PACKAGING BAG

SAC D'EMBALLAGE

English Abstract

The present invention relates to a packaging bag (1), in particular of paper,
plastic or a composite of these materials, having a closable top (2) and a
sound source (10) producing a single or a sequence of tones, sounds and/or
noises when the top is opened. To provide a packaging bag with a reliably
functioning sound source which is activated when the packaging bag is opened,
the top is closable using a closure means (12a, 12b).

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un sac d'emballage (1), en particulier constitué de papier, de plastique ou d'un composite de ces matériaux. Ce sac comprend une partie supérieure (2) qui peut être fermée et une source sonore (10) qui produit un seul ou une séquence de tonalités, de sons et/ou de bruits lorsque la partie supérieure est ouverte. Afin d'offrir un sac d'emballage présentant une source sonore qui fonctionne de manière fiable et qui s'active lorsque le sac d'emballage est ouvert, la partie supérieure peut être fermée au moyen d'un système de fermeture (12a, 12b).

Claims

7
Claims
1. A packaging bag of paper, plastic or a composite thereof, the packaging bag
comprising:
a bottom;
a closable top;
a sound source comprising a sound chip and a loudspeaker;
a press stud located in the vicinity of the closable top, comprising a press
stud top part
and a press stud bottom part, wherein the top can be releasably secured in a
closed
position by the press stud; and
a switching unit integrated with the press stud top part and coupled with the
sound
source;
wherein, when the press stud is opened, the switching unit activates the sound
source and
when activated, the sound source produces sound.
2. A packaging bag according to claim 1, wherein the sound source is coupled
to a recording
unit.
3. A packaging bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the loudspeaker is
configured to
direct sound to the exterior of the packaging bag.
4. A packaging bag according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein at least one
of the
loudspeaker and the sound chip is located at the bottom.
5. A packaging bag according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising
two carrying
handles located at the closable top.
6. A packaging bag according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the packaging
bag bottom
is configured as a block bottom.

Description

CA 02567606 2009-04-30
Packaging Bag
The present invention relates to a packaging bag, in particular of paper,
plastic or a composite
of these materials, with a closable top, and a sound source which generates a
single or a sequence
of tones, sounds and/or noises when the bag is opened at the top.
Such packaging bags are made in various types of folds, as folding bags with a
bottom and/or
side fold, as a block bottom bag, or without a fold. For heavy goods or for
decorative purposes,
the packaging bags can be provided with 'grips, handles or the like at the
top.
Packaging bags of the type mentioned above are known from GB 2376223A. As is
well known,
they are labeled with logos, lettering or other designs and used as carriers
of promotional
messages, gift packaging or the like. In particular in personalized marketing,
the packaging bags
provided with advertising are used, for example, to present certain
promotional gifts, information
material etc. to the persons of interest. As a gift packaging, they are an
alternative to other usual
packaging materials.
The reproduction of certain texts, tunes, noises or the like when the
packaging bag is opened,
enhances the amount of attention which the recipient focuses on the packaging
bags, which
substantially improves, for example, the success of a marketing campaign or
enhance the joy
experienced by the recipient of the gift. In any case, the packaging bags
serve as a receptacle for
an item accommodated and presented in it.
The prior art packaging bags have a drawback, however, in that they cannot be
reliably closed.
There is therefore a risk that the packaging bag is inadvertently opened and
the sound source is
activated before the desired moment. Moreover, if the opening remains
undetected, there is a
continuous discharge of the source of energy until it is completely depleted
and the sound source
is therefore useless.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a packaging bag
which has a reliably
functioning sound source which is activated when the packaging bag is opened.

CA 02567606 2009-04-30
2
The present invention solves this problem by providing a packaging bag with
the features of
claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are defined in the
dependent
claims.
The characterizing feature of the packaging bag according to the present
invention is the
closability of the top of the packaging bag using a closure means. The use of
the closure means
thereby ensures that the packaging bag is not inadvertently opened and the
sound source is
sounded before this is indeed desired. The closure means also prevents the top
from being
inadvertently opened and the energy source depleted, without being realized,
to a point where the
sound source becomes useless.
The type of tones, sounds or noises generated when the packaging bag is opened
can be freely
adapted to the exterior design of the packaging bag. In the case of its use as
a promotional item,
the sound source can be designed in such a way, for example, that it produces
a jingle or slogan
which is typical for the firm presenting the gift when the bag is opened.
A packaging bag designed as a gift packaging of the type of the present
invention can be
configured in such a way, for example, that when the packaging bag is opened,
congratulations
are performed in musical or spoken form.
When the outer appearance is combined with a corresponding sound source, the
packaging bag
can also be used without contents. As an example, the use of a packaging bag
with the label
saying "a bag full of luck", which can be combined with a sound source, which
when the bag is
opened produces the noises of a happy and loudly grunting pig as a symbol of
good luck and with
the effect of producing happy emotions in the user.
The embodiment of the present invention of the packaging bags makes it
possible to provide a
reliably functioning packaging bag which achieves higher levels of attention
with the user. In the
case of the use of the packaging bag of the present invention as a promotional
item, this would
mean that a high degree ofpromotional effectiveness is achieved for the
product or the firm being

