WO1988005415A1

WO1988005415A1 - Container for use with plastic bags

Info

Publication number: WO1988005415A1
Application number: PCT/US1988/000167
Authority: WO
Inventors: Virginia Bivona
Original assignee: Virginia Bivona
Priority date: 1987-01-23
Filing date: 1988-01-22
Publication date: 1988-07-28

Abstract

A device (10) for supporting a plastic grocery type bag (12) as a liner, the container being assembled from a one-piece paperboard blank.

Description

CONTAINER FOR USE WITH PLASTIC BAGS FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to devices for supporting a plastic bag having integral handle openings, particularly such plastic bags as are commonly used by grocery and other retail stores to pack groceries or other consumer items at checkout lines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past few years, many grocery and other retail stores world-wide have begun to offer plastic bags at their checkout counters to hold groceries and other items for trans¬ port by their customers. A general trend appears to reflect the replacing of paper bags, as for example the conventional brown paper grocery store bag, by plastic bags in these commer¬ cial applications. Such bags typically are assembled from thin plastic films and have two lateral cutouts proximal to the bag's opening which form handles in the form of looped plastic bands to facilitate holding and carrying such bags by both straps with one hand when loaded. A second, accompanying trend reflects the desireability of reusing plastic bags in the home as household trash and waste receptacles or as liners for trash containers.

Commercial trash can liners are available in the form of plastic bags that fit within the hollow cavity of a trash can. Such liners typically are of a length greater than the height of their intended receptable so that the upper rim of the bag may be folded back over the upper rim of the trash can to prevent the bag from slipping down inside of the can. Gen¬ erally, paper bags are rigid enough to be sufficiently self- supporting when used as a liner in conjunction with a rigid external container, and can thus be reused for home applica¬ tions at no cost.

' Paper grocery store bags have been used as liners in household waste baskets and trashcans by standing the bags open-end-up in such containers to thereby receive waste for disposal. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,011,983 to Greene provides a bag container in the form of a paperboard or solid fiber outer container shaped to accomodate a paper bag within the container.

One disadvantage of paper goods, however, is that they more easily tear when heavily loaded, and disintegrate when they become wet due to rain or to the moisture on the items which they contain. The plastic bags available for reuse as liners, in contrast, are relatively easy to carry because they have preformed carrying handles, exhibit a greater tear resistance and are impervious to water damage.

Plastic bags, although advantageous for reuse because of their strength and water imperviousness properties as noted above, are not self supporting and cannot stand upright in wastebaskets as do paper bags. Several attempts have been made to develop containers of various configurations adaptable for supporting a plastic bag for reuse. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,576,310 to Isgar et al. discloses a rigid, self- sustaining plastic container having cooperating notches and hooks for supporting a plastic bag by fastening its handles.

Alternatively, U.S. Patent No. 4,338,979 to Dow dis¬ closes a bag holding device having a rectangular structure con¬ taining an external peripheral notch, and utilizes an elastic band which encircles the outside of the structure over a plas¬ tic bag suspended within the container, the band resting inside the notch.

Other container apparatuses for use with plastic bags are variously disclosed by U.S. Patents No. 4,558,800 to Isgar et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,535,911 to Goulter and U.S. Patent No. 4,418,835 to Watts. Each of these patents describes a sup¬ porting system for use with a container internally holding a plastic bag having handles. The disclosures of these patents provide a clip, bracket or other mounting attachment for use with a container and over which the handles of such a plastic bag are draped or otherwise fastened. Some of these containers require additional components to fasten the bracket to the con¬ tainer, and some brackets may further penetrate the container, thereby requiring other components and additional fastening steps during assembly. None of the foregoing patents, however, disclose a completely functional one-piece container device of economical cardboard construction that can be folded and stacked com¬ pactly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a cardboard device assembled from a unitary blank useful for sup¬ porting plastic bags, such as the increasingly-more common plastic grocery bags, for a variety of reuse functions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel device for supporting a plastic bag having han¬ dles and integral handle openings. It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a suitable container for plastic bags that can be easily and economically manufactured and pro¬ vided in the market at a relatively low cost.

