CA1298569C - Beverage bag structure - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION

A gussetted beverage bag structure for human consumption comprised of a porous bag section and a scored bag handle section with the scored bag handle section having a scored area which when hand severed transforms the handle section into a ribbon-like handle for suspending the bag section in a liquid, a heat seal joining the bag section and the scored bag handle section in end-to-end relation, the bag section carrying a dry beverage material, the porous bag and bag handle sections being comprised of materials having varied strengths with the bag handle section being of a material sufficient to carry the load of the porous bag section when the dry beverage material becomes dampened, the scored bag handle section having scores oriented relative to one another to permit the scores to be fractured and to transform the material of the handle section into a relatively long handle enabling the bag section to be dunked into a cup of fluid so that the beverage material can flavor the fluid.

Description

5~i~
BACKG}~OUND ~F TH~ INVENTION

] The present invention relates generally to a beverage bag structure having a plurality of bag sections with one Gf the bag sections carrying a dry beverage material and with the other bag section having scored areas which can be easily severed by human hands to provide a handle struc~ure for dipping the ~ag structure into hot fluid. In the past, various types of tea bags and beverage bags have been used as exemplified by expired U.S. Patent No. 2,413,686. This patent discloses a tea bag construction having a handle structure formed lntegral with heat sealed areas of the tea bag structure and where the material comprising thehandle s~ructure is oE the same material and struc$ural strength as the materiallQ that encases the tea. The patentee states that he employs a sheet material of foraminous construction as for example, filter paper, perEormated parchment paper or Cellophane, cotton gauze and the like. Also, the patentee further states that a filter paper base layer is coated on one side with the thermal setting "partially fused" plastic lamina or other suitable filter sheet base layer coated with a thermal setting plastic lamina for forrning the heat seal border joint seams or flanges. More specifically, the patentee contemplates using a 6Y2 pound fiberous pulp stock sheet of approximately .001" thick of high wet tensile strength to provide a filter paper layer and with this layer having a finely powdered copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate uniformly sprinkled or sprayed, "partially fused" by heat to 60 C and 2Q pressure rolled thereon for providing a satisfactory, pervious, dry and extremely thin coating of lamina which does not materially affect the Eiltering capacity of the layer.
Other less pertinent ll.S~ patents known to me generally concerning beverage bags are listed, as follows:
Inventor Patent ~o. Patent Title L.L. Salfisberg 2,298,240 ~larked and Scored Package L. Barnett 2,359,292 Infusion Package with handles M. Weisrnan 2,377,118 Package C.A. Trotman 2,614,934 Tea Packaging System 8~

Inventor Patent No. Patent Title R.W. Vergobbi 2,794,744 Infusion Bag V.C. Wardell 2,838,400 Tea 13ag K.R. Johnson 2,~52,389 Infusion Package J.P. Whelan 2,869,718 Infusion Bag As indicated, various disadvantages have been found to exist with previous types of tea bag constructions such as the one disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,4139686 and from other known constructions of which workers in this art are aware.
Elased on my recent studies I have found a number of ways to improve the above-discussed beverage or tea bags with sturdier handle assemblies since materials commonly used for tea bags have been found to be rather "weak" for use as the same material for the handle section of the beverage bag structure.

