US2833094A - Bag container - Google Patents

Description

G. A. MOORE May 6, 1958 BAG CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12. 1956 INVENTOR.

May 6, 1958 MOORE 2,833,094

' BAG CONTAINER Filed July 12. 19 56 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofice I,

' 2,833,094 Patented May 6, 195 8.

BAG CONTAINER George Arlington Moore, New York, N. Y. Application July 12, 1956, Serial No. 597,419 16 Claims. (or. 53-14 This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to novel means and methods for converting a fabri cated conventional bag into a reinforced container of rectangular cross section and being heat sealed to constitute a substantially air tight structure. When converting transparent plastic bags into containersof this invention, a novel carton-like container is formed to visibly display its intended contents through front and back panels of substantially large surface areas provided by the novel enclosure wall structure of the container.

Many attempts have previously been made to devise a suitable structure that may be inserted into bags with which to shape and reinforce the flexible and fragil walls thereof. But difiiculty has been experienced to properly reinforce the bag in the region of its open mouth and after filling the bag with intended contents close and lock the wall portion of the insert that must be associated with the open mouth of the particular bag. In my co-pending application Serial No. 492,584 filed March 7, 1955, a novel arrangement is disclosed whereby a novel article of manufacture is' provided.v for the above purpose.

.The present invention constitutes an improvement on the invention of the prior application with respect to a novel means and method for inserting the above article, and one'of the prime objects herein is to provide a novel arrangement for converting a conventional bag into a carton-like container having a substantially rigid wall structure to augment the weakness of the fragil wall structure of the bag component. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide in a container of the above type, a novel arrangement for reinforcing the bag component across the open mouth thereof prior to the filling of the container with its intended commodify.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means and method for inserting a manipular frame constituting the above article of manufacture into a fabricated bag, the frame having two opposing side walls connected with opposite end walls to constitute a parallelogram.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a blank that may be folded and secured to constitute the above manipular frame.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide anovel means and method for using the above frame for the purpose of packing articles of merchandise into'conventional transparent bags.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a conventional bag a frame of substantially rigid material having walls of cross sectional dimensions that is substantially coincident with the cross sectional dimensions of the walls of the opened bag whereby the latter walls are drawn tautly across surfaces of the above frame by action of its manipular form.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means and method for inserting a manipular frame of substantially rigid sheet material into a conventional fabricated transparent plastic bag in a manner that will insure against damage to the fragil plastic sheet material of the bag.

, Other objects and novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when considered in connection with accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are utilized for purposes of illustration only, and are not to be taken as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an elongated blank adapted to be formed'into the manipular frame of the above yp of the blank;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank folded and secured in collapsed form constituting the manipular frame;

- Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a conventional plastic bag engaged with fragmentary parts of apparatus and showing the initial stage of inserting the manipular frame into the bag;

Fig. 5 is another side elevation of bag and frameshowingthe efiects to the bag by the further manipulated action of the frame;

Fig. 6 is still another side elevationof bag and frame showing the insertion complete after removing the assembled components from the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the open mouth of both bag and inserted frame; 7 V

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a conventional transparent plastic bag on a fragmentary portion of apparatus and a modified manipular frame upon the apparatus containingan article of merchandisebeing inserted into the bag; i v

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of bag and frame on the apparatus and taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 8, and i Fig. 10 is a view in vertical perspective of the completed carton-like display container after having been filled with its intended product andthe components being sealed seam forming relationship.

The present invention is particularly directed to a, means and method for manipulating the bag shaping and. reinforcing frame component into the bag component whereby the resultant container is self-supporting, easily filled with intended product and then closed and sealed by a folded portion of the side walls of the bag component over the open mouth wall portion of the reinforcing inner frame component. The walls of the manipular frame are each provided with opposite marginal flanges freely articulated thereto continuously along corner edges and having mitre forming ends that form mitred joints when the frame is completely inserted into the bag componentwhereby the walls of the bag are drawn tautly over the exterior surfaces of the frame walls augmented by the freely articulated flanges thereof. In order to avoid the tearing or fracturing of the fragile walls of the bag component, each of the corner base ends of the above mentioned mitred joints is provided with an open section that prevents the forming of sharp barbs of frame material at converging corner ends of the walls thereof when being manipulated into the bag 9 component to tightly draw the walls thereof tautly over the frame.

