Elastic drawstring trash bag

Abstract

The present invention relates to polymeric bags, particularly polymeric drawstring trash bags. The present invention comprises a trash bag having an elastic drawstring. The elastic drawstring trash bag features an integrated short seal comprising an inner seal, an outer seal, and an intermediate seal. The integrated short seal functions to reduce the upper opening of the drawstring trash bag, while the elastic drawstring utilized with the bag provides a bag that allows the bag to fit snugly on many common trash receptacles.

Claims

1. A drawstring trash bag comprising: first and second panels joined along opposing first and second side edges and a bottom edge, an upper edge of the first and second panels defining an upper opening, a first drawstring within a first hem, the first hem formed in the first panel along the upper edge, a first integrated short seal welding together the first panel, the first drawstring, and the second panel, the first integrated short seal having inner, outer, and intermediate seal sections, the inner and outer seal sections each having a height extending generally in a vertical direction, the intermediate seal section having a height extending generally in a horizontal direction, and the intermediate seal section connecting the inner and outer seal sections, the outer seal section adjacent to the first side edge and the inner seal section inward from the outer seal section, the height of the inner and outer seal sections each greater than the height of the intermediate seal section, the inner and outer seal sections each having a width extending generally in the horizontal direction, the intermediate seal section having a width extending generally in the vertical direction, and the inner, outer, and intermediate seal sections each having substantially the same width.

2. The drawstring trash bag of claim 1 further comprising: a second drawstring within a second hem, the second hem formed in the second panel along the upper edge, and the first integrated short seal welding together the first panel, the first drawstring, the second drawstring, and the second panel.

3. The drawstring trash bag of claim 1 further comprising: a distance from an outer edge of the outer seal section to an opposing outer edge of the inner seal section greater than a height of the drawstring.

4. The drawstring trash bag of claim 1 further comprising: the height of the intermediate seal section greater than a summation of the widths of the inner and outer seal sections.

5. The drawstring bag of claim 1, further comprising: the outer seal section, inner seal section, and intermediate seal section together defining an H shape.

6. A drawstring trash bag comprising: first and second panels joined along three edges, a fourth edge along the first and second panels defining an upper opening, a first drawstring within a first hem, the first hem defined in the first panel along the fourth edge, the first drawstring having a height extending generally in a vertical direction, a first short seal welding together the first panel, the first drawstring, and the second panel, a first inner seal welding together the first panel, the first drawstring, and the second panel, the first inner seal inward from the first short seal, a first intermediate seal welding together the first panel, the first drawstring, and the second panel, the first intermediate seal connecting the first short seal to the first inner seal, and the first intermediate seal having a width extending generally in the vertical direction, the width of the first intermediate seal less than the height of the first drawstring.

7. The drawstring trash bag of claim 6 further comprising: a second drawstring within a second hem, the second hem defined in the second panel along the fourth edge, and the first short seal welding together the first panel, the first drawstring, the second drawstring, and the second panel.

8. The drawstring trash bag of claim 7 further comprising: the first short seal and the first inner seal each having a width extending generally in the horizontal direction, and the first short seal, the first inner seal, and the first intermediate seal each having substantially the same width.

9. The drawstring trash bag of claim 8 further comprising: a distance from an outer edge of the first short seal to an opposing outer edge of the first inner seal greater than the height of the first drawstring.

10. The drawstring bag of claim 6, further comprising: the first short seal, the first inner seal, and the first intermediate seal together defining an H shape.

11. The drawstring trash bag of claim 6 further comprising: the first short and inner seals each having a major axis extending substantially perpendicular to the fourth edge, and the first intermediate seal having a major axis extending substantially parallel to the fourth edge.