~g~ 3 72568--10 SUMMARY Oi~ THE IN~ENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved beverage bag construction filled with a beverage brewing material such as tea, coffee and the like where the beverage bag structures can be economically manufactured at economical costs on a high production basis with automatic high speed packaging machines~
Still other objects of this invention are to provide a new and improved beverage bag structure for high speed manufacture and for use in a microwave oven comprised of a porous bag section and a scored bag handle section, the scores being breakable to form a bag handle with an lntegral enlarged tab at an outer end, the bag section carrying a dry beverage material, the porous bag and scored bag handle sections being comprised of lapped heat sealable sheets of different materials in heat sealed assembly together and where the sheets of the sections have varied strengths with the bag handle section being of a scored synthetic plastic sheet material sufficient to carry the load of the porous bag section when the dry beverage synthetic plastic sheet material becomes darnpened, the bag section being comprised of sheets of heat sealable coated porous tea bag paper, the scores being oriented on the handle section so that tlle scores can be broken to form the bag handle with the integral enlarged tab at the outer end of the handle formed exclusively from the synthetic plastic sheet material of the handle section.
Still further features of my invention concern a beverage bag structure comprised of a porous bag section and a scored bag handle section, the bag section carrying a ciry beverage rnaterial and having a series of gussets to facilitate the dispersion of the beverage into the water when immersed, the porous bag and ba8 handle sections being comprised of different types of heat sealable sheet materials having varied strengths with ~he bag handle section being of a material sufficient to carry the load of the porous bag section when the dry beverage material becornes dampened.
According to important features of my invention, I have found that excellent results can be obtained where a gussetted beverage bag structure for human consumption is comprised of a porous bag section and a scored bag handle section having spaced rows of scores whic h when hand severed from connected 72568~10 handle segments are joined in end-to-end relation for suspending the bag section in a liquid, ~he bag section carrying a dry beverage material, the porous bag and bag handle sections being comprised of different types of heat sealable materials having varied strengths with the bag handle section being of a material sufficient to carry the load of the porous bag section when the dry beverage material becomes dampened.
- Other important objects of this invention can be attained by manufacturing the bag section of a spun bonded olefin which is comprised of bonded high densi ty polyethylene fibers of high wet strength.
Yet other features of my invention concern the concept of manufacturing and providing the handle section comprised of a class of materials includ;ng sheet nylon or Mylar with a heat seal coating applied thereto and having a thickness in the range of two to three mils.
Yet other and still Eurther objects of my invention concern a new and improved beverage bag structure having a bag handle section provided with a spirally shaped continuous scored area which when hand brol<en operates to provide an elongated handle for dipping the bag structure into a body of fluid.
Futher features of rny invention concern a gussetted beverage bag structure for human consumption comprisecl of a porous bag section and a scored bag handle section wi th the scored bag handle section having a scored area which when hand severed transforms the handle section into a ribbon~like handle for suspending the bag section in a liquid, a heat seal joining said bag section and said scored bag handle section in end-to-end relation~ the bag section carrying a dry beverage material, the porous bag and bag handle sections being comprised of different heat sealable sheet materials having varied strengths with the bag handle section being of a material sufficient to carry the load of the porous bag section when the dry beverage material becomes dampened, the scored bag handle section having scores oriented relative to one another to permit the scores to be fractured and to transform the material of the handle section into a relatively long handle comprised only of the material of the bag handle section enabling the bag section to be dunlced into a cup of fluid so that the beverage material can flavor the fluid.

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DESCRIPTION O~ T~IE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of my beverage bag structure;
Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of -the beverage bag structure of Figure l showing the handle structure in its broken away position ready for use;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a beverage cup having hot wa~er and with the beverage bag structure of Figure 2 immersed in the water as used;
Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view o:E my beverage bag structure as seen in Figure l only highlighting other features of my invention;
Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5-5 looking in the direction lndicated by the arrows as seen in Figure 49 Figure 6 is an enlarged fragrnentary vertical section as seen on the line 6-6 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows as seen in Figure 4;
~`igure 7 is an enlarged vertical section similar to Figure 5 only showing a modified construction for heat sealing the bag and handle sections in assemblytogether; and Figures S-13 inclusive, are all side elevations of different embodiments of beverage bag structures with each embodiment having a different type of a handle structure.

