GB2193484A - Security bag - Google Patents

Abstract

A bag of relatively thick plastics material particularly suitable for transporting articles of value such as coins, comprises a back panel (2), and a front panel (3) sealed together by means of side welds. A slit opening (6) is provided across the front panel and a membrane (10) of relatively thinner plastics film underlies the opening and carries a pressure sensitive adhesive (13) for sealing purposes which is protected (before sealing) by a removable strip (14) of silicone treated paper. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Security bag This invention relates to security bags and is particularly concerned with bags for the transport of articles of value for which security is essential, for example for the bulk transport of coin.

The bulk transport of coin, for example from bullion supply to banks and between branches of banks, has traditionally been carried out using cloth bags, for example of linen or canvas.

Such bags have been securely fastened after filling, for example, by use of a wired closure, and the presence of the correct monetary content determined by weight.

The use of such bags presents a number of disadvantages. Firstly, they are comparatively expensive to produce, and, although in theory they have an extended life of about six trips, in practice they have been found to have only a very limited life due to wear and also pilfering of the bags which are highly desirable for other storage purposes. Secondly, because they are intended to be reusable, provision must be made for their collection and storage prior to reuse and to ensure adequate distribution of bags to the sites of use. Finally, because of the opaque nature of such bags, the contents are invisible and can only be checked by weight. This leaves the system open to abuse in that it is possible to place in the bags other less valuable objects having the correct weight and such an action will not be discovered until the bag is finally opened at its destination.

The present invention seeks to overcome these disadvantages.

According to this invention we provide a bag of plastics material, suitable for the transport of one or more articles of value, the bag having a back panel and a front panel sealed together to provide gn article-holding pouch having an opening irl the front panel, an intermediate membrane of comparatively thin film or sheet plastics material underlying the opening of the pouch and sealed to the inside of the bag along the sides of the bag and transversely of the opening to form an end closure and pressure sensitive adhesive means, protected by removable strip means, arranged between the intermediate membrane and the opening and extending above and below the opening so as to be capable of closing the opening on removal of the strip means.

Preferably the pressure sensitive adhesive means is positioned on the intermediate membrane underlying the opening and protected with a removable strip. However the pressure sensitive adhesive means may be arranged on the front panel, an area of pressure sensitive adhesive being provided to either side of the opening, each area being protected by a removable strip.

It is convenient to provide the pressure sensitive adhesive means and removable strip means across the entire width of the bag so that the front panel is free from the back panel along the sides of the bag in the region of the strip, i.e. adjacent the pouch opening.

In such a construction, to prevent the risk of seal running at the sides of the bag, preferably, comparatively short transverse seals are provided through the membrane and front and back panels immediately below the freed portions of the front panel.

Preferably the front and back panels extend beyond the transverse seal forming the end closure to provide a carrying portion which may be provided with handle means, for example by providing a suitably-positioned cut-out.

The membrane is preferably printed with a pattern or wording, so that, if an attempt is made to open the bag after closure, not only does the membrane distort but also distortion of the print is readily apparent.

The bag may conveniently, although not necessarily, be manufactured from lay flat tubing so that the pouch has a bottom folded end and sealed side edge portions. The seals, suitably formed by heat welding, are preferably spaced inwardly of the actual side edges to leave skirts, which may bear printed matter as an extra security precaution against slitting of the sides of the bag to remove contents.

Additional security features may be provided. Thus a separate seal consisting of a self adhesive paper label or the like may be provided to additionally cover the pouch opening after closure, such a seal carrying printed matter. Alternatively the front panel may be formed adjacent the pouch opening with printed areas or areas treated to receive written matter, these areas mating after closure.

If the bag is intended for transport of bulk coinage or other heavy articles it is preferably of heavy duty plastics material. For coinage transport is is also preferable that the plastics material be of sufficient transparency to enable, in use, identification of the bag contents.

One form of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a coin bag according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on the line ll-ll of Figure 1.

The bag shown in Figures 1 and 2 is intended for the bulk transport of coins and is sized as desired, for example to hold 500 one pound coins packed into smaller units, for example twenty five units of 20 coins each.

The bag is of transparent heavy duty plastics material, for example, polyethylene. The bag comprises a back panel 2 over which is folded a front panel 3, the panels being joined by side welds 4, inwardly spaced from the side edges to provide skirt portions 5, for example of 5 to 10 mm width, which skirt portions may, if desired, bear security printing.

The bag shown is of lay flat tubing and therefore has a fold at both top and bottom. However, clearly the bag may be manufactured from sheet material. A slit opening 6 is provided across the front panel 3 allowing access to the interior of the pouch 7 so formed for containing coins. -The front and back panels extend beyond the opening 6 to provide a carrying portion 8 at the top of the bag, provided with a cut away portion 9 to provide a gripping handle.

