Flexible bags – With closure – Gathered bag mouth
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-24
2001-12-25
Pascua, Jes F. (Department: 3727)
Flexible bags
With closure
Gathered bag mouth
C383S117000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332713
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to camping gear, specifically to a food storage bag which cannot be punctured or torn by bears or other wild animals.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
When campers are in bear country, they often have their food stores raided and torn apart by hungry bears. For example. in 1998 in Yosemite National Park bears caused over $630,000 in property damage during their pursuit of human food and garbage. There are a number of devices on the market which attempt to solve the problem campers having storing their food in bear country.
One such device, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,981 to Kenith Judy, is a suspension system designed to keep bags of the reach of bears by hanging the bags from a tree and counter-weighting them with rocks. It is likely that this system would be virtually useless against Black Bears, since they climb trees. Moreover, both Black and Grizzly bears are dextrous and smart. Thus, they would likely pull on the counterweight rope and pull the bags out of the tree. Once out of the tree a bear can easily tear open and get the food in the bag.
Another device is a submersible bag sold under the trademark Subpack by Pacific Outdoor Design. The device, which is meant to eliminate the odors which attract bears, is a waterproof food bag designed to be submersed with rocks and tied to a lake or river bank by rope. Given a bear's intelligence, it is likely that once a bear could identify the device as a source of food, it would simply retrieve it from under water and demolish it.
A widely used bear proof container is sold under the trademark Backpacker's Cache by Garcia Machine. It is made from a hard plastic material, weighs 2.7 pounds and is not compressible. Because backpackers are concerned with weight and size, the Backpacker's Cache is both heavier and more bulky than desirable.
Similarly, a container made of metal and sold under the trademark BearCan by BearCan.com has the same drawbacks as the Backpacker's Cache.
SUMMARY INCLUDING OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
A lightweight, impenetrable, bag made of puncture resistant and/or tear resistant fabric secured at its open end by means of a high strength cord contained in and emerging from a hem. The excess cord is then secured by means of a cord lock and a knot and is then tied around a fixed object, such as a tree trunk, with a secure knot. An optional liner, such as a vinyl dry bag or a pipe made of corrugated polyethylene, may be inserted into the bag to add crush resistance.
Objects and Advantages
The bag prevents bears and other animals from getting into a human's food supply. The advantage of this invention is its light weight and flexibility, thus enabling backpackers and others to carry it easily.
Thus, my food storage container obviates the disadvantages of prior containers thus preventing bears and other wild animals from destroying its contents; It is easily accessible to users without having to hang it from a high tree branch or submerse it under water; Also it is lightweight, enabling it to be readily carried by backpackers and others in bear country; which is compressible and flexible, thus allowing backpackers to pack it more easily and with less bulk.
Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 35814 (1998-06-01), Olson
patent: 692404 (1902-02-01), Wright
patent: 692406 (1902-02-01), Wright
patent: 1155375 (1915-10-01), Shannon
patent: 4203479 (1980-05-01), Mathews
patent: 4267868 (1981-05-01), Lowe
patent: 4523357 (1985-06-01), Widditsch
patent: 5344109 (1994-09-01), Hokoana, Jr.
patent: 5511846 (1996-04-01), Fuller
patent: 5950981 (1999-09-01), Judy
patent: 6007245 (1999-12-01), Looy
www.thesubpack.com, Date not found, Beitel, Philip 1010 Sir Francis Drake #2E Kentfield, CA 94904, 6 pages.
www.bearcan.com, Jan. 9, 1999, The Bear Can by Gio Enterprises (no address given), 2 pages.
Heyman John S.
Pascua Jes F.
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