The foregoing objects are satisfied in accordance with the present invention which is a device comprising a hol¬ low, rigid paperboard supporting structure. The structure has a length dimension substantially corresponding to the depth of a bag to be supported by the structure, and further has a con¬ tinuous peripheral edge at one end. The edge is configured to have at least one pair of opposing recesses spaced by tab extensions, the tabs having a width dimension substantially perpendicular to the length dimension for fitting within a re¬ spective handle opening. The tabs also have a height dimension substantially parallel to the length dimension for supporting the handles of the plastic bag.

In another aspect, the supporting structure of the present invention is capable of being folded flat and stacked. As embodied herein, the device also includes a base portion having interlocking flange members of a configuration known in the art as the standard automatic bottom.

Preferably, the supporting structure of the present invention is glazed with plastic in a manner sufficient to im¬ part water resistance to the structure.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate two embodi ents of the invention and, together with the descrip¬ tion, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a cardboard blank from which the device of Fig. 1 is assembled.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of an alternative embodiment of a cardboard blank from which the claimed device is assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the illustration of the preferred embodiments in the drawings, in which similar parts of the invention are identified by the same reference numerals, there is seen in Fig. 1 a device 10 for supporting a plastic bag 12 having integral handle openings and a pair of lateral handles, the combination of device and bag forming a box-like container 14 which can accept trash or other materials. In Fig. 1, the device is shown as a supporting structure in the form of a rigid, hollow rectangular sleeve constructed of relatively thin walls made out of paperboard, cardboard or equivalent thereto.

The device 10 is formed from a unitary piece, and has a back panel 16 connected along one vertical fold 18 (folds il¬ lustrated and being represented in Figs. 2 and 3 by dotted lines) to a first side panel 20 and connected along an opposite vertical fold 22 to a second side panel 24. Vertical folds 26 and 28 along side panel 20 and side panel 24, respectively, are connected to a front panel 30. Panels 16, 20, 24 and 30 so connected form a hollow sleeve or cavity 32 which can accomodate a plastic bag having integral handle openings, as described below.

At the upper end of device 10, a pair of opposing re¬ cesses 34 extend downwardly relative to a pair of opposing tab extensions 36 which, taken together, define a continuous pe¬ ripheral edge. Tabs 36 fit upwardly within the two handle^' openings of a plastic grocery-type bag 12, and the bag's han¬ dles loop around tabs 36 so that the bag is thereby supported with bag 12 hanging either within the hollow central space 32 of device 10 or outside of device 10. In either container con¬ figuration, the device 10 holds the bag open in a liner config¬ uration adapted for receiving objects, such as trash, for exam¬ ple.

At the bottom of device 10, recessed feet 38 may be formed in several equivalent ways. One structure is shown most clearly by Fig. 2, which represents a cardboard blank from which device 10 is assembled, in which feet 38 are formed by cutting entirely through the blank along lines 40. When assem¬ bled into a device 10, the portion of the blank between cut lines 40 and a bottom edge 42 are pressed inwardly to form feet 38 which are smaller rectangular tubes that provide stability and support to the container.

The device of Fig. 1 is assembled by folding the blank of Fig. 2 along folds represented by dotted lines 18, 22, 26 and 28 so as to form the four rectangular panels 16, 20, 24 and 30 (a and b) . In assembly of the device, it can be seen that front panel 30 is formed of two front panel portions 30a and 30b which overlap and are fastened together by conventional techniques such as glue along seam 44. It is contemplated that equivalent fastening means may be utilized to fasten the panels 30a and 30b together, such as double faced tape or rivets,* as examples. The blank may preferably be creased by conventional techniques in the stamping operation by which the blank is itself cut free and cut lines 40 are made.

The device of the present invention is advantageously foldably flattened along diagonally opposite fold lines 18 and 28 or 22 and 26 after assembly from the blank. This feature allows for economical stacking, shipping and handling as well as printing should decorative illustrations or corporate logos be desired.

The device 10 is assembled for ultimate use by pull¬ ing opposing panels outwardly to form a rectangular sleeve about cavity 32. Plastic bag 12, when inserted within cavity 32, is supported by looping the bag's handles around tabs 36 which thereby project upwardly through the bag's lateral handle openings. In yet another configuration, device 10 sits inside of bag 12 and the bags handles are looped around tabs 36 in an analogous fashion. With the latter configuration, it is con¬ templated that device 10 will not be reused but, rather, will be thrown away along with the bag and its contents.

