Abstract:
An apparatus for carrying and delivering pourable product. The apparatus comprises a bag having a centerline and a pouring region formed on one side of the centerline. A handle is operably connected to the bag and is on an opposite side of the centerline from the pouring region.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This disclosure herein relates generally to the field of bags used to carry pourable product, and more particularly to the ergonomic disposition of handles on bags used to carry pourable product.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Bags are often used to transport and act as a unit of commerce for pourable products. For example, seeds (such as birdseed and grass seed), dry cement, cat litter and water softening salt are often displayed for sale in bags on grocery store shelves. Those same bags are used to contain the product until it can be poured into its ultimate receptacle for use. Thus, such a bag should be designed to facilitate ergonomically convenient carrying and pouring of the contained product if the bag is to encourage a consumer to choose it for purchase over that of a competing bag of similar product.  
           [0003]    Because many pourable products are sold in large units, the bags containing those products are unwieldy without the presence of some sort of mechanism aiding in the handling of the bag. Adding to the difficulty presented by the size of the bag is the additional problem that such bags of product are often heavy. Accordingly, carrying and manipulating such a bag has typically been aided by locating a centrally-disposed handle upon the bag. Even an ordinarily large and unwieldy bag may be easily carried with a single hand with the aid of a handle.  
           [0004]    As shown in FIG. 1, handles  100  are traditionally formed as holes defined within a header seal  102  that runs across the top edge  104  of a bag  105 . The bag  105  has first and second lower corners  106  and  108 . These handles  100  are centrally located to permit a consumer or user to carry the bag  105  in a balanced fashion and provide a lever arm R 1  that extends from the handle to a lower corner  108  that is positioned below a pouring region  110  defined within a corner. These handles may be defined, in part, by the top edge  104 . While a bag  105  fashioned with such a handle  100  may be relatively easy to carry, such a bag  105  with this handle placement does not maximize the user&#39;s mechanical advantage gained by use of the handle  100  during pouring. Additionally, such a bag  105  does not maximize the controllability of the pouring aperture, potentially leading to some of the product mistakenly missing its target and thereby going to waste.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    In general terms, the present invention relates to bags having a handle offset from the center of a bag opposite from a pouring spout or opening, wherein the center is defined by the two side edges of the bag. This configuration increases the lever action and mechanical advantage when a person pours contents from the bag.  
           [0006]    One possible aspect of the invention is directed toward an apparatus for carrying and delivering pourable product. The apparatus comprises a bag having a centerline and a pouring region formed on one side of the centerline. A handle is operably connected to the bag and is on an opposite side of the centerline from the pouring region.  
           [0007]    Another possible aspect of the invention comprises a bag having first and second side walls, an interior volume, an end edge, oppositely disposed corners formed along the end edge, a centerline and a pouring region formed on one side of the centerline. Birdseed is positioned within the interior volume. A handle is operably connected to the bag and is adjacent one corner. The pouring region is adjacent to the oppositely disposed corner. The handle is defined by a hole passing through the first and second sidewalls.  
           [0008]    Another possible aspect of the invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a bag for carrying and delivering pourable product. The method comprises: providing a bag having an end edge and oppositely disposed corners defined along the end edge; defining a pouring region adjacent to one corner of the bag; and positioning a handle adjacent to the oppositely disposed corner of the bag.  
           [0009]    Another possible aspect of the invention is a method of pouring contents from a bag. The method comprises: gripping a handle on a bag with a first hand, the handle being positioned adjacent to a corner along a first end edge of the bag; gripping a second corner of the bag with a second hand, the second corner being positioned along a second end edge of the bag, the second end edge of the bag being positioned opposite the first end edge, and the second corner being positioned catercorner from the handle; and rotating the bag and pouring the contents through a hole defined adjacent to a corner along the first end edge of the bag and oppositely disposed from the handle. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 illustrates a prior-art bag having a centrally disposed handle.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a side-view of a bag configured according to one possible embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the bag illustrated in FIG. 2 taken along line  3 - 3 .  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 illustrates the bag shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 being tipped to demonstrate a mechanical advantage provided by the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the bag illustrated in FIGS.  2 - 4 .  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a side view of another alternative embodiment of the bag illustrated in FIGS.  2 - 4 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a side view of another alternative embodiment of the bag illustrated in FIG. 2- 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to the preferred embodiment does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto.  
