U.S. patent number 3,660,959 [Application Number 05/024,133] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-09 for method of forming product-filled bag.
Invention is credited to Arthur E. La Fleur.
United States Patent |
3,660,959 |
La Fleur |
May 9, 1972 |
METHOD OF FORMING PRODUCT-FILLED BAG
Abstract
A commodity bag formed of a thermoplastic material, such as
polyethylene, provided with gussets along each side and with
reinforcing seams at the bottom to impart a square bottom to the
bag when opened and which, after being filled with a commodity, has
the central portion of its upper edges sealed together to form a
handle for the bag.
Inventors: |
La Fleur; Arthur E. (Manistee,
MI) |
Family
ID: |
21819030 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/024,133 |
Filed: |
March 31, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/413; 53/479;
248/101; 53/469; 219/228; 383/7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
33/065 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
33/06 (20060101); B65b 061/17 (); B65b 067/12 ();
B65d 033/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;229/54,DIG.6 ;150/12
;53/14,134,37,39 ;93/35H |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Condon; Theron E.
Assistant Examiner: Abrams; Neil
Claims
I claim:
1. The method of packaging commodities in a bag formed of a
thermoplastic material, said bag being of the type having an open
upper end defined by generally continuously straight upper free
edges of the bag side walls which comprises first filling the bag
with commodities and then bringing opposed central portions of said
upper edges into mutually contacting relation and thereafter
partially sealing the opposed contacting upper free edges of the
bag in a direction lengthwise of said edges of the central portion
thereof to thereby partially close the upper end of the bag at said
central portion while leaving an opening at the upper end of the
bag adjacent each end of the central sealed portion whereby the
sealed central portion of said upper edges can be gathered to form
a handle which is adapted to be manually encircled through said
openings.
2. The method called for in claim 1 wherein said upper free edges
of the bag extend continuously around the periphery thereof in a
generally horizontal plane when the bag is in an upright open
position and said sealing step is performed by drawing said opposed
central portions of said free edges together in face-to-face
relation over the commodities in the bag and heat sealing said
portions together along a line spaced slightly below the juxtaposed
free edge portions.
3. The method called for in claim 2 wherein said line of sealing is
upwardly concave.
4. The method called for in claim 1 wherein the bag is filled with
commodities to a level sufficiently below said upper free edges to
enable said opposed central portions of said upper edges to be
drawn together over the commodities therein in face-to-face
relation and said sealing is effected by heat sealing the
juxtaposed central portions along a line spaced slightly below the
opposed free edges of the bag.
5. The method called for in claim 4 wherein the length of the
sealed edge portion is greater than the length of each of said
openings measured in the direction lengthwise of the seal.
6. The method called for in claim 1 wherein the bag is generally
rectangular in horizontal cross section when in an upright open
position and comprises two opposite side walls and two opposite end
walls, the side walls being wider than the end walls, said seal
extending along a major portion of the upper edges of said side
walls.
7. The method called for in claim 6 wherein the seal terminates at
each end such that the major portion of the upper edges of said end
walls remains unsealed and provides said openings.
8. The method called for in claim 1 wherein the open upper end of
the bag is closed after filling by spreading apart opposite
localized portions of said free edges so as to draw said opposite
edges together in flatwise relation and thereby form the open end
of the bag into a generally straight flat seam of double thickness
having a length equal to half the peripheral dimension of the open
end of the bag, said seal being formed along said straight flat
seam and terminating at each end inwardly of the opposite ends of
said seam to provide said openings.
9. The method called for in claim 8 wherein the length of said seal
is greater than the length of each of said openings measured along
said seam.
10. The method called for in claim 1 wherein the central sealed
portion of said upper edges has a length at least as great as the
length of each of said end openings measured in the direction
lengthwise of the seal.
Description
This invention relates to a package and the method of forming the
same and, more specifically, to a plastic bag filled with product
and thereafter partially sealed along a central portion of its
upper opposed edges to provide a handle for the filled bag.
