Abstract
A carrier bag has a first side panel having a first upper edge, a first lower edge, and a first carrier handle, and an opposing second side panel having a second upper edge, a second lower edge, and a second carrier handle. First and second side panels form lateral sides of the bag. A bottom of the bag is formed by a bottom wall connected to the first and second lower edges or by a weld seam or glue seam that joins the first and second lower edges. An opening is formed between the first and second upper edges. The first upper edge has a first distance from the first lower edge and the second upper edge has a second distance from the second lower edge, wherein the first distance is smaller than the second distance. The first upper edge is displaced from the second upper edge.
Claims
1. A carrier bag, comprising: a first side panel with a first carrier handle, and an opposing second side panel with a second carrier handle, wherein the first side panel has a first upper edge and a first lower edge as well as two opposite first side edges, wherein the second side panel has a second upper edge and a second lower edge as well as two opposite second side edges, wherein the first and second side panels are connected to each other at or adjacent to the respective first and second side edges to form lateral sides of the bag or wherein the first and second side panels are connected at the first and second side edges to opposing lateral walls to form lateral sides of the bag, wherein a bottom of the bag is formed by a bottom wall that is connected to the first and second lower edges or by a weld seam or glue seam that joins the first and second lower edges, wherein an opening is formed between the first and second upper edges, wherein the first upper edge has a first distance from the first lower edge and the second upper edge has a second distance from the second lower edge, wherein the first distance is smaller than the second distance, wherein the first upper edge is displaced by a third distance from the second upper edge.
2. The bag of claim 1 wherein the first and second side panels are connected to each other at or adjacent to the first and second side edges to form lateral sides of the bag and wherein a bottom of the bag is formed by a bottom wall that is connected to the first and second lower edges.
3. The bag of claim 2 wherein the first and second side panels are connected to each other by first and second weld seams or glue seams at the first and second side edges to form lateral sides of the bag, and wherein the bottom of the bag is formed by the bottom wall that is connected to the first and second lower edges and the first and second weld seams or glue seams also each connect said bottom wall with the first and second side panels.
4. The bag of claim 3 wherein the bottom wall forms a W-shaped fold in combination with the first and second side panels.
5. The bag of claim 1 wherein the first upper edge is formed by a V-shaped fold, wherein one thigh of the V-shaped fold is formed by the first side panel whereas the other thigh is formed by a foil strip that is connected to the first side panel using a weld seam or glue seam that is facing the second side panel.
6. The bag of claim 5 wherein the first carrier handle is connected to the foil strip using a welding or gluing area.
7. The bag of claim 5 wherein the first side panel and the first foil strip enclose a sealed compartment void of air or any other gas.
8. The bag of claim 5 wherein the first side panel and the first foil strip enclose a sealed compartment experiencing underpressure.
9. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the first upper edge is formed by a first V-shaped fold, wherein one thigh of the first V-shaped fold is formed by the first side panel whereas the other thigh is formed by a first foil strip that is connected to the first side panel using a third weld seam or glue seam spaced at a distance from the first V-shaped fold that is facing the second side panel, wherein the second upper edge is formed by a second V-shaped fold, wherein one thigh of the second V-shaped fold is formed by the second side panel whereas the other thigh is formed by a second foil strip that is connected to the second side panel using a fourth weld seam or glue seam spaced at a distance from the second V-shaped fold that is facing the first side panel, and wherein a bottom of the bag is formed by a bottom wall that is connected to the first and second lower edges, wherein the first side panel, second side panel, first foil strip, second foil strip and bottom wall are different sections of a continuous foil that is formed in one piece, wherein said sections are separated by folds, wherein there are first and second weld seams or glue seams that respectively connect the first foil strip and the bottom wall to the first side panel as well as the second foil strip and the bottom wall to the second side panel.
10. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the first carrier handle is attached by at least four first fastening means comprised of at least four first welding or gluing areas to the first side panel, and the second carrier handle is attached by at least four second fastening means comprised of at least four second welding or gluing areas to the second side panel.
11. The bag according to claim 10 wherein the at least four first fastening means are arranged opposing to the at least four second fastening means.
12. The bag according to claim 10 wherein the at least four first fastening means are arranged at a distance from the first lower edge and the least four second fastening means are arranged at a distance from the second lower edge, wherein the distance from the first lower edge is equal to the distance from the second lower edge.
13. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the first and second panels are made from a first type of plastic foil and the first and second carrier handles are made from a second type of plastic foil.
