Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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REINFORCED PACKAGE
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to packages for holding
products. More specifically, the
present disclosure is directed to packages having a reinforcing sleeve for
supporting a bag in an erect
position.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] In one aspect, the present disclosure is generally directed to a
reinforced package. The package
comprises a bag and a reinforcing sleeve attached to the bag. The bag
comprises an open end, a closed
end, and an interior space for holding a product. The bag is positionable in a
non-erect position
wherein the interior space is reduced and in an erect position wherein the
interior space is increased.
The reinforcing sleeve comprises a plurality of panels configured to at least
partially receive the
closed end of the bag. The plurality of panels comprise a front panel, a first
side panel foldably
connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the
font panel, and at least one
back panel foldably connected to one of the first and second side panels. The
reinforcing sleeve is
configured to maintain the bag in the erect position.
[0003] In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a
reinforcing sleeve for a bag. The reinforcing
sleeve comprises a plurality of panels configured to at least partially
receive the bag. The plurality of
panels comprise a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the
front panel, a second side
panel foldably connected to the font panel, and at least one back panel
foldably connected to one of
the first and second side panels. The reinforcing sleeve is configured to
maintain the bag in an erect
position against a surface.
[0004] Additional aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the
following description and accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above stated advantages
and other advantages and benefits
of various additional embodiments reading the following detailed description
of the embodiments
with reference to the below-listed drawing figures. It is within the scope of
the present disclosure that
the above-discussed aspects be provided both individually and in various
combinations.
[0006] According to common practice, the various features of the drawings
discussed below are not
necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the
drawings may be
expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the
disclosure.
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[0007] Fig. 1 illustrates a reinforced package in a first position, according
to a first embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0008] Fig. 2 is a plan view of an interior surface of blank for forming a
reinforcing sleeve of the reinforced
package of Fig. 1.
[0009] Fig. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the package of Fig. 1 in a
second position.
[0010] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the reinforced package of Fig. 3.
[0011] Fig. 5 illustrates a reinforced package in a first position, according
to a second embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0012] Fig. 6 is a plan view of an interior surface of a blank for forming
reinforcing sleeve of the reinforced
package of Fig. 5.
[0013] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the package of Fig. 5 in a second
position.
[0014] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a reinforced package, according to a
third embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0015] Fig. 9 is a plan view of an exterior surface of blank for forming a
reinforcing sleeve, according to a
fourth embodiment of the disclosure.
[0016] Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers
throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The present disclosure generally relates to reinforced packages for
holding products such as food
products or other articles. Packages according to the present disclosure can
accommodate articles of
any shape.
[0018] Fig. 1 illustrates a reinforced package generally indicated at 1,
according to a first embodiment of the
disclosure. The package includes a bag 3 and a reinforcing sleeve 5 attached
to the bag 3. The bag has
an open end 7, a closed end 9, and an interior space 17 for holding a product.
The interior space 17
may be accessible through a notch 15 in the bag 3. The reinforcing sleeve 5 is
configured to at least
partially receive a portion 11 of the closed end 9 of the bag 3.
[0019] As illustrated in Fig. 2, a blank 10 for forming the reinforcing sleeve
5 has a lateral axis Li and a
longitudinal axis L2. In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 10 has a front
panel 21 foldably
connected to a first side panel 28 at a first arcuate fold line 33. The first
side panel 28 includes two
individual panel portions 28A, 28B foldably connected to one another at
lateral fold line 26. A first
back panel 23 is foldably connected to the first side panel 28 at a second
arcuate fold line 31. A
second side panel 29 is foldably connected to the front panel 21 at a third
arcuate fold line 35. The
second side panel 29 includes two individual panel portions 29A, 29B foldably
connected to one
another at lateral fold line 27. A second back panel 25 is foldably connected
to the second side panel
29 at a fourth arcuate fold line 37. As illustrated, the arcuate fold lines
31, 33 are spaced apart from
lateral fold line 26. Similarly, the arcuate fold lines 35, 37 are spaced
apart from lateral fold line 27. In
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alternative embodiments, the blank 10 can have alternative panel, fold line,
and/or panel portion
arrangements.
[0020] In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 10 can include one or more
adhesive regions 41, 43, and 45
on the first back panel 23, front panel 21, and/or second back panel 25,
respectively, for receiving
adhesive and being fixedly attached to an exterior surface of the bag 3.
