Patent Application
20130233877
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with the field of bags for holding pourable products such as salt, and more particularly bags having a perforated section that extends substantially, and preferably entirely, horizontally across the bag, for removal and pouring of the product from the bag.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Bag are commonly used to hold and transport pourable products (i.e., products comprising numerous small pieces). Such products include salt cubes or pellets, animal food, flour, and sugar, to name a few. These pourable products are typically sold in large quantities (e.g., 30-50 lbs.) and in bulk sizes that are difficult for the average person to handle. Even more difficult than carrying these bags is pouring the product from the bulky bag. That is, the consumer must open the bag, attempt to pick up the very heavy bag, and carefully pour the product in a controlled manner. This often results in spilling of the product, which goes from not coming out at all to rapidly falling from the bag and outside of the target area. There is a need for a bag that can be more easily opened at the point of use, as well as more easily poured with minimal or no spillage.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a bag for holding a pourable product. The bag comprises front and back panels comprising first and second end portions presenting respective outermost edges and first and second side portions presenting respective outermost edges. The front and back panels and the end and side portions cooperate to form a chamber for holding the pourable product. There is a width “W,” defined as the shortest distance between the respective outermost edges of the first and second side portions. The perforations extend from at least one of the respective outermost edges of the first and second side portions at a distance of at least about 50% of “W,” towards the other of the respective outermost edges of the first and second side portions.
In another embodiment, a method of using the above inventive bag is provided. The method comprises tearing the bag at the perforations to create an opening, and causing the pourable product to exit the bag from the opening, preferably by tilting the bag.
FIG. (
With reference to
Front panel 12 and back panel 14 further share a first side portion 20 and a second side portion 22. First and second end portions 16, 18 and first and second side portions 20, 22 present respective outermost edges 24a-d, which define an outer boundary or periphery 26 of the bag 10. Outermost edges 24a and 24b oppose, and are substantially parallel to, one another, while outermost edges 24c and 24d oppose, and are substantially parallel to, one another. Furthermore, outermost edges 24c and 24d are substantially perpendicular to outermost edges 24a and 24b.
Each of the first and second end portions 16, 18 intersects with first and second side portions 20, 22 at corners 28a-d. Front and back panels 12, 14, first and second end portions 16, 18, and first and second side portions 20, 22 cooperate to form a chamber for holding a pourable product.
First end portion 16 comprises a first horizontal seam 30 spaced apart from outermost edge 24a, thus forming a flap 32 in first end portion 16. First horizontal seam 30 has a thickness of from about 1/16 inch to about ¼ inch (and more preferably about ⅛ inch) and is substantially parallel to outermost edge 24a. Flap 32 comprises a handle 34 formed therein. Handle 34 comprises a patch 36 that is heat-sealed to the flap 32. Patch 36 could be heat-sealed on either side of the flap 32 (i.e., on front panel 12 or on back panel 14), or on both sides if extra strength is required. Patch 36 can be any material typically used for bags carrying bulk products, including plastics such as linear low density polyethylenes (LLPDE). A C-shaped grip 38 is formed through patch 36 and flap 32 to form an opening, through which a user may place his or her fingers during carrying, pouring, etc. Outmost edge 24a of first end portion 16 is bisected by centerline 40 (see
The bag 10 further comprises perforations 42 in front and back panels 12,14. Perforations 42 provide an area where the front and back panels 12, 14 can be separated, creating an opening for pouring of product from the bag 10. Ideally, perforations 42 form a pattern that is linear in nature, and substantially parallel to outermost edges 24a, 24b and substantially perpendicular to outermost edges 24c, 24d. The figures depict perforations 42 extending from outermost edge 24c to outermost edge 24d, however, in some embodiments, the perforations 42 do not extend entirely across the width “W” of the front and back panels 12, 14, However, it is preferred that the perforations 42 extend at least about 50% of “W,” preferably at least about 75% of “W,” and more preferably about 100% of “W.” Furthermore, although the figures show the perforations 42 at a distance “D3” from outermost edge 24b, it will be appreciated that the perforations 42 can be positioned anywhere along the length “L1” of the front and back panels 12, 14, provided perforations 42 are at least about 0.5 inches, and preferably at least about 1 inch, from first horizontal seam 30 and outermost edge 24b.
The bag 10 preferably has a side panel 44. Side panel 44 is essentially a lay-flat fold whose width is defined by a turn axis 46. Side panel 44 allows for expansion of the bag upon filling with the pourable product.
Referring to
The inventive bag 10 can be manufactured by various methods, but the preferred method is described herein. First, a tube or sleeve of plastic is cut to the desired length (represented by “L” in
A heat seal is then applied at first end portion 16 in order to form horizontal seam 30. A film (typically having a 10-mil thickness) is heat-sealed to flap 32 to form patch 36. C-shaped grip 38 is then cut (e.g., die-cut) through the patch 36 and flap 32, thus forming handle 34, which serves as the primary carrying handle. The perforations 42 can be added at this time according to conventional methods.
The manufactured bag can then be stored until needed, or immediately filled and sealed. Either way, after the bag 10 is filled to the desired level, a final heat seal is applied at second end portion 18 to create second horizontal seam 44, making the filled bag 10 ready for distribution. It will be appreciated that the inventive bag 10 can be used to transport and store numerous types of pourable products, including cubes, pellets, tablets, powders, compacted pieces, and/or granules of those selected from the group consisting of: salt (e.g., water softening, pool treatment, deicing, etc.); animal food (e.g., bird seed, grain, dog or cat food); bulk flour or sugar; cement; seed (e.g., grass seed) and other lawn and garden products; fertilizers; ice; sand; rice; spices; soil (including soil mixtures); pesticides (e.g., fire ant treatments); industrial chemicals; mortar; plaster; marble dust; stones (including pebbles and gravel); and constructions products. Such products will typically cause the bags to weigh from about 20 lbs. to about 100 lbs., and more typically from about 40 lbs. to about 60 lbs.
In use and before pouring, a user would tear the front and back panels 12, 14 at perforations 42 in order to separate (or at least partially separate) strip 48 from the remainder 50 of bag 10. It will be appreciated that this allows for easy pouring of the product from the bag 10.
This controlled pouring allows for fairly exact dispensing of the product, while preventing spillage and waste of the product. This type of opening is particularly advantageous in situations where the bag is being poured into a large opening. The user can just lay the bag on top of the large opening and use both hands to tear perforations 42 and separate strip 48 from remainder 50, thus avoiding the need to hold and tilt a heavy bag during product removal.
