GB2451836A

GB2451836A - Stack of bags

Info

Publication number: GB2451836A
Application number: GB0715793A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Alexander Clarkson
Original assignee: GLOBAL TRADING UK Ltd
Current assignee: GLOBAL TRADING UK Ltd
Priority date: 2007-08-14
Filing date: 2007-08-14
Publication date: 2009-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2027-08-14
Also published as: GB0715793D0; GB2451836B

Abstract

A stack (10) comprises identical vest-type bags (12) each bag (12) having a closed base (18), closed sides (18, 20) and an open mouth (22) opposite the base and two carrying handles (24). Each bag also has a mounting portion (26) adapted to be engaged with a dispenser in order to retain the stack. The mounting portion, which may conveniently be in the form of a tab (26) having a through aperture (28), forms part of the bag whereby it is removed with the bag when the bag is removed from the stack. Each bag may be separated from retaining members (29) of the dispenser during removal by tearing at a line of weakness (30) running from each aperture (28) to the periphery of the tab (26). The tabs may be on the handles as shown but similar projecting tabs may also be provided elsewhere, Figure 4. The bags may be folded to form the stack.

Description

1 2451836

DESCRIPTION

STACK OF BAGS

The present invention relates to a stack of bags and in particular, but not exclusively, to a stack of carrier bags for use with a dispenser.

It is known to provide a stack of vest-type bags, each bag having front and rear flexible walls defining a bag body having a closed base, closed sides and an open mouth opposite the base. The front and rear walls also define handles opposite the base end. A gab or bight exists between the handles, giving the folded bag the appearance of a sleeveless vest, hence the name "vest-type" bags.

As shown in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings, the bags are each formed with a securing portion 100, each of which is formed integrally with the associated bag and is attached to it by two lines of weakness 102, 104 at the upper ends of the handle portion. The bags are formed into a stack and as a consequence the securing portions 100 comprise a so-called header block 106, which is provided with two spaced-apart through apertures 108 110 which are each adapted to receive a retaining pin 112, 114 of a dispenser by means of which the stack of bags is suspended.

In use, the stack of bags is mounted so that it is suspended vertically or is inclined rearwardly. When it is desired to remove a bag, the upper bag from the stack is grasped and pulled in a direction away from the header block as shown by arrow A in Fig. 5. This severs the handle portions from the header block and allows the bag to be used as desired.

One problem with the known arrangement shown in Fig. 5 is that the header block 106 is waste material which increases the cost manufacturing and transporting the bags, due to the weight of the header block and which additionally needs to be disposed of when the bags have been removed. A second problem with the known arrangement is that the thickness of the header block remains constant irrespective of the number of bags dispensed, because the securing portion 100 of each bag remains when the bag is removed. Consequently, it is not possible to refill a dispenser with a new stack of bags until all of the bags of the previous stack have been removed.

in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is a provided a stack of vest-type bags, each bag comprising front and rear layers of flexible sheet material defining a bag body having a closed base, closed sides and an open mouth opposite the base and each bag defining two handles, each bag further comprising a mounting portion adapted to be engaged with a dispenser to retain the stack, the mounting portion forming part of the bag whereby it is removed with the bag when the bag is removed from the stack.

By forming the mounting portion as part of the bag, the mounting portion is removed when the bag is removed and no residue of the bag, such as a block header residue of the prior art, is left.

Preferably, the securing portion comprises an aperture for receipt of a retaining member.

The securing portion may also comprise a line of weakness.

In a preferred embodiment, the mounting portion comprises a projection in which the aperture is located.

Preferably, the securing portion comprises a tine of weakness.

The line of weakness preferably extends between the aperture and the periphery of the projection.

Preferably, the projection comprises an integrally-formed part of the bag.

Preferably, the bags are folded to form the stack and each bag comprises a mounting portion located on the periphery of each folded bag.

In one embodiment, a mounting portion is located on a handle of each bag.

A mounting portion may be located at the periphery of the open mouth of the bag.

Each bag may further comprise a plurality of mounting portions.

By way of example only, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. I is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a stack of bags in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stack of bags shown in Fig.; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the portion of the stack of bags shown at lii in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a stack of bags in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a stack of bags known from the prior art.

Referring firstly to Figs. I to 3, a stack 10 of vest-type bags comprises a plurality of individual, identical vest-type bags 12. Each bag comprises a front sheet 14 and an identical rear sheet (not visible) with a heat-sealed closed base end 16, closed sides 18, 20 and an open mouth end 22. A pair of spaced-apart handles 24 extends from the open mouth end.

