MX2012012141A

MX2012012141A - Refillable product dispenser system.

Info

Publication number: MX2012012141A
Application number: MX2012012141A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Kamran Siddiqui; Brigitte Schauer; Pat Sly; Hollie Walker
Original assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Co
Priority date: 2010-06-28
Filing date: 2011-06-23
Publication date: 2012-11-21
Also published as: ECSP12012235A; HK1178870A1; BR112012023330A2; CN102791590B; MY186109A; SG183852A1; PH12012501706A1; RU2012141506A; US20110315686A1; MX338821B; WO2012009124A1; CN102791590A; CA2791810A1; TW201223836A; PE20131080A1; TWI557041B; CO6640241A2; EP2534065A1

Abstract

A refillable product dispenser system for powdered infant formula includes a reusable container (16) having an initial product bag (18) received in the container. Refills for the reusable container are provided in similar refill product bags which may be of lesser volume than the initial product bag. The refill bags may be packaged in a refill outer package (22) containing two or more refill bags (24, 26).

Description

SYSTEM OF RESELLABLE PRODUCT DISTRIBUTOR Field of the Invention The system described herein generally relates to the packaging of a product for pulverized products, and particularly to a package suitable for the distribution of a powdered milk formula product.

Background of the Invention The powdered milk formula is typically sold in a can that has a capacity in the range of about 344 g (12 ounces) to about 1090.6 g (38 ounces). The can is initially sealed with a tamper-proof seal and additionally includes a reusable lid for sealing the can after removal of the tamper-proof seal. A spoon can be provided for the removal of portions of the powdered milk formula from the can for mixing with the water to prepare the liquid formula for feeding to an infant.

However, when the can is emptied, conventional systems require the purchase of a replacement can, with the disadvantages of waste, inefficiency and concomitant environmental, of repeatedly buying and disposing of the containers.

What is needed is a system for replacement REF.234760 of the powdered milk formula in a can while ensuring the absence of misuse and while retaining the required level of sterility.

Brief Description of the Invention In one embodiment, a refillable product distributor system for a powdered milk formula includes an initial product package that includes a reusable container and a bag for the initial product received in the container.

In another embodiment, a refillable product distributor system includes a reusable plastic container, a bag of the initial product received in the container and filled with the powdered milk formula, and a bag of the filling product for replacement of the initial product bag. .

In yet another embodiment, the pouch of the filling product may have a fill volume less than the initial volume of the powdered milk formula present in the initial product pouch.

In still another embodiment, the pouch of the initial product can be constructed of a flexible material and can generally be of a parallelepiped shape. The bag may have a folded and folded top held in place by a removable adhesive strip.

In another embodiment, a refillable product dispensing system may include an outer disposable packing and two or more bags of the filled product received in the outer package. Optionally, a reusable spoon can be included in the external packing of filling.

In one embodiment, a refillable product dispensing system may use a packing of the filling product that includes an outer packing of disposable packing generally of a rectangular parallelepiped shape, which includes two and only two bags of the filling product received in the outer package of filling and stacked one on top of the other, each of the bags of the filling product is constructed of a flexible material and is of a generally parallelepiped shape.

In still another embodiment, a refillable product distributor system for a powdered milk formula can include an initial product package that includes a reusable container, a bag of the initial product received in the container and filled with the product of the powdered milk formula, and a reusable spoon in the container. The system may further include a packing of the filling product that includes an outer packing of disposable filler and two or more bags of the filling product received in the outer package.

In still another embodiment, the refillable product distributor system for the powdered milk formula includes a reusable container having a bag of the initial product received in the container. The fillings for the reusable container are provided in similar filler bags that may be smaller in volume than the initial product bag. The packing bags can be packed in an outer packing that contains two or more packing bags.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art during a reading of the following description when taken in conjunction with the figures appended thereto.

Brief Description of the Figures Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a refillable product dispensing system including a package for the initial product and a package for the filling product.

