EP0720574B1 - Sac souple a ouverture amelioree pour articles comprimes - Google Patents

Sac souple a ouverture amelioree pour articles comprimes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0720574B1
EP0720574B1 EP94928157A EP94928157A EP0720574B1 EP 0720574 B1 EP0720574 B1 EP 0720574B1 EP 94928157 A EP94928157 A EP 94928157A EP 94928157 A EP94928157 A EP 94928157A EP 0720574 B1 EP0720574 B1 EP 0720574B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bag
weakness
line
articles
panels
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP94928157A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0720574A1 (fr
Inventor
Liberatore Antonio Trombetta
Francis Robert Feaver
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Procter and Gamble Co
Original Assignee
Procter and Gamble Co
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Publication of EP0720574A1 publication Critical patent/EP0720574A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0720574B1 publication Critical patent/EP0720574B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/52—Details
    • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/52—Details
    • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
    • B65D75/5827—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion
    • B65D75/5833—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion for tearing out a portion of the wall
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D85/07—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an easy open flexible bag for containing a number of compressible articles such as disposable absorbent bandages, baby diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinent briefs and the like.
  • the present invention has even further relation to such bags which have pull tab on a side panel for initiating the opening of the bag.
  • Relatively soft and flexible compressible articles such as disposable diapers, catamenial pads, incontinent briefs and the like have entered widespread use in many parts of the world over the last 20-30 years.
  • these articles were typically folded at their midpoint, collected in stacks and inserted into paperboard or cardboard cartons or flexible bags while they were subject to little or no compression in a direction substantially parallel to their thickness.
  • the dimensions of the paperboard or cardboard carton or flexible bag are generally determined by the number of discrete articles contained in the stack or stacks placed within the carton or bag.
  • the bag has a continuous line of weakness located at least partially on one of the side panels to define a portion of the side panel which will be partially removed to gain access to the articles.
  • These types of bags typically include a pull tab on the side panel for initiating the opening of the bag. This pull tab usually comprises a cut of a predetermined length, extending through the bag material so that a consumers thumb or finger can be inserted therein for initiating the opening of the bag.
  • WO 93/1629 describes an easy opening flexible plastic bag for highly compressed articles.
  • a gusset is formed at the top of the bag and is joined to the front, rear and side panels.
  • the front, rear and side panels comprise frangible portions that are so positioned to resist high compression forces.
  • the bag also includes v-shaped seals, the apex of which can function as an opening tab in order to initiate the opening of the notch-shaped frangible portion in the side panel.
  • WO 93/1629 comprises the preamble of amended claim 1.
  • a drawback to the above mentioned packages is that the cut which forms the pull tab to initiate opening can at times expose the enclosed articles to an undesirable amount of external contamination to the atmosphere, before opening.
  • External contamination is perceived as being undesirable for sanitary products because they are usually in contact with the body. The contamination is undesirable for both aesthetic and perceived safety reasons. Contamination is perceived by the consumer as being able to introduce bacteria which could be harmful to the user. Moreover, liquid contamination could destroy articles such as absorbent products. Protection of the diapers from external contamination before opening is viewed as an important feature to consumers.
  • an improved side opening top gusset, rectangular flexible bag for containing a stack of compressed flexible articles.
  • the bag has front and back panels, two side panels and top and bottom panels, all of which are connected together to form an internal compartment for containing the stack under compression.
  • the stack is arranged within the bag in such a way that the side panels are under tension.
  • the bag further including two welds one adjacent each juncture between the top and the side panels.
  • the bag further including a continuous line of weakness located at least partially within one of the side panels. The line of weakness defines a portion of the side panel to be at least partially separated from the remainder of the side panel for gaining access to the articles.
  • the bag further includes a pull tab, adjacent to the line of weakness.
  • the pull tab comprises a means for initiating tearing along the substantially continuous line of weakness.
  • the improvement to the bag is that each of the welds joins the top and the respective side panel together along a continuous line so as to create external pockets on the bag.
  • the external pockets have no access to the internal compartment of the bag.
  • the pull tab is located on the pocket adjacent the side panel having the line of weakness so as to reduce exposure of the articles to the atmosphere.
  • Figure 1 is a simplified perspective view of flexible bag in accordance with the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a side view of an unfilled bag in accordance with the present invention.
  • Figure 3A is a simplified perspective view of a the bag of the present invention showing how a consumer would grab the pull tab to open the bag.
  • Figure 3B is a view similar to that of Figure 3A but showing the bag after it has been opened.
  • Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 showing an altemative embodiment of the present invention.
  • the present invention will be described in the context of providing an easy open flexible bag containing one or more stacks of folded disposable absorbent diapers, the present invention is in no way limited to such application. As pointed out earlier herein, the present invention may be practiced to greatest advantage to provide reduced storage, shipping and handling costs in any situation involving flexible articles which are substantially compressible in at least one of their dimensions, such as their thickness. In addition, the present invention can provide automatically assisted dispensing of discrete flexible articles one at a time due to the action of the compressive forces acting upon the flexible articles during a substantial portion of the bag's usable life.