Furthermore, the blank 10 has
a first edge 52 and a bottom edge 53 extending in the longitudinal direction
L2. In one embodiment,
the adhesive regions 41, 43, 45 are separated from the first edge 52 by a
first distance D1 and are
separated from the bottom edge 53 by a second distance D2. In one embodiment,
the first distance D1
is less than the second distance D2. The first and second side panels 28, 29
and regions separate from
the adhesive regions 41, 43, 45 may be generally free from adhesive in some
embodiments, or may
include adhesive in alternative embodiments. Additionally, the first and
second distances D1, D2,
adhesive regions 41, 43, 45, and/or edges 52, 53 can be otherwise arranged,
shaped, modified, or
omitted without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
[0021] Generally, the blank 10 may be folded about fold lines 26, 27 to create
the reinforcing sleeve 5. For
example, distal ends 55, 57 of the first and second back panels 23, 25 may be
overlapped, and the
sleeve 5 attached to the bag 3 as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. The
individual panel portions 28A,
28B, 29A, and 29B may be in face-to-face registration in a first, non-erect
position of the bag 3 as
illustrated in Fig. 1. The first, non-erect position illustrated reduces
and/or minimizes a volume of the
interior space 17 such that the package 1 is in a non-erect or flattened
state. The non-erect state may
facilitate easy stacking of a plurality of packages into, for example, a
shipment container and
subsequent organization at a destination facility. The individual panel
portions 28A, 28B, 29A, and
29B may be flexed or positioned to form first and second sides 58, 59 of the
package 1 in a second,
erect position of the bag 3 as illustrated in Figs. 3-4. The second, erect
position illustrated increases
and/or maximizes a volume of the interior space 17 such that the package 1 is
in an erect or self-
supporting state. The closed end 9 of the bag 3 can extend upwardly into an
interior 56 of the sleeve 5
in the direction of arrow Al while the package is in the erect state (Fig. 3).
Furthermore, the bottom
edge 53 forms a support when the package 1 is in the erect state for
contacting a surface S (Fig. 4).
The support formed of the bottom edge 53 maintains the package in an upright
position on the surface
S. As further illustrated in Figs. 3-4, gusseted sides 60 of the bag 3 may be
maintained extended when
the package 1 is in the erect state. Other intervening states of the package 1
including intermediate
states whereby the package 1 is not fully erected are also applicable
according to some embodiments.
Furthermore, additional reinforcing sleeves of differing configurations are
also applicable according
to some embodiments.
[0022] For example, turning to Fig. 5, a reinforced package generally
indicated at 61 is illustrated, according
to a second embodiment of the disclosure. The package 61 includes the bag 3
and a reinforcing sleeve
6 attached to the bag 3. The reinforcing sleeve 6 is configured to at least
partially receive a portion 11
of the closed end 9 of the bag 3.
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[0023] As illustrated in Fig. 6, a blank 70 for forming the reinforcing sleeve
6 has a lateral axis Li and a
longitudinal axis L2. In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 70 has a front
panel 71 foldably
connected to a first side panel 78 at a first arcuate fold line 83. The first
side panel 78 includes two
individual panel portions 78A, 78B foldably connected to one another at
lateral fold line 76. A first
back panel 73 is foldably connected to the first side panel 78 at a second
arcuate fold line 81. A
second side panel 79 is foldably connected to the front panel 71 at a third
arcuate fold line 85. The
second side panel 79 includes two individual panel portions 79A, 79B foldably
connected to one
another at lateral fold line 77. A second back panel 75 is foldably connected
to the second side panel
79 at a fourth arcuate fold line 87. As illustrated, the arcuate fold lines
81, 83 converge at one end of
the lateral fold line 76 and are spaced apart at another end of the lateral
fold line 76. Similarly, the
arcuate fold lines 85, 87 converge at one end of the lateral fold line 77 and
are spaced apart at another
end of the lateral fold line 77. In alternative embodiments, the blank 70 can
have alternative panel,
fold line, and/or panel portion arrangements.
100241 In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 70 can include one or more
adhesive regions 91, 93, and 95
on the first back panel 73, front panel 71, and/or second back panel 75,
respectively, for receiving
adhesive and being fixedly attached to an exterior surface of the bag 3.
Furthermore, the blank 70 has
a first edge 102 and a bottom edge 103 extending in the longitudinal direction
L2. In one embodiment,
the adhesive regions 91, 93, 95 are separated from the first edge 102 and the
bottom edge 103. The
first and second side panels 78, 79 and regions separate from the adhesive
regions 91, 93, 95 may be
generally free from adhesive in some embodiments, or may include adhesive in
alternative
embodiments. Additionally, adhesive regions 91, 93, 95, and/or edges 102, 103
can be otherwise
arranged, shaped, modified, or omitted without departing from the scope of
this disclosure.
