Protective Laboratory Specimen Bag

The invention relates to a composite bag for packaging a laboratory specimen container and associated paper work in a manner to protect against infection from the specimen during handling and against misplacement of the paper work.

Health care and lab workers have become increasingly cautious with regards to handling specimen containers due to the possibility of contacting infectious diseases such as AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) from container leaks. It has also become increasingly important to keep accurate records and association of the paper work with the specimen.

It is known to make a bag having a first pocket for a lab specimen with a zipper closure and a second pocket for paper work. The first compartment retains leaks. However, the first and second pocket are joined together only at the sides leaving a gap open on both ends between the pockets. Since the second pocket has an open mouth, the paper work can easily be placed mistakenly in the gap where it easily slides out the open end becoming misplaced or lost. Plastic bags of general interest are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,061 disclosing a plastic bag for transporting a specimen in a leak-proof manner; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,680,768 disclosing a plastic bag and method having plural compartments.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a plastic bag for packaging a lab specimen in a leak-proof manner and the associated paper work in a secure manner for reliable processing with the specimen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a composite bag having a first leak-proof compartment for packaging a lab specimen and a second compartment for packaging associated paper work with reliable closures for both compartments to insure against loss of the packaged contents.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a unitary plastic bag having dual compartments for packaging a lab specimen and associated paper work having increased structural integrity.

The above objectives are accomplished according to the invention by providing a unitary specimen bag for packaging a laboratory specimen container and associated paper work which comprises a first generally fluid-tight compartment defined by first and second opposing side walls and a folded bottom edge. The side walls terminate in a pair of free edges defining a first compartment mouth for receiving the specimen container. A resealable lock includes first and second linear mating portions carried by the free edges of the respective first and second side walls for sealing the compartment in a fluid-tight manner. A web of the tubing extends above said second linear mating portion and generally across the second side wall. A second compartment defined by third and fourth side walls has joined together edges and a folded bottom edge. At least the third wall of the second compartment is joined across an upper portion to the web above the releasable lock of the first compartment. The fourth side wall of the second compartment terminates at a free edge to define a second compartment mouth for receiving paper work. Further in accordance with the invention a method for producing a unitary specimen bag is disclosed which includes supplying plastic folded tubing having first and second side walls; and supplying plastic folded sheeting having third and fourth side walls. Feeding of the folded tubing and sheeting in carried out in a superposed manner to a heat sealer. The method includes feeing the tubing with a releasable lock carried by the first and second walls faced downwards and the sheeting with a reverse flip faced upwards so that the second, third, and fourth side walls are heat sealed together to form a closed top composite bag wherein a mouth to the second compartment is formed on a side of the composite structure. The method includes forming a plurality of spaced second heat seals on the superposed tubing and sheeting transverse to the first heat seal and severing the superposed, heat sealed tubing and sheeting to form individual bags.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof. The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective laboratory specimen bag according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a protective laboratory specimen bag according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of a protective laboratory specimen bag according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a method for making a protective laboratory specimen bag according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a method of making a protective laboratory specimen bag according to the invention.

A unitary specimen bag, designated generally as A, is disclosed for packaging a laboratory specimen container 10 and associated paper work 12 which comprises a first generally fluid-tight compartment B defined by first and second opposing side walls 14 and 16 made integral by joined together side edges 18 and 20, and a folded bottom edge 22. Side walls 14 and 16 terminate in a pair of free edges 14a and 16a defining a first compartment mouth 24 for receiving specimen container 10. A resealable lock means, designated generally as 26, has first and second linear mating portions 28, 30 carried near free edges 14a, 16a of the respective first and second side walls for sealing said compartment in a leak-proof manner. The lock is preferably the type referred to as a zipper lock such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,723. A web 32 extends above second linear mating portion 30 and generally across second side wall 16. A second compartment C is defined by third and fourth side walls 34, 36 having joined together edges 38, 40 and a folded bottom edge 42. At least third wall 34 of second compartment is joined across an upper portion to web 32 above releasable lock means 26 of first compartment B. Fourth side wall 36 of second compartment C terminates at a free edge 36a to define a second compartment mouth 44 for receiving paper work 12.

