GB1575072A

GB1575072A - An assembly of bags

Info

Publication number: GB1575072A
Application number: GB1001977A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-03-09
Filing date: 1977-03-09
Publication date: 1980-09-17

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO AN ASSEMBLY OF BAGS (71) I, RAM6N VILA OMELLA, of Calle Recaredo, 2 Barcelona, Spain, a Spanish citizen do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to an assembly of bags, particularly bags used for wrapping goods.

It is familiar practice to supply bags, particularly of thermoplastic foil, as an assembly in the form of a batch of a specific number of units contained within a similar container bag, which is of greater dimensions, the user of the wrapper-type bags removing them from the outer container when required. Such bags are used for a number of purposes, both commercial and domestic.

This type of packing has a number of drawbacks both from the manufacturing point of view and also from the point of view of the user. Firstly, many problems are experienced in counting the exact number of bags, in juxtaposing the latter to form a uniform batch, and in introducing the latter into the final container bag, and the use of special, costly machinery is needed, particularly if it is borne in mind that this type of article has to be manufactured on a large scale. Further, the user finds' it difficult to keep the batch in an acceptably good condition before it has been completely used up.Firstly, the opening of the container bag usually requires the use of a cutting implement, which may frequently not be available, in spite of this the opening formed may be irregular and inadequate, with the result that it is difficult to remove the bags, and each bag removed may entrain a few more through static attraction. Consequently, it frequently occurs that the whole contents of the con tainer bag is thus forced out in a om- pletely disordered condition, with consequent loss and deterioration of some of the indivdual bags.

According to the present invention there is provided an assembly of bags including a batch of separable pairs of bags, the bags of each pair being connected to each other by a tearable zone and each having a hole adjacent an edge thereof the holes in first bags in each pair being aligned to produce a first opening extending through the batch and the holes of the second bags of each pair being aligned to produce a second opening extending through the batch, the batch being enclosed in a container bag which is provided with at least one perforated line of closed contour for enabling a part or parts of the container bag to be removed to form an opening or openings through which the bags can be removed individually from the container bag, a thin flexible supporting element passing through each of the said openings in the batch and out of one or more holes in the container bag.

Preferably the tearable zone is a perforated line.

Preferably the openings for the supporting element lie close to one of the corners of the bags, but it is also possible to provide the openings at a centred position close to one of the edges of the batch of bags.

Conveniently, the said opening lies at a point in the bag remote from the perforated line formed in the container bag, thereby enabling the individual bags to be removed from the container bag with the use of only one-hand when the assembly is suspended by the supporting element from a support. Preferably, the ba.gs of which the batch is formed are of thermoplastics material and are welded together at the edges of the said openings which enables the unitary form of the batch of bags to be maintained during manufacture of the assembly.

It is apparent that, when each separable pair of bags is torn along a perforated line which divides the pair, whereby each of the bags can be removed, the opening proper of the bag may be precisely along this previously perforated line, the pairs of which the batch is composed being closed on the whole of their contour. However, it is also possible with the thermoplastic bags to provide a weld line adjacent the tearable zone and located between this zone and the inside of the bag; under these circumstances each of the bags can be open at any of the three remaining sides.

The perforated line defining the opening zone of the container (i.e. outer) bag can extend between opposite edges of the container bag and lie close to the end opposite the supporting element. Alternatively, and particularly in instances where the supporting element is located at one of the corners of the batch of bags, the perforated line may intersect adjacent edges of the container bag, preferably the two edges opposite the edges defining the corner at which the supporting element lies, with the result that the opening provided for removal of the wrapper bags is formed at the corresponding corner of the container bag.

The container bag may have two pairs of opposed edges and be closed round the whole of its contour, being formed with an inlet cut parallel to two of the said edges, this inlet cut being located between these two opposed edges in one of the walls of the outer bag, the arrangement being such that the batch of paired bags can be introduced through this inlet cut into the outer bag. The tearable zone lies close to the inlet cut, and the two ends of the container bag are each provided with a perforated line of closed contour by means of which a corresponding part of the container bag can be removed for forming an opening through which the individual bags of the batch can be extracted. Preferably, the supporting element lies near one of the ends of the inlet cut, so that the container bag is, in use, suspended" at one of its corners and folded in the vicinity of the said cut.