14. The bag according to claim 13 wherein the first and second carrier handles each comprise at least two layers, wherein said layers comprise or are made from different thermoplastic polymers wherein the layers of each carrier handle that are facing each other are made of or comprise polypropylene whereas adjacent layers comprise or are made of polyethylene.
15. The bag according to claim 13 wherein the first and second carrier handles are at least partially coated with lacquer, on one side of a plastic foil, in such a way that welding of the first and second carrier handle in coated areas is inhibited.
16. The bag of claim 1 wherein the first upper edge is formed by a first V-shaped fold, wherein one thigh of the V-shaped fold is formed by the first side panel whereas the other thigh is formed by a first foil strip that is connected to the first side panel using a third weld seam or glue seam, and wherein the second upper edge is formed by a second V-shaped fold, wherein one thigh of the V-shaped fold is formed by the second side panel whereas the other thigh is formed by a second foil strip that is connected to the second side panel using a fourth weld seam or glue seam, wherein the first carrier handle is attached to the first foil strip at a distance from the first upper edge and the second carrier handle is attached to the second foil strip at a different distance from the second upper edge, wherein said different distance is larger than the distance of the first carrier handle from the first upper edge.
17. The bag of claim 1 wherein the first carrier handle has a first total length and a first partial length, wherein the first partial length is the length that extends beyond the first upper edge away from the first lower edge, wherein the second carrier handle has a second total length and a second partial length, wherein the second partial length is the length that extends beyond the second upper edge away from the second lower edge, and wherein the first and second total lengths are equal.
18. The bag of claim 1 wherein the first and second upper edge are spaced apart from each other at the third distance, wherein the third distance is at least 0.20 inch or 5 mm.
19. The bag of claim 1 wherein the first upper edge is longer than each of the two first side edges.
20. The bag of claim 1 wherein the carrier bag has at least six layers of foil in a section of the carrier handle.
21. A rack of bags comprising bags according to claim 1 wherein the rack comprises at least one mount for bags and wherein said bags are not connected to each other, but placed adjacent to each other.
22. The bag of claim 1, wherein the first carrier handle is a first flexible loop, and the second carrier handle is a second flexible loop.
23. The bag of claim 1, wherein the second side panel is comprised of a sheet of material that is solid from the second upper edge to the second lower edge and between the two opposite second side edges.
24. The bag of claim 1 wherein the second upper edge is formed by a V-shaped fold, wherein one thigh of the V-shaped fold is formed by the second side panel whereas the other thigh is formed by a foil strip that is connected to the second side panel using a weld seam or glue seam that is facing the first side panel.
25. The bag of claim 24 wherein the second carrier handle is connected to the foil strip using a welding or gluing area.
26. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the first and second carrier handles each are made of multiple layers of plastic foil, resulting in a multi-layered first and second composite carrier foil.
27. The bag of claim 1 wherein the first carrier handle has a first total length and a first partial length, wherein the first partial length is the length that extends beyond the first upper edge away from the first lower edge, wherein the second carrier handle has a second total length and a second partial length, wherein the second partial length is the length that extends beyond the second upper edge away from the second lower edge, and wherein the first partial length is greater than the second partial length.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] In the following description, the disclosure is explained in more detail by means of a preferred embodiment of the carrier bag relating to the enclosed drawings wherein
[0036] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the rear side of a carrier bag of the present disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the front side of the carrier bag in FIG. 1;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the rear side of the carrier bag in FIG. 1 wherein sections that are not visible have been indicated using dotted lines;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the carrier bag in FIG. 1;
[0040] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a carrier bag according to the present disclosure; and
[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates how the bag according to FIG. 1 may be used by a customer.
[0042] FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a carrier handle according to the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] FIG. 1 shows a rear side view of a carrier bag 2 having a first side panel 4 with a first carrier handle 6 that is a first flexible loop and an opposing second side panel 8 with a second carrier handle 10 that is a second flexible loop. It has to be emphasized that although the carrier handles 6 and 10 are shown in a slightly displaced position this usually is not the case. Usually first carrier handle 6 more or less fully covers second carrier handle 10 in a rear side view, whereas second carrier handle 10 usually fully covers first carrier handle 6 in a front side view of bag 2, i.e., said carrier handles are arranged opposing each other. The carrier handles have been shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 in a slightly displaced orientation merely for the sake of showing both carrier handles in a single figure.