A flap 46 is joined with third side wall 34 of second compartment C across web 32, and the flap has a free edge 46a which terminates at edge 36a of fourth wall 36 to define a narrow slit opening 48 for mouth 44. In this case, compartment C may be produced from J-folded sheeting with a reverse flip. Alternately, closure means for mouth 44 may be in the form of a flap 50 which extends over free edge 36a of fourth side wall 36 and second compartment mouth 48 for closing mouth and second compartment. In this case, compartment C may be made from J-folded sheeting with a reverse flip and a recessed lip. Edges 18, 20 of the first and second side walls and the edges 38, 40 of the third and fourth side walls are joined together by heat sealing.

In accordance with the invention, a method is disclosed for producing a unitary specimen bag A for packaging the laboratory specimen container and associated paper work which includes supplying folded tubing D having first and second side walls 14, 16 with a fluid-tight closure 26 having first and second linear mating portions 28, 30 carried respectively by the first and second side walls. Folded tubing D is preferably supplied with web 32 extending above the first and second linear mating portions. Next, J-folded sheeting E is supplied having third and fourth opposing side walls 34, 36 on either side of fold 42.

The folded tubing and the J-folded sheeting are fed in a superposed manner to a heat sealing means designated generally as F which preferably is a conventional rotary heat seal machine 60 having a plate 62 opposing a rotary heat element 64 in lieu of a second roller. An upper heat seal 66 is found across an upper portion of J-folded sheeting E and web 32 of folded tubing D joining the sheeting and tubing together. Heat sealing means F also includes a conventional reciprocating bar sealer 67 which forms spaced transverse 68 heat seals at spaced intervals along the length of the composite superposed folded tubing D and J-folded sheeting E transverse to upper heat seal 66 joining the tubing and sheeting together at spaced intervals to define first compartment B consisting of first and second side walls 14, 16 joined together and second compartment B consisting of said third and fourth side walls 34, 36 joined together.

Bar sealer 66 forms the heat seal and severs the compartment of folded tubing and said J-folded sheeting along spaced transverse heat seals 68 to produce individual unitary specimen bags A wherein first compartment B contains specimen container 10 in a fluid-tight manner and second compartment C contains said paper work 12. Heat protective plate 62 is inserted between first and second side walls 14, 16 of said folded tubing while upper heat seal 66 is being formed to prevent damage to the zipper closure 26 and resultant leakage and to prevent any incident of heat sealing of walls 14 and 16. For example, upper heat seal 66 may be formed at or below linear zipper closure 26.

In the method the J-folded sheeting is supplied in a form having a reverse sheeting flip 70 providing narrow slit mouth opening 48 for second compartment C.

Alternately, J-folded sheeting E is supplied in a form having a reverse sheeting flip 72 with a recessed lip 74 so that said sheeting flip extends past a free end 36a of said fourth side wall providing a recessed mouth opening 76 for second compartment C. Web 32 extends across second wall 16 of first compartment B. Second wall 16 of first compartment B and third wall 34 of second compartment B are joined together by upper seal 66 providing a double wall between interiors of the first and second compartments.

Thus, it can be seen that an advantageous construction can be had according to the invention for guarding an infective lab specimen and associated paper work. Composite protective laboratory specimen bag A and includes folded tubing D having a releasable lock 26 for forming a first fluid-tight compartment B for containing a laboratory specimen container. J-folded sheeting E with a reverse flip 46 forms a second compartment C for containing associated paper work. The tubing and sheeting are heat sealed together across web 32 of the tubing to form a closed top composite bag with side mouth openings 24, 48 for the compartments which may be positively located for article placement avoiding misplacement of articles.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.