GB1592181A - Plastic bag and hanger combination - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVED PLASTIC BAG AND HANGER COMBINATION (71) We, CRYSPLEX LIMITED, a British Company, of 159-161 Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 3LR, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to the packaging and display of merchandise in a bag of plastics material in combination with a hanger.

Bags of plastics material are known for packaging merchandise such as textile goods, and are commonly provided with a conventional coat-hanger for display purposes in a retail shop or store. A known type of bag is formed from a flat tubular length of plastics material having two overlying sides (for convenience referred to as front and rear sides) and a gusset joining each edge of the front side to the rear side, each gusset lying in two layers between the front side and the rear side and having a central fold connecting the two layers lying inwardly of said edges. Usually the bags are manufactured with a transverse bottom closing seal, and a package is formed by inserting the merchandise and then folding the open top edge of the bag round the bar of the hanger and fastening it down, for example with adhesive tape, to hold the hanger captive.

This procedure is time consuming and each package must be provided with a hanger by the packer, which hanger remains attached to the package when it is sold to the eventual customer. In addition, the package is quite often not accurately located on the hanger, so that it tends to hang tilted when displayed.

According to the present invention, we provide a combination of a bag with a hanger; the bag having front and rear sides of flexible sheet plastics material and a top closing portion provided with a transverse tube formed by at least one transverse weld; the hanger comprising a horizontal bar which is free at one end and has a suspension hook connected to the other end; the bar of the hanger being received in the transverse tube of the bag, whereby the bag can be suspended from the hanger and whereby the hanger can readily be removed from the bag.

The invention includes a package comprising such a combination together with merchandise enclosed by the bag.

Preferably an entry portion for the hanger bar at one end of the transverse tube is provided by tear lines which are ruptured by the end of the hanger bar when it is first introduced into the transverse tube. Desirably the entry portion is located in a gusset joining corresponding edges of the front and rear sides of the bag. Suitably the gusset lies between the front and rear sides in two layers and has a central fold connecting the two layers lying inwardly of said edges, and the entry portion is located at or in close proximity to the central fold so that the bar of the hanger can be inserted between the layers of the gusset and pass through the gusset into the transverse tube at the central fold.

Preferably the entry portion is formed by punching a series of small closely spaced perforations through the front side, the rear side and the gusset layers. It is particularly desired that the configuration of this punching should be such that the end of the bar is introduced into the transverse tube and does not tend to puncture the front or rear side when it ruptures the tear line. This-can be achieved, according to one embodiment of the invention, by arranging that the tear lines in the front and rear sides define flap-shaped portions extending outwardly from and integrally with regions of the front and rear sides overlying the central fold of the gusset.Consequently, when the end of the bar reaches the central fold and is pushed further inwards, it ruptures the tear lines in the gusset, but the corresponding lines in the front and rear sides lie generally behind the end of the bar, so that they are not ruptured and the end of the bar is guided into the transverse tube.

The transverse tube will usually have an exit portion for the end of the bar at the end remote from the inlet portion. Suitably this is formed by punching at or in close proximity to the edges of the front and rear sides.

The exit portion may be provided by tear lines rupturable by the end of the bar, or it may comprise a simple slit, for example extending transversely from the edges of the front and rear sides.

It is preferred that the bag be formed from a flat tubular length having two gusset portions joining respective edges of the front and rear sides. The transverse tube can be formed between two spaced transverse welds.

A particularly preferred bag and hanger combination embodying the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure I is a perspective view of part of the bag; Figure 2 is a plan view of the end portion of the bag; and Figure 3 shows the bag suspended from the hanger.

Referring to the drawings, the bag is formed from a tubular length of transparent plastics material having a front side 10, a rear side 12 and gussets 14, 16 joining the corresponding edges of the front and rear sides. The gussets are folded longitudinally about lines 18 so that they lie in two layers between the front and rear sides, and the whole bag lies flat. The top end of the bag is closed by upper and lower transverse welds 20, 22 respectively. The welds are produced simultaneously by high-frequency impulse and heat sealing between electrodes above and below the bag, and secure together the front and rear sides (together with the gusset layers outwardly of the lines 18) to produce a transverse tube 24 therebetween.

An entry portion 26 comprises a tear line formed before or during the welding operation by punching a series of small closely spaced holes through the front side 10, the layers of the gusset 14 and the rear side 12 to form generally semicircular flap-shaped portions in the front and rear sides. These semicircular portions have unpunched diameters which lie over the line 18 of the gusset 14 and they extend outwardly from that line into the gusset. Quarter-moon or other shapes for the inlet perforation may be used if desired. An exit portion 28 is formed at the opposite end of the tube 24, and takes the form of a generally semicircular tear line punched through the front side 10, the layers of the gusset 16 and the rear side 12. This latter semicircle has a diameter on the edge 29 of the front side 10.

