T-SHIRT STYLE BAG WITH REGISTERED ADVERTISING STRIP, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME

SAC SIMILAIRE A UN T-SHIRT A INSCRIPTION DE BANDE PUBLICITAIRE, APPAREIL ET PROCEDE ASSOCIEES

English Abstract

Plastic shopping bags having upper and lower seams, at least one side gusset,
an open bag mouth and upper bag handles has attached promotional ad strips.
The strips include a central removable portion and a pair of remainder
portions at either end of the strip that are sealed into the upper and lower
seams. The ad strips are registered to the upper and lower bag seams so that
whole numbers of the coupons, messages or promotions will fall within the
removable portion of the strip. Perforations join the removable portion of the
strip to the remainder portions. An apparatus for registering the ad strips to
plastic shopping bags includes markers on the bags and on the ad strips,
sensors to detect the markers, a controller to match the speed of the ad
strips to that of the bag blanks, a sealer, bag cutter and either a stacker or
a winder.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne des sacs à provisions en plastique pourvus de coutures supérieures et inférieures, d'au moins un gousset latéral, d'une bouche de sac ouverte et de poignées supérieures, lesdits sacs présentant des bandes publicitaires attachées. Ces bandes comprennent une partie amovible centrale et une paire de parties restantes au niveau de chaque extrémité de la bande qui sont scellées dans les coutures supérieures et inférieures. Les bandes publicitaires sont inscrites au niveau des coutures supérieures et inférieures, de telle façon que plusieurs coupons, messages ou promotions peuvent tomber à l'intérieur de la partie amovible de la bande. Des perforations permettent de joindre la partie amovible de la bande aux parties restantes. Cette invention a également trait à un appareil permettant d'inscrire des bandes publicitaires sur le sac à provisions en plastique, ledit appareil comportant des marqueurs sur les sacs ou sur les bandes publicitaires, des détecteurs de marqueurs, un dispositif de commande conçu pour faire correspondre la vitesse des bandes publicitaires à celle des découpes de sac, un dispositif de scellement, un dispositif de découpe de sac et un empileur ou un enrouleur.

Claims

28
CLAIMS
1.~A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip comprising:
a pair of registering front and back walls, said walls being secured
together along their side, top and bottom edges and open across
a portion of said top edges;
said walls, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into
which articles may be placed;
at least one of said secured together side edges being gusseted;
a plastic strip, said plastic strip having first and second remainder
portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable
portion disposed between said remainder portions;
said plastic strip being disposed upon one of said front and back walls
along one side of said gusset, said strip being of a length not
greater than a length of said gusseted side edge;
said strip being sealed to one of said top edges of said bag walls at an
end of said first remainder portion and sealed to one of said
bottom edges of said bag walls at an end of said second
remainder portion;
promotional material being printed upon at least one of an upper
surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said
strip; and
said promotional material beginning and ending within said removable
portion of said strip.

29
2. A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip comprising:
a pair of registering front and back walls, said walls being secured
together along their side, top and bottom edges and open across
a portion of said top edges;
said walls, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into
which articles may be placed;
at least one of said secured together side edges being gusseted;
a plastic strip, said plastic strip having first and second remainder
portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable
portion disposed between said remainder portions;
said plastic strip being disposed within said gusset, said strip being of a
length not greater than a length of said gusseted side edge;
said strip being sealed to one of said top edges of said bag walls at an
end of said first remainder portion and sealed to one of said
bottom edges of said bag walls at an end of said second
remainder portion;
promotional material being printed upon at least one of an upper
surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said
strip; and
said promotional material beginning and ending within said removable
portion of said strip.

30
3. The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described in
Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said removable portion of said strip is removably
attached to said first remainder portion with at least one perforation line
and is
removably attached to said second remainder portion with at least one
perforation line.
4. The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as Claim 1 or
Claim
2, wherein said promotional material is selected from the group consisting of
coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or service information.
5. A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip comprising:
a pair of registering front and back walls, said walls being secured
together along their top edges, first and second side edges,
bottom edges and open across at least a portion of their top
edges;
said walls, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into
which articles may be placed;
at least one of said secured together first and second side edges being
folded inwardly from said front and back walls to form a
gusset, said gusset having top and bottom edges;
said top edges of said front wall, said back wall, and said gusset
terminating in an upper seal;

31
said bottom edges of said front wall, said back wall, and said gusset
terminating in a lower seal, said lower seal being perpendicular
to said first and second side edges;
a U-shaped cut-out, said U-shaped cut-out being disposed in an upper
portion of said bag and commencing at a first point above said
upper seal spaced inwardly from said first side edge and
extending to a second point above said upper seal spaced
inwardly from said second side edge, said cut-out extending
downwardly toward said lower seal, thereby forming an open
bag mouth and a pair of bag handles;
a plastic strip, said plastic strip having first and second remainder
portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable
portion disposed between said remainder portions;
said plastic strip being disposed upon at least one of said front and
back walls above said at least one gusset, said strip being of a
length not greater than a length of said gusset;
said strip being sealed to one of said top edges of said bag walls at an
end of said first remainder portion and sealed to one of said
bottom edges of said bag walls at an end of said second
remainder portion;
promotional material being printed upon at least one of an upper
surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said
strip; and

32
said promotional material beginning and ending within said removable
portion of said strip.
6. A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip comprising:
a pair of registering front and back walls, said walls being secured
together along their top edges, first and second side edges,
bottom edges and open across at least a portion of their top
edges;
said walls, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into
which articles may be placed;
at least one of said secured together first and second side edges being
folded inwardly from said front and back walls to form a
gusset, said gusset having top and bottom edges;
said top edges of said front wall, said back wall, and said gusset
terminating in an upper seal;
said bottom edges of said front wall, said back wall, and said gusset
terminating in a lower seal, said lower seal being perpendicular
to said first and second side edges;
a U-shaped cut-out, said U-shaped cut-out being disposed in an upper
portion of said bag and commencing at a first point above said
upper seal spaced inwardly from said first side edge and
extending to a second point above said upper seal spaced
inwardly from said second side edge, said cut-out extending

33
downwardly toward said lower seal, thereby forming an open
bag mouth and a pair of bag handles;
a plastic strip, said plastic strip having first and second remainder
portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable
portion disposed between said remainder portions;
said plastic strip being disposed within said at least one gusset, said
strip being of a length not greater than a length of said gusset;
said strip being sealed to one of said top edges of said bag walls at an
end of said first remainder portion and sealed to one of said
bottom edges of said bag walls at an end of said second
remainder portion;
promotional material being printed upon at least one of an upper
surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said
strip; and
said promotional material beginning and ending within said removable
portion of said strip.
7. The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described in
Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein said removable portion of the strip is removably
attached to said first remainder portion with at least one perforation line
and is
removably attached to said second remainder portion with at least one
perforation line.