7 Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the present invention is illustrated therein as including anelongated strip blank of substantially rigid sheet material that may be treated with wall protective coating of suitable plastic or wax compounds. Alternatively, the blank sheet material may be laminated with plastic film or aluminum foil for surface protection if desired. The blank 4 is separated by means of transverse scored lines 5 and longitudinal Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a fragmentary portion lines 6 extending the lengthofthe blank to define panels 7, 8, 9 and 10. Panel 10 is provided with a connector tab portion 11 extending outwardly of a scored line 5. Panel Sis provided with a substantially centralopen section 12 having edges 13 spaced inwardly of boundary defining lines 5 and 6 of the panel. Panels 7 and 9 are provided with opposite flange forming marginal portions 14 extending outwardly ofscored lines 6. Panels 8 and 1 are provided with similar marginal portions 15. The opposite ends of flange forming portions 14 and 15 are provided with mitre forming edges 16 that slope inwardly of the outer longitudinal parallel edges of the blank and terminate at the edge of a hole 17 lraving a center substantially on the intersection point of scored lines and 6 V This mitre forming arrangementis illustrated in Fig. 2 and represents the particular relationship of panels and flange ends thereof with respect to these mitre forming joints at terminal ends of the transverse scored lines 5 of the blank in general. Outer defining terminal ends of the blank each having a half portion of the mitre forming edges and hole.

Referring now to Fig. 3 ular frame 19 of this invention as folded of the blank 4 in flatly collapsed form. While the open section in panel 8 may be embodied in panel instead of panel '8 if desired, I prefer the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 in this respect. For purpose of illustration, panel 10 of the blank is folded upwardly, inwardly and downwardly on the inner defining scored line 5 to lie upon a corresponding portion of the adjacent panel portion 9, the tab portion 11 of the folded panel thereby being flatly supported and its upper face, having a pre-app lied coatingof adhesive in tacky condition. Panel 7 is then folded on its defining transverse scored line 5 upwardly, inwardly and downwardly upon panel 8 and the adjacent portion of panel 9. A marginal portion adjacent the terminal end of folded panel 7 engages upon the tacky adhesive upon the upper surface ofthe tab portion 11 of the previously folded panel 10 and thereby securing end portions of folded panels 7 and 10 contiguously together as illustrated in Fig. 3. o o 7 o The blank 4 is arranged to be cut and creased on conventional presses used in the folding carton industry and the folding of the blank to form the collapsed frame 19 being done on conventional carton folding. machines used in the industry. It is contemplated, however, that the blanks 4 may be economically cut and creased in multiple quantity in a sheet, after which the sheetis folded and secured as above described for the single blank 4 and then the individual units being separated from each other on cut defining lines constituting longitudinal parallel edges of the folded collapsed frame 19. If desired, the blanks 4 may be printed on conventional presses used for printing conventional folding cartons. The flat collapsed form of the frame 19 affords economical storage and transportation to packers. V I Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the method of the present invention is illustrated therein for inserting the frame 19 into a conventional fabricated bag 20, the particular bag being made of transparent plastic sheet material such as polyethylene, cellophane, pliofilrn or other suitable plastic sheet material though any type of bag having a sealed bottom end may be converted into a carton-like container of this invention. The bag 20 usedfor purpose of illustration is of the well known gusset pleated type, the longitudinal body seam thereof not being shown to constitute a bag formed of an extruded tube having a sealed bottom end margin 21.- The flat bagmay be initially opened by compressed air to threadthe bag over the top surface of a thin flat bar 22 of stainless steel, aluminum or other suitable material. The outer'up-turned end 23 .of the bar may be fastened upon a support in any suitable manner desired. The width ofb ar22 is su bstantially coincident with the 'width of the opened pleat of the bag upon thebar. -A bag gripping plunger 24 maybe engaged there is illustrated the manip-' downwardly upon the threaded wall portion of the bag adjacent the open mouth thereof to temporarily hold its position upon the bar for the insertion of the frame 19. A small tube 25 connected with a source of compressed air is'bent to direct a jet of air into the bag during the initial steps of inserting the partially opened frame 19 into the interior of bag enclosure walls. The jet of compressed air inflates the bag to open for easy entree of the frame as illustrated in Fig. 4. The panels 7, 8, 9 and 10 of frame 19 are swingingly connected at their respective corner endsthereby constituting a parallelogram having open opposite sides bordered by freely articulated flanges 14 and 15 bent inwardly ,at substantially right angles of their corresponding panels. Panels 7 and 9 will positively remain in parallel relationship with each other regardless of the angle of inclination of panels 8 and 10 which also remain in parallel relation. As the frame is opened, flanges 15 of panel 10 are preferably placed into position to overlap meeting adjacent surface portions of flanges 14 of panels 7 and 9, which flanges overlap meeting adjacent surface portions of flanges 15 of panel 8. Hence, while the parallelogram is being manipulated into the bag, edge portions of the flanges that would otherwise foul the end edges at the open mouth of the bag is avoided. The bag component 20 is freely suspended from bar 22 so that frame 19 slides inwardly of the bag upon the interior surface of the opposite pleated wall 26 thereof which is 1 spread open by panel 9 and by the articulated corner end thereof with panel 10 as the parallelogram is manipulated into the bag as illustrated in Fig. 5. Near the finishing stage of exerting pressure inwardly upon end panel 8 of the parallelogram, panel] is raised upwardly.