  • the detailed description contained herein which relates to a particularly preferred easy open flexible bag of compressed disposable diapers, will allow one skilled in the art to readily adapt the invention to other uses.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective illustration of a particularly preferred embodiment of a side opening top gusset substantially rectangular flexible bag 10 in accordance with the present invention.
  • Bag 10 contains a number of compressed flexible articles 20 arranged in a stack.
  • Bag 10 comprises opposing front and back panels 40 and 41, opposing side panels 30 and 31, and opposing top and bottom panels 50 and 51. All of the aforementioned panels are connected together to form an internal compartment 19 for containing the stack of compressed flexible articles 20 under compression.
  • the stack of compressed articles are placed in bag 10 in such a way that side panels 30 and 31 are under tension.
  • Flexible bag 10 is a top gusset bag formed by folding a web of film, paper, plastic or other suitable material.
  • the general method for forming top gusset flexible bags from a continuous web of material is well known in the art.
  • the general method for constructing and filling top gusset flexible bags similar to those of the present invention is given in the U.S. patent 5,054,619, SIDE OPENING FLEXIBLE BAG WITH LONGITUDINALLY ORIENTED CARRYING HANDLE SECURED TO SIDE PANELS, issued to Muckenfuhs on October 8, 1991.
  • FIG. 1 a simplified side view of the bag 10 in a folded and flat condition before being filled with articles 20.
  • the bag is folded along its top gusset so that top panel 50 is collapsed and folded inwardly so as to be parallel with front panel 40, and the bag is further folded at about the half way line of side panels 30 and 31 so they are also parallel to front panel 40.
  • bag 10 includes a substantially continuous line of weakness 5 located at least partially within side panel 30. Line of weakness 5 defines a predetermined portion 25 of side panel 30 which will be partially separated from the remaining portion of the side panel so as to gain access to articles 20.
  • Bag 10 preferably includes a handle 80 for easy carrying.
  • Handle 80 preferably extends longitudinally across the top of the bag between side walls 30 and 31.
  • Handle 80 can be made from the same material as the bag or any other suitable material.
  • Handle 80 can be secured to bag 10 by any suitable means known in the art.
  • bag 10 is provided with reinforcing welds adjacent juncture 53 between the top and side panels.
  • Figure 2 shows the reinforcing weld adjacent side panel 30, however, a similar weld is present in a corresponding location adjacent side panel 31.
  • the reinforcing welds join top panel 50 to side panels 30 and 31 along a substantially continuous line 100 so as to create an external pockets 2 and 3, shown in Figure 1.
  • the welds also join the handle 80 to the bag.
  • the weld extends from line 100 to the top of the bag.
  • External pockets 2 and 3 are created from the portions of the side walls and the top wall adjacent to juncture 53 which is above and on the reinforcing welds 1.
  • the external pockets have substantially no access to internal compartment 19.
  • the improvement to the flexible bag 10 in accordance with the present invention resides in the placing of pull tab 7, for initiating the opening of the bag.
  • the present invention contemplates placing pull tab 7 on pocket 2. This substantially reduces the exposure of articles 20 to the atmosphere before opening because pocket 2 has substantially no access to internal compartment 19.
  • Pull tab 7 comprises a means for initiating tearing along the substantially continuous line of weakness 5.
  • pull tab 7 is formed by a cut of a predetermined length extending through the pocket.
  • pull tab 7 allows a consumer to easily insert a thumb or finger within the pull tab and initiate tearing along line of weakness 5, thereby partially removing portion 25 so as to expose articles 20 for use. Because the pull tab is located above the reinforcing weld on pocket 2 and not below the weld, exposure of the articles to the atmosphere prior to opening is substantially reduced.
  • handle 80 is secured to the bag along side panels 30 and 31 along or above the reinforcing welds 1 so as to be located on the interior of pockets 2 and 3.
  • the reinforcing welds strengthen the attachment of the handle to the bag so that the handle can easily carry the weight of the bag.
  • the handle 80 is preferably wider than the pull tab 7 and is secured to the side panel 30 in areas out side of the pull tab 7 so that when the bag is opened the handle remains in place and functional.
  • the shape of the pull tab 7 must be such that it is easily gripped so that a user can exert sufficient force to pull the panel open along line of weakness 5. Preferably it is large enough so that most people are able to insert their finger tip therethrough. Portion 25 which is partially removed from the rest of the bag is preferably large enough to permit easy removal of the articles therein. However, it is preferably small enough to prevent the articles from tumbling out of the bag upon opening. As can best be seen from Figures 3A and 3B, the unrestrained folded edges of the compressed articles 20 begin to project through the aperture spanning the tensioned side panel 30 in a fan-like array when the bag is opened. This is due to a partial release of the compressive forces acting upon the stack of compressed disposable diapers 20 contained within the flexible bag 15. Note, however, that the uppermost end of the material which is partially separated from side wall 30 remains attached to flexible bag 10. Accordingly, the end of carrying handle 80 secured side panel 30 at area 82 remains completely functional if the user desires to carry the bag by its handle after opening.
  • FIG. 4 shows a simplified perspective view of a bag 110 in accordance with the present invention.
  • Bag 110 is similar to bag 10 except for pull tab 107.
  • Pull tab 107 comprises two lines of weakness 171 and 172 which extend up from the beginning of the reinforcing weld to the top edge of the bag. By pulling on pull tab 107, lines of weakness 171 and 172 will tear the bag along those lines and will continue the tear the bag along line of weakness 105, thereby opening the bag.
  • the substantially continuous line of weakness 5 comprises a substantially continuous perforated line.
  • the line 5 should have different land to perforation ratios along different parts of the line.
  • the land to perforation ratio should be fairly low due to the amount of material that needs to be ruptured. If there is a section above the weld line where the handle is not secured to the top and side panels then the land to perforation ratio can increased. Lastly, for portions below the weld line only the side wall is being ruptured so the land to perforation ratio can be increased even more.
  • preferred material for forming the bag is a polymeric film such as low to medium density polyethylene from about 50 to 75 microns thick with a handle formed from the same material.
  • land to perforation ratios are: 2:3 where three layers of material need to be ruptured; 3:3 where two layers need to be ruptured; and 4:3 where only the side panel needs to ruptured.