34
8. The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described in
Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein said promotional material is selected from the
group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or
service information.
9. The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described in
Claims 1, 2, 5 or 6 wherein said bags are severed from one another and
stacked in a registered bag pack.
10. The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described
in
Claims 1, 2, 5 or 6 wherein said bags are attached to one another at a
perforation line and wound into a roll.
11. An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip, comprising:
a supply of polyethylene material;
an extruder, said extruder producing a continuous tube of polyethylene
material;
a gusseter, said gusseter forming at least one side gusset in said
continuous tube;
a flattener, said flattener flattening said gusseted tube;
said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side
edge and a second side edge;

35
a marker, said marker placing bag reference markers on said
continuous tube at a first predetermined interval;
a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a
plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and
second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip
and a removable portion disposed between said remainder
portions;
said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one
of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable
portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon
at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said
strips at said first predetermined interval;
an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of
plastic strip material and modulating a speed at which said
plastic strip material is unwound from said roll;
an insertion device, said insertion device receiving said plastic strip
material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism
and directing said plastic strip material into said at least one
side gusset;
a first sensor, said first sensor detecting passage of said bag reference
markers;
a second sensor, said second sensor detecting passage of said strip
reference markers;

36
a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first and second
sensors, operator input and controlling said speed at which said
plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to
said insertion device;
a sealer, said sealer sealing said first and second remainder portions of
said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said
first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals
determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming
upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of
said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed within said at
least one gusset;
said bag reference markers being substantially aligned with said strip
reference markers and said removable portion of said strip
beginning and ending between said upper and lower bag seals;
a bag blank cutter, said bag blank cutter severing said bag blanks
between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag
seal of a second bag blank at a cut line;
a stacker, said stacker arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks
into a registered stack;
a bag opening cutter, said cutter removing a substantially U-shaped
section from an upper portion of said bag blanks disposed in
said bag stack;

37
said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said cut line
spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward
said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and
upwardly to a second point on said cut line spaced inwardly
from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag
mouth and a pair of bag handles; and
whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip
reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips
will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag
seals.
12. An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip, comprising:
a supply of polyethylene material;
an extruder, said extruder producing a continuous tube of polyethylene
material;
a gusseter, said gusseter forming at least one side gusset in said
continuous tube;
a flattener, said flattener flattening said gusseted tube;
said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side
edge and a second side edge;
a marker, said marker placing bag reference markers on said
continuous tube at a first predetermined interval;

38
a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a
plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and
second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip
and a removable portion disposed between said remainder
portions;
said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one
of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable
portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon
at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said
strips at said first predetermined interval;
an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of
plastic strip material and modulating a speed at which said
plastic strip material is unwound from said roll;
an application device, said application device receiving said plastic
strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind
mechanism and directing said plastic strip material on to either
of said top surface and said bottom surface of said flattened
tube either of above and below said at least one side gusset;
a first sensor, said first sensor detecting passage of said bag reference
markers;
a second sensor, said second sensor detecting passage of said strip
reference markers;

39
a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first and second
sensors, operator input and controlling said speed at which said
plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to
said application device;
a sealer, said sealer sealing said first and second remainder portions of
said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said
first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals
determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming
upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of
said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed either of above
and below said at least one gusset;
said bag reference markers being substantially aligned with said strip
reference markers and said removable portion of said strip
beginning and ending between said upper and lower bag seals;
a bag blank cutter, said bag blank cutter severing said bag blanks
between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag
seal of a second bag blank at a cut line;
a stacker, said stacker arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks
into a registered stack;
a bag opening cutter, said cutter removing a substantially U-shaped
section from an upper portion of said bag blanks disposed in
said bag stack;

40
said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said cut line
spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward
said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and
upwardly to a second point on said cut line spaced inwardly
from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag
mouth and a pair of bag handles; and
whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip
reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips
will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag
seals.
13. An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip, comprising:
a supply of polyethylene material;
an extruder, said extruder producing a continuous tube of polyethylene
material;
a gusseter, said gusseter forming at least one side gusset in said
continuous tube;
a flattener, said flattener flattening said gusseted tube;
said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side
edge and a second side edge;
a marker, said marker placing bag reference markers on said
continuous tube at a first predetermined interval;

41
a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a
plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and
second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip
and a removable portion disposed between said remainder
portions;
said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one
of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable
portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon
at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said
strips at said first predetermined interval;
an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of
plastic strip material and modulating a speed at which said
plastic strip material is unwound from said roll;
an insertion device, said insertion device receiving said plastic strip
material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism
and directing said plastic strip material into said at least one
side gusset;
a first sensor, said first sensor detecting passage of said bag reference
markers;
a second sensor, said second sensor detecting passage of said strip
reference markers;
a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first and second
sensors, operator input and controlling said speed at which said

42
plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to
said insertion device;
a sealer, said sealer sealing said first and second remainder portions of
said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said
first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals
determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming
upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of
said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed within said at
least one gusset;
said bag reference markers being substantially aligned with said strip
reference markers and said removable portion of said strip
beginning and ending between said upper and lower bag seals;
a perforator, said perforator forming a perforation line on said bag
blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a
lower bag seal of a second bag blank;
a bag opening cutter, said cutter removing a substantially U-shaped
section from an upper portion of said bag blanks;
said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said perforation
line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward
toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion,
and upwardly to a second point on said perforation line spaced
inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open
bag mouth and a pair of bag handles;

43
a bag winder, said bag winder winding said bags into a roll; and
whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip
reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips
will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag
seals.
14. An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip, comprising:
a supply of polyethylene material;
an extruder, said extruder producing a continuous tube of polyethylene
material;
a gusseter, said gusseter forming at least one side gusset in said
continuous tube;
a flattener, said flattener flattening said gusseted tube;
said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side
edge and a second side edge;
a marker, said marker placing bag reference markers on said
continuous tube at a first predetermined interval;
a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a
plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and
second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip
and a removable portion disposed between said remainder
portions;

44
said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one
of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable
portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon
at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said
strips at said first predetermined interval;
an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of
plastic strip material and modulating a speed at which said
plastic strip material is unwound from said roll;
an application device, said application device receiving said plastic
strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind
mechanism and directing said plastic strip material on to either
of said top surface and said bottom surface of said flattened
tube either of above and below said at least one side gusset;
a first sensor, said first sensor detecting passage of said bag reference
markers;
a second sensor, said second sensor detecting passage of said strip
reference markers;
a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first and second
sensors, operator input and controlling said speed at which said
plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to
said application device;
a sealer, said sealer sealing said first and second remainder portions of
said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said

45
first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals
determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming
upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of
said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed either of above
and below said at least one gusset;
said bag reference markers being substantially aligned with said strip
reference markers and said removable portion of said strip
beginning and ending between said upper and lower bag seals;
a perforator, said perforator forming a perforation line on said bag
blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a
lower bag seal of a second bag blank;
a bag opening cutter, said cutter removing a substantially U-shaped
section from an upper portion of said bag blanks;
said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said perforation
line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward
toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion,
and upwardly to a second point on said perforation line spaced
inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open
bag mouth and a pair of bag handles;
a bag winder, said bag winder winding said bags into a roll; and
whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip
reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips

46
will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag
seals.
15. The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip, as described in Claims 11-14, further comprising an operator interface,
said interface inputting at least bag length, coupon length and coupon offset
distance variables.
16. The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip, as described in Claims 11-14, wherein said unwind mechanism further
comprises at least one unwind nip roller, said unwind nip roller tensioning
said
plastic strip material, said controller modulating said tensioning.
17. The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip, as described in Claims 11-14, wherein said roll of plastic strip
material
comprises at least two parallel streams of plastic strips, said parallel
streams
being joined to one another at side edges of said streams.
18. The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip, as described in Claim 17, further comprising a slitter mechanism, said
slitter mechanism separating said at least two parallel streams of plastic
strips
into individual streams.

