US20220185545A1

US20220185545A1 - Tamper Evident Bag Seal

Info

Publication number: US20220185545A1
Application number: US17/683,560
Authority: US
Inventors: Denny V. Tao; Nathan W. Schultz; Steven A. Mayer
Original assignee: Inno Pak LLC
Current assignee: Inno Pak LLC
Priority date: 2019-09-25
Filing date: 2022-03-01
Publication date: 2022-06-16
Also published as: USD949686S1

Abstract

A tamper evident bag seal. The tamper evident bag seal may include a body having a length and a width, the body may include a first panel and a second panel, with the first and second panels each having a bag facing side and an outward facing side; a first fold extending along a length of the body and disposed between the first panel and the second panel; a tear strip disposed along a length of at least one of the first panel and/or the second panel; a first adhesive strip disposed on the bag facing side of the first panel and a second adhesive strip on the bag facing side of the second panel, the first and second adhesive strips configured to secure the respective first and second panels to respective first and second sides of a bag; and wherein the bag facing side of the first panel may be configured to be secured to a first side of a bag and the bag facing side of the second panel may be configured to be secured to a second side of the bag.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/725,476, filed Feb. 25, 2020, the application of which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/707,037, filed Sep. 25, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter of the invention relates generally to secure containers and more particularly to a tamper evident bag seal including a tear-away strip and methods.

