WO2009141620A1

WO2009141620A1 - Carrier bag, a stack of bags and a bag dispenser/bag combination

Info

Publication number: WO2009141620A1
Application number: PCT/GB2009/001283
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adam Dickinson
Original assignee: Euro Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2008-05-22
Filing date: 2009-05-22
Publication date: 2009-11-26
Also published as: GB0809346D0; GB2460262A

Abstract

A carrier bag (10) comprises front and rear layers (12, 14) forming a closed base end (16), closed side edges (18, 20) and a open mouth end (22). Handles (24, 26) are separate from and secured to the front and rear layers. Apertures (28, 30) are formed through the front and rear layers (12, 14) so as to extend rally through the bag. The apertures are arranged spaced from one another, one on either side of the handles, preferably adjacent the mouth end. A stack of such bags and a dispenser carrying such a stack are also within the ambit of the invention.

Description

CARRIER BAG, A STACK OF BAGS AND A BAG DISPENSER/BAG COMBINATION The present invention relates to a carrier bag, a stack of such bags and a bag dispenser/bag combination particularly, although not exclusively limited to, longer life plastic carrier bags.

Stacks of bags made of thin gauge polyethylene film are well known for use in stores, particularly in supermarkets. The most typical configuration of such bags is made from a tube of film material which is gusseted and sealed to form a base, then cut to form handles at opposite sides of an open mouth. That configuration is commonJy referred to as a "vest-style" or "t-shirt" bag. It is known to arrange such thin gauge vest-style bags on a racking system which allows the first bag in a stack of bags on the rack to be retained in an open condition for filling with purchased goods.

More recently, retailers have introduced "longer life" plastic bags which are typically of much thicker gauge material, often with a high quality print and usually separate handle members adhered for additional strength. These bags tend to be displayed available for purchase, normally at or around the check-out area and are usually retained on a hook through the handles.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved carrier bag.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a carrier bag comprising front and rear layers forming a closed base end, closed sides and an open mouth end opposite the base end, a handle formation arranged at the mouth end, generally centrally of the mouth end and spaced from the side edges of the bag, a pair of apertures formed through the front and rear layers, the apertures being spaced apart from one another, one on either side of the handle formation and being arranged closer to the mouth end than the base end of the bag. In that way, the handle formation and apertures can be used to effect mounting of the bag on an existing racking system previously used for mounting a stack of thin gauge vest-style bags. Further advantageous features of the carrier bag in accordance with the first aspect of the invention are set out in the claims appended hereto.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a stack of bags having the features of the carrier bag of the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a bag dispenser and bag combination, the bag dispenser comprising first and second elongate arms spaced apart from one another and extending generally parallel one with the other, and a hook member arranged between the first and second arms, a bag comprising a carrier bag having the features of the first aspect of the invention and being arranged on the dispenser so that the first and second arms extend through the apertures and the hook member retains the handle formation of the bag.

Further features of the dispenser and bag combination are set out in the claims appended hereto.

A carrier bag, a stack of bags and a bag dispenser/bag combination in accordance with the above aspects of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.l is a perspective view of a first carrier bag in accordance with the first aspect of the invention in combination with a bag dispenser in accordance with the third aspect of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig.1 , showing the bag of Fig.l on an alternative dispenser where the bag is shown held open by the dispenser, and

Fig.3 is a view similar to Figs.l and 2 showing the dispenser of Fig.2 with another bag in accordance with the invention which is substantially wider than the bag of Figs.l and 2, again shown held open on the dispenser. In Fig.1 , a bag 10 comprises a substantially rectangular front layer 12 and a substantially identical rear layer 14. The front and rear layers 12, 14 are joined together along one end edge to form a closed base 16 and along opposite side edges to form closed sides 18, 20. The base 16 and/or the sides 18, 20 optionally include gusset formations (not shown) which may be formed prior to or subsequent to sealing of the front and rear layers 12, 14. The respective end edges of the front and rear layers 12, 14 opposite the base 16 are not joined together, thus forming an open mouth end 22. Front and rear handles, 24, 26 are secured to respective front and rear layers 12, 14 of the bag 10 at the open mouth end 22. The handles 24, 26 are arranged generally centrally of the bag 10 about a longitudinal centre line running parallel with the side edges. Apertures 28, 30 are formed in the upper corners of the front and rear layers 12, 14 so as to extend fully through the bag from the front to rear. The apertures 28, 30 are approximately equally spaced about the aforementioned centreline.

The handles 24, 26 each comprise an elongate strip of material which is formed separately from the bag then attached to the respective front and rear layers by an appropriate securing method. The securing may include welding, gluing, stitching or another appropriate method.

Each handle 24, 26 may be secured on the inner or outer face of the respective layer. In the bag of Figs.l and 2 the handles are secured to the inner faces of the layres.

The bag may alternatively be formed by a tube of material being cut and sealed to form the base and cut to form the mouth, the sides being defined by the tube.

In Fig.1 , the bag 10 is arranged on a bag dispenser 32. The bag dispenser 32 comprises an L-shaped frame formed from a base platform 34 and an upstanding wall

36. The upstanding wall 36 and the base platform 34 are configured to be approximately the same width as the bag 10. A pair of arms 38, 40 are arranged in opposite upper corners of the wall 36 and extend substantially perpendicular to the wall 36 parallel to and above the base portion 34. A U-shaped hook 42 extends generally upwardly from the rear surface of the upstanding wall 36.

In use, the bag 10 is arranged on the dispensing apparatus 32 so that the arms 38, 40 extend through the apertures 28, 30 and the handles 26, 24 are arranged over the hook 42. The height of the arms 38, 40 above the base portion 34 is just larger than the height of the bag from the apertures 38, 30 to the base end 16 so that when bags are arranged on the bag dispensing apparatus 32 they are suspended above the base.

A combination of the hook 42 supporting the handle portions 24, 26, centrally of the bag and the arms 38, 40 supporting the bag at its corners serves to ensure that the bag is supported fully across its width.

In Fig.2, the bag 10 of Fig, 1 is arranged on an alternative dispensing apparatus

44. Parts corresponding to parts in Fig.l carry the same reference numerals.

In Fig.2 the dispensing apparatus 44 is very similar to that shown in Fig.l with the exception that the arms 38, 40 are considerably shorter.

Again, the bag 10 is supported on the dispensing apparatus 44 by means of the arras 38, 40 projecting through the projections 28, 30 and the handles 26, 24 being secured by the hook portion 42.

In Fig.2 the bag 10 is shown in a mounted but open configuration. In that arrangement, the front layer 12 of the bag has been pulled off the dispensing apparatus so that the arms 38, 40 do not extend through the apertures 28, 30 in the front layer 12. The arms 38, 40 do extend through the apertures 28, 30 in the rear layer 14 and the handle 24 in the front layer is pulled off Ihe hook 42^' but the handle 26 on the rear layer is retained by the hook. In that case, the bag can be filled with purchased goods. Due to the size of the dispensing apparatus 44 and the bag 10, pulling of the front layer 12 from the dispensing apparatus and filling the bag with goods causes the base of the bag 16 to be supported by the base platform 34 which ensures that the weight of the goods in the bag during filling of the bag is taken by the base platform 34 rather than the plastic of the bag around the apertures 28, 30 and the plastic of the handle portion 26.

In Fig.3, the dispensing apparatus 44 has a different bag 46 mounted thereon. The bag 46 is shown in the open configuration as in Fig.2. Parts corresponding to parts in Figs.1 and 2 carry the same reference numerals.

In Fig.3, the bag 46 is similar to the bag 10 in Figs.l and 2 with the exception that it is substantially wider. In turn, the apertures 28, 30 formed adjacent the upper edge thereof in each layer 12, 14 are spaced inwardly from the side edges of the bag 46. The apertures 28, 30 remain spaced on either side of the handles 24, 26. The handles are secured to the outer faces of the layers.

Claims

1. A carrier bag comprising front and rear layers forming a closed base end, closed sides and an open mouth end opposite the base end, a handle formation arranged at the mouth end, generally centrally of the mouth end and spaced from the side edges, a pair of apertures formed in the front and rear layers so as to extend rully through the bag, the apertures being spaced apart from one another, one on either side of the handle formation and being arranged closer to the mouth end than the base end, the handle formation comprising a first handle part separate from and attached to the front layer of the bag and a second handle part separate from and attached to the rear layer of the bag.

2. A carrier bag according to claim 1 in which the apertures are arranged adjacent the mouth end.

3. A carrier bag according to claim 1 or 2 in which the apertures are arranged adjacent the side edges spaced inwardly therefrom sufficiently distant to prevent failure of the bag to the side edge when loaded and sufficiently close to the edge to allow supporting the bag substantially flat when arranged on a dispensing apparatus.

4. A carrier bag according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the handle formation is made of a different material than the front and rear layers.

5. A carrier bag according to any preceding claim in which the handle formation is thicker than at least one of the front and rear layers.

6. A carrier bag according to any preceding claim in which the handle formation is reinforced.

7. A carrier bag according to any preceding claim in which the area of the bag around the handle formation is reinforced.

8. A carrier bag according to any preceding claim in which one or both of the side edges and/or the base end is gusseted.

9. A stack of bags comprising a plurality of carrier bags in accordance with any preceding claim.

10. A stack of bags according to claim 9 in which the rear face of the rear layer of one bag in the stack is adhered to the front face of the subsequent bag in the stack by an appropriate adhesion method.

11. A dispensing apparatus and carrier bag combination, the dispensing apparatus comprising a pair of arms spaced apart from one another and a hook member arranged between the arms, the carrier bag being formed in accordance with any of claims 1 to 9, whereby the arms extend through the respective apertures and the hook member retains the handle formation.

12. A dispensing apparatus and carrier bag combination according to claim 11 in which a plurality of such bags is arranged on the dispensing apparatus.