Abstract:
A system for adhering hook-and-loop (e.g., “Velcro”) fasteners to plastic bags by means of zig-zag stitching is disclosed. The system lessens the likelihood that the fasteners will detach from the substrates or plastic panels to which they are attached.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/252,624, filed Sep. 23, 2002, which was a Continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/902,115, filed Jul. 10, 2001. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a transparent container or bag. The bag can be used as both as a container for merchandise while in the hands of a retail merchant, and as a vehicle for repackaging and storing the merchandise while in the possession of the retail purchaser. Bags of this type are manufactured of non-rigid plastic sheets which can be easily folded. It is desirable to have at least front and back walls of the container be transparent which makes it easy to see the bag contents. Although the transparent bag can be used for many purposes, the bag is especially useful for displaying and storing cloth books.  
         [0003]     The bag has at least one transparent panel which is adapted to hold a display card. This card has substantially the same general width and length as the bag&#39;s front or back walls, and typically contains information concerning the contents of the bag, the identity of the manufacturer or distributor, and other information of potential interest to a consumer. Such cards are typically manufactured from light cardboard or stiff paper, but other materials (e.g., plastic) could also be used. In addition to providing information on the contents, the card, once inserted, also functions as a stiffener, adding additional rigidity to the package.  
         [0004]     Another desirable feature of a container of this type is ease of opening and closing. Because the bag is designed to be opened and closed on multiple occasions by the purchaser, the closure system should be both simple to use and sturdy. A hook and loop fastening system (commonly marketed under the trademark Velcro®) is ideal for this purpose. Fastening systems incorporating a first Velcro® member on a closure flap and a second closure Velcro® member on a front panel have been previously used. These Velcro® patches have been adhered to the surface of the bag by glue or the like.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Although transparent bags having display cards are known in the art, one problem has been a system for placing the display cards in the package. Transparent bags of this type should be generic enough so that they can be used for a variety of products, with the display card serving as a major means for differentiating the bags&#39; contents. Thus, on the one hand, the process of inserting the card into the bag should not be labor intensive. On the other hand, the display card should be placed firmly enough in the transparent bag so that the mere act of removing the bag&#39;s contents does not result in removal of the card at the same time. Stated another way, the frictional engagement between the card and bag can cause the card to be displaced when the contents are removed. One aspect of the present invention is a solution to this problem.  
         [0006]     As noted above, glued-on Velcro® patches have been used as means to open and close such transparent containers. One problem with glued-on patches is that over time the periphery of the Velcro® patches de-laminates from the surface. While the art has attempted to deal with this problem by using stitched-on patches, the sewing methods employed leave an edge portion which can work itself away from the closure flap or the wall of the bag. To the extent that these containers are used to package items for small children, the presence of something which can pose a risk of choking is another problem. Another aspect of the present invention provides a solution to this second problem.  
         [0007]     With respect to problem of mounting and maintaining a display card in the transparent container, the present invention utilizes a retaining strip along the top of one wall or panel of the transparent bag. The top edge and one side of the strip is secured to the bag; the bottom strip edge and the other side are open, allowing easy insertion of a display card during the packaging operation.  
         [0008]     The issue of a permanently-mounted fastening system is addressed by attaching Velcro® patches by means of continuous zig-zag stitching around the entire periphery of the patches. This method of attachment has been found to withstand repeated closing and unclosing without presenting an area of de-lamination where a small child could attack with fingers or teeth.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0009]     Other aspects of the present invention will be more clearly understood from an examination of the appended drawings and detailed description, wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a transparent bag of the present invention with the display-card-containing region facing forward; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view, partially in section, with the display-card-containing region facing toward the rear. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0012]      FIGS. 1 &amp; 2  show a transparent container or bag  10  which is adapted to hold a child&#39;s cloth book. Bag  10  has front and back panels  11 ,  13 , side panels  12 ,  14 , a bottom panel  16 , and a top, closure flap  15 , all of which are manufactured of a clear plastic material. Closure flap  15  is a continuation of (integral with) back panel  13 .  
         [0013]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , side panels  12 ,  14  and bottom panel  16  are formed from a single continuous transparent strip. If desired, these panels can be fabricated from three or two pieces, rather than from a single strip. Moreover, side panels  12 ,  14  and bottom panel  16  can be formed from a non-transparent material.  
         [0014]     The various panels of bag  10  are attached to gusset members  17 ,  18  and  19  which function both to attach the various plastic panels to one another and to provide rigidity to the bag structure. Thus, rectangular top gusset member  19  interconnects front panel  11 , side panels  12  and  14 , and rear panel  13 , and provides a rectangular opening for insertion of an object, such as a cloth book. A U-shaped front gusset member  17  is mounted around three sides of front panel  11 . Front gusset member is attached to top gusset member  19  at  20   a ,  20   b . Rear gusset member  18  extends around rear panel  13  and its integral closure flap  15 . Rear gusset member  18  is attached to top gusset member  19  at  21   a ,  21   b.    
         [0015]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , bag  10  has a retaining strip  22  which is mounted inside the bag structure, behind front panel  11 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , retaining strip  22  is manufactured of a clear plastic material having the same characteristics as front panel  11 . Indeed, strip  22  can be fashioned by simply bending the top end of panel  11  backwards.  
         [0016]     Retaining strip  22  is secured along its top edge by rectangular (top) gusset member  19 . A first side end  23  of strip  22  is secured to front gusset  17  slightly below region  20   b —where gussets  19  and  17  intersect. The opposite or free end  25  of retaining strip  22  is unattached, as is strip bottom edge portion  29 , allowing insertion of a rectangular display card (not shown) having approximately the same dimensions as front panel  11  between retaining strip  22  and the back side of front panel  11 . This construction allows easy insertion of a display card, but will prevent the card from being dislodged from the bag when items are inserted and (in particular) removed.  
         [0017]     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , retaining strip  22  is shown as being mounted behind front panel  11 . It is, of course, equally possible to mount retaining strip  22  behind rear panel  13  in the same manner. Indeed, in instances where it is desirable, two retaining strips can be employed, thus allowing the use of two display cards.  
         [0018]     A Velcro® hoop fastener patch  26  is mounted to closure flap  15  and a Velcro® loop fastener patch  27  is mounted to front panel  11 , permitting bag  10  to be closed. Patches  26 ,  27  are attached by a sewing operation which employs zig-zag stitching around the entire periphery of the patches to attach them to the surface of bag  10 . Zig-zag stitches  30  provide a more secure attachment of patches  26 ,  26  to flap  15  and panel  11 . The nature of the patches attached to each panel can be reversed. That is, a hoop fastener patch  26  can be mounted on front panel  11  and a loop fastener patch  27  on closure flap  15 . However, if a hoop-type fastener is employed as the first closure member, a loop-type fastener member must be employed as the second closure member.