BACKGROUND

Disposable containers for packaging, distributing, displaying or otherwise housing consumer items, such as food containers, are becoming increasingly important. For example, bags, such as paper bags, are used for distributing and/or carrying food items, such as take out or to-go food containers. Sometimes it is desirable that an item or items, such as food containers, be placed in, for example, a bag for ease of transport. Unfortunately, it is a frequent occurrence that the containers may be tampered with by persons who wish to access the item or items in the containers. In taking steps to avoid this invasion of the container, many approaches in the nature of security and/or safety have been utilized. However, some of these security attempts have been easily circumvented and others have been very expensive.
One of the desirable features of security packaging is the characteristic that any tampering with the package produces a “tamper evident” condition. With a “tamper evident” condition, a consumer can visually detect that the container has been tampered. Unfortunately, many security attempts have been unsuccessful in that it is not fully evident that the security of the container has been breached. Consequently, new approaches are needed for incorporating tamper evident features into containers.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a tamper evident bag seal is provided. The tamper evident bag seal may include a body having a length and a width, the body may include a first panel and a second panel, with the first and second panels each having a bag facing side and an outward facing side; a first fold extending along a length of the body and disposed between the first panel and the second panel; a tear strip disposed along a length of at least one of the first panel and/or the second panel; and a first adhesive strip disposed on the bag facing side of the first panel and a second adhesive strip on the bag facing side of the second panel, the first and second adhesive strips configured to secure the respective first and second panels to respective first and second sides of a bag. The bag facing side of the first panel may be configured to be secured to a first side of a bag and the bag facing side of the second panel may be configured to be secured to a second side of the bag. The tear strip may be positioned about halfway between the first fold and a lower edge of the first panel and/or the second panel on which it is disposed. The tear strip may further include a tear strip reinforcement backing, wherein the tear strip reinforcement backing may include a length of backing material disposed along a backside of the tear strip. The tamper evident bag seal may further include an opening provided along the first fold and disposed between the first panel and the second panel and substantially centered along the length of the body. The opening may be configured for receiving one or more handles of a bag therethrough. The adhesive strip may have a portion of it whose length extends a distance that is longer than the length of the body of the tamper evident seal. The tamper evident bag seal may further include a second fold extending along a length of one of the first or second panels that is absent the tear strip, wherein the second fold may be positioned about halfway between the first fold and a lower edge of the first panel and/or the second panel on which it is disposed. The tamper evident bag seal when installed on the bag and sealed is configured to secure a contents of the bag therein, and wherein the contents of the bag cannot be accessed via the tamper evident bag seal without causing the tamper evident bag seal to indicate a tamper evident condition. The tamper evident bag seal may further include a tear line along either side of the tear strip.
In another embodiment, a method of using a tamper evident bag seal is provided. The method may include providing a tamper evident bag seal; positioning the tamper evident bag seal about an opening of a bag having contents therein; and sealing the opening of the bag with the tamper evident bag seal thereby securing the contents within the bag. The first and second panels may be adhered to respective first and second sides of the bag via double side adhesive tape. The tamper evident bag seal may include an opening provided along a portion of the first fold and disposed between the first panel and the second panel and substantially centered along the length of the body. The one or more bag handles, if present on the bag, may be fitted through the opening when the tamper evident bag seal is positioned on the bag. The opening of the bag may be sealed between the first and second panels of the tamper evident bag seal.
In yet another embodiment, a method of accessing contents of a bag secured with a tamper evident bag seal installed thereon. The method may include providing a bag with contents therein and a tamper evident bag seal installed thereon; removing the tear strip; and accessing the contents within the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described the subject matter of the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying Drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tamper evident bag seal, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example of the tamper evident bag seal in a semi-folded and untampered with state;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the tamper evident bag seal of FIG. 1 shown as installed on a bag in a sealed configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 8 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 9 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 11 is another perspective view of the tamper evident bag seal of FIG. 1 shown as installed on a bag in an unsealed or tampered evident configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 13 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 14 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 15 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a tamper evident bag seal showing an alternate embodiment, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 19 is bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 20 is another perspective view of the tamper evident bag seal of FIG. 17 shown as installed on a bag in a sealed configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 21 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 22 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 23 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 24 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 25 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 26 is another perspective view of the tamper evident bag seal of FIG. 17 shown as installed on a bag in an unsealed or tampered evident configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 27 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 28 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 29 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 30 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 31 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGS. 32 through 34 illustrate schematic views of examples of different sized tamper evident bag seals for use with different sized bags, in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 35 is another perspective view of the tamper evident bag seal of FIG. 1 or 17 shown as installed on a bag in a sealed configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 36 is another perspective view of the tamper evident bag seal of FIG. 1 or 17 shown as installed on a bag in an unsealed or tampered evident configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of the invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are shown. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The subject matter of the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments of the subject matter of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the subject matter of the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated Drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the subject matter of the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
