIG. 2B, portion 40 of front panel 12 above separation line 36 has been separated from bag 10, delaminated from first closure strip 33 and removed.

Because first closure strip 33 is more securely bonded to back panel 14 than it is to front panel 12, it remains in place on back panel 14 after removal of portion 40. The adhesive surface of first closure strip 33 not bonded to rear surface 32 of back panel 14 is now exposed so that the top of bag 10 can be closed by folding over the upper end edge of back panel 14 to place first and second closure strips 33 and 38 together to close and seal bag 10.

In one embodiment, i.e., the one depicted in FIG. 3, second closure strip 38 comprises a light transmissive film 42 having a first major surface 44 and a second major surface 46. Film 42 is constructed so that it splits internally (i.e., between first and second major surface 44 and 46) when a predetermined level of force is applied to it. The embodiment is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,876,123, incorporated herein by reference.

First colored indicia 48 are printed on first major surface 44 and second colored indicia 50 are printed on second major surface 46 of film 42. As is shown particularly in FIGS. 5 and 6, first indicia 48 indicates one condition of strip 38, and second indicia 50 indicates another condition of strip 38. First indicia 48 and second indicia 50 have contrasting colors. For instance, first indicia 48 may be colored blue with second indicia 50 colored red.

Means are provided to adhere film 42 to front panel 12 of bag 10. The adhesive means includes a layer of adhesive 58 coated on first major surface 44 of film 42 opposite second indicia 50. A pressure-sensitive adhesive is preferred for layer 58. Pressure-sensitive adhesives suitable for layer 58 include any suitable adhesive, such as a heat activated adhesive or a pressure-sensitive adhesive. It is preferred that layer of adhesive 58 comprise a pressure-sensitive adhesive, such as a resin tackified synthetic rubber adhesive, and, in particular, styrene-butadiene rubber, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, and styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer; an acrylic adhesive, and, in particular, isooctylacrylate-acrylic acid; or a tackified natural rubber adhesive.For example, a pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer tackified with hydrocarbon resin has been found to be suitable for use in this invention.

Layer of adhesive 58 bonds strip 38 to front panel 12 with a bond strength that is greater than the cohesive strength of film 42. Layer of adhesive 58 is preferably colored with a color substantially identical to the color of second indicia 50 so that the second indicia are obscured against layer of adhesive 58 when viewed through film 42.

After strip 38 has been secured to strip 33, any attempt to open bag 10 will result in internal splitting of film 42 at a predetermined level of peel force. Upon splitting, the separated portions of film 42 become opaque due to surface irregularities in the exposed internal surfaces of the film created during the splitting thereof.

First indicia 48 are no longer perceptible through second major surface 46 of film 42. However, as shown in FIG. 6, second indicia 50 are no longer obscured on the background of layer of adhesive 58, but are now readily perceptible against the opaque background of the separated film portions. This provides an unambiguous indication of unauthorized access to the contents of bag 10. If desired, first indicia 48 may include alphanumeric characters forming a message indicative of a sealed condition for the container when bag 10 is sealed. Second indicia 50 may also include alphanumeric characters forming a message that bag 10 has been opened. Another feature of this invention is that the separated film portions will not readhere to each other once separated, thereby providing a further indication of unauthorized access to the interior of the bag.

Film 42 is derived from a composition comprising 50 to 85 pbw of a first copolymer comprising at least one moiety derived from at least one olefinic monomeric unit and 50 to 15 pbw of a second copolymer comprising at least one moiety derived from at least one vinyl alcohol monomeric unit.

In one embodiment of film 42, the first copolymer includes up to 15 pbw of monomeric units derived from a polar copolymerizable monomer substantially free of hydroxy (-OH) groups. Representative examples of such monomers include the following: acrylic acid, acrylonitrile, bicyclo [2,2,1] hept-2-ene, bis (8-chloroethyl) vinylphosphonate, carbon monoxide, diethyl fumarate, diethyl maleate, ethyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide, styrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, and vinyl fluoride. Preferably, the polar copolymerizable monomer includes moieties derived from one of the following monomeric units: acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and vinyl acetate.

In a preferred embodiment of film 42, the first copolymer comprises at least 90 pbw olefinic monomeric units having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; in the most preferred embodiment of film 42, the first copolymer comprises about 97 pbw propylene monomeric units and from about 2.2 pbw to about 2.7 pbw ethylene monomeric units.

In a preferred embodiment of film 42, the second copolymer comprises hydrolyzed ethylene vinyl acetate monomeric units; in the most preferred embodiment of film 42, the second copolymer comprises ethylene vinyl alcohol monomeric units.

The second copolymer is sufficiently incompatible with the first copolymer such that two phases 54 and 56 form within film 42. One of said phases 54, preferably the phase formed by the first copolymer, is continuous. The other of said phases 56, preferably that formed by the second copolymer, forms a multiplicity of inclusions in film 42, typically ellipsoidal in shape.

In the most preferred embodiment, film 42 comprises about 75% by weight of the first copolymer and about 25% by weight of the second copolymer. The first copolymer comprises about 97 pbw propylene monomeric units and from about 2.2 pbw to about 2.7 pbw ethylene monomeric units. The second copolymer is ethylene vinyl alcohol.

