JP3421043B2 - Flexible bag for containing compressed product with improved opening - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved side opening top gusset, rectangular flexible bag (10) for containing a stack of compressed flexible articles (20). The bag has front and back panels (40, 41), two side panels (30, 31) and top and bottom panels (50, 51), all of which are connected together to form an internal compartment (19) for containing the stack under compression. The stack is arranged within the bag in such a way that the side panels are under tension. The bag further including two welds one adjacent each juncture between the top (50) and the side panels (30, 31). Each of the welds joins the top and the panels together along a continuous line (100) so as to create external pockets (2, 3) on the bag. The external pockets have no access to the internal compartment of the bag. The bag further including a continuous line of weakness (5) located at least partially within one of the side panels. The line of weakness defines a portion (25) of the side panel to be at least partially separated from the remainder of the side panel for gaining access to said articles. The improvement to the bag is that the bag further includes a pull tab (7), adjacent to the line of weakness, for initiating the opening of the bag along the line of weakness. The pull tab is located on the side panel having the line of weakness (5) and is located on the pocket (2) so as to reduce the exposure of the articles to the atmosphere.

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is capable of containing and easily opening numerous compressible products such as disposable absorbent bandages, baby diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinence briefs, and the like. It relates to a flexible bag.

The present invention relates to a bag having pull tabs on the side panels to initiate opening of the bag.

Background Art Relatively soft compressible products such as disposable diapers, sanitary pads, incontinence briefs, etc. have been around for the last 20 years.
It has become widely used in many countries over the last 30 years.
In the past, these products were usually folded at their midpoints and collected in stacks, with little or no compression in a direction approximately parallel to their thickness, and then on board or cardboard or flexible bags. Inserted in.
In such an environment, the dimensions of the paperboard or cardboard or flexible bag were determined by the number of separate products contained in a stack located within the carton or bag.

Particularly in the field of disposable absorbent products in the United States, a recent consumer purchasing tendency is that a large amount of disposable absorbent products are often purchased at a time in a single purchase at a low frequency. Manufacturers respond to this by continuing to grow the number of distinct products contained in one package,
Baby diapers have come to produce a large number of jumbo packs containing relatively large amounts of disposable absorbent products such as 32,44,48,64. The relatively low density of the flexible compressed product results in a packaged product of high volume but low density. The combination of large volume and light weight increases the storage and handling costs for the manufacturer, quickly fills the limited shelf space of the retail industry, and creates inconvenience for storage and use for consumers. Moreover, the relatively large volume of packaging material needed to contain the disposable absorbent material in the compressed state must be discarded when the packaging is completely empty. In the case of a carton, this forces the end user to collapse and minimize the volume of the empty container before placing it in the trash basket.

Recently, manufacturers have begun to pack relatively large numbers of products into small flexible plastic bags while compressing in order to overcome the problems with packaging of compressible products. An example of such a bag is the US Pat. No. 3,849, entitled "Side-Opening Flexible Bag with Longitudinal Support Handles Fixed to Side Panels", issued to Mackenf on October 8, 1991. 5,054,619, which is incorporated herein by reference. This reference shows a side opening top gusseted flexible plastic bag containing a stack of compressed flexible products. The bag has upper, lower, front, rear and side panels, which are tensioned. The bag has a continuous line of weakening formed on at least a portion of one of the side panels for removal of a portion of the side panel for removal of the product. These types of bags usually have pull tabs on the side panels to initiate opening of the bag. The pull tab has a length of cut extending through the bag material so that a consumer's thumb or finger can be inserted therein to initiate opening of the bag.

A drawback of the package described above is that the product containing the cut forming the pull tab that initiates opening exposes the contained product to the atmosphere prior to opening and undesirably stains the outside of the product. Outer soils are perceived as undesirable in sanitary products because they come into contact with the body. This dirt is undesirable both for safety and aesthetics. Dirt is perceived by the consumer as it can introduce harmful microbes to the user. In addition, liquid stains destroy products such as absorbent products. Protecting the diaper from outside stains before opening is an important feature for consumers.