[0044] The first side panel 4 has a first upper edge 12 and a first lower edge 14 as well as two first side edges 20, 22. The second side panel 8 has a second upper edge 16 and a second lower edge 18 as well as two second side edges 24, 26 (not shown in FIG. 1, cf. FIG. 2). In this particular embodiment, the bottom 28 of the bag 2 is formed by a bottom wall 30 (not shown in FIG. 1, cf. FIG. 4) that is connected to the first and second lower edges 14, 18. An opening 34 is formed between the first and second upper edges 12, 16. The first upper edge 12 extends between the two first side edges 20, 22 at a first distance D1 from the first lower edge 14 and the second upper edge 16 extends between the two second side edges 24, 26 at a second distance D2 from the second lower edge (not shown in FIG. 1, adjacent to first lower edge 14, cf. FIG. 2). The first distance D1 is smaller than the second distance D2 and the first upper edge 12 is displaced by a third distance D3 from the second upper edge 16. The third distance D3 equals the difference between first and second distances D1, D2. When bags are used by customers to put items such as food articles into said bags at a service station, the steps usually necessary to use the bags include grabbing a bag, opening said bag, and inserting the item. In order to provide bags in an orderly fashion, stacks of packs are often stored in a rack for bags. One major issue is to separate a bag from the other bags and additionally to open said bag, minimizing both the involved time and work. The aforementioned carrier bag 2 has a first upper edge 12 and a second upper edge 16 that are spaced apart from each other. This enables a user to easily and selectively grab a specific edge, i.e., the second upper edge 16 that is further away from the bottom 28 of the bag (the edge that is higher). As only one edge is grabbed, the bag 2 may be separated from other similarly built carrier bags and simultaneously opened easily (cf. FIG. 5).
[0045] In this particular embodiment, first and second side panels 4, 8 are connected to each other by a first weld seam 36 at one of the two first side edges 20 of the first side panel 4 and at one of the two second side edges 26 (not shown in FIG. 1, cf. FIG. 2) of the second side panel 8 to form a left lateral side of the bag. Similarly, the first and second side panels 4, 8 are connected to each other by the second weld seam 38 at the other one of the two first side edges 22 of the first side panel 4 and at the other one of the two second side edges 24 (not shown in FIG. 1, cf. FIG. 2) of the second side panel 8 to form a right lateral side of the bag. Said first and second weld seams 36 and 38 also each connect the bottom wall (not shown in FIG. 1, cf. FIG. 4) with the first and second side panels 4, 8. In order to connect the first and second side panels 4, 8 using the first and second weld seams 36 and 38 at the edges, it is not necessary to weld the edges themselves. Instead a weld line in close proximity to the actual edges can be used. In the present example, the distance between weld seams 36 and 38 and their corresponding edges is less than 2.0 cm. The separation of the first and second side panels 4, 8 using the first and second upper edges 12, 16 works well even if first and second weld seams 36, 38 connect the first and second panel 4, 8 adjacent to the opening 34 directly (resulting in a close arrangement of the first upper edge to the second side panel 8). Although the opening would be larger if side gussets were used, it has been found that the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 still allows for an easy separation of the second side panel 8 from a stack of bags. The first upper edge 12 is typically longer than each of the two first side edges 20, 22.
[0046] FIG. 2 shows a front side view of the carrier bag 2 having a second side panel 8 with a second carrier handle 10 that is a second flexible loop and an opposing first side panel 4 (not shown in FIG. 2, cf. FIGS. 1 and 3) with a first carrier handle 6 that is a first flexible loop. The second side panel 8 has a second upper edge 16 and a second lower edge 18 as well as two second side edges 24, 26. The first and second side panels 4, 8 are connected to each other at the first and second side edges 20, 22, 24, 26 to form left and right lateral sides of the bag (cf. FIGS. 1 and 2). The bottom 28 of the bag is formed by a bottom wall (not shown in FIG. 2, cf. FIG. 4) that is connected to the first and second lower edges 14, 18. The second upper edge 16 extends between the two second side edges 24, 26 at a second distance D2 from the second lower edge 18.
[0047] FIG. 3 shows the rear side view of a carrier bag 2 having a first side panel 4 with a first carrier handle 6 and a second side panel 8 with a second carrier handle 10. The first side panel 4 has a first upper edge 12 and a first lower edge 14 as well as two first side edges 20, 22. The second side panel 8 has a second upper edge 16 and a second lower edge as well as two second side edges 24, 26 (cf. also FIG. 2). The first and second side panels 4, 8 are connected to each other at the first and second side edges 20, 22, 24, 26 by first and second weld seams 36, 38. The bottom 28 and opening 34 of the bag are shown.