47
19. The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip, as described in Claim 18, further comprising at least one tensioning
nip
roller for each individual stream of plastic strips.
20. The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip, as described in Claim 18, further comprising a turn bar for at least
one of
said individual streams of plastic strips, said turn bar aligning said
individual
stream of plastic strips with said bag blanks.
21. The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip, as described in Claims 11-14, further comprising a strip perforating
mechanism, said strip perforating mechanism perforating said plastic strips
between said remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip.
22. A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip,
comprising the steps of:
providing a supply of polyethylene material;
extruding a continuous tube of polyethylene material;
forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube;
flattening said gusseted tube;
said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side
edge and a second side edge;

48
placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first
predetermined interval;
providing a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material
comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips
having first and second remainder portions disposed at either
end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said
remainder portions;
said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one
of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable
portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon
at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said
strips at said first predetermined interval;
providing an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting
said roll of plastic strip material;
modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound
from said roll;
providing an insertion device, said insertion device receiving said
plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind
mechanism;
providing a first sensor;
detecting passage of said bag reference markers;
providing a second sensor;
detecting passage of said strip reference markers;

49
providing a controller;
monitoring input from said first and second sensors and operator input;
controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound
from said roll;
directing said plastic strip material to said insertion device;
inserting said plastic strip material into said at least one gusset;
aligning said bag reference markers with said strip reference markers,
thereby causing said removable portion of said strip to begin
and end between said upper and lower bag seals;
providing a sealer;
sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to
first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side
edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag
reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals
and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a
plastic strip disposed within said at least one gusset;
providing a bag blank cutter;
severing said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank
and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line;
providing a stacker;
arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered
stack;
providing a bag opening cutter;

50
removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of
said bag blanks disposed in said bag stack;
said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said cut line
spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward
said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and
upwardly to a second point on said cut line spaced inwardly
from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag
mouth and a pair of bag handles; and
whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip
reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips
will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag
seals.
23. A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip,
comprising the steps of:
providing a supply of polyethylene material;
extruding a continuous tube of polyethylene material;
forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube;
flattening said gusseted tube;
said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side
edge and a second side edge;
placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first
predetermined interval;

51
providing a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material
comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips
having first and second remainder portions disposed at either
end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said
remainder portions;
said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one
of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable
portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon
at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said
strips at said first predetermined interval;
providing an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting
said roll of plastic strip material;
modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound
from said roll;
providing an application device, said application device receiving said
plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind
mechanism;
detecting passage of said bag reference markers;
providing a second sensor;
detecting passage of said strip reference markers;
providing a controller;
monitoring input from said first and second sensors and operator input;

52
controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound
from said roll;
directing said plastic strip material to said application device;
directing said plastic strip material on to either of said top surface and
said bottom surface of said flattened tube either of above and
below said at least one side gusset;
aligning said bag reference markers with said strip reference markers,
thereby causing said removable portion of said strip to begin
and end between said upper and lower bag seals;
providing a sealer;
sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to
first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side
edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag
reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals
and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a
plastic strip disposed either of above and below said at least
one side gusset;
providing a bag blank cutter;
severing said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank
and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line;
providing a stacker;
arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered
stack;

53
providing a bag opening cutter;
removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of
said bag blanks disposed in said bag stack;
said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said cut line
spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward
said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and
upwardly to a second point on said cut line spaced inwardly
from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag
mouth and a pair of bag handles; and
whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip
reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips
will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag
seals.
24. A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip,
comprising the steps of:
providing a supply of polyethylene material;
extruding a continuous tube of polyethylene material;
forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube;
flattening said gusseted tube;
said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side
edge and a second side edge;

54
placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first
predetermined interval;
providing a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material
comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips
having first and second remainder portions disposed at either
end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said
remainder portions;
said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one
of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable
portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon
at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said
strips at said first predetermined interval;
providing an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting
said roll of plastic strip material;
modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound
from said roll;
providing an insertion device, said insertion device receiving said
plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind
mechanism;
providing a first sensor;
detecting passage of said bag reference markers;
providing a second sensor;
detecting passage of said strip reference markers;

55
providing a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first
and second sensors and operator input;
controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound
from said roll and directed to said insertion device;
inserting said plastic strip material into said at least one gusset;
aligning said bag reference markers with said strip reference markers,
thereby causing said removable portion of said strip to begin
and end between said upper and lower bag seals;
providing a sealer;
sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to
first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side
edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag
reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals
and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a
plastic strip disposed within said at least one gusset;
providing a perforator;
forming a perforation line on said bag blanks between an upper bag
seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag
blank;
providing a bag opening cutter;
removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of
said bag blanks;

56
said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said perforation
line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward
toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion,
and upwardly to a second point on said perforation line spaced
inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open
bag mouth and a pair of bag handles;
providing a bag winder;
winding said bags into a roll; and
whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip
reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips
will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag
seals.
25. A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip,
comprising the steps of:
providing a supply of polyethylene material;
extruding a continuous tube of polyethylene material;
forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube;
flattening said gusseted tube;
said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side
edge and a second side edge;
placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first
predetermined interval;

57
providing a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material
comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips
having first and second remainder portions disposed at either
end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said
remainder portions;
said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one
of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable
portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon
at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said
strips at said first predetermined interval;
providing an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting
said roll of plastic strip material;
modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound
from said roll;
providing an application device, said application device receiving said
plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind
mechanism;
directing said plastic strip material on to either of said top surface and
said bottom surface of said flattened tube either of above and
below said at least one side gusset;
providing a first sensor
detecting passage of said bag reference markers;
providing a second sensor;

58
detecting passage of said strip reference markers;
providing a controller;
monitoring input from said first and second sensors and operator input;
controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound
from said roll and directed to said application device;
aligning said bag reference markers said strip reference markers and
said removable portion of said strip beginning and ending
between said upper and lower bag seals;
providing a sealer;
sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to
first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side
edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag
reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals
and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a
plastic strip disposed either of above and below said at least
one gusset;
providing a perforator;
forming a perforation line on said bag blanks between an upper bag
seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag
blank;
providing a bag opening cutter;
removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of
said bag blanks;

59
said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said perforation
line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward
toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion,
and upwardly to a second point on said perforation line spaced
inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open
bag mouth and a pair of bag handles;
providing a bag winder;
winding said bags into a roll; and
whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip
reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips
will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag
seals.
26. The method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip,
as described in Claims 22-25, comprising the further step of inputting at
least
bag length, coupon length and coupon offset distance variables.
27. The method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip,
as described in Claims 22-25, comprising the further steps of:
providing a slitter mechanism; and
separating at least two parallel streams of plastic strips into individual
streams.