Therefore, there is a need to have a flexible bag that contains a large number of flexible products under compression, reducing the exposure of the unopened product to the outside.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a side-opening upper gusseted flexible bag in which the pull tab contains a stack of flexible products in a compressed state before the pull tab exposes the product to external dirt. is there.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bag having a handle that can be manipulated after opening.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a side opening upper gusseted, generally rectangular parallelepiped flexible bag for containing compressed flexible products which are arranged to overlap. The bag has opposing front and rear panels, two opposing side panels and opposing upper and bottom panels, the entire panels being in a compressed state to tension the opposing side panels. They are connected together to form an interior chamber that houses the stack. The bag has two welds, one adjacent each joint between the top and side panels. Each of the welds joins the upper and side panels together along a substantially continuous line to create an outer pocket in the bag. The outer pocket does not communicate with the inner chamber. The bag has a continuous line of weakness that is located at least in part on one side panel. The line of weakness is
A portion of the side panel is defined such that it is at least partially separated from the rest of the side panel for removal of the product. An improvement to the bag is that the bag has a pull tab adjacent the weakening line, the pull tab having a means by which the bag can begin to break along a substantially continuous weakening line so that the bag can be opened. The pull tab is located in the pocket adjacent to the side panel with weakened lines to reduce exposure of the product to the atmosphere.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the invention, it can be better understood from the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a simple perspective view of a flexible bag according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a flexible bag according to the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a simplified perspective view of a bag of the present invention showing how a consumer grasps a pull tab to open it.

FIG. 3B is a drawing similar to FIG. 3A, but showing the bag after it has been opened.

FIG. 4 is a drawing similar to FIG. 1 showing another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention describes an embodiment that accommodates one or more folded disposable absorbent diapers and provides a flexible bag that can be easily opened. Is not limited to. As will be more readily pointed out herein, the present invention is practical in providing storage, shipping and handling costs when including a flexible product that is highly compressible in at least one dimension, such as thickness. Have a positive effect. In addition, the present invention can automatically withdraw one separate flexible product at a time by the action of compressive forces acting on the flexible product during the useful life of the bag. It is preferable to easily open the flexible bag of the compressed disposable diaper. The detailed description provided herein will enable others skilled in the art to readily use the invention. To

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a particularly preferred embodiment of a generally rectangular parallelepiped flexible bag 10 having lateral openings and upward gussets according to the present invention. The bag 10 has a number of flexible products 20 that are compressed and arranged to overlap. Bag 10
Has opposing front and rear panels 40 and 41, opposing side panels 30 and 31, opposing top and bottom panels 50 and 51. All the aforementioned panels are connected together to form an inner chamber for accommodating a stack of flexible products 20 that have been compressed with a compressive force. A stack of compressed flexible products is placed in bag 10 to tension side panels 30 and 31.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, flexible bag 10 is a top gusseted bag formed by folding film, paper, plastic or other suitable material. The general method of forming flexible bags with a gusset on top of a continuous web of material is well known in the art. A common method of making a flexible bag with a gusset on top as well as the bag of the present invention and filling it with product is the "Fixed to Side Panels" published by Mackenfu on October 8, 1991. U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,619 entitled "Side Panel Flexible Bag With Longitudinal Support Handles".

The improvements in the construction of these bags according to the invention are:
It is best explained by referring to FIG. 1 in connection with FIG. FIG. 2 is a simplified side view of bag 10 in a folded and flat condition prior to being filled with product 20. The bag is folded along the upper gusset and the upper panel 50 is crushed and folded inward so that it is parallel to the side panel 40. In addition, the bag is folded around the half line of side panels 30 and 31, which are folded parallel to side panel 40. As can be seen in both FIGS. 1 and 2, the bag 10 includes at least a portion of the side panel 30.
With a continuous weakening line 5 arranged at. Weak line 5
It defines a predetermined portion of the side panel 30, which portion 25
It defines a predetermined portion 25 of the side panel 30 that is partially separated from the rest of the side panel so that the product 20 can be removed.

