US3256976A - Gusseted, contoured plastic bag for garment packaging - Google Patents

Description

June 21, 1966 E- s. GREASON 3,256,976

GUSSETED, CONTOURED PLASTIC BAG FOR GARMENT PACKAGING Filed March 9. 1965 K r MJ gm 26 j" h V 33 5 I L I! V/V/ In) 35 [I 7 {I W NTOR EARL. S. GREASON ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,256,976 GUSSETED, CONTOURED PLASTIC BAG FOR GARMENT PACKAGING Earl S. Greason, Darien, Conn., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 438,246 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) This invention relates to a novel bag, and in particular, to a bag particularly adapted for the packaging therein of garments, such as shirts and other irregularly contoured wearing apparel, and is characterized by a gusseted bottom closed at opposite corners by contoured seals which eliminate unsightly and undesirable conventional dog ears and conform the corners to, for example, the shoulders of a packaged shirt and a medial unsealed portion of the gusseted bottom to the shirt collar, thusforming a more esthetic and advantageous package than heretofore presently known or provided.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel bag which is preferably constructed from heat scalable material and flattened to define front and rear walls joined by side edge portions, the bag including an opened top and a gusseted bottom, the gusseted bottom defining with each of the side edge portions an associated corner of the bag, and a pair of heat seals converging toward each other acrossthe gusseted bottom from associated side edge portions to form closed corners and a medial open portion of the gusseted bottom between the corners whereby the bag can accommodate irregularly shaped articles packaged therein with the corners of the bag accommodating relatively thin portions of an article and the open medial portion of the gusseted bottom between the corners accommodating a relatively thicker portion of a packaged article. a

A further object of this invention is'to provide improvements in gusseted 'bagsof the type including a generally tubular flattened body defined by opposing body wall panels, a gusset joining the wall panels at a first of first and second opposite end portions of the body, the gusset having first and second gusset panels joined along respective first and second fold lines to respective ones of the body wall panels and another fold line joining the first and second gusset panels to each other inwardly of the first and second fold lines toward the second end portion of the body whereby the gusset normally opens away from the second end portion, and closing means for closing end portions of the normally open, gusset for preventing the closed end portions opening away from the second end portion, the closing means each being a heat seal bonding portion of the first and second gusset panels and the wall panels to each other, the heat seals generally converging toward each other and being outwardly convexed in configuration, whereby an irregularly contoured article, such as a shirt, canbe packaged in the 'bag with the convex heat seal portions conforming to the shoulders of the shirt and-the unsealed portion of the gusseted bottom between the heat seals opening to accommodate the shirt neck to thus form an esthetic package.

and closed opposite end portions accommodating corners of the article at each side of the thicker portion, and the closed opposite end portions and corners being similarly 3,256,976 Patented June 21, 1966 contoured whereby the bag conforms to the general configuration of the article.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of forming a gusseted bag by forming a sheet of heat-sealable material into a pair of opposed planar wall panels joined to each other by an outwardly opening gusset, transporting the formed material along a predetermined path, heat sealing longitudinal edge portions of the formed material to form a generally tubelike member having an open mouth opposite the gusset, and heat sealing the tube-like member across opposite end portions of the gusset between an associate-d longitudinal edge portion and a terminal portion of the wall panels at the gusset.

With the above, and other objects in View that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a novel package formed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a folded garment packaged in a bag having a gusseted bottom contoured at opposite corners to accommodate the shoulders of the garment and open at a medial portion between the corners to accommodate a collar of the garment.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the novel bag of this invention, and illustrates a generally convex line of heat sealing across a gusset at opposite corners of the bag bottom.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the. lowermost corner of the bag of FIGURE 2, and more clearly illustrates the line of heat sealing at this corner.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, and illustrates a pair of unsealed panels defining an outwardly opening unsealed gusset portion of the gusseted bottom between the corners of the bag.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 3, and illustrates the panels of the gusset sealed to close the gusset at the corner of the bag.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of FIGURE 2, and illustrates an open mouth of the bag and a flap in position closing the same.

Referring to the drawing in particular, a novel bag constructed in accordance with this invention is best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawing and is generally referred to by the reference numeral 10. The bag 10 is particularly adapted for the packaging therein of a garment 11 (FIGURE 1), such as a folded shirt, sweater, jacket or other articles which are similarly of a generally rectangular configuration of uniform and predetermined length, width and thickness but include portions 12, such as a shirt collar, which are relatively thicker than the predetermined thickness of the article and are generally located adjacent an edge 13 of the article or shirt 11 and between opposite corner portions 14, 15, which may,

for example, be the folded shoulders of the" shirt 11.-

The bag 10 and the article 11 therein define a package generally referredto by the reference numeral 20. The

package 20 is illustrated for purposes of description as tively. The front and rear body walls or panels 26, 27 are generally rectangular in outline and include opposite overlying longitudinal side edge portions 28, 30 heat sealed along respective lines of heat sealing 31, 32. The lines of heat sealing 31, 32 extend in generally parallel relationship to each other from top portions 33, 34 of the respective walls 26, 27 toward the gusseted bottom 35 of the bag 10, terminating at tangential intersections with the respective lines of heat sealing 47, 48 across the corner portions 45, 46 of the gusset 35.

