EP1252073B1

EP1252073B1 - Bag provided with a draw band and a carrying handle

Info

Publication number: EP1252073B1
Application number: EP00962263A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bs Aps Etradan
Original assignee: Etradan BS ApS
Current assignee: Etradan BS ApS
Priority date: 2000-01-12
Filing date: 2000-09-29
Publication date: 2003-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-29
Also published as: ATE242160T1; EP1252073A1; DE60003241T2; DK1252073T3; WO2001051372A1; AU7405700A; DE60003241D1

Abstract

A bag (1) comprising two sheets defining opposing side pieces (2), said side pieces (2) being interconnected at each side edge (4a, 4b) of the bag (1) and at a bottom (3) thereof. Each of said side pieces (2) is at an upper end further bent downwards and connected to the side piece (2) substantially continuously from one side edge (4a) of the bag to the other, thereby forming two channels (7), one at each side piece (2). At least one draw band (9) is provided in each channel (7), and the bag (1) is further provided with a carrying handle at the upper end (5) of each side piece (2) of the bag (1). Each channel (7) is substantially wider than the width of each draw band (9). Furthermore, each carrying handle is provided through or connected to said channel (7) underneath the draw band (9), and each channel (7) is provided with an opening (8) at one or both sides edges (4a, 4b) of the bag (1), said draw band (9) extending out of said opening (8).

Description

The invention relates to a bag comprising two sheets defining opposing side pieces, said side pieces being interconnected at each side edge of the bag and at a bottom thereof, each of said side pieces at an upper end further being bent downwards and connected to the side piece substantially continuously from one side edge of the bag to the other, thereby forming two channels, one at each side piece; at least one draw band being provided in each channel; each channel being substantially wider than the width of each draw band and being provided with an opening at one or both side edges of the bag, said draw band extending out of said opening; said bag further being provided with a carrying handle at the upper end of each side piece of the bag.

A bag of this type is known from EP-A1-953,511 that discloses a carrier bag comprising a carrying handle in the shape of a seize opening for carrying the bag, e.g. with goods after shopping, and also comprising a draw band for tightening the upper end of the bag, e.g. when the bag is used as a waste bag. Each side of this bag is at the open upper end provided with a channel wherein a draw band is secured at each side edge of the bag, said channel having a central opening through which the draw band can be seized for drawing the side edges of the upper end of the bag together by means of the draw band.

This bag has a number of drawbacks. First, the channel has a central opening which weakens the bag in this area. When the bag is carried by seizing the seize opening by one's hand the force for lifting the bag is applied directly below the central opening for the draw band and there is therefore a risk that the bag may tear at this point. It should be mentioned that this drawback has been partly overcome with by placing the seize opening beneath a welding seam that extends continuously from one side edge of the bag to the other. In combination with the bent-over upper end of each side piece of the bag this welding seam defines the channel for the draw band.

Second, the channel for the draw band is only slightly wider than the width of the draw band. This means that the above-mentioned welding seam is positioned immediately below the draw band and since such a welding seam imparts some rigidity to the bag at this area, the force needed for tightening the bag in this area is increased compared to a bag without such welding seam.

Third, in one embodiment of the above-mentioned bag the bent-over part of the upper end of each side piece is extended downwards and the seize opening is provided in this extended portion of the bent-over part. The bag is provided with a welding seam above and beneath the seize opening. In this embodiment the amount of foil material is substantially increased and an additional welding seam is provided which both adds to the manufacturing costs of the bag.

Another bag that is provided with a drawstring as well as a seize opening for carrying the bag is known from US-A-3,543,999. This bag has a quite different design than the bag described above since it does not have a closed channel that extends from one side edge of the bag to the other. On the contrary, this bag only has a bent-over portion with a central welding seam underneath the drawstring and openings at the side edges from where the ends of the strings extend and are tied together. In this bag openings for the draw band are provided at each side edges of the bag, and therefore the central part of the open upper end of the bag is kept intact and the risk of rupture when the bag is carried is eliminated.

A drawback of this bag is that the seize opening for carrying the bag is provided in an area where, in fact, only one layer of foil of each side piece is applied for carrying the goods in the bag. Therefore the bag is relatively weak and there is a risk that the foil around the seize opening ruptures when the bag is lifted.

The advantage of providing each channel substantially wider than the width of each draw band as mentioned in the opening paragraph is that, firstly, the connection which connects the bent-over upper edge with the side piece and which extends from one side edge of the bag to the other is positioned not immediately underneath the draw band, but at a distance that corresponds at least to the extent of the carrying handle or of the connection between the carrying handle and the channel. This means that the rigidity of the connection, which will inevitably exist, especially if the connection is a welding seam in a bag made of a plastics material, is positioned a certain distance from the draw band and that the tightening of the upper end of the bag therefore is facilitated.