60
28. The method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip,
as described in Claims 22-25, comprising the further steps of:
providing a strip perforating mechanism;
perforating said plastic strips between said remainder portions disposed
at either end of said strip.
29. The method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip,
as described in Claim 27, comprising the further step of providing a turn bar
for at least one of said individual streams of plastic strips, said turn bar
aligning said individual stream of plastic strips with said bag blanks.

Description

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1
T-SHIRT STYLE BAG WITH REGISTERED ADVERTISING STRIP,
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of plastic bags of the type employed by
retailers in packing food items and other merchandise, with particular
application to
bags that are unsealed or partially sealed along their top edges and include a
Io promotional strip attached in registered form to the bag to maximize the
visibility of
the promotional material.
BackQround of the Invention
In our prior United States Patent No. 5,882,118 and its divisional method
Patent No. 6,068,584, we disclosed and claimed the attachment of advertising
strips to
T-shirt bags and a method for accomplishing such attachments during the course
of
fabricating such bags from extruded plastic tubing. As the bags disclosed in
our prior
patent were heat-sealed along both their bottom and top edges, it was possible
simultaneously to heat seal the ends of advertising strips to be attached to
the bag
2o along both the top and lower edges of such strips. These strips could be
disposed
either within the gussets of the bags or along an outside edge.
Typically, the promotional strips used with these bags include a number of
discreet coupons. The coupons are joined end to end with a perforation or
simply
printed on the promotional strip with indications as to where to cut the strip
to
separate the coupons. As no method was provided in the prior patents to
coordinate

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2
the placement of any point on the promotional strip with the top or bottom
edges of
the bags, at least one coupon would typically be lost as a top or bottom seam
of the
bag would intersect a portion of the coupon. The present invention addresses
this
problem by providing a means for registering the promotional strip so that
only whole
numbers of coupons are positioned between the top and bottom bag edges.
Various technologies have been developed for the registration of one item to
another during a fabrication process. U.S. Patent Application No.
2002/0170670,
published for Nguyen discloses a system for dispensing and positioning a
coupon strip
on a film tube. The proposed invention provides for dispensing and positioning
a
lo strip of coupons from a roll to a position longitudinally aligned with and
adjacent to a
film tube. This is accomplished by mounting the coupon strips onto a spindle
that is
vertically adjustable so that it may be situated in various positions upon the
first and
second vertical support members of the gusseting machine that is used in the
bag
making operation. This alignment is only a longitudinal or side-to-side
alignment of
the coupon strip on the bag. The invention does not contemplate registering
the
coupons to the bag ends so as to prevent use of partial coupons.
U.S. Patent No. 6245,168, issued to Coenen et al. is directed to a process and
apparatus for registering continuously moving stretchable layers. The present
invention relates to processes and apparatus for making disposable absorbent
articles
but may be applied to the production of various products which are fabricated
in a
continuous production line by the sequential addition of components to
previously
supplied components. It is particularly directed to the bringing together of
individual
separate components so that the components are in a desired relation with
respect to

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3
one another. It is accomplished by controllably registering a plurality of
reference
marks of a continuously moving first layer with a plurality of con:esponding
reference
marks of a continuously moving elasticized second layer.
U.S. Patent No. 5,341,930, issued to Counts et al. discloses a package having
a
separable overlay. The invention relates to a flexible package having a
detachable
decorative overlay portion that allows the retailer to provide marketing
information
that is removable from the body of the package. The multiple separable
overlays are
registered to each other rather than to a continuous web of polyethylene
tubing that
later becomes a bag. The invention includes a featurP that permits easy
removal of an
outer overlay from the underlying layers. The entire perimeter of one layers
is
connected to the entire perimeter of an underlying layer to form a closed
package for
the containment of goods.
U.S. Patent No. 4,400,230, issued to Wyslotsky, is directed to a label
indexing
and applicator apparatus. The apparatus provides for the indexing of distinct
labels
onto a substrate stock and utilizes differential tension to the strip label
stock in order
to do so. The labels are longitudinally separated on the strip by transparent
label
divider portions so that the strip label stock is divided into discrete label
units. The
indexing and applicator apparatus comprises elements that function to form a
laminate
of a label material bearing selected visual indicia and a substrate backing
material.
2o The apparatus described in this patent uses transparent spaces between
adjacent labels
to sense the ends of each label and to control placement of the labels on a
substrate.
The labels are then heat bonded to the substrate over their entire length
using a heat
nip roller.

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U.S. Patent No. 5,369,936, issued to Callahan et al. discloses an apparatus
and
method for securing a detachable promotional banner or coupon to a flexible
package.
The apparatus and method is specifically intended to attach pre-printed
promotional
banners or coupons to the exterior of a flexible snack food package. The
product
package with banner is adhered to an outer surface of the package at an
intermediate
point as well as at points that are adjacent to the package's lower and upper
seals.
While this reference does disclose registering the banner stock to the
packaging
material, the banner stock is releasably adhered to a closed, sealed package
with
contents inside.
It is an objective of the invention to provide T-shirt style bags have coupon
strips attached to upper and lower heat seals of the bags either within the
bag gusset or
on top of the bag gusset. It is a further objective to insure that only whole
numbers of
coupons are a part of the coupon strip, i.e., that the end of a first coupon
roughly
coincides with the upper or lower seal of the bag. It is still a further
objective that the
attachment of such registered coupon strips to the T-shirt bags be easily and
reliably
accomplished. Finally, it is an objective of the invention that the attachment
of
registered coupon strips to T-shirt bags be sufficiently economical to provide
for their
continued use.
While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the
prior
art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified.

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Summary of the Invention
(1) A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip may be formed
from the following components. A pair of registering front and back walls are
provided. The walls are secured together along their side, top and bottom
edges and
5 open across a portion of their top edges. The walls, when pulled apart from
each
other, define a space into which articles may be placed. At least one of the
secured
together side edges is gusseted. A plastic strip is provided. The plastic
strip has first
and second remainder portions located at either end of the strip and a
removable
portion located between the remainder portions. The plastic strip is located
on one of
the front and back walls along one side of the gusset. The strip is of a
length not
greater than a length of the gusseted side edge. The strip is sealed to one of
the top
edges of the bag walls at an end of the first remainder portion and sealed to
one of the
bottom edges of the bag walls at an end of the second remainder portion.
Promotional
material is printed upon at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface
of the
removable portion of the strip. The promotional material begins and ends
within the
removable portion of the strip.
(2) In a variant of the invention, the plastic strip is located within the at
least
one gusset.
(3) In another variant, the removable portion of the strip is removably
attached
to the first remainder portion with at least one perforation line and is
removably
attached to the second remainder portion with at least one perforation line.