[0048] Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows sections that cannot be derived from FIG. 1 as said sections are covered by the first side panel 4 and its first carrier handle 6. Said sections are indicated with dotted lines. FIG. 3 shows a fold line 40 of the bottom wall 30 (bottom wall 30 not shown in FIG. 3, cf. FIG. 4). FIG. 3 also shows a lower rim 42 of a first foil strip. Said first foil strip is circumscribed by the lower rim 42, the first upper edge 12 as well as the first side edges 20 and 22. The first foil strip is attached to first side panel 4 by a third weld seam 56. Thus the circumscribed region of the first foil strip contains a sealed compartment, preferably i.e. essentially air tight sealed in all directions. This is particularly advantageous for the stability of the circumscribed region. The sealed compartment preferably contains very little air or other gas. It has been found that this surprisingly strongly influences the stability. Due to the fact that the circumscribed region contains a compartment that is sealed and that contains little gas between the first side panel 4 and the first foil strip, said side panel 4 and the first foil strip are firmly attached to each other within the circumscribed region. Removing the first foil strip in a section within the region of the sealed compartment, circumscribed by the third weld seam 56, the first upper edge 12 as well as the first and second weld seams 36, 38, would require that atmospheric pressure is overcome. This arrangement results in a particularly non-yielding area that may be used to firmly secure the first carrier handle 6. Similarly a second foil strip is circumscribed by a lower rim 44, the second upper edge 16 as well as the second side edges 24 and 26 (said second side edges are partially covered by first side edges 20, 22). In this case, a sealed compartment with little enclosed gas is created using a fourth weld seam 58 close to the lower rim 44 as well as first and second weld seams 36, 38. Said sealed compartment thus also results in a non-yielding area that may be used to firmly secure the second carrier handle 10.
[0049] In FIG. 3, it is also shown that the total length of the first carrier handle 6 includes sections 46 that extend downward from the first upper edge 12. The first carrier handle 6 has a first total length and a first partial length, wherein the first partial length is the length that extends beyond the first upper edge 12 away from the first lower edge 14. The second carrier handle 10 similarly has a second total length and a second partial length, wherein the second partial length is the length that extends beyond the second upper edge 16 away from the second lower edge 18 (not shown in FIG. 3, cf. FIG. 2). The total length of first and second carrier handles 6 and 10 does not differ. However, the partial length is different. The first carrier handle 6 offers a greater access opening for the hand of the customer than the second carrier handle 10. The difference in the size of openings appears disadvantageous at a first glance (there is just one ideal size for the access opening of a hand). However, it was found that this disadvantage is overcome by the increase in stability due to the fact that both carrier handles 6, 10 are strained to a similar extent when an item is carried. Furthermore, the bag 2 is kept in a balanced position using the carrier handles 6, 10 as described above. As shown in FIG. 3, the first carrier handle 6 is attached by four first welding or gluing areas 50 to the first side panel 4. The second carrier handle 10 is similarly attached by four second welding or gluing areas (not shown in FIG. 3) to the second side panel 8. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that more weld seams to attach the handles are also possible.