In many fields of packaging the use of bags formed of thermoplastic
film, such as polyethylene, has supplanted paper bags to a large
extent. However, in the retail trade plastic bags have not
appreciably supplanted the use of paper bags as the container in
which the customer's purchases are packaged. The lack of extensive
use of plastic bags in the retail trade for this purpose probably
results in part from the fact that plastic bags as heretofore
constructed would have to be formed of relatively heavy film to
withstand the load to which such bags are frequently subjected,
such as when bags are filled with groceries for example. The use of
heavy film for such purpose would render the plastic bags
relatively expensive in comparison to paper bags. Furthermore,
plastic bags are not normally adapted to assume a free-standing,
self-supporting, open position to facilitate loading thereof as is
true of numerous types of paper bags.
While it is true that carrying bags formed of plastic and provided
with integral handle portions have been proposed heretofore, such
bags have not enjoyed wide commercial success. Normally the
formation of integral handles in such plastic bags involves cutting
away portions of the bag to provide such handles, thus reducing
substantially the volume carrying capacity of the bag. Furthermore,
such handles are of necessity narrow in width so as not to unduly
reduce the size of the inlet opening for the bag and for this
reason such integral handle portions are relatively weak unless the
bag is formed of a heavy plastic film.
The present invention enables the use of bags formed of relatively
thin plastic film for carrying relatively heavy loads and generally
comprises the forming of an integral handle on the bag by partially
sealing the upper open end of the bag after it is filled. The
handle not only reinforces the bag to make it stronger, but also
provides the bag with maximum carrying capacity for its size and
does not in any way restrict the size of the open end of the bag
when being filled with commodities.
One object of the present invention is to provide a method of
packaging commodities, for example, groceries, in a plastic bag in
a manner such as to produce a container capable of carrying a
relatively large load in relation to the thickness of the plastic
film from which the plastic bag is made and provided with a handle
structure which is inherently sufficiently strong to support the
load of the filled bag, which does not reduce the capacity of the
bag and which is comfortable for the user to carry.
A further object of the present invention resides in a method of
packaging commodities wherein a plastic bag is first filled with
the commodities and is thereafter partially sealed along the
central portion of its opposite upper free edges to provide a
handle portion for the bag.
A further object of the invention resides in a support structure
for retaining a plastic bag in an upright open position for
facilitating filling the bag with commodities.
A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of
a plastic bag filled with commodities and thereafter partially
sealed along a portion of its upper free edges to provide a handle
structure for the bag which strengthens the bag, reinforces its
side walls and which at the same time prevents commodities from
spilling out of the bag.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent from the accompanying description and drawings, in
which:
FIG. is a fragmentary perspective view of a sales check-out counter
constructed for practicing the method of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view along line 2--2 in FIG. 1
and showing the bracket structure for supporting a plastic bag in
an upstanding open position.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view along line 3--3 in FIG. 1
and showing a portion of the structure for dispensing the plastic
bags one at a time from a supply roll of such bags.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of one form of bag adapted to be utilized in
practicing the present invention, the bag being shown in the flat
collapsed position.
FIG. 5 is a top end view of the bag shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plastic bag according to the
present invention filled with commodities.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bag illustrated in FIG. 6 and
showing the handle formed thereon after the bag is filled.
FIG. 8 illustrates the manner in which the handle is utilized for
carrying the filled bag.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a bag sealing
tool and the manner in which it is used for forming the handle on
the bag.
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary end view of the sealing tool.
FIGS. 11 and 12 are fragmentary views illustrating modified forms
of handle structures.
Referring first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an end portion of a
sales check-out counter generally designated 10. The check-out
counter preferably includes a conveyor 12 on which groceries or
other commodities purchased by a customer are adapted to be placed
and conveyed in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1 to the
end of the counter. A shelf 14 at the end of the counter is adapted
to support the bottom of a plastic bag 16. While plastic bag 16 can
take many forms, the preferable construction of the bag is that
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. No.
3,143,277, dated Aug. 4, 1964.