Particular embodiments of the invention will now be descrbed by way of example only with reference to the 'accompanying drawings, in which: 'Fig. 1 is an dutside perspective view of an assembly according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is -a similar view to that of Fig. 2, and shows the batch of foil bags on their own, Fig. 4 shows the same batch of bags in their unfolded condition, Fig. 5 illustrates the way in which the container bag illustrated in Fig. 1 is opened;; Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 and illustrates a modification in the form of the opening through which the bags are removed, and Fig. 7 shows the shape of the opening formed in a container bag of this kind, Fig. 8 shows, in the opened condition, an assembly having central suspension means, Fig. 9 is a perspective view, looking at the front face (in the position of usage), of the container bag, in accordance with a modified construction, Fig. 10 is a similar view to that of Fig. 9 and illustrates the way in which a batch of bags can be introduced into the container bag, Fig. 11 shows the assembly of the full outer container, which has been folded and suspended in its position of use, Fig. 12 is a view similar to that of the previous Figure, and illustrates the removal of one of the ends of the container bag for providing an opening through which the contents can be removed, Fig. 13 is a detail showing a cross-section through the upper part of the assembly of Fig. 12, Fig. 14 is a view similar to that of Fig.

11 and shows a modification of the means for forming the opening in the container bag, and Fig. 15 illustrates the formation of the openings, through which the bags can be removed, in the embodiment of Fig. 14.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, it is to be understood that the assembly is constituted by a batch of individual bags generally designated as 1, which is contained in an outer container bag 2, originally closed and provided with opening means which will be described below, and also by a flexible supporting element 3, by means of which the assembly can be suspended from a hook or other fixed support at the point of usage.

The batch 1 is formed from a suitable number, for example 100, of bags which are designated 4 and can for example be obtained from a blown polyethylene tube, which has been folded at its edges 5 and cut and welded at the edges 6, which extend perpendicularly of edges 5. It is possible to form, in the same operation and lengthwise of the tube, a central perforated line 7, which is centred transversely of the bags 4 so as to define two separable bag portions 13, 14. A through opening 8 is formed in the batch of bags on each side of this perforated line 7 and close to one' of the edges 6. These openings 8 are preferably formed by means of heated punches, which ensures that the edges of the openings melt and weld together the separate bags 4.The supporting element 3, which is in the form of a closed loop of cord or the like, can then be passed through these openings preferably after insertion in the container bag as described below.

The above-described batch of bags is folded along the perforated lines 7, as is illustrated in Fig. 3, and is introduced into the protective container bag 2, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. To enable it to be opened, the bag 2 is provided with a perforated line 9, which defines a closed contour extending round the container bag 2 and close to one of its ends, indicated as 10.

At its apex 11, lying opposite the said end 10, the container bag has two holes 12 which are in alignment with the orifices 8 of the folded batch of foil bags, the suspension strap 3 passing through these orifices.

When the above-described assembly is hooked from a fixed support, it can be opened and the bags contained within it removed by one hand of the user. Thus, it is possible, by downwardly pulling one of the lower apices of the container bag, to remove the end 10 thereof, as is illustrated in Fig. 5. This exposes all the edges 5 of the batch 1 of individual bags. It is then possible, by pulling one of the projecting edges 5, to separate one of the individual bag portions 13 on one side of the perforated line 7; the other bag portion 14 on the other side of the perforated line 7 remain suspended by the strap 3 passing through the corresponding opening 8, and the bags can be successively pulled from the strap 3 until the batch of bags is exhausted.

If required, the opening 15, through which the bags in the batch can be removed, can be made smaller so as to enable the remaining bags to be better preserved.

Under these circumstances, the above described perforated line may be replaced by that designated by reference 16 in Fig.

6, this perforated line extending round the apex 17 lying diagonally opposite the apex 11 at which the batch of bags is suspended.

In this embodiment the opening is formed in the same way, that is to say be removing the end or corner 18 of the container bag thereby forming the opening corresponding to the contour of the perforated line.

In accordance with a further modification, illustrated in Fig. 9 a suspension hole 23 can be formed at the central part of the batch of bags illustrated in Fig. 4 with the result that the assembly will be suspended in centred 'manner. With this modification the mode of use of 'the assembly remains unaltered.

Insofar as the embodiment shown in 'Figs." 9 to 15 is concerned, a container bag via is intended to contain a batch 1 of bags which are in separable pairs 4a and 4b (Figure 13), separated by an intermediate perforated line 7, which can easily be severed by pulling the free end of one of the bag portions.

The container bag 2a is of rectangular shape having two pairs of parallel edges 5 and 6, and is completely closed over the whole of its contour. It can be formed, for example, by welding and cutting a tube of polyethylene foil, which has previously been folded along the edges 5, at edges 6.

During this manufacturing process, the tube can be longitudinally split centrally of its width along one of its walls or panels, and can be perforated longitudinally across both walls, at points lying close to the two folded edges 5, with the result that the container bag obtained has a transverse cut 24 on one of its faces and has the two perforated zones 9, situated close to the ends 10 of the container bag.

The batch 1 of bags is introduced through the cut 24, firstly at one end of the container bag and then at the opposite end as is shown in Fig. 10, and the assembly is ,,then folded centrally so that the said cut 24 will lie to the inside of the fold, as is shown in Fig. 13.