The bag 10 has a handle 80 for easy transportation. The handle 80 preferably extends longitudinally across the top of the bag between the side walls 30 and 31. Handle 80 is preferably made from the same material as the bag or other suitable material. Handle 80
It can be secured to the bag 10 by any suitable known material. The bag 10 has a top 50 and side panels 30 so that the handles can better support the weight of the bag.
Adjacent to the connection between and is a reinforcement weld. However, FIG. 2 shows the reinforcement welds adjacent to the side panel 30, with similar webs at corresponding locations on the side panel 31. This reinforcing web joins the top panels with side panels 30 and 31 along a substantially continuous line 100 to create outer pockets 2 and 3 as shown in FIG. The weld also connects the handle 80 to the bag. Preferably the weld extends from line 100 to the top of the bag. The outer pockets 2 and 3 are reinforcement welds 1
Manufactured from the portion of the side wall and top wall adjacent the joint 53 at. The inner chamber 19 cannot be accessed from the outer pockets 2 and 3.

An improvement over the flexible bag 10 according to the present invention is the placement of the pull tab 7 to initiate the opening of the bag. The present invention is to place the pull tab 7 in the pocket 2. This prevents the product from being exposed to the atmosphere before opening. This is because the pocket 2 does not communicate with the inner chamber. The pull tab 7 has means for initiating a break along a substantially continuous weakening line 5. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pull tab 7 is formed by a predetermined length of cut extending through the pocket 2. As can be seen from FIGS. 3A and 3B, the pull tab 7 is designed such that the consumer can easily insert his thumb or finger into the pull tab and begin to break along the line of weakness 5 to remove a portion of the portion 25 and remove the product 20. To be able to put it out for use. Since the pull tab 7 is located above the reinforcing web of the pocket 2 rather than below it, the exposure of the product to the atmosphere before opening is considerably reduced.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the handle 80
Is secured to the bag along or on the reinforcing web 1 so as to be located inside the pockets 2 and 3 and along the side panels 30 and 31. Reinforcement welds enhance the attachment of the handle to the bag so that the handle can easily support the weight of the bag. The handle 80 is preferably wider than the pull tab 7 and is secured to the side panel 30 in the area outside the pull tab 7 to allow the handle to remain in place and act when the bag is opened. However, it is also possible to implement the invention without a handle if the weld is located elsewhere on the bag.

The shape of the pull tab 7 should be such that it can be easily grasped by the user so as to exert sufficient force to pull the panel opening along the line of weakening 5. Preferably, it is large enough for most people to be able to fit the tip of their finger. 25 part removed from the bag
Should be large enough so that the product can be easily removed. However, it also needs to be small enough that the product does not pop out of the bag when opened. As best seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the unconstrained fold edges of the compressed product 20 spread the side panels 30 that are tensioned when the bag is opened, in a fan-like arrangement. Begin to protrude through the opening. This will release some of the compressive force on the compressed disposable diaper 20 contained within the flexible bag 15. However, it should be noted that the upper end of the material, which is partially separated from the sidewall 30, remains attached to the flexible bag 15. Therefore, the support handle fixed to the side panel 30 in the area 82
The end of 80 remains fully functional if the user wishes to support the bag by the handle after opening.

Another embodiment of a pull tab according to the present invention is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a simplified perspective view of bag 110 according to the present invention. Bag 110 is a bag except pull tab 107
Similar to 10. The pull tab 107 has two weakening lines 171 and 172 extending from the beginning of the reinforcing web to the upper edge of the bag.
Have. Lines of weakness 171 and 172 by pulling on the pull tab 107 break the bag along those lines,
Break the bag according to 05 and open the bag.