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(4) In still another variant, the promotional material is selected from the
group
consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or service
information.
(5) In yet another variant, a pair of registering front and back walls are
provided. The walls are secured together along their top edges, first and
second side
edges, bottom edges and open across at least a portion of their top edges. The
walls,
when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into which articles may be
placed. At least one of the secured together first and second side edges is
folded
inwardly from the front and back walls to form a gusset. The gusset has top
and
bottom edges. The top edges of the front wall, the back wall, and the gusset
terminate
in an upper seal. The bottom edges of the front wall, the back wall, and the
gusset
terminate in a lower seal. The lower seal is perpendicular to the first and
second side
edges. A U-shaped cut-out is provided. The U-shaped cut-out is located in an
upper
portion of the bag and commences at a first point above the upper seal spaced
inwardly from the first side edge and extends to a second point above the
upper seal
spaced inwardly from the second side edge. The cut-out extends downwardly
toward
the lower seal, thereby forrning an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles.
A plastic strip is provided. The plastic strip has first and second remainder
portions located at either end of the strip and a removable portion located
between the
2o remainder portions. The plastic strip is located on at least one of the
front and back
walls above the at least one gusset. The strip is of a length not greater than
a length of
the gusset. The strip is sealed to one of the top edges of the bag walls at an
end of the
first remainder portion and sealed to one of the bottom edges of the bag walls
at an

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7
end of the second remainder portion. Promotional material is printed upon at
least
one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the removable portion of the
strip. The
promotional material begins and ends within the removable portion of the
strip.
(6) In a further variant, the plastic strip is located within the at least one
gusset.
(7) In still a further variant, the removable portion of the strip is
removably
attached to the first remainder portion with at least one perforation line and
is
removably attached to the second remainder portion with at least one
perforation line.
(8) In another variant of the invention, the promotional material is selected
1 o from the group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and
product
or service information.
(9) In still another variant, the bags are severed from one another and
stacked
in a registered bag pack.
(10) In yet another variant, the bags are attached to one another at a
perforation line and wound into a roll.
(11) An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered
advertising strip can be constructed from the following components. A supply
of
polyethylene material is provided. An extruder is provided. The extruder
produces a
continuous tube of polyethylene material. A gusseter is provided. The gusseter
forms
at least one side gusset in the continuous tube. A flattener is provided. The
flattener
flattens the gusseted tube. The gusseted tube has a top surface, a bottom
surface, a
first side edge and a second side edge. A marker is provided. The marker
places bag
reference markers on the continuous tube at a first predetermined interval.

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A roll of plastic strip material is provided. The plastic strip material
includes a
plurality of plastic strips. Each of the strips has first and second remainder
portions
located at either end of the strip and a removable portion located between the
remainder portions. The plastic strips have promotional material printed upon
at least
one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the removable portion of the
strips and
strip reference markers located upon at least one of an upper surface or a
lower
surface of the strips at the first predetermined interval. An unwind mechanism
is
provided. The unwind mechanism supports the roll of plastic strip material and
modulates the speed at which the plastic strip material is unwound from the
roll.
An insertion device is provided. The insertion device receives the plastic
strip
material from the roll located on the unwind mechanism. The insertion device
directs
the plastic strip material into the at least one side gusset. A first sensor
is provided.
The first sensor detects passage of the bag reference markers. A second sensor
is
provided. The second sensor detects passage of the strip reference markers. A
controller is provided. The controller monitors input from the first and
second
sensors, operator input and controls the speed at which the plastic strip
material is
unwound from the roll and directed to the insertion device.
A sealer is provided. The sealer seals the first and second remainder portions
of the plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to the first and
second side
edges, respectively. The remainder portions of the plastic strips are sealed
at intervals
determined by the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag
seals
and a plurality of bag blanks. Each of the bag blanks has a plastic strip
located within
the at least one gusset. The bag reference markers are substantially aligned
with the

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9
strip reference markers and the removable portion of the strip begins and ends
between the upper and lower bag seals.
A bag blank cutter is provided. The bag blank cutter severs the bag blanks
between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a
second bag
blank at a cut line. A stacker is provided. The stacker arranges a
predetermined
number of bag blanks into a registered stack. A bag opening cutter is
provided. The
cutter removes a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of the
bag
blanks located in the bag stack. The U-shaped section extends from a first
point on
the cut line spaced inwardly from the first side edge, downward toward the
lower bag
seal, across a part of the upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on
the cut line
spaced inwardly from the second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth
and a
pair of bag handles. When the bag reference markers are aligned with the strip
reference markers, the removable portions of the plastic strips will be
registered with
respect to the upper and lower bag seals.
(12) In a variant of the apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with
registered advertising strip, the insertion device is replaced with an
application device.
The application device receives the plastic strip material from the roll
located on the
unwind mechanism and directs the plastic strip material on to either of the
top surface
or the bottom surface of the gusseted tube either above or below the at least
one side
gusset. The sealer seals the first and second remainder portions of the
plastic strips to
first and second lines orthogonal to the first and second side edges,
respectively, at
intervals determined by the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and
lower

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bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks. Each of the bag blanks has a plastic
strip
located either above or below the at least one gusset.
(13) In another variant, which includes an insertion device for inserting the
plastic strip material into the at least one gusset, the stacker is replaced
with a
5 perforator and a winder. The perforator forms a perforation line on the bag
blanks
between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a
second bag
blank. The bag winder winds the bags into a roll.
(14) In still another variant, the insertion device is replaced with an
application
device while retaining the perforator and the winder. The application device
receives
10 the plastic strip material from the roll located on the unwind mechanism
and directs
the plastic strip material on to either of the top surface or the bottom
surface of the
gusseted tube either above or below the at least one side gusset. The sealer
seals the
first and second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second
lines
orthogonal to the first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals
determined by
the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a
plurality
of bag blanks. Each of the bag blanks has a plastic strip located either above
or below
the at least one gusset.
(15) In yet another variant, the apparatus for making plastic shopping bags
with registered advertising strip includes an operator interface. The
interface inputs at
least bag length, coupon length and coupon offset distance variables.
(16) In a further variant, the unwind mechanism includes at least one unwind
nip roller. The unwind nip roller tensions the plastic strip material and the
controller
modulates the tensioning.

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(17) In still a further variant, the roll of plastic strip material includes
at least
two parallel streams of plastic strips. The parallel streams are joined to one
another at
side edges of the streams.
(18) In yet a further variant, the apparatus includes a slitter mechanism. The
slitter mechanism separates the at least two parallel streams of plastic
strips into
individual streams.
(19) In another variant of the invention, the apparatus includes at least one
tensioning nip roller for each individual stream of plastic strips.
(20) In still another variant, the apparatus includes a turn bar for at least
one of
the individual streams of plastic strips. The turn bar aligns the individual
stream of
plastic strips with the bag blanks.
(21) In yet another variant, the apparatus includes a strip perforating
mechanism. The strip perforating mechanism perforates the plastic strips
between the
remainder portions located at either end of the strip.
(22) A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising
strip, includes the steps of: Providing a supply of polyethylene material.
Extruding a
continuous tube of polyethylene material. Forming at least one side gusset in
the
continuous tube. Flattening the gusseted tube. The gusseted tube has a top
surface, a
bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge. Placing bag
reference
markers on the gusseted tube at a first predetermined interval. Providing a
roll of
plastic strip material. The plastic strip material includes a plurality of
plastic strips,
each of the strips has first and second remainder portions located at either
end of the
strip and a removable portion located between the remainder portions. The
plastic

