Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02300297 2000-03-07
DISPOSABLE STERILE BAG, E.G. FOR BREAST MILK
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to flexible bags
and, more particularly, to sterile disposable plastic
bags for use in handling various liquids.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various bags have been developed for the
sterile transportation and/or storage of samples in the
medical and food fields, such as human fluid samples,
milk, water in environmental studies, etc.
Such a plastic bag is disclosed in U.S. Patent
No. 5,564,829 issued on October 15, 1996 to Lafond. As
seen in Fig. 3, in this patent a disposable sterile
plastic bag B comprises a two-ply sheet flexible material
consisting of front and rear sheets 8 integrally joined
at opposed side edges 12, 12 thereof (or the bag may be
made from a tube) and including opposite upper and lower
ends 10 and 14, respectively. The front and rear sheets
8, 8 are joined at the upper and lower ends 10 and 14
thereof respectively by upper and lower heat seals 16 and
18, respectively, with a sealed sample receiving chamber
being defined between the two plastic sheets 8, 8
inwardly of the bag's side edges 12, 12 and upper and
lower sealed ends 16 and 18. Inwardly of the upper seal
16, there is defined a tear-off line 20 transversely
across the two sheets 8, 8 and parallelly to the upper
seal 16 thereby forming a detachable strip 24 outwardly
of the tear-off line 20. The tear off line 20 is
punctured through both sheets 8 across the upper end 10
of the bag B and lower than the upper heat seal 16 such
that the upper heat seal 16 extends substantially
parallelly between the tear off line 20 and an upper edge
26 of the bag B. When the liquid sample is ready to be
introduced in the bag B, the strip 24 is removed from the
bag B by pulling it so as to cause rupture of the two
1
CA 02300297 2000-03-07
sheets 8, 8 at the tear-off line 20. The bag's chamber is
thus sterile when the sample is introduced therein and
the bag B, when so opened, defines a mouth 22 through
which the liquid sample may be introduced in the bag B.
The bag's sterility does not depend on how the bag is
packaged or on the integrity of the packaging's seal as
the bag is itself sterile until the strip 24 is removed
therefrom, that is until the bag B is ready to be used.
Such plastic bags may also include near an open
end thereof a wire or metal strip which is mounted
transversely across the bag with ends extending past the
side edges of the bag. Once the bag has been filled with
the sample to be transported/stored, the open end is
folded at least once over the bag about the wire or metal
strip so as to close the open end and the ends of the
wire or metal strip are then folded at the side edges of
the bag and brought around so as to extend inwardly
behind the bag. This safely and effectively encloses the
sample in the plastic bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an aim of the present invention
to provide a novel sterile bag for holding therein
liquids.
It is also aim of the present invention to
provide a novel sterile bag having indicia thereon for
allowing a user to determine at least approximately the
volume of liquid in the bag.
It is a further aim of the present invention to
provide a novel sterile bag which includes an extension
outside of the bag's liquid receiving chamber and adapted
to be allow the user to provide, such as by writing,
information thereon, for instance data regarding the
liquid stored in the bag.
It is a still further aim of the present
invention to provide a sterile bag in combination with a
breast pumping device, wherein breast milk delivered by
2
CA 02300297 2000-03-07
the pumping device is conveyed directly and sterilely
into the bag, for instance, for storage thereof.
It is a still further aim of the present
invention to provide a sterile bag in combination with a
feeding bottle where the bag acts as a bottle liner,
whereby there is no transfer of milk from the storage bag
to the feeding bottle bag.
Therefore, in accordance with the present
invention, there is provided a disposable sterile plastic
bag in combination with a breast pumping device, said bag
being adapted to contain breast milk and to be fluidly
connected to said pumping device, said pumping device
being adapted for retrieving breast milk from a human
breast such that said breast milk is directed into said
bag, said bag comprising a flexible closed enclosure
means defining a chamber adapted to contain therein the
breast milk received from said pumping device, said
enclosure means being permanently sealed except at one
portion thereof which comprises bag access means adapted
to substantially seal said bag in a first position
thereof but also adapted to selectively allow in a second
position thereof the breast milk to be introduced in said
chamber when it is desired to use said bag, whereby once
in said second position the breast milk can be received
in said bag with said bag is fluidly connected to said
pumping device.
Also in accordance with the present invention,
there is provided a disposable sterile plastic bag in
combination with a bag holder, said bag being adapted to
contain milk, said bag holder comprising a hollow body
and a cap provided with a nipple and being adapted for
feeding a baby, said bag holder being adapted for
receiving therein said bag, said bag comprising a
flexible closed enclosure means defining a chamber
adapted to contain milk therein, said enclosure means
being permanently sealed except at one portion thereof
3
CA 02300297 2000-03-07
which comprises bag access means adapted to substantially
seal said bag in a first position thereof but also
adapted to selectively allow in a second position thereof
the milk to be introduced in said chamber when it is
desired to use said bag, wherein, once in said second
position, a top end of said bag can be folded over an
upper end of said bag holder with said cap being
engageable to said upper end of said bag holder for
imprisoning said top end of said bag between said cap and
said upper end of said bag holder such that said bag
hangs in said bag holder with milk being introduced in
said bag at least one of before and after said bag is
inserted in said bag holder and mounted thereto.
Further in accordance with the present
invention, there is provided a method of substantially
sterilely handling breast milk, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a disposable sterile bag;
b) fluidly connecting said bag to an outlet of
a breast pumping device; and
c) retrieving breast milk from a human breast
by way of said pumping device and conveying the breast
milk directly from said outlet into said bag.
Still further in accordance with the present
invention, there is provided a method of substantially
sterilely handling breast milk, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a disposable sterile bag
comprising a tear off strip and providing a bag holder;
b) removing said tear off strip to reveal a
milk receiving chamber of said bag; and
c) mounting said bag to said bag holder;
wherein milk is introduced in said bag between
said steps b) and c) or after step c).
Still further in accordance with the present
invention, there is provided a disposable bag in
combination with a breast pumping device, said bag being
adapted to contain breast milk and to be fluidly
connected to said pumping device, said pumping device
4
CA 02300297 2009-05-19
being adapted for retrieving breast milk from a human breast, said bag
comprising an enclosure means defining a chamber adapted to contain
therein the breast milk received from said pumping device, said enclosure
means defining an opening for allowing the breast milk to be introduced in
U said chamber, whereby, when said bag is fluidly connected to said pumping
device, the breast milk pumped by said pumping device is directed into said
bag.
Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is
ic provided a disposable bag adapted to contain breast milk, comprising a
flexible closed enclosure defining a chamber adapted to contain therein
breast milk, said enclosure being permanently sealed except at one portion
thereof which comprises a bag access adapted to substantially seal said bag
in a first position thereof but also adapted to selectively allow in a second
1S position thereof the breast milk to be introduced in said chamber when it
is
desired to use said bag, whereby once in said second position the breast milk
can be received in said bag, wherein said bag comprises a section located
remote from said enclosure and adapted for receiving thereon information
about a content of said bag.
Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a disposable sterile plastic bag in combination with a breast
pumping device, said bag being adapted to contain breast milk and to be
fluidly connected to said pumping device, said pumping device being adapted
for retrieving breast milk from a human breast such that said breast milk is
directed into said bag, said bag comprising a flexible closed enclosure
defining a chamber adapted to contain therein the breast milk received from
said pumping device, said enclosure being permanently sealed except at one
portion thereof which comprises a bag access adapted to substantially seal
said bag in a first position thereof but also adapted to selectively allow in
a
second position thereof the breast milk to be introduced in said chamber
when it is desired to use said bag, whereby once in said second position the
breast milk can be received in said bag with said bag being fluidly connected
to said pumping device, wherein said bag comprises a closure member
~5 adapted, with an outlet end of said pumping device extending into said bag,
for detachably mounting said bag to said pumping device such that breast
5
CA 02300297 2009-05-19
milk retrieved by said pumping device is directly delivered through said
outlet
end into said bag.
Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is
s provided a disposable sterile plastic bag in combination with a bag holder
and
with a breast pumping device, said bag being adapted to contain milk, said
bag holder comprising a hollow body and a cap provided with a nipple and
being adapted for feeding a baby, said bag holder being adapted for receiving
therein said bag, said bag comprising a flexible closed enclosure defining a
chamber adapted to contain milk therein, said enclosure being permanently
sealed except at one portion thereof which comprises a bag access adapted
to substantially seai said bag in a first position thereof but also adapted to
selectively allow in a second position thereof the milk to be introduced in
said
chamber when it is desired to use said bag, wherein, once in said second
position, a top end of said bag can be folded over an upper end of said bag
holder with said cap being engageable to said upper end of said bag holder
for imprisoning said top end of said bag between said cap and said upper end
of said bag holder such that said bag hangs in said bag holder with milk being
introduced in said bag at least one of before and after said bag is inserted
in
2a said bag holder and mounted thereto, said bag in said second position being
adapted to be fluidly connected to said pumping device, said pumping device
being adapted for retrieving breast milk from a human breast such that said
breast milk is directed into said chamber, wherein said bag comprises a
closure member adapted, with an outlet end of said pumping device
2 = extending into said bag, for detachably attaching said bag to said pumping
device such that breast milk retrieved by said pumping device is directly
delivered through said outlet end into said bag.
Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is
30 provided a disposable sterile plastic bag in combination with a bag holder,
said bag being adapted to contain milk, said bag holder comprising a hollow
body and a cap provided with a nipple and being adapted for feeding a baby,
said bag holder being adapted for receiving therein said bag, said bag
comprising a flexible closed enclosure defining a chamber adapted to contain
35 milk therein, said enclosure being permanently sealed except at one portion
thereof which comprises a bag access adapted to substantially seal said bag
in a first position thereof but also adapted to selectively allow in a second
~ja-
CA 02300297 2009-05-19
position thereof the milk to be introduced in said chamber when it is desired
to use said bag, wherein, once in said second position, a top end of said bag
can be folded over an upper end of said bag holder with said cap being
engageable to said upper end of said bag holder for imprisoning said top end
= of said bag between said cap and said upper end of said bag holder such that
said bag hangs in said bag holder with milk beirig introduced in said bag at
least one of before and after said bag is inserted in said bag holder and
mounted thereto, wherein said bag comprises a section located remote from
said enclosure and adapted for receiving thereon information about a content
io of said bag.
Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a method of substantially sterilely handling breast milk, comprising
the steps of:
..~ a) providing a disposable sterile bag comprising a closure
member;
b) fluidly connecting said bag to an outlet of a breast pumping
device with said closure member being used to attach said bag
to said outlet; and
2o c) retrieving breast milk from a human breast by way of said
pumping device and conveying the breast milk directly from said
outlet into said bag.
Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is
25 provided a method of substantially sterilely handling breast milk,
comprising
the steps of:
a) providing a closed disposable sterile bag comprising a tear off
strip and providing a bag holder;
b) removing said tear off strip to reveal a milk receiving chamber
30 of said bag; and
c) mounting said bag to said bag holder;
wherein milk is introduced in said chamber between said steps
b) and c) or after step c).
35 Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a disposable sterile plastic bag in combination with a breast
pumping device, said bag being adapted to contain breast milk and to be
CA 02300297 2009-05-19
fluidly connected to said pumping device, said pumping device being adapted
for retrieving.breast milk from a human breast such that said breast milk is
directed into said bag, said bag comprising a flexible enclosure defining a
chamber adapted to contain therein the breast milk received from said
pumping device, an opening in fluid communication with said chamber,
whereby the breast milk can be received in said bag with said opening of said
bag being fluidly connected to said pumping device, wherein said bag
comprises a closure member adapted, with an outlet end of said pumping
device extending into said bag, for detachably mounting said bag to said
c pumping device such that breast milk retrieved by said pumping device is
directly delivered through said outlet end into said bag.
Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a disposable sterile plastic bag in combination with a bag holder and
iE> with a breast pumping device, said bag being adapted to contain milk, said
bag holder comprising a hollow body and a cap provided with a nipple and
being adapted for feeding a baby, said bag holder being adapted for receiving
therein said bag, said bag comprising a flexible enclosure defining a chamber
adapted to contain milk therein, an open top end of said bag being adapted to
20 be folded over an upper end of said bag holder with said cap being
engageable to said upper end of said bag holder for imprisoning said top end
of said bag between said cap and said upper end of said bag holder such that
at least part of said chamber is located within said bag holder, said open top
end of said bag being adapted to be fluidly connected to said pumping
25 device, said pumping device being adapted for retrieving breast milk from a
human breast such that said breast milk is directed into said chamber,
wherein said bag comprises a closure member adapted, with an outlet end of
said pumping device extending into said bag, for detachably attaching said
bag to said pumping device such that breast milk retrieved by said pumping
30 device is directly delivered through said outlet end into said bag.
Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a method of substantially sterilely handling breast milk, comprising
the steps of;
35 a) providing a closed disposable sterile bag comprising a tear off
strip and providing a bag holder;
5c
CA 02300297 2009-05-19
b) removing said tear off strip to reveal a milk receiving chamber
of said bag;
c) mounting said bag to said bag holder; and
d) introducing milk in said chamber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the nature of the invention,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way
of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a sterile plastic bag in
accordance with the present invention, wherein the sterile bag is shown in a
closed or sealed position thereof;
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the sterile bag of the present
invention which has been opened, filled with a liquid and closed for storing
the
:s iiquid;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional sterile plastic bag
adapted to hold therein liquid samples, wherein the sterile bag is shown in a
partly open position; and
Figs. 4a to 4i illustrate various steps followed by the bag of Figs.
2c 1 and 2 when used in a typical cycle,
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 3 illustrates a conventional sterile plastic bag B made for
instance from heavy-gauge transparent polyethylene. More particularly, the
25 bag B can be made from an elongated sleeve which is transversely cut so as
to obtain a bag of desired length or height, that is the distance between the
opposed open
5d
CA 02300297 2000-03-07
ends of the severed sleeve. Such a construction produces
a bag having no side seams which reduces the costs of
manufacture of the bag B and increases the efficiency of
the protection afforded by the bag B. Then, the bottom
end of the severed sleeve is closed, for example, by heat
sealing thereby producing a bag having an open upper end.
This upper end, in the present invention, is temporarily
sealed by a further heat seal which is carried out
between the upper edge of the bag and a tear off line
defined transversely across the bag at its upper end,
whereby when the bag is required for holding a sample,
for instance for subsequent use in a laboratory blender,
the tear off strip defined between the tear off line and
the upper edge of the bag can be detached from the
latter. With this construction, the bag remains
substantially and sufficiently sterile until it is used,
that is until the tear off strip is removed therefrom.
The bag B is initially produced and sold in a
sealed position where the tear off is not detached from
the rest of the bag. When a sample or the like must be
deposited in the bag B, the bag B is opened by proceeding
as illustrated in Fig. 3.
More particularly, in Fig. 3, the bag B is of
the two-ply type having identical front and rear sheets 8
integrally joined at side edges 12 thereof and having
opposite upper and lower ends 10 and 14, respectively.
The two sheets 8 are joined in a tight sealed manner at
the upper end 10 of the bag B by known connection means,
such as a heat seal 16. Similarly, the sheets 8 are
sealingly joined at the lower end 14 of the bag B by a
lower heat seal 18.
A tear off line 20 is punctured through both
sheets 8 across the upper end 10 of the bag B and lower
than the upper heat seal 16 such that the upper heat seal
16 extends substantially parallelly between the tear off
line 20 and an upper edge 26 of the bag B. Therefore,
there is a tear off strip 24 defined at the upper end 10
6
CA 02300297 2000-03-07
of the bag B which when detached from the remainder of
the bag B in a manner initiated in Fig. 3, reveals an
open mouth 22 of the bag B through which the bag B can
obviously be filled with the sample intended to be stored
therein.
Now turning to the present invention, Figs. 1
and 2 illustrate a disposable sterile plastic bag 100 for
holding therein liquids, for instance breast milk such
that it may be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. The
bag 100 has a basic structure similar to the conventional
bag B of Fig. 3 in that it comprises identical front and
rear sheets 108 integrally joined at side edges 112
thereof, generally as a result of the bag 100 being made
from a tube, and having opposite upper and lower ends 110
and 114, respectively. The two sheets 108 are joined in
a tight sealed manner at the upper end 110 of the bag 100
by a heat seal 116 with two parallel and spaced heat
seals 116 being herein shown. Similarly, the two sheets
108 are sealingly joined at the lower end 114 of the bag
100 by a lower heat seal 118, also herein embodied by a
pair of heat seals 118 which ensure total sterility and
leakproofness of the bag 100.
A tear off line 120 is punctured through both
sheets 108 across the upper end 110 of the bag 100 and
lower than the upper heat seals 116 such that the upper
heat seals 116 extend substantially parallelly between
the tear off line 120 and an upper edge 126 of the bag
100. Therefore, there is a tear off strip 124 defined at
the upper end 110 of the bag 100 which when detached from
the remainder of the bag 100 (in a manner initiated and
shown for the conventional bag B in Fig. 3), reveals an
open mouth at the tear off line 120 of the bag 100
through which the bag 100 can obviously be filled with,
for instance, the breast milk intended to be stored in
the bag 100. The tear off strip 124 preserves the
sterility of the bag 100 until its manipulation.
