Easy open re-closable packaging bag

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of designing and manufacturing of packaging bags such as woven bas or mesh bags for containing fruits, nuts or produce. More particularly, the invention relates to a packaging bag with an easy-open and re-closable end other than the end with an opening for filling and sealing.

2. Description of the Related Art

Mesh bags have been widely used in commercial packaging and storing, laundry, as well as sports. More particularly, light weight and heavy duty mesh bags are widely used for containing and storing fruits, nuts, onions, garlic, and etc.

Traditionally, there are two ways to seal the opening of the mesh bag. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating a mesh bag 11 according to the prior art. The bottom end of the mesh bag 11 is sealed with a line of stitches 13 or other kind of sealing which constitutes a bottom, i.e., a dead end, to avoid leakage. The top end of the mesh bag 11 is reserved open and has an annular band or lace or a drawstring (herein after as the drawstring) 12 perforating around the top edge of the mesh bag 11. After the mesh bag 11 is filled with onions or the like, the user pulls the drawstring 12 and tie it up as shown in FIG. 1B. To take the onions or the like out from the mesh bag 11, the user may either untie the drawstring 12, or cut the drawstring 12 with a knife or a pair of scissors, or slit the mesh bag 11 from its top with a knife or a sharp tool. The shortcoming of the mesh bag 11 is that it is not suitable for machine packaging.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating a mesh bag 21 according to another prior art. The bottom end of the mesh bag 21 is sealed with a line of stitches or other kind of sealing which constitutes a dead end to avoid leakage. After the mesh bag 21 is filled with onions or the like, it is sealed along its top edge with a sewed line of stitches 22 as shown in FIG. 2B. To take the onions or the like out from the mesh bag 21, the user may cut along the line of sealing stitches 22 or simply make a slit 23 on the mesh bag 21 from its top with a knife or a sharp tool as shown in FIG. 2C. The mesh bag 21 is suitable for machine filling and sealing. However, it has two major shortcomings: first, the user has to use a knife or a sharp tool to open it to take the onions or like out of the mesh bag; and second, after it is opened, the user has to use external means to reclose the opening for keeping the remaining onions or the like in the mesh bag.

What is desired is a mesh bag suitable for machine packaging, which has a one-pull easy-open, re-closable end such that when the use is to open the mesh bag, only a single pull is needed and when the user is to re-close the bag, he just needs to pull the re-closing drawstring and tie it up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches a new type of mesh bag suitable for automatic machine packaging. One end of the mesh bag is a reserved opening for filling and sealing. The other end of the mesh bag includes a one-pull, easy-open mechanism and a re-closing mechanism. The re-closing mechanism is a drawstring, perforating around the end of the mesh bag. The one-pull, easy open mechanism is a line of easy open stitches which sew a small strip of hard paper with the end of the mesh bag. The two mechanisms can be pre-set in parallel or integrated in a same line, with the small strip of the hard paper overlaid on the drawstring.

To fill the mesh bag, a packaging machine opens the top end by a sucking apparatus. After the mesh bag is filled with onions or the like, the packaging machine seals the opening with a line of stitches or other kind of sealing such as heat sealing.

When the user is to open the mesh bag, the users puts the end with the easy open mechanism and the re-closing mechanism upward. Then, he pulls the tip of the line of the easy open stitches and the line of stitches is thereby removed. When the user is to re-close the bag, he just needs to pull the re-closing drawstring and tie it up.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating a mesh bag according to the prior art;

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram illustrating the re-closing procedure by tying-up the mesh bag according to FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating a mesh bag according to another prior art;

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating the mesh bag according to FIG. 2A which was filled with onions or the like and was machine-sealed with a line of stitches;

FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram illustrating the filled mesh bag according to FIG. 2B which was opened using a knife or a sharp tool;

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating a mesh bag with an easy-open end according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating both the front and the back views of the easy-open mechanism according to FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating a mesh bag for containing onions or the like according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating the mesh bag according to FIG. 4A which is filled with onions or the like and sealed with a line of stitches;

FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram illustrating the mesh bag according to FIG. 4A which is filled with onions or the like in a position to be opened by a user;

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram illustrating the front view of the easy-open end of a mesh bag according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram illustrating the back view of the easy-open end of the mesh bag according to FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram illustrating the front view of the easy-open end of a mesh bag according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram illustrating the back view of the easy-open end of the mesh bag according to FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram illustrating the front view of the easy-open end of a mesh bag according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating the back view of the easy-open end of the mesh bag according to FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram illustrating a packaging bag with an easy-open end according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram illustrating the back view of the packaging bag according to FIG. 8A;

