WO2005092725A1

WO2005092725A1 - Handle assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2005092725A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/000223
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gregory Goncalves Sa Silva
Original assignee: Gregory Goncalves Sa Silva
Priority date: 2004-03-23
Filing date: 2005-01-31
Publication date: 2005-10-06
Also published as: ZA200402257B

Abstract

A handle assembly (10) for a carrier bag (60) includes a pair of handle members, each comprising an elongate attachment element (14) and a handle formation (12) extending laterally from the attachment element. A first of the handle members has at least one first rib formation extending along its attachment element and a second of the handle members has at least one complementary first groove formation extending along its attachment element, the first rib and groove formations being shaped and configured to releasably engage with one another under a compressive force and to disengage from one another under a predetermined force urging the attachment elements apart. The invention extends to a carrier bag incorporating the handle assembly.

Description

HANDLE ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a handle assembly and to a carrier bag incorporating the handle assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to a handle assembly for use in a carrier bag, particularly but not exclusively, a carrier bag of a sheet plastics material and to such a bag incorporating the handle assembly.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Foodstuffs, such as rice, and other commodities, are commonly sold packaged in a bag of a plastics material. The bags may be designed to hold 5, 10 or even 25kg of the foodstuff. Various attempts have been made to fit such bags with handles, to facilitate transport of the rather heavy packages by purchasers thereof. Some examples include handles of a plastics material, which are secured to the bag at an end thereof and extended sleeve portions of the bag at an end of the bag, in which are defined handle apertures. It has also been found that consumers tend to use such carrier bags to store the goods packaged in the bag, in the event that the entire quantity of the foodstuff is not used at one time. Accordingly, it is an advantage that such a carrier bag should be resealabie after opening and yet remain sealed in a tamper-proof and spill-proof manner at the points of manufacture and sale. Furthermore, there have been attempts to provide closures of various sorts which may be used to seal such a carrier bag once it has been opened for the first time. However, previous attempts to overcome the abovementioned problems have been largely unsuccessful in that either the bag is not sealed in a tamper-proof manner at the points of manufacture and sale, or that the closure provided for resealing the bag after initial opening is not effective in preventing spillage of the contents of the bag. In addition, it is an advantage for the bag to be adapted for use as a general carrier bag for goods, after the contents of the bag have been used. Still further, there is a requirement that carrier bags of the type described, should facilitate filling of the bag an by automated process.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a handle assembly and a carrier bag incorporating such a handle assembly, which will, at least partially, overcome the abovementioned problems and have the advantages described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a handle assembly for a carrier bag, the assembly including a pair of handle members, each comprising an elongate attachment element and a handle formation extending laterally from the attachment element; wherein a first of the handle members has at least one first rib formation extending along its attachment element and a second of the handle members has at least one complementary first groove formation extending along its attachment element, the first rib and groove formations being shaped and configured to releasably engage with one another under a compressive force and to disengage from one another under a predetermined force urging the attachment elements apart.

The at least one first rib formation may widen from a base at the attachment element to a position of maximum width. Then, the position of maximum width may be at the free longitudinal end of the first rib formation. Instead, the position of maximum width may be intermediate the base and a free longitudinal end of the first rib formation, the first rib formation narrowing from the position of maximum width towards the free longitudinal end thereof.

The at least one first groove formation may have a pair of opposed inwardly directed lips, free longitudinal ends of which are spaced a distance less than the maximum width of the respective complementary first rib formation with which the groove is engageable.

At least one of the at least one first rib formation and the at least one groove formation may be resiliently flexible to permit the first rib formation to be releasably engaged with the first groove formation under the compressive force and to disengage from one another under the predetermined force urging the attachment means apart.

Preferably, the at least one first rib formation and complementary first groove formation extend along substantially the entire length of their associated attachment elements.

The handle members may be of a plastics material and the respective first rib and groove formations may be integrally moulded with the attachment elements of the assembly.