The bag is intended for use with a known hanger shown in Figure 3 which has a horizontal hanging bar 30 with a free, slightly upturned end 32. The other end of the bar 30 is connected by an integral angled link 33 to a central suspension hook 34 above the bar 30. The bag is attached to the hanger by pushing the end 32 of the bar 30 inwards between the layers of the gusset 14 and between the welds 20, 22. When the end 32 is pushed against the fold line 18 the tear lines 26 in the gusset 14 rupture to admit it into the tube 24. Because the corresponding tear lines forming the flap-shaped portions in the front and rear sides lie behind the end 32 as it enters the tube 24, they do not tend to rupture, so the end 32 does not puncture the front or rear side.

When the bar 30 is almost fully inserted in the tube 24 and its end 32 reaches the gusset 16, the end will move to one side or the other of the gusset. As the bar is inserted further, the end 32 will come to the edge 29 and will rupture the tear lines 28 to leave the tube. Obviously the shape of the exit portion tear lines 28 is of comparatively little importance, and it could for example be a transverse slit through the front and rear sides and the gusset layers. The exit portion 28 is shown midway between the welds 20 and 22 in Figure 2, but because of the upturn of the end 32 it could sometimes advantageously be located nearer the upper weld 20 than the lower weld 22.

As shown in Figure 1 the edges of the front and rear sides at the entry for the hanger bar 30 do not exactly coincide, so as to facilitate initial insertion of the bar 30 between the layers of the gusset 14.

In practice, a packer will make packages by loading merchandise into bags from their bottom ends and seal them e.g. with adhesive tape. The packages will then be sent to a retail shop or store, where hangers will be inserted as described above, thereby constituting packed bag and hanger combinations, and the packages displayed. When a package is sold to a customer, the retailer can readily remove the hanger for re-use, the end 32 of the bar 30 being free. The bar 30 should fit fairly snugly in the tube 24 and should protrude from the bag by the length of the upturned end 32; thus the bag does not tend to slide on the bar and can be arranged to hang by its suspension hook 34 attractively in an upright position.

The bags described are manufactured from thin flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet material of 50 U thickness and have a length of, for example, 22 to 28 inches. The front and rear sides are suitably between 8 and 16 inches in width, and the gusset layers may be of any desired width up to for example 4 or 5 inches. The hangers used may have a hanging bar 30 of standard length of 12 or 14 inches, or longer, and a diameter of 3/16 inches. The upturned end 32 may be one inch long canted at 250 from the rest of the bar 30. Packages of up to about 5 Ibs weight, of for example curtains or bedware, can be made up using the bags.

Heavier packages may require the use of material of e.g. 75 U thickness, and light goods, e.g. babywear, can be packaged with material of 371/2 U or even 25 > gauge. The bags can be made of other material than PVC for example polyethylene, and at least when made of heavy gauge material may find uses in the packaging of merchandise other than textile goods, e.g. hardware.

Labels identifying the merchandise can be stuck on the bags if desired, either before or after the packages are made up. Alternatively the bags could be pre-printed with appropriate text or advertising matter.

Wording such as the manufacturers name could be embossed on the electrode forming the welds 20, 22 so that it is transferred to the bag as shown at 36 in Figure 2.

The bags will usually be supplied to the packer in stacks. If goods are packed by a retailer, however, bags could be supplied in a long length on a reel, with a perforated tear line between each bag so that bags can be torn from the reel as required. Such bags should be of a material in which an easily tearable line can be punched without unduly weakening the length on the reel.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. The combination of a bag with a hanger; the bag having front and rear sides of flexible sheet plastics material and a top closing portion provided with a transverse tube formed by at least one transverse weld; the hanger comprising a horizontal bar which is free at one end and has a suspension hook connected to the other end; the bar of the hanger being received in the transverse tube of the bag, whereby the bag can be suspended from the hanger and whereby the hanger can readily be removed from the bag.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein an entry portion for the hanger bar at one end of the transverse tube is provided by tear lines adapted to be ruptured by the end of such hanger bar upon its introduction into the transverse tube.

3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein the entry portion is formed in a gusset joining corresponding edges of the front and rear sides of the bag.

4. A combination according to claim 3 wherein the gusset lies between the front and rear sides in two layers and has a central fold connecting the two layers lying inwardly of said edges, and the entry portion is located at or in close proximity to the central fold so that the bar of such hanger can be inserted between the layers of the gusset and pass through the gusset into the transverse tube at the centre fold.

5. A combination according to claim 4 wherein the entry portion is formed by punching a series of small closely spaced performations through the front side, the rear side and the gusset layers.