The gusseted bag bottom or the gusset 35 is best illustrated in FIGURES 4 and of the drawing and includes first and second gusset panels 36, 37 respectively joined along respective first and second folds or fold lines 38, 40 to the respective front and rear panels 26, 27. The gusset panels 36, 37 are joined to each other along another fold or fold line 41 between the front and rear panels 26, 27 and spaced from the fold lines 38, 40 toward the top edge portions 33, 34 of the bag 10. The gusset 35 is thereby constructed to open generally away from a normally opened top or mouth 43 (FIGURE 6) of the bag 10.

Opposite end or corner portions 45, 46 of the gusset 35 are closed by respective lines of heat sealing 47, 48 which merge with the parallel lines of heat sealing 31, 32 .respectively adjacent the fold 41, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawing. The lines of heat sealing 47, 48 secure the panels 26, 27, 36 and 37 completely to each other, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawing with respect to the line of heat sealing 48. The gusset panels 36, 37 are thus closed along the lines of heat sealing 47, 48 but are open between the ends (unnumbered) of these lines of heat sealing, as is clearly shown in FIG- URE 4 of the drawing.

The package 20 is formed by inserting the shirt or similar article 11 into the bag through the open mouth 43 thereof. As the shirt 11 is moved toward the gusseted bottom 35, the thicker (or higher) collar 12 of the shirt 11 gradually forces the medial portion of the gusset 35 between the lines of heat sealing 47, 48 to expand or open and accommodate the full height of the collar 12, in the manner clearly illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawing. The shoulders 14, are less thick than the collar 12 and no expansion of the guesset is necessary to accommodate the shoulders 14, 15 nor is such expansion provided for by the respective corners 45, 46. The corner remains closed because of the line of heat sealing 47 and snugly and conformingly receives the folded shoulder 14 of the shirt 11 while the corner 46 similarly accommodates the folded shoulder 15. The gusseted bag bottom 35 thus eliminates conventional unsightly dog cars at the corners of conventional bags corresponding to the corners 45, 46 of the bag 10 and provides a structure which substantially conforms completely to the entire contour of the packaged article 11 because of the contoured lines of heat sealing 47, 48 which prevent the panels 36, 37 of the gusset 35 from opening in these areas, yet to conform to the portions 14, 15 of the packaged article 11 and permit expansion whererequired.

The bag 10 is also provided with a pocket 51 into which an end portion of the article 11 opposite the collar 12 is inserted to prevent inadvertent or accidental removal of the article 11 from the open mouth 43. The pocket 51 is defined by a reversely folded flap portion 52 of the bottom panel 27. The flap 52 extends across the entire width of the bag 10 and terminates at a free edge 53 defining a pocket mouth 54. The lines of heat sealing 31, 32 seal opposite edge portions of the flap 52 to both the top panel 26 and the bottom panel 27. After the shirt is inserted in the bag 10 in the manner heretofore described through the mouth 43 between the top wall 26 and the flap 52, the last portion of the article 11 being packaged in the bag is moved toward the gusseted bottom 35 beyond the terminal edge 53 of the flap 52, thereafter this last entering portion of the article 11 is in- 4 serted in the pocket 51 through the pocket mouh 54. The foldable nature of the article 11 permits this manipulation with little difiiculty.

The novel bag 10 of this invention has been thus far described without reference .to the particular material from which the bag is constructed or the manner of manufacturing the same. In accordance with a preferred form of this invention, the material of the bag 10 is any flexible packaging material which is capable of being folded to form the bottom gusset 35 and which can be cut and sealed, preferably heat sealed, to form the convexly contoured corners or and portions 45, 46. The material of the bag 10 is preferably transparent or semitransparent and may be, for example, polyethylene or similar plastic film or sheet material.

The bags of this invention are preferably constructed from a web of sheet material (not shown) which is transported along a predetermined path and folded to form a gusseted portion and opposed wall portions. The folded web is guided through a station and forms the contour seal 47 on a leading bag and the contour seal 48 on a trailing bag, or vice versa; Simultaneously, the generally cusp-shaped piece of undesired material between the contoured seals of adjacent leading and trailing bags is cut out and pneumatically or mechanically discarded. At a subsequent station a single straight line side seal is made running from the top of each bag to the peak of each of the cusp-shaped openings defined by the removed materialbetween the contour bottom of leading and trailing bags. This side seal mechanism has a hot wire that simultaneously forms the side seals 31, 32 and cuts them apart.

While a preferred form of the bag of this invention and the method of manufacturing the same has been disclosed herein, modifications in both the bag and the method will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure and are considered a part thereof. For example, the bag '10 need not include the pocket 51 and this particular bag top construction may be eliminated or alternately substituted for by other bag closing means. For example, the panel 52 need not be reversely folded prior to the formation of the heat seals 31, 32, .but may merely project beyond the top portions 33, 34 of the bag 10. Upon this construction, the flap or panel 52 may then merely be inserted into the bag 10 after the shirt 11 or similar article has been packaged therein.

