GB2362872A

GB2362872A - Stack of bags and dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2362872A
Application number: GB0107972A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Lowe; Ian David Cull
Original assignee: Euro Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: Euro Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2000-04-01
Filing date: 2001-03-30
Publication date: 2001-12-05
Also published as: GB0007972D0; GB0107972D0

Abstract

A stack of bags where each bag 1 comprises a pair of handles 5 at opposite sides of a mouth 3 of the bag 1, has retaining means 12 detachably connected to the handles 5 of the bags 1 to hold locating means provided by holes 6 in the handles 5 at the correct position for engagement with attachment arms 10 of a dispenser. The retaining means may comprise tabs 12 on the handles 5 which are interconnected, preferably by heat bonding, and are separable from the handles 5. The retaining means may alternatively be provided by bands (fig 5) around the sets of handles 5, or tubular inserts (fig 8, 20) engaged in the holes 6 of the handles 5, and may also connect to a carrying handle (fig 8, 21). A connecting piece (fig 15, 38) may be provided between the sets of handles 5 and may be detachably connected to tabs (fig 15, 34).

Description

2362872 1 STACK OF BAGS This invention relates to a stack of bags of the

kind dispensed from a dispenser, the bags lying flat against one another in the stack and each having a body with a mouth and a pair of handles at opposite sides of the mouth, there being location means at the stack engageable with attachment means of the dispenser for the stack to be attached to the dispenser so that the bags can be detached individually therefrom, as required by users. Such a stack of bags is hereinafter referred to as "of the kind described".

Dispensers from which the stacks of bags of the kind described are dispensed are used, for example, in stores, supermarkets or other outlets for customer use in the packaging of purchased goods.

A stack of bags of the kind described may have the location means provided by holes for engagement by attachment means formed by support arms of a dispenser, the holes being in the handles of the bags, or in tabs on the handles which may be detachable from the handles for the tabs to be left on the support arms as bags are detached from the stack. In another arrangement the location means may be provided by a bar block extending between and connected to the handles which is engaged by attachment means, such as pins, a block or header, at the dispenser, the handles being detachable from the bar block.

When the location means is provided by holes at the handles, either in the handles or at tabs on the handles, and the attachment means of the dispenser is formed by support arms, it is usual for the support arms to be more widely spaced than the holes at the handles of the stack of bags as produced. This requires the handles of the bags in the stack to be splayed apart relative to the bodies of the bags in order to space the holes by a 2 distance which enables them to be engaged by the support arms for the handles to be slid onto the arms. The handles remain splayed apart while the stack is on the dispenser. This has the advantage of enabling the mouths of the bags to be opened widely for filling, either whilst the bags 5 are still on or in the dispenser or after detachment from the stack.

A problem which can arise from the need to splay the handles of the bags in the stack, is retaining the handles, which are superimposed in the stack, properly superimposed so that the holes at the superimposed handles are retained in alignment for loading the stack onto the arms of a dispenser.

It is an aim of the present invention to facilitate location of a stack of bags of the kind described for use with a dispenser.

According to a first aspect the present invention consists in stack of bags of the kind described is provided which has retaining means detachably connected to superimposed handles of the bags in the stack whereby the location means at the stack is held properly positioned for engagement by attachment means of a dispenser.

The location means may be provided by holes at the handles of the bags in the stack, the holes being in the handles or in tabs attached to the handles. In such an arrangement the retaining means may act to hold the handles properly superimposed for the holes at the handles to be maintained in alignment to be engaged by the attachment means, for example support arms, of the dispenser.

The retaining means may be arranged to be detachable from the handles of the bags once the stack is in place at the dispenser. Alternatively the 3 retaining means may remain with the stack at the dispenser until all of the bags have been detached from the stack.

In one form in which the bags in the stack have holes in the superimposed handles for engagement by support arms the retaining means may comprise tabs on the handles which are formed integrally with the handles but separable from the handles at lines of weakening, and which are interconnected. The interconnection of the tabs holds the handles properly superimposed whilst the tabs are connected to them. The interconnection may be provided by adhesive or heat bonding together of adjacent tabs. Once the handles are in place on the support arms of a dispenser the tabs may be separated en bloc from the superimposed handles at the lines of weakening. Conveniently the lines of weakening are so formed as to enable detachment of the tabs by twisting the tabs relative to the handles.