5~i''3 DESClE2IPTION OF T~lE P~3~FERR~D EMBODIME~TS

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a beverage bag structure. The structure 10 is adapted to be used with a beverage cup 11 and immersed in the hot beverage water 12 therein so that the water bag can be flavored. The beverage bag structure can contain any desired rnaterial including coffee or tea. The beverage bag structure 10 includes a porous bag section 13 and a bag handle section 14 (Figure 1).
The bag handle section has a scored area 15. The porous bag section 13 and the bag handle sec~ion 14 are comprised of different types of materials as further described hereafter, and a heat seal 16 is used to secure the sections 13 and 14 in bondedassembly together.
The bag handle section 14 and its scored area 15 has a series of score lines 17, 1~ and 19 which are generally of a type that is well-known in the art. The score lines 17 and 18 can be comprised of identations or perforations. The score line 17 are vertically spaced and are all parallel to the seal lG. The score line 18 extendsvertically at one side of the lines 17 and the score line 19 is parallel to the score lines 17 but horizontally spaced from one end of the lower most score line 17 leaving a space 20 between handle tab or tag 21. 1hus, when the score lines are severed a series of linked handle portions 22 (Figure 2) are generated with endmost handle portion 23 linking the other handle portions 22 to the structure 10 (Figure 2) to form a bag handle H. In all forrns of my invention, the bag handle H are forrned from the material of the handle section at the scored area thereof.
According to the preferred embodi~ent shown in Figure 1 illustrating my tapered beverage bag or tea or coffee bag, a piece of plastic is provided at one end of the bag and the plastic has scored or slit areas which enable the handle to be formed when the scored or slit areas are severed so that the bag can be dipped into and out of a beverage cup. The advantage of using the plastic strip is to provide a stronger so-called handle so that when the weight of the bag is increased because of the water content that is added to the bag after it has been suspended in fluid, the handle will remain in tact. One concern has been that with the fragile material that is used for making tea ` bags, ~hat the handle may fracture particularly if the bag is designed for coffee rather than tea since the weight of the bag and the si~e of the bag would then be greater.
The material used to be attached to the tea bag material to form the "string" and "tag" is preferably any sheet material which would have sufficent wet s~

strengtll. A preferred In~terial at the present thne is a Dup-nt lnaterial called "Tyvek." Tyvek is a spunbondecl olefin whicll is rna(le froln high densi ~y polyetllylenc [ibers whicll are bonded togethel- to Eorl-n a "paper-like" shect of unusually higl) stren~th. 1t is Inacle in various thiclcllesses. We are currelltly using 5~2 mil thickness as it seems to have adequa-te strength for our purposes and itappears a satis:Eactory range o.E thickness would be Erom 4 to 7 rnils. It also has the advantage that it rnay be heil-t sealecl to the tea bag Inaterial in our package forlning machine.
Qther materials such as sheet nylon or ~lylar with a heat seal coating appJied couJd also be used. These materials in the range of two or -three rnil thicl<ness would have suLficient slrength for our use.
"Mylar" is a trade-markof Dupont. "Mylar" is actually a polyester fil~n whlcll is produced .Erom the reaction of polyethylene witll tereph-tllalic a(~id.
1~1ylon is actually a polyrn;de filrn. Eitller Nylon or Mylar with a heat seal coating or laminated to another filln could be used lor the bag handle section or header portion of the package. These n~ateriais in gauges as low as one mil thickness can be used. A two or three mil rnaterial is preferred for additior1alstrength, however.
Tlle rnaterial :Eor the ccffee bag or porous bag section itself is what we normally call tea bag paper. Tllis material is normally available in one to :Eour rn;l thickl)ess. Accolding to tracle inforlnation, this u1atelial is idel)tiEied, as "Eil)rou.
pulp stock with a copolymer heclt seal coating," or "filter paper with a heat seal coating," or "a thin porous filter paper ernbodying a thermoplastic matel ial on at least one surface," or "wet-laid non-woven packaging rnaterial," and "vegetable Eibrous pulp s-tock."
/~.ccordin~ to rny invention, it is Iny plesent belief that while paper tea bags are currently being used that the bags can be rnade froln plastic :Eibers rather than paper. Some filter sheets are currently being made froln plastic fiber and, i~
they becolne cheap enough, could be used as cof:Eee or tea bag material. If these new plastic ~ilter sheets were stronger thcln the current paper tea bags, they migll-t actually be stronger than would be needed for the handle portlon of the bag. I-t is also importallt tl)at all l-naterials used in the bevera~e bag structure be non-toxic, insoluable in hot boiling water, and irnpart no odor or taste cven to the slightest degree to the beverage.
, ~ *Trade-mark ~2~