The ellipsoidal inclusions of phase 56 formed by the second copolymer have been measured and found to have diameters ranging from approximately 0.8 to 3.3 microns and lengths ranging from approximately 1.6 to 13.1 microns. While not wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that the inclusions of phase 56 formed by the second copolymer provide a pattern of weaknesses within continuous phase 54 of the first copolymer. Thus, the force required to split film 42 internally is predetermined at a desired level depending on the materials selected and their relative ratios. If the second polymer provides more than 50 pbw of the film, the second copolymer begins to form a continuous phase and the film is no longer capable of splitting internally.

Film 42 has high levels of light transmissivity and low haze, even though the phase separated morphology due to the incompatibility of the first and second copolymers would be expected to form opaque films. It is believed that the relative size of the inclusions and the closeness of the indices of refractions of the components of the film are such that film 42 has good light transmissive properties.

Film 42 may be produced by any suitable film generating process, but is preferably produced by dry blending the first and second polymers together, air drying the blend at 2000F for 48 hours, then extruding the blend onto a driven chilled roll. Preferably, the film is at least 0.003 inches in thickness. At thicknesses less than 0.003 inches, voids form on the surfaces of the film.

It should be noted that film 42 can be caused to split internally regardless of the manner in which forces or stresses are applied thereto. However, film 42 splits internally more readily when forces or stresses are applied in the machine direction.

Inks that are suitable for providing colored indicia on major surface 44 and 46 of film 42 include flexographic inks and rotogravure inks. These inks are described in Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd Edition, Vol. 13, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (New York:1981), pp. 389-393, incorporated herein by reference.

Layer of adhesive 58 bonds film 42 to front surface 26 of front panel 12, with a bond strength, i.e., peel strength, that is greater than the cohesive strength of film 42. Layer of adhesive 58 can be colored with a color substantially identical to the color of second colored indicia 50 so that second colored indicia 50 are obscured when the tape is viewed prior to any kind of tampering. Alternatively, first major surface 44 of film 42 can be flood coated with a colorant substantially identical in color to the color of second colored indicia 50 to obscure second colored indicia 50 prior to any kind of tampering.

In another embodiment, a second closure strip 38' comprises a light transmissive film 42' having a first major surface 44' and a second major surface 46'. Film 42' is constructed so that it splits internally (i.e., between first and second major surface 44' and 46') when a predetermined level of force is applied to it. This embodiment is described in U.S. Serial No. 367,752, filed June 21, 1989, incorporated herein by reference.

First colored indicia 48' are printed on first major surface 44' and second colored indicia 50' are printed on second major surface 46' of film 42'. As is shown particularly in FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, first colored indicia 48' indicates a given condition of closure strip 38', and second colored indicia 50' indicates a similar condition of the closure strip 38'. First colored indicia 48' typically include alphanumeric characters forming a message that bag 10 has been opened. Second colored indicia 50' also typically include alphanumeric characters forming a message that bag 10 has been opened. For example, first colored indicia 48' might consist of a line of print made up of the alphanumeric characters "OPENED"; second colored indicia 50' might also consist of a line of print made up of the alphanumeric characters "OPENED".As will be seen later, second colored indicia 50' is the primary warning message, and first colored indicia 48' is the back-up warning message. First colored indicia 48' and second colored indicia 50' have contrasting colors.

For instance, first colored indicia 48' may be colored blue and second colored indicia 50' may be colored red.

Third colored indicia 60 are printed on second major surface 46' of film 42'. Third colored indicia 60 can be a bar or a pattern, repeating or otherwise, that is substantially the same color as first colored indicia 48' of film 42'. The message initially visible from third colored indicia 60 would convey no information, but would merely mask first colored indicia 48'. Third colored indicia 60 is in register with first colored indicia 48'.

Second colored indicia 50' is in register with neither first colored indicia 48' nor with third colored indicia 60. Film 42' is identical to film 42 in all other respects. Additionally, film 42' operates in the same manner as does film 42.

Various modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein.

Claims (21)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A bag comprising: (a) a back panel having a front and a rear surface, a front panel having a front and a rear surface, said back panel and said front panel being joined to form the bottom and sides of said bag; (b) a first closure strip adhered to said back panel and to said rear surface of said front panel, said first closure strip having a bond strength to said back panel greater than the bond strength of said first closure strip to said rear surface of said front panel; (c) a second closure strip adhered to said front panel; and (d) said front panel including a transverse separation line intermediate said first closure strip and said second closure strip; whereby said front panel may be divided at said separation line and a portion of said front panel above the separation line removed from the bag to expose said first closure strip for adhesively securing said back panel to said second closure strip on said front surface of said front panel to close the top of said bag.

