U.S. patent application number 12/478116 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-06 for woven storage bag for charcoal.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Clorox Company. Invention is credited to Casper W. Chiang, Jorge Robles.
Application Number | 20110002560 12/478116 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43412713 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110002560 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Robles; Jorge ; et
al. |
January 6, 2011 |
Woven Storage Bag for Charcoal
Abstract
Weather-resistant charcoal bags are formed from a woven
thermoplastic layer and optionally having a barrier film layer. The
charcoal bags can also have a flat bottom for improved
advertising.
Inventors: |
Robles; Jorge; (Stockton,
CA) ; Chiang; Casper W.; (Danville, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE CLOROX COMPANY
P.O. BOX 24305
OAKLAND
CA
94623-1305
US
|
Assignee: |
The Clorox Company
Oakland
CA
|
Family ID: |
43412713 |
Appl. No.: |
12/478116 |
Filed: |
July 2, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11678187 |
Feb 23, 2007 |
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12478116 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
383/92 ; 383/113;
383/116; 383/117; 383/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B32B 2307/7265 20130101;
B32B 27/306 20130101; B32B 2307/75 20130101; B32B 27/12 20130101;
B32B 2307/50 20130101; B32B 2262/0253 20130101; B32B 5/024
20130101; B32B 7/12 20130101; B32B 2307/41 20130101; B65D 31/08
20130101; B32B 27/32 20130101; B32B 2262/0276 20130101; B65D
33/1691 20130101; B65D 29/02 20130101; B32B 2307/714 20130101; B65D
31/10 20130101; B32B 2307/712 20130101; B32B 27/20 20130101; B32B
2307/412 20130101; B65D 33/26 20130101; B32B 27/36 20130101; B32B
2307/402 20130101; B32B 27/34 20130101; B32B 27/308 20130101; B32B
2439/46 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/92 ; 383/113;
383/116; 383/117; 383/42 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/26 20060101
B65D033/26; B65D 30/08 20060101 B65D030/08; B65D 30/00 20060101
B65D030/00; B65D 33/16 20060101 B65D033/16 |
Claims
1. A weather resistant charcoal bag comprising: a. charcoal
contained within the bag; and b. walls of the bag comprising a
woven layer of thermoplastic material and a film layer of
thermoplastic material; c. wherein the woven layer and the film
layer are laminated together.
2. The bag of claim 1, wherein the woven layer is
polypropylene.
3. The bag of claim 1, wherein the woven layer is polyester.
4. The bag of claim 1, wherein the woven layer is polyethylene.
5. The bag of claim 1, wherein the film layer is extruded onto the
woven layer.
6. The bag of claim 1, wherein the film layer and the woven layer
are adhesively bonded.
7. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag has a sewn closure.
8. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag has a tape closure.
9. The bag of claim 1, wherein the second film layer has printing
on the interior surface of the film layer.
10. The bag of claim 1, wherein the woven layer is the interior
layer and the film layer is the exterior layer.
11. A weather resistant charcoal bag comprising: a. charcoal
contained within the bag; b. a flammable solvent material contained
within the bag; and c. walls of the bag comprising a woven layer of
thermoplastic material and a film layer of thermoplastic
material.
12. The bag of claim 11, wherein the woven layer is
polypropylene.
13. The bag of claim 11, wherein the woven layer woven layer is
polyester.
14. The bag of claim 11, wherein the woven layer is
polyethylene.
15. The bag of claim 11, wherein the film layer has printing on the
interior surface of the film.
16. A weather resistant charcoal bag comprising: a. charcoal
contained within the bag; and b. walls of the bag comprising a
woven layer of thermoplastic material.
17. The bag of claim 16, wherein the bag has a flat bottom.
18. The bag of claim 17, wherein the flat bottom contains indicia
indicating the source of the charcoal.
19. The bag of claim 16, wherein the bag has a sewn closure.
20. The bag of claim 16, wherein the bag has a tape closure.
21. The bag of claim 16, wherein the bag is part of a pallet of
bags with each bag stacked on its back wall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to bags of solid materials,
especially charcoal briquet bags. The present invention also
relates to solvent-resistant and weather-resistant charcoal bags
formed from a woven thermoplastic layer and optionally having a
barrier film layer. The charcoal bags can also have a flat
bottom.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Currently, charcoal bags containing briquets are generally
made from paper or treated paper. Charcoal bags containing briquets
and solvent for lighting are made from a barrier layer of nylon
between two layers of paper. This multi-layer bag is expensive and
the outer paper layer can deteriorate under weather or handling
conditions and become unattractive to the consumer.
