Package of plastic bags

A pad of plastic bags comprising a plurality of bag units, one above the other, each unit comprising a pair of oppositely disposed open-mouthed pockets connected to a common spacer portion by score lines or the like at the mouth ends of the pockets, each pocket having a lip at its mouth end spaced from the respective score line, the multiple bag units being connected to each other at the spacer portions by a weld or other connection at each side of the spacer portions, the connected spacer portions forming a base for all the bag units in the pad, the side welds acting as an anchor means to resist the forward pull on the lip as a bag is torn away by grasping the lip and pulling forward, whereby the bag is substantially fully opened and severed from the base at the same time.

This invention relates to plastic bags, and it particularly relates to 
plastic bag units consisting of a pair of pockets which are formed on 
opposite sides of a base or spacer and are connected thereto by score 
lines or the like, whereby when a pocket is grasped adjacent its mouth and 
pulled forward, it will simultaneously both tear away from the spacer at 
the score line and open up at its mouth, at least one edge of which is 
defined by the score line, the result being an open-mouthed bag ready for 
use. 
The above type of plastic bag unit is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,661, 
dated Nov. 21, 1967, and, essentially, the bag units of the present 
invention are the same and are made the same way as disclosed in the 
aforementioned patent, particularly as disclosed in the species of FIGS. 
6-8 of that patent, wherein a lip is provided at the mouth. 
The effectiveness of the above-described bag units is enhanced when they 
are used in a package assembly, wherein a plurality of bag units are 
arranged in overlying relationship with the spacer portions lying one over 
the other to form a base for the package. 
Although the bag units disclosed in the aforementioned patent have proven 
very effective in use and easy and inexpensive to make, there has been a 
problem related to the ease of opening of the bags. Since these bags are 
made of plastic material such as polyethylene, the tendency of the walls 
of the bag to adhere to one another is quite great, and it has often been 
quite difficult to effect a complete opening of the bag by the 
simultaneous pulling and tearing action. 
In accordance with the present invention, when the bag units are assembled 
in the aforementioned type of package, a substantially complete and rapid 
opening of the mouth of each individual bag is effected when the spacers, 
which combine to form the base of the entire package, are connected 
together, at each side, with a weld or similar connection. 
This connection acts as an anchor means to provide a counterforce to the 
pulling action, whereby, when the lip of a bag pocket is pulled forwardly 
away from the package, the pulling action will not only sever the bag from 
its respective spacer at the score line but will completely open the bag. 
In the above manner, by over-laying a number of bag units and then 
connecting the spacers of each to the other, the assembly becomes, in 
effect, a self-contained pad of self-dispensing bags. The pad may be held 
in the hand, without the necessity of using brackets, clamps, or other 
mechanical supports, to sever and open a bag--although many different 
types of supports may be used, as will be indicated hereinafter. 
Furthermore, although the connections at the opposite sides of the 
spacers, as described above, constitute the essence of the present 
invention, additional welds, staples, or other such fastening means, or 
even a solid line of fusion, may be provided throughout the spacers 
forming the base, to provide additional strength to the base as well as to 
increase the anchoring means. If desired, all of the spacer portions of 
the overlying bag units may be fused, welded, or otherwise made integral 
with each other to provide a strong and solid base for the pad of bag 
units. This strengthened base is especially preferred when the pad is to 
be dispensed while held in the hands without any additional support means. 
It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a 
pad of multiple bag units, the bag units overlying each other and each bag 
unit comprising a pair of pockets which are in opposed relationship to 
each other and removably connected at their mouths to a common spacer 
therebetween, the overlying spacers being joined to each other to form a 
common base for each pocket, whereby when each pocket is grasped at the 
lip and pulled forwardly, it is simultaneously severed from the pad and 
fully opened. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a package or pad of 
plastic bags of the aforesaid type which is relatively easy and 
inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawings 
wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is 
shown in FIG. 1 a pad of bag units, generally designated 10, comprising a 
plurality of bag units 12, made of polyethylene or similar material, 
superimposed, one above the other. 
Each bag unit 12 comprises a pair of pockets 14, each pocket being formed 
of a front wall, a rear wall and side edges sealing the two walls together 
around their entire peripheries except at the upper or mouth end. This 
mouth end is formed by a lip 16 constituted by the upper edge of the front 
wall which is lower then the upper edge of the rear wall, and by the upper 
edge of the rear wall which is defined by a tear or score line 18 which 
acts as a releasable attachment of the pocket to a spacer portion 20. The 
spacer 20 acts as a connection as well as separator between the two 
pockets 12 on either side thereof. When either of the topmost pockets 14 
automatically forms a complete bag with an open mouth defined by the lip 
16 and scored edge 18. 
Ordinarily, when a pocket is grasped at the lip and pulled forwardly away 
from the pad, the mouth will tend to open at least partially, but due to 
the thermoplastic nature of the material there is a tendency for the walls 
to adhere to each other. As a result, although there is some opening of 
the mouth, the bag is severed from the pad while the walls are still 
adherent to each other. This necessitates a separate operation to pull the 
walls apart to completely open the bag. 
In order to overcome the tendency for adherence of the bag walls to each 
other, all of the spacers 20 in the pad are integrally connected to each 
other by a common weld 22 at each side. These welds act as spaced anchors 
at the opposite sides of the unit so that, as the bag is pulled away, 
there is a reactive force applied at the welds 22, this forces the mouth 
to open wide and, as the pulling continues, forces the front and rear 
walls to separate sufficiently to open the bag ready for use. The fact 
that the welds are at opposite ends of the bag mouth increases the 
stretchability of the mouth and the opening force on the adhered walls. It 
is to be understood that although such welds as shown at 22 are preferred 
because of their complete integrating effect, other connecting means may 
be used such as clips, staples, adhesive, or the like. 
FIG. 3 is illustrative of how the forward pull on the bag lip 16 sets up a 
counter-force at the welds 22 and since this counter-force is exerted at 
the opposite sides of the bag, the resultant vector force acts to open the 
bag mouth wide, which, as the force continues, acts to pull the front and 
rear walls of the bag away from each other. 
FIG. 4 is illustrative of one type of mounting (when desired) for the pad. 
This mounting comprises a rigid or semi-rigid plate 30 having an 
upstanding lug 32 integrally or otherwise connected to its central 
portion. The pad, generally designated 34 has a central slot 36 in its 
spacer or base portion 38. The pad 34 is removably mounted on the plate 30 
by lowering the pad in a manner to insert the lug 32 through the slot 36. 
The pad is then mounted in a supported flat position for use. When it is 
used up, another pad may be mounted on the plate in the same manner. 
If desired, the plate 30 may be made semi-rigid, as of cardboard or the 
like, and, when so constructed, is adapted to be bent at its center so 
that it may act as an A-frame type of support or mounting wherein the 
pockets on either side are suspended from the base 38 but where the plate 
portions on either side still support the pockets. 
The above type of selective A-frame support is also illustrated in FIGS. 5 
and 6. In FIG. 5, there is shown a bar 40 having an upstanding lug 42 
integral therewith. This lug 42 is insertable through a central slot 44 in 
the base portion 46 of the pad 48. The lug 42 is provided with an aperture 
50 for insertion of a hook, cord, cable or any other desirable suspending 
means from which the pad may be hung. When so suspended, the bar 40 acts 
as a bottom support for the pad at the area below the base portion. Since 
the bar 40 is relatively narrow, when the pad is suspended by the lug 42, 
the opposite sides of the pad bend down around the bar 40 which acts as a 
flucrum. 
In FIG. 6 there is shown a box tray 60 having an open top which may be 
closed by a removable lid (not shown) of any feasible type. The tray 60 
may be constructed of any desirable material and the pad of bag units, 
designated generally 62, are inserted so they fill the tray. The pad 62 is 
stapled, as at 63, or otherwise secured to the container at the spacer or 
base portion. If desired, the tray 60 may comprise complete side walls 64 
and end walls 66 and the assembly may be used flat like a box of facial 
tissues. However, as shown, the side walls 64 have a break or slot at the 
region of the spacer base 68 of the pad. With this construction, the tray 
shown in FIG. 6 may be used either flat, as described above, or may be 
bent around the spacer base area of the pad to form an A-type frame which 
may rest on a flat surface. In such instance, the side welds 70 act both 
for their above-described function and as a reinforcement for the 
transverse bend line 72 forming the fulcrum of the container. Although the 
tray is shown having side and end walls, it may also be a flat sheet. 
FIG. 7 shows a foldable pad of bags 80 wherein the pad of bag units 82, 
such as described above, is stapled or otherwise secured at its center to 
a cover sheet 84. The staples are indicated at 86, but sewing, glueing or 
any other feasible securing means may be used. In this form of the device, 
the pad may be folded over like a billfold for easy carrying and use. 
FIG. 8 shows a pad 90 of bag units such as described above, wherein, in 
addition to the side welds 92, there are provided a plurality of welds 94 
extending throughout the spacer base portion 96. These welds 94 are shown 
as being arranged in two rows with the welds in one row being offset from 
those in the other row. This is considered preferable as providing a 
maximum of coverage with a minimum of welds; however whatever other 
arrangement is desirable may be used. This plurality of welds act as a 
strengthening means for the base portion. If desired, these welds may be 
replaced by staples, stitches, adhesive, or any other desirable and 
feasible connecting means for integrating the spacers with each other. 
FIG. 9 shows a pad of bag units, generally designated 100 wherein the side 
welds are made integral with a complete, straight line of fusion 102 in 
the base porton 104. This provides a maximum degree of strength at the 
area of the fusion and also reinforces the side welds which are now 
integral therewith. 
Obviously, various modifications of the present invention are possible in 
the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that, 
within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced 
otherwise than as specifically described.