The beverage bag 10 is ~f a gussetted construction having gussetts formed at a lower end of the bag section as indicated at 24,24. By providing the beverage bag 10 with gussetts, the dispersion of the contents such as coffee or tea 25 of the beverage bag, when dipped in hot water, can be facilitated as is known in this part.
Figures 4 and 5 show the details of the gussetted beverage bag construction .
The bag sections 13 and 14 are joined together by 16 heat seal as previously described. The details of this construction are further shown in Figure 5 and with the modi-fied construction shown in Figure 7. In Figure 5, it will be observed that the porous bag section 13 has an extended sealed area where the dry beverage material 25 is sealed into the porous bag section 13. The upper and lower seals 16a and 16b co-act with the side seals and the lower seals of the bag section to completely incapsulate the dry beverage material 25 so that it cannot be accidently released from the porous bag section. Now in order to secure the porous bag section 13 with the bag handle section 14, the porous bag section has a pair of Eree legs or strips 26 which extend above the lower seal area 16b. The lower edge of the bag handle section is positioned between the strips 26 in a "sandwich" like construction and a heat seal is forrned there through whereby the porous bag section is physically bonded to the bag handle section in assembled relation to form the beverage bag structure 10.
In Figure 7, the construction is varied so that the lower eclge of bag handle section 14 is located on one side of upper strips 26' of porous bag section 13' and heat seal 27 is formed through them to finally attach ~he porous bag section is assembly with the bag handle section. In this construction, the heat seal shown at 16b in Figure 5 can be eliminated.
Machine-made packages of the type shown in Figure 2 desirably have the following characteristics:
1. The 7" wide web of filter paper roll stock can be folded in half and z wide gussett formed at the Eold. The vertical seals are Y4" and the top seal 3/~"
wide.

2. In the top seal a "Z" shaped perforation is r~ade back and forth across the package.

3. A 5/8" x 15/16" tag is attached to the top and leadh~g edge of the "Z" shaped perf oration.
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In order to use the package the customer pulls on the tag and the perforation when brol<en allows the top seal to unfold, allowing the package to be lowered in~o a cup while holding onto the tag.
Our interest in using the beverage hag structure having a scored area for producing a "Z" string is as follows:
1. Using the pouch stock -for the tag is less expensive.
2. We judge that packaging speeds Eor manufacture of beverage bags will be higher and greater efficiency attained using the "Z" string construction.
3. Collation of the "Z" string pouches after they are discharged out of the machine will be easier because the "Z" string is intrinsic to the package.

4. The "Z" string appears more sanitary to the user because it is part of the pouch itself .
OTH~R MC~DIFICATIONS
As indicated previously, Figures 8-13 inclusive, show a series of modi:Eied beverage bag structures where the porous bag sections are all essentially identical but the bag handle sections are of a modified construction in each instance. The bag structures are all preferably provided with gussets.
The reference numeral 30 indicates another embodiment of my beverage bag structure as shown in Figure 8. The beverage bag structure 30 includes beverage bag and handle sections 31 and 32 joined at 33 by a heat seal in either of the ways illustrated in Figure 5 and 7. The handle section 32 has a scored area 34 that is comprised of a pair oE L-shaped score lines 35,35 and a third score line 36 positioned in horizontal, parallel adjacency but vertically spaced from the seal 33. The L-shaped score lines 35,35~also have lon~ legs 35a,35a positioned in vertically spaced parallel relation to the sc~re line 36 as well as upright score lines or legs 35bJ35b. The score lines at the scored area 34 are oriented so as when they are severed an enlarged tab 37 will be at an outer most end of the handle that can be broken away from the bag section 31 much in the same way as is illustrated in Figure 2 only with the handle having its handle portions oriented in a sligh~ly different manner. The enlarged tab is located at an upper right hand corner of the handle section 32. It will thus be seen that the ba8 structure in Figure 8 has a series of spaced rows of scores or score lines~ Some of these rows of score lines are vertically extending and transversely spaced while others of the score lines are disposed in vertically spaced ~ 10 -~z9~1S~i~