The second of the handle members may have at least one second rib formation extending along its attachment element and the first of the handle members may have at least one complementary second groove formation extending along its attachment element, the second rib and groove formations being shaped and configured to releasably engage with one another under a compressive force and to disengage from one another under a predetermined force urging the attachment elements apart. Then, the at least one second rib formation may widen from a base at the attachment element to a position of maximum width. The position of maximum width may be at the free longitudinal end of the second rib formation. Instead, the position of maximum width may be intermediate the base and a free longitudinal end of the second rib formation, the second rib formation narrowing from the position of maximum width towards the free longitudinal end thereof. The at least one second groove formation may have a pair of opposed inwardly directed longitudinal lips, free ends of which are spaced a distance less than the maximum width of the respective complementary second rib formation with which the groove is engageable. Then, at least one of the at least one second rib formation and the at least one groove formation may be resiliently flexible to permit the second rib formation to be releasably engaged with the second groove formation under the compressive force and disengageable from one another under the predetermined force urging the attachment means apart. The at least one second rib formation and complementary second groove formation may extend along substantially the entire length of their associated attachment elements. Preferably, the handle members are of a plastics material and the respective second rib and groove formations are integrally moulded with the attachment elements of the assembly.

Further, the handle assembly may include at least one engagement means, a first element of which is located on the handle formation of the first handle member of the assembly and a complementary second element of which is located on the handle formation of the second handle member, the first and second elements being releasably engageable with one another under a compressive force and disengageable from one another under a predetermined force urging the handle formations apart. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle assembly includes a plurality of engagement means, each first member of which comprises one of a male and female engaging formation and respective second members of which comprise the other of a male and female engaging formation.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a carrier bag of a plastics material in combination with a handle assembly as hereinbefore described, the handle assembly being attached to the carrier bag to provide a closure for the bag.

In one embodiment of the invention, the carrier bag comprises a tubular body of a sheet plastics material, which, when laid flat, defines opposed walls having top and bottom edges, and in which each handle member of the handle assembly is attached to a respective wall proximate its top edge.

A top end portion of the body may be folded in on itself to provide fold lines defining the top edges of the walls and each handle member of the handle assembly may be attached to a respective wall proximate its fold line. Then, the folded in portion of the body may be sealed.

Preferably, the handle members of the handle assembly are attached to the respective walls of the bag by securing the attachment element of each handle member to the said respective wall of the bag. Then, the attachment elements may be attached to the respective walls of the bag by means of one of high frequency welding and heat sealing.

The handle members of the handle assembly may be permanently attached to one another at ends of their respective attachment elements. Respective ends of the attachment elements may be attached to each other by means of one of high frequency welding and heat sealing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a plan disassembled view of a handle assembly in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 shows a top view of the handle assembly in a closed position; Figure 3 shows a sectional view of detail of the handle assembly of Figure 1 ; Figure 4 shows a side view of a carrier bag in accordance with the second aspect of the invention; Figure 5 shows a sectional end view of an enlarged detail of the handle and top end portion of the carrier bag of Figure 4; and Figure 6 shows a sectional view of a to p end portion of a further embodiment of the carrier bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals are used to describe like components, unless otherwise specified.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally describes a handle assembly in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

The handle assembly 10 comprises a pair of handle members 12, each having an elongate attachment element 14, in the form of a strip, and a generally "C" shaped handle formation 16 extending laterally from the attachment element 14, ends 18 of the handle formation 16 being attached to the attachment element 14, so that the handle formation 16 is centrally positioned with respect to the strip 14. A first handle member 12.1 has a single first rib formation 20 extending along its attachment element 14 for substantially the entire length thereof. A second handle member 12.2 has a complementary first groove formation 22 also extending along substantially its entire length. Further, the first handle member 12.1 has a pair of second groove formations 24 also extending longitudinally along substantially the entire length of its attachment element 14, and the second handle member 12.2 has a complementary pair of second rib formations 26 extending substantially along the entire length of its attachment element 14. The first rib formation 20 widens from a base 28 at the attachment element 14 to a position of maximum width 30, intermediate the base 28 and a free longitudinal end 32 of the first rib formation 20, so that the first rib formation 20 narrows from the position of maximum width 30 towards it free end 32. The first groove formation 22 has a pair of opposed inwardly directed longitudinal lips 34, free ends 36 of which are spaced a distance less than the maximum width of the complementary first rib formation 20. The second rib formations 26 narrow from their respective bases 38 at the attachment element 14 to a position of minimum width 40, thereafter widening to a position of maximum width at their free ends 42. As with the first groove formation 22, each of the second groove formations 24 has a pair of opposed inwardly directed lips 44, free ends 46 of which are spaced a distance less than the maximum width of the respective complementary second rib formations 26 with which the groove formations 44 are engageable. It will be appreciated from the above description that the co-operating rib and groove formations, 20,22 and 26,24, function similarly to those commonly used on various types of plastic bags, such as those sold under the trademark "Ziploc". Thus, the material of the respective rib and groove formations, particularly the inwardly directed lips of the groove formations, are resiliently flexible to permit their associated rib formations to be releasably engaged with the groove formations under a compressive force and to disengage from one another under a predetermined force urging the engaged rib and groove formations apart. The handle members 12 are of a plastics material 48 and the respective rib and groove formations, 20,22 and 26,24, are integrally moulded with the attachment elements 14 of the assembly 10, as are their handle formations 16.