[0005] U.S. Pat. App. 2005/0178051 to Hoang describes a package for
solid BBQ fuels having two compartments where in one embodiment the
smaller compartment stores starter charcoal for quicker ignition.
U.S. Pat. App. 2006/0156621 to Kraus et al. describes a bag for
charcoal briquets having an interior space for storing fire
starter. U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,292 to Hogan, II describes a
combustible package for charcoal briquets containing an interior
bag with briquets and an inert gas, an exterior paper covering
impregnated with flammable liquid, and then sealed in a plastic
bag. U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,636 to Carter describes a combustible bag
for charcoal having an inner liner covered with combustible
material, an outer liner covered with combustible material, and a
lighting strip for lighting the outer liner. U.S. Pat. App.
2003/0079400 to Weissman et al. describes a combustible wood-based
package with an inner wrapper for small wood particles and an outer
wrapper containing larger wood pieces and the inner wrapper.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,632 to Caggiano describes a laminated
bag having an outer water impervious layer, a middle absorbent
layer and an inner perforated moisture pervious layer. U.S. Pat.
No. 4,646,467 to Morrisroe describes a weather resistant
multi-layer cover for dormant plants having air space between
layers. PCT App. WO98/22282 to Vadhar describes a bag having at
least four film layers.
[0007] To overcome these problems of the prior art, charcoal bags
of the present invention are designed for weather resistance and
for an inexpensive barrier layer to solvent transmission.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The foregoing aspects and others will be readily appreciated
by the skilled artisan from the following description of
illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a one embodiment of the
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a one embodiment of the
invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the aspect of the invention
shown in FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the
invention; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
invention.
[0014] Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like
numerals refer to like parts throughout. As used herein, positional
terms, such as "bottom" and "top" and the like, and directional
terms, such as "up", "down" and the like, are employed for ease of
description in conjunction with the drawings. Further, the terms
"inner", "interior", "inwardly" and the like, refer to positions
and directions toward the geometric center of embodiments of the
present invention and designated parts thereof. The terms "outer",
"exterior", "outwardly", and the like, refer to positions and
directions away from the geometric center. None of these terms is
meant to indicate that the described components must have a
specific orientation except when specifically set forth.
[0015] Figures illustrating the components of this invention and
the container show some conventional mechanical elements that are
known and that will be recognized by one skilled in the art. The
detailed descriptions of such elements are not necessary to an
understanding of the invention, and accordingly, are herein
presented only to the degree necessary to facilitate an
understanding of the novel features of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In accordance with the above objects and those that will be
mentioned and will become apparent below, one aspect of the present
invention comprises a weather resistant charcoal bag comprising
charcoal contained within the bag; and walls of the bag comprising
a woven layer of thermoplastic material and a film layer of
thermoplastic material; wherein the woven layer and the film layer
are laminated together.
[0017] In accordance with the above objects and those that will be
mentioned and will become apparent below, another aspect of the
present invention comprises a weather resistant charcoal bag
comprising charcoal contained within the bag; a flammable solvent
material contained within the bag; and walls of the bag comprising
a woven layer of thermoplastic material and a film layer of
thermoplastic material.
[0018] In accordance with the above objects and those that will be
mentioned and will become apparent below, another aspect of the
present invention comprises weather resistant charcoal bag
comprising charcoal contained within the bag; and walls of the bag
comprising a woven layer of thermoplastic material; wherein the bag
has a flat bottom.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Before describing the present invention in detail, it is to
be understood that this invention is not limited to particularly
exemplified systems that may, of course, vary. It is also to be
understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of
describing particular embodiments of the invention only, and is not
intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.
[0020] All publications, patents and patent applications cited
herein, whether supra or infra, are hereby incorporated by
reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each
individual publication, patent or patent application was
specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by
reference. The citation of any document is not to be construed as
an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present
invention.
[0021] As used herein, forms of the words "comprise", "have", and
"include" are legally equivalent and open-ended and do not exclude
additional unrecited elements, compositional components, or method
steps. Accordingly, the term "comprising" encompasses the more
restrictive terms "consisting essentially of" and "consisting
of".
[0022] It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the
appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include
plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
Thus, for example, reference to a "surfactant" includes two or more
such surfactants.
[0023] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although
a number of methods and materials similar or equivalent to those
described herein can be used in the practice of the present
invention, only exemplar materials and methods are described
herein.
