Standup bag and method of manufacturing same

#This invention relates to a standup bag for granular products or the like with an easy-opening and pouring facility and an integral handle. The standup bag is manufactured from an extruded heat sealable film. This invention also relates to methods of producing the standup bag.

#For many years, polyethylene pillow-shaped bags have been used for packaging granular products, such as frozen vegetables. These bags must be stacked vertically because they do not stand up. When stacked vertically, it is difficult for a consumer to determine the contents because the principal display panel is concealed.

#It is desirable to have bags which stand up so that the principal display panel faces the consumers. Arranging the bags in the standing up position also takes less supermarket shelf space. Stand-up bags for food products in some instances include pouring spouts. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,284 to Imer shows a stand-up bag having a corner portion which may be cut away to form a spout for pouring. U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,925 to Smiley shows a radially disposed perforation in the upper right hand corner of the bag to provide a pouring spout. In addition, the Smiley patent includes a handle located on top of the bag. U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,979 to Ikeda shows a bag which includes a handle that is cut away to form a spout for pouring. None of the known bags, however, are standup bags manufactured from an extruded heat sealable film which includes both an integral handle and a perforated section that can be torn to open the bag and form a pouring spout.

#The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a front view of a standup bag according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a rear view of a standup bag according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

#The present invention relates to a standup bag for granular products, such as foods or the like, manufactured from an extruded heat sealable material and having both an integral handle and a perforated section to facilitate opening and pouring out of the contents of the bag.

#As shown in FIGS. 1–5, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a standup bag 10 includes a front wall 11, a rear wall 12, a side wall 13, a side wall 14, a top portion 15, a bottom portion 16, a vertical heat seal 17 along the rear wall 12, a top portion heat seal 18, a bottom portion heat seal 19, vertical gusset 23 in side wall 13, vertical gusset 24 in side wall 14, a perforation 25 to facilitate opening of the bag 10, and a cut-out handle 26. The top seal 18 and the bottom seal 19 may be corrugated for added beam strength.

#The bag 10 can be used to package a variety of consumer products, including frozen vegetables, such as peas, carrots and corn, frozen fruits and meats, popcorn, and the like. The bottom portion 16 folds flat due to horizontal gussets 27, 28, so that the bag 10 is rectangular and can stand upright when filled.