At one of the corners of the folded container bag - these corners comprising the fold zone - are two through openings 8, which pass through the batch of bags and the container bag; through these openings passes a loop of cord or the like forming a supporting strap 3, by means of which the batch of bags can be suspended from a hook or some other fixed support (not shown).

As will be clear from Fig. 12, the abovedescribed container bag 2a, containing the batch of bags, is used by pulling in turn the lower ends 10 of the container bag, with the result that the latter are torn along the perforated lines 9, the ends 10 being removed so as to form openings through which the ends of the respective bags 4a and 4b of the pairs are exposed. The bags can then be removed one by one from the container bag by pulling their ends so as to produce a tearing action along the perforated line 7.

In the embodiment described, the perforated line 9 extend continuously round the container bag 2a close to the ends of the batch of bags; under these circumstances the suspension apparatus 3 could be centred at the top of the batch of bags. Figs. 14 and 15 show a modification concerning the opening giving access to the bags; according to this modification the 'perforated line 25 extends round the apex or corner 26, which lies diagonally opposite the corner 27 at which the suspeffsioh device- 3 is located. In the case of this "modific'at'ion the mode of use is exactly the same as that described above.

It will be clear that the assembly described in the embodiments above assures, in any of the modifications referred to above, convenience for the user, as its positioning at the point of usage, its opening, and also the individual removal of tbe wrapper bags from it, can be carried out with a single hand of the user, which is of particular value, especially in sales establishments. Furthermore, the bags arrive at the user in perfect display condition, and may remain thus, without the formation of creases, until the actual moment of their use.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. An assembly of bags including a batch of separable pairs of bags, the bags of each pair being connected to each other by a tearable zone and each having a hole adjacent an edge thereof the holes in first bags in each pair being aligned to produce a first opening extending through the batch and the holes of the second bags of each pair being aligned to produce a second opening extending through the batch, the batch being enclosed in a container bag which is provided with at least one perforated line of closed contour for enabling a part or parts of the container bag to be removed to form an opening or openings through which the bags can be removed individually from the container bag, a thin flexible supporting element passing through each of the said openings in the batch and out of one or more holes in the container bag.

2. Assembly according to claim 1 wherein the holes in the bags lie adjacent one of the corners of the bag in each case.

3. Assembly according to claim 1 wherein the openings are close to one of the sides of the batch of bags, centrally of that side.

4. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the holes in the bags lie at a point remote from the perforated line by means of which the container bag can be opened.

5. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bags of which the batch is composed are of thermoplastic material and are welded at the edges of the suspension openings.

6. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each pair of bags is closed along the whole of its contour so that the opening of the individual bags is effected by separating one of a pair from the other of that pair.

7. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the bags are of thermoplastic material, are open at at least one of their sides and have a weld line adjacent the tearable zone, this weld line lying between the said zone and the inside of the individual bag concerned.

8. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the perforated line defining an opening of the container bag extends from one edge of the container bag to an opposite edge thereof and close to an end of the container bag remote from the supporting element.

9. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the perforated line which defines an opening of the container bag intersects two adjacent sides of the container bag and runs round one of the corners of the latter.

10. Assembly according to claim 9 as appended to claim 2 wherein the perforation line which defines an opening of the container bag extends round the corner opposite the corner at which are located the openings for the supporting element.

11. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the container bag intended to contain a batch of inner bags has two pairs of parallel edges, is closed round the whole of its contour, and is provided with an inlet cut which extends parallel to two of the said edges and lies between these edges in one of the walls of the bag, the batch of bags being introduced through this cut and there being provided adjacent each of the said two of the said edges a perforation line of closed contour for enabling a corresponding part of the container bag to be removed for forming an opening through which the bags of the batch of the inner bags can be individually removed.

12. Assembly according to claim 11 'wherein the holes in the container bag which register with the openings in the batch of bags are adjacent the inlet cut of the container bag.

13. Assembly of bags substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, Figs. 6 and 7, Fig. 8 or Figs. 9 to 15 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. It will be clear that the assembly described in the embodiments above assures, in any of the modifications referred to above, convenience for the user, as its positioning at the point of usage, its opening, and also the individual removal of tbe wrapper bags from it, can be carried out with a single hand of the user, which is of particular value, especially in sales establishments. Furthermore, the bags arrive at the user in perfect display condition, and may remain thus, without the formation of creases, until the actual moment of their use. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. An assembly of bags including a batch of separable pairs of bags, the bags of each pair being connected to each other by a tearable zone and each having a hole adjacent an edge thereof the holes in first bags in each pair being aligned to produce a first opening extending through the batch and the holes of the second bags of each pair being aligned to produce a second opening extending through the batch, the batch being enclosed in a container bag which is provided with at least one perforated line of closed contour for enabling a part or parts of the container bag to be removed to form an opening or openings through which the bags can be removed individually from the container bag, a thin flexible supporting element passing through each of the said openings in the batch and out of one or more holes in the container bag.