Thermoplastic bags with phased deformation patterns

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11958660-B2
Application number	US-202017424448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2020
Priority date	Jan 29, 2019
Publication date	Apr 16, 2024
Grant date	Apr 16, 2024

Abstract

Thermoplastic bags with phased deformation patterns are described. In particular, one or more implementations comprise thermoplastic bags with ring rolling, SELFing, or other deformation patterns phased or aligned relative to the sides of the bags. The phased deformation patterns can allow for reducing or eliminating deformation patterns in areas of the thermoplastic bag in which side seals or other seals are formed. Additionally or alternatively, the phased deformation patterns can provide for zones that provide differing properties (e.g., functional or aesthetic). Such zones can vary aligned along a width of the thermoplastic bag and optionally also vary along a height of the thermoplastic bag. The differing zones can provide the thermoplastic bags with phased deformations that provide leak prevention, liquid containment, and other benefits.

First claim

We claim:

1. A thermoplastic bag, comprising:
first and second sidewalls of a thermoplastic film material;
a first side seal securing respective first side edges of the first and second sidewalls together;
a second side seal securing respective second side edges of the first and second sidewalls together;
a bottom edge, extending from the first side edges to the second sided edges; and
phased deformations formed in the first and second sidewalls, the phased deformations extending between the first and second side edges of the thermoplastic bag, the phased deformations comprising:
a first series of repeating deformation patterns comprising a first configuration of deformations within each respective deformation pattern, wherein the first series of repeating deformation patterns are positioned in a first side zone along the first side edges and a second side zone along the second side edge; and
a second series of repeating deformation patterns comprising a second configuration of deformations within each respective deformation pattern, the second configuration of deformations comprising different sized deformations than the deformations of the first configuration of deformations, wherein the second series of deformations is positioned in at least one middle zone positioned in a machine direction between the first side zone and the second side zone,

wherein: the second series of repeating deformation patterns comprises a first pattern of deformations having a first orientation within a first side half of the thermoplastic bag and a second pattern of deformations having a second orientation within a second side half of the thermoplastic bag, and the first side half of the thermoplastic bag is devoid of the second pattern of deformations and the second side half of the thermoplastic bag is devoid of the first pattern of deformations.

2. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
first portions of the first and second sidewalls extending from the first side edges toward the second side edges are devoid of patterns of deformations, wherein the first side seal is positioned within the first portions of the first and second sidewalls; and
second portions of the first and second sidewalls extending from the second side edges toward the first side edges are devoid of patterns of deformations, wherein the second side seal is positioned within the second portions of the first and second sidewalls.

3. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein a lower middle zone of deformations is positioned in a bottom portion of the thermoplastic bag, wherein the deformations decrease in width as the lower middle zone of deformations nears the bottom edge.

4. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 3 , wherein the lower middle zone of deformations is sized and configured so when the thermoplastic bag is strained, the bottom portion of the thermoplastic bag expands and extends below bottom ends of the first and second side seals.

5. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 4 , further comprising a liquid absorbing component positioned within the bottom portion of the thermoplastic bag.

6. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first configuration of deformations comprises raised rib-like elements and the second configuration of deformations comprises incrementally-stretched rib-like elements.

7. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first configuration of deformations and the second configuration of deformations comprise differing strength characteristics.

8. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first side zone, the second side zone, and the at least one middle zone each extend from a top edge of the thermoplastic bag to the bottom edge of the thermoplastic bag.

9. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 8 , wherein:
the first side zone and the second side zone are devoid of the second series of repeating deformation patterns and the at least one middle zone is devoid of the first series of repeating deformation patterns.

10. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 8 , wherein the first pattern of deformations and the second pattern of deformations are sized and configured to direct liquids added to the thermoplastic bag into a center of the thermoplastic bag.

11. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second sidewalls comprise multiple layers discontinuously bonded together.

12. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 11 , wherein:
an outer layer of the first and second sidewalls has a first color;
an inner layer of the first and second sidewalls has a second color created by a pigment, the first color differing from the second color; and
portions of the outer layer in intimate contact with the inner layer comprise the second color.

13. A multi-layer thermoplastic bag comprising:
a first multi-layer sidewall comprising a first thermoplastic film layer and a second thermoplastic film layer;
a second multi-layer sidewall comprising a third thermoplastic film layer and a fourth thermoplastic film layer;
a first side seal securing respective first side edges of the first and second multi-layer sidewalls together;
a second side seal securing respective second side edges of the first and second multi-layer sidewalls together; and
phased deformations formed in the first and second multi-layered sidewalls, the phased deformations extending between the first and second side edges, wherein:
the phased deformations bond the first and second thermoplastic film layers together and bond the third and fourth thermoplastic film layers together,
the phased deformations include a first series of deformation patterns comprising a first configuration of deformations within each respective deformation pattern, wherein the first series of deformation patterns are positioned in a first side zone along the first side edges and a second side zone along the second side edges, the first side zone and the second side zone each extending from a top edge to a bottom edge of the multi-layer thermoplastic bag, and
the phased deformations include a second series of deformation patterns comprising a second configuration of deformations within each respective deformation pattern, the second configuration of deformations comprising different sized deformations than the deformations of the first configuration of deformations, wherein second series of deformations is positioned in at least one middle zone positioned in a machine direction between the first side zone and the second side zone, the at least one middle zone extending from the top edge to the bottom edge,
wherein the first side zone and the second side zone are devoid of the second series of repeating deformation patterns and the at least one middle zone is devoid of the first series of repeating deformation patterns wherein the second series of deformation patterns, within an upper middle zone of the at least one middle zone, comprises a first pattern of deformations and a second pattern of deformations that are sized and oriented to direct liquids added to the multi-layer thermoplastic bag into a center of the multi-layer thermoplastic bag.

14. The multi-layer thermoplastic bag of claim 13 , wherein:
first portions of the first and second multi-layer sidewalls extending from the first side edges toward the second side edges are devoid of patterns of deformations, wherein the first side seal is positioned within the first portions of the first and second multi-layer sidewalls; and
second portions of the first and second multi-layer sidewalls extending from the second side edges toward the fir

Assignees

• Glad Products Co

Inventors

• Broering Shaun T
• Waldron Matthew W
• Maxwell Jason R
• Dorsey Robert T
• Borchardt Michael G
• Tucker Edward B
• Melvan Jack F
• Palmer Richard D
• Fix Deborah K

Classifications

• B65D33/02 Primary

  Local reinforcements or stiffening inserts, e.g. wires, strings, strips or frames {(B65D33/007 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B31B70/008

  Stiffening or reinforcing (B31B70/876 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D33/28 Primary

  Strings or strip-like closures {, i.e. draw closures} · CPC title

• B65D65/40

  Applications of laminates for particular packaging purposes {(B65D1/0215, B65D1/28, B65D3/22, B65D5/0281, B65D5/563, B65D9/30, B65D29/02, B65D31/02, B65D75/26, B65D77/2024, B65D81/1275, B65D81/3811, B65D81/3823, B65D81/3834, B65D81/3846, B65D81/3858, B65D81/3874, B65D81/3886, B65D81/3897 take precedence; laminates per se or laminated packages characterised by the composition or)} · CPC title

• B65D81/264

  for absorbing liquids · CPC title