WATER-DEGRADABLE BAG

Abstract

This invention relates to a water-degradable flexible bag for carrying goods purchased from retailers or wholesalers, and/or for packing consumer goods or hygienic products, comprised of at least two parallel walls bonded in their upper section by at least one sealing band in each side edge, a sealing band bonding the lower ends of the parallel walls and an opening at the end, opposite to the sealing band, wherein each of the parallel walls consists of a nonwoven polyvinyl alcohol resin fabric. In a different embodiment, the invention also relates to a water-degradable flexible gurney cover for covering patient care gurneys, wherein said gurney cover consists of a nonwoven polyvinyl alcohol resin fabric.

Claims

1. Water-degradable flexible bag for carrying goods purchased from retailers or wholesalers, or packing of consumer goods or hygienic products, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it is comprised of at least two parallel walls bonded in their upper section by at least one sealing band on each of their side edges, a sealing band bonding the lower ends of the parallel walls, and an opening on the upper end, opposite to the sealing band, wherein each of the side walls consists of a nonwoven polyvinyl alcohol resin fabric.

2. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT It comprises a coarse region for incorporating messages, advertisement or information.

3. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the coarse region corresponds to an embossing of the nonwoven fabric.

4. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the coarse region corresponds to a stamping of the nonwoven fabric.

5. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the coarse region is located on one of the outer faces of the bag.

6. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the coarse region is located on both outer faces of the bag.

7. The water-degradable flexible bag, based on claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT each of the side, lower, upper, or intermediate sealing bands have a width varying between 1 and 20 millimeters.

8. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the coarse region covers the sealing band at the end of the bag.

9. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the coarse region covers at least one of the sealing bands at the side edges of the bag.

10. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 5, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the coarse region covers about a quarter of the height of the bag.

11. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 5, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the coarse region covers about half of the height of the bag.

12. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 5, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the coarse region covers the entire height of the bag.

13. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the bag comprises central openings in the upper region of each of the parallel walls, which form grab handles.

14. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 13, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it includes a sealing band, along the full width of the bag, through the upper region of the central opening in each of the parallel walls.

15. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 13, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it includes a sealing band, along the full width of the bag, through the lower region of the central opening in each of the parallel walls.

16. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 13, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it includes a sealing band, along the full width of the bag, through the upper and lower regions of the central opening in each of the parallel walls.

17. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the bag comprises strap-like bands, in its upper region, which form grab handles.

18. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 17, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it includes a sealing band, along the full width of the bag, through the upper end of each of the parallel walls.

19. The water-degradable flexible bag, based on claim 17, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it includes a sealing band, along the full width of the bag, in an intermediate region of each of the parallel walls.

20. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the bag comprises a pair of continuous extension bands through the upper region of each of the parallel walls, which form grab handles.

21. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 20, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it includes a sealing band, along the full width of the upper end region of each of the continuous extension bands which form the grab handles.

22. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it includes an extensible crease between both parallel walls, which acts as a gusset if necessary.

23. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 22, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the extensible crease is arranged vertically or horizontally.

24. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT It includes decorative figures or symbols, embossed, stamped or printed.

25. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 24, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the decorative figures or symbols are printed using a flexographic printing.

26. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it includes decorative figures or symbols on at least one of the sealing bands, formed using an ultrasonic technique.

27. The water-degradable flexible bag, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it can be white or of colors different from white.

28. Water-degradable flexible gurney cover for covering patient care gurneys, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it comprises a covering fabric formed by a non-woven polyvinyl alcohol resin fabric.

29. The water-degradable flexible gurney cover, according to claim 28, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it is presented as a continuous sheet that is rolled, so that it can be spread out on the gurney when it Is going to be used.

30. The water-degradable flexible gurney cover, according to claim 29, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the sheet is perforated widthwise in set lengthwise segments.

31. The water-degradable flexible gurney cover, according to claim 30, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the sheet is perforated every 1 meter (3.3 feet).

32. The water-degradable flexible gurney cover, according to claim 30, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the sheet is perforated every 2 meters (6.6 feet).

33. The water-degradable flexible gurney cover, according to claim 29, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the sheet has a width varying between approximately 50 centimeters (20 inches) and approximately 75 centimeters (30 inches).

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] The detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention patent will be presented together with the figures that are part of the present disclosure. It is important to point out that the figures are presented only as supporting elements for a better understanding of the invention, and they do not represent the flexible material bag nor the elements that form it, at a real or proportional scale. The invention can neither be limited to only what is shown in the figures, since they represent only the important elements of the invention and elements that are generally known in the prior art might not be included. Thus, Figures are as follows:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the water-degradable bag based on an embodiment having a handle-type opening.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag based on an embodiment having a coarse region on one of its outer faces.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag, according to FIG. 1, based on an embodiment including side sealing bands, a seal band in the lower end, and sealing bands above and below the central opening.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag, according to FIG. 3, based on an embodiment including an extensible crease between both parallel walls.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag based on an embodiment having handle-like added pieces.

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag, according to FIG. 5, based on an embodiment including side sealing bands, a seal band in the lower end, and an intermediate sealing band.

[0036] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag, according to FIG. 6, based on an embodiment including an extensible crease between both parallel walls.

[0037] FIG. 8 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag, according to FIG. 6, based on an embodiment including handles that originate from the side walls themselves rather than from added pieces.

[0038] FIG. 9 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag, based on an embodiment including a pair of continuous extension bands along the upper region of the side walls.

[0039] FIG. 10 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag, based on an embodiment forming a packaging.

[0040] FIG. 11 shows an isometric view of the water-degradable bag, based on an embodiment not including grab handles.

[0041] FIG. 12 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag shown in FIG. 11.

[0042] FIG. 13 shows an isometric view of the water-degradable flexible gurney cover, rolled and with its end spread out from the roll where it is held.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] The numbers for the components of the water-degradable bag remain unchanged, regardless of the type of bag illustrated in the different figures.

[0044] The present invention is related to a water-degradable flexible bag (1) for carrying goods purchased from retailers or wholesalers, and/or for packing consumer goods or hygienic products, wherein said bag, as shown in FIG. 1, consists of at least two parallel walls (2) bonded in their upper region by at least one sealing band (3) on each of its side borders; a sealing band (4) bonds the lower ends of the parallel walls, and an opening (5) located on the upper end, opposite to the lower sealing band (4), wherein each of the parallel walls (2) consists of a nonwoven polyvinyl alcohol resin fabric and comprises central openings (10) in its upper region which function as grab handles (11).

[0045] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the bag (1) has a coarse region (6) for incorporating advertisement or information, wherein said coarse region (6) corresponds to an embossing or stamping on the fabric arranged on one of the outer faces of the bag, and that covers half of the height of the bag (1); but said coarse region can cover the entire height of the bag, or a third or a quarter of said height.

[0046] Based on what can be seen in FIG. 3, the bag (1) comprises a sealing band (21), along the full width of the bag, through the upper region of the central opening in each of the parallel walls; it can also include an intermediate sealing band (22), along the full width of the bag, through the lower region of the central opening in each of the parallel walls; or it can also include a sealing band, along the entire width of the bag, through the upper and lower regions of the central opening in each of the parallel walls.

[0047] Based on what is illustrated in FIG. 4, the bag (1) includes an extensible crease (25) between both parallel walls, which acts as a gusset if necessary.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a water-degradable bag (1) comprising strap-like bands (8) in its upper region, forming openings that function as grab handles (11).

[0049] FIG. 6 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag (1), based on FIG. 5, wherein side sealing bands (3), a lower end sealing band (4), an upper sealing band (21), and an intermediate sealing band (22) are included.

[0050] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag (1), according to FIG. 6, including an extensible crease (25) between both parallel walls, which acts as a gusset if necessary.

[0051] FIG. 8 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag (1), based on FIG. 6, including handles (11) that originate from the side walls, instead of stripe-like bands (8).

[0052] FIG. 9 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag (1), including a pair of continuous extension bands (9) through the upper region of the parallel walls which form grab handles, a format usually known as T-shirt bag. This type of bag incorporates two extensible creases (25) acting as gussets.

[0053] FIG. 10 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag (1), which forms a packaging that can be adapted for wrapping consumer goods or hygienic products, such as covers for seat headrests in transportation vehicles. In this embodiment, the bag includes two side sealing bands (3), wherein the opening (26) for introducing the product is overlapped on a fraction of the actual packaging.

[0054] FIG. 11 shows an isometric view of the type of water-degradable bag (1), according to the most basic embodiment of the present invention, which does not include grab handles but includes sealing bands all around the edges of the bag.

[0055] FIG. 12 shows a front view of the water-degradable bag (1) shown in FIG. 11, which includes side sealing bands (3), a lower sealing band (4) and an upper sealing band (21).

[0056] It is important to point out that when the water-degradable bag (1) has an upper sealing band (21) or an intermediate sealing band (22), the actual seal is located only on each side wall, not causing a bonding of the two side walls.

[0057] The water-degradable flexible bag, according to the present invention, as previously indicated, includes decorative figures or symbols, embossed, stamped and/or printed, which can be found on the coarse regions, and said coarse regions can correspond to the sealing bands or to a part or the entirety of one of the outer faces of the side walls, formed by a nonwoven polyvinyl alcohol resin fabric, that form the bag.

[0058] The water-degradable flexible gurney cover (100) embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13 is configured to be used for covering gurneys used for patient care, wherein said gurney cover (100) consists of a covering fabric made up of a nonwoven polyvinyl alcohol resin fabric. Originally, that is, before being used or spread out on a gurney, said gurney cover is presented as a continuous sheet (101) which is rolled, that is, in the shape of a roll (102), so that it can be extended on the gurney when it is going to be used. For easier removal of the gurney, the sheet (101) chat conforms the gurney cover (100) is perforated (103) widthwise and spaced in set in lengthwise segments. Thus, each sheet (101) of the gurney cover (100) can be perforated every 1 or 2 meters (3.3 and 6.6 feet), or in different set lengths. However, the gurney cover (100) can consist of one continuous sheet (101) with no perforation. The sheet that forms the water-degradable flexible gurney cover can have a width varying between approximately 50 centimeters (20 inches) and approximately 75 centimeters (30 inches).

[0059] For cases where it is specifically required or necessary, the water-degradable flexible gurney cover can consist of two or more sheets, wherein said sheets, after laminated, are rolled to form the roll that will be located in the end-user patient care facility.