12. A drawstring trash bag comprising: first and second panels joined along three edges, a fourth edge of the first and second panels defining an upper opening, a first drawstring provided within a first hem, the first hem formed in the first panel along the fourth edge, a first outer seal section welding together the first panel, the first drawstring, and the second panel, the first outer seal section adjacent to a first side edge of one of the three edges, a first inner seal section welding together the first panel, the first drawstring, and the second panel, wherein the first inner seal section is inward from the first outer seal section, a first intermediate seal section connecting the first outer seal section to the first inner seal section, the first intermediate seal section having a width extending generally in a vertical direction, the first inner and outer seal sections each having a height extending generally in the vertical direction, and the height of the first outer seal section greater than the width of the first intermediate seal section.

13. The drawstring trash bag of claim 12 further comprising: the first inner and outer seal sections each having a width extending in the horizontal direction, the first drawstring having a height extending generally in the vertical direction, and the width of the first inner, outer and intermediate seal sections each less than one quarter of the height of the first drawstring.

14. The drawstring trash bag of claim 13 further comprising: the first inner and outer seal sections and the first intermediate seal section each having substantially the same width.

15. The drawstring trash bag of claim 12 further comprising: the height of the first inner seal section greater than the width of the first intermediate seal section.

16. The drawstring trash bag of claim 12 further comprising: a second drawstring provided within a second hem, the second hem formed in the second panel along the fourth edge, and the first inner seal section welding together the first panel, the first drawstring, the second drawstring, and the second panel.

17. The drawstring trash bag of claim 12 further comprising: the first drawstring having a height extending generally in the vertical direction, and a distance from an outer edge of the first outer seal section to an opposing outer edge of the first inner seal section greater than the height of the first drawstring.

18. The drawstring trash bag of claim 17 further comprising: the first intermediate seal section having a height extending in the horizontal direction, the first inner and outer seal sections each having a width extending in the horizontal direction, and the height of the first intermediate section greater than a summation of the widths of the first inner and outer seal sections.

19. The drawstring bag of claim 12, further comprising: the first outer seal section, first inner seal section, and first intermediate seal section together defining an H shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED DRAWINGS

(1) A full and complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the detailed description of the present invention and preferred embodiment when viewed with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings can be briefly described as follows.

(2) FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a prior art drawstring trash bag.

(3) FIG. 2 provides an enlarged perspective view of an upper corner of the bag of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 provides an enlarged perspective view of the drawstring trash bag of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) The present disclosure illustrates one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention. It is not intended to provide an illustration or encompass all embodiments contemplated by the present invention. In view of the disclosure of the present invention contained herein, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that innumerable modifications and insubstantial changes may be incorporated or otherwise included into the depicted embodiments without diverging from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. Rather, the scope of the invention shall be broadly defined by the appended claims which are intended to more fully and accurately encompass the invention to the fullest extent possible. However, it is fully appreciated that the use of certain terminology shall not be construed to conclusively limit the scope of protection if otherwise within the spirit of the present invention.

(7) Referring initially to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a drawstring trash bag 100 of the prior art is shown. As depicted in FIG. 1, the drawstring trash bag 100 is comprised of a first panel 102 and a second panel 104 joined along three sides. In certain embodiments, bag 100 can be formed from a flattened tube and can be manufactured via a blown film extrusion process. Bottom 108 of bag 100 can be defined by a folded edge of the flattened tube and the sides 106 of bag 100 can be sealed using any one of several methods that are known in the art. The various types of construction of drawstring trash bags 100 are well known in the art and the particular method of manufacture is not intended to limit the present invention.

(8) The drawstring trash bag 100 depicted in FIG. 1 is provided with a pair of drawstrings 116 enclosed within the hems 112 of the drawstring trash bag 100. As known in the art, the top portions of the first panel 102 and the second panel 104 are folded and sealed to form hems 112. The hem seals 118 run the width of the bag with drawstrings 116 within hems 112. A pair of centrally located drawstring cutouts 122 is provided in hems 112 for accessing drawstrings 116. A pair of short seals 120 is provided at the upper corners of the drawstring trash bag 100, sealing the first panel 102, second panel 104 and the pair of drawstrings 116 together.

