Patent Application
20240217705
The present disclosure generally relates to disposable plastic bags, and more particularly to bags that have multiple compartments.
It is common to provide plastic bags used for containing items that come in the form of a roll of bags. The bags are all joined together with each other in the roll. Perforations are provided to allow each individual bag to be separated from the roll for use in containing the items. One common example is the provision of a roll of bags in a supermarket for containing produce that is individually picked by the customer from a bin or other storage area.
In one aspect of the present invention, a web of separable bags generally comprises a first sheet member of polymeric material having opposite first and second longitudinal edges and first and second longitudinal edge margins, and a second sheet member of polymeric material generally underlying the first sheet member. The second sheet member includes opposite first and second longitudinal edges and first and second longitudinal edge margins. First lines of weakness extending transversely of the web at locations spaced apart from each other along the length of the web are constructed to promote tearing of the first and second sheet members along the first line of weakness for separating a bag assembly from the web. Each bag assembly is defined between an adjacent pair of first lines of weakness. Second lines of weakness are each located within a respective bag assembly and constructed to promote tearing of the first and second sheet members along the second line of weakness for separating the bag assembly into a first bag and a second bag. The first bag has a first opening along the first longitudinal edge of the first sheet member, and the second bag having a second opening along the second longitudinal edge of the first sheet member. The first and second openings are constructed to receive material through the opening into the respective bag. The first longitudinal edge margin of at least one of the first and second sheet members are movable into engagement with the other of the first and second sheet members for closing the opening associated with the first bag, and the second longitudinal edge margin of at least one of the first and second sheet members are movable into engagement with the other of the first and second sheet members for closing the opening associated with the second bag.
In another aspect of the present invention, a web of multi-compartment bags generally comprises a first sheet member of polymeric material having opposite first and second longitudinal edges, the first sheet member further including opposite first and second longitudinal edge margins, and a second sheet member of polymeric material generally underlying the first sheet member. The second sheet member has opposite first and second longitudinal edges extending along a length of the web. The second sheet member further includes opposite first and second longitudinal edge margins adjacent respective ones of the first and second longitudinal edges thereof. First seal lines joining the first and second sheet members to each other extend transversely of the web at locations spaced apart from each other along the length of the web. The first seal lines are constructed to promote tearing of the first and second sheet members along the first seal line for separating a bag assembly from the web while maintaining a connection of the first and second sheet members in the bag assembly and in an adjacent bag assembly that remains connected to the web. Each bag assembly is defined between an adjacent pair of first seal lines. Second seal lines are each located within a respective bag assembly and join the first and second sheet members to each other along the second seal line. The second seal line separating the bag assembly into a first compartment and a second compartment. The first compartment has a first opening along the first longitudinal edge of the first sheet member, and the second compartment has a second opening along the second longitudinal edge of the first sheet member. The first and second openings are constructed to receive material through the opening into the respective compartment. A first fastener element is connected to the first sheet member and a second fastener element is connected to the second sheet member generally in alignment with the first fastener element for selective connection and disconnection of the first and second fastener elements with each other. The first and second fastener elements being configured to selectively open and close the first opening of the first compartment. A third fastener element is connected to the first sheet member and a fourth fastener element is connected to the second sheet member generally in alignment with the third fastener element for selective connection and disconnection of the third and fourth fastener elements with each other. The third and fourth fastener elements are configured to selectively open and close the second opening of the second compartment. The first longitudinal edge margin of one of the first and second sheet members is movable into engagement with the other of the first and second sheet member for covering the first opening of the first compartment at a location different from the location of the first and second fasteners, and the second longitudinal edge margin of one of the first and second sheet members is movable into engagement with the other of the first and second sheet member for covering the second opening of the second compartment at a location different from the location of the third and fourth fasteners.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to
