EP0614815A1

EP0614815A1 - Hermetically sealed carrier bag in semi-rigid paper

Info

Publication number: EP0614815A1
Application number: EP93830334A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luigi Pancotti
Original assignee: POLYPAK - Srl
Current assignee: POLYPAK - Srl
Priority date: 1993-03-02
Filing date: 1993-07-28
Publication date: 1994-09-14
Also published as: IT230835Y1; ITAN930005V0; ITAN930005U1

Abstract

The instant invention concerns a carrier bag (1) in semi-rigid paper which can be hermetically closed by making use of the upper sections (3a,4a) of its longitidinal and transversal walls (3,4), of a suitable shape and reinforced in cardboard; more particularly, these upper sections are able to form a downward facing flap and to fit together, by means of a series of lines where folds are to be made.

Description

The instant invention for a utility model concerns a semi-rigid paper carrier bag with an opening which can be hermetically sealed without using buttons, ties or other means.
The article in question can be considered as new and interesting in a field in which manufacturing styles and solutions have been firmly consolidated for many years.
In particular, semi-rigid paper bags have been widely diffused, in many commercial fields for use in consigning goods to buyers.
To date, however, these bags have always been produced in several typical versions, now traditionally standardized; these bags are nomally of a certain size and have handles at their top opening.
These conventional bags may or may not be able to be firmly closed at the top, or they may have some specific means of firmly closing at the top, such as buttons, ties, fasteners, probably made of plastic and in any case always using very low cost methods.
Within this technological viewpoint, the article according to the invention is intended to be presented as something significantly new; as already mentioned, it consists of a semi-rigid paper carrier bag in which it is provided that that the top opening be closed without resorting to conventional means.
In fact, the hermetic closing of this new type of bag is guaranteed by its own top edges, those which bound the opening; actually, these edges, of a suitable shape and pre-folded, are able to fit together so as to completely seal the opening of the bag in a stable manner.
The coupling of these edges, in spite of providing sufficient stablity, it also easy to eliminate, so that there are no problems in re-opening the bag in question, a major difference compared to what may happen with traditional bags which use buttons,ties or fasteners.
Also from the design point of view, the article is particularly attractive and practical and above all, the external aspect is so original as to provide the commercial businesses wishing to make use of it with a considerable degree of individuality.
For further clarity of explanation, the description of the invention continues with reference to the attached drawings, reproduced for illustrative and limitative purposes, wherein:

Figure 1 and Figure 2 are axomometric representations of the bag according to the invention which is illustrated both in the open and closed position:
Figure 3 is the front view of one of the transversal sides of the bag in question.

With reference to the attached drawings, the article in question (1) consists of a carrier bag, the structure of which is more or less conventional.
The version illustrated in the drawings has a rectangular base (2), with vertical walls (3) and (4) oppostite each other; it being provided that the narrow transversal walls (3) have a vertical pre-folded line at the centre (A) which branches out in an upside-down "V" shape near the bottom of the bag.
At the opening, both the transversal walls (3) and the longitudinal walls (4) have sections, respectively (3a) and (4a), which are internally reinforced in thin carton; more particularly, the height (h) of these four reinforced sections is equal to half the width (1) of the opening of the bag.
The top edges of the two longitudinal walls (4) are cut in such a way as to provide a section with a raised profile (4b), which extends over about half of the edge and which is connected to the other half by means of a ridge with an inclined profile (4c).
Another important feature is the pre-folding of the reinforced sections (3a) of the transversal sides (3); each of these has been pre-folded in an upside-down "V" shape (B) with the tip at a point corresponding to the top edge and the ends of the "V" at a point corresponding to the corners of the bag which bound each transversal wall on opposite sides; this folding line bounds a central triangular area (3b) which is of a considerable size and two small triangular areas (3c) to the left and to the right of said central area (3b).
It is again specified that in order to guarantee the closing of the bag (1), both the reinforced sections (4a) at the top of the longitudinal walls (4), and the reinforced sections (3a) at the top of the transversal sides (3), are able to rotate around horizontal axes represented by segments of a pre-folding line (C) provided all around the bag (1) just below these reinforced sections.
With particular reference to Figure 2, it should be said that the longitudinal reinforced sections (4a) are intended to rotate at 90° inwards, one against the other, until they reach a horizontal position; at this point, each section closes one longitudinal half of the bag opening (1), it being provided that the raised ridge (4b) of each wall is positioned above the other opposite wall during this phase, while the inclined profiles (4c) of the two walls fit perfectly together.
It is moreover specified that said inward rotation by the reinforced longitudinal sections (4a) takes place automatically following the lowering of the reinforced transversal sections (3a).
In practise therefore, the inward rotation of the reinforced longitudinal sections (4a) of the bag (1), takes place at the same time as the outward 90° rotation of the reinforced transversal sections (3a), the latter, however, making use of the aforementioned upside-down "V" shaped pre-folding (B), also fold back so as to create on each side of the now closed bag (1) a double triangular flap shape.
The lower layer of each of these flap is actually made up of the central area (3b) of the reinforced transversal section (3), while the top layer of said flap consists of two separate edges, created by the two small triangular surfaces (3c) on the reinforced transversal section (3a) to the left and to the right of the upside-down "V" fold (B).
The definitive and stable closure of the bag opening is carried out by effecting a further 90° fold, this time downwards, of the aforementioned flaps, until they come into contact with the transversal edges (3) of the bag, in the position precisely illustrated in Figure 2.
It can be understood how the reinforced sections (3a) and (4a) at the top of the bag according to the invention provide a type of closure which is similar to a parcel lined with wrapping paper; it could also be said that this new bag (1), once closed, takes on the semblance of a real box with all the guarantees of stability that this provides.
Finally, it should be added that the bag in question can be fitted with traditional handles applied to the transversal walls (4) or directly to the reinforced longitudinal sections (4a):
In particular, a version of the bag in question fitted with cord handles at the reinforced longitudinal sections (4a) in the attached drawings.

Claims

Hermetically sealed carrier bag in semi-rigid paper, of the type made up of a rectangular base (2) with vertical walls (3) and (4) opposite each other, of which the trasversal walls (3) have a pre-folding line (A) at the centre which branches out in an upside-down "V" shape towards the bottom of the bag, characterised by the fact that at the opening, it has transversal sections (3a) and longitudinal sections (4a), internally reinforced by thin carton, the height (h) of which is equal to half the width (1) of the bag's opening, more particularly, sections (4a) are cut in such a way as to provide a section in raised profile (4b), which covers about half the edge and which is linked to the other half by means of a ridge with an inclined profile (4c), while the reinforced transversal sections (3a) have a pre-folding line in the shape of an upside-down "V" (B), with the tip corresponding to the top edge and the two ends of the "V" corresponding to the corners of the bag which bound on opposing sides each transversal wall; it being provided that on the bag (1) there be a perimetral pre-folding line (c) just below the reinforced sections (3a) and (4a)