Further, the handle assembly 10 includes pairs of engagement formations 50, a first element 52 of each of which is located on the handle formation 16 of the first handle member 12.1 and a complementary second element 54 of which is located on the handle formation 16 of the second handle member 12.2 of the handle assembly 10. Each of the second elements 54 comprises a male member, in the form of a tapered spigot, which is releasably engageable with a socket of a female element comprising the first element 52 of the engagement formation 50. By means of these pairs of engagement formations 50, the handle formations 16 of the respective handle members 12.1 ,12.2 may be releasably engaged with one another under a compressive force and disengaged from one another under a predetermined force urging the handle formations 16 apart. As may be seen from Figure 2, a recess 56 is defined in a distal portion 58 of each of the handle formations 16, to facilitate the urging apart of the handle formations 16.

Turning now to Figures 4 to 6, a carrier bag 60 of a sheet plastics material 62 is shown in combination with the handle assembly 10, as described above, the combination comprising a second aspect of the invention.

The carrier bag 60 comprises a tubular body 64 of the sheet plastics material 62, commonly produced in an extrusion process. When laid flat, the tubular body 64 defines a pair of opposed walls 66, each having top and bottom edges 68 and 70, respectively. In the embodiments illustrated, a top end portion 72 of the body 64 is folded in on itself to provide fold lines 74 defining the top edges 68 of the walls 66 and each handle member 12 of the handle assembly 10 is attached to a respective wall 66 proximate its fold line 74. The respective attachment elements 14 of the handle members 12 are attached to their associated walls 66 inwardly of the folded in top end portion 72, by means of high frequency welding, shown at 73 in Figure 4, along the length of their attachment elements 14 to provide a secure seal. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, the folded in top end portion 72 of the body 64 is welded to the walls 66 across the width of the body 64 at a weld line 76, while in the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the inwardly folded top end portion 72 of the body 64 is not attached to the walls 66 of the bag 60. However, in each case the folded in top end portion 72 of the body 64 is sealed at a weld line 78 across the width of the body 64.

Further, respective ends 80 of the attachment elements 14 of the handle members 12 are permanently attached to each other by means of a high frequency or heat weld, as shown in Figure 2. This attachment provides additional reinforcement to inhibit tearing of the bag 60 after opening.

It will be appreciated that the carrier bag described above may be filled either by way of its top or bottom end. In the former case, the folded in portion of the body of the bag is left open at the time of manufacture of the bag, while the bottom end of the bag is sealed by means of a weld. The folded in portion of the bag is left long enough to be pulled through the opening of the bag defined between the handle members of the handle assembly for filling and then sealed by welding, after which it is pushed back through the opening of the bag. Instead, the bag may be provided with its folded in portion sealed and may be filled from the bottom of the bag, after which the bottom end of the bag is sealed by welding. In either case, the handle members of the bag are engaged with each other at the time of filling, to provide a filled carrier bag having a useful handle for transport. After purchase, the purchaser may open the bag by cutting the sealed folded in portion of the bag to access the contents thereof. Having extracted a desired portion of the contents, the bag may be re-sealed by engaging the handle members with each other by means of their respective pairs of rib and groove formations and male and female engaging elements. This is achieved by applying a compressive force to the handle members, urging them together. In the case of the rib and groove formations, the compressive force may be progressively applied from a first position on the attachment elements to other portions of the attachment elements, by sliding a hand along the attachment elements, as is well known in the case of similarly functioning rib and groove closures. The rib and groove formations have the advantage that they provide an effective seal against spillage or contamination of the contents of the carrier bag over a relatively long period while the carrier bag is in use for storage purposes. Even after the carrier bag has been emptied of its contents, it may be used as a convenient shopping bag. Since the rib and groove formations extend substantially across the entire opening of the carrier bag, the seal provided is effectively continuous.

Claims

1. A handle assembly for a carrier bag , the assembly including a pair of handle members, each comprising an elongate attachment element and a handle formation extending laterally from the attachment element; wherein a first of the handle members has at least one first rib formation extending along its attachment element and a second of the handle members has at least one complementary first groove formation extending along its attachment element, the first rib and groove formations being shaped and configured to releasably engage with one another under a compressive force and to disengage from one another under a predetermined force urging the attachment elements apart.