Claims (9)

  1. Sac souple sensiblement rectangulaire, à ouverture latérale et gousset de dessus (10), pour contenir des articles flexibles comprimés (20) disposés en une pile, ledit sac (10) comprenant des panneaux avant et arrière opposés (40, 41), des panneaux de côté opposés (30,31) et des panneaux de dessus et de fond opposés (50, 51), tous ces panneaux étant reliés entre eux pour former un compartiment interne (19) destiné à contenir ladite pile à l'état comprimé de telle sorte que lesdits panneaux de côté opposés (30, 31), sont maintenus sous tension,
    ledit sac (10) comportant, en outre, au moins deux soudures (1) respectivement adjacentes à chacune des jonctions entre ledit panneau de dessus (50) et lesdits panneaux de côté (30, 31), ledit sac (10) comportant, en outre, une ligne d'affaiblissement sensiblement continue (5) disposée, au moins partiellement, dans l'un desdits panneaux de côté (30, 31) qui délimite une partie prédéterminée (25) dudit panneau de côté (30, 31) destinée à être, au moins partiellement, séparée du reste dudit panneau de côté (30, 31) pour faciliter l'accès auxdits articles (20),
    ledit sac (10) comprenant, en outre, une patte de tirage (7), près de ladite ligne d'affaiblissement (5), ladite patte de tirage (7) comprenant un moyen pour amorcer la déchirure dudit sac (10) le long de ladite ligne d'affaiblissement sensiblement continue (5) de telle sorte que ledit sac (10) peut être ouvert,
       caractérisé en ce que :
       chacune desdites soudures (1) réunit ledit panneau de dessus (50) et ledit panneau de côté respectif (30, 31) le long d'une ligne sensiblement continue (100) afin de créer des poches externes (2, 3) sur ledit sac (10), lesdites poches externes (2, 3) ayant pratiquement aucun accès vers ledit compartiment interne (19), ladite patte de tirage (7) étant disposée sur ladite poche externe (2, 3), près dudit panneau de côté (30, 31) ayant ladite ligne d'affaiblissement (5) sur celui-ci, afin de réduire l'exposition desdits articles (20) à l'air libre.
  2. Sac selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen pour amorcer la déchirure du sac (10), le long de la ligne d'affaiblissement (5), consiste en une découpe de longueur prédéterminée s'étendant à travers la poche (2, 3) contenant le moyen.
  3. Sac selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen pour amorcer la déchirure du sac le long de la ligne d'affaiblissement (5) comprend deux lignes d'affaiblissement supplémentaires sur la poche (2, 3) s'étendant à partir d'un point contigü au point où la soudure (1) commnence à réunir les panneaux de dessus (50) et de côté (30, 31), le long d'une ligne sensiblement continue jusqu'au bord du dessus de la poche (2, 3).
  4. Sac selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le sac (10) comporte, en outre, une poignée (80).
  5. Sac selon la revendication 4, dans lequel la poignée (80) s'étend longitudinalement à travers le panneau de dessus (50).
  6. Sac selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la poignée (80) est fixée le long de l'intérieur des poches (2, 3).
  7. Sac selon la revendication 6, dans lequel la poignée (80) demeure fixée au sac (10) une fois que le sac (10) est ouvert.
  8. Sac selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le sac (10) est formé à partir d'un film polymère.
  9. Sac selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la ligne d'affaiblissement sensiblement continue (5) consiste en une ligne perforée.
EP94928157A 1993-09-23 1994-09-16 Sac souple a ouverture amelioree pour articles comprimes Expired - Lifetime EP0720574B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12595793A 1993-09-23 1993-09-23
US125957 1993-09-23
PCT/US1994/010541 WO1995008491A1 (fr) 1993-09-23 1994-09-16 Sac souple a ouverture amelioree pour articles comprimes