(9) The short seals 120 should be sufficiently strong to allow a consumer to pull the drawstrings 116 through the cutouts 122 and to close the upper opening of the drawstring trash bag 100. If the short seals 120 are not strong enough, the drawstrings 116 may dislodge, eliminating the benefits of the drawstring trash bag 100.

(10) Short seals 120 are shown rectangular in shape in FIG. 1. Each short seal 120 can have a width from one-eighth to one-half of an inch for a typical 13-gallon drawstring trash bag, with such bag typically having a width of generally 24 inches and a height of generally 24 to 27 inches. The height of the hems 112 of bag 100 are shown extending from the upper opening of the bag to the bottom of the hem seal 118. Short seals 120 are shown also extending the height of the hem, from the upper opening of the bag to the hem seal 118. In certain embodiments, the short seals may not extend to the bottom of the hem but typically will extend at least to the bottom of the drawstring 116.

(11) Further shown by FIG. 1 are inner seals 320 spaced apart from each short seal 120 and positioned along the upper hems 112 of drawstring trash bag 100. Inner seals 320 weld the first panel 102, second panel 104, and drawstrings 116 together in the same manner as short seals 120. Inner seals 320 are shown having similar shape and size to short seals 120, extending from the upper edge of the drawstring trash bag 100 to the hem seal 118 of the upper hems 112 and having a substantially rectangular shape. In certain embodiments, the inner seals 320 may not extend to the bottom of the hem but typically will extend at least to the bottom of the drawstring 116 in the same manner as short seals 120.

(12) The inner seals 320 reduce the width of the upper opening of elastic drawstring trash bag 100. However, when a user stretches the upper opening around the upper rim of a trash receptacle, the polyethylene material used for the first panel 102 and second panel 104 stretches, allowing the elastic drawstring of trash bag 100 to be placed over the upper rim of a trash receptacle, even if the trash receptacle is larger than the upper opening of the trash bag. To allow bag 100 to stretch over the can, drawstrings 116 may include elastomeric polymers to provide desirable elastic characteristics and controlled stretching properties.

(13) Looking now at FIG. 2, an enlarged perspective view of an upper corner of bag 100 is shown. Short seal 120 welds together the first panel 102, the second panel 104, and the drawstrings 116 contained within hems 112. As discussed above, it typically is desirable for the short seals 120 to have sufficient strength to permanently weld the front panel 102, second panel 104, and drawstrings 116 together so the drawstring does not dislodge when pulled by a user of bag 100. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the short seal 120 and the inner seal 320 have an unsealed area 302 located between the two seals 120 and 320.

(14) The inner seals 320 are shown substantially rectangular in shape. The inner seals 320 can be approximately the same size and shape as the short seals 120. The inner seals 320 may be approximately one-eighth to one-half inch when measured along the width of the bag for a typical kitchen drawstring trash bag and will typically span from the upper opening of the bag to the hem seals 118.

(15) FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate bag 300, an embodiment of the present invention. Rather than short seals 120 and inner seals 320 of bag 100, bag 300 utilizes integrated short seals 420. As best shown by FIG. 4, integrated short seal 420 comprises an outer seal section 420a, an inner seal section 420b, and an intermediate seal section 420c. In at least certain embodiments, outer, inner, and intermediate seal sections 420a, 420b, and 420c are interconnected with each other so as to comprise a continuous sealing surface. As shown by the figures, the three sections can be arranged to define an H-shape for integrated short seal 420. In certain embodiments, a side seal of sides 106 of bag 300 can also be interconnected with the outer, inner, and intermediate seal sections 420a, 420b, and 420c such that the seal sections 420a, 420b, and 420c and side seal form a continuous sealing surface.

(16) As best shown by FIG. 4, the intermediate seal section 420c can have a length greater than its width with its length extending in a horizontal direction from an inner edge of the outer seal section 420a to an opposing inner edge of the inner seal section 420b. A length of the outer and inner seal sections 420a and 420b can extend vertically and have edges on opposing sides of each section extending parallel to the vertical direction. A major axis can be defined for the lengthwise direction of each of the seal sections 420a, 420b, and 420c and a minor axis can be defined extending perpendicular from the major axis for each section, extending in the widthwise direction for each section.