2. The bag of Claim 1, wherein said second closure strip comprises: (a) a light transmissive film derived from a composition comprising 50 to 85 pbw of a first copolymer comprising at least one moiety derived from at least one olefinic monomeric unit and 50 to 15 pbw of a second copolymer comprising at least one moiety derived from at least one vinyl alcohol monomeric unit and said second copolymer being sufficiently incompatible with said first copolymer to form two phases within said film, one of said phases being continuous having a first major surface and an opposing second major surface; (b) first colored indicia printed on said first major surface of said film; (c) second colored indicia printed on said second major surface of said film, said first and second indicia having contrasting colors;; (d) means for adhering said film to said front panel with a bond strength greater than the cohesive strength of said film, said adhesive means being coated on said first major surface of said film opposite said second indicia with a color substantially identical with said second indicia, whereby said second indicia are obscured when viewed against said adhesive means through said film; and (e) whereby when said film splits internally, the film becomes opaque so that said first indicia are obscured when viewed through said split opaque film, but said second indicia are perceptible over said split opaque film to indicate separation of the said first closure strip and said second closure strip.

3. The bag of Claim 2, wherein said first copolymer comprises at least 90 pbw olefinic monomeric moieties.

4. The bag of Claim 3, wherein said first copolymer comprises about 97 pbw propylene monomeric moieties and from about 2.2 pbw to about 2.7 pbw ethylene monomeric moieties.

5. The bag of Claim 2, wherein said first copolymer further comprises from 0 to 15 pbw of a polar copolymerizable monomer substantially free of hydroxy (-OH) groups.

6. The bag of Claim 2, wherein said first copolymer further comprises from 0 to 15 pbw of a polar copolymerizable monomer substantially free of hydroxy (-OH) groups selected from the group consisting of: acrylic acid, acrylonitrile, bicyclo [2,2,1] hept-2-ene, bis (ss-chloroethyl) vinylphosphonate, carbon monoxide, diethyl fumarate, diethyl maleate, ethyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide, styrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, and vinyl fluoride.

7. The bag of Claim 2, wherein said first copolymer further comprises from 0 to 15 pbw of a polar copolymerizable monomer substantially free of hydroxy (-OH) groups selected from the group consisting of: acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and vinyl acetate.

8. The bag of Claim 2, wherein said second copolymer is a copolymer of hydrolyzed ethylene vinyl acetate.

9. The bag of Claim 8, wherein said second copolymer is ethylene vinyl alcohol.

10. The bag of Claim 2, wherein said adhesive means includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer coated on at least one major surface of said film.

11. The bag of Claim 1, wherein said second closure strip comprises: (a) a light transmissive film derived from a composition comprising 50 to 85 parts pbw of a first copolymer comprising at least one moiety derived from at least one olefinic monomeric unit and 50 to 15 pbw of a second copolymer comprising at least one moiety derived from at least one vinyl alcohol monomeric unit and said second copolymer being sufficiently incompatible with said first copolymer to form two phases within said film, one of said phases being continuous, said film having a first major surface and a second major surface; (b) first colored indicia printed on said first major surface of said film; (c) second colored indicia printed on said second major surface of said film, said first and second colored indicia being of contrasting colors;; (d) third colored indicia printed on said second major surface of said film, said third colored indicia obscuring said first colored indicia; (e) means for adhering said film to said front panel, said adhering means capable of bonding said film to said container with an adhesive bond between said film and said container having a peel strength greater than the cohesive strength of said film, said adhesive means being applied to said first major surface of said film; and (f) said first major surface of said film, or said means for adhering said film to a portion of a container, or both, being of a color substantially similar to that of said second colored indicia, whereby when said tape is adhered to said front panel only said third colored indicia is perceptible if -tampering has not occurred so as to cause said film to split internally.

12. The bag of Claim 11, wherein said first copolymer of said film comprises at least 90 pbw propylene monomeric units.

13. The bag of Claim 12, wherein said first copolymer of said film comprises about 97 pbw propylene monomeric units and from about 2.2 pbw to about 2.7 pbw ethylene monomeric units.

14. The bag of Claim 11, wherein said first copolymer of said film further comprises up to 15 pbw of monomeric units from a polar copolymerizable monomer substantially free of hydroxy (-OH) groups.

15. The film of Claim 11, wherein said first copolymer of said film further comprises up to 15 pbw of a polar copolymerizable monomer substantially free of hydroxy (-OH) groups selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, acrylonitrile, bicyclo [2,2,1] hept-2-ene, bis (B-chloroethyl) vinylphosphonate, carbon monoxide, diethyl fumarate, diethyl maleate, ethyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide, styrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, and vinyl fluoride.

16. The bag of Claim 11, wherein said first copolymer of said film further comprises up to 15 pbw of monomeric units from a polar copolymerizable monomer substantially free of hydroxy (-OH) groups selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and vinyl acetate.

17. The bag of Claim 11, wherein said second copolymer of said film is a copolymer containing monomeric units of hydrolyzed ethylene vinyl acetate.

18. The bag of Claim 17, wherein said second copolymer of said film is ethylene vinyl alcohol.

19. The bag of Claim 11, wherein said adhering means includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer coated on at least one major surface of said film.

20. The bag of Claim 11, wherein said first and third colored indicia are in register and said second colored indicia is not in register with said first and third colored indicia.

21. A bag as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.