100251 Generally, the blank 70 may be folded about fold lines 76, 77 to create
the reinforcing sleeve 6. For
example, distal ends 105, 107 of the first and second back panels 73, 75 may
be overlapped, and the
sleeve 6 attached to the bag 3 as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7. The individual
panel portions 78A, 78B,
79A, and 79B may be in face-to-face registration in a first, non-erect
position of the bag 3 as
illustrated in Fig. 5. The first, non-erect position illustrated reduces
and/or minimizes a volume of the
interior space 17 such that the package 1 is in a non-erect or flattened
state. The non-erect state may
facilitate easy stacking of a plurality of packages into, for example, a
shipment container and
subsequent organization at a destination facility as described with reference
to the first embodiment.
The individual panel portions 78A, 78B, 79A, and 79B may be flexed or
positioned to form first and
second sides 108, 109 of the package 1 in a second, erect position of the bag
3 as illustrated in Fig. 7.
The second, erect position illustrated increases and/or maximizes a volume of
the interior space 17
such that the package 1 is in an erect or self-supporting state as illustrated
in Fig. 7. The closed end 9
of the bag 3 can be entirely received by the sleeve 6 in the illustrated
embodiments. Furthermore, the
front panel 71 and the overlapped first and second back panels 73, 75 converge
on the bottom edge
103 allowing the entire package 7 to be inclined on the surface S in a fully-
maintained erect state. As
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further illustrated in Fig.7, gusseted sides 60 of the bag 3 may be maintained
extended when the
package 7 is in the erect state. Other intervening states of the package 7
including intermediate states
whereby the package 7 is not fully erected are also applicable according to
some embodiments.
Furthermore, additional bags of differing configurations are also applicable
according to some
embodiments.
[0026] For example, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative reinforced
package 111, according to a
third embodiment of the disclosure. The package includes a bag 113 and either
the reinforcing sleeve
or 6 attached to the bag 113. The bag 113 has an open end 107, a closed end
109, and an interior
space 117 for holding a product. The interior space 117 may be accessible
through a flap 115 in the
bag 113.The bag 113 may also include gusseted sides 119 which may be
maintained in an erect
position through use of the reinforcing sleeves 5, 6 as described above.
[0027] Fig. 9 is a plan view of an exterior surface of blank 200 for forming a
reinforcing sleeve, according to
a fourth embodiment of the disclosure, having similar features as the second
embodiment.
Accordingly, similar or identical features of the embodiments are provided
with identical or similar
reference numbers. The blank 200 includes a front panel 271 foldably connected
to a back panel 273
at lateral fold line 203. Side panel portions 278A, 278B, 279A, and 279B are
foldably connected to
the front and back panels 271, 273 at respective arcuate fold lines 281, 283,
285, 287. Glue tabs 205
are foldably connected to side panel portions 278A, 279B at longitudinal fold
lines 207, and are for
adhering to side panel portions 278B, 279B, respectively. Generally, when
adhered and constructed
as a reinforcing sleeve, panels 271, 273 converge at fold line 203 and edges
202A, 202B form a first
edge of the sleeve.
[0028] Generally, as described herein, bags can be formed from a paper stock
material, although various
plastic or other bag materials also can be used, and can be lined or coated
with a desired material. The
reinforcing sleeves described herein can be made from a more rigid material
such as a clay-coated
natural kraft ("CCNK"). Other materials such various card-stock, paper,
plastic or other synthetic or
natural materials also can be used to form the components of the packages
described herein.
[0029] While the present invention is described herein in detail in relation
to specific aspects and
embodiments, it is to be understood that this detailed description is only
illustrative and exemplary of
the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and
enabling disclosure of
the present invention and to set forth the best mode of practicing the
invention known to the inventors
at the time the invention was made. The detailed description set forth herein
is illustrative only and is
not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the present invention or
otherwise to exclude any such
other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent
arrangements of the present
invention. All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward,
left, right, leftward,
rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and
counterclockwise) are used
only for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the
various embodiments of the
present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the
position, orientation, or use of
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the invention unless specifically set forth in the claims. Joinder references
(e.g., joined, attached,
coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include
intermediate members
between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As
such, joinder
references do not necessarily imply that two elements are connected directly
and in fixed relation to
each other. Further, various elements discussed with reference to the various
embodiments may be
interchanged to create entirely new embodiments coming within the scope of the
present invention.
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