(17) In certain embodiments, the length of the intermediate seal section 420c can exceed the summation of the widths of outer and inner seal sections while in other embodiments the two measurements can generally be equal. In further embodiments, the length of the intermediate seal section 420c can be less than the summation of the outer and inner seal section widths. Furthermore, the length of each section, in certain embodiments, can be at least twice the width of the corresponding width of a section.

(18) FIG. 4 further shows that at each intersection of the intermediate section 420c with the outer and inner seal section 420a and 420b can have a radius or rounded corners. The intersections can have rounded corners along both upper and lower horizontal edges of the intermediate seal section as further shown in FIG. 4. These rounded corners can help reduce stress concentrations in the seal when it is placed under stress by pulling of drawstring 116.

(19) For bag 300 having dimensions of a typical kitchen drawstring trash bag with a one-inch high drawstring, the width of each section 420a, 420b, and 420c may be about ⅛ inch but may also range in width between 1/16 and ½ of an inch. For a typical one-inch wide drawstring, the width of each section would be about ⅛ of the drawstring's width. In certain embodiments, the overall width of integrated short seal 420 can extend from an outer edge of outer section 420a to an outer edge of inner section 420b and can be about equal to or exceed the height of drawstring 116. In further embodiments, the overall width of seal 420 can be less than the height of drawstring 116.

(20) Use of integrated short seals 420 provide certain advantages not realized in the prior art. For instance, intermediate seal section 420a and 420b interconnecting the outer and inner sections 420a and 420b allows for consistent pressure and therefore more consistent seals to be formed from inner and outer seal sections 420a and 420b in comparison to the separated short seal and inner seal of prior art bag 100. The interconnection between the inner and outer seal sections 420a and 420b by intermediate seal section 420a and 420b can also provide for better heat distribution when the seal is formed and thus provide for more consistency between the inner and outer seal sections in comparison to the short seal and inner seal of prior art bag 100.

(21) As discussed in the Background of the Invention, it is also known to have a single wide short seal in lieu of short seal 120 and inner seal 320. Unlike a single wide short seal, the integrated seal 420 provides for less area to be sealed and thus is less likely to have air trapped within the seal. Furthermore, with less surface area to heat, integrated short seals 420 allows for better control of sealing heat and temperature along the sealing surface during the manufacturing process to provide for a stronger seal between the drawstring, hems, and panels of bag 300.

(22) The integrated seal 420 welds the first panel 102, the second panel 104, and the drawstrings 116 together much like the short seal 120 at the corners of the improved elastic drawstring bag 300. In certain embodiments, it is contemplated that the integrated seals 420 extend from the upper edge of the drawstring trash bag 300 to the hem seal 118 of the upper hems 112.

(23) The integrated seals 420 function to reduce the width of the upper opening of the improved elastic drawstring trash bag 300. When an individual stretches the upper opening around the upper rim of a trash receptacle, the polyethylene material used for the first panel 102 and second panel 104 stretches, allowing the improved elastic drawstring trash bag 300 to be placed over the upper rim of a trash receptacle, even if the trash receptacle is larger than the upper opening of the improved elastic drawstring trash bag 300.

(24) Elastomeric polymers included in the drawstrings 116 of bag 300 are specifically intended to allow a limited amount of stretching. The limited stretching allows bag 300 to fit over the rim of a trash receptacle, even if the circumference of the rim is larger than the reduced width (resulting from, in particular, inner seal section 420b). More importantly, after bag 300 is stretched over the rim of a trash receptacle, the elastomeric polymers in the drawstrings 116 cause the drawstrings 116 to contract to their original length, providing a tight fit of the drawstrings around the outside of the trash receptacle.

(25) As noted, the embodiments depicted herein are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Indeed, it is contemplated that any number of different embodiments may be utilized without diverging from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to more fully encompass the scope of the present invention.