[0024] In the application, effective amounts are generally those
amounts listed as the ranges or levels of ingredients in the
descriptions, which follow hereto. All percentages, ratios and
proportions are by weight, and all temperatures are in degrees
Celsius (.degree. C.), unless otherwise specified. All measurements
are in SI units, unless otherwise specified. Unless otherwise
stated, amounts listed in percentage ("%'s") are in weight percent
(based on 100% active) of the cleaning composition alone. It should
be understood that every limit given throughout this specification
will include every lower, or higher limit, as the case may be, as
if such lower or higher limit was expressly written herein. Every
range given throughout this specification will include every
narrower range that falls within such broader range, as if such
narrower ranges were all expressly written herein.
[0025] The term "plastic" is defined herein as any polymeric
material that is capable of being shaped or molded, with or without
the application of heat. The term "thermoplastic" is defined herein
as a high polymer that softens when exposed to heat and returns to
its original condition when cooled. Usually plastics are a
homo-polymers or co-polymers of high molecular weight. Plastics
fitting this definition include, but are not limited to,
polyolefins, polyesters, nylon, vinyl, acrylic, polycarbonates,
polystyrene, and polyurethane.
Storage Bag
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a one embodiment of the
invention. The bag 10 in FIG. 1 is designed to safely contain any
entrapped material, typically the bag will be liquid resistant or
liquid impermeable. The bag is designed of sufficient strength to
resist rupturing in use. According to the present invention,
depending on the shape of the bag 10 required, the bag may be made
from a unitary piece of material or from a number of separate
pieces of material, that may be identical or different and that are
sealed at their respective peripheries. The bag 10 has a front wall
11, a back wall (not shown), side walls 12, a top flap 13 having a
sewn closure 14, and a bottom 15. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a
one embodiment of the invention. The bag 20 in FIG. 2 has a tape
closure 21 and a flat bottom 22. FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of
the bag shown in FIG. 2 showing the flat bottom 22.
[0027] According to the present invention the bag itself can
comprise one or multiple layers. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view
of the bag 20 in FIG. 2 along the line A-A. The bag 20 has an outer
layer 40 and an inner layer 41. For a bag of multiple layers, the
layer on the inside of the bag, that will typically at least
partially come in contact with the contents of the bag is called
the inner layer 41. The outermost layer of the bag, that will come
in contact with the outdoor environment, is called the outer layer
40. There may additionally be one or more interposed layers (not
shown) between the inner layer 41 and the outer layer 40.
[0028] In one suitable embodiment of the present invention the bag
comprises one layer of woven thermoplastic material. A suitable
woven material is a polyolefin, such as polyethylene (PE),
polypropylene (PP), or polyester (PET), such as that available from
Mayur Wovens in India. A suitable material for the woven layer is a
polypropylene layer having a gauge of 50 to 70 gauge (or 0.5 to 0.7
mil), or 70 to 120 gauge (or 0.7 to 1.2 mil), or 50 to 120 gauge
(or 0.5 to 1.2 mil).
[0029] In another suitable embodiment of the present invention the
bag comprises a laminate of two layers. In one embodiment, a film
layer is extruded onto a woven layer. In one embodiment, a film
layer and a woven layer are adhesively bonded. Suitably the inner
layer 41 comprises a woven layer and the outer layer 40 comprises a
polymer film. The polymer film, when bonded to the inner layer 41
will increase the strength, barrier properties, and storage
stability of the inner layer 41. Charcoal briquets are abrasive.
Therefore, the puncture resistance performance for the woven bag is
important. For a bag consisting only of plastic film or a laminate
of multiple films, it may require at least 3 mil of PET or greater
thickness of PE to be able to provide sufficient abrasion
resistance. A PP-oriented filament woven bag of 0.5 to 0.7 mil may
have sufficient abrasion resistance with or without a 0.5 to 1.2
mil PE film laminated to the woven layer for barrier properties.
The total bag thickness might be 1.0 to 2.5 mil, or 1.5 to 2.5 mil,
or 1.5 to 2.0 mil. This would be significantly thinner than a film
or laminated film bag.
[0030] The laminated woven bag structure should also have provide a
moisture barrier. The paper bag is a porous structure, therefore it
allows the contents to release its moisture content out of the
package or for environmental moisture to enter the package. For an
absorbent product such as cat litter, the moisture barrier
requirement becomes very important since as moisture enters the
bag, the contents become less absorbent and may even clump.
[0031] The film may be printed on the outside exterior surface or
the interior surface contacting an inner layer 41. Where the
printing is on the interior surface of a transparent or translucent
film layer, such as with reverse printing, the product may have
additional weather resistance.
[0032] Suitable film materials comprise a thermoplastic material.
Such materials include films of polyethylene, polypropylene
including oriented polypropylene, poly(ethylene terephthalate) such
as Mylar polyesters, nylon, ionomer resin such as Surlyn ionomer
resins, polyester, and all types of hot-melt adhesives.
[0033] The laminate can be formed by means known to those skilled
in the art, for example by adhesive bonding or coextrusion.
Examples of useful adhesives include wax/polymer blends,
polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene
acrylic acid, polyester, polyisobutylene, nylon, polymethylpentene,
ethylene vinyl acetate, and copolymers thereof. Also useful are
hot-melt adhesives, and wax/polymer blends.
[0034] Optionally, one or more of the layers can include a coloring
agent to provide a transparent, or an opaque colored wrap material
to mask the product contained within. Examples of coloring agents
that will impart a transparent coloring effect include organic
pigments such as a monazo pigment (Lake Red C, Nickel Azo Yellow),
a diazo pigment (Benzidine Yellow), phthalocyanine pigments, and
fluorescent pigments, among others. Coloring agents that will
impart opacity include, for example, inorganic pigments such as
titanium dioxide or barium sulfate (white), a metallic oxide
pigment such as an iron oxide, zinc oxide or chromium oxide greens,
ultramarine pigments, cadmium pigments, and pearlescent pigments,
among others. A thin layer of metal can also be used as a pigment
coating.
Flat Bottom
[0035] One aspect of the invention is a bag with a self-supporting,
flat bottom. The bags can have a generally flat bottom 22 as shown
in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Methods of folding flat bottom bags are
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,592. The flat bottom 22 enables
the bags to be stacked on the back wall for additional weather
resistance while allowing the flat bottom 22 to protrude from the
side of a storage pallet, thus providing a visible flat surface for
labeling and consumer recognition, as shown in FIG. 5. In one
embodiment, the flat bottom 22 contains indicia 31 indicating the
source of the charcoal briquets, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. The
side on the bag can contain additional indicia 32 so that a pallet
of bags as shown in FIG. 5 shows multiple facings of the bag bottom
indicia 31 and side indicia 32.
[0036] When the bag has a flat bottom 22, then both the bottom and
the side, front, and back walls of the bag may be printed with
indicia including messages, information and marketing indicia. If
so desired, a bag with a round or gusseted bottom 15 as in FIG. 1
could also be used.
Closure
[0037] In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the bag 10 has a
closure 14 on the top flap 13. To open the bag, the user removes
the closure 14 from the top flap 13, so that the user may pour
contents of the bag through the bag opening (not shown). In one
embodiment, the closure is a sewn tape 14 (FIG. 1) that is pulled
off. In one embodiment, the closure is an adhesive tape 21 (FIG. 2)
that is pulled off. In one embodiment, the closure is formed by
adhesively sealing or heat sealing the top flap 13. The closure may
additionally have a tape or perforations to allow easier opening of
the closure. In one embodiment, the closure can be resealed.
Examples of resealing closures are adhesively resealing closures or
mechanically resealing closures, such as a zipper mechanism or
slider, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,936 to Plourde et
al. In this embodiment, the user slides the closure to an open
position rather than tearing along a line of weakness. The bag can
then be re-sealed by sliding the closure to a shut position.
Uses
[0038] The storage bag may contain any of a variety of solid fuel
sources for use by household consumers. In one embodiment, the
storage bag contains charcoal briquets, as described in U.S. Pat.
App. 2002/0189159 to Sprules et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,774 to
Fay III et al. The storage bag may also contain other solid
materials, such as consumer products including cat litter.
[0039] The woven thermoplastic storage bag is weather resistant
which can allow outdoor storage, such as at retailers or with
consumers. An example at retailers would be a pallet of bags stored
in front of the retail store. The pallet would allow for better
retail visibility for special promotions. In one example, pallets
of charcoal briquet bags could be promoted outside a retail
establishment along side charcoal grills for sale or food being
prepared for tasting or sale. For consumers, there are also
advantages to outdoor storage. The consumer may want to store the
bag of charcoal briquets next to the charcoal grill.
[0040] While this detailed description includes specific examples
according to the invention, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that there are many variations of these examples that
would nevertheless fall within the general scope of the invention
and for which protection is sought in the appended claims.
* * * * *