FIG. 8C is a schematic diagram illustrating the packaging bag according to FIG. 8A which is sealed after being filled with articles; and

FIG. 8D is a schematic diagram illustrating the packaging bag according to FIG. 8A which is opened by removing the easy-open strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating a mesh bag 31 with an easy-open end 32 according to a typical embodiment of the present invention. A piece of annular plastic membrane or film 35 is moulded or integrated with the top end of the mesh bag 31. The primary purpose of the membrane or film 35 is to avoid ventilation when a packaging machine is to open the top end by sucking. There are two pairs of punch holes 34 on the membrane or film 35 for setting the mesh bag on the holders of the packaging machine. The bottom end of the mesh bag is sealed or seamed with a line easy-open stitches which constitutes an easy-open mechanism 32.

In operation, the packaging machine sucks the two folded sides of the membrane or film 35 apart such that the top end of the mesh bag 31 opens its mouth from which the onions or the like are inputed into the mesh bag 31. After the mesh bag 31 is filled with onions or the like, it is sealed or seamed by sewing with a line of stitches across the membrane or film 35. To take the onions or the like out from the mesh bag 31, the user may turn the bag upside down and remove the easy open stitches by pulling the its string. FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating both the front view 32a and the back view 32b of the easy-open mechanism 32 according to FIG. 3A. Note that the textual product information, label, graphics and trademark are preferably oriented toward the easy-open end 36 and they look upside-down when the bag is in the filling and packaging position. However, when the user is to open the bag, he would put the easy-open end upward and thus the textual product information, label, graphics and trademark would look upright for normal reading.

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating a mesh bag 41 for containing onions or the like according to another typical embodiment of the invention. The mesh bag 41 is made of soft, flexible materials with sufficient strength to hold onions or the like. The mesh bag 41 has an unsealed opening 42 at its first end for filling. The second end of the mesh bag 41 is pre-sealed with a line of easy-open stitches 44 sewn across the entire transverse length of the bag. The line of easy-open stitches 44, together with the enclosure, i.e., the mesh bag wall, forms a bottom of the mesh bag, i.e., a dead end, to avoid leakage. The second end of the mesh bag also includes a pre-set annular band or lace or a drawstring (herein after as the drawstring) 43 perforating the mesh bag 41. After the mesh bag 41 is filled with onions or the like, the unsealed opening 42 is then sealed using a packaging machine with a sewing function or a thermal sealing function. While the mesh bag 41 is being filled by a packaging machine, the opening 42 is usually upward. However, as shown in FIG. 4A, the textual product information, labels, signs, graphics, and trademark 45 are oriented downward or upside down. FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating the mesh bag 41 filled with onions or the like and sealed with a line of stitches 46. FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram illustrating the mesh bag 41 filled with onions or the like in a position to be opened by a user. When the user is to open the mesh bag 41, he does not need to cut the mesh bag 41 as in the situation of the prior arts. Rather, he just needs to pull the line of easy-open stitches 44. The line of easy-open stitches 44 will be easily removed when it is pulled by the user. After part of the onions or the like is taken from the mesh bag 41, the user may re-close it by pulling the drawstring 43 and tie it up as illustrated in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram illustrating the front view of the easy-open end of the mesh bag 51 according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. Adjacent to the very edge 55 of the mesh bag 51 is the easy-open mechanism which includes a hard-paper slip or strip (herein after as the slip) 53 and a line of easy-open stitches 54 which sews the hard-paper slip 53 and the wall or enclosure (herein after as the wall) of the mesh bag 51 together along the edge 55. Next to the hard-paper slip 53 is the drawstring 52 which is used for re-closing and tying-up. FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram illustrating the back view of the easy-open end of the mesh bag 51 according to the preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 5A. The re-closing mechanism is a drawstring 52, perforating the mesh bag wall. However, the hard-paper slip 53 is not annular. It is only on one side of the mesh bag 51. The line of easy-open stitches 54 actually sews the hard-paper slip 53 and two sides of the mesh bag wall together. After the two sides of the mesh bag wall are sewed together, the wall and the sealed end constitute a bag or pocket for containing onions or the like. To open the filled mesh bag, the user simply removes the line of easy-open stitches 54 by pulling it to one direction. To re-close the mesh bag, the user simply pulls the drawstring 52 and ties it up.