The tabs may be formed at edges of the handles of each set of superimposed handles which are directed towards the other set of the superimposed handles, and the retaining means may comprise a connecting piece which extends between the two sets of handles and is connected to the tabs to hold the handles in a required spaced relationship. The tabs of each set of superimposed handles may be formed with slots in which the connecting piece is engaged to connect it to the tabs.

In another form in which the location means is provided by holes at the superimposed handles of the bags in the stack, the retaining means may comprise a band which closely encompasses the superimposed handles to restrain the handles from deviating from the properly superimposed attitude. There is a separate band for each superimposed set of handles of the bags in the stack. Each band may have a separation part at which the 4 band can be opened to separate it from the superimposed handles. The separation part may comprise a line of weakening in the band, formed for example by perforations, which enables the band to be torn open. The band may be formed, for example, from card or plastics material.

A further form of retaining means when the location means is provided by holes at the superimposed handles, may comprise tubular inserts which are located in the holes at the superimposed handles, one insert at each set of superimposed handles. Each insert may comprise two co-operating components which are applied to the holes from opposite sides of the respective set of superimposed handles and interconnect to hold the components securely together in the holes. Assembled components may give the insert the general form of a rivet. The components may be separated from the handles when the handles have been engaged on a support arm of a dispenser. The components of each tubular insert may be separable from one another or at least one of them may have a separable part, or parts, which when removed allows separation of the insert from the handles. In one example one component has a separable part or parts which can be snapped off the component. The components may be made as plastics mouldings.

A dispenser specially designed to receive a stack of bags which has the inserts just described may have support arms with outer end portions of a reduced section to extend into the inserts. Beyond the outer end portions the support arms may have a cross-section size complementary to that of the holes in the superimposed handles of the bags. One component of each insert of the stack of bags may have a frangible end part or parts projecting laterally of the insert. The inserts are applied to the holes at the inserts of superimposed handles such that the frangible end parts are at the same side of the stack and bear on surfaces of the handles of the bag of the stack exposed at that side, which side is that offered to the arms of the dispenser for the stack to be loaded onto the arms. In the loading operation the reduced section outer end portions of the arms are introduced into the inserts until the inserts meet the larger crosssection parts of the arms. Additional pushing force of the stack onto the arms causes the surfaces of the bag on which the frangible parts of the inserts bear to be urged against the frangible parts with sufficient force as to break the parts away from the inserts. When that happens the inserts remain on the outer end portions of the arms and the stack is able to be pushed off the inserts and onto the larger cross-section parts of the arms to be supported there. The inserts may then be detached from the outer end portions.

When the retaining means comprises tubular inserts, the stack may have a carrying handle for case in carrying it to a dispenser, and manipulating it for loading onto the arms of the dispenser. The carrying handle may be attached to the stack at the inserts of the two sets of superimposed handles, and extend between the two sets so that a person carrying the stack by the carrying handle holds the handle between the sets of superimposed handles of the bags of the stack. Preferably the carrying handle is extendible between the sets of superimposed handles to allow for the splaying apart of the bag handles for engagement on the support arms of a dispenser. The carrying handle may have a folded portion which allows for the extension of the handle. The handle may be made of cardboard, or possibly of a suitable sheet plastics material.

Reference has been made to the retaining means comprising a connecting piece which extends between the two sets of handles. Such a connecting piece may include the location means. The location means may, for example, be provided by a hole or holes, a slot or a recess in the 6 connecting piece, or by suitable shaping of the connecting piece, as appropriate for engagement by the retaining means of the dispenser to which the stack of bags is to be applied. The connecting piece may also serve as a carrying handle for the stack of bags.

According to a second aspect the present invention consists in a dispenser having spaced support arms and a stack of bags in accordance with the foregoing first aspect of the invention supported on the support arms by location of the support arms with the location means of the stack.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 to 4 show fragmentary views of a first embodiment of a stack of bags in accordance with the present invention which has retaining means in the form of detachable tabs; Figures 5, 6 and 7 show fragmentary views of a second embodiment of a stack of bags in accordance with the present invention which has retaining means in the form of bands; Figures 8 to 12 show fragmentary views of a third embodiment of a stack of bags in accordance with the present invention which has retaining means in the form of tubular inserts; Figure 13 is a perspective view of one of the tubular insert, and Figures 14 and 15 show elevational views of a fourth embodiment of a stack of bags in which a connecting piece is provided between handles of the bags in the stack.

