Net bag, with a handle, for horticultural fruit products

Abstract: The bag comprises a central body (1) for carrying the products to be contained (2) and bears, at a definite spacing from the bag body, a longitudinally disposed narrow strip (3) of resistant, synthetic material, welded at its ends (4, 5) to the ends of the net bag, along the welded areas for fastening the bag, facilitating the means for fastening the bag owing to its provision as a longitudinal handle. Individual small pieces of plastics material strip (8, 9) having the same characteristics as the strip (3) constituting the handle, are arranged at both ends of the bag, opposite the ends of the strip acting as the handle, and connected thereto and to the bag by the same weld (6, 7).

Description: The present invention relates to a net bag, with a handle, for horticultural fruit products, which offers substantial advantages and original characteristics with respect to the prior art. Generally, net bags which are filled in the packaging machine itself and closed by welding in order to close them at both ends are used for automatically packaging horticultural fruit products, for example oranges and other citrus fruits. One of the problems involved with this type of bag is the provision of handles to facilitate handling. Conventionally, detachable handle systems were used, disposed in a given longitudinal direction of the bag itself, i.e. the direction of the tubular element from which the successive bags are separated. By welding at one of the ends of the bag, the latter was provided with an added handle. Evidently, this system is awkward and expensive since it requires the application of detachable elements which increase production costs owing to the expense of the part itself and to the increased complexity of handling the bags in the packaging machine. EP 0047544 discloses a container comprising a bag net with two flexible laminar bands of considerable width, laterally opposed, reinforcing the whole of the bag and aimed at admitting graphical impressions. However, said bag has a separate handle provided at an upper extension of the bands which are only aimed at admitting graphical impressions. The object of the present invention is to disclose a net bag, with a handle, which satisfactorily overcomes the above disadvantages, facilitating the means of producing a bag which is very simple and practical and has numerous advantages with respect to the prior art. The invention is defined by the features of claim 1. Essentially, the bag to which the present invention relates comprises a section or segment of a cylindrical bag body, preferably of net, obtained by separating a tubular element in the packaging machine itself and which, after being filled, receives longitudinally a narrow strip which is welded together with the ends of the bag and two small pieces of plastics material strip having the same characteristics as the handle strip, opposite the ends of said handle strip, to produce a perfect weld, the net assembly being interposed between the strip and the afore-mentioned small pieces. The narrow strip or band is to be used as a transverse handle, i.e. unlike the prior art which usually employs longitudinally disposed handles. By virtue of this arrangement, the net bag has a highly efficient handle which is far more practical than the detachable handles of the prior art - which usually have a very small cross-section and are awkward to use - and has the additional advantage of greatly reduced costs, since the simple narrow longitudinal strip is of very low cost which can in no way be compared with the cost of the additional handles welded on subsequently or even of the narrow strips located on both sides of the bag, which are welded then moulded subsequently. In order to assist comprehension of the invention, some drawings illustrating a bag with a handle produced in accordance with the present invention are appended by way of example. In the drawings: Figure 1 is an external view of a bag produced in accordance with the present invention, in the area opposite the handle; Figure 2 shows a section of a bag according to the present invention, together with its contents; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, from the side on which the handle is located; Figures 4, 5 and 6 show individual details of the connection of one end of the strip forming the handle to the bag end and the arrangement of a short advertising label; Figure 7 shows a detailed section of the connection of the handle strip to the bag and also the arrangement of the advertising portion; and Figure 8 shows schematically the full bag in use. As can be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the bag to which the present invention relates has a net body 1, of the type obtained by cutting a continuous tube in the packaging machine, accommodates on the interior the pieces of fruit 2 or other items to be contained therein, and comprises a narrow strip of plastics material 3, preferably of continuous type, which can also be produced in the form of a lattice, a band or strip having apertures, etc.. Said strip, which acts as a handle 3, is disposed at a definite spacing from the body of the bag and is welded at its ends 4 and 5 to the corresponding ends of the net bag 1 by means of the transverse welding portions designated 6 and 7. At the ends to be connected to the net bag and on the side opposite the side on which the strip 3 is positioned are short pieces of plastics material strip designated 8 and 9, having the same characteristics as the strip constituting the handle and connected at the same afore-mentioned ends. If they are longer than is strictly necessary for producing the weld, the handle strips can additionally be used for carrying advertising material, enabling written areas 10 and 11 to be provided for advertising purposes, indicating the price, etc.. As can be seen from Figure 8, the handle strip 3 enables the bag to be suitably fastened lengthwise, that is, completely different from the bag which was conventional hitherto and based on the arrangement of detachable transverse handles or at least produced separately from the surrounding material of the bag. As will be appreciated, some of the details of the bag can be varied widely and, if desired, it can be made of continuous material or from a mixed structure of continuous or non apertured areas and net-like apertured areas. Similarly, the actual production of the handle strip and the material used therefor can be varied widely, as can the additional portions bearing advertising material.

Claims: Net bag with a handle for horticultural fruit products having a central body (1) for carrying the products to be contained (2), characterized in that the bag has along its body and externally to the same a handle (3) of resistent synthetic material, the handle (3) being welded at its ends (4, 5) respectively to the ends of the net bag, together with the areas for fastening the bag. Net bag according to claim 1 characterized by the arrangement of individual small pieces of plastics material strip (8, 9) having the same characteristics as the handle (3), at both ends of the bag, opposite to the ends of the strip acting as a handle (3), and connected thereto into the bag by the same weld (6, 7).

Inventors: PANIAGUA OLAECHEA ROSALINA, PANIAGUA OLAECHEA, ROSALINA
Applicants: PANIAGUA OLAECHEA ROSALINA, PANIAGUA OLAECHEA, ROSALINA
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B65D30
IPC codes: B65D30, B65D33