Figure 2 is a schematic elevational cross-sectional view of the system of Figure 1 showing the internal components of the initial product package and the packing of the filling product.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the reusable container of the initial product package of Figure 1 with the lid of the container oscillated to an open position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view, in front elevation, of the reusable container of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation view of the reusable container of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the initial product bag used with the system of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of one of the bags of the filling product used with the system of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of the flexible multi-ply material from which the product pouches can be constructed.

Detailed description of the invention Referring now to the figures and particularly to Figure 1, a refillable product dispensing system is shown and designated generally by the number 10. The system 10 includes a package 12 of the initial product and a packing 14 of the filling product. For reasons of clarity, not all reference numbers are necessarily present in each figure. In addition, the terms of the position such as "upper", "lower", "lateral", "up", "down", etc., refer to the container when it is in the orientation shown in the figure. The skilled artisan will recognize that the containers can assume different orientations when in use.

Figure 2 schematically illustrates the components that can be included in the package 12 of the initial product and the package 14 of the filling product. For example, in one embodiment, the package 12 of the initial product may include a reusable container 16, a bag 18 of the initial product, and a reusable spoon 20. In another embodiment, the package 12 of the initial product may have product therein without a bag 18 of the initial product, and with or without a reusable spoon 20. And in one embodiment, the packing 14 of the filling product may include an outer packing 22 of the filler, disposable, two or more bags of the filling product such as 24 and 26, and a second reusable spoon 28.

As best shown in Figures 3-5, the reusable container 16 may include a base or bottom 30, and a wall 32 extending generally vertically, peripherally continuous, defining an upper opening 34. A lid 36 is associated with the wall 32 for closing the opening 34. The lid 36 may be oscillatingly connected to the peripheral wall 32 on the hinges 38. The cover includes a pin 31 which engages a protruding fixing part 33 extending from the wall 32. .

The base 30 and the peripheral wall 32 can be described as forming a portion of a cup 35 of the container 16. The portion of the cup 35 can include a skirt 37 extending downwardly from the peripheral wall 32 below the base 30.

In certain embodiments, the container 16 may include a sealing edge 29 that extends laterally outwardly near the open upper end thereof to provide an oscillating engagement with the lid 36 when the lid is closed. Additional details of the exemplary forms of this embodiment of the container 16 construction and particularly the seal coupling of the lid 36 with the flexible seal 29 are described in detail in U.S. No. 12/824, 383, entitled Improved Container Seal ("Improved Seal for Recipient"), registration number of proxy MJE00287NP, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and filed on the same date herewith, the details of which are incorporated herein for reference.

As seen in Figure 3, the peripheral wall 32 has a generally oval cross section which can also be described as an elongated cross section having a length 40 and a width 42, with the side wall 32 being curved through the end of the cross section at the longitudinal end portions 44 and 46.

As best shown in Figure 4, the opening 34 of the reusable container 16 can be defined by a molded, smooth, inner wall surface 48 that is free of any projection or projection projecting inward, which could interfere with the insertion and removal of the product bags such as 18, 24 or 26 as described further below.

In one embodiment, the lid 36 includes a bucket retainer that includes at least two flexible lugs 50 and 52 to elastically retain any of the buckets 20 or 28 in place on the underside of the lid 36.

The container 16 including a cup portion 35 and the portion 36 of the cup can be constructed by injection molding thereof from a plastic material.

The initial product bag 18 is received in the container 16 and is constructed of a flexible material capable of being manipulated to reduce the volume occupied by the bag when the bag is partially or completely emptied during use. For example, as illustrated schematically in Figure 6, the bag 18 may include a folded upper portion 54 that can be folded over itself in an increasing number of folds when the bag is progressively emptied. The bag can also be manipulated in other ways, such as by winding the upper portion, or in any other suitable manner. The initial product bag 18 has an initial volume filled with the pulverized milk formula 56. As seen in Figure 2, the initial product bag 18 has an initial size and shape, capable of being fully received in the container 16 of so that the lid 36 can be closed.

As seen in Figure 6, the initial product bag 18, when in its filled and sealed state, can be described as being generally of a parallelepiped shape and having a bottom 58 of the bag defining a length 60 of the bag and a width 62 of the bag. The bottom 58 of the bag may also be a folded lower portion 58 similar to the folded upper portion 54 previously described. The bag 18 also has a height 64 of the initial filled bag. The initial volume of the pulverized milk formula 56 contained within the filled initial product bag 18 is approximately equal to the product of the length 60 by the width 62 by the height 64.

In one embodiment, the length 60 of the bag and the width 62 of the bag 18 of the initial product may be less than the length 40 and the width 42, respectively, of the cross section of the peripheral side wall 32 of the cup portion. 35 of the container 16.

The bag 18 may further include a removable, reusable adhesive strip 66, adhered to the side wall 68 and folded over the upper portion 54 of the bag.

The use of a collapsible foldable upper portion 54 allows the initial product pouch 18 to be fully opened over the length 60 of the entire pouch and the width 62 of the pouch, which helps to completely empty the product pouch. initial, particularly for example if the user chooses to open the initial product bag and pour the contents thereof to the position 35 of the cup of the container 16.

Referring now to Figure 7, each of the bags of the filling product 24 and 26 are constructed in a manner similar to the initial product bag 18 just described with a difference that is that the bags of the filling product can be constructed to having a height of the initial filling bag shorter thereby providing a volume of filling that is less than the initial volume of the bag of the initial product 18.

Accordingly, the bags of the filling product 24 and 26 can each have a bottom 70 defining a length 72 of the bag and a width 74 of the bag, in the company of a height 76 of the initial, filled filling bag. Bottom 70 may be a folded bottom, and the pouch may have a fold-over upper position 78, held in place by a release strip 80.

The bag of the initial product and the bags of the filling product can be constructed as moisture-proof, resealable bags. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, because the bag 18 of the initial product by itself is a re-sealable moisture-proof bag, there is no need for a tamper-proof seal through the opening 34 of the portion of the cup 35, and consequently the portion 35 of the cup can initially be closed only by the lid 36 and does not need to be sealed by a tamper proof film or similar.

In one embodiment, the flexible material from which the initial product pouch 18 and / or the pouches of the filling product 24 and 26 are constructed can comprise a multilayer material schematically indicated as 82 in Figure 8. The material flexible multi-layer may include an outer layer 83, an intermediate layer 85 and an inner layer 87. In an embodiment designed to provide an elevated barrier against oxygen and moisture, the outer layer 83 may be a 48-gauge polyethylene sheet. , the intermediate layer 85 could be a metal sheet of 0.0007239 cm (0.000285 inches) thick, and the inner layer 87 could be an easily opened 0.0202 cm (3.0 mil) polyethylene sealant layer. The inner layer 87 can be described as a removable, internal sealing layer.

The outer layer 83 can be any suitable material that allows the printing of the information on the label on the outer surface of the bags of the product. Examples include a polyethylene sheet and a nylon sheet.

The intermediate layer 85 can be any metal barrier layer. Examples include a metallic foil of aluminum and metallized polyethylene.

The inner layer 87 can be any suitable sealable material that allows a hermetic seal of the product pouches. The seal can be formed by compressing two internal layers together and heating the joined sheets to melt them together to form a seal therebetween. Examples of suitable sealable materials include polyester and polyethylene.

When either the bag of the initial product 18 or the bags of the filling product such as 24 and 26 are initially filled with a powdered milk formula, they can be filled under vacuum and then the upper portion that can be folded, folded, such as 54 or 78 thereof, it is sealed by compressing together the inner layers 87 of the opposite sheets of the flexible material. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the bag 18 of the initial product or the bags of the filling product such as 24 and 26 are filled while being sprayed with an inert gas such as nitrogen. A zipper closure or other suitable seal can be formed between the opposite sheets. A tear-off strip or the like can be provided adjacent the seal to allow the opening of the package to break the vacuum seal thereof.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the height 76 of the initial filling bag of the bags of the filling product 24 and 26 is less than the height 64 of the bag of the initial filling of the bag 18 of the initial product so that the bags of the filling product have a filled volume that is less than the filled volume of the initial product bag. By providing bags of the filling product having a smaller volume, this helps ensure the freshness of the powdered milk formula in use due to a shorter duration of exposure of the powdered milk formula to the oxygen after its respective bag is opened. Optionally, the bag of the initial product 18 and the bags of the filling product such as 24 and 26 can be constructed to be of substantially identical volumes.

The packing of the filling product 14 is shown in a perspective view in Figure 1 and in the sectional view in schematic elevation in Figure 2. The outer packing of disposable filling 22 thereof is generally of a rectangular parallelepiped shape and has an outer packing bottom 84 defining a packing length 86 and a packing width 88, and having a packing height 90 greater than the packaging length 86. The outer package 22 may be constructed of cardboard or other recyclable packaging material. The upper part of the package 22 can be sealed for storage and display.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, two filler bags 24 and 26 are received in the outer packing 22 and are shown stacked one on top of the other.

As previously noted and described with respect to Figure 7, each of the bags of the filling product 24 and 26 are constructed of a flexible material and generally have a parallelepiped shape having the bottom 70 of the bag defining the length 72 of the bag and the width 74 of the bag, and having the height 76 of the bag. It is noted that the height 76 of the bag is less than the length 70 of the bag, and the height 76 of the bag is less than half the height 90 of the package. In addition, the length 72 of the bag and the width 74 of the bag are less than the length 86 of the package and the width 88 of the package, respectively. Also as previously noted, each of the pouches of the filling product 24 and 26 initially contain a filling volume equal to the length 72 of the pouch by the width 74 of the pouch by the height 76 of the pouch, such a volume of Fill is initially filled with powdered milk formula.

As also shown in Figure 2, there may be a space within the outer package 22 on top of the uppermost filler bag 26 for a second reusable spoon 28. The spoon 28 is preferably sealed in a disposable sanitary receptacle 92 that it can be for example a transparent flexible cellophane package or the like. The spoon 20 of Figure 2 is similarly sealed in a sanitary receptacle 21.

The packaging of the initial product 12 and the packing 14 of the filling product may include first and second identification product signs 94 and 96, placed thereon by means of labels or other suitable printing or the like. The first product signal 94 identifies the mark, and the nature of the product, such as a powdered milk formula, contained in the package of the initial product 12. The second identification mark 96 on the outer package 22 the packing of the filling product 14 it may indicate the utility of the bags of the filling product such as 24 and 26 with the reusable container 16 of the packaging of the initial product 12.

In another embodiment, the packing of the filling product can be constructed to include two or more bags of the filling product such as 24 and 26. In these other embodiments, the bags of the filling product can be stacked one on top of the another or side by side or in any other suitable way. And in yet another embodiment, the bags of the filling product can be marketed individually without any outer packaging 22.

In one embodiment, the distributor system of the refillable product 10 can be used in the following manner. The parents or other person in charge of a newborn infant may purchase, or may receive in the hospital the package 12 of the initial product that includes the container 16, the bag 18 of the initial product that is entirely of the powdered milk formula product. , and the reusable spoon 20 sealed within the sanitary packaging 21. The initial product bag 18 by itself is a sealed moisture-proof package. The reusable container 16 with its closed lid 36 engaging the sealing edge 29 provides a second protective barrier for checking the contents. The user can at the same time purchase one or more of the packings of the filling product 14, although this is optional. The packages of the filling product 14 can be procured at a different time and place.

During the first use, the user will open the door 36 of the container 16, remove the spoon 20 from it, and open the package of the initial product 18 to have access to the contents thereof. The contents of the initial product packaging can be accessed in one of two ways that are an option for the user.

First, the user can leave the initial product bag 18 in place in the container 16 and open the upper portion 54 of the bag to access the powdered milk formula 56. After removing the desired portion of the milk formula sprayed with the spoon 20, the upper portion 54 of the partially emptied bag 18 can be released and folded back on itself and can be held in place with the release strip 66. The spoon 20 can be placed on the underside of the lid 36 using the lugs 50 and 52 as seen in Figure 3, then the lid 36 is sealed until the next use.

Alternatively, the user may choose to remove the bag 18 of the initial product from the container 16, open the upper portion 54 of the bag of the initial product 18, and empty the entire contents of the bag of the initial product 18 into the portion 35 of the cup of the container 16. Then the spoon 20 is used to extract the desired portion of the powdered milk formula from the portion 35 of the cup, then the spoon is placed on the underside of the lid 36 and the lid is closed until the next use.