It is an object of the invention to provide a bag of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art bags.

This is achieved by a bag according to claim 1.

Since the carrying handle is connected to the channel underneath the draw band, but above the substantially continuous connection defining the lower edge of the channel, full advantage of the substantially continuous connection is achieved when the bag is carried by means of its carrying handles. Furthermore, the carrying handle will not impart rigidity to the upper end of the bag since the loop-handle is connected to the channel at two separate points.

In a preferred embodiment each loop-handle is welded to the channel at two welding points, and preferably the inner faces of each channel are interconnected at the welding points.

In a preferred embodiment the two channels are provided with an opening at one and the same side edge only while the other end of the draw band is fastened to the other side edge. Thereby the open upper end of the bag can be tightened by seizing the end of each draw band that extends out of the opening in each channel and pulling the draw band with one hand while withholding the bag with the other hand. The ends of the draw bands can be tied together, e.g. by tying the ends in a bow, or simply be wrapped around the top of the bag.

The ends of the draw bands that extend out of the openings can be loose, i.e. not interconnected, or they can be interconnected, possibly in a tearable manner. If the ends of the draw bands are loose or interconnected in a tearable manner it is possible to tie them with an ordinary knot, such as a reef knot. If the upper end of the bag has been fully tightened, the length of each draw band corresponds substantially to the width of the bag. In this embodiment there is sufficient amounts of free draw bands for tying an ordinary knot even if the upper end of the bag has been only partly tightened, e g. for keeping goods in the bag.

If the ends are not separable the double draw band can be wrapped around the top of the bag after it has been tightened or some kind of applicable knot, such as a slippery bend, can be applied.

In a second embodiment the channels are provided with an opening at both side edges of the bag. In this case the draw band extends out from the channels at both side edges of the bag and they can therefore be seized at either end or at both ends for tightening the bag.

The ends of the draw bands that extend out of the openings may be interconnected to form a closed ring so that the bag can be tightened by pulling the draw bands from one side edge of the bag only or from both side edges of the bag. This embodiment further ensures that the draw bands are not accidentally removed from the bag.

In a preferred embodiment the bag and draw bands are made from a plastics material, such as polyethylene (PE), and all connections provided in the bag are made by welding or gluing.

The invention will be described in detail in the following with reference to the drawings in which

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a bag showing some of the features according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the bag shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line II-II;

Fig. 3 shows the upper part of a second embodiment for a bag showing some of the features according to the invention;

Figs 4 and 5 show details that may be provided in a bag according to the invention; and

Fig. 6 shows a bag according to the invention provided with a loop-handle.

In Fig. 1 an embodiment for a bag 1 showing some of the features according to the invention is disclosed. The bag 1 comprises two side pieces 2 and is manufactured from a sheet material which is preferably a plastics material, such as polyethylene (PE). The bag is either manufactured from two sheets positioned on top of each other and welded together at the bottom 3 of the bag 1 and at the side edges 4a,4b of the bag 1, or it is manufactured from one sheet that is bent at the bottom 3 of the bag 1 and welded at the side edges 4a,4b of the bag 1. The bottom 3 may also be gusseted. These are commonly known ways to manufacture a bag.

At the open upper end 5 of the bag 1 each sheet constituting a side piece 2 is bent over, preferably inwardly, and is welded to the side piece 2 at a distance underneath the open upper end 5 of the bag 1. The welding seam 6 extends continuously from one side edge 4a to the other side edge 4b of the bag 1, thereby forming a closed channel 7.

In the shown embodiment an upper corner of the channel 7 of each side piece 2 has been removed, e.g. by cutting, and an opening 8 at the upper end of the side edge 4b is provided. A draw band 9, preferably made of a plastics material such as polyethylene (PE), is positioned inside each channel 7 and extends out of the opening 8. The draw band 9 is fastened at the other side edge 4a, preferably by welding simultaneously with welding of the side edge 4a.

The end of the draw band 9 that extends out of the opening 8 can be loose as shown or it can be connected to a corresponding draw band extending out of a corresponding opening provided in the channel of the other side piece. The connection may be strong such that the draw bands 9 will be drawn jointly only or it may be tearable such that each draw band 9 can be drawn by itself.