First seal lines 24 join the first and second sheet members 14, 16 to each other. The first seal lines 24 extend transversely of the web 10. As shown in the embodiments of the drawings, the first seal lines 24 extend perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal edges 18, 20 of the first and second sheet members 14, 16, and to the web axis WA. The first seal lines 24 are located at spaced apart positions along the length of the web 10 (e.g., along the web axis WA). In the illustrated embodiments, the first seal lines 24 also form first lines of weakness that promote tearing of the first and second sheet members 14, 16 along the first seal lines to separate the bag assembly 12 from the remainder of the web 10, and in particular from the adjacent bag. Thus within the web 10, each bag assembly 12 is defined between an adjacent pair of first seal lines 24 or “first lines of weakness.” The first seal lines are formed so that even after the first seal lines 24 are torn, the first and second sheet members 14, 16 remain joined to each other on opposite sides of the tear. In this way the integrity (e.g., the seal) of the bag assemblies 12 can be maintained after separation from the web 10. The first seal lines 24 that incorporate a line of weakness can be formed in any suitable manner. For example, they may take the form of a wide seal with a cut or line of perforations down the middle of the seal (or at least spaced from either longitudinal edge) so that the seal remains after the perforations are torn. In another example, the first seal lines 24 can be formed by two parallel, spaced apart seal lines. In that case, the cut or perforations would be in the first and second sheet members 14, 16 between the spaced apart lines. It will be appreciated that other ways of forming a line of weakness may be used besides a cut or perforations. The first seal lines 24 extend all the way to the first and second longitudinal edges 18, 20 of the second sheet member 16. Although in the first and second longitudinal edge margins 21, 22, the first and second sheet members 14, 16 do not face each other so are not sealed with each other, the first seal line 24 (including a line of weakness) runs through the first and second longitudinal edge margins so that the bag assembly 12 can be completely separated from the remainder of the web 10.
Second seal lines 26 are each located within the boundary of one of the bag assemblies 12 of the web 10. The second seal lines 26 join the first sheet member 14 and the second sheet member 16 to each other over the full lengths of the second seal lines. As shown, each second seal line 26 begins at an intersection with a respective one of the first seal lines 24. The location of the intersection of the second seal line with the first seal line can be essentially anywhere between the free ends of the flaps 50, 52. The second seal line 26 extends at an angle to the first and second longitudinal edges 18, 20 of the first and second sheet members 14, 16, and at an angle to the web axis WA. The second seal line 26 defines a portion of a boundary between a first bag or compartment 30 of the bag assembly 12 and a second bag or compartment 32 of the bag assembly. Third seal lines 34 are each located within the boundary of one of the bag assemblies 12 of the web 10. The third seal lines 34 join the first sheet member 14 and the second sheet member 16 to each other over the full lengths of the third seal lines. The third seal line 34 begins at an intersection with the first seal line 24 that is opposite the first seal line from which the second seal line 26 begins. The second and third seal lines 26, 34, both lie entirely within a single bag assembly 12. The third seal line 34 also makes an angle with respect to the web axis WA, and ends to an intersection with the second seal line 26. The location of the intersection is positioned toward the web axis WA from the free ends of respective flaps 50, 52 (described hereinafter) of the first sheet member 14. The interior edges of the flaps 50, 52 are illustrated by the broken lines that are located most inwardly toward the web axis in
A fourth seal line 37 has a terminal point at the same intersection of the second and third seal lines 26, 34. Thus, the second, third and fourth seal lines 24, 34, 37 all intersect in the same place. The fourth seal line 37 extends from the intersection to the longitudinal edge 18 of the second sheet member 16. The fourth seal line 37 extends through the fastener elements 40, 42 (described hereinafter) to the longitudinal edge 18 of the second sheet member 16. The fourth seal line 37 (like the first, second and third seal lines 24, 26, 34) takes the form which allows the fourth seal line to be torn along its length while maintaining a sealing connection of the first and second sheet members 14, 16. The third seal line 34 is arranged with respect to the second seal line 26 so that the second and third seal lines form a generally “V” shape. It will be understood that other arrangements are possible. Moreover, additional seal lines could be provided to create additional compartments. The third seal line 34 defines a portion of a boundary between the second compartment 32 of the bag assembly 12 and a third bag or compartment 36 of the bag assembly 12.
