GB2066772A - Bag with stiffening insert - Google Patents

Abstract

A package comprises a bag of flexible transparent plastics material with an internal cardboard stiffener which is of channel form having a base 10 and two side walls 11 which fold flat upon the base and which in the erect state are held up by the contents of the package. The bag is formed from two sheets of transparent plastics material which are connected together along their edges and the bag is closed at one end and open at the other the length of the bag being greater than the length of the stiffener which is located in the bag with one end engaging the end of the bag and having its base secured by an adhesive strip to one wall of the bag. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved package This invention relates to an improved package of the kind comprising an external member formed of flexible sheet material and internal stiffener members arranged so that when the package is empty it assumes a flat-folded condition but when the contents are put inside, the stiffener members -are erected to hold the sheet material in the form of a generally box-like package with the contents helping to maintain the stiffener members in the erect state. Hereinafter a package having these features is referred to as being "of the kind specified".

Preferably, the flexible sheet material is transparent so that the contents of the package are visible without having to open the package.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of package of the kind specified.

According to the invention we provide a package of the kind specified having a stiffener member of channel form to provide a base and two parallel side walls which are foldably connected to the base and can fold flat in face-toface relationship with the base, the flexible sheet material being initially in the form of a bag having opposed side walls, a closed end and an open end, the stiffener member being located inside the bag by being secured by its base to one side wall of the bag and with the fold lines between the base and side walls of the stiffener member being parallel to the side edges of the bag and spaced equidistant therefrom in the folded flat state of the package.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a plan view showing the package in the folded flat state; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the package in the erect state but with the one end still open and not showing any contents.

t Referring first to Figure 2, the stiffener member, which is shown there in the erect position, is made from cardboard and in the erect position is of channel form comprising a base 10 and upstanding parallel side walls 11. At each upper corner the inside wall 11 is cut away as shown at 12 so as to remove the sharp corner which might pierce the flexible material of the package when the stiffener member is in the erect position.

Referring now to Figure 1 which shows the package in the folded flat state, the external member is formed from a transparent thermoplastics material such as polythene and comprises a flattened tube having two opposed side walls one of which is shown at 1 3 and the other of which is immediately beneath it and is not seen, said two side walls beinq joined at their longitudinal edges by seams 14 provided for example by heat sealing and at the one end 15, the tube is closed and provided with gussets at the position 1 6 of the corners. The other end 1 7 of the bag is left open.

The stiffener member is disposed within the bag with one of its ends engaged at the closed end 1 5 of the bag and the length of the stiffener member is such that there is left a length 1 8 of bag between the end 19 of the stiffener member and the end 17 of the bag. The stiffener member is located in position by being adhesively secured to the one wall of the bag, such as by the adhesive strip 20.

In use, the package is opened up by erecting the walls of the stiffener member to the state shown in Figure 2 and then the contents are loaded into the package through the open end 17 such that when the package is filled, the contents assist in maintaining the stiffener member in the erect condition and thus a generally rectangular box-like package is provided. The gusseted arrangement 16 at the closed end 1 5 enables a generally flat end face to be provided and the package is closed by suitably folding up the spare length 18 of flexible bag at the one end.

1. A package of the kind specified having a stiffener member of channel form to provide a base and two parallel side walls which are foldably connected to the base and can fold flat in face-toface relationship with the base, the flexible sheet material being initially in the form of a bag having opposed side walls, a closed end and an open end, the stiffener member being located inside the bag by being secured by its base to one side wall of the bag and with the fold lines between the base and side walls of the stiffener member being parallel to the side edges of the bag and spaced equidistant therefrom in the folded flat state of the package.

2. A package according to Claim 1 wherein the base of the stiffener member is secured to one side wall of the bag along its centreline by a single adhesive strip.

3. A package according to Claim 1 wherein the bag is formed from two flexible transparent sheets of plastics material which are secured in face-toface relationship along their longitudinal edges, one end of the bag being left open and the other end being closed and formed with gussets at its corners, the length of the bag being greater than the length of the stiffener member which is located in the bag with one end thereof adjacent the closed end of the bag.

4. A package of the kind specified substantially as described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improved package This invention relates to an improved package of the kind comprising an external member formed of flexible sheet material and internal stiffener members arranged so that when the package is empty it assumes a flat-folded condition but when the contents are put inside, the stiffener members -are erected to hold the sheet material in the form of a generally box-like package with the contents helping to maintain the stiffener members in the erect state. Hereinafter a package having these features is referred to as being "of the kind specified". Preferably, the flexible sheet material is transparent so that the contents of the package are visible without having to open the package. The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of package of the kind specified. According to the invention we provide a package of the kind specified having a stiffener member of channel form to provide a base and two parallel side walls which are foldably connected to the base and can fold flat in face-toface relationship with the base, the flexible sheet material being initially in the form of a bag having opposed side walls, a closed end and an open end, the stiffener member being located inside the bag by being secured by its base to one side wall of the bag and with the fold lines between the base and side walls of the stiffener member being parallel to the side edges of the bag and spaced equidistant therefrom in the folded flat state of the package. The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a plan view showing the package in the folded flat state; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the package in the erect state but with the one end still open and not showing any contents. t Referring first to Figure 2, the stiffener member, which is shown there in the erect position, is made from cardboard and in the erect position is of channel form comprising a base 10 and upstanding parallel side walls 11. At each upper corner the inside wall 11 is cut away as shown at 12 so as to remove the sharp corner which might pierce the flexible material of the package when the stiffener member is in the erect position. Referring now to Figure 1 which shows the package in the folded flat state, the external member is formed from a transparent thermoplastics material such as polythene and comprises a flattened tube having two opposed side walls one of which is shown at 1 3 and the other of which is immediately beneath it and is not seen, said two side walls beinq joined at their longitudinal edges by seams 14 provided for example by heat sealing and at the one end 15, the tube is closed and provided with gussets at the position 1 6 of the corners. The other end 1 7 of the bag is left open. The stiffener member is disposed within the bag with one of its ends engaged at the closed end 1 5 of the bag and the length of the stiffener member is such that there is left a length 1 8 of bag between the end 19 of the stiffener member and the end 17 of the bag. The stiffener member is located in position by being adhesively secured to the one wall of the bag, such as by the adhesive strip 20. In use, the package is opened up by erecting the walls of the stiffener member to the state shown in Figure 2 and then the contents are loaded into the package through the open end 17 such that when the package is filled, the contents assist in maintaining the stiffener member in the erect condition and thus a generally rectangular box-like package is provided. The gusseted arrangement 16 at the closed end 1 5 enables a generally flat end face to be provided and the package is closed by suitably folding up the spare length 18 of flexible bag at the one end. CLAIMS

1. A package of the kind specified having a stiffener member of channel form to provide a base and two parallel side walls which are foldably connected to the base and can fold flat in face-toface relationship with the base, the flexible sheet material being initially in the form of a bag having opposed side walls, a closed end and an open end, the stiffener member being located inside the bag by being secured by its base to one side wall of the bag and with the fold lines between the base and side walls of the stiffener member being parallel to the side edges of the bag and spaced equidistant therefrom in the folded flat state of the package.

2. A package according to Claim 1 wherein the base of the stiffener member is secured to one side wall of the bag along its centreline by a single adhesive strip.

3. A package according to Claim 1 wherein the bag is formed from two flexible transparent sheets of plastics material which are secured in face-toface relationship along their longitudinal edges, one end of the bag being left open and the other end being closed and formed with gussets at its corners, the length of the bag being greater than the length of the stiffener member which is located in the bag with one end thereof adjacent the closed end of the bag.

4. A package of the kind specified substantially as described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.