Appeal No. 1999-2092 Page 7
Application No. 08/798,718
seam 55. The tab member 42 is thereby defined
intermediate the preformed tear seam 46, the top edge
seam 36, and seam 55 and normally occupies a coplanar
relationship with the upper portion 59 of the bag body
12.
By grasping the tab member 42 between one's thumb
and forefinger and then pulling the tab member 42
laterally toward the side edge seam 38, the bag body 12
tears along the preformed tear seam 46. The tab member 42
is thereby lifted away from its coplanar relationship
with the bag body 12 (see FIG. 4). The second tearing
edge 50 thereafter acts as a stress point 52 which, as
the tab member 42 is progressively pulled laterally
toward the side edge seam 38, breaks the seam 55 and
initiates a tear line 44 (see FIG. 5) which proceeds from
the second tearing edge 50 across the outlet extension 30
until the side edge seam 38 of the bag 10 is reached. At
this point, the tab member 42 has separated the entire
corner section 40 from the bag body 12 and, in doing so,
has separated the outlet extension 30 from the outlet
port 28. A permanent drain opening is thus formed through
which fluid may be drained from the bag 10.
To guide and otherwise facilitate this tearing
action occasioned by laterally pulling upon the tab
member 42, the second tearing edge 50 joins seam 55 at an
angle (designated as angle x in FIG. 2) which is measured
between the seam line 54 and the preformed tear seam 46
immediately adjacent to the second tearing edge 50. By
virtue of this angle, the action of the stress point 52
in breaking the seam 55 and initiating the tear line 44
across the outlet extension 30 is enhanced. Furthermore,
the tear line 44 thereafter proceeds from the stress
point 52 across the outlet extension 30 at generally the
same angle to increase the size of the drain opening
formed. While this angle may be varied, in the preferred
embodiment, the angle is approximately 45°.
Additionally, the width of the seam 55 is increased
immediately above the juncture of the second tearing edge
50 and the seam 55 to thereby strengthen the seam 55 at
this point. The reinforcement of the seam 55 at this
point directs the tearing action at the stress point 52
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Last modified: November 3, 2007