Bulk bag hook

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10011412-B2
Application number	US-201414915834-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2014
Priority date	Sep 10, 2013
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

A bulk bag hook for use on a bulk bag to releasably connect the bulk bag to a shopping cart. The bulk bag hook includes a base section that is secured to the bulk bag, a hook portion that is designed to releasably secure to a shopping cart, and a hinge that is connected between the base section and the hoof portion to enable the hook portion to move relative to the base section.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A hookable bulk bag that can be releasably secured to a shopping cart, said hookable bulk bag comprising a bulk bag and a bulk bag hook, said bulk bag having a front face, a back face, a first side, a second side, a top portion having a top end, a bottom portion having a bottom end, an inner cavity for containing a product, and a barcode or identification code on said top portion of said bulk bag, said bulk bag hook including a base section, a hinge and a hook portion, said base section non-releasably connected to an outer surface of said front face of said bulk bag and positioned closer to said top end than to said bottom end and spaced from said barcode or identification code, said hook portion including a hooking section having a shape that is configured to releasably connect to a portion of a shopping cart so that the bulk bag hangs from the shopping cart as the shopping cart is moved along a floor surface, said hinge connected between said base section and said hook portion, said hinge configured to enable said hook portion to move relative to said base section,
wherein said base section includes a first portion having a front end and a back end, said hinge connected to said back end of said first portion, said hinge having a thickness at the point of connection with said back end of said first portion that is less than a thickness of said back end of said first portion, and
wherein said base section includes a second portion having a front end and a back end, said hinge connected to said front end of said second portion, said hinge having a thickness at the point of connection with said front end of said second portion that is less than a thickness of said front end of said second portion, said hinge positioned between said first and second portions of said base section.

2. The hookable bulk bag as defined in claim 1 , wherein said hinge is a living hinge.

3. The hookable bulk bag as defined in claim 1 , wherein said base section, said hinge and said hook portion are formed of a single piece of material.

4. The hookable bulk bag as defined in claim 1 , including a latch that is configured to releasably secure said hook portion to a top surface of said base section, said latch spaced from said hinge.

5. The hookable bulk bag as defined in claim 1 , wherein said base section is non-releasably connected to an outer surface of said front face of said bulk bag by one or more arrangements selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, a rivet, stitching, a clamp arrangement, a melt connection, a friction connection, and a clamp backing.

6. The hookable bulk bag as defined in claim 1 , wherein said hook portion includes said hooking section and a body section, said hooking section has a shape selected from the group consisting of a C-shape, a U-shape and a V-shape.

7. The hookable bulk bag as defined in claim 6 , wherein a length of said body section when said body section is positioned tangentially to a top surface of said base section causes a front end of said hooking section to be spaced above said top surface of said base section a distance of 0.25 inches to 2 inches.

8. The hookable bulk bag as defined in claim 6 , wherein said hooking section has an angle of curvature of an inner surface of the hooking section of at least 90°.

9. The hookable bulk bag as defined in claim 8 , wherein said hooking section has an angle of curvature of the inner surface of the hooking section of 120° to 250°.

10. A method for manufacturing a bulk bag that includes a bulk bag hook that can be used to releasably secure the bulk bag to a shopping cart comprising:
a. providing a bulk bag, said bulk bag having a front face, a back face, a first side, a second side, a top portion having a top end, a bottom portion having a bottom end, an inner cavity for containing a product, and a barcode or identification code on said top portion of said bulk bag;
b. providing a bulk bag hook, said bulk bag hook including a base section, a hinge and a hook portion, said base section designed to be non-releasably connected to an outer surface of said front face of said bulk bag and positioned closer to said top end than to said bottom end and spaced from said barcode or identification code, said hook portion including a hooking section having a shape that is configured to releasably connect to a portion of a shopping cart, said hinge connected between said base section and said hook portion, said hinge configured to enable said hook portion to move relative to said base section,
wherein said base section includes a first portion having a front end and a back end, said hinge connected to said back end of said first portion, said hinge having a thickness at the point of connection with said back end of said first portion that is less than a thickness of said back end of said first portion, and
wherein said base section includes a second portion having a front end and a back end, said hinge connected to said front end of said second portion, said hinge having a thickness at the point of connection with said front end of said second portion that is less than a thickness of said front end of said second portion, said hinge positioned between said first and second portions of said base section;
c. securing a bottom surface of said base section to said front face of said bulk bag, said base section positioned adjacently to said barcode or identification code, said base section positioned closer to said top end than to said bottom end of said bulk bag, said bottom surface of said base section connected to said front face of said bulk bag by one or more arrangements selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, a rivet, stitching, a clamp arrangement, a melt connection, a friction connection, and a clamp backing.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein said base section positioned centrally between said first and second sides of said bulk bag.

12. The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein said hinge is a living hinge.

13. The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein said base section, said hinge and said hook portion are formed of a single piece of material.

14. The method as defined in claim 10 , including a latch that is configured to releasably secure said hook portion to a top surface of said base section, said latch spaced from said hinge.

15. The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein said base section is non-releasably connected to an outer surface of said front face of said bulk bag by one or more arrangements selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, a rivet, stitching, a clamp arrangement, a melt connection, a friction connection, and a clamp backing.

16. The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein said hook portion includes said hooking section and a body section, said hooking section has a shape selected from the group consisting of a C-shape, a U-shape, and a V-shape.

17. The method as defined in claim 16 , wherein said hooking section has an angle of curvature of an inner surface of the hooking section of at least 90°.

18. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein said hooking section has an angle of curvature of the inner surface of the hooking section of 120° to 250°.

19. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein a length of said body section when said body section is positioned tangentially to a top surface of said base section causes a front end of said hooking section to be spaced above said top surface of said base section a distance of 0.25 inches to 2 inches.

Assignees

• Process4 Inc
• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Taylor Curtis
• Misener Aaron
• Hanson Matthew

Classifications

• B65D33/004

  Information or decoration elements, e.g. level indicators, detachable tabs or coupons · CPC title

• B65D75/56 Primary

  Handles or other suspension means · CPC title

• B31B50/81

  Forming or attaching accessories, e.g. opening devices, closures or tear strings · CPC title

• B65D33/14

  Suspension means (handles B65D33/06) · CPC title