Patent Application
20140294322
The disclosed technology relates to bags generally. Example embodiments relate to sealable bag assemblies.
A bag is a common form for a non-rigid container. Inexpensive single-use or limited use bags, typically made of paper or plastic, are ubiquitous in retail trade. In particular, shopping bags are medium-sized bags, typically between 2.5 and 5 gallons in volume.
The technology described herein includes apparatuses and method for packaging. In some embodiments, a bag comprises a bag body, a first bag handle, and a second bag handle. The bag body comprises a first side, and a second side substantially parallel to the first side. The bag body has formed therein a first pre-fold horizontally in the direction of the first side of the bag body a first distance from the top of the bag body; and a a second pre-fold horizontally in the direction of the first pre-fold, and at a second distance from the top of the bag body the second distance being greater than twice the first distance. The bag assembly further comprises a first bag handle attached to the first side of the bag body across one or more first handle attachment areas, the topmost extent of the first handle attachment areas not extending into an area defined by a first bottom border measured from the top of the bag body down the second distance. The bag assembly further comprises a second bag handle, similar to the first bag handle, and attached to the second side of the bag body across one or more second handle attachment areas, the topmost extent of the second handle attachment areas not extending into an area defined by a second bottom border measure from the top of the bag body down the second distance.
In some embodiments, the second distance is greater than twice the first distance by approximately the thickness of the first side plus the thickness of the second side. In some embodiments, the bag body further comprises an adhesive in the area above the first pre-fold on the second side. In some embodiments, each pre-fold is a heat-formed pre-fold.
In some embodiments the bag body has further formed therein an adhesive label attachment area below the second pre-fold. In some such embodiments, the first bottom border is measured from the top of the bag body down the second distance plus an adhesive label attachment area, and the second bottom border is measured from the top of the bag body down the second distance plus an adhesive label attachment area.
In some embodiments the bag assembly further comprises an adhesive label sized to cover a horizontal portion of the area of the second wide side of the bag body between the first pre-fold and the second pre-fold and at least a portion of the adhesive label attachment area adjoining the first fold when the bag assembly is in a sealed configuration. In some such embodiments, the adhesive label comprises a release strip.
Embodiments of the present technology address the need for low cost packaging usable for delivering a variety of items, which packaging can be sealed. A sealable bag of the present technology can reduced the risk of packaged items being lost from the package, can deter theft, and can indicate whether the contents of the bag have been tampered with during the delivery process or on the customer's doorstep. The structure of a typical handled paper grocery bag allows for low cost production but is not readily sealable given the way the handles are attached and the way the bag deforms once it is loaded with items and picked up by the bag's handles.
In sealing the top of the traditional bags, the weight of the bag may put tension through the handle attachment points, thereby separating the handles from each other. This may be further complicated by the fact that different amounts of items will push the walls of the bag further out and increase the distance between the handles and the angle of the handles towards each other. For example, with a full conventional paper bag, the angle between a significant portion of each handle approaches 180 degrees.
The handles of a conventional bag can interfere with an attempt to seal the top edge of a conventional bag. For handles that break up the edge (typical for handled conventional bags—paper or otherwise), a seal must work around them. The loose area of the edges between the handle also tends to billow out on the two ends of the bag. Capturing all this with a low cost paper seal is difficult since the flat area will tend to pucker and not allow for continuous sealing.
Embodiments of the present technology include methods by which the top edge of the bag can be raised, and folded or rolled, to create a seal that is less susceptible to stress from the weight of the bag. Embodiments of the technology involve raising the top edge of the bag while maintaining the low position of the handles.
While many bag seals rely on the strength of the adhesive or sticker primarily to keep the bag closed, the folded edge used in embodiments of the present technology can lock the material in place mechanically through the fold. Consequently, there can be less tension put on the tape/adhesive used to seal the bag.
Turning now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like (but not necessarily identical) elements throughout the figures, example embodiments of the present technology are described in detail.
Referring to
Bag 100 can have formed therein at least one pre-fold, and as illustrated includes two (2) pre-folds—first pre-fold 130 and second pre-fold 140. As illustrated, first pre-fold 130 is slightly shorter than second pre-fold. This approach allows the material above the first pre-fold 130 to fit under the second pre-fold 140 when the top portion of the bag body 110 is folded twice. Folding the top portion of the bag body 110 twice can promote a mechanical retention of the closure. The mechanical retention can be further promoted by creasing each fold, optionally under application of heat. In some embodiments, an adhesive can be used on the outer back side bag body 110 material above the first pre-fold 130.
In some embodiments, the bag assembly can include a bag body, a first bag handle, and a second bag handle. The bag body can include a first side and a second side. The bag body can have formed therein, a first pre-fold and a second pre-fold. The first pre-fold can be positioned horizontally across the first side of the bag body a first distance from the top of the bag body. The second pre-fold can be positioned horizontally across the first side of the bag body in the direction of the first pre-fold at a second distance from the top of the bag body. The second distance can be greater than twice the first distance by approximately the thickness of the first side plus the thickness of the second side. The bag body also can have an adhesive label attachment area below the second pre-fold.
The first bag handle can be attached to the first side of the bag body across one or more first handle attachment areas. The topmost extent of the first handle attachment areas not extending into an area defined by a bottom border measured from the top of the bag body down the second distance plus an adhesive label attachment area. If using a short adhesive label, the attachment area can come right up to the fold. The second bag handle, similar to the first bag handle, can be attached to the second wide side of the bag body across one or more second handle attachment areas. The topmost extent of the second handle attachment areas not extending into an area defined by a bottom border measure from the top of the bag body down the second distance plus an adhesive label attachment area.
The adhesive label can be sized to cover a horizontal portion of the area of the second side of the bag body between the first pre-fold and the second pre-fold. At least a portion of the adhesive label attachment area can adjoin the first fold when the bag assembly is in a sealed configuration.
In some embodiments, pre-folds are not formed in the bag body, but sufficient material to fold the bag body and to apply an adhesive label across the first fold and the bag body as described herein is provided above the handle attachment areas.
In methods of the technology, items can be loaded into a bag assembly having first and second pre-folds as described herein, the bag body can be folded at the first pre-fold, then folded at the second pre-fold, and then sealed across a portion of (or substantially all of) the exposed bag body between the first pre-fold and the second pre-fold using an adhesive label of the bag assembly.
The example systems, methods, and acts described in the embodiments presented previously are illustrative, and, in alternative embodiments, certain acts can be performed in a different order, in parallel with one another, omitted entirely, and/or combined between different example embodiments, and/or certain additional acts can be performed, without departing from the scope and spirit of various embodiments. Accordingly, such alternative embodiments are included in the technology described herein.
Although specific embodiments have been described above in detail, the description is merely for purposes of illustration. It should be appreciated, therefore, that many aspects described above are not intended as required or essential elements unless explicitly stated otherwise. Modifications of, and equivalent components or acts corresponding to, the disclosed aspects of the example embodiments, in addition to those described above, can be made by a person of ordinary skill in the art, having the benefit of the present disclosure, without departing from the spirit and scope of embodiments defined in the following claims, the scope of which is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass such modifications and equivalent structures.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/805,865, filed Mar. 27, 2013, and titled “Sealable Bag Assembly,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61805865 | Mar 2013 | US |
