BAG FOR CARRYING BOX-SHAPED OBJECTS

Abstract: A bag of flexible material for carrying at least one box, e.g. containing delicate foodstuff such as a pizza, in a substantially horizontal position. The bag comprises a top portion with handle means (11, 12) and an upper opening, and two wing pouches extending outwardly in opposite directions from the lower end of the top portion. The length (L) of the bag is substantially greater than the length of the box, and the with (W) of the bag, measured at the bottom wall portion constituted by the two wing pouches, corresponds approximately to the width of the box.

Description: BAG FOR CARRYING BOX-SHAPED OBJECTS The present inventon relates to a bag of flexible material, comprising: - a top portion provided with handle means and including opposite panels being connected to each other at the side edges thereof and forming an opening of the bag defined by the top edges of the two panels; and two wing pouches extending outwardly in opposite directions from the lower end of said top portion and being foldable from a flattened rest position of the bag into an expandabl operative position of the bag, wherein the two wing portion form a common bottom wall portion and outer side walls defining an interior storage space communicating with said opening of the bag. Such a bag is previously known from US-A-3 829 007 (Ellison) . The carrier bag disclosed in that document is specifically designed to make it sufficiently stiff so that it will be free- standing when empty. In this way, the bag is particularly usefu for packaging small articles into the bag. Another example of similar prior art is US-A-4 904 093 (Dow Chemical) which discloses a plastic storage and cooking bag having two opposite wing pouches with a common, relatively wide gussetted bottom. In this case, the interior storage space is completely filled with foodstuff for storage in a freezer and subsequent heating in a microwave oven, where the wing pouches provide support so as to make the top portion of the bag stand upright and prevent spillage of the foodstuff when being heated. The upright top portion is provided with a closure device, but there are no handle means. In top view, the bag has a square configuration . In contrast, the present invention is concerned with the proble of packaging at least one relatively large and flat box-shaped object in the bag and to retain the object(s) in a horizontal position while being carried. More specifically, an object of the invention is to enable packaging of boxes containing delicate foodstuff such as pizzas, pies or other bakery products in the bag without any risk of tipping such boxes during transport, especially while carrying the bag in one hand so a to facilitate going in and out of doors and/or handling other objects, such as an umbrella, keys or other packages, in the opposite hand. Moreover, the bag should be so designed that the box-shaped object(s) can be easily inserted into and taken out of the bag, while at the same time ensuring that the object is kept in a stable horizontal position when being carried. In accordance with the present invention, all these objects are accomplished in that the length of the bottom wall portion exceeds the length of the object by 30% to 100%, whereas the width of the bottom wall portion exceeds the width of the object by 0% to 20%. Thus, for a box with a square configuration, the length of the bag has to be substantially greater than the box itself, whereas the width of the bottom wall portion of the bag should be approximately the same as or slightly exceeding the square side of the box. With such relative dimensions, it has surprisingly been found that a box (or a few boxes stacked on top of each other) can be easily placed in the bag and still be securely held in a horizontal position while being carried. It is particularly important that the length of the bag, including the top portion with its opening as well as the wing pouches, is substantially greater than the length, i.e. the largest or longitudinal dimension, of the object so as to enable keeping the collapsed or disorderly configurated end portions of the bag out of the way when placing the object onto the bottom wall portion and taking it out therefrom. Also, since the length of the bag is substantially greater than the length of the box, the end seams (or other end connections between the panels constituting the bag) will not be subjected to any great stress that will cause breakage. Instead, the tensile forces will be distributed along the mid portion of the bag, in the region of the box or boxes. Moreover, the outer sid walls of the wing pouches will fit snugly against the opposite side walls of the box or boxes and thereby retain it in the desired position. The width measure of the bottom wall portion is not as critical as the length thereof and can even be slightly smaller than the width of the box. In case the width i substantially larger than the width of the box, the latter will drop down into the central part of the bottom wall portion or b displaced sideways therein. Moreover it will increase the effective height of the bag in use. Preferably, with a view to low cost manufacturing of the bags i large series and avoiding the risk of breakage in seams connecting different panels of the flexible material, the bag i made from a unitary, elongated, substantially rectangular sheet of flexible material, especially a thermoplastic material, folded so as to form the top portion and the two wing pouches o the bag, the relatively wide bottom wall portion being constituted by a mid portion of the sheet between two mutually parallel fold lines, a third fold line being located centrally therebetween adjacent to the lower end of the top portion. Hereby the sheet material is unitary in the regions where tensile forces appear, in particular at the opposite side walls of the box-shaped object . In use, the opposite panel portions constituting the top portio and the outer side walls of the wing pouches will be stretched out so as to form planar, sloping side wall portions of the bag. Advantageously, these planar, sloping side wall portions can be used for advertisement of the foodstuff delivered in the box(es placed in the bag. In order to prevent tipping of the box or boxes containing delicate foodstuff, the bag should be so designed that it will not swing back and forth while being carried. For this purpose, in a preferred embodiment, the vertical distance between the handle means and the bottom wall portions, as measured in use with the box of boxes placed horizontally onto the bottom wall portion, should lie within the range 25% to 150%, most pre¬ ferably 50%-100%, of the width of the bottom wall portion. For square boxes, this vertical distance or height should be in the upper part of this range, whereas it should be in the lower part of the range for elongated boxes. However, the overall height of the bag should in any case be less than 50 cm to ensure ease of carrying the bag in one hand with a stretched arm. The invention and its advantages will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the bag. Fig. 1 shows, in a perspective view, a flexible bag according to the invention in a flattened rest position; Fig. 2 shows the (empty) bag in a position ready for use; Fig. 3 shows the (still empty) bag with its upper opening widened to permit the insertion of a box; Fig. 4 shows the bag being carried with the box placed therein; and Fig. 5 shows, in a top view, a rectangular sheet of thermoplastic material to be folded along fold lines and sealed along the longitudinal edges to form the bag shown in figs. 1 to 4. The bag illustrated in figs. 1-4 is made from a sheet of thermoplastic film material as shown in fig. 5. The sheet is substantially rectangular with opposite shorter edges 1 and 2 and opposite longer edges 3 and 4. A number of mutually paralle fold lines 5 to 9 are provided transversally, i.e. in parallel to the short edges 1, 2, so as to form different panel portions A-F of the bag. The panel portions A and F adjacent to the respective short edges 1, 2 constitute, upon folding the sheet along the fold lines 5 to 9 and connecting the respective portions of each longer edge 3, 4 to each other, e.g. by heat sealing, the front and back panels forming a top portion 10 of the flexible bag, a seen best in fig. 2. The upper edges 1 , 2 of the top portion panels A and F are left free and define a flexible, normally longitudinal opening of the bag. As seen from the drawing figures, these upper edges are curved, so that the central part of the top portion 10 protrudes upwardly from the corners 10a, 10b at the respective end of the bag. Centrally at the top portion 10, at a relatively small distance from the upper edges 1, 2, rectangular holes 11, 12 are cut out from the sheet material, e.g. by punching, to form a handle, by means of which the bag can be carried in one hand (compare fig. 4). The sheet panel portions B and C (fig. 5) are folded one on top of the other and heat sealed along the respective edges to form a wing pouch 13 of the bag (fig. 2). Since the panel portions are sealed only along the longer edges 3, 4 of the flexible sheet material, the interior, expandable space of the wing pouc 13 communicates with the inside of the top portion 10 and the upper opening of the finished bag. Similarly, the sheet panel portions D and E are folded and sealed in a corresponding manner to form an opposite wing pouch 14, the interior space of which likewise communicates with the inside of the top portion 10 and the opening of the bag. Of course, the interior spaces of the two wing pouches 13, 14 also communicate with each other so as to form a common storage spac at the bottom of the bag. By folding the top portion 10 along the fold line 9 (fig. 2), the finished, empty bag is made completely flat, as shown in fig. 1, and can be stored in a pile of identical bags (not shown) . As appears from figs. 1, 2 and 5, the panel portions A to F all have substantially the same rectangular dimensions (except for the curved, cut-out corner portions of panels A and F) . Thus, in this particular example, the vertical dimension or height H (compare fig. 4) of the top portion 10, as measured in use from the handle means 11, 12 to the bottom wall partion of the bag, is approximately half of the width W of the spread out wing pouches 13, 14, and each wing pouch 13, 14 extends sideways and outwardly the same distance (approximately H) . According to the invention, the bag is dimensioned to accommodate at least one box 15 (fig. 3), e.g. containing delicate foodstuff, such as a pizza, a pie, a cake or a ready- made dish, which has to be retained in a substantially horizontal position during transport. Generally, the box-shaped, relatively flat object 15 has a length 1 and a width w, which may differ from each other. In the illustrated example, however, the measures 1 and w are the same, i.e. the box 15 is square, as is generally the case for a pizza or cake box. Typically, 1 and w are about 20-50 cm, but smaller and greater values may occur. It has turned out, somewhat surprisingly, that the length L of the bag (see fig. 4) has to be substantially greater than the length 1 of the box-shaped object 15, i.e. L has to exceed 1 by at least 30% to enable easy insertion of the box 15 into the bag while holding the upper edges 1, 2 of the top portion 10 apart to form a relatively wide opening. When doing so, as illustrated in fig. 3, the end portions 16, 17 of the bag will approach each other somewhat and partially collapse in a disorderly manner. So, it is absolutely necessary that these end portions 16, 17 are positioned at some distance from the end walls 15a, 15b of the. box 15. Otherwise, the corners of the box 15 will inevitably get stuck in one or both of the disorderly collapsed end portions 16, 17 of the bag when attempting to insert the box into the bag. Preferably, the length L of the bag (correspondin to the length of the shorter edges 1 , 2 of the rectangular shee 5 shown in fig. 5) is even greater than 30% in excess of the length 1 of the box 15. For practical reasons, however, it should not be greater than twice the length 1. The width W of the bottom wall portion 18 of the bag, i.e. the C total width of the panel portions C and D in the mid part M of the sheet (fig. 5) , is not as critical as the length L but should be approximately the same as or somewhat greater than th width w of the box 15. Thus, it should be in the order of 0% to 20% in excess of the width w. 5 As appears from fig. 4, the unitary sheet material will snugly fit around the opposite side walls 15c and 15d upon insertion o the box 15 onto the bottom wall portion 18 and lifting the bag in the handle means 11, 12 in one hand. Then, the fold lines 6 and 8 are positioned near the lower edges of the side walls 15c 15d of the box 15, and the sheet material is stretched into obliquely sloping planar surface areas extending up to the handle means 11, 12 (only one such area 19 is visible in fig. 4) . Advantageously, the seams connecting the various sheet pane portions A to F at the end portions 16 and 17 of the bag are no subjected to any tensile forces, and the risk of breakage of th bag is therefore minimized provided that the thickness of the thermoplastic sheet material (or some other sheet material) is chosen so as to withstand the maximal tension occuring adjacent to the corners of the box 15 and in the region of the handle means 11, 12. The box 15 is thus effectively wrapped around by the unitary sheet material, and the snug fit at the opposite walls 15c, 15d of the box will ensure that the box 15 does not slide on the bottom wall portion 18 while being carried. In order to effectively secure such a well-defined horizontal positioning of the box 15, the height H of the top portion 10, as measured in use as shown in fig. 4, should preferably be in the range 25% to 150%, most preferably 50%-100%, of " the width W of the bottom wall portion 18. The lower the height H, the less is the risk of getting the bag and the box or boxes contained therein to swing back and forth (or sideways) while being carried in the handle means 11 , 12. The sloping, planar surface areas 19, which are kept streched in use provide an excellent opportunity for advertisement, e.g. of the goods contained in the box. The embodiment of the bag as described above and illustrated in the drawings may be modified by those skilled in the art within the scope of the claims. Thus, a number of boxes 15 may be stacked in a pile on top of each other within the bag. Then, the height H will of course be greater than in the shown example. It is also possible, as indicated above, to pack elongated boxes or other box-shaped, relatively long objects onto the bottom wall portion 18 of the bag as long as the total length L of the bag substantially exceeds that of the box. For example, an elongated tray with two pizzas situated side by side thereon may be placed in the bag. Although a unitary sheet of flexible material, as illustrated, is preferred, the bag may alternatively comprise a number of mutually connected panel portions. Also, the exact configuration of the end portions 16, 17 of the bag may be modified, e.g. by letting the end seams extend only along a part of the top portion 10 (from the lower end thereof), and suitable reinforce¬ ments may be provided as desired or necessary for a particular purpose, e.g. in the end portions 16, 17 and/or in the regions snugly fitting against the side walls 15c, 15d of the box or boxes . Moreover, the outer corner portions of the two wing pouches 13, 14 may be cut away and sealed if desired, e.g. to provide a mor esthetic appearance of the bag. Of course, the flexible sheet (or portions thereof) may be made of some other material, e.g. a material reinforced by fibres, cords or a net structure, and/or several layers of like or different materials. Thus, the essential features of the invention are the relative geometrical dimensions as claimed. Finally, instead of cut out holes 1, 12 as handle means, a separate handle, e.g. of plastics, may be clamped onto the central part of the top portion 10 (or fastened thereto in some other suitable manner) .

Claims: C L A I M S 1. A bag of flexible material comprising: - a top portion (10) provided with handle means (11,12) and including opposite panels (A,F) being connected to each other at the side edges thereof and forming an opening of the bag defined by the top edges (1,2) of the two panels; and - two wing pouches (13,14) extending outwardly in opposite directions from the lower end of said top portion and being foldable from a flattened rest position of the bag into an expandable operative position of the bag, wherein the two wing pouches form a common bottom wall portion (18) and outer side walls (B,E) defining an interior storage space communicating with said opening of the bag, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the bag is dimensioned to accommodate, in its expanded operative position, at least one relatively flat, box-shaped object (15) in said storage space, the length (L) of said bottom wall portion (18) exceeding the length (1) of said object (15) by 30% to 100%, and the width (W) of said bottom wall portion (18) exceeding the width (w) of said object (15) by 0% to 20%, whereby the bag enables carrying said at least one box-shaped object in a substantially horizontal position on said bottom wall portion while retaining it in position by means of the outer walls (B,E) of the two wing pouches (13,14) fitting snugly against the opposite side walls (15c, 15d) of the box-shaped object(s) (15). 2. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein the total vertical distance (H) between the handle means (11,12) and the bottom wall portion (18), as measured in use with said at least one- object (15) placed horizontally onto said bottom wall portion (18), is 25% to 150%, preferably 50%-100%, of the width (W) of said bottom wall portion (18). 3. A bag as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein the bag is made from a unitary elongate, substantially rectangular sheet of flexible material folded so as to form the two panels (A,F) of said top portion (10) and said wing pouches (13,14) of the bag, said relatively wide bottom wall portion (18) being constituted by a mid portion (M) of said sheet between two mutually paralle fold lines (6,8), a third fold line (7) being located centrally there-between adjacent to the lower end of said top portion. 4. A bag as defined in claim 3, wherein said flexible material is a thermoplastic material and said side edges are mutually connected by heat seal seams . 5. A bag as defined in any one of claims 1-4, wherein said handle means are constituted by cut out holes (11,12) in said top portion ( 10) . 6. A bag as defined in any one of claims 1-5, wherein said handle means (11,12) protrude upwards from the remainder of sai top portion ( 10) .

Inventors: EKSTROM J FREDRIK, EKSTROM, J., FREDRIK
Applicants: CRAFOORD ANNE, CRAFOORD, ANNE
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B65D30
IPC codes: B65D30, B65D85