U.S. patent application number 12/341048 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-30 for ergonomic bag assembly for foods.
This patent application is currently assigned to MARS INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Michel Colas, Jean-Francois Marquet.
Application Number | 20090110334 12/341048 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8861331 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090110334 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marquet; Jean-Francois ; et
al. |
April 30, 2009 |
ERGONOMIC BAG ASSEMBLY FOR FOODS
Abstract
The invention relates to a bag assembly for foods, in particular
granular foods, including at least one bag which comprises two main
walls joined by two side faces forming a gusset (S1, S2, S) along
each side edge of the said main walls, and gripping means for the
bag assembly, characterized in that the gripping means are
implanted close to a side edge of each bag of the assembly.
Inventors: |
Marquet; Jean-Francois;
(Trainou, FR) ; Colas; Michel; (St. Jean Le Blanc,
FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI, LLP
1301 MCKINNEY, SUITE 5100
HOUSTON
TX
77010-3095
US
|
Assignee: |
MARS INCORPORATED
McLean
VA
|
Family ID: |
8861331 |
Appl. No.: |
12/341048 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10472268 |
Mar 17, 2004 |
7494279 |
|
|
PCT/EP2002/003765 |
Mar 15, 2002 |
|
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|
12341048 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
383/7 ; 383/119;
383/120 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/008 20130101;
B65D 33/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/7 ; 383/119;
383/120 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/10 20060101
B65D033/10; B65D 33/02 20060101 B65D033/02; B65D 30/20 20060101
B65D030/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 20, 2001 |
FR |
01/03749 |
Claims
1-8. (canceled)
9. A bag assembly for foods comprising: one bag; and gripping means
for the bag assembly; wherein: said bag comprises two main walls of
generally rectangular shape, each of said main walls having two
opposite side edges and two adjacent edges, the length of each of
said side edges being greater than the length of each of said
adjacent edges, said two opposite side edges corresponding each to
a respective bag side edge, said two main walls being joined by two
side faces forming a gusset along each of said side edges; and said
gripping means are implanted close to one of said bag side edge;
said gripping means comprising two openings each of which is
arranged in a respective one of two leaves of a ridge of one of
said gussets, said two leaves being separated by a fold line for
forming said gusset and said two openings being opposite one
another so as to form a grip handle; and said two leaves of said
ridge being isolated in a seal-tight manner from the rest of the
bag by two weld lines each of which joins the two walls of a
respective leaf, said two weld lines being placed one opposite the
other and running over the entire length of each of said two
leaves.
10. The bag assembly according to claim 9, wherein at least one
reinforcing element is connected to the part of the ridge
surrounding the opening(s).
11. The bag assembly according to claim 9, wherein said bag is
formed by doubling over a sheet, along a median line, to form said
main walls which are joined together to form a substantially
cylindrical sleeve, in the formation of which said two side faces
forming a gusset are formed by arrangement of a fold line over all
or part of the sleeve height; and said bag has a first end and a
second end corresponding each to a respective one of said adjacent
edges of said main walls, said bag being adapted to be filled via
the second end following the closure of the first end and prior to
the closure of the second end.
12. The bag assembly according to claim 9, wherein said bag is
dimensioned for containing more than six kilograms of granular
animal food.
13. The bag assembly according to claim 9, wherein said grip handle
are arranged in the middle of the length of one side edge of said
bag.
14. The bag assembly according to claim 9, wherein at least one
reinforcing element is connected to the part of the ridge
surrounding the opening(s) and wherein: said bag is formed by
doubling a sheet, over along a median line, to form said main walls
which are joined together to form a substantially cylindrical
sleeve, in the formation of which said two side faces forming a
gusset are formed by arrangement of a fold line over all or part of
the sleeve height; and said bag has a first end and a second end
corresponding each to a respective one of said adjacent edges of
said main walls, said bag being adapted to be filled via the second
end following the closure of the first end and prior to the closure
of the second end.
15. The bag assembly according to claim 9, wherein at least one
reinforcing element is connected to the part of the ridge
surrounding the opening(s), and wherein said bag is formed by
doubling a sheet, over along a median line, to form said main walls
which are joined together to form a substantially cylindrical
sleeve, in the formation of which said two side faces forming a
gusset are formed by arrangement of a fold line over all or part of
the sleeve height; said bag has a first end and a second end
corresponding each to a respective one of said adjacent edges of
said main walls, said bag being adapted to be filled via the second
end following the closure of the first end and prior to the closure
of the second end; and said grip handle are arranged in the middle
of the length of one side edge of said bag.
16. The bag assembly according to claim 9, further comprising
granular animal food and the bag assembly wherein the bag contains
more than six kilograms of granular animal foods.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is divisional application of U.S. Ser. No.
10/472,268 filed Mar. 17, 2004 which is a national stage filing of
PCT/EP02/03765 filed Mar. 15, 2002, claiming priority to FR
01/03749 filed Mar. 20, 2001.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to food bags.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In particular, it is advantageously used for bags for
granular foods, such as dog or cat biscuits, for example.
[0004] Granular food bags made out of two main walls and two side
faces are already known, these walls and faces being made of a
flexible-sheet type material, the two main walls being assembled,
at their two ends, the one on top of the other along two respective
assembly lines, each assembly line being, for example, a weld or
glue line, the two side faces, for their part, being shaped in the
form of a gusset.
[0005] The walls and the side faces can be realised in any flexible
material, for example with a base made of paper, flexible
cardboard, plastic sheets or light metal. It is also possible to
form laminated multilayered sheets using more than one of these
materials.
[0006] FIGS. 1a to 1c represent diagrammatically the three main
stages in the manufacture of an example of such a bag, according to
the prior art.
[0007] In these figures, a sheet 10 realised in a flexible material
is firstly doubled over along a median line L (FIG. 1a), such as to
form the two main walls 11, 12 of the bag.
[0008] The line L is orientated in a direction corresponding to the
direction which will be the direction of principal extension of the
bag once this has been made.
[0009] The sheet 10 having thus been doubled over, the two main
walls 11, 12 are joined together in such a way as to form a
substantially cylindrical sleeve C (FIG. 1b). This "joining
together" can be effected by any means which is known per se and is
suited to the sheet material (welding, gluing . . . )
[0010] In the formation of this sleeve C, at the level of the side
edges of the two walls 11 and 12 gussets S are formed by the
arrangement of a fold line LS over all or part of the sleeve height
(corresponding to the height of the bag) on each side of each main
wall.
[0011] It is pointed out that, within the introduction of the
present text, all terms of orientation ("below", "above", "upper",
"lower", etc.) must be understood in relation to an arrangement in
which the bag is held upright by being placed by its bottom on a
horizontal surface, as represented in FIG. 1c.
[0012] The bag is then closed at the level of the lower and upper
ends of the sleeve, for example by two weld lines L1 and L2. The
bag is filled prior to the closure of the second of these
lines.
[0013] A bag of simple design is thus obtained, made up of two main
walls 11 and 12, the side edges of which are joined by gussets
S.
[0014] It is also possible to form an equivalent bag in a different
way, for example by fitting together a plurality of separate
sheets.
[0015] The bags such as described above are extremely widely used
to contain potentially runny foods, for example to contain animal
foods (and, more especially, granular foods).
[0016] Bags of reduced dimensions (containing up to about six
kilograms of product) generally appear as in FIG. 1c.
[0017] These bags are generally intended to be handled when they
are in the upright position, corresponding to the representation
shown in FIG. 1c. In this position, their direction of principal
extension is vertical.
[0018] In the case of larger sized bags, it is necessary
additionally to provide gripping means, such as handles which are
added onto the bag. Such handles are fixed on the bag at its upper
end.
[0019] A first drawback of this known configuration is that the bag
must be handled in the upright position: the handling of the bag
can then prove difficult, especially in the case of large-sized
bags. Moreover, the stability of the vertically stored bag is not
guaranteed.
[0020] And since extra material is needed to form such add-on
handles, these give rise to an additional cost, which, in itself,
constitutes another drawback.
[0021] Moreover, the addition of such handles onto the bag requires
an extra stage to be realised in the bag manufacturing process.
[0022] The object of the invention is to propose a bag which
enables the above mentioned drawbacks to be eliminated.
[0023] In order to achieve this object, the invention proposes a
bag assembly for foods, in particular granular foods, including at
least one bag which comprises two main walls joined by two side
faces forming a gusset along each side edge of the said main walls,
and gripping means for the bag assembly, characterised in that the
gripping means are implanted close to a side edge of each bag of
the assembly.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Preferred, but non-limiting aspects of the bag assembly
according to the invention are as follows:
[0025] the assembly only comprises one bag and one of the gussets
S1 of the bag comprises a ridge comprising at least one opening
forming a grip handle for the bag,
[0026] the ridge is isolated in a seal-tight manner from the rest
of the bag,
[0027] the ridge comprises two leaves, each leaf containing an
opening, the two openings being opposite one another so as to form
a handle,
[0028] at least one reinforcing element is connected to the part of
the ridge surrounding the opening(s),
[0029] at least two bags mutually joined by a gripping element
comprising a handle
[0030] the gripping element is a sheet element comprising two
leaves, each of the leaves being fixed to one of the respective
bags of the assembly.
[0031] it comprises at least two bags, each bag containing a
gusset, one leaf of which has an increased height, the heightened
leaves of two adjacent bags of the assembly being fixed together, a
handle being arranged in the assembly formed by the said two
heightened leaves in order to form gripping means for the bag
assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] Other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention will
become clearer from a reading of the following description, in
which:
[0033] FIGS. 1a to 1c represent diagrammatically the three main
stages in the manufacture of an example of such a bag, according to
the prior art;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation in perspective view
of a bag according to the invention;
[0035] FIGS. 3a and 3b are respectively a transverse sectional view
and a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention, in
which two bags are assembled in a same bag assembly; and
[0036] FIGS. 4a and 4b are respectively a transverse sectional view
and a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, in
which two bags are assembled in a same bag assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0037] With reference to FIG. 2, a bag of generally rectangular
shape is represented lying down such that its direction of
principal extension is parallel to the horizontal direction, in
contrast to the traditional configuration of FIG. 1c.
[0038] This bag, like the known bags described above, comprises two
main walls 11 and 12 of generally rectangular shape, joined by
their side edges by two side faces, each of which forms a
respective gusset S1, S2.
[0039] It is pointed out that the term "side edge" of a main wall
(and, by extension, of the bag itself) here refers to one of the
two edges of the rectangular main wall (or of the bag), the length
of which is greater than that of the two adjacent edges, these two
latter edges of shorter length being referred to by the term
"end".
[0040] The bag thus contains two side edges B1, B2 and two ends E1,
E2.
[0041] Returning to the two gussets of the bag, these comprise a
first gusset S1, which in FIG. 2 is at the top of the recumbent
bag, and a second gusset S2, which, unfolded, forms a base on which
the bag rests.
[0042] Furthermore, the ends E1 and E2 of the bag are closed in a
manner known per se by two lines L1 and L2, which can be realised
by welding of the two respective ends.
[0043] As represented in FIG. 2, means are provided for gripping of
the bag.
[0044] According to the invention, these gripping means are not
disposed on (or close to) an end E1, E2 of the bag.
[0045] Rather, the gripping means, which are realised in a
particular form to be described below, are disposed on a side edge,
in this case the upper edge B1, such that they are situated
equidistant from the two ends E1 and E2.
[0046] This implementation of the bag-gripping means in the middle
of one of the side edges serves substantially to enhance the
ergonomics associated with the bag.
[0047] In particular, the bag is easy to handle, the masses
contained in the bag being much better balanced than in the known
case of a bag equipped with gripping means placed at the end of the
bag.
[0048] And in the case of a bag containing a loose product, such as
granular foods, such reinforcement of the ergonomics is
considerable. This is even truer in the case of a large-sized
bag.
[0049] It will be noted that the lower gusset S2 is advantageously
used as the base of the bag, in the unfolded position of the
gusset. This helps further to increase the stability of the bag
when it is placed in a position such as represented in FIG. 2.
[0050] According to another aspect of the invention, the gripping
means are realised in the form of a handle made in a ridge 15 of
the gusset S1, which ridge is isolated in a seal-tight manner from
the rest of the bag by a weld line L3 joining the two main walls 11
and 12 over their entire length (a dimension which corresponded to
the height in the case of known bags and which in FIG. 2 is
parallel to the horizontal direction).
[0051] The ridge 15 is thus isolated from the rest of the bag and
does not receive any product during the filling of the bag, which
is carried out prior to the closure of the second of the lines L1,
L2.
[0052] The ridge 15 comprises two leaves 151 and 152, separated by
a fold line LS1 allowing the formation of the gusset S1.
[0053] The fold line LS1 can be situated above the weld line L3 (as
represented in FIG. 2) or can coincide with it so as to form two
leaves separated in a seal-tight manner.
[0054] In the event of the fold line LS1 being situated below the
weld line L3, the said weld line does not directly join the two
main walls 11 and 12 of the bag, but is actually replaced by two
weld lines placed one opposite the other, each weld line joining
the two walls of a respective leaf 151, 152.
[0055] In this case, the two weld lines also run over the entire
length of each of the two leaves such as to isolate the leaves 151,
152 of the ridge from the rest of the bag in a seal-tight
manner.
[0056] Still according to the invention, a respective opening O1,
O2 has been arranged in each of the two leaves 151 and 152 of the
ridge 15, the two openings being situated one opposite the
other.
[0057] The two openings O1, O2 are preferably in the middle of the
length of the side edge B1.
[0058] These two openings allow the engagement of the hand and thus
form a handle P1 for a user.
[0059] The handle P1 thus formed constitutes a particularly simple
and economical gripping means for the bag.
[0060] And, as previously mentioned, its implantation on one of the
side edges of the bag allows the bag to be handled when extending
in a generally horizontal direction, which is of particular use in
the case of large-sized bags.
[0061] It will be possible to connect reinforcing elements R to the
handle, for example in the form of reinforcement blocks glued or
welded onto each leaf, around the opening made in the leaf.
[0062] And depending on the resistance of the material used to form
the sheets of the bag, and hence the leaves 151 and 152 in which
the handle P1 is arranged, such reinforcing elements may be able to
be dispensed with.
[0063] Preferably, the height h of each leaf of the gusset S1
containing a handle is greater than or equal to the half-width of
the said gusset S1 when this is opened out, such that the two
leaves--and hence their respective openings O1, O2--can be easily
brought together to form a handle and allow the bag to be
handled.
[0064] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the height
h of each leaf is substantially equal to the width of the
opened-out gusset.
[0065] In general terms, the height h of the leaves of the gusset
S1 in which the handle is arranged will be able to be adapted to be
greater than the height of the leaves of the gusset S2, which, for
its part, is traditionally made.
[0066] An additional advantage of the invention is that it requires
no modification of the customary bag-filling processes, the bag
according to the invention being able to be filled in a traditional
manner following the closure of a first of its ends and prior to
the closure of its second end.
[0067] As will have been realised, such a bag is particularly (but
not limitatively) suitable for the sale of granular animal
foods.
[0068] With reference now to FIGS. 3a and 3b, a variant of the
invention has been represented in which a bag assembly 20 comprises
two bags 21, 22.
[0069] It is pointed out that the representation shown in FIG. 3a
corresponds to a transverse section made through the middle of the
bag assembly, so that the handle P formed on the central gripping
element 25 (which is to be described in detail below) appears as
separating this element into a plurality of parts. The same is true
of the representation shown in FIG. 4a.
[0070] Each of these two bags is a bag made up of two main walls,
welded at their ends by weld lines L and the side edges of which
are joined by gussets S.
[0071] The two bags 21 and 22 can be realised in a manner which is
known per se, in accordance with the description given in the
introductory part of the present application with reference to
FIGS. 1a to c.
[0072] According to this variant of the invention, gripping means
are provided, implanted on the side edge of each bag, to allow
handling of the bags in the same position as for the bag described
with reference to FIG. 2, that is to say that their direction of
greatest extension is orientated horizontally.
[0073] According to this variant of the invention, a central
gripping element 25 is provided, composed of a sheet of flexible
material doubled over so as to form two leaves 251 and 252.
[0074] Each of the two leaves is welded to one of the two
respective bags by at least one respective weld line L21, L22
extending over a significant part of the length of the bag and
preferably over the entire length of the leaf of the gripping
element.
[0075] In order to ensure good cohesion of the assembly, the leaves
of the gripping element are preferably of a length which covers a
significant part of the length of each bag.
[0076] In the representation shown in FIG. 3a, the weld lines L21
and L22 thus join one of the leaves 251, 252 of the element 25 to
the external wall of a gusset S of a respective bag 21, 22. These
weld lines extend over the entire length of their associated
leaf.
[0077] Each leaf 251, 252 of the gripping element 25 additionally
contains an opening, the two openings being located one opposite
the other such as to form a handle P2 for the gripping and handling
of the bag assembly 20.
[0078] And here again, the handle P2 thus formed is preferably
placed in the middle of the side edges of the two bags 21, 22.
[0079] It is pointed out that the weld lines L21 and L22 can be
replaced by any means known per se for joining together the leaves
251, 252 and the bags 21, 22.
[0080] It is thus possible to replace these weld lines by glue
lines, for example.
[0081] And it is also pointed out that the bag assembly, the
principle of which has been described with reference to FIGS. 3a
and 3b, can comprise more than two bags. In this case, the gripping
element is adapted to comprise as many leaves as the number of bags
contained in the bag assembly.
[0082] According to another variant of the invention represented in
FIGS. 4a and 4b, it is also possible to form a bag assembly 30
containing two bags 31, 32, mutually joined together directly by a
part of their edge gusset S which is above the bag (with the bags
lying down such that their direction of greatest extension is
horizontal).
[0083] In this case, one of the two leaves of each of these gussets
can be envisaged having an increased height h2 such as to make it
easier for these two leaves to be joined together and for an
opening forming the handle P3 to be arranged in the gripping
assembly thus formed by the two heightened leaves.
[0084] Here again, the joining together of the two bags 31, 32 can
be realised by any means known to the person skilled in the art,
such as one or more weld and/or glue lines.
[0085] In the example represented in FIGS. 4a and 4b, this joining
together is effected by a weld line L30 made between the two
external walls of the leaves of increased height h2 of the two
respective bags 31, 32.
[0086] The weld line L30 thus runs over the entire length of these
two gusset leaves (and hence over the entire length of the bags 31,
32). Still concerning this example, the weld line L30 is situated
below the handle P3 of the bag assembly 30.
[0087] It is pointed out that if the diagrammatic representations
shown in FIGS. 3a and 4a represent gussets S, the leaves of which
are opened out wide and exhibit no internal weld intended to
isolate the leaf from the rest of the contents of the bag, it is
clearly possible to provide such weld lines to isolate, in the case
of each of the leaves S represented in section in FIGS. 3a and 4a,
each of the two leaves of the gusset, or at least the leaf located
opposite the other bag which is used to form the means for gripping
the bag assembly.
[0088] Finally, in this last embodiment of the invention once
again, it is also possible to form a bag assembly comprising more
than two bags.
[0089] In this variant, the bags of the assembly are disposed in
series, the upper gusset S of each intermediate bag of the series
having its two leaves of increased height h2, whereas the upper
gusset S of each of the two end bags of the series can only contain
a single leaf of increased height.
[0090] The heightened leaves of two adjacent bags of the series are
in this case fixed together, for example by a weld line. And the
handle P3 is in this case arranged in the assembly formed by the
heightened leaves of the bags of the assembly.
* * * * *