7 In each of the embodiments now to be described a stack of bags is provided in which the bags are made of sheet thermoplastics material and are of the so-called vest type, each comprising a body 2 having a mouth 3 and a pair of handles 4 extending from opposite ends of the mouth. The bags I are superimposed flat one on another in the stack with their bodies 2 and handles 4 in register. The superimposed handles are in two sets 5 at either side of the stack. At least in the first three embodiments, a hole 6 is formed in each handle 4. The holes 6 in the handles of each set 5 are co-axially aligned. Centrally of their mouths 3 the bags have body attachment parts 7 which are joined to the bodies 2 by lines of weakening 8 formed by perforations. The attachment parts 7 of the bags in the stack are in superimposed alignment. A slot 9 is formed in each attachment part 7 extending parallel to the lines of weakening 8. The slots 9 in the attachment parts are aligned through the stack.

Typically there are 50 bags in the stack but there may be up to 100.

The holes 6 in the two sets 5 of superimposed handles 4 of the stack engage with two horizontally spaced horizontal support arms 10 of a bag dispenser, not shown, and the slots 9 of the body attachment parts 7 at the mouths 3 of the bags engage with a hook 11, Figure 10, of the dispenser. The dispenser may be of a known kind, for example such as known as a rack arm dispenser. In order to engage the holes 6 of the handles with the arms 10 of the dispenser it is necessary to splay the sets 5 of handles of the stack apart to increase the spacing apart of the holes to suit the spacing of the arms. The arms 10 then slide through the holes to support the stack and the hook 11 of the dispenser is inserted through the slots 9 of the attachment part 7. Thus the stack is supported on the dispenser at the handles and mouths of the bags.

8 Turning now to the first embodiment shown by Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the stack of bags 1 has detachable tabs 12 formed at inside edges of the handles 4. The tabs 12 of the handles of each set 5 of superimposed handles are aligned and are interconnected by heat bonding. Each tab 12 is joined to its handle by a small integral tie 13 that can be readily broken by twisting of the tabs, as shown in Figure 3.

The interconnected tabs 12 hold the handles 4 of each set 5 properly superimposed to keep the holes 6 in the handles aligned when the handles are splayed for engagement on the arms 10 of the dispenser. Once the handles are on the arms 10 the tabs 12 can be detached by twisting the tabs en bloc at each set of handles. With the tabs removed, the bags in the stack are separate from one another in the stack f or ease of dispensing.

In the second embodiment shown by Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings there are no detachable tabs 12 at the handles of the stack joining the bags together. Instead the handles of each set 5 are held together, to keep their holes in alignment for engagement by the arms 10 of the dispenser, by means of bands 14. There is one band 14 to each set 5 of handles. Each band 14 is formed from a rectangular piece of card. Two parallel slits 15 are cut into the card and an intermediate portion 16 of the card between the slits is lifted to provide a loop 17. The loop 17 and the remainder of the card forms the band 14 which is just large enough to be slid onto and fit closely around the handles in one set 5 so as to prevent relative lateral movement between the handles in the set when the sets of handles are splayed apart. A central hole 18 is formed in the loop 17 of complementary diameter to the holes 6 in the handles. A line of 9 perforations 19 is formed centrally across the card, transversely of the slits 15 and diametrically with respect to the hole 18 in the loop.

The bands 14 are fitted to the sets of handles so that the holes 18 in the loops 17 register with the holes 6 in the handles.

When the stack has been loaded onto a dispenser with the arms 10 of the dispenser engaged in the holes 6 of the sets of handles, the bands 14 may be detached from the handles. The lines of perforations 19 in the bands allow them to be torn away easily from the handles.