As seen in Figs. I to 3, the inside peripheral edge of each of the handles 24 is provided with an integrally-formed part-circular tab 26 which is provided with a circular aperture 28. When the bags are formed into the stack 10, the tabs 26 and the apertures 28 in the tabs 26 are aligned with each other and are adapted to receive a respective one of two spaced-apart elongate retaining pins 29 forming part of a dispensing device (not shown) similar to the retaining pins 112, 114 of Fig. 5.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, each of the tabs 26 is also provided with a line of weakness 30 extending between the periphery of the aperture 28 and the periphery of the tab. In the embodiment illustrated, the line of weakness 30 comprises a row of perforations but other types of lines of weakness, such as a score line, may be used, if desired.

Moreover, in the embodiment illustrated the line of weakness 30 is shown as being inclined to the longitudinal direction of the bag handles, although other inclinations may be used, if desired, Indeed, more than one line of weakness may be provided, if desired.

In use, the stack of bags 10 is mounted on the spaced apart pins of a dispenser such that the stack lies with the planes of the bags 12 substantially vertical or tilted away from a user, whereby the uppermost bag 12 in the stack is presented to a user. In order to remove a bag from the stack, a user grasps the uppermost bag and pulls. Pulling the uppermost bag causes the two tabs 26 at the upper ends of the handle portion to tear, normally along the line of weakness 30 provided in the tabs. The bag 12 may then be opened and used in the normal manner.

It will be observed that the tabs 26 form an integral part of the bag and that when a bag 12 is removed from the stack, the tabs 26 are removed with the bag. Consequently, no remnants or residues of the bag remain when it has been removed from the stack 10.

When it is desired to replenish the dispenser with more bags, it is possible merely to locate another stack 10 of bags on top of the bags already loaded in the dispenser. In particular, because no header block or the like remains, it is not necessary to wait until all of the bags of the previous stack have been removed, to allow removal of the header block, before more bags can be loaded in the dispenser.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 4. This is identical to the first embodiment (and the same reference numerals indicate the same features), except that an additional integrally-formed tab 32 has been provided on the upper open edge of the periphery of the bag opening 32. As for the first embodiment, the tab 32 is provided with an aperture 34 which, when the bags are formed into a stack, receive an elongate pin (not shown) which forms part of a dispenser. As for the first embodiment, the tab 32 located at the bag opening 22 is also provided with a line of weakness 36, which in this embodiment is a line of perforations. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the line of weakness 36 extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bag handles 24 but other inclinations, other forms of lines of weakness and more than one line of weakness may be provided, if desired.

The invention is not restricted to the details of foregoing embodiments. In particular, as few as one tab for receipt of the pin of a dispenser may be provided or more than three tabs may be provided, if desired. Indeed, the bag may be provided with a plurality of apertures in order that the bags can fit onto the retaining pins of different types of dispensers without need for modification of the dispensers.

For example, Fig. 4 shows in dotted lines a few examples of the location of alternative, or additional, tabs of the same construction as described previously (which are preferably integrally formed as part of the bag). For example, a tab 40 may be located on the uppermost edge of one or both of the handles 24, a tab 42 may be located on the outer edge of one or both of the handles 24 adjacent to the upper end, a tab 44 may be located on one or both of the outer edges 18, 20 of the bag and a tab 46 may be located on the inner edge of one or both of the handles 24 between the upper edge of the handles and the bag opening 22.

However, these are only a few of the possible locations of a tab.

Claims

1. A stack of vest-type bags, each bag comprising front and rear layers of flexible sheet material defining a bag body having a closed base, closed sides and an open mouth opposite the base and each bag defining two handles, each bag further comprising a mounting portion adapted to be engaged with a dispenser to retain the stack, the mounting portion forming part of the bag whereby it is removed with the bag when the bag is removed from the stack.

2. A stack of bags as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing portion comprises an aperture for receipt of a retaining member.

3. A stack of bags as claimed in claim 2, wherein the securing portion comprises a tine of weakness.

4. A stack of bags as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mounting portion comprises a projection in which the aperture is located.

5. A stack of bags as claimed in claim 4, wherein the securing portion comprises a line of weakness.

6. A stack of bags as claimed in claim 5, wherein the line of weakness extends between the aperture and the periphery of the projection.

7. A stack of bags as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the projection comprises an integrally-formed part of the bag.

8. A stack of bags as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the bags are folded to form the stack and wherein each bag comprises a mounting portion located on the periphery of each folded bag.

9. A stack of bags as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising a mounting portion located on a handle.

10. A stack of bags as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising a mounting portion located at the periphery of the open mouth ofthe bag.

11. A stack of bags as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each bag further comprises a plurality of mounting portions.

12. A stack of vest-type bags substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figs. 1 to 3 or Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.