as a result of the lesser angle of inclination taken by panels 8 and 10 whereby the upper end of panel. 10 squares the upper corner end of the bag augmenting the squaring effects of the end of bar 22 in this respect. In this position, the bag and inserted frame may be withdrawn from bar 22, plunger 24 releasing its grip upon the bag, the plunger not shown in Fig. 5. The walls of thebag are yet to be drawn tightly taut over the frame in order to allow freedom of withdrawing the bag from the bar and compensate forthe displacement space that may be cccupied by the bar dependent upon its thickness required for support of the particular bag to be, converted.

Fig. 6 illustrates the completed [form taken by the parallelogram frame within the interior of the bag after squaring the frame. Panels 8 and 10 thereof being positioned at right angles with respect to panels 7 and '9 which.

have been expanded in parallel coincident with the height of panels 8 and 10. The walls of the conventional fabricated bag component opposes the expanding pressure exerted by the frame whereby the side walls and bottom end wall of the bag are drawn tautly over the coincident walls of the frame and spreads two opposed side walls of the bag tautly from the resilient flange portions of panels over the open opposite, sides of the frame that constitute window panels. The ends of flanges form mitred joints to keep the flanges in coplanar surface relationship within the bag and stiffen the wall portions of the frame. The hole provided at the corner base of each mitred joint providing means that protects the fragil walls of the bag a from being torn when expanding the parallelogram to squared form within the bag as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The converted container 27 is illustrated in Fig. 7 showing the arrangement provided for the open mouth thereof for filling intended contents into the carton-like container. Panel 8 of the inserted frame has an open area 12 originally provided in blank 4. The side walls of the bag component project outwardly of this opening to provide means with which to close and seal the opening 12 after a filling of the container. It is generally recognized that conventional fabricated bags are used daily for the distributionof a large variety of eatable food products and articles of merchandise, because they are capable of being heat sealed tightly, in fact, air-tight. The breakage, however, of contents packed therein is considerable due to the fragil structure of "these bags. The converted container27- of the present invention utilize the closing efiiciency of these bags to seal the converted container as well as protect the contents thereof against breakage as illustrated in Fig. showing the filled and sealed carton-like container. The projected wall portion of the side walls of the bag component-illustrated in Fig. 7 are spaced outwardly. of the edges 13 of opening 12 in the inwardly spaced panel 8 of the shape forming frame. This permits the end of the filling hopper to enter into the opening 12 for a discharge of the particular product to enter into the container 27. The material of the panels and fiangesof the interior frame are substantially rigid and will support a major portion of the container contentsto minimize its pressure exerted upon the tautly spread walls of the bag component over opposite. open sides of the interior frame. a

