Reclosable Bag With Integral Handles and Wave-Cut Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polymeric shopping bags lack a convenient and cost-effective means to reclose while maintaining integral handles, which limits their utility and efficiency in manufacturing and reuse.
Innovation Solution
A polymeric bag design featuring wave-shaped profiles with integrated male and female closure elements, affixed by heat seals or pressure-sensitive adhesive, allowing for reclosure while maintaining handle functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If reclosure features are added to polymeric shopping bags, then the utility and reuse potential of bags is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism is integrated directly into the bag structure by forming closure tabs from the bag material itself through die-cutting and folding operations. The male and female closure elements are created as integral parts of the bag panels, eliminating the need for separate closure components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reclosure functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses heat sealing as a manufacturing process to attach closure elements and create seals. By controlling temperature, pressure, and time parameters of the heat sealing process, the closure mechanism can be efficiently manufactured without adding significant complexity. The heat sealed panels are then die-cut and folded to create the final closure structure.
2Ease of operation
If integral handles are incorporated into the bag design, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handles are formed as integral parts of the bag structure by die-cutting handle shapes from the bag panels and heat-sealing them in place. The closure tabs and handles are created from the same material sheets through coordinated die-cutting operations, merging multiple functional elements into a unified structure that simplifies manufacturing while providing both handles and reclosure features.
3Productivity
If high-speed manufacturing processes are used, then the productivity is improved, but the manufacturing precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Closure elements, handles, and seal lines are pre-positioned on flat sheets during the die-cutting and heat-sealing processes before the bags are assembled. This preliminary arrangement of components on flat material allows for precise positioning and alignment to be established early in manufacturing, and subsequent folding and assembly steps simply follow these pre-established positions, maintaining precision while enabling high-speed production.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables cost-effective, high-speed manufacturing of bags with integral handles that can be easily reclosed, enhancing their versatility and reuse potential.
Implementation Method 1
affixed by heat seals or pressure-sensitive adhesive
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to improvements for shopping and merchandise bags with integral handles. Disclosed is a bag with integral handles and closure elements located below the integral handles. Further disclosed is a process for manufacturing a reclosable bag with integral handles. The handles and bag may be formed from a wave-cut polymeric tube. In addition, the handles of the bag may be formed from a wave-cut polymeric tube while the body of the bag is formed from a side-gusseted polymeric tube. The disclosed bags and methods to make such bags provide cost effective solutions for providing reclosable bags with integral handles.