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strips have promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface
or a
lower surface of the removable portion of the strips. Strip reference markers
are
located on at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the strips
at the first
predetermined interval.
Providing an unwind mechanism. The unwind mechanism supports the roll of
plastic strip material. Modulating a speed at which the plastic strip material
is
unwound from the roll. Providing an insertion device. The insertion device
receives
the plastic strip material from the roll located on the unwind mechanism.
Providing a
first sensor. Detecting passage of the bag reference markers. Providing a
second
sensor. Detecting passage of the strip reference markers. Providing a
controller.
Monitoring input from the first and second sensors and operator input.
Controlling
the speed at which the plastic strip material is unwound from the roll.
Directing the
plastic strip material to the insertion device. Inserting the plastic strip
material into
the at least one gusset. Aligning the bag reference markers with the strip
reference
markers, thereby causing the removable portion of the strip to begin and end
between
the upper and lower bag seals.
Providing a sealer. Sealing the first and second remainder portions of the
plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to the first and second
side edges,
respectively, at intervals determined by the bag reference markers, thereby
forming
upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks. Each of the bag
blanks has a
plastic strip located within the at least one gusset. Providing a bag blank
cutter.
Severing the bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a
lower

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bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line. Providing a stacker. Arranging a
predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered stack.
Providing a bag opening cutter. Removing a substantially U-shaped section
from an upper portion of the bag blanks located in the bag stack. The U-shaped
section extending from a first point on the cut line spaced inwardly from the
first side
edge, downward toward the lower bag seal, across a part of the upper portion,
and
upwardly to a second point on the cut line spaced inwardly from the second
side edge,
thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles. When the bag
reference markers are aligned with the strip reference markers, the removable
portions
of the plastic strips will be registered with respect to the upper and lower
bag seals.
(23) In a variant of the method for making plastic shopping bags with
registered advertising strip, the insertion device is replaced with an
application device.
The application device receives the plastic strip material from the roll
located on the
unwind mechanism and the method includes the following additional steps.
Directing
the plastic strip material on to either the top surface or the bottom surface
of the
gusseted tube either above or below the at least one side gusset. Sealing the
first and
second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second lines
orthogonal to
the first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by the
bag
reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality
of bag
2o blanks, each of the bag blanks having a plastic strip located either above
or below the
at least one side gusset.
(24) In a further variant, which includes an insertion device for inserting
the
plastic strip material into the at least one gusset, the stacker is replaced
with a

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perforator and a winder and the method includes the following additional
steps:
Fonming a perforation line on the bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a
first bag
blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank. Winding the bags into a
roll.
(25) In still a further variant, the insertion device is replaced with an
application device and the method includes the following additional steps:
Receiving
the plastic strip material from the roll disposed upon the unwind mechanism.
Directing the plastic strip material on to either the top surface or the
bottom surface of
the gusseted tube either above or below the at least one side gusset. Sealing
the first
and second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second lines
orthogonal
to the first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by
the bag
reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality
of bag
blanks, each of the bag blanks having a plastic strip located either above or
below the
at least one gusset.
(26) In yet a further variant, the method includes the further step of
inputting
at least bag length, coupon length and coupon offset distance variables.
(27) In another variant, the method includes the further steps of: Providing a
slitter mechanism. Separating at least two parallel streams of plastic strips
into
individual streams.
(28) In a final variant of the invention, the method includes the further
steps
of: Providing a strip perforating mechanism. Perforating the plastic strips
between
the remainder portions located at either end of the strip.

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Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a T-shirt style bag having an advertising or
coupon strip, illustrating advertising on the coupons, heat sealed to the
upper and
lower seams of the bag with the attached coupons disposed above a gusset along
one
5 side of the bag;
Figure 1A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line lA-lA of Figure 1;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a T-shirt style bag having an advertising or
coupon strip, illustrating advertising on the coupons, heat sealed to the
upper and
lower seams of the bag with the removably attached coupons disposed within a
gusset
10 along one side of the bag;
Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2A-2A of Figure 2;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of an apparatus for manufacturing the Figure 1
bag;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus for manufacturing the Figure 2
15 bag; and
Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the method of controlling the
manufacture of the Figure 1 and Figure 2 bags.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
(1) As illustrated in Figures 1 and 1A, a plastic shopping bag with registered
advertising strip 10 may be formed from the following components. A pair of
registering front 15 and back 20 walls are provided. The walls 15, 20 are
secured
together along their side 25, top 30 and bottom 35 edges and open across a
portion of

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16
their top edges 30. The walls 15, 20, when pulled apart from each other,
define a
space 40 into which articles (not shown) may be placed. At least one of the
secured
together side edges 25 is gusseted. A plastic strip 45 is provided. The
plastic strip 45
has first 50 and second 55 remainder portions located at either end 60 of the
strip 45
and a removable portion 65 located between the remainder portions 50, 55. The
plastic strip 45 is located on one of the front 15 and back 20 walls along one
side 70
of the gusset 75. The strip 45 is of a length 80 not greater than a length 85
of the
gusseted side edge 25. The strip 45 is sealed to one of the top edges 30 of
the bag
walls 15, 20 at an end 90 of the first remainder portion 50 and sealed to one
of the
l0 bottom edges 35 of the bag walls 15, 20 at an end 95 of the second
remainder portion
55. Promotional material 100 is printed upon at least one of an upper surface
105 or a
lower surface 110 of the removable portion 65 of the strip 45. The promotional
material 100 begins and ends within the removable portion 65 of the strip 45.
(2) In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 2A, the
plastic
strip 45 is located within the at least one gusset 75.
(3) In another variant, as illustrated in Figure 2 the removable portion 65 of
the strip 45 is removably attached to the first remainder portion 50 with at
least one
perforation line 115 and is removably attached to the second remainder portion
55
with at least one perforation line 120.
(4) In still another variant, the promotional material 100 is selected from
the
group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or
service
information.

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(5) In yet another variant, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 1A, a pair of
registering front 15 and back 20 walls are provided. The walls 15, 20 are
secured
together along their top edges 30, first 24 and second 26 side edges, bottom
edges 35
and open across at least a portion of their top edges 30. The walls 15, 20,
when pulled
apart from each other, defining a space 40 into which articles (not shown) may
be
placed. At least one of the secured together first 24 and second 26 side edges
is
folded inwardly from the front 15 and back 20 walls to form a gusset 75. The
gusset
75 has top 125 and bottom 130 edges. The top edges 30, 125 of the front
wa1115, the
back wall 20, and the gusset 75 terminate in an upper seal 135. The bottom
edges 35,
l o 130 of the front wall 15, the back wall 20, and the gusset 75 terminate in
a lower seal
140. The lower seal 140 is perpendicular to the first 24 and second 26 side
edges. A
U-shaped cut-out 145 is provided. The U-shaped cut-out 145 is located in an
upper
portion 150 of the bag 10 and commences at a first point 155 above the upper
seal 135
spaced inwardly from the first side edge 24 and extends to a second point 160
above
the upper seal 135 spaced inwardly from the second side edge 26. The cut-out
145
extends downwardly toward the lower seal 140, thereby forming an open bag
mouth
165 and a pair of bag handles 170.
A plastic strip 45 is provided. The plastic strip 45 has first 50 and second
55
remainder portions located at either end 60 of the strip 45 and a removable
portion 65
located between the remainder portions 50, 55. The plastic strip 45 is located
on at
least one of the front 15 and back 20 walls above the at least one gusset 75.
The strip
45 is of a length 80 not greater than a length 85 of the gusset 75. The strip
45 is
sealed to one of the top edges 30 of the bag walls 15, 20 at an end 90 of the
first