The third embodiment shown by Figures 8 to 13 of the drawings will now be described. In this case a tubular insert 20 is fitted into the aligned holes 6 in each set 5 of handles of the stack, and a carrying handle 21 for the stack is attached to the inserts 20 of the two sets of handles. Each insert 20 comprises two tubular components 22, 23, Figure 13, which snap into end-to-end engagement. One, flanged, component 22 has an annular flange 24 at its outer end and the other, webbed, component 23 has up to four radial webs 25 frangibly joined to its outer end. The carrying handle 21 is attached to the flange components 22 of the inserts 20. The carrying handle 21 is formed from a single piece of card which has a main, generally rectangular, open frame-like, portion 26, containing a hand-grip aperture 27, and lugs 28 extending from opposite ends of the main portion each formed with a hole, not shown, engaged by the flanged component 22 of a respective one of the inserts 20. An upper part of the main portion 26 forms a hand grip 30 over the hand-grip aperture 27. A central section 31 of the main portion is folded back upon itself at two transverse fold lines 32 so as to shorten the length of the carrying handle. When shortened the carrying handle is of a length such that the holes in its lugs are spaced apart by the same distance as that 10- between the holes 6 in the sets 5 of handles of the stack, when the handles are unsplayed. The central section 31 can be unfolded to a flat state which lengthens the carrying handle. When the carrying handle is so lengthened, the holes in the lugs 28 are spaced apart by a distance which allows for the increased distance between the holes 6 in the sets of handles when the handles are splayed apart for engagement on the arms 10 of the dispenser.

For application to the stack of bags the components of the inserts are separated. The flanged components 22 of the inserts 20 are located in the holes of the lugs 28 of the carrying handle 21 so that the lugs lie flat against the annular flanges 24. The flanged components 22 are then introduced into the holes 6 in the respective sets of handles from the same face of the stack, so that the carrying handle is extending between the sets of handles. The webbed components 23 are then introduced into the holes 6 of the stack from the opposite face of the stack, and snapped into engagement with the flanged components. When the components are snapped together the carrying handle lugs 28 are held tight against the one face of the stack by the annular flanges 24 of the inserts and the webs 25 at the opposite ends of the inserts lie close against the bag handles at the opposite face of the stack. The sets of handles are therefore held properly superimposed by the inserts. This is so whether the stack is being carried by the carrying handles or the sets of handles are splayed apart for loading into the arms 10 of the dispenser.

This third embodiment requires slight modification of the dispenser arms 10. As shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12 of the drawings, outer end portions 10' of the arms 10 are reduced in diameter to be complementary to the internal diameter of the tubular inserts. The holes 6 in the bag handles are of complementary diameter to the diameter of the main 11 portions of the arms 10. The reduced diameter outer end portions 10, are of lengths to fully receive the inserts. They meet the main portions of the arms at radial shoulders 33.

When loading the stack onto the dispenser arms, the sets of handles are splayed apart for the inserts 20 to be engaged on the outer end portions 10' of the arms, the webbed components 23 leading. The inserts are slid onto the outer end portions 10' until they abut against the shoulders 33 and are prevented from moving further along the arms. By then pushing the sets of handles at parts spaced from the inserts so as to exert pressure on the webs 25 of the inserts, the webs can be caused to break away from the webbed components. This leaves the set of handles free to be slid off the inserts and onto the main portions of the arms. Once that has been done the inserts may be removed from the outer end portions 10' of the arms. The release of the inserts from the sets of handles leaves the handles of the bags free to separate as bags are subsequently detached individually from the arms.

Referring now to Figures 14 and 15 of the drawings, in this fourth embodiment, the stack of bags, similarly to the first embodiment, has detachable tabs 34 formed at inside edges of the handles 4 of the superimposed flat bags. As before, the handles 4 are in two sets 5. The tabs 34 of each set 5 are elongated lengthways of the handles 8, are aligned, are interconnected by hot pin bonding 35, and are detachably joined to the handles at perforated lines of weakening 36. Each tab 34 is formed with a longitudinal slot 37, Figure 14, the slots in the tabs of each set 5 of handles being aligned.

