Integral Handle Bag Design for Tear Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tear-open bags suffer from premature handle tearing, waste generation, and safety concerns due to inaccessible handles after shrink packaging, leading to difficulties in opening and product removal.
Innovation Solution
A bag design featuring an integral handle with a central portion and end portions, positioned between the header and seal, which is perforated, scored, or cut to prevent unwanted tearing and allow easy access for lifting and opening, manufactured without additional waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If handles are punched out from the bag, then handles are provided for lifting, but premature tearing of handles occurs and waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is segmented into multiple branches (first end first branch, first end second branch, second end first branch, second end second branch) connected by a central portion. This segmentation distributes stress across multiple paths, preventing premature tearing while maintaining handle strength and eliminating the need to punch holes through the bag structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle structure is pre-formed as an integral part of the bag during manufacturing, with the central portion and end portions already positioned and configured. This preliminary formation ensures the handle has optimal strength distribution before use, preventing tearing during handling operations.
2Ease of operation
If handles are punched out from the bag, then handles are provided for lifting, but additional waste is generated requiring disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is merged with the bag as an integral structure, formed from the same continuous material without separate components. The central portion and end portions are seamlessly integrated into the bag body, eliminating the need to remove or punch out material, thus generating no additional waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The integral handle design recovers all material used in construction by incorporating it permanently into the usable structure of the bag. No material is discarded as waste (such as punched-out portions), achieving near 100% material utilization.
3Reliability
If shrink packaging is applied to the bag, then product protection is improved, but handles become inaccessible to users
Solution Approach 1:
The handle structure extends in multiple dimensions with a central portion and four end portions arranged spatially. This multi-dimensional configuration ensures that at least some portions of the handle remain accessible from different directions even after shrink packaging reduces the bag size, allowing user access without compromising product protection.
4Ease of operation
If tear propagation follows the seal area, then bag opening is achieved, but inconsistent performance occurs and bag may not open properly
Solution Approach 1:
The handle's segmented structure with multiple branches creates multiple potential tear propagation paths. This segmentation controls tear behavior by providing defined separation lines that guide consistent tear propagation away from the seal area, ensuring reliable bag opening performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A bag includes a header, a body, a seal positioned between the header and the body, and an integral handle. The integral handle includes a central portion, a first end portion including a first end first branch and a first end second branch, and a second end portion including a second end first branch and a second end second branch. The header includes a top end generally opposing the seal. The handle is positioned between the top end and the seal. The handle is perforated, scored or cut. The first end portion and the second end portion are located at each end of the central portion.