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remainder portion 50 and sealed to one of the bottom edges 35 of the bag walls
15, 20
at an end 95 of the second remainder portion 55. Promotional material 100 is
printed
upon at least one of an upper surface 105 or a lower surface 110 of the
removable
portion 65 of the strip 45. The promotional material 100 begins and ends
within the
removable portion 65 of the strip 45.
(6) In a further variant, as illustrated in Figures 2and 2A, the plastic strip
45 is
located within the at least one gusset 75.
(7) In still a further variant, as illustrated in Figure 2, the removable
portion
65 of the strip 45 is removably attached to the first remainder portion 50
with at least
one perforation line 115 and is removably attached to the second remainder
portion 55
with at least one perforation line 120.
(8) In another variant of the invention, the promotional material 100 is
selected from the group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests,
games and
product or service information.
(9) In still another variant, as illustrated in Figure 3, the bags 10 are
severed
from one another and stacked in a registered bag pack 175.
(10) In yet another variant, as illustrated in Figure 4, the bags 10 are
attached
to one another at a perforation line 180 and wound into a roll 185.
(11) An apparatus 190 for making plastic shopping bags with registered
2o advertising strip 10, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, can be constructed
from the
following components. A supply of polyethylene material (not shown) is
provided.
An extruder (not shown) is provided. The extruder produces a continuous tube
205 of
polyethylene material 195. A gusseter 210 is provided. The gusseter 210 forms
at

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least one side gusset 75 in the continuous tube 205. A flattener 215 is
provided. The
flattener 215 flattens the gusseted tube 205. The gusseted tube 205 has a top
surface
220, a bottom surface 225, a first side edge 230 and a second side edge 235. A
marker (not shown) is provided. The marker places bag reference markers 245 on
the
continuous tube 205 at a first predetermined interval 250.
A roll of plastic strip material 255 is provided. The plastic strip material
255
includes a plurality of plastic strips 45. Each of the strips 45 has first 50
and second
55 remainder portions located at either end 60 of the strip 45 and a removable
portion
65 located between the remainder portions 50, 55. The plastic strips 45 have
promotional material 100 printed upon at least one of an upper surface 105 or
a lower
surface 110 of the removable portion 65 of the strips 45 and strip reference
markers
260 located upon at least one of an upper surface 265 or a lower surface 270
of the
strips 45 at the first predetermined interval 250. An unwind mechanism 272 is
provided. The unwind mechanism 272 supports the roll of plastic strip
materia1255
and modulates the speed at which the plastic strip material 255 is unwound
from the
roll.
An insertion device 275 is provided. The insertion device 275 receives the
plastic strip material 255 from the roll located on the unwind mechanism 272.
The
insertion device 275 directs the plastic strip materia1255 into the at least
one side
gusset 75. A first sensor 280 is provided. The first sensor 280 detects
passage of the
bag reference markers 245. A second sensor 285 is provided. The second sensor
285
detects passage of the strip reference markers 260. A controller 290, as
illustrated in
Figure 5, is provided. The controller 290 monitors input from the first 280
and

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second 285 sensors, operator input 295 and controls the speed at which the
plastic
strip material 255 is unwound from the roll and directed to the insertion
device 275.
A sealer 300, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, is provided. The sealer 300
seals the first 50 and second 55 remainder portions of the plastic strips 45
to first 305
5 and second 310 lines orthogonal to the first 230 and second 235 side edges,
respectively. The remainder portions 50, 55 of the plastic strips 45 are
sealed at
intervals 250 determined by the bag reference markers 245, thereby forming
upper
320 and lower 325 bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks 330. Each of the bag
blanks 330 has a plastic strip 45 located within the at least one gusset 75.
The bag
to reference markers 245 are substantially aligned with the strip reference
markers 260
and the removable portion 65 of the strip 45 begins and ends between the upper
320
and lower 325 bag seals.
A bag blank cutter 335, as illustrated in Figure 3, is provided. The bag blank
cutter 335 severs the bag blanks 330 between an upper bag seal 320 of a first
bag
15 blank 330 and a lower bag seal 325 of a second bag blank 330 at a cut line
340. A
stacker (not shown) is provided. The stacker arranges a predetermined number
of bag
blanks 330 into a registered stack 350. A bag opening cutter 355 is provided.
The
cutter 355 removes a substantially U-shaped section 360 from an upper portion
365 of
the bag blanks 330 located in the bag stack 350. The U-shaped section 360
extends
20 from a first point 370 on the cut line 340 spaced inwardly from the first
side edge 230,
downward toward the lower bag seal 325, across a part of the upper portion
365, and
upwardly to a second point 375 on the cut line 340 spaced inwardly from the
second
side edge 235, thereby forming an open bag mouth 380 and a pair of bag handles
385.

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When the bag reference markers 245 are aligned with the strip reference
markers 260,
the removable portions 65 of the plastic strips 45 will be registered with
respect to the
upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals.
(12) In a variant of the apparatus 190 for making plastic shopping bags with
registered advertising strip 10, as illustrated in Figure 3, the insertion
device 275 is
replaced with an application device 390. The application device 390 receives
the
plastic strip material 255 from the roll located on the unwind mechanism 272
and
directs the plastic strip materia1255 on to either of the top surface 220 or
the bottom
surface 225 of the gusseted tube 205 either above or below the at least one
side gusset
to 75. The sealer 300 seals the first 50 and second 55 remainder portions of
the plastic
strips 45 to first 305 and second 3101ines orthogonal to the first 230 and
second 235
side edges, respectively, at intervals 250 determined by the bag reference
markers
245, thereby forming upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals and a plurality of bag
blanks
330. Each of the bag blanks 330 has a plastic strip 45 located either above or
below
the at least one gusset 75.
(13) In another variant, as illustrated in Figure 4, which includes an
insertion
device 275 for inserting the plastic strip material 255 into the at least one
gusset 75,
the stacker 345 is replaced with a perforator 395 and a winder 400. The
perforator
395 forms a perforation line 405 on the bag blanks 330 between an upper bag
seal 320
of a first bag blank 330 and a lower bag seal 325 of a second bag blank 330.
The bag
winder 400 winds the bags 10 into a ro11410.
(14) In still another variant, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the
insertion
device 275 is replaced with an application device 390 while retaining the
perforator

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395 and the winder 400. The application device 390 receives the plastic strip
material
255 from the roll located on the unwind mechanism 272 and directs the plastic
strip
materia1255 on to either of the top surface 220 or the bottom surface 225 of
the
gusseted tube 205 either above or below the at least one side gusset 75. The
sealer
300 seals the first 50 and second 55 remainder portions of the plastic strips
45 to first
305 and second 310 lines orthogonal to the first 230 and second 235 side
edges,
respectively, at intervals 250 determined by the bag reference markers 245,
thereby
forming upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks 330.
Each of
the bag blanks 330 has a plastic strip located either above or below the at
least one
gusset 75.
(15) In yet another variant, as illustrated in Figure 5, the apparatus 190 for
making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip 10 includes an
operator
interface 295. The interface 295 inputs at least bag length, coupon length and
coupon
offset distance variables.
(16) In a further variant, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the unwind
mechanism 272 includes at least one unwind nip roller 420. The unwind nip
roller
420 tensions the plastic strip materia1255 and the controller 290 modulates
the
tensioning.
(17) In still a further variant, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the roll
of
plastic strip materia1255 includes at least two parallel streams 425 of
plastic strips 45.
The parallel streams 425 are joined to one another at side edges 432 of the
streams
425.