As shown in Figure 15, a connecting piece 38 is attached to and extends between the tabs 34 of the two sets of handles 4. The connecting piece 38 12 may be made of cardboard, metal, plastics material or other suitable material. Ends of the connecting piece 38 are inserted through the slots 37 of the tabs. The ends of the connecting piece may be of an arrow head form sufficiently over-size relative to the slots to permit insertion of the ends, with flexing, through the slots and then resist their separating from the slots, so that the connecting piece is retained to the tabs. Alternatively the ends of the connecting piece, having been inserted through the slots may be secured together, for example by interlocking formations, stapling or adhesive, so that the connecting piece forms a closed hoop between the handles connected to the tabs 34, or the ends may be folded back against and secured to the main body of the connecting piece, for example by stapling or adhesive, to secure the connecting piece in place between the handles.

The secured connecting piece 38 effectively forms a bar block between the handles of the bags and provides a means of carrying the stack of bags. It also enables the bags to be retained together in a pre-determined number in the stack for ease of stock management of the bags. In addition, the connecting piece provides a means of easy installation and holds the handles at a desired spacing for installation of the stack in or on a dispenser. The handles may have holes as before for engagement by support arms of a dispenser. Alternatively the connecting piece may be shaped, or be provided with apertures, slots or other suitable means, for location of the stack in or on a dispenser.

The handles of the bags separate from the tabs as the bags are pulled from the stack. The arrangement enables the bags to be dispensed one at a time from the stack. Separating the handles from the tabs causes the mouth of each bag to be opened as it is detached from the stack.

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Claims

A stack of bags of the kind described which has retaining means detachably connected to superimposed handles of the bags in the stack whereby the location means of the stack is held properly positioned for engagement by attachment means of a dispenser.
2. A stack of bags according to claim 1 in which the location means comprises holes at the superimposed handles of the bags in the stack, the retaining means holding the handles properly superimposed for the holes at the handles to be maintained in alignment for the holes to be engaged by attachment means of a dispenser.
3. A stack of bags according to claim 2 wherein the holes are arranged to be engaged by support arms of a dispenser.
4. A stack of bags according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the retaining means comprises tabs on the superimposed handles of the bags formed integrally with the handles and seperable therefrom at lines of weakening, the tabs being interconnected.
5. A stack of bags according to claim 4 wherein the tabs are interconnected by heat bonding together of adjacent tabs.
6. A stack of bags according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the lines of weakening are formed to allow detachment of the tabs from the handles by twisting the tabs relative to the handles.