Underlying the opening 6 is a membrane 10, the extent of which is shown in dotdashed lines in Figure 1, which membrane is of comparatively thin, and consequently weak, plastics film or sheet. The membrane is sealed to the back panel 2 along its side edge portions and is sealed also to front panel 3 along the side edge portions except immediately adjacent opening 6 as described below. The membrane is also sealed to both panels 2 and 3 along transverse seal 11 thus forming an end closure for the pouch 7 above the opening 6. The membrane may carry a printed pattern or wording for security purposes.

Overlying the portion of membrane 10 beneath the opening 6 is a layer 13 of pressure sensitive adhesive, the extent of which is shown by dotted lines in Figure 1. The adhesive may be of any of those well known in the art. The layer 13 is covered by a removable strip 14, for example of silicone treated paper. The strip 14 not only protects the adhesive but also prevents the front panel 3 from sealing to the membrane 10 and back panel 2 in the region of the side edges. Thus the portion of front panel 3 adjacent opening 6 can be folded outwardly to assist access to the pouch 7 for filling purposes. To reduce the danger of seal running at the side edges adjacent the free portion of front panel 3, short transverse welds 16 are provided securely joining the membrane 10 and the front and back panels.These welds may be set at an angle pointing downwardly towards the bottom of the membrane to assist filling of the bag.

The bag may be manufactured by any suitable means but, when using lay flat tubing, a convenient method comprises transversely slitting the front panel of the tubing to provide the opening 6, positioning the membrane 10 on the lower panel of the tubing, applying adhesive 13 thereto followed by the removable strip 14 and subsequently forming the side welds 4 and transverse weld 11. Alternatively the adhesive 13 may be pre-applied to the strip 14 before application to the membrane 10.

In use, coins are placed in the pouch 7 and the strip 14 removed and the edges of panel 3 adjacent opening 6 sealed against membrane 10 by means of adhesive 13 to form a sealed container. The transverse seal 11 acts not only to seal-in the membrane 10 but also to prevent undue strain on the seal in the region of opening 6. The extended upper portion of the bag provides a convenient gripping portion for the handler.

Should an attempt be made to open the bag in the region of the sealed opening 6, the membrane 10 will be distorted during destruction of the seal and cannot be neatly resealed without tampering being apparent. If security printing has been applied to membrane 10, this tampering will be even more apparent.

Furthermore, because of the transparent nature of the bag, the contents can readily be inspected and the presence of foreign bodies quickly detected.

If desired a separate label may be applied over the sealed opening 6 to increase security. Alternatively the areas of front panel 3 adjacent opening 6 may be printed and/or capable of receiving written matter so that, when the bag is closed, those areas will abut and written or printed matter, such as a signature or bank stamp, can be applied across the seal. Of course label areas capable of receiving written or printed matter may be formed at any suitable portion of the bag.

While the invention has been described with reference to coin bags, it will be appreciated that the bags may be used for other articles of value such as for the transport of important documents which must not be tampered with until arrival at their destination. In such a case, opaque plastics material is preferred.

Claims (12)

1. A bag of plastics material, suitable for the transport of articles of value, and having a back panel and a front panel sealed together to form an article holding pouch having an opening in the front panel, an intermediate membrane of comparatively thin film or sheet plastics material underlying the opening of the pouch and sealed to the inside of the bag along the sides of the bag and transversely of the opening to form an end closure, and pressure sensitive adhesive means, protected by removable strip means, arranged between the intermediate membrane and the opening and extending above and below the opening so as to be capable of closing the opening upon removal of the strip means.

2. A bag according to claim 1 in which the pressure sensitive means is positioned on the intermediate membrane underlying the opening and protected with a single removable strip.

3. A bag according to claim 1 in which the pressure sensitive means is arranged on the front panel with an area of pressure sensitive adhesive being provided on either side of the opening, each area being protected by a removable strip.

4 A bag according to any preceding claim in which the pressure sensitive adhesive means and removable stop means extend across the entire width of the bag so that the front panel is free from the back panel along the sides of the bag in the region of the strip.

5. A bag according to claim 4 further comprising short seals extending inwardly from the edges of the bag and through the membrane and front and back panels immediately below the freed portions of the front panel.

6. A bag according to any preceding claim in which the front and back panels extend beyond the transverse seal forming the end closure to provide a carrying portion including handle means.

7. A bag according to any preceding claim in which the membrane is printed with a pattern or wording so as to prevent tampering with the sealed bag, in use.

8. A bag according to any preceding claim which is made from lay flat tubing and thus has a bottom folded end and sealed side edge portions.

9. A bag according to any preceding claim in which the edge seals are formed by welding and are spaced inwardly of the extreme side edges so as to leave skirts for security printing.

10. A bag according to any preceding claim further comprising a self adhesive security labei carrying printed indicia for covering the pouch opening after closure.

11. A bag according to any preceding claim in which the front panel is provided with areas of printed indicia adjacent the pouch opening, the said areas mating after closure.

12. A bag substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.