[0050] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the carrier bag in FIG. 1. A first side panel 4 with a first carrier handle 6 and a second side panel 8 with a second carrier handle 10 is shown. Between the first and second side panels 4, 8 there is an opening 34. The position of the carrier handles is only indicated with dotted lines. The first upper edge 12 is formed by a first V-shaped fold, wherein one thigh of the first V-shaped fold is formed by the first side panel 4 whereas the other thigh is formed by a first foil strip 60 that is connected to the first side panel using a third weld seam 56 and is facing the second side panel 8. The second upper edge 16 is formed by a second V-shaped fold, wherein one thigh of the second V-shaped fold is formed by the second side panel 8 whereas the other thigh is formed by a second foil strip 62 that is connected to the second side panel 8 using a fourth weld 58 seam and is facing the first side panel 4. The first foil strip 60 is circumscribed by the lower rim 42, the first upper edge 12 as well as the first side edges 20 and 22. A sealed compartment 64 is circumscribed by the third weld seam 56, the first upper edge 12 as well as the first side edges 20 and 22 (not shown in FIG. 4, cf. FIG. 1). Advantages of said sealed compartment 64 have been discussed above. For the sake of clarity, the drawing depicts a thin space between the first foil strip 60 and first side panel 4. However, it is actually preferred that said sealed compartment 64 contains almost none to no gas. In this case, the first foil strip 60 and first side panel 4 are adjacent in the region of the sealed compartment 64 without any space in between. Similarly, the second foil strip 62 is circumscribed by the lower rim 44, the second upper edge 16 as well as the second side edges 24 and 26 (not shown in FIG. 4, cf. FIG. 2). A sealed compartment 66 is circumscribed by the fourth weld seam 58, the second upper edge 16 as well as the second side edges 24 and 26. Advantages of said sealed compartment 66 have been discussed above. For the sake of clarity, the drawing depicts a thin space between the second foil strip 62 and second side panel 8. However, it is again preferred that said sealed compartment 66 contains almost none to no gas. In this case, the second foil strip 62 and the second side panel 8 are adjacent in the region of the sealed compartment 66 without any space in between. A bottom of the bag is formed by a bottom wall 30 that is connected to the first and second lower edges 14, 18. In this particular embodiment, bottom wall 30 comprises a V-shaped fold line 40.
[0051] The first flexible loop 6 is connected to the first foil strip 60 and the second flexible loop 10 is connected to the second foil strip 62 using first and second welding or gluing areas 50, 52 (in FIG. 4 only positions of said weld seams are indicated, cf. FIG. 3) and third and fourth weld seams 56, 58 connect the first foil strip 60 to the first side panel 4 and the second foil strip 62 to the second side panel 8. Four first welding or gluing areas 50 (cf. FIG. 3) are arranged opposing to four second welding or gluing areas 52 and said four first welding or gluing areas 50 are arranged at a fourth distance from the first lower edge 14 and the four second welding or gluing areas 52 are arranged at a fifth distance from the second lower edge 18, wherein the fourth distance is equal to the fifth distance. The first carrier handle 6 is attached by the first welding or gluing areas 50 to the first foil strip 60 at a sixth distance from the first upper edge 12 and the second carrier handle 10 is attached to the second foil strip 62 by the second welding or gluing areas 52 at a seventh distance from the second upper edge 16, wherein the seventh distance is larger than the sixth distance.
[0052] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a bag according to the present disclosure. In FIGS. 1 to 4, the bag is formed by connecting the first and second edges to form lateral sides of the bag. In FIG. 5, the first and second side edges 20, 22, 24, 26 are connected to opposing lateral walls 70, 74. The lateral wall 70 will be discussed in more detail. Said wall may contain side gussets, and a folding line 76 is shown. Said folding line may be part of or adjacent to a connection area in which different sections of each of the lateral walls are glued or welded together. The upper rim 72 of said lateral wall 70 is arranged between the first and second upper edges 12, 16 of the first and second side panels 4, 8. In the present example, the upper rim 72 is formed continuously. However, it is also possible to use a discontinuous upper rim 72 for the lateral wall 70. To the second side panel 8 the second carrier handle 10 is connected. Said carrier handle is fastened to the second side panel using fastening means 52 (in this case welding or gluing areas). Similarly the first side panel 4, having first side edges 20, 22 is connected to the first carrier handle 6.
[0053] FIG. 6 shows the serial dispensing and opening of a bag according to the present disclosure from a rack for multiple bags. In step a), a rack of bags is shown. Said rack comprises a mount 102 for bags. Each bag has a second upper edge 16 on the front side and a first upper edge 12 on the backside that is closer to the lower portion of the bag. Each bag comprises a folded bottom wall 30. In step b), a customer grabs the bag by gripping the rim with the second edge 16 with one hand 100. In step c), the bag is unfolded and ready to be filled. In step d), the bag is filled with items 106.
[0054] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a carrier handle 110 comprised of at least two layers of plastic foil 111 and 112. In the illustrated embodiment, layers 111 and 112 comprise or are made from different thermoplastic polymers. As described earlier, in at least one embodiment, the layers of each carrier handle 110 that are facing each other are made of or comprise polypropylene whereas the adjacent layers preferably comprise or are made of polyethylene. The carrier handle 110, in particular on one side of a plastic foil of the carrier handle, is at least partially coated with lacquer 113 in such a way that welding of first and second carrier handles in said coated areas is inhibited.
[0055] The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments.
[0056] These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.
