# US 2019/0315523 A1 · Self-supporting plastic bag and method for manufacturing same

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- Number: US 2019/0315523 A1
- Document ID: US20190315523A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/398,340
- Filed: 2019-04-30
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-14
- Inventors: Ah Moi TAN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190315523A1

## CPC

- B65D 31/10: {with gusseted sides}
- B31B 50/16: Cutting webs
- B31B 50/26: Folding sheets, blanks or webs
- B31B 50/86: Forming integral handles; Attaching separate handles
- B31B 70/74: Auxiliary operations
- B65D 31/005: {by folding a single blank to U-shape to form the base of the bag and opposite sides of the body-portion, the remaining sides being formed by extensions of one or more of these opposite sides (cartons B65D5/18)}
- B31B 2160/20: with structural provision for thickness of contents
- 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
- B31B: MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making wound articles, e.g. wound tubes, B31C; combined making and filling B65B)

## Abstract

A plastic bag is provided. The bag may include a rectangular bottom with first, second, third, and fourth edges. It may include a first side extending from a first edge of the bottom, a second side extending from a second edge of the bottom, a third side extending from a third edge of the bottom, and a fourth side extending from a fourth edge of the bottom. The first side may have a first vertical seam and a first flap set. The third side may have a second vertical seam and a second flap set. The bottom, the first side, the second side, the third side, and fourth side are integrally formed from a single sheet of a plastic material. The first vertical seam may extend from a top of the first side to at least the first flap set. The second vertical seam may extend from a top of the third side to at least the second flap set. A method of manufacture thereof is also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A plastic bag, the bag comprising:
a bottom with first, second, third, and fourth edges;
a first side extending from a first edge of the bottom, the first side having a first vertical seam and a first flap;
a second side extending from a second edge of the bottom;
a third side extending from a third edge of the bottom, the third side having a second vertical seam and a second flap;
a fourth side extending from a fourth edge of the bottom; and
a first horizontal flap seam disposed on the first side parallel to the first edge of the bottom,
wherein:
the bottom, the first side, the second side, the third side, and fourth side are integrally formed from a single sheet of a plastic material;
the first vertical seam extends from a top of the first side to the first edge of the bottom; and
the first flap is secured to the first side by the first vertical seam and the first horizontal flap seam.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bag of claim 1, wherein:
the first side is parallel to and the same size as the third side;
the second side is parallel to and the same size as the fourth side;
the first side connects with and is perpendicular to both the second side and the fourth side.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The bag of claim 2, wherein the bag is self-supporting when open.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The bag of claim 3, further comprising a hem at a mouth of the bag.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The bag of claim 3, wherein a width of the first side is shorter than a width of the second side.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The bag of claim 2, wherein:
the second side does not have a vertical seam;
the fourth side does not have a vertical seam;
the bottom does not have a seam along any of its edges.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The bag of claim 2, further comprising a pair of handles.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The bag of claim 7, wherein the pair of handles comprise holes in the single plastic sheet.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The bag of claim 4, further comprising a pair of handles, wherein the pair of handles comprises holes in the hem.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The bag of claim 7, wherein the pair of handles comprises strips of plastic attached to the single plastic sheet.

### Claim 11 (depends on 4)

The bag of claim 4, further comprising a pair of handles, wherein the pair of handles comprises strips of plastic attached to the hem.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The bag of claim 2, further comprising:
a second horizontal flap seam disposed on the third side parallel to the third edge of the bottom,
wherein:
the second vertical seam extends from a top of the third side to the third edge of the bottom; and
the second flap is secured to the third side by the second vertical seam and the second horizontal flap seam.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The bag of claim 1, wherein:
the first vertical seam bisects the first flap; and
the second vertical seam bisects the second flap.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The bag of claim 13, further comprising a carrying surface, wherein:
the carrying surface is at least partially coextensive with the bottom;
the carrying surface extends between the first horizontal flap seam and the second horizontal flap seam; and
the carrying surface is curved when the bag is open.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The bag of claim 1, wherein there is a distance of 0.2-2 cm between the first horizontal flap seam and the first edge of the bottom.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The bag of claim 1, wherein there is a distance of 2-3.5 cm between the first horizontal flap seam and the first edge of the bottom.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The bag of claim 1, wherein there is a distance of 3.5-6 cm between the first horizontal flap seam and the first edge of the bottom.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The bag of claim 12, wherein:
the first horizontal flap seam intersects with and is perpendicular to the first vertical seam; and
the second horizontal flap seam intersects with and is perpendicular to the second vertical seam.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The bag of claim 1, wherein:
the first horizontal flap seam, the first edge of the bottom, a linear intersection of the first side and the second side, and a linear intersection of the first side and the fourth side encircle a lower rectangular area of the first side; and
the lower rectangular area of the first side comprises two layers of the single sheet of a plastic material.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The bag of claim 12, wherein:
the first horizontal flap seam, the second horizontal flap seam, the first vertical seam, and the second vertical seam are hot heat seals.

### Claim 21

A method of manufacturing a plastic bag, comprising:
cutting a rectangular sheet of plastic;
folding the rectangular sheet in half at a fold;
forming a first vertical seam on a first side of the folded plastic sheet while providing a first gap along a portion of the first side that is adjacent to the fold;
forming a second vertical seam on a second side of the folded plastic sheet while providing a second gap along a portion of the second side that is adjacent to the fold;
pushing a portion of the plastic sheet surrounding the first gap into a space at least partially enclosed by the folded rectangular sheet;
pushing a portion of the plastic sheet surrounding the second gap into the space at least partially enclosed by the folded rectangular sheet;
molding and creasing the plastic sheet to form and delineate flaps, a bottom of the bag, and sides of the bag; and
securing the flaps to sides of the bag.

### Claim 22

A method of manufacturing a plastic bag, comprising:
cutting a rectangular sheet of plastic;
folding the rectangular sheet such that its cross-section resembles a “W” shape;
forming a first vertical seam on an entirety of a first side of the folded plastic sheet that includes a folded portion of the rectangular sheet; and
forming a second vertical seam on an entirety of a second side of the folded plastic sheet that includes the folded portion of the rectangular sheet.