Patent Publication Number: US-2006013513-A1

Title: Handle bag

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a bag. More particularly this invention concerns a bag with handle loops and a method of making the bag.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      A standard handle bag has a body formed by front and back panels joined together at longitudinal edges and having end edges bridging the longitudinal edges. The end edges at one end of the body are joined together either directly or via a floor panel, the end edges at the opposite end are not joined to form a bag mouth, and the longitudinal edges may also be joined directly or via edge panels. Handles comprised of a normally flexible material normally have ends secured to the front and back panels at the bag mouth.  
      In German 69 430 188 of Vereinigte Papierwarenfabriken GmbH the handles are each formed as annularly continuous loops comprised of two straight and parallel main parts having ends joined by a V-shaped end part. One of the main parts is adhered to the face of the respective panel so that, when the other main part is pulled out, the V-shaped end parts straighten out and form an opening through which a user&#39;s fingers can be inserted. Such a construction is relatively complex, requiring that the handle structure be fairly bulky and that it be separately formed and bonded together to give it the desired annular shape.  
      In German 2,012,084 of Bosse, a straight tape is folded into a C-shape, with two end parts and a center part all lying in a common plane. The ends of the end parts are fixed to the bag with the center part extending out of the bag. With this structure the projecting center part makes automated filling of the bag difficult or impossible, and also complicates storing and shipping of the bags.  
      The system of U.S. Pat. No. 2,838,224 of Steen has handles that are basically formed as flattenable tapes having a center part with a central fold and a pair of end parts each in turn having an end extension. The center part and the end parts are folded flat together with the end extensions sticking out to the side, and the end extensions are adhered to the panel face under a retaining tab. Such a construction is again fairly complex to manufacture, requiring folding of the handle part into a complex shape and then securing it in place with another part.  
      In U.S. Pat. No. 3,384,293 of Welles a simple C-shaped wire having a generally straight central part from whose ends a pair of end parts project toward each other is poked through the panel like a staple, with the end parts engaged with the panel. This arrangement is not very strong, as the handle can easily be ripped out of the bag.  
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
      It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved handle bag.  
      Another object is the provision of such an improved handle bag that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that is inexpensive and easy to manufacture, that is of simple construction, whose handle is completely out of the way prior to actual use, and that is quite strong.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A bag has according to the invention front and back thermoplastic panels having upper and lower end edges and joined-together longitudinal edges. A C-shaped thermoplastic handle has a central part extending transversely parallel to one of the end edges of the front panel and a pair of end parts extending transversely inward toward each other from outer ends of the central part and bearing directly against a face of the front panel. Respective strong welds secure each of the end parts to the face of the front panel at a spacing from the respective outer end of the central part.  
      Such a construction is extremely simple. The handle lies completely within the contours of the bag prior to deployment, yet can easily be extended for carrying the bag. Simple unitary welds secure the handle to the bag, so the resultant structure is fairly strong.  
      According to the invention the front panel has an end flap extending from the one end edge. The handle is secured by the welds to the end flap. Thus this end edge of the bag is reinforced. In one system the end flap lies flat against an inner face of the front panel. One such handle can be secured to each of the end flaps. In another system the end flap has an outer edge secured via another such end flap to an end edge of the back panel. Thus the two end flaps can form a bag bottom or floor. Once again, one such handle can be secured to each end flap.  
      In another bag in accordance with the invention the back panel is longer than the front panel and has an extension flap projecting past the end edge of one of the panels. The extension flap is formed with a throughgoing hole. This makes storing the bags on a peg prior to use fairly easy and quite convenient, as they remain neat before being dispensed, as on a checkout line. In addition even when full the bag can be hung from the hole for display. This extension flap can be at an end of the bag opposite the one end edge. Thus the handle is directed downward so it can be used to pull the bag of the peg.  
      The back wall of the bag can have an extension flap extending up and folded over the one end edge and formed with a slot through which the handle can extend. This protects the contents of the bag.  
      In addition the bag can have a floor panel bridging the end edges of the panels opposite the one end edge.  
      In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the handle is provided with a bond-inhibiting layer between the location and the central part. This prevents the end parts of the handle from being welded to the center part when the handle is welded in place.  
      Furthermore according to the invention there is at least one weak bond between the handle and the face. This weak bond can be an adhesive joint. It serves to hold the handle in place prior to use. Thus there is no problem of the handles getting snagged before they are actually needed.  
      A bag according to the invention is made by first forming a C-shaped handle with a straight center part and with a pair of end parts extending toward each other from ends of the center part. A bond-inhibiting layer is provided between locations on the end parts offset from the center-part ends and the center part and the handle is positioned against a face of a bag panel. Then the end parts are unitarily welded in place at the locations to the bag-panel face. As described above, the handle can be bonded weakly to the face offset from the locations.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
      The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, it being understood that any feature described with reference to one embodiment of the invention can be used where possible with any other embodiment and that reference numerals or letters not specifically mentioned with reference to one figure but identical to those of another refer to structure that is functionally if not structurally identical. In the accompanying drawing:  
       FIG. 1  is a partly schematic perspective view of a handle bag according to the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a section taken along line II-II of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an end view taken in the direction of arrow III of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a partly schematic perspective view of another handle bag in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a view of the upper end of the bag of  FIG. 4  with the handles extended;  
       FIG. 6  is a view like  FIG. 6  of yet another bag according to the invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a view like  FIG. 4  of the  FIG. 6  bag with the handles extended; and  
       FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are schematic views illustrating manufacture of the bag in accordance with the invention.  
    