CA 02567606 2009-04-30
3
promoted. A loss of image, which would result if the packaging bag was
malfunctioning, is
therefore effectively avoided.
As a sound source, generally any sound source could be used, which can be
cheaply
manufactured and may be easily integrated in the packaging bag. However,
according to an
advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the sound source, however,
comprises a
sound chip and a loudspeaker associated with it.
The sound chip, which can be combined with an energy source, is a particularly
cheap means of
producing the noises, tones or sounds via the loudspeaker coupled to the sound
chip, when the
top of the packaging bag is opened. In particular with mass production, the
sound source
developed in this way has the advantage of low manufacturing costs, so that
the packaging bag
according to the present invention can be produced at particularly low cost.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the sound chip can
also be equipped
with a recording unit, such as a microphone, which makes it possible to record
a personalized
message which is then reproduced when the packaging bag is opened.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the loudspeaker
is configured in
such a way that the sounds, tones and noises generated by the sound chip are
radiated to the
outside, i.e. the loudspeaker is directed such that the sound waves are
directed away from the
packaging bag. With such an arrangement of the loudspeaker the cavity formed
by the packaging
bag can be used as a resonating body so that the tones, noises or sounds
emanating from the
sound source can be particularly well recognized by the user. To hide from the
user the fact that
this is not the usual kind of packaging bag, the front of the loudspeaker and
the entire technical
apparatus can be hidden behind an exterior wall or a double wall of the
packaging bag.
The loudspeaker and/or the sound chip can be arranged at any desired place on
the packaging
bag. However, according to an advantageous embodiment of the present
invention, the
loudspeaker and/or the sound chip are arranged at the bottom of the packaging
bag. Such an
arrangement, in particular the arrangement under an insert bottom inserted on
the bottom of the

CA 02567606 2009-04-30
4
packaging bag which additionally stiffens the bottom area of the packaging bag
prevents in a
particularly reliable manner the sound source from being damaged when the
packaging bag is
filled or, after filling, by the goods arranged within the packaging bag,
which could make the
sound source useless.
The design of the closure means is generally freely selectable. According to
another
advantageous embodiment of the present invention, it can be formed, for
example by the use of
individual magnetic elements, of a Velcro fastener, by an adhesive glue or a
ribbon and/or a press
stud, so that the top can be repeatedly opened and closed. The packaging bag
can thus be used
repeatedly.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, two carrying handles
are arranged
at the top of the packaging bag. The use of the carrying handles, which can be
decorative cords
or the like, improve the outer appearance of the packaging bag. It also
improves carrying ease,
in particular in those cases where heavy items have to be -transported in the
packaging bag.
The activation of the sound chip can be done in any particular manner. For
example mechanical
means could be used causing a contact which activates the sound chip when the
top is opened,
or by electronic components, such as relays, which activate the sound chip.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the sound chip is
coupled to a
switching unit arranged at the top and configured in such a way that the sound
chip is activated
when the top of the bag is opened. The coupling of the sound chip with a
switching unit arranged
at the top ensures in a particularly reliable manner that the sound chip is
only activated when the
top is actually opened. Malfunctioning, such as with the use of a switch which
activates the
sound chip as a function of the position of a side wall with respect to the
bottom of the packaging
bag, can thus be eliminated.
According to a particularly advantageous embodiment ofthe present invention,
the switching unit
is integrated in the closure means, in particular in the press stud. The press
stud is coupled to the
switching unit in such a way that the switching unit is activated when the
press stud is opened.

CA 02567606 2009-04-30
The press stud is particularly reliable, thereby avoiding malfunctions to a
particular degree. Due
to its outer appearance, which preferably is a metal or plastic housing, the
switching unit arranged
therein is especially well protected against environmental influences so that
the functioning
safety can be enhanced in a complementary manner.
Additionally increased stability of the packaging bag bottom, in particular
the possibility of
placing it in an upright position, results from another embodiment of the
present invention,
according to which the packaging bag bottom is formed by a block bottom. This
embodiment of
the invention facilitates the presentation of the packaging bag in a
particular manner.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more
detail with
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging bag.
Fig. 1 shows a packaging bag 1 of lacquered paper having a labeling 4 on a
side wall 5. The
colors of the paper and of the labeling are freely selectable. Two handles 3,
which can also be of
a particular color and can be of various materials or braids, are arranged at
the top 2 of the
packaging bag 1.
A sound source 10 is arranged on the packaging bag bottom 9, comprising a
sound chip 7 and
a loudspeaker 8 coupled to it, interconnected via two linking lines 6.
To protect against the items within the packaging bag 1, an insert bottom (not
shown) is arranged
above the sound source 10, i.e. on the side facing the top 2 of the sound
source 10.
To activate the sound chip 7, it is coupled to a switching unit (not shown)
via two lines 11 and
arranged in a press-stud top part (female side) 12b of a press stud comprised
of a press-stud
bottom part (male side) 12a and a press-stud top part (12b). When the top 2 of
the packaging bag
1 is opened, i.e. when the press stud is disengaged, the sound chip 7 produces
a sound

CA 02567606 2009-04-30
6
background adapted to a label 4 reading, being arranged on the side wall 5, "a
bag full of
holidays", such as the sound of the sea or the cries of seagulls.
The press stud itself is a well-known ring spring press stud ensuring high
functional reliability
and having a press-stud top part 12b thereof equipped with a switching unit.
The following is also conceivable: a combination of a label reading "a bag
full of gold" with the
sounds of an ass, or a label reading "a bag full of parking" with the sound of
a car repeatedly
advancing and backing up with subsequent noise of a crash.
The contents contained in the packaging bag I can also be suitably adapted to
the sounds and the
labeling 4. In the case of the label 4 reading "a bag full of holidays" the
contents could be, for
example, small sea shells or a small packet of sand, or in the case of the
labeling reading "a bag
full of gold", a gold dollar could be arranged in the packaging bag 1. A
multitude of labeling and
sound combinations are also possible, for example alluding to certain hobbies,
skills, images or
customers of a firm.
Y:\WKOOI\3402 CA\Amend Spec 090430.wpd

Representative Drawing