In some embodiments, the subject matter of the invention provides a tamper evident bag seal including a tear-away strip and methods.
In some embodiments, the tamper evident bag seal may be provided as an addon device to an existing bag that otherwise does not include a tamper evident feature. Once installed on the bag, the tamper evident bag seal provides a tamper evident sign or indicator that shows that the bag has been opened and potentially that the contents of the bag have been tampered with. The tamper evident bag seal may be, for example, a paper or paperboard panel (or any other suitable material) that folds over the handles of an existing bag and is secured to the sides of the bag. The tamper evident bag seal may be provided in different sizes (e.g., small, medium and large) that correlate to different size bags and/or bag handle sizes. The tamper evident bag seal may be used with bags having several different handle configurations, such as, but not limited to, plastic, plastic rope, plastic ribbon, injection molded plastic, paper, and rope handles.
The tamper evident bag seal may include, for example, a fold-over panel or card that has double sided tape on each side of the fold-over card. Further, at least one of the fold-over panels or cards may include a tear-away strip (or perforated tear strip). The fold-over card may also include an opening for fitting over the handles of the bag. After the contents are placed into the bag, the fold-over card that fits the bag (e.g., small, medium and large) fits over the handles, the adhesive liner may then be removed from each side of the card, and then the sides of fold-over card may be folded over and secured to the sides of the bag. Accordingly, the tamper evident bag seal is used to seal the bag until the tear-away strip (or perforated tear strip) is torn away and allowing access to the contents.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4 illustrate various views of an example of tamper evident bag seal 100 including a tear-away strip 120 in a pre-installed and untampered with state.
Referring to FIGS. 5-10 illustrate various views of an example of tamper evident bag seal 100 including tear-away strip 120 that is fully installed on a bag 150 and in a sealed or untampered with state.
Referring to FIGS. 11-16 illustrate various views of an example of tamper evident bag seal 100 installed on a bag 150 with tear-away strip 120 removed and in an un-sealed or tampered with state.
Referring to FIGS. 17-19 illustrate various views of another example of tamper evident bag seal 100 including tear-away strip 120 in a pre-installed and untampered with state.
Referring to FIGS. 20-25 illustrate various views of an example of the tamper evident bag seal 100 of FIGS. 17-19 fully installed on a bag 150 and in a sealed or untampered with state.
Referring to FIGS. 26-31 illustrate various views of an example of tamper evident bag seal 100 of FIGS. 17-19 installed on a bag 150 with tear-away strip 120 removed and in an un-sealed or tampered with state.
Referring to FIGS. 32 through 34 illustrate schematic views of examples of different sized tamper evident bag seals 100 including tear-away strip 120 for use with different sized bags 150 in a pre-installed and untampered with state.
Referring to FIGS. 35 and 36 illustrates another example of the tamper evident bag seal 100 of FIG. 1 or 17 shown as installed on a bag 150 in a sealed configuration and as installed on a bag 150 in an unsealed or tampered evident configuration, respectively.
With reference to the figures, in one non-limiting example, tamper evident bag seal 100 may be made of cardboard (or any other suitable material and/or thickness). In one non-limiting example, tamper evident bag seal 100 may be made of cardboard in the range of about 0.012-inch thick (or any other suitable material and/or thickness). Tamper evident bag seal 100 may include two panels or flaps 110 (e.g., 110 a, 110 b) joined at a fold 112. An opening 114 may be provided along fold 112 and at about the center of fold 112. A strip of double-sided tape 116, or other suitable adhesive technique or mechanism may be provided on the bag facing side of each of the two panels or flaps 110. A fold 118 may be provided about midway of one of the two panels or flaps 110. Further, a tear-away strip 120 may be provided about midway of the other of the two panels or flaps 110 and wherein tear-away strip 120 may be a perforated tear strip that has a tear line 124 on each side. In one example, the perforated tear strip may alternatively be a scored tear strip with score lines replacing tear lines 124.
In one example, tamper evident bag seal 100 may be foldable along fold 112, as shown for example in FIG. 4.
In one example, fold 118 may be provided about midway of flap 110 a while tear-away strip 120 may be provided about midway of flap 110 b. In another example, fold 118 may be provided about midway of flap 110 b while tear-away strip 120 may be provided about midway of flap 110 a. In yet another example, both flaps 110 a and 110 b include a tear-away strip 120. In yet another example, neither of flaps 110 a or 110 b include fold 118. Tamper evident bag seal 100 may be provided as an addon device to an existing bag that otherwise does not include a tamper evident feature, such as bag 150 that does not otherwise include a tamper evident feature. In one example, bag 150 may have bag handles 152. Bag handles 152 may be, for example, plastic, plastic rope, plastic ribbon, injection molded plastic, paper, rope, or other suitable type handles.
Tear-away strip 120 may be a perforated tear strip along tamper evident bag seal 100 that is the mechanism for gaining access to and opening bag 150 and wherein tear-away strip 120 may also be the tamper evident feature of tamper evident bag seal 100.
Referring now to FIGS. 32-34 are plan views of examples of different sized tamper evident bag seals 100 for use with different sized bags. Generally, tamper evident bag seal 100 may have an overall length L and an overall width W. Further, each panel or flap 110 may have a width w. Further, handle opening 114 may have a length l1 and a width w1. Further, double-sided tape 116 may have a width w2. Double-sided tape 116 may be, for example, 2 ply, 4 ply, or other suitable type tape. Additionally, the length of double-sided tape 116 may extend a distance beyond each end of tamper evident bag seal 100, in a non-limiting example, in the range of about 0.25 inches.
In the example shown in FIG. 32, tamper evident bag seal 100 may be designed to fit on a bag about 8-inch to 10-inch wide. In this example, tamper evident bag seal 100 may have an overall length L of about 10 inches and an overall width W of about 6 inches. Further, each panel or flap 110 may have a width w of about 3 inches and wherein if fold 118 is present it may be about midway of the 3-inch flap 110. Further, handle opening 114 may have a length l1 of about 4.25 inches and a width w1 of about 0.375 inches. Further, double-sided tape 116 may have a width w2 of from about 0.75 inches to about 1 inch.