    
     SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION  
      As seen in FIGS.  1  to  3 , a bag  1  according to the invention has rectangular front and back side panels or walls  2  and  3 , the back panel  3  being somewhat longer than the front panel. The two panels  2  and  3  are joined together by a floor panel  4  comprised of two rectangular flaps  5  and  6 , the former joined to the front panel  2  and the latter to the rear panel  3 . These flaps  5  and  6  are, in effect extensions of the front and back panels  2  and  3  that are folded over, although it is within the scope of the invention for the floor  4  to be a separate piece. The front and back side panels  2  and  3  are joined together at longitudinal edge seams  10  and  11  (shown open in  FIG. 1 ) either directly or via integral or separate edge strips. One end of the bag  1  is forms an open mouth  9  and the projecting end of the longer panel  3  is formed at a lower end of the bag opposite the mouth  9  with a pair or transversely spaced throughgoing holes  12  and  13  that are mainly employed as described below prior to filling of the bag  1 . This is a single-use bag adapted, for example, for holding diapers and intended to be torn open for access to the diapers, and to be hung up by the holes  12  and  13  for display.  
      According to the invention a pair of C-shaped handles  7  and  8  are bonded to the confronting faces of the flaps  5  and  6  of the floor panel  4 . Each such handle  7  and  8  is comprised of a straight center part of a length L and two short end parts of a length 1 equal to between L/3 and L/4 that are folded back against the center part. The inner ends of the end parts are secured at strong bonds  14  and  15  to the faces of the respective flaps  5  and  6 . These bonds  14  and  15  are typically welds, the handles  7  and  8  and the panels  2  and  3  being of a durable thermoplastic. The bonds  14  and  15  are transversely spaced by a distance Ls equal to about two thirds of the length L. The confronting faces of the end parts and center part of the handles  7  and  8  are provided at the locations of the bonds  14  and  15  with a lacquer coating  16  and  17  that prevents the center part from bonding with the end parts when the welds  14  and  16  are formed, typically by ultrasonic heating. The outer faces of the handles  7  and  8  are uncoated.  
      Furthermore according to the invention the handles  7  and  8  are each joined at three weak spot welds or bonds  18  and  19  to the respective faces of the flaps  5  and  6 . One of these bonds  18  and  19  is at the center and the other two at the outer ends of the respective handles  7  and  8 . They serve to hold the handles  7  and  8  flat and in place against the respective flaps  5  and  6  until they are needed, at which time they are broken as the handles  7  and  8  are pulled out, remaining only attached at the bonds  14  and  15 . These weak bond spots  18  and  19  also serve to hold the handles  7  and  8  in place prior to fixing at the bonds  14  and  15 .  
      According to the invention the spacing Ls of the bonds  14  and  15  is such relative to the length L of the central part of each handle  7  and  8  that, when pulled free, there is a loop with an overall length equal to L+2(L−L S ). Thus even though the handles  7  and  8  are completely neatly stowed within the outlines of the bag prior to use, when deployed they are quite large, making it possible to put one&#39;s entire arm or even shoulder through them.  
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show a bag  20  having handles  21  and  22  secured to flaps  26  and  27  extending inward from end edges of panels  23  and  24  at a fill opening  25 . The handles  21  and  22  are secured in place prior to deployment by weak adhesive bonds  28  and also by strong welds  31  and  32 . In addition the bag has a floor panel  29  formed of two flaps that are actually extension of the panels  23  and  24 . Thus the handles  21  and  22  can be pulled out of the mouth  25  to allow the bag  20  to be carried. When the handles  21  and  22  are pulled out, they will pull in the extension flaps  26  and  27  to, in effect, close the mouth  25 .  
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show a bag  33  where there are rear and front flaps  35  and  36 , and where the rear flap  35  has an extension flap  34  that is long enough to fold down over the front flap  36 . Only the front panel  36  is provided on its inner face with a short extension flap  309  t which is secured the C-shaped handle  38  as described above.  FIG. 7  shows how this handle  38  can be pulled out through a slot  37  in the flap  34  so that the bag  33  is closed with its contents protected, and its contents are protected.  
      As shown in  FIG. 8   a , a bag according to the invention is made by unrolling a sheet  41  in a direction D from a supply roll  40 . C-shaped handles  43  having bond-inhibiting layers  16  and  17  (not shown) are secured by the weak glue spots  18  and  29  to the face of the sheet  41  which is then folded over as shown in  FIG. 8   b  along a fold line  42 . Then heat is applied, e.g. ultrasonically, to the two weld locations  14  and  15  to bond the handles  43  in place, and sheet  41  is bonded together at the overlapping edges  44  and cut apart at lines  45 . Instead of folding together a single sheet  41 , it would be possible to bond two separate sheets together.