Multi-layered bags with shortened inner layer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9682801-B2
Application number	US-201514788104-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2015
Priority date	Nov 16, 2009
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

Multi-layered bags include an outer layer or bag and an inner layer or bag that is shorter than the outer layer or bag. The shortened inner layer or bag can stretch or expand to the outer layer or bag when loaded with objects or otherwise strained. Such multi-layered bags can allow for a reduction in thermoplastic material without compromising the strength of the multi-layered bag. In various implementations, the inner layer or bag may be non-continuously laminated, continuously laminated, or joined only along one or more edges to the outer layer or bag. Implementations including non-continuous bonds securing the inner layer or bag to the outer layer or bag can provide additional strength to the bag. Methods of forming multi-layered bags with a shortened inner layer including inserting an inner layer within an outer layer and then joining the layers to form a bag.

First claim

We claim:

1. A multi-layered thermoplastic bag with a shortened inner layer, comprising:
a first continuous thermoplastic bag comprising first and second opposing sidewalls joined together along a first side edge, an opposite second side edge, and a bottom edge, wherein the first and second sidewalls are un-joined to each other along at least a portion of their respective top edges to define an opening; and
a second continuous thermoplastic bag positioned within the first thermoplastic bag, the second thermoplastic bag comprising third and fourth opposing sidewalls joined together along a first side edge, an opposite second side edge, and a bottom edge, wherein the third and fourth sidewalls are un-joined to each other along at least a portion of their respective top edges to define an opening;
wherein the top terminal edges of the first and third sidewalls are attached together and the top terminal edges of the second and fourth sidewalls are attached together;
wherein the second thermoplastic bag is shorter than the first thermoplastic bag such that the bottom edge of the second thermoplastic bag is spaced a distance from the bottom edge of the first thermoplastic bag, the distance being between 5% and 35% of a length of the first and second sidewalls; and
wherein one or more of the first and second thermoplastic bags is incrementally stretched thereby defining a ribbed pattern comprising a plurality of alternating thick and thin linear ribs.

2. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first thermoplastic bag is joined to the second thermoplastic bag only along one or more hem seals proximate the top edges of the first and second thermoplastic bags.

3. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second side edges of the first thermoplastic bag are joined to the first and second side edges of the second thermoplastic bag.

4. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 3 , further comprising:
heat seals that join the first and second side edges of the first thermoplastic bag to the first and second side edges of the second thermoplastic bag; and
wherein the bottom edges of the first and second thermoplastic bags comprise folds.

5. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein second thermoplastic bag includes a strainable network.

6. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first thermoplastic bag comprises a first color; and
the second thermoplastic bag comprise a second color differing from the first color.

7. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second thermoplastic bag comprises an elastic material that allows the second thermoplastic bag to expand toward the first thermoplastic bag when filled with objects or otherwise strained.

8. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 7 , wherein the elastic material and a size of the second thermoplastic bag allow the second thermoplastic bag to absorb forces associated with loading the multi-layered bag.

9. A multi-layered thermoplastic bag with a shortened inner layer, comprising:
a first continuous thermoplastic bag comprising first and second opposing sidewalls joined together along a first side edge, an opposite second side edge, and a bottom edge, wherein the first and second sidewalls are un-joined to each other along at least a portion of their respective top edges to define an opening; and
a second continuous thermoplastic bag positioned within the first thermoplastic bag, the second thermoplastic bag comprising third and fourth opposing sidewalls joined together along a first side edge, an opposite second side edge, and a bottom edge, wherein the third and fourth sidewalls are un-joined to each other along at least a portion of their respective top edges to define an opening;
wherein the top terminal edges of the first and third sidewalls are attached together and the top terminal edges of the second and fourth sidewalls are attached together;
wherein the second thermoplastic bag is shorter than the first thermoplastic bag such that the bottom edge of the second thermoplastic bag is spaced a distance from the bottom edge of the first thermoplastic bag, the distance being between 5% and 35% of a length of the first and second sidewalls; and
further comprising a plurality of non-continuous bonds securing the second thermoplastic bag to the first thermoplastic bag.

10. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 9 , wherein the plurality of non-continuous bonds are formed by one or more of embossing, ring rolling, SELFing, ultrasonic bonding, adhesive, or combinations thereof.

11. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 10 , wherein portions of the first thermoplastic bag extending beyond the bottom edge of the second thermoplastic have a substantially uniform thickness and are not incrementally stretched.

12. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 9 , wherein a bottom portion of the second thermoplastic bag comprises an incrementally-stretched region that allows the second thermoplastic bag to expand toward the first thermoplastic bag when filled with objects or otherwise strained.

13. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 9 , wherein:
the first thermoplastic bag comprises a first color; and
the second thermoplastic bag comprise a second color differing from the first color.

14. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 9 , wherein the second thermoplastic bag comprises an elastic material that allows the second thermoplastic bag to expand toward the first thermoplastic bag when filled with objects or otherwise strained.

15. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 14 , wherein the elastic material and a size of the second thermoplastic bag allow the second thermoplastic bag to absorb forces associated with loading the multi-layered bag.

16. A multi-layered bag, comprising:
a first sidewall comprising a first continuous layer of a thermoplastic material and an adjacent second continuous layer of thermoplastic material;
a second sidewall comprising a first continuous layer of a thermoplastic material and an adjacent second continuous layer of thermoplastic material, wherein:
the first layers of the first and second sidewalls each have a first length;
the second layers of the first and second sidewalls each have a second length that is less than the first length, the second length being between 75% and 95% of the first length; and
the second sidewall is joined to the first sidewall along a first side edge, an opposing second side edge, and a bottom edge, and at least a portion of respective top edges of the first and second sidewalls define an opening of the multi-layered bag;
wherein a bottom portion of the second layers of the first and second side walls each have a stretched region that allows the second layers to expand toward the first layers when the multi-layered bag is filled with objects or otherwise strained.

17. The multi-layered bag as recited in claim 16 , further comprising a first plurality of non-continuous bonds securing the first and second layers of the second sidewall together, the first plurality of non-continuous bonds being positioned between the top edges and the bottom edge of the first sidewall.

18. The multi-layered bag as recited in claim 17 , wherein the first plurality of non-continuous bonds have a tailored bond strength configured to allow the first plurality of non-continuous bonds to de-bond and absorb energy and allow the first and second layers delaminate when articles are added to the multi-layered bag.

19. The multi-layered bag as recited

Assignees

• Glad Products Co

Inventors

• Borchardt Michael G
• Wilcoxen Kyle R
• Fraser Robert W
• Dorsey Robert T
• Broering Shaun T
• Macpherson Jack A
• Binger Scott
• Cisek Kenneth E
• Fish Theodore J

Classifications

• B65D31/04 Primary

  with multiple walls (B65D81/3881 takes precedence; for shock absorbing purposes B65D81/03) · CPC title

• B31B37/00

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B65D31/02

  with laminated walls · CPC title

• B32B27/308

  comprising acrylic (co)polymers · CPC title

• B32B2439/06

  Bags, sacks, sachets · CPC title