The projected wall portions of the bag may be folded to close the container 27 in any-desired conventionally practiced manner of closing the bag itself. The preferable fold is illustrated in Fig. 10. The marginally opposed portions of the gusset folds 28 prior to being refolded flatly downward upon the top of the container, extends upwardly across this top end in vertical position for contacting heat sealing irons that seals the margin transversely of, the plane of .the end wall of the container. Hence, the top end wall of the converted container is not subjected to pressure for sealing purposes. Just prior to effecting the seal of the folds over the top of the container, the side walls of the bag are preferably drawn taufly upward by adjusted pressure to be exerted inwardly to form the opposing gusset folded portions of the closure forming folds by the folding tools employed. Due to the fact that the frame 19 is firmly locked within the tautly drawn enclosure walls of the sealedbag component part of the container the rectangular form thereof is substantially fixed and rigid, so .that when grasping'the end thereof for handling purposes the walls of the structure will remain substantially rigid and be substantially free from wall dis- 7 tortion effected by the weight of contents in the container. Therefore the converted container of the present invention may be easily sealed to be air-tight and is reinforced in such novel manner as to afford large area of front and back transparent panels for visible display of the containers particular product thus, constituting marked improvements on conventional bags by themselves, window cartons and overwrapped trays. p v

A further modification of the present invention that is particularly adapted for packaging articles of merchandise is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, wherein a shirt is contained within confines of a slightly modified manipular frame 30 shown in a preliminary stage of being inserted into a conventional type of fabricated transparent bag 31' commonly used by itself for such purpose. The shirt is intended to be a symbol with which to illustrate the improved novel form for packaging a wide variety of textile'products and soft goods in general that may: be packaged for sale through department store retail outlets. The frame 30 is similar in construction to the frame 19 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and is formed of a similar blank as shown in Fig. 1 except it is not necessary to provide an opening in an end panel of the frame unless desired for special purpose. first step for packaging the shirt illustrated in Fig. 8 is to place the opened frame 30 in squared form flatly upon the top face of an elongated strip 32of apparatus made of suitable rigid sheet materialthat isprojected outwardly of any suitable support means desired. The strip may be inclined downwardly if desired. The shirt is placed within.

inflatcthe bag 31 so that the open mouth-thereof rnay be easily drawn over the suspended'end 34 of the projected strip 32 and over a portion of the filled frame which-is flexed in parallelogram form so that it will easily slide on the face of the strip and be pushed into the bag. The general form to be taken by the parallelogram is dominated by one end panel thereof which may be manipulated to change the form while in the bag as hereinbefore described for the frame 19 illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. A relatively small angle of inclination of the, opposite parallel ends of the filled frame is suificient to reduce the dimension spaced between the longitudinal parallel sides of the frame to be substantially less than the open width of the bag including the strip 32 that temporarily supports the frame as illustrated in Fig. 9. Hence, the frame may be easily squared within the bag as is shown in its final position by dot and dash lines 35 indicating the squared frame that draws the walls of the bag taut. The bag and frame is then removed from the strip 32 and the outwardly projected wall portion that constitutes the open mouth of the bag component 31 may be folded to form a closure of the converted container and be marginally heat sealed as hereinbefore described for the closure formed on the top end of the converted container 27 illustrated in Fig. 10 thus, there is formed a novel container that is sealed airtight and strongly reinforced for protection of the article packaged :and include the facility for an attractive display of the packaged product similar to the facility afforded by the converted container 27 previously described in connection with Figs. '6 and 10.

