GB2241220A

GB2241220A - Bags and sacks

Info

Publication number: GB2241220A
Application number: GB9004406A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Morrison
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-02-27
Filing date: 1990-02-27
Publication date: 1991-08-28
Also published as: GB9004406D0

Abstract

A bag or sack 2 includes a spring 6 coiled in or adjacent the walls of the bag and arrange to urge the bag to unfold, to aid filling with sand or rubbish. The bags may be stored flat in a pack by compressing the springs (Fig. 2, not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

BAGS AND SACKS This invention relates to bags and sacks. In this specification the term "bag" is to be taken to cover both bags and sacks.

In many situations, for example when filling it, it is extremely inconvenient that a bag tends to collapse or close.

Filling a bag with sand or rubbish is a job which often requires two people: one to hold the bag open and the other to fill it.

In accordance with the a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bag including a spring coiled in or adjacent the walls of the bag and arranged to urge the bag to unfold.

Preferably, a portion of the walls extend beyond the spring to enable the bag to be closed.

In use the spring assists the bag to unfold, or unfolds it, and then holds the bag open. The bag can then be held in one hand and filled with the other or, in some embodiments, the spring may be stiff enough for the bag to stand unsupported.

The spring may inside or outside the bag and needs to be attached thereto in a manner enabling it to urge the bag to unfold. Alternatively, the spring may be embedded in the wall of the bag, for example between two plies. In this case and also in the case where the spring is outside the walls of the bag, it strengthens the walls. The spring, whilst coiled, may have any suitable cross section e.g. circular, square or rectangular.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a pack of bags (in accordance with the first aspect) the bags being compressed flat against the spring, the package being openable so that a bag may be removed in a direction generally in the plane of the flat bag.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a bag embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a pack of bags as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 a bag 2 has walls to the inside of which is bonded a spring 6. The spring 6 urges the bag to unfold to the condition shown in the drawing thus holding it open and making it easier to fill. The effect of the spring depends on its stiffness relative to that of the walls. In some examples it may be sufficient that the spring holds the bag open when held in one hand. In other examples it may be preferable that the spring will hold the bag open enabling it to stand unsupported. A portion of the walls extend beyond the spring, to enable the top of the bag to be closed.

The bag may be of any suitable materials commensurate with the intended use, examples are plastics materials, paper, hessian, cloth etc. The spring also may be made of any suitable material e.g. plastics or steel.

The spring is shown bonded to the inside of the walls of the bag. In other examples the spring is bonded to the outside of the walls or is embedded in the walls, e.g.

between two plies. The bonding may take place by any suitable process. For example in the manufacture of plastic bags the bag may be brought into contact with the spring while the walls are partly molten. Alternatively, the spring may be brought to the bag at a temperature such that it (if plastic) and/or the bag is/are partly molten.

It is not necessary for the spring to be bonded to the bag over the entire length of the spring. For example in the example illustrated, it would be sufficient for the top of the spring to be bonded to the bag.

In some cases, it may not be necessary for the spring to be bonded to the bag at all. In the example illustrated, if the bag were tucked inside the spring at the top the spring would still urge it to unfold.

The bags may be stored flat, prior to use, by compressing the spring. A pack 10 of such bags is shown in Figure 2. The pack has a flap 12 which may be opened to allow a bag to be removed generally in a direction in the plane of the flat bag as shown by arrow "A".

Claims

1. A bag including a spring coiled in or adjacent the walls of the bag and arranged to urge the bag to unfold.

2. A bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of the walls extend beyond the spring to enable the bag to be closed.

3. Pack of bags as claimed in claim 1 or 2, the bags being compressed flat against the spring, the package being openable so that a bag may be removed in a direction generally in the plane of the flat bag.