Further, tear-away strip 120 may be in the range of about 0.375 inches wide. Additionally, the tear lines 124 on each side of tear-away strip 120 may be in the range of about 0.0625-inch×0.0625-inch perforation, or other suitable dimension, or may alternatively be score lines. Further, for strength, a length of tear strip backing 122 may be provided along tear-away strip 120. Tear strip backing 122 may be about 0.125 inches wide and may be formed, for example, of 2.35 mil poly material, or any other suitable material. Tear strip backing 122 may be provided as a reinforcing element for tearing tear-away strip 120, for example, to help tear-away strip 120 to be removed as a single continuous strip. In some embodiments, tamper evident bag seal 100 may be absent tear strip backing 122.
In the example shown in FIG. 33, tamper evident bag seal 100 may be designed to fit on a bag about 12-inch to 14-inch wide with handles. In this example, the dimensions of tamper evident bag seal 100 may be substantially the same as those described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 5 except that the overall length L may be about 14 inches.
In the example shown in FIG. 34, tamper evident bag seal 100 may be designed to fit on a bag about 15-inch to 19-inch wide with handles. In this example, the dimensions of tamper evident bag seal 100 are substantially the same as those described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 5 except that the overall length L may be about 19 inches.
In the examples shown in FIGS. 32-34, tamper evident bag seal 100 may be cut to length to more precisely fit any particular bag. Tamper evident bag seal 100 of FIG. 32 may be considered the “small” size. Tamper evident bag seal 100 of FIG. 33 may be considered the “medium” size. Tamper evident bag seal 100 of FIG. 34 may be considered the “large” size. However, the examples of tamper evident bag seal 100 shown in FIGS. 32-34 are exemplary only. Tamper evident bag seal 100 may be provided with any dimensions, e.g., larger or smaller than the examples shown in FIGS. 32-34.
In one example embodiment, as shown in FIG. 35, the tamper evident bag seal 100 may be installed on a bag 150 having a width shorter than the length of the tamper evident bag seal 100. In such an example embodiment, overhanging end portions of the tamper evident bag seal 100 that extend out past the outer edges of bag 150 may be adhered to one another via double-sided tape 116. In this configuration, the top portion of bag 150 may be pinched closed between panels 110 a and 110 b of the tamper evident bag seal 100 when installed and in the sealed untampered with state.
FIG. 36 illustrates the tamper evident bag seal of FIG. 35 shown as installed on a bag 150 in an unsealed or tampered evident configuration, with tear-away strip 120 removed.
In operation and referring now again to FIGS. 1-36, bag 150 may be provided with some contents already inside (e.g., food), and the tamper evident bag seal 100 may be provided. The two bag handles 152 of bag 150 (if present) may be brought together, and handle opening 114 of tamper evident bag seal 100 may be fitted down over the bag handles 152 of bag 150. Tamper evident bag seal 100 may then be folded over bag 150 at fold 112 and one flap 110 (e.g., flap 110 a) may be adhered to one side of bag 150 via a strip of double-sided tape 116, and the other flap 110 (e.g., flap 110 b) may be adhered to the other side of bag 150 via a strip of double-sided tape 116. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 35, in addition to adhering the flaps 110 (110 a, 110 b) to their corresponding sides of the bag 150, opposing overhanging end portions of the flaps 110 (110 a, 110 b) may also be adhered together via the double-sided tape 116. In an alternate embodiment, tamper evident bag seal 100 may be installed on a bag 150 without handles 152.
Accordingly, tamper evident bag seal 100 is used to seal bag 150, as shown for example in FIGS. 5, 20, and 35. To open bag 150, a user may grasp one end of tear-away strip 120 and tears it away and thereby compromising, for example, flap 110 b such that bag 150 can be opened and the contents removed.
In an alternate embodiment, tamper evident bag seal 100 may include a handle portion (not shown) in the area of the handle opening 114. Wherein the handle portion would replace the handle opening 114, and be configured to provide a handle for a user to grab and carry the bag 150 if the bag 150 does not include handle 152. The rest of the tamper evident bag seal 100 in this alternative embodiment would be substantially the same as described above. In operation this alternate embodiment would operate similar to that described above, with the exception of the steps of two bag handles 152 of bag 150 being brought together and fitting handle opening 114 of tamper evident bag seal 100 down over the bag handles 152 of bag 150, which would be omitted.
FIGS. 5, 20, and 35 show examples of tamper evident bag seal 100 installed on bag 150 in the closed and sealed untampered with state. Additionally, FIGS. 5, 20, and 35 show examples of bag 150 in a “secure” condition because tear-away strip 120 of tamper evident bag seal 100 is fully intact. That is, a “tamper evident” condition is not present because tear-away strip 120 has not been compromised.
In summary, tamper evident bag seal 100 includes tear-away strip 120, which is the mechanism for opening bag 150. Namely, to open bag 150, a user must tear away tear-away strip 120. The compromised tear-away strip 120 provides easy visual evidence that bag 150 has been opened or tampered with. Accordingly, tear-away strip 120 provides the tamper evident feature of bag 150 that otherwise does not include a tamper evident feature.
Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in this application, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a subject” includes a plurality of subjects, unless the context clearly is to the contrary (e.g., a plurality of subjects), and so forth.
Throughout this specification and the claims, the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” and “comprising” are used in a non-exclusive sense, except where the context requires otherwise. Likewise, the term “include” and its grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that can be substituted or added to the listed items.
For the purposes of this specification and appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, sizes, dimensions, proportions, shapes, formulations, parameters, percentages, quantities, characteristics, and other numerical values used in the specification and claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about” even though the term “about” may not expressly appear with the value, amount or range. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosed subject matter. For example, the term “about,” when referring to a value can be meant to encompass variations of, in some embodiments ±100%, in some embodiments ±50%, in some embodiments ±20%, in some embodiments ±10%, in some embodiments ±5%, in some embodiments ±1%, in some embodiments ±0.5%, and in some embodiments ±0.1% from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate to perform the disclosed methods or employ the disclosed compositions.
Further, the term “about” when used in connection with one or more numbers or numerical ranges, should be understood to refer to all such numbers, including all numbers in a range and modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth. The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers, e.g., whole integers, including fractions thereof, subsumed within that range (for example, the recitation of 1 to 5 includes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, as well as fractions thereof, e.g., 1.5, 2.25, 3.75, 4.1, and the like) and any range within that range.
Although the foregoing subject matter has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

