Multi-layered bags with shortened inner layer
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| Title: | Multi-layered bags with shortened inner layer |
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| Patent Number: | 9,050,783 |
| Publication Date: | June 09, 2015 |
| Appl. No: | 13/412940 |
| Application Filed: | March 06, 2012 |
| 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. |
| Inventors: | Borchardt, Michael G. (Naperville, IL, US); Wilcoxen, Kyle R. (Chicago, IL, US); Fraser, Robert W. (Lombard, IL, US); Dorsey, Robert T. (Western Springs, IL, US); Broering, Shaun T. (Fort Thomas, KY, US); MacPherson, Jack A. (Aurora, IL, US); Binger, Scott (Bridgeview, IL, US); Cisek, Ken (Chicago, IL, US); Fish, Theodore J. (Downers Grove, IL, US) |
| Assignees: | The Glad Products Company (Oakland, CA, US) |
| 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 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. |
| Claim: | 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. |
| Claim: | 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. |
| Claim: | 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 are joined 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. |
| Claim: | 5. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein each 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. |
| Claim: | 6. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 5 , wherein second thermoplastic bag includes a strainable network. |
| Claim: | 7. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of non-continuous bonds securing the second thermoplastic bag to the first thermoplastic bag, the non-continuous bonds directly securing thick linear ribs of the first thermoplastic bag to thick linear ribs of the second thermoplastic bag. |
| Claim: | 8. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 7 , wherein the plurality of non-continuous bonds are formed by one or more of embossing, ring rolling, SELFing, ultrasonic bonding, adhesive, or combinations thereof. |
| Claim: | 9. 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. |
| Claim: | 10. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , 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. |
| Claim: | 11. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of non-continuous bonds securing the first and second thermoplastic bags together, the plurality of non-continuous bonds being positioned between the top edges and the bottom edges of the first and second thermoplastic bags. |
| Claim: | 12. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 11 , wherein a strength of the plurality of non-continuous bonds is weaker than a tear resistance of the first thermoplastic bag and a tear resistance of the second thermoplastic bag. |
| Claim: | 13. The thermoplastic bag as recited in claim 1 , wherein a bottom portion of the second thermoplastic bag comprises a stretched region that allows the second thermoplastic bag to expand toward the first thermoplastic bag when filled with objects or otherwise strained. |
| Claim: | 14. 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 of the first length; 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; and 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, 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. |
| Claim: | 15. The multi-layered bag as recited in claim 14 , further comprising a second plurality of non-continuous bonds securing at least one section of the first and second layers of the first sidewall together. |
| Claim: | 16. The multi-layered bag as recited in claim 15 , a third plurality of non-continuous bonds securing at least another section of the first and second layers of the first sidewall together. |
| Claim: | 17. The multi-layered bag as recited in claim 16 , wherein the second plurality of non-continuous bonds differs in one or more of type or pattern from the third plurality of non-continuous bonds. |
| Claim: | 18. The multi-layered bag as recited in claim 17 , wherein: the third plurality of non-continuous bonds comprise one of ultrasonic bonds, adhesive bonds, bonds formed from MD ring rolling, bonds formed from TD ring rolling, bonds formed from embossing, or bonds formed from SELFing; and the second plurality of non-continuous bonds comprise another of ultrasonic bonds, adhesive bonds, bonds formed from MD ring rolling, bonds formed from TD ring rolling, bonds formed from embossing, or bonds formed from SELFing. |
| Claim: | 19. The multi-layered bag as recited in claim 14 , further comprising at least an additional portion of the second layer of the first sidewall positioned between a first portion of the second layer bonded to the first layer by the second plurality of non-continuous bonds and a second portion of the second layer bonded to the first layer by the third plurality of non-continuous bonds, the at least another portion being un-bonded to the first layer of the first sidewall. |
| Claim: | 20. 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; wherein a bottom portion of the second thermoplastic bag comprises a stretched region that allows the second thermoplastic bag to expand toward the first thermoplastic bag when filled with objects or otherwise strained. |
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| Other References: | International Search Report, mailed May 6, 2013, from counterpart PCT/US 13/28882, filing date Mar. 4, 2013. cited by applicant |
| Primary Examiner: | Pascua, Jes F |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Feix, Thomas C. |
| Accession Number: | edspgr.09050783 |
| Database: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| 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. |
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