rows which are alternatively oriented so that the ends of the rows terminate on opposite sicles o~ the bag handle section. Further, the segment at one end oE the connected handle segments is joined integrally with the porous bag section after the other scores or score lines in the spaced rows have been broken to facilitate dangling of S the bag section is body of ~luid or water.
Figure 9 shows still another beverage bag structure 40 which includes a beverage bag section 41 and a handle section 42. These sections are joined by a heat seal 43 in the same manner as previously described. The handle section 42 has a scored area 44 which is divided by a series of vertically extending parallel score lines 45 and 46 with score lines 45 and 46 co-acting in such a way that when the score lines are broken, an enlarged finger ~ab on handle portion 47 will be produced at an outer end of the handle which handle portion 47 is disposed at one side of the sections 41 and 42. The scored area 42 also has a score line 48 (positioned at right angles to score lines 45 and 46) which serves to sever the scored area defined by the scored lines 45 and 46 from the handle section 42 at a point slightly above the heat seal 43. When the handle score lines are broken, a connecting handle portion 50 is left adjoining the handle at one end to the beverage bag structure 40 as seen in Figure 9. It will be further observed that the score lines are oriented in such a way that the score lines 45 all terminate at their juncture with the score line 48. The score lines 46 all terminate at an outer upper edge of the handle structure 42. It is in this way that the score lines can be broken to produce a handle H which has a series of linked connecting handle portions and which has an appearance somewhat analogous to Figure 2 when the component parts of the scoredarea 44 are broken away.
Also shown in Figure lO is another type OI a beverage bag section 50 including a bag section 51 and a handle section 52 joined by heat seal at 53. The handle section 52 has a scored area 54. A series of horizontally extending score lines 55 are provided on ~he handle section and three upright score lines 56,56,56 are provided on opposite sides of score lines 55. When the score lines are broken, the handle section will produce a finger tab 57 at an outer end of the handle as is generally shown in Figure 2.

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Shown in Figure 11 is still another modified beverage bag construction 60 including beverage bag sections 61 and handle sections 62. These sections are joined at 63 by a heat seal. The handle section 62 has a spirally shaped continuous scored area 64 which when hand broken operates to provide an elongated handle for dipping the bag structure into a body of fluid. The scored area is so configurated that a relatively large centrally located tab portion 65 is provided. This tab portion 65 provides the end of the handle so that the user can grip the tab portion 65 and allow the bag to be dangled in a cup of coffee or tea as desired by a user after the score lines have been broken. In this form of my invention, the scoredarea 64 has a width that is substantially co-extensive with the width of the package as contrasted to the corresponding handle section shown in Figure 12 as will now be further described.
A bag structure 70 is shown in Figure 12 and it includes a bag section 71 and a handle section 72 which are bonded together by a heat seal 73 as previously described. The handle section 72 has a scored area and the scored area enables ahandle to be formed having a tab 75 at the end of ~he handle when the score lines are broken. This modi~ication is quite similar to the beverage bag structure of Figure 11 as indicated at 60 except that the width o the handle section 72 is less than the width of -the bag section 71. The handle structure provided on a bag ofthis type will be shorter in length than the one illustrated in Figure 11.
Shown in Figure 13 is still another modification of my beverage bag structure as indicated at 80~ Here again the beverage bag 81 which may contain any sui~able dehydrated material such as tea, cof Eee and the like is shown. Thebeverage bag structure also has a handle section 82 that is joined by heat seal 83 to the beverage bag section 81 as previously described. The handle section 82 has ascored area 84 which scored area includes horizontal score lines 85 which are all horizontally parallel with each other and with the seal 83. Also provided are horizontally spaced vertically extending score lines 86-86 86 which are at rightangles to the score lines 85 and to the seal 83. These score lines are all so associated and positioned relative to one another so that when the score lines are broken an enlarged handle portion 87 will be provided at the end of the handle that s~

will be formed therefrorn. Here again, the handle portion 87 is located centralJy on the handle section 82 and not at a corner such as is shown in Figures 9 and 10.
Thus, it will be observed that the handle portion for the handle can be formed from different areas of the handle section such as from the central area of the handle section or from corner areas or from side areas depending upon the location of the score lines.
It is thus seen, therefore, that there is provided an improved article in which the objects of the invention are achieved and which are well adapted tG meet all conditions of practical use.
As various possible embodiments may be made in the above invention for use for di~ferent purposes and as various changes might be made in the embodiments and method above set forth, it is understood that all of the above matters here set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims (33)

1. A beverage bag structure for high speed manufacture and for use in a microwave oven comprised of a porous bag section and a scored bag handle section, the scores being breakable to form a bag handle with an integral enlarged tab at an outer end? the bag section carrying a dry beverage material, the porous bag and scored bag handle sections being comprised of lapped heat sealable sheets of different materials in heat sealed assembly together and where the sheets of the sections have varied strengths with the bag handle section being of a scored synthetic plastic sheet material sufficient to carry the load of the porous bag section when the dry beverage synthetic plastic sheet material becomes dampened, the bag section being comprised of sheets of heat sealable coated porous tea bag paper, the scores being oriented on the handle section so that the scores can be broken to form the bag handle with the integral enlarged tab at the outer end of the handle formed exclusively from the synthetic plastic sheet material of the handle section.