         [0018]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a bag is generally shown as  200 . The bag  200  is formed by two sidewalls  202  and  204  that are sealed along their perimeter  206  to define an interior volume  207 . The bag  200  has a first end edge  208 , a second end edge  210 , and first and second side edges  212  and  214 . The first edge  208  and the first side edge  212  form a first corner  216 , and the first end edge  208  and the second side edge  214 , form a second corner  218 . Similarly, the second edge  210  and the first side edge  212  form a third corner  220 , and the second end edge  210  and the second side edge  214 , form a fourth corner  222 . The first and second side edges  212  and  214  define a centerline  224 . Although the first end edge  208  is depicted as being at the top of the bag  200  and the second end edge  210  is depicted as being at the bottom, the first end edge  208  may be considered to be along the bottom of the bag  200 , while the second end edge is along the top. When so considered, corners  216  and  218  are considered to be along the bottom edge of the bag  200 , while corners  220  and  222  are considered to be along the top. The bag  200  can be formed using a variety of different materials such as plastics or cloth. Examples of plastics include polyethylene and polystyrene. Examples of cloth include burlap and cotton.  
         [0019]    In one possible embodiment, a dashed line  226  is printed on the surface of the bag  200  to form a pouring region  228  and indicate where a user should cut open the bag  200  to form a pouring hole. The dashed line  226  extends diagonally across the second corner  218  of the bag  200  and from the first end edge  208  of the bag  200  to the second side edge  214  of the bag  200 . In another possible embodiment, perforations are defined across the second top corner  218  in an orientation similar to which the dashed line  226  is drawn. The perforations provide a structural weakness in the bag  200  that permits a person to tear open the second corner  218  of the bag  200  and define a pouring hole (as illustrated in FIG. 4). Other embodiments are possible. Examples include a pouring spout that is positioned at the pouring region  228  and is in fluid communication with the interior volume  207  of the bag  200 , a removable patch that covers a hole in the bag  200 , a pull string that a user can pull to tear open a portion of or all of the first end edge  208  of the bag  200 , and a zipper closure or any other sort of resealable closure running across the first end edge  208  of the bag  200 .  
         [0020]    A handle  230  is formed in or attached to the bag  200  and is positioned proximal to the first end edge  208  of the bag  200 . The handle  230  is offset from the centerline  224  of the bag  200 . In one possible embodiment, the handle  230  is positioned adjacent to the first corner  216  of the bag  200  and is formed by a hole  232  defined through the first and second sidewalls  202  and  204  of the bag  200 . Because most people grab the handle  230  with one hand and the fourth corner  222  with the other hand, positioning the handle  230  so that it is offset from the centerline  224  of the bag  200  in this manner provides a lever arm R 2  that extends from the handle  230  to the fourth corner  222 . The lever arm R 2  of a bag having such an offset position is greater than the lever arm R 1  of the prior art.  
         [0021]    When the bag  200  is formed from plastic, the first and second sidewalls  202  and  204  are heat sealed to one another in a heat-sealed region  234  surrounding the hole  232  that forms the handle  230 . The heat-sealed region  234  provides structural reinforcement of the bag  200  at the location of the handle  230  and prevents contents from spilling through the hole  232  from the interior volume  207  of the bag  200 . A reinforcing ring  236  extends through both sidewalls  202  and  204  of the bag  200  and is positioned along the perimeter of the hole  232 . The reinforcing ring  236  provides structural rigidity to the handle  230 . Additionally, two layers  238  and  240  of additional material line the first and second sidewalls  202  and  204  to provide a reinforcing structure for the handle  230 . Other embodiments include only one layer of reinforcing material or do not include any layers of reinforcing material.  
         [0022]    The bag  200  can be used to hold a variety of different contents that are pourable. Examples include birdseed, feed such as dog food or cat food, cat litter, salt, fertilizers, grass seed, dry cement, and the like.  
         [0023]    In use, as shown in FIG. 4, a user of the bag  200  supports the bag  200  by the handle  230 . When maneuvering the bag  200  into a pouring position, the user grasps the bag  200  by its fourth corner  222  to apply a rotational force R rot  in order to tip the bag  200  into a pouring position. The mechanical advantage realized by the user of the bag  200  during the process of tipping the bag  200  into a pouring position is equal to the length of its effective lever arm R 2 , which is maximized by its placement of the handle  230  in the first corner  216  of the bag  200 . The user of the bag  200  need apply a minimal rotational force at the fourth corner  222  in order to tip the bag  200  into its proper pouring position—a desirable result for the user.  