The comparative positions of the re-closing drawstring and the line of easy-open stitches can be interchanged. FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram illustrating the front view of the easy-open end of the mesh bag 61 according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Adjacent to the very edge 65 of the mesh bag 61 is the drawstring 62 which is used for re-closing and tying-up. Next to the drawstring 62 is the easy-open mechanism which includes a hard-paper slip 63 and a line of easy-open stitches 64 which sews the hard-paper slip 63 and the wall of the mesh bag 61 together along the edge 65. FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram illustrating the back view of the easy-open end of the mesh bag 61 according to the preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 6A. The re-closing drawstring 62 is annular, perforating the mesh bag wall. However, the hard-paper slip 63 is not annular. It is only on one side of the mesh bag 61. The line of easy-open stitches 64 actually sews the hard-paper slip 63 and two sides of the mesh bag wall together. After the two sides of the mesh bag wall are sewed together, the wall and the sealed end constitute a bag or pocket for containing onions or the like. To open the filled mesh bag 61, the user simply removes the line of easy-open stitches 64 by pulling it to one direction. To re-close the mesh bag, the user simply pulls the drawstring 62 and ties it up.

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram illustrating the front view of the easy-open end of the mesh bag 71 according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Adjacent to the very edge 75 of the mesh bag 71 is the drawstring 72 which is used for re-closing and tying-up. The easy-open mechanism includes a piece of hard-paper slip 73 and a line of easy-open stitches sewed along the hard-paper slip 73. In this embodiment, the easy-open mechanism is integrated with the drawstring 72. In particular, the drawstring 72 is pre-set along the wall of the mesh bag 71. To make a bag or pocket using the mesh bag wall, the end must be sealed along the edge 75. In this embodiment, the hard-paper slip 73, the two sides of the wall of the mesh bag 71 and the drawstring 72 are all sewed together along the edge 75 with the line of easy-open stitches 74. FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating the back view of the easy-open end of the mesh bag 71 according to the preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 7A. The pre-set re-closing drawstring 72 is annular, perforating the mesh bag wall. However, the hard-paper slip 73 is not annular. It is only on one side of the mesh bag 71. The line of easy-open stitches 74 actually sews the drawstring 72, the hard-paper slip 73 and two sides of the mesh bag wall together. After the two sides of the mesh bag wall are sewed together, the wall and the sealed end constitute a bag or pocket for containing onions or the like. To open the filled mesh bag, the user simply removes the line of easy-open stitches 74 by pulling it to one direction. To re-close the bag, the user simply pulls the drawstring 72 and ties it up.

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram illustrating a packaging bag with an easy-open end 87 according to another embodiment of the invention. The enclosure or the wall of the packaging bag is a tube or a cylindrical member 81 made of flexible materials such as woven textile. FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram illustrating the back view of the packaging bag according to FIG. 8A. The first end 82 of the packaging bag is an opening for filling with articles. There are four holes 84 on the first end 82 for inserting the packaging bag through the holders 85 of a packaging machine. In operation, to open the mouth of the packaging bag, the packaging machine pulls the first end 82 from both its front side and its back side, thus the front side and the back side slide along the holders 85 in opposite directions. The textual product information, labels, graphics, or trademark 86 are toward the second end 83 of the packaging bag. The second end 83 constitutes a bottom of the packaging bag for avoid leakage. The bottom is made by sewing a hard paper strip 87 as shown in FIG. 3B and the tube or cylindrical member 81 together with a line of easy-open stitches 88.

FIG. 8C is a schematic diagram illustrating the usage position of the packaging bag according to FIG. 8A which is sealed at its first end 82 with a line of sealing stitches after it was filled with articles. To open the packaging bag, the user just needs to turn the bag up as shown in FIG. 8C and pulls the line of easy-open stitches 88. After the hard paper strip 87 and the easy-open stitches 88 are removed as shown in FIG. 8D, the second end 83 of the bag is thus open and the user may take the articles out from the bag.

The enclosure or the wall of the packaging bag as illustrated above can be made of mesh, paper, laminated paper, plastic, synthetic resin, woven textile, leno fabric, knitting fabric, with poly or any other flexible materials with sufficient strength for holding articles. There are several ways to make the enclosure or the wall. For example, it can be a single piece of tube or cylindrical member. For another example, it can be made by folding one piece of scare or rectangular materials from the middle line and seaming or sealing the two edges which parallel to the middle line. Further, it can also be made by using two pieces of square or rectangular materials and seaming or sealing from two paralleling sides.

Although the invention has been described with reference to at least one specific embodiment, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, alternative embodiments or other equivalent solutions of implementing the easy-open, re-closable mesh bag structure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that such modifications, equivalents, and alternatives can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.