The first, second and third compartments 30, 32, 36 of the bag assembly 12 each have a shape which tapers in width toward the sealed bottom of the respective compartment. The first compartment 30 is defined by the first seal line 24, the second seal line 26 and the fourth seal line 37 within the bag assembly 12. The second compartment 32 of the bag assembly 12 is defined by the second seal line 26, the third seal line 34 and portions of the first seals 24 at opposite ends of the bag assembly 12. The third compartment 36 of the bag assembly 12 is defined by the third seal line 34, other first seal line 24 of the bag assembly, and the fourth seal line 37. In the illustrated embodiments, the first, second, third and fourth seal lines 24, 26, 34, 37 remain intact after tearing so that they form a solid barrier of the compartment. Thus, compartments 30, 32 and 36 of the bag assembly 12 can be separated into smaller individual bags when desired. The first compartment 30 further includes a first opening located along the first longitudinal edge 18 of the first sheet member 14. As oriented in
A first fastener element 40 connected to the first sheet member 14 and a second fastener element 42 connected to the second sheet member 16 extend along the web 10 parallel to the web axis WA and are generally aligned with each other as can be seen in
The female and male components of the first and second fastening elements 40, 42 are arranged for selectively opening and closing the first opening of the first compartment 30 and the third opening of the third compartment 36. The female and male components of the third and fourth fastener elements 44, 46 are arranged for selectively opening and closing the second opening of the second compartment 32. In this way, the first, second and third compartments 30, 32, 36 each have a separate opening for inserting items into the compartment and removing items from the compartment. The first and third openings are on an opposite longitudinal side of the web 10 from the second opening. Accordingly, the first, second, third and fourth fastener elements 40, 42, 44, 46 are selected so that they will not open under the weight of items placed in a particular compartment when the opening of that compartment must support the weight of the items. The first seal line 24 (including a line of weakness) extend through the fastener elements 40, 42, 44, 46. Thus, when the bag assembly 12 is torn away from the web 10, a segment of the fastener elements 40, 42, 44, 46 within the perimeter of the bag assembly is separated from the fastener elements remaining on the web. The first seal line 24 also permanently seals the female and male components of the fastener elements 40, 42, 44, 46 to each other where the first seal line crosses the female and male components.
Referring again to
A second adhesive strip 56 is disposed on the upwardly facing surface (as oriented in
In some versions of the embodiments illustrated herein, the first, second and third compartments 30, 32, 36 of the bag assembly 12 can be further separated from each other to become their own independent container or bag. In that event, the second seal line 26 also includes a second line of weakness and the third seal line 34 includes a third line of weakness. The second and third lines of weakness promote tearing along the line of weakness while maintaining a sealing connection of the first and second sheet members 14, 16 on opposite sides of the tear. The configuration of the second and third lines of weakness 26, 34 can be the same as described above for the first seal line 24.
Referring now to
The second seal line 126 and the third seal line 134 can be formed with a line of weakness that is the same over the entire length of the second or third seal line. For example, the seal line can be perforated to create a line of weakness or cut through to form a line of weakness. Even when a cut is used, as described above, the compartments 130, 132, 136 are connected together by the segment of the first seal line 124 that permanently joins the first and second fastener elements 140, 142, and the third and fourth fastener elements 144, 146 together. A fourth seal line 137 includes perforations or another form of a line of weakness that initially retains the connection between portions of the bag assembly 112 forming the first compartment 130 and the third compartment 136. It is noted that the web 110 of
The web 10, 110 formed according to any embodiment disclosed herein can be wound into a roll R as shown in
As various changes could be made in the above products and methods without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the disclosure are achieved and other advantageous results attained.