Each channel 7 is substantially wider than the width of the draw band 9 inside the channel, and an integrated handle in form of a seize opening 10 that extends through both side pieces 2 aligned with each other is provided in the channels 7 underneath the draw bands 9. The seize opening 10 is provided by cutting or stamping, e.g. by using heat.

Providing the seize opening 10 in the channel 7 has a number of advantages. First, a seize opening 10 provided in the channel takes full advantage of the welding seam 6, since the force imparted on the seize opening 10 when the bag is lifted is distributed across the whole side piece 2. Second, the distance from the draw band to the welding seam 6 corresponds at least to the height of the seize opening 10, which means that the rigidity that the welding seam 6 imparts to the bag has less influence on the force needed for tightening the top of the bag by pulling the draw band 9 than if the welding seam 6 was positioned immediately below the draw band 9.

The bag 1 may be used as an ordinary shopping bag for carrying goods from e.g. a supermarket. The goods are stored in the bag 1 and it is carried by seizing the seize opening 10 by one's hand.

If the goods in the bag 1 are heavy, the bag 1 can advantageously be tightened at its upper end. This is accomplished by seizing the loose end of each draw band 9 that extends out of the opening 8 in the channel 7 and pulling the draw band 9 with one hand while withholding the bag with the other hand. The ends of the draw bands 9 can be tied together or simply wrapped around the top of the bag 1. By tightening the upper end of the bag more sheet material will be positioned above the seize opening 10 and the bag gains even more strength in this area. Thereby the risk of rupture is further reduced.

The upper end of the bag 1 may advantageously also be tightened when a bag 1 with goods is placed in the trunk of a car since this prevents the goods from falling out of the bag 1 even if it tips over when the car is turning. Thereby the goods will not be spread all over the trunk, but will be kept in the bag 1. It is an advantage that the free ends of the draw bands 9 are not interconnected when used for this purposes since this provides two free ends that can be easily tied together even if the bag 1 is not fully tightened. It is also possible to tie more bags 1 together which would prevent the bags 1 from tipping over

The bag 1 can be reused as a shopping bag, but eventually it can be used as a waste bag.

When the bag 1 is full of waste its upper end is tightened by seizing the loose end of each draw band 9 that extends out of the opening 8 in the channel 7 and pulling the draw band 9 with one hand while withholding the bag with the other hand. The ends of the draw bands 9 can be tied together or simply wrapped around the top of the bag 1. The waste bag can then be transferred to a container etc. without any risk of spillage.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the upper end of the bag 1 taken along the line II-II in Fig. 1. It is clearly shown how the upper end of each side piece 2 is bent over and is welded to the side piece 2 by the welding seam 6 that extends substantially from one side edge 4a of the bag to the other 4b. The channel 7 is positioned between the open upper end 5 of the bag 1 end the welding seam 6. The draw band 9 is positioned inside the channel 7 and the seize opening 10 is provided through the channel 7 underneath the draw band 9. The channel 7 is substantially wider or higher than the width or height of the draw band 9 in order to make room for the seize opening 10.

Fig. 3 shows the upper part of a second embodiment of a bag showing some of the features according to the invention. This bag 11 comprises the same elements as the bag 1 shown in Fig. 1 and corresponding elements will be designated with the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1.

The major difference between the bag 1 and the bag 11 is that the bag 11 has an opening 8 at each end of the channel 7 and that the draw band 9 extends out of each end of the channel 7. In this embodiment the ends of the two draw bands 9 are preferably connected, e.g. by welding or gluing, so that a closed ring is formed. This prevents the draw band from being pulled out of the bag 11 which would be a risk if the draw bands 9 were not restrained in any way.

The upper end of the bag 11 can be tightened either by seizing one end of the draw bands 9 and pulling the draw bands 9 with one hand while withholding the bag 11 with the other hand or by seizing both ends of the draw bands 9 and pulling both of them while withholding the bag 11.

Fig. 4 shows a detail that may be applied in any one of the bags 1 or 11. A spot-welding 12 is applied between the side piece 2 end the bent-over part right beneath the draw band 9 and above the seize opening 10. This spot-welding 12 connects the two side faces of the channel 7 at a point and prevents the draw band 9 from falling down into the seize opening 10, but does not in any way influence the functionality of the bag 1,11.

Another detail is shown in Fig. 5 which is especially applicable with the bag 11 shown in Fig. 3. In Fig. 5 a spot welding 13 is applied across the upper end of the channel 7, The spot welding 13 is applied at the area with the draw band 9 and it fastens the draw band 9 to the channel 7 at this point. When this spot welding is applied to the bag 11 shown in Fig. 3, each of the draw bands 9 is restrained from any longitudinal movement and it will maintain its position. Therefore, the ends of the draw bands 9 need not be connected as shown in fig. 3, but could also be loose which makes it easier to tie up the draw bands 9 when the open upper end 5 of the bag 11 is tightened.

Finally, Fig. 6 shows a bag 21 according to the invention provided with two loop-handles 1, each one of them being connected to a respective channel 7 underneath the draw band 9. The loop-handle 14 is preferably made from the same material as the bag 21 itself, and it may be a plastics material, such as polyethylene (PE). The loop-handle 14 may be welded or glued to the channel 7. In the shown embodiment the loop-handle 14 is welded to the channel 7 at welding points 15, and preferably the two inner faces of the channel 7 are also interconnected at these welding points 15 in order to strengthen the bag 21 at these areas. Furthermore, the through-going weldings prevent the draw band 9 from falling down inside the channel 7.

The loop-handles 14 could, of course, be connected to the channel 7 inside the bag 21 in stead of outside as shown.

If the goods in the bag 21 are heavy, the bag 21 can advantageously be tightened at its upper end. This is accomplished by seizing the loose end of each draw band 9 that extends out of the opening 8 in the channel 7 and pulling the draw band 9 with one hand while withholding the bag with the other hand. The ends of the draw bands 9 can simply be tied together or they can be wrapped around the loop-handles 14 before they are tied together in order to gain more strength in the area where the loop-handle is connected to the bag 21.

The invention has been described with reference to bags made of a plastics material, but the invention may also be applied in connection with bags of paper or other foil materials. By foil materials is to be understood all types of thin, flexible materials that are suitable for bags, including different types of biodegradable films made of cellulose or starch. However, bags made of a plastics material have the advantage of being impermeable to liquid which may be critical when the bag is used as a waste bag.

The draw band may also be of any suitable material, such as those mentioned above. However, the use of a plastics material in combination with a bag made of a plastics material has some manufacturing advantages, such as the possibility of welding together the bag and the draw band at certain areas as described above.

It should also be mentioned that the substantially continuous connection from one side of the bag to the other which together with the bent-over part of the side piece 2 defines the channel 7 need not be uninterrupted as shown in the drawings, but may also consist of successive connected sections, e.g. spot-weldings.

The number of draw bands in each channel may also be varied if desired.

Claims

A bag (1;11;21) comprising two sheets defining opposing side pieces (2), said side pieces (2) being interconnected at each side edge (4a,4b) of the bag (1;11;21) and at a bottom (3) thereof, each of said side pieces (2) at an upper end further being bent downwards and connected to the side piece (2) substantially continuously from one side edge (4a) of the bag to the other, thereby forming two channels (7), one at each side piece (2); at least one draw band (9) being provided in each channel (7); each channel (7) being substantially wider than the width of each draw band (9); said bag (1;11;21) further being provided with a carrying handle at the upper end of each side piece (2) of the bag, characterised in that each channel (7) is provided with an opening (8) at one or both side edges (4a,4b) of the bag (1;11;21), whereby said draw band (9) extends out of said opening (8) and in that the carrying handle is a loop-handle (14) connected at each end thereof to the channel (7) underneath the draw band (9).
A bag according to claim 1, characterised in that each loop-handle (14) is welded to the channel (7) at two welding points (15).
A bag according to claim 2, characterised in that the inner faces of each channel (7) are interconnected at the welding points (15).
A bag according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the channels (7) are provided with an opening (8) at one and the same side edge (4b) of the bag (1;21) only; and that the draw band (9) is fastened to the other side edge (4a) of the bag (1,21).
A bag according to claim 4, characterised in that the ends of the draw bands (9) that extend out of the openings (8) are not interconnected.
A bag according to claim 4, characterised in that the ends of the draw bands (9) that extend out of the openings (8) are interconnected.
A bag according to claim 6, characterised in that the ends of the draw bands (9) that extend out of the openings (8) are interconnected in a tearable manner.
A bag according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the channels (7) are provided with an opening (8) at both side edges (4a,4b) of the bag (11).
A bag according to claim 8, characterised in that the ends of the draw bands (9) that extend out of the openings (8) are interconnected to form a closed ring.
A bag according to any one of claims 1-9, characterised in that the bag (1;11;21) and draw bands (9) are made from a plastics material, such as polyethylene (PE).
A bag according to claim 10, characterised in that all connections provided in the bag (1;11;21) are made by welding.
A bag according to claim 10, characterised in that all connections provided in the bag (1;11;21) are made by gluing.