7
CA 02300297 2000-03-07
The bag 100 further includes near the mouth
thereof, that is just below the tear off line 120, a
closure member 130 which is mounted transversely across
the bag 100 with ends 132 (acting as pull-tabs) of the
closure member 130 extending past the side edges 112 of
the bag 100. The closure member, in a known manner,
includes a pair of metal strips or wires 134 (one
disposed outwardly on each of the front and rear sheets
108) and a pair of adhesive tapes 136 disposed outwardly
over the metal wires 134 to attach the metal wires 134 to
the front and rear sheets 108 of the bag 100 with the
tapes 136 adhering to the bag 100 inwardly of the side
edges 112 thereof while adhering together outwardly of
the side edges 112. The closure member 130 allows for the
bag 100 to be repeatedly opened and closed without risk
of loss of contents.
At least one of the front and rear sheets 108
of the bag 100 is provided thereon, for instance by
printing, with indicia 138 which indicate the approximate
volume of liquid (e.g. breast milk) in the bag 100.
Calibrated reference markings 140 indicate liquid levels
whereas scales of volumes, in ounces 142 and in
millimeters 144, are associated with each reference
marking 140 such that the user can easily determine
approximately the volume of liquid being poured, or
having been previously put or now remaining, in the bag
100. Opposite each scale of volume indicia 142 and 144,
there is provided an indication of the volume measurement
unit 146 (i.e. "OZ" for ounces and "ML" for millimeters)
associated with each scale.
Also, the lower end 114 defines an extension
148 of dimensions sufficient to allow for some
information to be provided on the bag 100 regarding the
contents thereof. The extension 148 is basically
comprised of the lower ends of both the front and rear
sheets 108, that the portions thereof extending below the
lower heat seals 118 (although the extension could
8
CA 02300297 2000-03-07
include a single layer, such as either one of the front
and rear sheets 108). Various information may be
provided, for instance by writing, on the extension 148,
such as the date of bagging on line 150 and the volume of
liquid (e.g. breast milk) on line 152 with references 154
and 156 reading, in such a case, as "DATE" and "VOLUME",
respectively.
Importantly, as the extension 148 is located
outwardly of, that is not opposite to, the liquid
containing chamber of the bag 100 (see Fig. 2), there is
no risk or damaging or piercing the bag 100 when writing
information at areas 150 and 152 of the extension 148,
and thus there is no risk of causing a leak in the bag
100. The extension 148 being planar, it is possible to
easily write thereon even after the bag 100 has been
filled with liquid.
Therefore, once the tear off strip 124 has been
removed from the bag 100, the bag 100 may be opened by
spreading side pull-tabs 158 (one such pull-tab extending
outwardly from the middle of each adhesive tape 136)
thereby avoiding contamination of the inside of the bag
100. Then, the liquid (breast milk) may be inserted in
the bag 100 while allowing space in the bag 100 for
expansion of the liquid if, for instance, it is intended
to be frozen. The longitudinal ends or pull-tabs 132 of
the closure member 130 (i.e. its portions extending
outwardly beyond the side edges 112 of the bag 100) are
then pulled away so as to draw the front and rear sheets
108 together opposite the closure member 130 thereby
substantially closing the upper mouth of the bag 100.
After, pressure is applied on the outside of the bag 100
to remove trapped air. The closure member 130 is then
rolled down, for instance four (4) times over, and the
longitudinal ends 132 of the closure member 130 are
folded inwardly, at the side edges 112 of the bag 100,
over either the front and rear sheets 108 to prevent the
"unrolling" of the closed upper end of the bag 100. This
9
CA 02300297 2000-03-07
safely and effectively encloses the liquid in the plastic
bag 100. In Fig. 2, the bag 100 so contains a liquid,
such as breast milk, with a level thereof being indicated
at L.
Using a regular ball point pen, the user may
indicate, for instance, date and volume information on
lines 150 and 152 of the extension 148 located at the
bottom of the bag 100.