The above modification of the invention has been illustrated and described to afford a better understanding of the many varieties of products that may be packaged for better protection and improved sales appeal as compared with conventional forms of packaging these various products. As a result of this disclosure and supporting illustrations, it will be understood, however, that various changes may be made therein without departing from the Reference will therefore be had spirit of the invention. to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is: a

l. The method of forming a carton-like container of two component parts to provide four side walls arranged in opposing pairs and a closed end, which comprises utilizing a conventional heat-sealed bag of transparent plastic sheet material constituting the first component, opening said bag to receive an insertion of a substantially rigid four paneled frame constituting the second component and capable of being manipulated in the form of a parallelogram, reducing the dimensional width of the frame by manipular action taken to be less than the coincident dimens'ional width of said opened bag during said insertion thereinyexerting pressure upon an end panel of said frame that is adjacent the open mouth of said bag thereby squaring the frame within the bag to tautly draw the walls of the bag over the coincident walls of said frame, providing a substantially central open section in said end panel portion that is'in the open mouth of said bag to be used for prises utilizing a flat fabricated bag having a longitudinal body sealed seam and a bottom sealed seam, said bag constituting the first of said component parts, opening the mouth of said bag and inserting into the bag a fabricated folded and secured frame of substantially rigid sheet material, said frame constituting the second component part and forming a parallelogram having defining opposite transverse sides open, manipulating said inserted frame to bring its ,wall forming panelsinto directcontact coincident "walls of the bag component'whereby two opposing side wall portions of the latter walls are substan tially stretched across said open sides of the frame, providing an opening in the one panel ofi'said frame positioned inwardly of the open mouth of the bag component for purpose of providing means through which to fill the constructed container and the wall portion defining the open mouth of said bag providing means for closing said mouth over said opening in the one panel in seam forming relationship. a

3. The method of making a carton-like container formed of two un-like component parts adapted to be assembled together to construct said container, which comprises opening a flat fabricated bag that constitutes the first of said component parts and inserting therein a fabricated frame, providing said frame with four connecting wall forming panels constituting a parallelogram consisting of two opposite longitudinal parallel walls and two opposite transverse parallel end walls, sloping said end walls of the frame to reduce the width between said longitudinal walls thereof while inserting said frame into the slack walls of the bagand then pressing upon an end wall of the inserted frame that is adjacent the open mouth of the bag to square the relationship of saidfour panels thereof whereby the slack walls of the first component are drawn tautly smooth over the coincident walls of the second component to construct said container, the wall portion of the first component that defines its open mouth providing means to close said container in seam forming relationship. i I

4. The method of making a container having a closed end and a plurality of side walls arranged to provide a rectangular cross section from the effects of .a folded elongated blank having four continuous panels of equal width and being provided with opposite parallel flanges articulated thereto along longitudinal corner edges thereof, two longitudinally spaced panels of the blank having.

ends secured together to form a frame that may be articulated along corner ends of said panels to constitute a parallelogram to be inserted into a fabricated transparent plastic bag that is provided with heat-sealed seams and an open mouth, which comprises temporarily inflating said bag with compressed air to open the bag, inserting said frame while partially collapsed within the enclosure walls of said bag and after said insertion squaring the frame to expand its walls against the enclosure walls of the bag to provide a coincident rectangular cross section of both frame and bag whereby portions of the transparent walls of said bag are tautly drawn over said articulated flanges of the frame and spreading smoothly over opposite open sides thereof to constitute window panels front and back of the formed container, one end panel of said frame 8 defining the transverse ends of each panel of said frame, adjustingthe frame so that two opposing end panels thereof slopein parallel and inserting the adjusted frame into said plastic bag, pressing inwardly upon one of said sloping panelsof the inserted frame to expand the alternate pair of opposing parallel panels thereof against coincident portions of the enclosure walls of the bag whereby other portions of said walls thereof are drawn tautly inward upon the surfaces of said flanges at substantially right angles with respect to corresponding panels and smoothly spreading said other portions over the open opposite sides of the frame, said sloping edges of the flanges forming mitred joints within the bag and said edge defining holes at the baselof the mitred joints preventing sharp barbs of the rigid material of the frame from forming while manipulating said frame to panel squared form within said bag, providing one end panel of said sloping panels with a rectangular shaped hole with defining edges spaced inwardly of corner defining edges of the panel transverse of anou'twardly projecting portion of side walls defining the open mouth of said bag, shaping the bottom end of said bag to be coincident with the shape of the opposite end panel of said frame whereby the structure of said tubular container of rectangular cross section is formed of the bag shaped and reinforcing frame, filling said cont ainer with the intended product through the open mouth of the bag and opening in said end panel, and effecting a closure of the container by folding said wall projecting portion of the bag in seam forming relationship and thereby locking said frame within the taut enclosing walls of the bag, said smoothly spread transparent wall portions of the bag over open sides of the frameproviding means for attractive visible display of the product sealed in said container.