6. A combination according to claim 5 wherein the tear lines in the front and rear sides define flap shaped portions extend outwardly from and integrally with the regions of the front and rear sides overlying the central fold of the gusset.

7. A combination according to any of claims 3 to 6 wherein said edges of the front and rear sides are offset with respect to each other so as to facilitate insertion of such bar between the layers of the gusset.

8. A combination according to any of claims 3 to 7 wherein the transverse tube has an exit portion for the end of such bar at the end remote from the inlet portion.

9. A combination according to claim 8 wherein the exit portion is formed by punching at or in close proximity to the edges of the front and rear sides.

10. A combination according to claim 9 wherein the exit portion is provided by tear lines rupturable by the end of such bar.

11. A combination according to any of claims 3 to 10 wherein the bag is formed from a flat tubular length of flexible sheet plastics material having two gusset portions joining respective edges of the.front and rear sides.

12. A combination according to any preceding claim wherein the transverse tube is formed between two transverse welds.

13. The combination of a bag of flexible sheet plastics material with a hanger substantially as shown in and hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A package comprising the combination according to any preceding claim together with merchandise enclosed in the bag.

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

Claims (14)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. front and rear sides are suitably between 8 and 16 inches in width, and the gusset layers may be of any desired width up to for example 4 or 5 inches. The hangers used may have a hanging bar 30 of standard length of 12 or 14 inches, or longer, and a diameter of 3/16 inches. The upturned end 32 may be one inch long canted at 250 from the rest of the bar 30. Packages of up to about 5 Ibs weight, of for example curtains or bedware, can be made up using the bags. Heavier packages may require the use of material of e.g. 75 U thickness, and light goods, e.g. babywear, can be packaged with material of 371/2 U or even 25 > gauge. The bags can be made of other material than PVC for example polyethylene, and at least when made of heavy gauge material may find uses in the packaging of merchandise other than textile goods, e.g. hardware. Labels identifying the merchandise can be stuck on the bags if desired, either before or after the packages are made up. Alternatively the bags could be pre-printed with appropriate text or advertising matter. Wording such as the manufacturers name could be embossed on the electrode forming the welds 20, 22 so that it is transferred to the bag as shown at 36 in Figure 2. The bags will usually be supplied to the packer in stacks. If goods are packed by a retailer, however, bags could be supplied in a long length on a reel, with a perforated tear line between each bag so that bags can be torn from the reel as required. Such bags should be of a material in which an easily tearable line can be punched without unduly weakening the length on the reel. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. The combination of a bag with a hanger; the bag having front and rear sides of flexible sheet plastics material and a top closing portion provided with a transverse tube formed by at least one transverse weld; the hanger comprising a horizontal bar which is free at one end and has a suspension hook connected to the other end; the bar of the hanger being received in the transverse tube of the bag, whereby the bag can be suspended from the hanger and whereby the hanger can readily be removed from the bag.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein an entry portion for the hanger bar at one end of the transverse tube is provided by tear lines adapted to be ruptured by the end of such hanger bar upon its introduction into the transverse tube.

3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein the entry portion is formed in a gusset joining corresponding edges of the front and rear sides of the bag.

4. A combination according to claim 3 wherein the gusset lies between the front and rear sides in two layers and has a central fold connecting the two layers lying inwardly of said edges, and the entry portion is located at or in close proximity to the central fold so that the bar of such hanger can be inserted between the layers of the gusset and pass through the gusset into the transverse tube at the centre fold.

5. A combination according to claim 4 wherein the entry portion is formed by punching a series of small closely spaced performations through the front side, the rear side and the gusset layers.

6. A combination according to claim 5 wherein the tear lines in the front and rear sides define flap shaped portions extend outwardly from and integrally with the regions of the front and rear sides overlying the central fold of the gusset.

7. A combination according to any of claims 3 to 6 wherein said edges of the front and rear sides are offset with respect to each other so as to facilitate insertion of such bar between the layers of the gusset.

8. A combination according to any of claims 3 to 7 wherein the transverse tube has an exit portion for the end of such bar at the end remote from the inlet portion.

9. A combination according to claim 8 wherein the exit portion is formed by punching at or in close proximity to the edges of the front and rear sides.

10. A combination according to claim 9 wherein the exit portion is provided by tear lines rupturable by the end of such bar.

11. A combination according to any of claims 3 to 10 wherein the bag is formed from a flat tubular length of flexible sheet plastics material having two gusset portions joining respective edges of the.front and rear sides.

12. A combination according to any preceding claim wherein the transverse tube is formed between two transverse welds.

13. The combination of a bag of flexible sheet plastics material with a hanger substantially as shown in and hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A package comprising the combination according to any preceding claim together with merchandise enclosed in the bag.