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7. A stack of bags according to any of claims 4 to 6 wherein the tabs are formed at edges of the handles of each set of superimposed handles which are directed towards the other set of the superimposed handles, and a connecting piece extends between the two sets of handles and is connected to the tabs thereof to hold the handles in a required spaced relationship.
8. A stack of bags according to claim 7 wherein the tabs of each set of superimposed handles are formed with aligned slots in which the connecting piece is engaged to connect it to the tabs.
9. A stack of bags according to claim 8 wherein the connecting piece has ends of an arrow head form sufficiently over-size relative to the slots in the tabs to permit insertion of the ends, with flexing, through the slots and then resist their separation from the slots, so that the connecting piece is retained to the tabs.
10. A stack of bags according to claim 8 wherein the connecting piece has ends which are inserted through the slots in the tabs and secured together to retain the connecting piece to the tabs.
11. A stack of bags according to claim 8 wherein the connecting piece has ends which are inserted through the slots and are folded back against and secured to the main body of the connecting piece to retain the connecting piece to the tabs.
12. A stack of bags according to any of claim 7 to 11 wherein the connecting piece is made of cardboard.
13. A stack of bags according to any of claims 7 to 11 wherein the connecting piece is made of metal.
14.. A stack of bags according to any of claims 7 to 11 wherein the connecting piece is made of plastics material.
15. A stack of bags according to claim 2 wherein the retaining means comprises a band which closely encompasses the superimposed handles to restrain the handles from deviating from the properly superimposed attitude.
16. A stack of bags according to claim 2 wherein there is a separate band for each set of the superimposed handles.
17. A stack of bags according to claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the or each band has a separation part at which the band can be opened to separate it from the superimposed handles.
18. A stack of bags according to claim 17 wherein the separation part 20 comprises a line of weakening in the, or the respective, band.
19. A stack of bags according to claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the or each band is formed from card.
20. A stack of bags according to claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the or each band is formed from plastics material.
21. A stack of bags according to claim 2 wherein the retaining means comprises tubular inserts which are located in the holes at the 1 16 superimposed handles of the bags in the stack and are adapted to have the arms of a dispenser engaged therein.
22. A stack of bags according to claim 21 wherein each tubular insert comprises two co-operating tubular components which are applied to the holes from opposite sides of the respective set of superimposed handles and interconnect to hold the components securely together in the holes for the arms of a dispenser to be inserted therein.
23. A stack of bags according to claim 22 wherein the components of each tubular insert are separable from the respective set of superimposed handles when the handles have been engaged on an arm of the dispenser.
24. A stack of bags according to claim 23 wherein at least one of the components of each tubular insert has a separable part or parts which when removed allow separation of the insert from the handles.
25. A stack of bags according to claims 24 wherein the or each separable part is separable from the or the respective component by swapping part off the component.
26. A stack of bags according to any of claims 22 to 25 wherein the components of each tubular insert are plastics mouldings.
27. A stack of bags according to claim 25 or claim 26 as dependant from claim 25 wherein the or each separable part of the, or the respective, component is a frangible end part of the component projecting laterally of the insert, and the inserts are applied to the sets of superimposed handles of the bags in the stacks such the frangible end parts are at the same side 17 of the stack and bear on surfaces of the handles of the bag of the stack exposed at that side.
28. A stack of bags according to claim 27 wherein the tubular inserts are adapted to be engaged by reduced section outer end portions of the arms of a dispenser extending from larger section portions of the arms which the holes in the handles are able to receive.
29. A stack of bags according to claim 28 wherein the stack is adapted to have the inserts engaged by the reduced section outer end portions of the arms of a dispenser by offering the side of the stack at which the frangible end parts are presented for the outer end portions to engage in the respective components until the inserts meet the larger section portions of the arms, the arrangement being each that continued pushing of the stack onto the arms causes the surfaces of the bag on which the frangible end parts of the inserts bear to be urged against the frangible end parts and with additional force of pushing the frangible end parts can be caused to break away from the inserts, thereby enabling the inserts to remain on the outer end portions of the arms and the stack to be pushed off the inserts and onto the larger section portions of the arm so as to be supported by those portions.
30. A stack of bags according to any of claims 21 to 29 provided with a carrying handle which extends between the two sets of superimposed handles and is attached to the stack at the inserts located in the holes of the sets of handles.
31. A stack of bags according to claim 30 wherein the carrying handle is extendible between the sets of superimposed handles to allow for the 30 sets of handles to be splayed apart.

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32. A stack of bags according to claim 31 wherein the carrying handle has a folded portion which allows the extension of the handle.
33. A stack of bags according to any of claims 30 to 32 wherein the carrying handle is made of cardboard.
34. A stack of bags according to any of claims 30 to 32 wherein the carrying handle is made of sheet plastics material.
35. A stack of bags according to claim 1 wherein the retaining means comprises a connecting piece which extends between and is connected to the two sets of handles and includes the location means.
36. A stack of bags according to claim 35 wherein the connecting piece is attached to tabs on the superimposed handles of the bags formed integrally with the handles and separable therefrom at lines at weakening.
37. A stack of bags according to claim 36 wherein the tabs are interconnected.
38. A stack of bags according to claim 36 or claim 37 wherein the tabs of each set of superimposed handles are formed with aligned slots in which the connecting piece is engaged to connect it to the tabs.
39. A stack of bags according to claim 38 wherein the connecting piece has ends of an arrow head form sufficiently oversize relative to the slots in the tabs to permit insertion of the ends, with flexing, through the slots and then resist their separation from the slots, so that the connecting piece 30 is retained to the tabs.

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40. A stack of bags according to claim 38 wherein the connecting piece has ends which are inserted through the slots in the tabs and secured together to retain the connecting piece to the tabs.
41. A stack of bags according to claim 38 wherein the connecting piece has ends which are inserted through the slots and are folded back against and secured to the main body of the connecting piece to retain the connecting piece to the tabs.
42. A dispenser having spaced support arms and a stack of bags as claimed in any preceding claim supported on the support arms by location of the support arms with the location means of the stack.
43. A stack of bags substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 4, or 5 to 7, or 8 to 13 or 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings.
44. A dispenser and stack of bags substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 4, or 5 to 7 or 8 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.