' forcing the particular bag to be of rectangular cross secforming a coincident shape to the heat-sealed bottom end of said bag and providing the opposite end panel of the frame with an opening for a filling of said container and arranging said opposite end panel to be spaced inwardly of the end edge of the bag defining the open mouth thereof, after a filling of the container, folding the portion'of the bag extending outwardly of said end wall to fo'rma heat sealed seam across a margin of opposing portions of the folds transverse of otherportions thereof that covers the opening in said end wall, folding said sealed margins downwardly upon a corresponding portion of saidother portions of the folds to constitute an air-tight closure of said container. 7

5. The method of shape forming a fabricated transparent plastic bag into a tubular container of rectangular cross section and a'closed flat bottom end, which com prises forming a four panel frame of substantially rigid sheet material provided with connecting ends, arranging said panels with a pair of parallel opposite flanges articulated thereto along corner edges thereof, providing opposite ends of each pair of said flanges with inwardly slopingfedgifis erminating in junction with an edge definhole positioned central of each intersecting scored line tion provided with a closed end, which comprises providing a frame with four sides arranged to constitute a manipular parallelogram, providing said sides with flanges on opposite corner edges thereof and opposite ends of said flanges arranged with mitreforming joints when squaring said frame, providing a flat strip of thin rigid material projecting outwardly of a suitable support, providing said strip with a width substantially coincident with the width established for the finished package and using said strip for temporary support means for said frame and bag during the packing stages for said merchandise, placing a flanged side of said frame in substantially squared form flatly upon the top surface of said strip and filling said frame with the intended article or articles to be packaged in the plastic bag, changing the squared formed of the filled frame by sloping theopposite endshthereof to "reduce the width of the frame to be less than the width of the frame supporting strip, drawing'said' bag over the projected end of the strip and over a portion of the flexed frame, then sliding said frame completely into the bag and pressing inwardly upon the and panel of the frame to square the panels thereof at right angles to each othenthe flanges of panels forming mitred joints inwardly from converging corner ends of the panels of the frame, removing the assembly of the bag and frame from said strip and folding the outwardly projected portion of the open mouth of the bag flatly upon the surfaceof the' end wall used to square the frame within the bag'and in seam forming relationship thereby sealing the'frarne 'with article within tautly drawn transparent enclosure walls of said bag.

7. The method of converting a fabricated transparent plastic fil'mlbag into a tubular container of rectangular cross section and opposite flat end walls, which comprises providing a manipular parallelogram frame atranged 'with substantially rigid side walls and articulated of opposite sides thereof that bring the other pair of alternate opposite sides toward each other reducing temporarily the width of said frame, opening said bag by inflating it temporarily with compressed air and drawing the walls of the bag over said strip and filled frame, then further manipulating said frame to square the relationship of sides thereof by pressing inwardly upon one side of said sloping opposite sides that is spaced inwardly of the bag end that defines, the open mouth thereof whereby the enclosure walls of the bag are drawn smoothly taut over surfaces of the frame and articulated flanges thereof covering open opposite sides thereof to constitute front and back panelled displaywindows, for the product carried into the bag by said frame thereby completing the conversion of the bag into the form of said tubular container, closing the container by manipulating the wall portion that defines said open mouth of the bag and into closure forming folds thereof in seam forming relationship.