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(18) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the
apparatus
includes a slitter mechanism 430. The slitter mechanism 430 separates the at
least
two parallel streams 425 of plastic strips 45 into individual streams 425.
(19) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4,
the
apparatus 190 includes at least one tensioning nip roller 435 for each
individual
stream 425 of plastic strips 45.
(20) In still another variant, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the
apparatus 190
includes a turn bar 440 for at least one of the individual streams 425 of
plastic strips
45. The turn bar 440 aligns the individual stream 425 of plastic strips 45
with the bag
to blanks 330.
(21) In yet another variant, as illustrated in Figure 4, the apparatus
includes a
strip perforating mechanism 445. The strip perforating mechanism 445
perforates the
plastic strips 45 between the remainder portions 50, 551ocated at either end
60 of the
strip 45.
(22) A method, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, for making plastic shopping
bags with registered advertising strip 10, includes the steps of: Providing a
supply of
polyethylene material 195. Extruding a continuous tube 205 of polyethylene
material
195. Forming at least one side gusset 75 in the continuous tube 205.
Flattening the
gusseted tube 205. The gusseted tube 205 has a top surface 220, a bottom
surface
225, a first side edge 230 and a second side edge 235. Placing bag reference
markers
245 on the gusseted tube 205 at a first predetermined interva1250. Providing a
roll of
plastic strip materia1255. The plastic strip materia1255 includes a plurality
of plastic
strips 45, each of the strips 45 has first 50 and second 55 remainder portions
located at

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24
either end 60 of the strip 45 and a removable portion 65 located between the
remainder portions 50, 55. The plastic strips 45 have promotional material 100
printed upon at least one of an upper surface 105 or a lower surface 110 of
the
removable portion 65 of the strips 45. Strip reference markers 260 are located
on at
least one of an upper surface 265 and a lower surface 270 of the strips 45 at
the first
predetermined interval 250.
Providing an unwind mechanism 272. The unwind mechanism 272 supports
the roll of plastic strip material 255. Modulating a speed at which the
plastic strip
material 255 is unwound from the roll. Providing an insertion device 275. The
insertion device 275 receives the plastic strip materia1255 from the roll
located on the
unwind mechanism 272. Providing a first sensor 280. Detecting passage of the
bag
reference markers 245. Providing a second sensor 285. Detecting passage of the
strip
reference markers 260. Providing a controller 290. Monitoring input from the
first
280 and second 285 sensors and operator input 295. Controlling the speed at
which
the plastic strip material 255 is unwound from the roll. Directing the plastic
strip
material 255 to the insertion device 275. Inserting the plastic strip material
255 into
the at least one gusset 75. Aligning the bag reference markers 245 with the
strip
reference markers 260, thereby causing the removable portion 65 of the strip
45 to
begin and end between the upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals.
Providing a sealer 300. Sealing the first 50 and second 55 remainder portions
of the plastic strips 45 to first 305 and second 3101ines orthogonal to the
first 230 and
second 235 side edges, respectively, at intervals 250 determined by the bag
reference
markers 245, thereby forming upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals and a plurality
of

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bag blanks 330. Each of the bag blanks 330 has a plastic strip 451ocated
within the at
least one gusset 75. Providing a bag blank cutter 335. Severing the bag blanks
330
between an upper bag sea1320 of a first bag blank 330 and a lower bag sea1325
of a
second bag blank 330 at a cut line 340. Providing a stacker (not shown).
Arranging a
5 predetermined number of bag blanks 330 into a registered stack 350.
Providing a bag opening cutter 355. Removing a substantially U-shaped
section 360 from an upper portion 365 of the bag blanks 3301ocated in the bag
stack
350. The U-shaped section 360 extending from a first point 370 on the cut line
340
spaced inwardly from the first side edge 230, downward toward the lower bag
seal
to 325, across a part of the upper portion 365, and upwardly to a second point
375 on the
cut line 340 spaced inwardly from the second side edge 235, thereby forming an
open
bag mouth 380 and a pair of bag handles 385. When the bag reference markers
245
are aligned with the strip reference markers 260,' the removable portions 65
of the
plastic strips 45 will be registered with respect to the upper 320 and lower
325 bag
15 seals.
(23) In a variant of the method, as illustrated in Figure 3, for making
plastic
shopping bags with registered advertising strip 10, the insertion device 275
is replaced
with an application device 390. The application device 390 receives the
plastic strip
materia1255 from the roll located on the unwind mechanism 272 and the method
20 includes the following additional steps. Directing the plastic strip
materia1255 on to
either the top surface 220 or the bottom surface 225 of the gusseted tube 205
either
above or below the at least one side gusset 75. Sealing the first 50 and
second 55
remainder portions of the plastic strips 45 to first 305 and second 3101ines
orthogonal

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to the first 230 and second 235 side edges, respectively, at intervals
determined by the
bag reference markers 245, thereby forming upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals
and a
plurality of bag blanks 330, each of the bag blanks 330 having a plastic strip
45
located either above or below the at least one side gusset 75.
(24) In a further variant, as illustrated in Figure 4, which includes an
insertion
device 275 for inserting the plastic strip materia1255 into the. at least one
gusset 75,
the stacker is replaced with a perforator 395 and a winder 400 and the method
includes the following additional steps: Forming a perforation line 405 on the
bag
blanks 330 between an upper bag sea1320 of a first bag blank 330 and a lower
bag
seal 325 of a second bag blank 330. Winding the bags 10 into a ro11410.
(25) In still a further variant, as illustrated in Figure 3, the insertion
device
275 is replaced with an application device 390 and the method includes the
following
additional steps: Receiving the plastic strip materia1255 from the roll
located upon
the unwind mechanism 272. Directing the plastic strip materia1255 on to either
the
top surface 220 or the bottom surface 225 of the gusseted tube 205 either
above or
below the at least one side gusset 75. Sealing the first 50 and second 55
remainder
portions of the plastic strips 45 to first 305 and second 3101ines orthogonal
to the first
230 and second 235 side edges, respectively, at intervals 250 determined by
the bag
reference markers 245, thereby forming upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals and a
plurality of bag blanks 330, each of the bag blanks 330 having a plastic strip
45
located either above or below the at least one gusset 75.

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(26) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in Figure 5, the method includes
the
further step of inputting at least bag length, coupon length and coupon offset
distance
variables.
(27) In another variant, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the method
includes
the further steps of Providing a slitter mechanism 430. Separating at least
two
parallel streams 425 of plastic strips 45 into individual streams 425.
(28) In a final variant of the invention, as illustrated in Figure 4, the
method
includes the further steps of: Providing a strip perforating mechanism 445.
Perforating the plastic strips 45 between the remainder portions 50, 55
located at
either end 60 of the strip 45.
The plastic shopping bags 10 with promotional strip ad and apparatus 190 and
method for making same have been described with reference to particular
embodiments. Other modifications and enhancements can be made without
departing
from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.

Representative Drawing