Double wall package for storing items in bacteria-free condition

Claim 2

A package, as defined in claim 1, in which: said double wall bag includes an inner ply and an outer ply, portions of said outer ply overlapping within the confines of said access opening.

Claim 3

A package, as defined in claim 1, in which: said double bag includes an inner ply and an outer ply, a portion of said inner ply overlapping with a portion of said outer ply within the confines of said access opening.

Claim 4

A package, as defined in claim 1, in which: said double wall bag includes an inner ply and an outer ply having the same thickness.

Claim 5

A package, as defined in claim 1, in which: said double wall bag includes an inner ply and an outer ply having different thicknesses.

Claim 6

A package, as defined in claim 1, in which: said double wall bag is constructed of plastic capable of withstanding steam sterilization temperatures.

Claim 7

A package, as defined in claim 1, in which: said double wall bag includes an inner ply and an outer ply, said plies being cohered to eliminate air between said plies.

Claim 8

A package for storing articles in bacteria-free condition, comprising: a double wall plastic bag consisting of an inner ply and an outer ply, said plies having a combined thickness sufficient to render said bag essentially completely impermeable to bacteria, said plies having longitudinal edge portions and transverse edges, said transverse edges defining opposed ends of said bag, said plies being folded along longitudinal fold lines, one pair of said longitudinal edge portions disposed in spaced-apart relation to define a longitudinally-extending access opening, the other Pair of said longitudinal edge portions being disposed in overlapping relation within the confines of said access opening, the combined thickness of said plies being substantially the same along substantially all portions of all transverse sections of said bag; and a closure membrane covering said access opening, said membrane being highly permeable to sterilizing vapor in comparison to said bag but essentially completely impermeable to bacteria, said membrane and said plies being bonded together by a longitudinal, continuous heat seal joinder line on each side of said access opening, said package includng a transverse, continuous heat seal joinder line adjacent one end of said package to unite said membrane and said plies and close said end of said package.

Claim 9

A package, as defined in claim 9, in which: said overlapping longitudinal edge portions are portions of said outer ply.

Claim 10

A package, as defined in claim 9, in which: said overlapping longitudinal edge portions are portions of said inner ply.

Claim 11

A package, as defined in claim 9, in which: said overlapping longitudinal edge portions are portions of said inner and outer plies.

Claim 12

A package, as defined in claim 9, in which: said plies are formed of material capable of withstanding steam sterilization temperatures and said membrane has adequate wet strength to withstand steam sterilization conditions.

Claim 13

A package, as defined in claim 9, in which: the thickness of said inner ply is the same as the thickness of said outer ply.

Claim 14

A package, as defined in claim 9, in which: the thickness of said inner ply is different than the thickness of said outer ply.

Claim 15

A package, as defined in claim 9, in which: said clousre membrane has a tear strength greater than the strength of said longitudinal heat seal joinder lines so that said membrane is separable from said bag as a single piece so as to substantially completely expose said access opening.

Claim 16

A package, as defined in claim 9, in which: said longitudinal heat seal joinder lines terminate a short distance from at least one of said ends of said package to define at least one pull tab on said closure membrane to facilitate its removal.

Claim 17

A package, as defined in claim 9, in which: said closue membrane includes lateral gripping means adjacent at least one of said longitudinal heat seal joinder lines to facilitate removal of said membrane.

Claim 18

A package, as defined in claim 9, in which: said plies are transparent and said closure membrane is in the form of a longitudinal strip substantially narrower than the overall width of the package to facilitate identification of the stored article.

Claim 19

A package as defined in claim 9, in which: said package has a longitudinal center line and said access opening is substantially symmetrical of said center line.

Claim 20

A package, as defined in claim 9, in which: said package has a longitudinal center line and said access opening is asymmetrical of said center line.

Claim 21

A package, as defined in claim 9, in which: said plies are cohered to eliminate any air between said plies.

Claim 22

A package for storing articles in bacteria-free condition, including: a transparent, plastic bag essentially completely impermeable to bacteria and comprising longitudinally coextensive inner and outer plies of equal thickness, said plies having transverse edges defining opposed ends of said bag and longitudinal edge portions, said plies being folded along longitudinal fold lines to define opposed faces of the bag, one pair of said longitudinal edge portions disposed in parallel, spaced-apart relation to define a longitudinally-extending access opening, the other pair of said longitudinal edge portions being disposed in overlapping relation within the confines of said access opening, the combined thickness of said plies being substantially the same along substantially all portions of all transverse sections of said bag; a longitudinally-extenDing, manually removable paper strip covering said access opening and extending the length of said bag, said strip being highly permeable to sterilizing vapor in comparison to said bag but essentially completely impermeable to bacteria, the overall width of said package being substantially greater than the width of said strip to make visible the contents of said package through either face therof, said strip and said plies being bonded together by a longitudinal, continuous heat seal joinder line on each side of said access opening, said strip havng a tear strength in relation to the strength of said longitudinal heat seal joinder lines sufficient so that said strip is separable from said bag in one piece; and, a transverse, continuous heat seal joinder line adjacent one end of said package uniting said strip and said plies and closing said end of said package.

Claim 23

A package, as defined in claim 23, in which: said plies are formed of material capable of withstanding steam sterilization temperatures and said strip has adequate wet strength to withstand steam sterilization conditions.

Claim 24

A package, as defined in claim 23, in which: said overlapping longitudinal edge portions includes an edge portion of said outer ply.

Claim 25

A package, as defined in claim 23, in which: said overlapping longitudinal edge portions includes an edge portion of said inner ply.

Claim 26

A package, as defined in claim 23, in which: said plies are cohered to eliminae air from between said plies.

Claim 27

A package, as defined in claim 27, in which: said plies are cohered mechanically by embosisng said plies.

Claim 28

A package, as defined in claim 23, in which: said longitudinal heat seal joinder lines terminate a short distance from at least one of said ends of said package to define at least one end tab on said paper strip to facilitate its removal.