It is also within the scope of this invention to provide the bag 10 with an opening or weakening means, such as suitable perforations, at the gusset 35 substantially medially between the corners 45, 46 to adapt the bag for use with shirts or similar garments when hung upon conventional clothes hangers. In this case, the bag 10 would be of a sufficient width to accommodate a garment in its unfolded condition or, alternatively, a bag of a sufficient size to accommodate an adult-size garment may be provided with such an opening and instructions advising consumers that the bag could be used with smaller infant-size clothing for storage or other purposes in conjunction with hangers in a known manner.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provisions have been made for carrying out the desired end. However, attention is again directed to the fact that additional variations may be made in this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

*1. A package comprising an article and a bag, said article being generally rectangular and of a predetermined length, width and thickness, the thickness of said article being generally uniform except for a relatively thicker portion and adjacent at least one longitudinal edge of said article, said article being positioned in said bag, said bag including a generally flattened tubular body having front and rear walls, said front and rear walls being generally rectangular in outline and including opposite overlying 5v side edge portions and top edge portions, said side edge portions being joined to each other to define the generally tubular construction of said body, said body terminating in a gusseted bottom, said article being positioned in said body with the thicker portion thereof adjacent said gusseted bottom, said gusseted bottom including first and second gusset panels joined along respective first and second fold lines to the respective front and rear panels, said gusset panels being joined to each other along another fold line between the front and rear walls spaced from said first and second fold lines toward said top edge portions whereby said gusseted bottom opens away from said top, means closing said'gusseted bottom at opposite end portions thereof, said closing means being in the form of a seal at each end portion of the gusseted bottom extending between said another fold line and said first and second fold lines, said gusseted bottom having an expandable portion between said seals, said seals converging toward each other from said another fold line toward said first and second fold lines, said seals each being generally arcuate in configuration, portions of said article 6- to either side of said thicker portion being in conforming relationship to said seals, and said thicker portion being received by said expandable portion.

2. The package as defined in claim 1 wherein said arcuate seals are of an outward convex configuration.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Examiner.

W. T. DIXSON, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A PACKAGE COMPRISING AN ARTICLE AND A BAG, SAID ARTICLE BEING GENERALLY RECTANGULAR AND OF A PREDETERMINED LENGTH, WIDTH AND THICKNESS, THE THICKNESS OF SAID ARTICLE BEING GENERALLY UNIFORM EXCEPT FOR A RELATIVELY THICKER PORTION AND ADJACENT AT LEAST ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID ARTICLE, SAID ARTICLE BEING POSITIONED IN SAID BAG, SAID BAG INCLUDING A GENERALLY FLATTENED TUBULAR BODY HAVING FRONT AND REAR WALLS, SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS BEING GENERALLY RECTANGULAR IN OUTLINE AND INCLUDING OPPOSITE OVERLYING SIDE EDGE PORTIONS AND TOP EDGE PORTIONS, SAID SIDE EDGE PORTIONS BEING JOINED TO EACH OTHER TO DEFINE THE GENERALLY TUBULAR CONSTRUCTION OF SAID BODY, SAID BODY TERMINATING GUSSET PANELS BEING JOINED TO EACH OTHER ALONG ANOTHER BODY WITH THE THICKER PORTION THEREOF ADJACENT SAID GUSSETED BOTTOM, SAID GUSSETED BOTTOM INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND GUSSET PANELS JOINED ALONG RESPECTIVE FIRST AND SECOND FOLD LINES TO THE RESPECTIVE FRONT AND REAR PANELS, SAID GUSSET PANELS BEING JOINED TO EACH OTHER ALONG ANOTHER FOLD LINE BETWEN THE FRONT AND REAR WALLS SPACED FROM SAID FIRST AND SECOND FOLD LINES TOWARD SAID TOP EDGE PORTIONS WHEREBY SAID GUSSETED BOTTOM OPENS AWAY FROM SAID TOP, MEANS CLOSING SAID GUSSETED BOTTOM AT OPPOSITE END PORTIONS THEROF, SAID CLOSING MEANS BEING IN THE FORM OF A SEAL AT EACH END PORTION OF THE GUSSETED BOTTOM EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ANOTHER FOLD LINE AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND FOLD LINES, SAID GUSSETED BOTTOM HAVING N EXPANDABLE PORTION BETWEEN SAID SEALS, SAID SEALS CONVERGING TOWARD EACH OTHER FROM SAID ANOTHER FOLD LINE TOWARD SAID FIRST AND SECOND FOLD LINES, SAID SEALS EACH BEING GENERALLY ARCUATE IN CONFIGURATION, PORTIONS OF SAID ARTICLE TO EITHER SIDE OF SAID THICKER PORTION BEING IN CONFORMING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID SEALS, AND SAID THICKER PORTION BEING RECEIVED BY SAID EXPANDABLE PORTION.

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