8. The method of constructing a frame adapted to be actuated in the form of a parallelogram to be used for shaping and reinforcing the walls of a fabricated bag to constitute a container of rectangular cross section with a closed reinforced bottom end, which comprises cutting and creasing a flat elongated strip of substantially rigid sheet material to define four continuous panels of equal width, providing one of said panels with an open cut section and further providing said four panels with opposite parallel marginal flanges articulated thereto along corner edges thereof, providing said flanges with mitre forming joints with sloping edges of the mitre terminating inwardly in junction with the edge of a hole positioned substantially on the intersecting corner of panel defining creased lines, folding said blank on particular transverse creased lines so that panels at opposite ends thereof are brought into overlapping relationship upon connecting end portions thereof and securing said end portions together to constitute said frame-in flatly collapsed form, said frame being adapted to be opened and manipulated in progressive stages of a parallelogram suitable for insertion into said fabricated bag and upon being squared therein shape said bag with tautly drawn walls rectangular in cross section, said open section of one panel of the frame providing means to co-operate with the open mouth of the bag through which to fill said container with the intended product, the wall portion constituting the open mouth of said bag providing means to close the container in seam forming relationship.

9. The method of making a display container of rectangular cross section provided with a flat bottom end and of utilizing a fabricated transparent plastic bag in conjunction with a manipular parallelogram frame of substantially rigid flat material to be inserted into said bag and manipulated therein to constitute said container, which comprises providing said frame with four continuing flat panels that are arranged in a relationship of two opposed longitudinal panels and two opposed transverse panels, arranging each pair of said panels so they may be articulated thereto along hinging corner ends thereof with the adjacent related panels for the frame to be actuated in the form of said parallelogram, inserting said frame into said bag while one of said pair of panels thereof are inclined at an angle less than ninety degrees with respect to the other pair of related panels, and then manipulating one of said inclined panels to actuate the opposite inclined panel constituting said pair to take position substantially at right angles to said other pair whereby the enclosure walls of said bag opposes the panels of 10 the frame to draw said enclosure walls tautly spread over the panels and across the opposite open sidesof the frame thereby constituting the structure of said display container, providing means in said structure with which the container may be filled with intended product and be closure formed in seam securing relationship.

10. The method of making a display container of rectangular cross section with a flatly closed bottom end, and of utilizing a bag made of transparent plastic film material having heat sealed seams and an open'mouth, and of providing a manipular parallelogram frame to be used in conjunction with said bag to form said container, which comprises providing said frame of substantially rigid sheet material with four continuing panels that are arranged in a relationship of two opposing longitudinal panels and two opposing transverse end panels, providing each panel with a pair of opposing parallel flanges along corner edges and bent inwardly thereof and with mitred inwardly sloping edges constituting mitre forming joints, providing a joint opening through the wall and flange of each said panel of the frame and positioning said opening substantially on the center point of each of the intersecting corner edges of said panels and flanges, said openings providing means to remove sharp barbs of frame material otherwise forming at said corner ends, providing one of said end panels of the frame with an opening through the panel and with defining edges of the open section spaced inwardly of boundary corner edges of said end panel, arranging each pair of said panels so they may be articulated thereto along hinging corner ends thereof with the adjacent related panels for the frame to be actuated in the form of said parallelogram, opening said bag and inserting said frame therein, sloping said pair of end panels thereof, prior to said insertion, to reduce the dimensional width between said ,pair of related longitudinal panels to be less than the width of inserted frame provided with said opening, and squaring the frame within the bag drawing the enclosure walls thereof tautly over said panels and flanges of said frame without injury to the fragil plastic fihn material of the bag due to said removal of sharp barb forming material of the frame, said flanges adjusting their respective angular relationship with respect to corresponding panels according to the tension of the portions of the bag enclosure walls that are drawn over opposite open sides of the frame therein, said mitred edges of flanges forming mitred joints by said tautly drawn walls of the bag, and the resiliency of said flanges keeping said portions of enclosure walls of the bag tautly spread over said open sides of the frame thereby forming said container constituted with means to display its intended product, and after filling said container through the opening in said one end panel of the frame and open mouth of the bag, manipulating the outwardly projecting wall portion cons'tituting said open mouth of said bag into closure formmarginal portions of said closure in seam forming relationship.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein providing a thin strip of rigid material suitably supported upon one end thereof, said strip providing means for temporary support of said bag when suspended thereupon including clamping means that may be actuated upon said strip for purpose of clamping said bag upon a surface portion of the strip adjacent the open mouth of the bag, and providing means to keep the suspended bag inflated with air during the initial stage of inserting said frame into said bag. I