2. The bag structure of claim 1 further characterized by the handle section being comprised of a spun bonded olefin which is comprised of bonded high density polyethylene fibers of high wet strength.

3. The bag structure of claim 1 further characterized by the handled section being comprised of a spun bonded olefin which is comprised of bonded high density polyethylene fibers of high wet strength and having 5? mil thickness.

4. The bag structure of claim 1 further characterized by the porous bag and bag handle sections being joined by a transversely extending heat seal.

5. The bag structure of claim 1 further characterized by the handle section being comprised of a member selected from the group consisting of sheet nylon or Mylar with a heat seal coating applied thereto and having a thickness in the range of two to three mils.

6. The bag structure of claim 1 further characterized by the scored bag handle section having a zig-zag shaped scored area oriented relative to one another to permit the scored area to be hand fractured producing a connected series of zig-zag arranged handle portions with an end most portion comprising said enlarged tab being integrally connected to the handle section for suspending the porous bag section in a container of liquid.

7. The bag structure of claim 1 further characterized by the bag handle section having a spirally shaped continuous scored area which when hand broken operates to provide said elongated handle for dipping the bag structure into a body of fluid.

8. The bag structure of claim 7 further characterized by the bag handle section having a width corresponding to the width of the bag section.

9. The bag structure of claim 7 further characterized by the bag handle section having a width substantially smaller than the width of the bag section.

10. A beverage bag structure comprised of a porous bag section and a scored bag handle section, the bag section carrying a dry beverage material and having a series of gussets to facilitate the dispersion of the beverage into the water when immersed, the porous bag and bag handle sections being comprised of different types of heat sealable sheet materials having varied strengths with the bag handle section being of a material sufficient to carry the load of the porous bag section when the dry beverage material becomes dampened.

11. The bag structure of claim 10 further characterized by the scored bag handle section having perforations oriented relative to one another to permit the perforations to be fractured producing a connected series of handle portions with an end most section being integrally connected to the porous bag section for suspending the porous bag section in a container of liquid.

12. A gussetted beverage bag structure comprised of a porous bag section and a scored bag handle section with the scored bag handle section having spaced rows of scores which when hand severed from connected handle segments are joined in end-to-end relation for suspending the bag section in a liquid, the bag section carrying a dry beverage material, the porous bag and bag handle sections being comprised of different types of heat sealable materials having varied strengths with the bag handle section being of a material sufficient to carry the load of the porous bag section when the dry beverage material becomes dampened.

13. The bag structure of claim 12 further characterized by the connected bag handle segments having an end most segment provided with an enlarged tab serving as a handle at an outer end of the segments to facilitate dangling of the bag section in a body of fluid.

14. The bag structure of claim 12 further characterized by certain of the spaced rows of scores being alternatively oriented so that the ends of rows terminate alternatively on opposite sides of the bag handle section, other of the scores being disposed in vertically spaced rows and with the segment at one end being joined integrally with the porous bag section after the other scores in the spaced rows have been broken to facilitate dangling of bag section in a body of fluid.

15. The bag structure of claim 12 further characterized by the juncture of the joined or connected segment being centrally located relative to the handle bag section enabling the bag section to be supported at a medial location.

16. The bag structure of claim 12 further characterized by the handle section being comprised of a spun bonded olefin which is comprised of bonded high density polyethylene fibers of high wet strength.

17. The bag structure of claim 12 further characterized by the handle section being comprised of a spun bonded olefin which is comprised of bonded high density polyethylene fibers of high wet strength and having 5? mil thickness.

18. The bag structure of claim 12 further characterized by the handle section being comprised of a member selected from the group consisting of sheet nylon or Mylar with a heat seal coating applied thereto and having a thickness in the range of two to three mils.

19. A gussetted beverage bag structure for human consumption comprised of a porous bag section and a scored bag handle section with the scored bag handle section having a scored area which when hand severed transforms the handle section into a ribbon-like handle for suspending the bag section in a liquid, a heat seal joining said bag section and said scored bag handle section in end-to-end relation, the bag section carrying a dry beverage material, the porous bag and bag handle sections being comprised of different heat sealable sheet materials having varied strengths with the bag handle section being of a material sufficient to carry the load of the porous bag section when the dry beverage material becomes dampened, the scored bag handle section having scores oriented relative to one another to permit the scores to be fractured and to transform the material of the handle section into a relatively long handle comprised only of the material of the bag handle section enabling the bag section to be dunked into a cup of fluid so that the beverage material can flavor the fluid.

20. The bag structure of claim 19 further characterized by the handle section being comprised of a spun bonded olefin which is comprised of bonded high density polyethylene fibers of high wet strength.

21. The bag structure of claim 19 further characterized by the handle section being comprised of a spun bonded olefin which is comprised of bonded high density polyethylene fibers of high wet strength and having 5? mil thickness.

22. The bag structure of claim 19 further characterized by the scored bag handle section having a zig-zag shaped scored area oriented relative to one another to permit the scored area to be hand fractured producing a connected series of zig-zag arranged handle portions with an end most portion comprising an enlarged tab being integrally connected to the bag handle section for suspending the porous bag section in a container of liquid.

23. The bag structure of claim 22 further characterized by the zig-zag connected series of handle portions having an enlarged finger gripping tab portion at its outermost free end, the porous bag section being comprised of heat sealable tea bag paper.

24. The bag structure of claim 19 further characterized by the bag handle section having a spirally shaped continuous scored area which when hand broken operates to provide an elongated handle for dipping the bag structure into a body of fluid.

25. The bag structure of claim 24 further characterized by a finger tab being located generally at a center of the handle section before the score area is hand broken and after being broken in position at an outer end of the elongated handle.

26. The bag structure of claim 19 further characterized by the handle section being comprised of a spun bonded olefin which is comprised of bonded high density polyethylene fibers of high wet strength and having 5? mil thickness.

27. The bag structure of claim 19 further characterized by the handle section being comprised of a spun bonded olefin which is comprised of bonded high density polyethylene fibers of high wet strength and having 5? mil thickness, the bag section having a pair of side-by-side ends heat sealed to a lower end of the handle section.

28. The bag structure of claim 19 further characterized by the handle section being comprised of a spun bonded olefin which is comprised of bonded high density polyethylene fibers of high wet strength and having 4 to 7 mil thickness the bag section having a pair of free ends spaced from one another and an end of the handle section positioned in sandwich-like relation between the free ends in heat sealed assembly.

29. The bag structure of claim 19 further characterized by the handle section being comprised of a spun bonded olefin which is comprised of bonded high density polyethylene fibers of high wet strength and having 4 to 7 mil thickness, the bag section having a pair of free ends spaced from one another and an end of the handle section positioned in sandwich-like relation between the free ends in heat sealed assembly, the bag section having a heat sealed area immediately beneath the free ends closing a top of the bag section sealing its contents therein.

30. The bag structure of claim 19 further characterized by the handle section being comprised of a spun bonded olefin which is comprised of bonded high density polyethylene fibers of high wet strength and having 4 to 7 mil thickness, the scored area being comprised of a row of transversely spaced vertically extending scores, the handle section having vertically opposite horizontal edges and with the scores alternatively extending to the vertically opposite horizontal edges.

31. The bag structure of claim 19 further characterized by the scored area of the handle section having a pair of L-shaped score lines having long score legs parallel to the heat seal joining said sections leaving a large tab blank at an upper corner of the handle section, an upper one of the long score legs extending to an outer vertical edge of the handle section.

32. The bag structure of claim 19 further characterized by the scored area of the handle section comprising a pair of L-shaped score lines positioned in parallel spaced relation and a right angularly arranged pair of score lines with one of them connected to one end of a long leg of one L-shaped score line and a relatively large tab blank located centrally of the handle section above the part of L-shaped score lines.

33. The bag structure of claim 30 further characterized by the handle section having a finger tab extending to one side thereof beyond an outer vertical edge of the bag section.