When one is ready to use the breast milk stored
in the bag 100, it is possible to use the bag 100 as a
bottle liner with PlaytexT"'-type feeding bottles of the
type having a cylindrical configuration and open opposite
longitudinal ends, the upper end having outside threads
screwably engageable by inside threads of a bottle cap
provided with a nipple, wherein a bag is typically
introduced in the feeding bottle and the upper end of the
bag is folded outwardly over the upper end of the feeding
bottle and the outside threads thereof such that, when
the bottle cap is subsequently engaged to the feeding
bottle the folded over upper end of the plastic bag is
imprisoned between the outside threads of the feeding
bottle and the inside threads of the bottle cap.
When the bag 10 filled with milk is used with
such PlaytexT"`-type feeding bottles, the bag 100 is first
completely unrolled and then the upper end of the bag 100
is cut, below the closure member 130. The rest of the bag
100 containing the breast milk is then inserted in the
feeding bottle and the upper end of the bag 100 is peeled
outwardly over the upper rim of the feeding bottle, in a
conventional manner, covering completely the outside
threads of the feeding bottle, whereafter the bottle cap
(and its nipple) are screwed onto the feeding bottle and
the bag.
Therefore, the milk does not have to be
transferred from any storage container into the
conventional bag used with the feeding bottle, thereby
eliminating possible contamination of the breast milk.
CA 02300297 2000-03-07
Furthermore, milk pumped from the breast using,
for instance, a breast pump, may be fed directly into the
bag 100 thereby again eliminating a transfer from the
standard container attached to the pump to a storage
container. Indeed, milk may be pumped directly into the
bag 100 which can then be used for storage purposes and
thereafter used as a bottle liner, as described
hereinabove. For this, the bag 100 is attached to the
outlet of the pumping unit, e.g. its transfer hose, by
using the closure member 130 which is brought around the
outlet and tied thereat by twisting together the
longitudinal ends 132 of the closure member 130. Then,
the pump may be activated and the resulting pumped breast
milk is conveyed into the bag 100.
Figs. 4a to 4i show the use of the bag 100
through a typical cycle. More particularly, Fig. 4a
illustrates the removal of the safety tear off strip 124
from the bag 100. Fig. 4b shows the outward pulling of
side pull-tabs to open the bag 100 and define an upper
open mouth 122 therefor. Fig. 4c illustrates an outlet
tip 160 of a breast pump 162 inserted in the mouth 122 of
the bag 100 with the closure member 130 being wrapped
around the outlet tip 160 and the longitudinal ends 132
of the closure member 130 being shown as they are being
tied together by twisting such as to secure the upper end
of the bag 100 to the outlet tip 160 of the breast pump
162; once milk has been expressed from the breast into
the bag 100, the ends 132 of the closure member 130 are
untwisted and detached from each other thereby allowing
the filled bag 100 to be removed from the breast pump
162.
As seen in Fig. 4d, the longitudinal ends 132,
now acting as pull tabs, are then pulled away from each
other to close the mouth 122 of the bag 100 with air
being removed from the bag 100 by pressing with one's
fingers on the outside of both the front and rear sheets
108. In Fig. 4e, the bag 100, while being firmly held by
11
CA 02300297 2000-03-07
the longitudinal ends 132 of the closure member 130, is
rotated e.g. 4 or 5 times) about the closure member 130
to close the upper end of the bag 100. Fig. 4f
illustrates the longitudinal ends 132 being folded
inwardly substantially about the side edges 112 of the
bag 100 to "lock" the rolled-up upper end of the bag 100
and so provide a leakproof seal.
Fig. 4g shows the writing of the extraction
date and extracted milk volume at areas 150 and 152 of
the extension 148. Fig. 4h illustrates the milk being
stored in a freezer 164 or refrigerator 166 and then
being taken out therefrom generally for consumption of
the frozen or cold milk. Finally, Fig. 4i shows the bag
100 being used as a disposable liner for a feeding bottle
168, wherein the bag 100 is first cut just under its
closure member 130 (see left image in Fig. 4i) with the
bag section carrying the closure member 130 being
discarded and with the remainder of the bag being
inserted in the feeding bottle 168; this is followed by
the upper end of the bag being folded outwardly over the
upper rim of the bottle 168 (see middle image in Fig.
4i), and then by a bottle cap 170 (provided with a nipple
172) being screwed onto the upper end of the bottle 168
thereby imprisoning the folded upper end of the bag
between the bottle 168 and the bottle cap 170.
12
