Tamper evident tape and sealed bag assembly for handled bags and method

A tamper evident method for delivering one or more food containers in a handled bag assembly comprising:

• providing a handled delivery bag assembly having a sheet-like first panel, and an opposed sheet-like second panel, each the first and second panel having an interior surface that faces the opposing panel and an exterior surface, each panel further including a respective upper section terminating at an upper first edge of said first panel and an opposed upper second edge of said second panel, said first and second edges cooperating to at least partially define a bag opening into a content receiving region extending between the bag opening and the first and second panels, said upper sections being movable between an opened condition and a closed condition, said bag assembly further including a first handle mounted to the upper section of the first panel having a pair spaced-apart first leg portions upstanding from said first edge, and a second handle mounted to the upper section second panel having a pair spaced-apart second leg portions upstanding from said second edge, said first and second handles together with the first and second leg portions being generally aligned adjacent one another and collectively defining a gripping passage therethrough when said upper sections are oriented in said closed condition, the bag assembly further including a single use closure tape member laterally mounted to the first panel upper section, and having an upper lateral portion extending laterally above said first edge thereof in an unsealed condition, said tape upper lateral portion having a pair of cutouts strategically aligned with the leg portions of said first handle, and defining a middle closure section having a closure height extending vertically from said first edge to an upper edge of said middle closure section, said closure height being significantly less than a vertical height of said gripping passage;
• reorienting said upper sections of the bag assembly to the opened condition to enable receipt of the one or more food containers in the content receiving region;
• repositioning said upper sections of the bag assembly from the opened condition to the closed condition, orienting said first and second edges, and the leg portions of said handles, generally in opposed, adjacent, relationship to one another;
• exposing a closure adhesive disposed on an interior surface of the tape upper lateral portion facing said second panel when in the unsealed condition;
• folding said tape upper lateral portion over the second edge of said second panel such that said middle closure section passes unobstructedly under the aligned handle members and through the gripping passage, and such that said adhesive is brought into contact with the exterior surface of said second panel, substantially sealing said bag opening in a sealed condition, and
• receiving said leg portions of the first and second handles through the respective cutouts of the tape member.

A tamper evident delivery bag assembly comprising:

• a sheet-like first panel, an opposed sheet-like second panel, and a bottom gusset, each the first and second panel having an interior surface that faces the opposing panel and an exterior surface, each panel further including a respective upper section terminating at an upper first edge of said first panel and an opposed upper second edge of said second panel, said first and second edges cooperating to at least partially define a bag opening into a content receiving region extending between the bag opening, panels and the bottom gusset, said upper sections being movable between an opened condition and a closed condition, orienting said first and second edges generally in opposed, adjacent, relationship to one another;
• a first handle mounted to the upper section of the first panel having a pair spaced-apart first leg portions upstanding from said first edge,
• a second handle mounted to the upper section of the second panel having a pair spaced-apart second leg portions upstanding from said second edge, said first and second leg portions being generally aligned adjacent one another when said upper sections are oriented in said closed condition
• a single use closure tape member laterally mounted to the first panel upper section, and having an upper lateral portion extending laterally above said first edge thereof in an unsealed condition, said tape member further including an adhesive disposed on an interior surface of the tape upper lateral portion facing said second panel when in the unsealed condition, said tape upper lateral portion having a pair of cutouts strategically aligned with the leg portions of said first handle;
• a removable protective strip that covers the adhesive,
• wherein, when the protective strip is removed, and said panel upper sections are aligned in said closed condition, said tape upper lateral portion can be folded over the second edge of said second panel such that said adhesive is brought into contact with the exterior surface of said second panel, substantially sealing said bag opening in a sealed condition, and
• wherein said leg portions of the first and second handles are received through the respective cutouts of the tape member;
• and
• said tape member includes a plurality of elongated scoring slits extending in a direction substantially transverse to the respective first and second edge of the respective first and second panel and across said bag opening when said upper sections are in said closed condition and said tape member is in said sealed condition.