         [0024]    Additionally, control of a pouring hole  242  formed in the pouring region  228  is enhanced by strategically locating the handle  230 . As the user tips the bag  200  by applying a rotational force R rot  to the fourth corner  222 , the fourth corner  222  travels an arcuate route  244 , the length of which is equal to radius R 2  multiplied by the angle through which the bag  200  is rotated. Similarly, the second corner  218  and hence the pouring hole  242  travels an arcuate route  246 , the length of which is equal to radius R 3  multiplied by the angle through which the bag  200  is rotated. Thus, the ratio between the distance traveled by the pouring hole  242  and the fourth corner  222  is R 3 /R 2 . In other words, for every inch traveled by the fourth corner  222 , the pouring hole  242  travels only R 3 /R 2  of an inch.  
         [0025]    By locating the handle  200  in the first corner  216 , as described in relation to one possible embodiment, the distance R 3  is reduced as much as possible without reducing the distance R 2 . As a result, control over movement of the pouring hole  242  is increased as much as possible while still maximizing the length of the lever arm R 2 .  
         [0026]    Referring to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of a bag is generally shown as  248  and is similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, first and second corners  216  and  218 . The bag  248  has a first end edge  208 , second end edge  210 , first and second side edges  212  and  214  and a dashed line  226  to mark where to form a pouring opening. A handle  250  having a gripping portion  252  is attached to and projects from the first side edge  212  of the bag  248 . The handle  250  can be formed from any suitable material such as plastic, metal, rope loops, and the like. Additionally, the handle  250  can be attached to the bag  248  using any suite type of connection such as adhesive, fasteners such as rivets, and the like. The handle  250  also can be molded to the bag  248 .  
         [0027]    In one possible embodiment as shown, the handle  250  is positioned along the first side edge  212  of the bag  248  and adjacent to the first corner  216 . Other possible positions for the handle  250  that increase the lever arm R 2  are possible. For example, the handle  250  can be attached to the first end edge  208  of the bag  248  or at a position that is distal to the first corner  216  but still provides for a lever arm that is greater than the lever arm of a bag in which the handle is positioned at the center of the first end edge  208 .  
         [0028]    Yet another possible embodiment of the bag is illustrated in FIG. 6 and is generally shown as  252 . The bag  252  has a first end edge  208 , a second end edge  210 , first and second side edges  212  and  214  that define a centerline  224 , a first handle  254  similar to the handle  230 , and a dashed line  226  to mark where to form a pouring opening. Additionally, a second handle  256  is positioned along the first end edge  208  of the bag  252  and is centered about the centerline  224 . In this embodiment, a user can use the first handle  254  when pouring contents from the bag  252  and the second handle  256  when carrying the bag  252 . The second handle  256  allows the bag  252  to be balanced when a user carries it.  
         [0029]    Yet another possible embodiment of the bag is illustrated in FIG. 7 and is shown generally as  258 . The bag  258  has a first end edge  208 , a second end edge  210 , first and second side edges  212  and  214  defining a centerline  224 , a handle  230 , a dashed line  226  to mark where to form a pouring opening, and a pouring region  228  which is demarcated by the dashed line  226 . As in the previous figures, the first corner  216  is located at the intersection of the first side edge  212  and the first end edge  208 . The second corner  218  is located at the intersection of the second side edge  214  and the first end edge  208 . The third corner  220  is located at the intersection of the first side edge  212  and the second end edge  210 . The fourth corner  222  is located at the intersection of the second side edge  214  and the second end edge  210 . The handle  230  is located along the end edge not containing the pouring region  228  and on the opposite side of the centerline  224  from the pouring region  228 . In the specific embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, the handle  230  is located in the second corner  218 , catercorner from the pouring region  228 .  
         [0030]    When rotating the bag  258  into a pouring position, a user is expected to grasp the bag  258  by its handle  230  with a first hand and to grasp the bag  258  immediately beneath the pouring region  228  with a second hand. The user is also expected to apply an upward force with the first hand, rotating the bag  258  about the region grasped by the second hand, thereby maneuvering the bag  258  into a pouring position. Because the user&#39;s second hand is anticipated to grasp the region immediately beneath the pouring region  228 , controllability of the pouring region is maximized, because R 3  (not shown) effectively approaches 0. At the same time, the effective lever arm R 2  is maximized, thereby providing mechanical advantage for the bag&#39;s user.  
         [0031]    Although the description of the preferred embodiments is quite specific, it is contemplated that various modifications could be made without deviating from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the present invention be dictated by the appended claims, not the description of the preferred embodiment and method.