An alternative embodiment of a cardboard blank according to the present invention is shown in Fig. 3 in which panels 116, 120, 124 and 130 (a and b) are folded along folds represented by dotted lines 118, 122, 126 and 128 in a manner analogous to trie method of assembly of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2. A bottom portion of this embodiment is formed by a flange 146 and paired flanges 148 and 150 which result from folding the blank along a fold represented by dotted line 152. This bottom is known in the carton arts as an "automatic bot¬ tom, " and the method of interlocking the illustrated flange portions is conventional.

The upper portion of the embodiment of Fig. 3 to which a plastic bag is attached is formed by four notches or cut-outs 154 in a continuous peripheral upper edge 156 at the fold lines where the front and back panels 116 and 130 (a and b) meet their adjacent side panels 120 and 124 to form corners. Notches 154 are analogous in function to recesses 34 and the remaining portions of the upper edge 156 along the side panels are analogous to tabs 36. These notches are of a sufficient depth to facilitate ease of use and to accomodate the handles of a plastic bag looped through the notches and around the side panels, and to securely suspend the bag 12 either internally or externally of the device 10. A perspective view of the device assembled from the blank of Fig. 3 is not provided. Fig. 3 being sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice this embodiment.

The dimensions of containers within the scope of the present invention preferably correspond to the dimensions of the plastic bags with which they are to be used. For example, the following measurements are preferred as they will most readily accomodate the two-riandled plastic bags presently used by grocery stores. Such bags have a sack with a height of about 17 inches, width of about 12 inches, handles extending upwardly for about 6 inches from the sack portion, and handle openings having about a 6.5 in. maximum stretched width.

Front and Back Panels: Height 15.5 in

Width 12.5 in. Side Panels: Height 15.5 in.

Width 5.5 in. Fig. 1 Recesses 34 1 in. lower than tabs 36 Fig. 3 Notches 154 1 in. lower than edge 156 From the foregoing, it can be seen that the length (or height) dimension of the device corresponds substantially to the depth of the bag to be supported, the tabs have a width dimension adapted for fitting within and extending through a handle opening and a height dimension adequate to support the handles of the bag.

The thickness of the cardboard blanks should be se¬ lected in order to satisfy requirements for strength and ease in assembly. Standard thicknesses ranging from about 1/16 in. to 1/8 in. will generally be preferred for most applications. Absolute sizes and relative porportions may be varied as needed.

It is contemplated that other features and refine¬ ments of the present invention may be incorporated to enhance the durability or attractiveness of the claimed invention. For example, the blank may be glazed with plastic in order to ren¬ der the container resistant or impervious to water. Addition¬ ally, the outer surface of the container may bear illustrations or other promotional decorative designs such as corporate logos.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the overall size and relative configurations of the component parts described above without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided that they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

-8-WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A device for supporting a plastic bag having in¬ tegral handles and handle openings formed therein, said device comprising: a hollow, rigid paperboard supporting structure ^"having a length dimension substantially corresponding to the depth of the bag to be supported; said structure having a con¬ tinuous peripheral edge at one end thereof, said edge being configured to have at least one pair of opposing recesses spaced by tab extensions; said tabs having a width dimension sustantially perpendicular to said length dimension for fitting within a respective handle opening, and a height dimension sub¬ stantially parallel to said length dimension for supporting said handles of said plastic bag.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said supporting structure is capable of being folded flat and stacked.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said supporting structure further comprises a standard automatic bottom.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said supporting structure further comprises a plastic glaze sufficient to im¬ part water resistance.

5. A container for trash comprising: a plastic bag having integral handles and handle openings formed therein; and a hollow, rigid paperboard supporting structure having a length dimension substantially corresponding to the depth of said bag; said structure having a continuous peripher¬ al edge at one end thereof, said edge being configured to have at least one pair of opposing recesses spaced by tab exten¬ sions; said tabs having a width dimension substantially perpen¬ dicular to said length dimension extending through a respective handle opening and a height dimension substantially parallel to said length dimension supporting said handles of said plastic bag.