12. The method of reinforcing and forming substantially rigid shape of rectangular cross section to a fabricated heat sealed transparent plastic bag to constitute a carton-like container provided with transparent wall portions arranged in opposing pairs and one of said pairs sesame "T1 constituting product display windows for intended contents of'fsaid container,which-comprises opening said bag by effecting 'a temporary inflation "thereof witlrc'ompres'sed-air while drawing said bag over a pfojected portion of a supported flat thin strip of rigid material and temporarily clamping a' wall portion of V said bag upon said strip adjacent the open mouth thereof, providing means outwardly of said mouth of theclamped bag to keep said bag mildly inflated while inserting therein a panelled frame of substantially rigid material but capable of being manipulated to constitute a parallelogram and providing one panel of saidframe with an opening, manipulating said frame during the stage 'of inserting it into the bag to be in flexed form for easy insertion then squaring the frame to shape the enclosure walls of the bag to take the form of said rectangular cross sec tion, removing the shapedbag and frame within from said strip thereby constituting thejstrueture of said cartonlike container, the tautly drawn exterior wall portions of the bag'that covers opposite open sides of the interior frame, constituting said product display windows for the intended contents of said container, and after a'filling thereof, closing said opening in said one'panel of the frame by holding the portion of the bag tha-t defines the open mouth thereof to' form a closure in seam forming relationship. a

13. The method of forming a carton-like container comprising the steps of providing a flexible bag having a mouth opening at one end to receive a 'fr'ame having'four substantially rigid panels foldably connected in end-toend succession to define a deformable parallelogram, inserting said frame through the open mouth of the bag while said parallelogram is manipulated so that the successive panels enclose angles other than right angles to reduce the width of the frame to, less than that of the bag, and squaring. said parallelogram, when the frame is fully inserted within the bag, thereby to expand the width of the frame and cause the bag to be drawn tightly over the rigid panels of the frame and across the open sides of the latter bounded by said panels.

a 14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said bag is formed of transparent material so that the contents of the container maybe viewed through the portions of the bag drawn across the opensides of the frame. p

15. The method "of forming a jcarton like container comprising'the steps of providing'a 'tra'nsparent heatscalable bag having a mouth opening'at oneend to receiv a frame having four substantially rigid panels foldably connected in end-to-end succession to define a deformable parallelogram, each of said panels having marginal; side flange portions to be freely articulated thereto along longitudinal corner edges and having mitre forming ends, inserting said frame through the open mouth ofthe bag while'said parallelogram is manipulated so'that the successive panels enclose angles other than right angles to reduce the width of the frame to less than that of the bag, and squaring said parallelogram when the frame is fully inserted within the bag, thereby to expand the width of the frame and cause the bag to be drawn tightly over'the rigidpanels of the frame, the tightly drawn walls of the bag causing the marginal flanges of the rigid panels to bend inwardly at substantially right angles of their respective panels, by the bag wall portions that are tightly drawn across the open sides of the frame, thereby to resiliently support the suspension of said bag wall portionsand provide visible display of container contents, folding the mouth opening of the bag over an inner disposed one panel end of the frame and heat sealing the folds of the bag in seam-forming relationship. A p 1 a 16. The method one panel end of the intended contents for the container can pass through the open mouth of the bag and through the opening in the panel'end into; the container prior to closing and sealing same. I

accordingto claim 15 wherein said the frame having an opening so that References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,886,376 Dambacher Nov. 8, 1932 1,937,015 Gangler Nov. 28, 1933 2,102,508 1 Brooks Dec. 14, 1937 2,362,520 Zalkind Nov. 14, 1944 2,459,921 Comer Jan. 25, 1949

Images