In one preferred embodiment, the continuous weakening line 5 comprises a continuous drilling line. In this case, line 5 has different land-to-perforation ratios along different parts of the line. At the top of the bag where the user needs to break the portion of the bag where the top panel, side panels and handles are all secured together, the land-to-perforation ratio must be quite small, depending on the amount of material that needs to be broken.
If the part where the handle is fixed to the upper and side panels is on the welding line, the land to drilling ratio can be increased. Currently, in the portion below the weld line, only the sidewalls are broken, so that the land-to-perforation ratio can be further increased. In one embodiment, the preferred material of which the bag is made is a polymer film, such as polyethylene, of the lowest possible density of about 50 to 75 microns with a handle made of the same material.
In this case, it is preferable but not necessary,
The land-to-perforation ratio is 2: 3 when breaking three layers of material, 3: 3 when two layers need to be broken, and four when only the side panels need to be broken. : 3.

While various embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The terms used in describing the invention are for the purpose of description and not for the purpose of limitation. All equivalents are within the scope of the claims.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Fever, Francis Robert, Mississauga Burnham Soap, Road, West, Ontario, Canada, 7-2199 (56) Reference JP-A-3-669 (JP, A) JP Flat 2-109858 (JP, A) JP-A-4-242568 (JP, A) Actual Open 5-55915 (JP, U) Actual Open 4-118339 (JP, U) Actual Open Sho 59-96155 (JP , U) Actually open 58-163450 (JP, U) Actually open 55-36199 (JP, U) Actually open 1-91753 (JP, U) Actually open 3-60342 (JP, U) Actually open 3-69669 (JP, U) Special table 5-503059 (JP, A) Special table 6-503537 (JP, A) Special table 6-511451 (JP, A) International publication 93/016929 (WO, A1) ) (58) investigated the field (Int.Cl. ^7, D Name) B65D 75/62 B65D 33/10 B65D 43/10

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A substantially rectangular parallelepiped back of a side opening upper gusset type for accommodating flexible products arranged to be compressed in an overlapping manner, the front and rear panels being opposed to each other. Side panels and opposing upper and bottom panels, the entire panels together forming an interior chamber for containing the laminate in a compressed state to tension the opposing side panels. Connected,
The bag has at least two welds, one adjacent to the junction between the top panel and the side panel, each of the welds being substantially continuous to create an outer pocket in the bag. Joining the upper panel and the side panel together along a general line, the outer pocket is not in communication with the inner chamber, and the bag is at least partly from the rest of the side panel for product removal. In a flexible bag having a weakening line substantially continuous to at least a portion of one side panel so as to define a predetermined portion of the side panel so as to separate, with a pull tab adjacent the weakening line, and The pull tab has means for initiating tearing of the bag along a substantially continuous line of weakening so that the bag can be opened, said pull tab exposing the product to the atmosphere. Flexible bag characterized in that it is arranged in a pocket adjacent the side panel having a line of weakness in order to reduce and. 2. The flexible bag of claim 1 wherein the means for initiating the bag along the line of weakening has a length of cut extending through the pocket containing the means. 3. A means for initiating a bag to break along said line of weakening is a point adjacent a point where welding begins along a substantially continuous line to connect said top and side panels to the upper edge of said pocket. The flexible bag of claim 1, having two additional lines on the pocket extending from the pocket. 4. The flexible bag of claim 1, wherein the bag has a handle. 5. The flexible bag of claim 4, wherein the handle extends longitudinally across the upper panel. 6. The flexible bag of claim 5, wherein the handle is secured along the pocket. 7. The flexible bag of claim 6, wherein the handle is secured to the bag after opening the bag. 8. The flexible bag of claim 1, wherein the bag is made from a polymer film. 9. The flexible bag of claim 1, wherein the substantially continuous weakening line is a perforation line.