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0720574A1 EP0720574A1 (fr) 1996-07-10
EP0720574B1 true EP0720574B1 (fr) 1998-06-10

Family

ID=22422243

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94928157A Expired - Lifetime EP0720574B1 (fr) 1993-09-23 1994-09-16 Sac souple a ouverture amelioree pour articles comprimes

Country Status (10)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0720574B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP3421043B2 (fr)
KR (1) KR100356760B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE167148T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU7730894A (fr)
CA (1) CA2170975A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69411024T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2117301T3 (fr)
HK (1) HK1012165A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1995008491A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7866473B2 (en) 2004-07-29 2011-01-11 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Flexible package having an easy opening feature

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2431595A1 (fr) 2000-12-26 2002-07-04 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Cartouche et systeme de distribution
US6698928B2 (en) 2001-12-21 2004-03-02 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Flexible packages having reusable pull-tab openers
JP3684215B2 (ja) * 2002-07-09 2005-08-17 大王製紙株式会社 吸収性物品の包装袋
DE602008003973D1 (de) 2008-04-14 2011-01-27 Procter & Gamble Flexible Verpackung mit Öffnungseinrichtung
WO2010062231A1 (fr) * 2008-11-27 2010-06-03 Sca Hygiene Products Ab Sac d'emballage pour articles absorbants
US8490793B2 (en) 2011-06-22 2013-07-23 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Opening feature for packaging having absorbent articles contained therein
US9758286B2 (en) * 2015-10-06 2017-09-12 The Procter & Gamble Company Flexible box bag comprising soluble unit dose detergent pouch

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8815330D0 (en) * 1988-06-28 1988-08-03 Procter & Gamble Opening device for flexible bags filled with compressed flexible articles
US4966286A (en) * 1989-06-26 1990-10-30 The Procter & Gamble Company Easy open flexible bag
US5054619A (en) * 1989-12-15 1991-10-08 The Procter & Gamble Company Side opening flexible bag with longitudinally oriented carrying handle secured to side panels
WO1993016929A1 (fr) * 1992-02-27 1993-09-02 Paramount Packaging Corporation Sac en matiere plastique souple a ouverture facile et son procede de fabrication
CA2084150A1 (fr) * 1992-08-06 1994-02-07 Douglas L. Miller Sac d'emballage souple a embout ouvrant par pression

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7866473B2 (en) 2004-07-29 2011-01-11 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Flexible package having an easy opening feature

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP3421043B2 (ja) 2003-06-30
ES2117301T3 (es) 1998-08-01
KR100356760B1 (ko) 2003-08-21
HK1012165A1 (en) 1999-07-23
CA2170975A1 (fr) 1995-03-30
DE69411024D1 (de) 1998-07-16
ATE167148T1 (de) 1998-06-15
KR960704778A (ko) 1996-10-09
JPH09505543A (ja) 1997-06-03
EP0720574A1 (fr) 1996-07-10
DE69411024T2 (de) 1998-11-19
WO1995008491A1 (fr) 1995-03-30
AU7730894A (en) 1995-04-10

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