US20080038413A1

US20080038413A1 - Food bag with wet wipe

Info

Publication number: US20080038413A1
Application number: US11/500,782
Authority: US
Inventors: Shane R. Northrop
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-08
Filing date: 2006-08-08
Publication date: 2008-02-14

Abstract

A bag for containing food, such as popcorn, or the like, has a cleansing wipe thereto.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general art of bags, and to the particular field of food-containing bags.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most people are trained from childhood onward to wash one's hands before eating and that to develop such habit is a healthful hygiene habit. Nevertheless, as adults become more rushed for time in day to day activities, such habits are generally discarded as unimportant. Yet disease consciousness is renewing with the arrival of killer viruses and other contagions, because of the rising health stakes associated with unconcerned hygiene behavior. Even in the absence of killer viruses, the World Health Organization estimates that each year millions of people die from bacteria related diseases alone.
Popcorn is one of the favorite snack foods of the American people. This is because it is inexpensive, easy to prepare and contains relatively few calories. It is also a reasonably healthy food and quite tasty. Popcorn is one of the most popular food items served at movies and theaters. Often, people partake in the eating of popcorn without washing their hands. As a result, food is consumed without the benefit of a handwashing in a situation that is conducive to germs because of the proximity of other people as well as the general theater environment.
Therefore, there is a need for a means for promoting handwashing and the general cleaning of hands before, during and/or after, eating food from a bag, such as eating popcorn from a bag in a movie theater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a bag having a cleansing wipe attached thereto. Since popcorn is the most popular item consumed in movie theaters, the present invention incorporates a cleaning and sanitizing towelette with a popcorn bag. Using the popcorn bag embodying the present invention will permit a user to clean their hands before, during and/or after eating the popcorn thereby promoting cleanliness and sanitation. It is also noted that the cleansing wipe can be mounted on a container other than a bag, such as a carton or the like, and can be used in conjunction with food other than popcorn. Accordingly, the disclosure of popcorn and a bag are intended to be examples and are not intended to be limiting.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first form of a popcorn bag embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second form of a popcorn bag embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a third form of a popcorn bag embodying the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a bag 10 for containing food. Bag 10 comprises a paper bag 12 which has a sidewall 14, an end wall 16 which is a bottom wall when the bag is in use such as shown in the figures, a top rim 18 on the sidewall and a longitudinal axis 20 which extends between the bottom wall and the top rim. The sidewall has an inner surface 22 which is located adjacent to food, such as popcorn P, candy, or the like, stored in the bag and an outer surface 24.
A cleansing wipe 40 has a body 42 which includes an outer perimeter 44, a first surface 46, a second surface 48 and a releasable adhesive 50 on the first surface adjacent to the outer perimeter. In the configurations shown in the figures, the first surface is located adjacent to and in abutting contact with the outer surface of the sidewall. The cleansing wipe is releasably mounted by the adhesive on the outside surface of the sidewall of the bag.
Other forms of the bag include a plurality of cleansing wipes mounted on the sidewall of the bag with the cleansing wipes being spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis. Thus, there can be bags of several different sizes, such as a small bag 12 shown in FIG. 1, a medium size bag 12′ shown in FIG. 2, and a large bag 12″ shown in FIG. 3.
The bag is used by storing food therein, and removing the cleansing wipe from the bag to clean the user's hands before, during and/or after eating. The cleansing wipe is in a convenient location and thus will promote use thereof.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A bag for containing food comprising:

A) a paper bag having a sidewall, the sidewall having an inner surface which is located adjacent to food stored in the bag and an outer surface; and

B) a cleansing wipe having a body which includes an outer perimeter, a first surface, a second surface and a releasable adhesive on the first surface adjacent to the outer perimeter; and

C) the cleansing wipe being releasably mounted by the adhesive on the outside surface of the sidewall of the bag.

2. The bag defined in claim 1 further including a plurality of cleansing wipes mounted on the sidewall of the bag.

3. The bag defined in claim 2 wherein the bag has an end wall which is a bottom wall when the bag is in use, a top rim on the sidewall, and a longitudinal axis which extends between the bottom wall and the top rim, the cleansing wipes being spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis.