# US 2014/0197201 A1 · Bulk bag with perforated sections > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197201 A1 - Document ID: US20140197201A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/218,342 - Filed: 2014-03-18 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-06 - Assignees: North American Salt Company - Applicants: North American Salt Company - Inventors: Kevin Thimmesch; Kurt Strater - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197201A1 ## CPC - B65D 33/065: {Integral handles (B65D33/08 takes precedence)} - B65D 33/00: Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags - B65D 75/566: {Hand holes or suspension apertures} - B65D 75/5816: {for tearing a corner or other small portion next to the edge, e.g. a U-shaped portion} - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A novel bag for holding, transporting, and pouring a bulk product is provided. In one embodiment, the bag comprises a curved, perforated section at one corner. The section can be removed by tearing along the perforation, thus forming a spout for pouring the product from the bag. In another embodiment, the bag further comprises a second perforated section extending the majority of the way (and preferably the entire way) horizontally across the bag. In this embodiment, the bag could alternatively, or additionally, be opened by tearing along the second set of perforations and separating the resulting two sections of the bag. The bag is typically formed of plastic, and can be used for salt, animal food, and other pourable products. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bag for holding a pourable product, said bag comprising front and back panels each comprising: first and second end portions presenting respective outermost edges; first and second side portions presenting respective outermost edges, said front and back panels and said end and side portions cooperating to form a chamber for holding the pourable product, said first end portion and said first side portion cooperating to form a first corner; a seam extending between the first and second side portion outermost edges; and perforations at said first corner, said perforations extending in a non-linear fashion from the outermost edge of said first end portion, to the outermost edge of said first side portion, said perforations having a radius of curvature of from about 3 inches to about 4 inches when measured from a point that is about 0.25 inches to about 2 inches from said seam and about 0.1 inches to about 0.75 inches from the outermost edge of said first side portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bag of claim 1, said bag further comprising a handle adjacent at least one of said first and second end portions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bag of claim 2, wherein said handle is at said first end portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The bag of claim 2, wherein said handle is integrally formed with said bag. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bag of claim 1, wherein said chamber includes therein a quantity of pourable product, said product being selected from the group consisting of salt, animal food, flour, sugar, cement, seed, fertilizer, ice, sand, rice, spices, soil, pesticides, industrial chemicals, mortar, plaster, marble dust, and stones. ### Claim 6 A method of dispensing a pourable product from a bag, the method comprising: providing a bag comprising: front and back panels each comprising: first and second end portions presenting respective outermost edges; first and second side portions presenting respective outermost edges, said front and back panels and said end and side portions cooperating to form a chamber for holding the pourable product, said first end portion and said first side portion cooperating to form a first corner; a seam extending between the first and second side portion outermost edges; and perforations at said first corner, said perforations extending in a non-linear fashion from the outermost edge of said first end portion, to the outermost edge of said first side portion, said perforations having a radius of curvature of from about 3 inches to about 4 inches when measured from a point that is about 0.25 inches to about 2 inches from said seam and about 0.1 inches to about 0.75 inches from the outermost edge of said first side portion; and a quantity of the pourable product in said chamber; tearing said first corner at said perforations to form an opening; and causing said pourable product to exit the bag through the opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said tearing comprises removing said first corner. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, said bag further comprising a handle adjacent at least one of said first and second end portions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said handle is at said first end portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said handle is integrally formed with said bag. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said pourable product is selected from the group consisting of salt, animal food, flour, sugar, cement, seed, fertilizer, ice, sand, rice, spices, soil, pesticides, industrial chemicals, mortar, plaster, marble dust, and stones. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising gripping said handle while causing said product to exit said bag. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said causing comprises tilting said bag. ### Claim 14 A bag for holding a pourable product, said bag comprising front and back panels each comprising: first and second end portions presenting respective outermost edges; first and second side portions presenting respective outermost edges, said front and back panels and said end and side portions cooperating to form a chamber for holding the pourable product, said first end portion and said first side portion cooperating to form a first corner; perforations at said first corner, said perforations extending in a non-linear fashion from the outermost edge of said first end portion to the outermost edge of said first side portion; and a handle adjacent at least one of said first and second end portions and integrally formed with said bag. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The bag of claim 14, wherein said handle is at said first end portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The bag of claim 14, wherein said chamber includes therein a quantity of pourable product, said product being selected from the group consisting of salt, animal food, flour, sugar, cement, seed, fertilizer, ice, sand, rice, spices, soil, pesticides, industrial chemicals, mortar, plaster, marble dust, and stones. ### Claim 17 A method of dispensing a pourable product from a bag, the method comprising: providing a bag comprising: front and back panels each comprising: first and second end portions presenting respective outermost edges; first and second side portions presenting respective outermost edges, said front and back panels and said end and side portions cooperating to form a chamber for holding the pourable product, said first end portion and said first side portion cooperating to form a first corner; and perforations at said first corner, said perforations extending in a non-linear fashion from the outermost edge of said first end portion to the outermost edge of said first side portion; a handle adjacent at least one of said first and second end portions and integrally formed with said bag; and a quantity of the pourable product in said chamber; tearing said first corner at said perforations to form an opening; and causing said pourable product to exit the bag through the opening. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said tearing comprises removing said first corner. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said handle is at said first end portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said pourable product is selected from the group consisting of salt, animal food, flour, sugar, cement, seed, fertilizer, ice, sand, rice, spices, soil, pesticides, industrial chemicals, mortar, plaster, marble dust, and stones. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising gripping said handle while causing said product to exit said bag. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said causing comprises tilting said bag. ### Claim 23 A bag for holding a pourable product, said bag comprising front and back panels each comprising: first and second end portions presenting respective outermost edges; first and second side portions presenting respective outermost edges, said front and back panels and said end and side portions cooperating to form a chamber for holding the pourable product, there being a width “W,” defined as the shortest distance between the respective outermost edges of said first and second side portions, said first end portion and said first side portion cooperating to form a first corner; a first set of perforations at said first corner, said first set of perforations extending in a non-linear fashion from the outermost edge of said first end portion, or from a seam or area near to said outermost edge of said first end portion, to the outermost edge of said first side portion; and a second set of perforations extending from one of said respective outermost edges of said first and second side portions a distance of at least about 50% of “W” towards the other of said respective outermost edges of said first and second side portions. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The bag of claim 23, said second set of perforations extending a distance of at least about 75% of “W.”. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The bag of claim 23, said second set of perforations extending a distance of about 100% of “W.”. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The bag of claim 23, said second set of perforations forming a linear pattern that is substantially parallel to at least one of said respective outermost edges of said first and second end portions. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The bag of claim 23, said bag further comprising a handle adjacent at least one of said first and second end portions. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The bag of claim 27, wherein said handle is at said first end portion. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The bag of claim 27, wherein said handle is integrally formed with said bag. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The bag of claim 23, wherein said chamber includes therein a quantity of pourable product, said product being selected from the group consisting of salt, animal food, flour, sugar, cement, seed, fertilizer, ice, sand, rice, spices, soil, pesticides, industrial chemicals, mortar, plaster, marble dust, and stones. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The bag of claim 23, said front and back panels further comprising a seam extending between the first and second side portion outermost edges, and said first set of perforations having a radius of curvature of from about 3 inches to about 4 inches when measured from a point that is about 0.25 inches to about 2 inches from said seam and about 0.1 inches to about 0.75 inches from the outermost edge of said first side portion. ### Claim 32 A method of dispensing a pourable product from a bag, the method comprising: providing a bag comprising: front and back panels each comprising: first and second end portions presenting respective outermost edges; first and second side portions presenting respective outermost edges, said front and back panels and said end and side portions cooperating to form a chamber for holding the pourable product, there being a width “W,” defined as the shortest distance between the respective outermost edges of said first and second side portions, said first end portion and said first side portion cooperating to form a first corner; a first set of perforations at said first corner, said first set of perforations extending in a non-linear fashion from the outermost edge of said first end portion, or from a seam or area near to said outermost edge of said first end portion, to the outermost edge of said first side portion; and a second set of perforations extending from one of said respective outermost edges of said first and second side portions a distance of at least about 50% of “W” towards the other of said respective outermost edges of said first and second side portions; and a quantity of the pourable product in said chamber; tearing said first corner at said first set of perforations to form a first opening, at said second set of perforations to form a second opening, or at both said first and second sets of perforations to form first and second openings; and causing said pourable product to exit the bag through the opening, or through the first and second openings. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein said tearing comprises removing said first corner. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, said second set of perforations extending a distance of at least about 75% of “W.”. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, said second set of perforations extending a distance of about 100% of “W.”. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, said second set of perforations forming a linear pattern that is substantially parallel to at least one of said respective outermost edges of said first and second end portions. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein said bag comprises a first half at said first end portion and a second half at said second end portion, said first set of perforations being at said first end portion and said second set of perforations being on said second half. ### Claim 38 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, said bag further comprising a handle adjacent at least one of said first and second end portions. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38, wherein said handle is at said first end portion. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38, wherein said handle is integrally formed with said bag. ### Claim 41 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein said pourable product is selected from the group consisting of salt, animal food, flour, sugar, cement, seed, fertilizer, ice, sand, rice, spices, soil, pesticides, industrial chemicals, mortar, plaster, marble dust, and stones. ### Claim 42 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38, further comprising gripping said handle while causing said product to exit said bag. ### Claim 43 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein said causing comprises tilting said bag. ### Claim 44 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, said front and back panels further comprising a seam extending between the first and second side portion outermost edges, and said first set of perforations having a radius of curvature of from about 3 inches to about 4 inches when measured from a point that is about 0.25 inches to about 2 inches from said seam and about 0.1 inches to about 0.75 inches from the outermost edge of said first side portion.