When the contents of the bag of the initial product 18 have been used, the reusable container 16 can be filled using one of the bags of the filling product such as 24 and 26. The bags of the filling product can be used either in the ways optional as described above for the bag of the initial product 18, especially the same can be placed either within the portion 35 of the cup and the powdered milk formula can be removed directly from the filling bag, or the bag can be emptied in the portion 35 of the cup.

In one embodiment, the materials from which the outer packing 22, and the initial product bag 18 and the bags of the filling product 24 and 26 are constructed, can be completely recyclable materials.

A user of the system 10 can purchase one of the packages of the initial product 12, and then buy multiple fill product packages 14 from start to finish of the milk formula feeding period of about one year.

The use of such packing system of the refillable milk formula 10 provides economic savings due to a lower cost of purchasing a milk formula in the packing of the filling as opposed to the purchase of a new outer container 16 each time a new quantity of Milk formula is necessary. Additionally, significant environmental sustainability improvements are provided due to the total packaging materials that are used in a lesser amount to provide the powdered milk formula to the infant.

The use of a cup having an opening 34 without some pronounced internal protruding edge allows for easy removal of the initial product bag 18 and replacement thereof with a bag of the replacement product. In addition, the absence of a pronounced inward protruding edge makes it easier to remove all of the contents from the cup portion 35 if the powdered milk formula is emptied directly into the portion 35 of the cup.

The use of a material of the removable bag such as the inner lid 87 shown in Figure 8 makes it easier to open the bags of the product.

Optionally, other designs of the facilitated opening bag can be used.

The use of a bag with an upper end of full opening such as the foldable upper ends 54 and 78, facilitates easy emptying of the entire contents of the bag towards the cup if this option is selected.

Example In one embodiment, the portion 35 of the cup can have a length 40 of about 152 mm, a width 42 of about 102 mm, and a height 45 of about 136 mm. The initial product bag 18 can have a bag length of about 130 mm, a bag width of about 70 mm, and an initial bag height 64 of about 116 mm. The outer packing 22 can have a length 86 of about 146 mm, a width 88 of about 89 mm, and a height 90 of about 254 mm. Each of the bags of the filling product 24 and 26 can have a length 72 of approximately 130 mm, a width 74 of the bag approximately 70 mm, and a height 76 of the initial bag of approximately 116 mm. Alternatively, the bags of the filling product may have an initial bag height 76 in the range from 80 to 100% of the height of the initial bag 64 of the initial product bag.

Accordingly, it is noted that the apparatus and methods of the present disclosure easily achieve the aforementioned purposes and advantages as well as those inherent therein. Although certain preferred embodiments of the description have been illustrated and described for purposes of the present description, numerous changes may be made in the arrangement and construction of the parts and stages by those skilled in the art, such changes being encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

It is noted that in relation to this date the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property.

1. A system distributor of a refillable product for a powdered milk formula, characterized in that it comprises: a reusable container having a base, a peripheral wall defining an upper opening, and a cover associated with the wall for closing the container; a bag of initial product received in the container, the bag is constructed of a flexible material capable of being manipulated to reduce the volume occupied by the bag when the bag is partially emptied during use, the bag has an initial volume filled with the product of the powdered milk formula, and the bag has an initial size and shape capable of being fully received in the container so that the lid can be closed; Y a bag of the filling product for the replacement of the initial product bag during the complement of the use of the product from the bag of the initial product, the bag of the filling product has a volume of filling that is filled with a powdered milk formula product .

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling volume is smaller than the initial volume of the initial product bag.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that it also comprises: an outer package of disposable filler; and two or more bags of the filling product received in the outer package with the outer sealed packaging for storage and display, the two or more bags of the filling product include the first bag of the aforementioned filling product.

4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that it also comprises: identifying first the product signals displayed externally on the reusable container; and second, to identify the product signals exhibited externally on the outer packing of the filling, the second signal indicating the adequacy of the bags of the filling product for use with the reusable container.

5. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that it also comprises: a reusable spoon received in the outer packing separated from the two or more bags of the filling product.

6. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that: the outer package has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape having a bottom defining a length and a width, and having a height greater than the length; the two or more bags of the filling product comprise two bags of the filling product stacked one on top of the other inside the outer package; Y The reusable spoon is sealed with a disposable sanitary receptacle and is placed on top of the outermost of the two bags of the filling product.

7. The system in accordance with the claim 3, characterized in that: the outer package is generally of a rectangle parallelepiped shape having a lower part defining a length and a width, and having a height greater than the length; Y the two or more bags of the filling product comprise two and only two bags of the filling product stacked one on top of the other inside the outer package.

8. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that: the bag of the filling product is constructed of a flexible material capable of being manipulated to reduce the volume occupied by the bag of the filling product when the bag of the filling product is partially emptied during use, the bag of the filling product has generally a parallelepiped shape when filled, the stuffing bag has a bottom that defines a length and a width, and has a height when it is filled, the height is less than the length.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that: The bag of the stuffing product includes a foldable, folded top portion that can be fully opened over the full length and width of the bag of the stuffing product.

10. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flexible material of the initial product pouch comprises a multi-ply material including a removable, internal sealing layer.

11. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that: an upper portion of the initial product bag is sealed and folded on itself to define an upper part of the initial product bag; and further comprising a removable, reusable adhesive strip adhered to a side wall of the initial product bag and folded over the upper portion to releasably hold the upper portion folded up its place.

12. A refillable product distributor system for a powdered milk formula, characterized in that it comprises: an initial product packaging, which includes: a package of the initial product having a peripheral, lower side wall, extending upward from the bottom and defining an upper opening, and a cover associated with the wall for closing the upper opening, the peripheral side wall having a cross section elongated has a length and a width, the side wall is curved across the width of the cross section of the ends of the length; a bag of the initial product received in the container, the bag of the initial product has an initial volume filled with the product of the powdered milk formula; Y a reusable spoon received in the container; Y a filler product package, which includes: an external disposable filler package; Y two or more bags of the filling product received in the outer package with the outer sealed packaging, each of the bags of the filling product have a filling volume filled with the product of the powdered milk formula, each bag of the filling product has a size and shape capable of being received totally in the packaging of the initial product instead of the initial product bag.

13. The system in accordance with the claim 12, characterized in that: The initial product bag and the filling product bags each are constructed of a flexible material capable of being manipulated to reduce the volume occupied by each bag when each bag is partially emptied during use, each bag generally having a parallelepiped shape and has a lower part of the bag defining a length of the bag and a width of the bag, the length of the bag and the width of the bag are better than the length and width, respectively, of the cross section of the bag. peripheral side wall.

14. The system in accordance with the claim 13, characterized in that: the length and width of the bag, the filling bags are substantially equal to the length and width of the bag of the initial product; the bag of the initial product has an initial height which in combination with the length of the bag and the width of the bag define the initial volume of the bag of the initial product; Y the filling bags have a filling bag height less than the initial height of the initial product bag, so that the filling volume is less than the initial volume.

15. The system in accordance with the claim 12, characterized in that it also comprises: identify the externally displayed product signals on the disposable outer packaging of the packing of the filling product, the signals indicate the utility of the bags of the filling product with the packaging of the initial product of the packaging of the initial product.

16. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that: the volume of the filling is less than the initial volume.

17. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that it also comprises: a second reusable spoon received in the outer packing of filling; Y The lid of the initial product package includes a spoon retainer that includes at least two flexible lugs for resiliently holding either one of the spoons in place under the lid.

18. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that: the outer packing of filler generally has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a bottom of the outer package defining a length and width of the packing of the filling product, and having a height greater than the length of the packing of the filling product; Y the two or more bags of the filling product comprise two and only two bags of the filling product stacked one on top of the other inside the packing.

19. The system in accordance with the claim 12, characterized in that: an upper portion of each of the bags is sealed and folded at the top to define the top of each bag; Y Each bag further comprises a removable, reusable adhesive strip adhered to a side wall of each respective bag and to the folded upper portion of each respective bag.