As disclosed in the aforementioned patent, bag 16 is generally in
the form of a seamless tube of thermoplastic film having opposed
side panels 18 connected together by gusseted end panels 20. The
line of folding of gusseted panels 20 is indicated at 22. Bag 16
has an open upper end and is closed along its lower end by a seal
24 which extends transversely across the lower end of the bag as
shown in FIG. 4. Seal 24 between the fold lines 22 of the gusseted
panels 20 is of double film thickness whereas the opposite end
portions 26 of seal 24 at the portion thereof extending across the
gusseted panels 20 are of four thicknesses of material. In
addition, the lower end portion of the bag is also provided with
diagonal seals 28 at the lower corners thereof. Each seal 28
integrally connects one of the panels 18 with the adjacent layer of
the gusseted panel 20. The gusseted construction of the bag and the
seal structure 24, 26, 28 at the lower end thereof enables the bag
to be open to the condition shown in FIG. 6 wherein the bag has a
generally rectangular cross section with a flat bottom 30.
Bags 16 are preferably formed as a roll 42 of such bags, the
successive bags in the roll being separated by a score line 44
(FIG. 4) just below each bottom seal 24 of the bag. Supply roll 42
is arranged within a dispensing container 45 in counter 10 and the
leading end of the roll extends between the upper edge of end wall
38 and a blade 46 which enables the bags to be successively
separated from the supply roll by a slight lifting and tearing
action.
In the counter structure shown in FIG. 1 the means provided for
holding the bag in the upright open position comprises a U-shaped
bracket 32 having opposed spring legs 34 connected by a strap 36
forming a bight portion. Bracket 32 is mounted on the upright wall
38 of the counter 10 by a hinge 40. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
bracket 32 is adapted to be pivoted from a horizontally extending,
bag supporting position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to a generally
upright position shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG.
1 bracket 32 is dimensioned to correspond with the rectangular
dimensions of bag 16 in horizontal section. Thus, the bight portion
36 has a length corresponding to the width of the side panel 18 and
the legs 34 have a length corresponding to the width of the
gusseted panel 20 when expanded.
After a bag 16 is separated from the supply roll 42, bracket 32 is
pivoted to the generally upright position shown in broken lines in
FIG. 2. The upper edge portion of the rear panel 18 of the bag is
stretched flat across wall 38 just below the horizontally extending
axis of hinge 40. With the bag manually held in this manner the
operator then pivots bracket 32 downwardly with the index finger of
each hand to clamp the upper edge portion of the rear panel 18
between the hinge and wall 38. Thereafter, the operator runs his
fingers forwardly along the upper edge of the panels 20 to open the
bag. He then engages the upper front corners of the bag over the
outer ends of legs 34 so that the bag is supported in the open
upstanding position shown in FIG. 1 with its upper peripheral edge
tautly engaged with bracket 32 and with its bottom 30 resting on
shelf 14. The bag can then be filled with the desired commodities
such as generally indicated at 48 in FIG. 6. It will be noted that
the bag can be filled to a height spaced below the upper free edges
of the bag only sufficient to enable the upper edges 50 of the
front and rear panels 18 and the upper edges 51 of the end panels
to be drawn flatwise together between fold lines 22.
After the bag is filled in this manner it is in condition to be
sealed. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the sealing tool preferably
comprises a hand tool 52 normally retained in a support bracket 54
on the wall 38 of the counter. Tool 52 can take numerous forms of
conventional electrically heated sealers, preferably of the impulse
type. Tool 52 includes a pair of hingedly connected jaws 56, at
least one of which is provided with a heating element 58 which is
adapted to be energized when the jaws are closed. In practicing the
present invention it is essential that after the bag is filled with
commodities a seal 60 is formed only partially along the upper free
edges of the bag. Seal 60 is located and dimensioned in length so
that a small opening 62 remains at each end of the seal 60.
Openings 62 need only be sufficiently large to permit a person to
insert his fingers therethrough as shown in FIG. 8. Accordingly,
with the upper edges 50, 51 drawn flatwise together as shown in
FIG. 7, seal 60 is preferably located at the central portion
thereof just below the free upper straight edges of the bag.