2. The handle assembly as claimed in cl aim 1 , in which the at least one first rib formation widens from a base at tine attachment element to a position of maximum width.

3. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which the position of maximum width is at the free longitudinal end of the first rib formation.

4. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which the position of maximum width is intermediate the base and a free longitudinal end of the first rib formation, the first rib formation narrowing from the position of maximum width towards the free longitudinal end thereof.

5. The handle assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the at least one first groove formation has a pair of opposed inwardly directed lips, free longitudinal ends of which are spaced a distance less than the maximum width of the respective complementary first rib formation with which the groove is engageable.

6. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which at least one of the at least one first rib formation or the at least one groove formation is resiliently flexible to permit the first rib formation to be releasably engaged with the first groove formation under the compressive force and to disengage from one another under the predetermined force urging the attachment means apart.

7. The handle assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one first rib formation and complementary first groove formation extend along substantially the entire length of their associated attachment elements.

8. The handle assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the handle members are of a plastics material and the respective first rib and groove formations are integrally moulded with the attachment elements of the assembly.

9. The handle assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second of the handle members has at least one second rib formation extending along its attachment element and the first of the handle members has at least one complementary second groove formation extending along its attachment element, the second rib and groove formations being shaped and configured to releasably engage with one another under a compressive force and to disengage from one another under a predetermined force urging the attachment elements apart.

10. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 9, in which the at least one second rib formation widens from a base at the attachment element to a position of maximum width.

11. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 10, in which the position of maximum width is at the free longitudinal end of the second rib formation.

12. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 10, in which the position of maximum width is intermediate the base and a free longitudinal end of the second rib formation, the second rib formation narrowing from the position of maximum width towards the free longitudinal end thereof.

13. The handle assembly as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, in which the at least one second groove formation has a p air of opposed inwardly directed longitudinal lips, free ends of which are spaced a distance less than the maximum width of the respective complementary second rib formation with which the groove is engageable.

14. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 13, in v iich at least one of the at least one second rib formation and the at least one groove formation is resiliently flexible to permit the second rib formation to be releasably engaged with the second groove formation under the compressive force and to disengage from one another under the predetermined force urging the attachment means apart.

15. The handle assembly as claimed in any one of clai ms 9 to 14, in which the at least one second rib formation and complementary second groove formation extend along substantially the entire length of their associated attachment elements.

16. The handle assembly as claimed in any one of clai ms 9 to 15, in which the handle members are of a plastics material and t e respective second rib and groove formations are integrally moulded with the attachment elements of the assembly.

17. The handle assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes at least one engagement means, a first element of which is located on the handle formation of the first handle member of the assembly and a complementary second element of^" which is located on the handle formation of the second handle member, the first and second elements being releasably engageable with one another under a compressive force and disengageable from one another under a predetermined force urging the handle formations apart.

18. The handle assembly as claimed in claim 17, which includes a plurality of engagement means, each first member of which comprises one of a male and female engaging formation and respective second members of which comprise the other of a male and female engaging formation.

19. A carrier bag of a plastics material in combination with a handle assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the handle assembly being attached to the carrier bag to provide a closure for the bag.

20. The carrier bag as claimed in claim 19, comprising a tubular body of a sheet plastics material, which, when laid flat, defines opposed walls having top and bottom edges, and in which each handle member of the handle assembly is attached to a respective wall proximate its top edge.

21. The carrier bag as claimed in claim 20, in which a top end portion of the body is folded in on itself to provide fold lines defining the top edges of the walls and each handle member of the handle assembly is attached to a respective wall proximate its fold line.

22. The carrier bag as claimed in claim 21 , in which the folded in portion of the body is sealed.

23. The carrier bag as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 22, in which the handle members of the handle assembly are attached to the respective walls of the bag by securing the attachment element of each handle member to the said respective wall of the bag.

24. The carrier bag as claimed in claim 23, in which the attachment elements are attached to the respective walls of the bag by means of one of high frequency welding and heat sealing.

25. The carrier bag as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 24, in which the handle members of the handle assembly are permanently attached to one another at ends of their respective attachment elements.

26. The carrier bag as claimed in claim 25, in which respective ends of the attachment elements are attached to each other by means of one of high frequency welding and heat sealing.

27. A handle assembly substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

28. A carrier bag substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figures 4 and 5 or Figure 6.