Hay bag

The present invention is a relatively long, rectangular, poly-tarpaulin bag constructed to easily hold a bale of hay approximately 18".times.18".times.48". The weave of the bag is 12.times.12 fibers per inch. The bag is made from two panels of material sewn together and closed with a drawstring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the invention 
This invention relates generally to thermoplastic utility bags and more 
particularly, to bags fabricated of woven, flat synthetic yarns to produce 
a light weight, dimensionally stable bag of exceptional strength for heavy 
duty use as for carrying and dispensing bales of hay. 
2. Discussion of the prior art 
Thermoplastic shipping bags are an economical means for the packaging, 
transportation and storage of a wide variety of products in granular, 
bead, pellet, or powder form. These bags may be either open ended, 
requiring separate provisions for closing, or fitted with a valved 
opening. The most commonly used type of thermoplastic bags are 
manufactured from film made by blown film processes using low density 
polyethylene and rubber modified high density polyethylene resins and 
coextruded versions of these resins and allied copolymers. The film may 
subsequently converted to bags by a variety of sealing techniques. Some of 
these simple thermoplastic films may be converted to bags by the multiple 
folding and gluing of the bag ends, but this has the serious disadvantage 
of requiring very expensive converting equipment, as well as the use of 
expensive and difficult to control two component glue systems. 
Prior art, heat sealed thermoplastic bags are commonly used for the 
packaging of low cost, non-hazardous products. Their use for higher cost 
and hazardous products, however, has been badly restricted because of poor 
puncture and snag resistance of the bags compared with multi-wall paper or 
woven plastic bags of related composition structures. 
Woven plastic bags are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,439,865 and 3,445,055 to 
Port et al. The bags are formed by a fabric composed of 
horizontally-extending flat warp yarns and transversely-extending flat 
weft or filler yarns. The warp and weft yarns are tightly woven on a 
textile loom to form a sheet-like material relatively free of interstices. 
Such yarns may be produced from any suitable synthetic plastic material, 
including polypropylene, polyamides, such as nylon, polyester or 
polyacrilic yarns, as well as vinyl and polyethylene. Usable weaves for 
purposes of their invention lie in the range of 12 .times.12 and lower, 
and in practice a weave of 3.times.3 is satisfactory. In shaping the 
fabric into a sack, Port et al cuts a suitable rectangle of the material 
and folds the same, after which the long end is seamed or heat-sealed to 
produce a sleeve, and the short end is seamed and possibly reinforced by a 
marginal fold-over to produce the bottom. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,844, Murray et al disclose a puncture resistant 
thermoplastic bag of uni-axially oriented polyethylene and inner walls of 
low density polyethylene, heat-sealed thereto. The film may be 
subsequently converted to bags by a variety of sealing techniques. Some of 
these simple thermoplastic films may be converted to bags by sewing but 
this has the disadvantage of badly weakening the films and introducing 
unwanted holes in the bag through which moisture or other contaminants can 
enter or allow environmental contaminants to exit. Other bags may be 
manufactured by the multiple folding and gluing of the bag ends, but this 
has serious disadvantage of requiring very expensive converting equipment, 
as well as the use of expensive and difficult to control two component 
glue systems. Because of these drawbacks, the use of heat sealing is 
Murray et al's desired method of manufacture of thermoplastic bags. 
I have found however, that properly stitched seams can overcome the 
disadvantages of the prior art methods of sealing thermoplastic bags. 
Furthermore, the prior art bags cited above cannot be used for packaging 
bulky objects such as a bale of hay and any method of heat sealing would 
be prohibitively expensive. Neither of the patents are concerned with ease 
of access to the contents of the bags since they are made for a single use 
and are generally disposable. The bags are formed of a single length of 
flat material and generally are heat sealed. The patents are generally 
directed to the construction of the packaging material rather than the 
assembly for a specific use. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is a relatively long, rectangular, Poly-Tarpaulin bag 
constructed to easily hold a bale of hay approximately 
18.times.18.times.48 inches. The weave of the bag is 12.times.12 fibers 
per square inch. The material must be strong enough to resist punctures 
from some of the more rigid stalks and must be waterproof. The bag is made 
from two pieces of material sewn together and closed with a drawstring. 
Unlike common plastic bags, the invention is designed to be reusable and 
sufficiently rugged to be carried in a horse van. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved utility bag. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a utility bag which is rugged 
and long wearing and inexpensive to manufacture. 
A still further object of the invention is to provide a water and dust 
proof bag made of high strength to weight ratio polyester fabric. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hay bag made of a 
rugged, woven, polyethylene fabric laminated with polyethylene film. 
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those 
skilled in the art to which the invention pertains when taken in light of 
the annexed drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now in more detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view 
of hay bag 10 loaded with a bale of hay with drawstring 11 drawn to seal 
the hay bag 10. Parts of the hay bag 10 are cut from a roll of woven 
polyethylene fabric laminated with polyethylene film shown at 12 in FIG. 
2. In a preferred embodiment, POLYTUF (Reg. TM) United Textile and Supply 
Co. material, or a 12.times.12 weave "TOO TUFF", 74" wide material, POLY 
Z, provided by Humphrys, Philadelphia, Pa. was used. Fabric 12 was cut 
into a body panel 13, approximately 72".times.56" and a bottom panel 14 
approximately 183/8".times.19". Using a cutout layout as shown in FIG. 2 
provides the maximum number of parts with very little scrap. The 
dimensions shown above, when sewn in accordance with the invention, 
provides a loose fit for a standard sized bale of hay and are not intended 
to be a limitation but are merely for example. 
Top edge 15 of body panel 13 is folded over to dotted line 16 and stitched 
along the edge to form a channel 16 for the drawstring 11 when assembled. 
The fold over is approximately 21/2". It has been found that if the 
channel 16 is too small, the drawstring 11 will be difficult to draw. 
After the channel 16 is formed, a wire may be inserted to assist in 
pulling the drawstring 11 through the channel 16. 
The hay bag 10 was made by stitching bottom panel 14 to body panel 13 
beginning at point 17 along stitch line 18 around the entire periphery of 
bottom panel 14 and then joining the two ends of body panel 13 and 
stitching along line 19. In a preferred embodiment, pre-lubricated, bonded 
nylon thread, Z69, manufactured by Blue mountain Industries was used. The 
hay bag 10 is then inside out. The bag 10 is then reversed to place the 
sewn seams inside the bag 10. Although stitching is used in the preferred 
embodiment, heat sealing or gluing may also be used if so desired. 
Stitching provides a sufficiently tight seal to make the invention 
waterproof. 
FIG. 4 shows a partially open hay bag 10 with the sides slid downwardly to 
expose a part of the hay 18 for easy access for feeding livestock. Access 
to the top (end) of the hay bale provides a convenient means for taking 
small portions of hay without spillage or waste since the bale is formed 
in a hay baler in the same manner. Other hay savers on the market contain 
access openings on the side and access is gained by sliding a zipper. 
Pulling a portion of hay from the side of the bale is difficult and often 
results in much waste. Furthermore, hay stalks frequently jam the teeth of 
the zipper and make it difficult to close. In addition to being less 
effective to use than the instant invention, it is far more complex and 
expensive to assemble. 
With the hay bag of the instant invention, horse owners as well as other 
livestock owners will now have a convenient, inexpensive, rugged, 
waterproof means for carrying a bale of hay whenever they travel between 
shows and fairs. The hay bag can be easily loaded with a bale of hay and 
conveniently carried by cinching up the drawstring and carrying the bag 
over the shoulder. In addition, there is sufficient room at the top of the 
hay bag to hold a hay net (feeder) at the top of the bale. Thus, the hay, 
as well as the feeder, is protected from water, dust and other pollutants 
in the air as the animals are being transported. 
While the invention has been explained with respect to a preferred 
embodiment thereof, it is contemplated that various changes may be made in 
the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.