That which is claimed:

1. A tamper evident bag seal, comprising:

a. a body having a length and a width, the body comprising a first panel and a second panel, with the first and second panels each having a bag facing side and an outward facing side;

b. a first fold extending along a length of the body and disposed between the first panel and the second panel;

c. a tear strip disposed along a length of at least one of the first panel and/or the second panel; and

d. a first adhesive strip disposed on the bag facing side of the first panel and a second adhesive strip on the bag facing side of the second panel, the first and second adhesive strips configured to secure the respective first and second panels to respective first and second sides of a bag.

2. The tamper evident bag seal of claim 1, wherein the tear strip is positioned about halfway between the first fold and a lower edge of the first panel and/or the second panel on which it is disposed.

3. The tamper evident bag seal of claim 1, wherein the tear strip further comprising a tear strip reinforcement backing, wherein the tear strip reinforcement backing comprises a length of backing material disposed along a backside of the tear strip.

4. The tamper evident bag seal of claim 1, further comprising an opening provided along the first fold and disposed between the first panel and the second panel and substantially centered along the length of the body.

5. The tamper evident bag seal of claim 4, wherein the opening is configured for receiving one or more handles of a bag therethrough.

6. The tamper evident bag seal of claim 1, wherein the adhesive strip has a portion of it whose length extends a distance that is longer than the length of the body of the tamper evident seal.

7. The tamper evident bag seal of claim 1, further comprising a second fold extending along a length of one of the first or second panels that is absent the tear strip, wherein the second fold is positioned about halfway between the first fold and a lower edge of the first panel and/or the second panel on which it is disposed.

8. The tamper evident bag seal of claim 1, wherein the tamper evident bag seal when installed on the bag and sealed is configured to secure a contents of the bag therein, and wherein the contents of the bag cannot be accessed via the tamper evident bag seal without causing the tamper evident bag seal to indicate a tamper evident condition.

9. The tamper evident bag seal of claim 1, further comprising a tear line along either side of the tear strip.

10. A method of using a tamper evident bag seal to secure an opening of a bag, comprising:

a. providing a tamper evident bag seal, comprising;

i. a body having a length and a width, the body comprising a first panel and a second panel, with the first and second panels each having a bag facing side and an outward facing side;

ii. a first fold extending along a length of the body and disposed between the first panel and the second panel;

iii. a tear strip disposed along a length of at least one of the first panel and/or the second panel; and

iv. a first adhesive strip disposed on the bag facing side of the first panel and a second adhesive strip on the bag facing side of the second panel, the first and second adhesive strips configured to secure the respective first and second panels to respective first and second sides of a bag;

b. positioning the tamper evident bag seal about an opening of a bag having contents therein; and

c. sealing the opening of the bag with the tamper evident bag seal thereby securing the contents within the bag.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second panels are adhered to respective first and second sides of the bag via double side adhesive tape.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the tamper evident bag seal further comprises an opening provided along a portion of the first fold and disposed between the first panel and the second panel and substantially centered along the length of the body.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein one or more bag handles, if present on the bag, are fitted through the opening when the tamper evident bag seal is positioned on the bag.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the opening of the bag is sealed between the first and second panels of the tamper evident bag seal.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein upon sealing the opening of the bag with the tamper evident bag seal the contents of the bag cannot be accessed via the tamper evident bag seal without causing the tamper evident bag seal to indicate a tamper evident condition.

16. A method of accessing contents of a bag secured with a tamper evident bag seal installed thereon, comprising:

a. providing a bag with contents therein and a tamper evident bag seal installed thereon, the tamper evident bag seal, comprising;

b. removing the tear strip; and

c. accessing the contents within the bag.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the contents of the bag cannot be accessed via the tamper evident bag seal without causing the tamper evident bag seal to indicate a tamper evident condition.