To facilitate centering of seal 60 between the fold lines 22, the
heat sealing tool 52 is provided with an extension 64 at one or
both ends of one of the jaws 56. Extension 64 preferably projects
lengthwise beyond one jaw 56 in line with or slightly below the
heating strip 66 of heating element 58. In using tool 52 to form
seal 60 the extension 64 is inserted between the upper edges 50, 51
of the bag with the end thereof engaging the upper edge of the bag
generally at the fold line 22 of one of the gusseted panels. The
operator then grasps the upper edge of the bag at the opposite fold
line 22 and pulls the free edges 50, 51 of the bag between the jaws
of the sealing tool. He then actuates the jaw to form the seal 60.
The length of extension 64 is such as to locate seal 60 centrally
with respect to the free edges 50, 51 of the bag. In the event that
the same sealing tool 52 is intended to be used with bags of
various sizes, extension 64 is dimensioned in length to accommodate
the largest bag and is formed with notches 68 along its lower edge
adapted for hooked engagement with the fold lines 22 of smaller
sized bags.
In the arrangement shown in FIG. 7 seal 60 is a generally straight
seal with upwardly turned ends 70. Other forms of seals that may be
employed are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In FIG. 11 seal 72 is
generally the same as seal 60 but does not have the upwardly turned
ends 70. Seal 74 shown in FIG. 12 is generally arcuate in
shape.
The partial seal at the upper end of the bag forms a natural handle
for enabling the bag to be carried comfortably. Utilization of the
seal as a handle is accomplished by gathering the upper edge of the
bag along the seal and then inserting the fingers through both
openings 62 and under the gathered seal so that the gathered
portion of the edge extends across the palm of the hand in a
natural manner. The length of the seal is preferably greater than
the length of openings 62. Gathering the sealed portion of plastic
material in this fashion not only strengthens the handle but also
imparts the effect of a handle of relatively large cross section
which does not cut into the user's hand.
Experience has shown that with a handle of the type illustrated
herein the bag is capable of supporting a relatively heavy load
even though the film from which the bag is made is very thin. This
results from the fact that the handle itself is relatively large by
reason of the length of seal 60. The reinforced seam structure at
the bottom of the bag also contributes substantially to the load
which the bag is capable of sustaining.
The handle construction for a plastic bag disclosed herein does not
in any way interfere with the gusseted construction of the bag.
This follows from the fact that the handle is formed after the bag
is filled as distinguished from other plastic bag constructions
having integral handles formed initially when the bag is fabricated
and before it is filled. In such prior art arrangements the handles
have to be relatively wide in order to have the required strength.
On the other hand, the provision of relatively wide handles reduces
the effective size of the opening at the upper end of the bag. In
addition, the handle construction of the present invention enables
substantially the entire volume of the bag to be utilized for
carrying packages. Since the handle is formed after the bag is
filled no cut-outs are required to impart a handle configuration to
the upper end of the bag. Furthermore, after the bag is partially
sealed at its upper end to form the handle, the open end of the bag
is effectively closed to prevent products from spilling out of the
bag even if the bag should accidentally fall over on its side. As
pointed out previously, the openings 62 at opposite ends of seal 60
need only be sufficiently large to enable the user to insert his
fingers therethrough. Since seal 60 extends across a very
substantial portion of the upper edges 50 of the bag, the seal
increases appreciably the resistance of the bag to lateral
expansion at the upper ends.
To remove the products or commodities from the bag it is only
necessary for the customer to grip the free edges 51 adjacent one
end of the seal 60 and pull them apart. Since the bag is formed of
a film having a thickness as small as 1 or 2 thousandths of an
inch, it is relatively easy to tear the film along the handle seal
and thus re-open the upper end of the bag completely to enable the
removal of packages therefrom. Thus, even though a bag is partially
sealed along its upper edges to provide a handle, the bag can be
easily opened when desired so that it is reusable or usable as a
trash bag, in which event it may be filled with rubbish or the
like.
* * * * *