US4326664A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermoplastic bags having stress relief feature at handle connection
Assignee: Pactiv LLC
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Filing: 1980-06-13
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Granted: 1982-04-27
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Expires: 2000-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A thermoplastic bag characterized by having handles formed on opposite ends of the bag mouth which is characterized by having structural features immediately adjacent the mouth of the bag to provide stress relief at those positions on the bag mouth where maximum stress is concentrated when such bags are being filled with product and eventually carried by the user. The stress redistribution feature is characterized by an area or areas, immediately adjacent the mouth portion of the bag and the base of the handle members, which are characterized by having a plurality of narrow pleats which are impressed into the bag structure by die members during formation of the individual bag.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon L. Benoit
- 👤 Franz Bustin
- 👤 Jack J. Donaldson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:19
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D33/00; B65D33/06; B65D33/065; B65D33/02; B31; B31B; B31B70/00; B31B70/74; B31B70/88; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S383/00; Y10S383/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A thermoplastic bag structure having front and rear walls, a pair of spaced upwardly extending handle members formed integrally with said front and rear walls, an open mouth portion between said handles, and a plurality of upwardly extending pleats formed in said front and rear walls, said pleats being located at least transverse the lower inner portion of each of said handle members and said mouth portions immediately adjacent said lower inner portions of said handle members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A thermoplastic bag structure having front and rear walls, a pair of spaced upwardly extending handle members formed integrally with said front and rear walls, an open mouth portion between said handles, and a plurality of upwardly extending pleats formed in said front and rear walls, said pleats being located at least transverse the lower inner portion of each of said handle members and said mouth portions immediately adjacent said lower inner portions of said handle members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thermoplastic bag structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bag is fabricated from a polyolefin thermoplastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A thermoplastic bag structure in accordance with claim 2, wherein said polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene and copolymers and blends thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A thermoplastic bag structure in accordance with claim 2, wherein said polyolefin is high density polyethylene having a film density in the range of from about 0.935 up to about 0.965.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A thermoplastic bag structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pleats extend transverse said mouth portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A thermoplastic bag structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pleats extend downwardly from said mouth portion a distance in the range of about 0.5 inch to about 1.0 inch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a thermoplastic bag structure comprising uniform front and rear bag walls and an open mouth top portion, wherein the open mouth portion is characterized by having a pair of integrally formed carrying handles which are located on opposite ends of the mouth portion, and wherein the mouth portion and handles are formed by a U-shaped cut-out; the improvement which comprises: a plurality of pleats formed in the front and rear walls adjacent the bag mouth and a lower inner portion of the carrying handles, permitting lateral expansion which avoids edge stress concentration in the area of the pleats and thereby decreasing tear propagation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a thermoplastic bag structure comprising uniform front and rear bag walls and an open mouth top portion, wherein the open mouth portion is characterized by having a pair of integrally formed carrying handles which are located on opposite ends of the mouth portion, and wherein the mouth portion and handles are formed by a U-shaped cut-out; the improvement which comprises: a plurality of pleats formed in the front and rear walls adjacent the bag mouth and a lower inner portion of the carrying handles, permitting lateral expansion which avoids edge stress concentration in the area of the pleats and thereby decreasing tear propagation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thermoplastic bag structure according to claim 7, wherein said pleats are vertically aligned with the bag mouth.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A thermoplastic bag structure according to claim 7, wherein said pleats extend transverse to the mouth portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A thermoplastic bag structure according to claim 7, wherein the thermoplastic comprises polyolefin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A thermoplastic bag structure according to claim 7, wherein said thermoplastic comprises high density polyethylene.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-04-26 | 1985-10-26 | 1986-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-04-26 | 1989-10-26 | 1990-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-04-26 | 1993-10-26 | 1994-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |