[001] The present invention refers to a bag or sack-like packaging, particularly made of polymer material, idealized for packing, transporting and handling of solid powered and/or bulk materials, and provided with a detachable cover that enables the opening of the packaging for reuse thereof.

Description of the State of the art

[002] The bag or sack-like packaging made of polymer material has been known for many decades and widely used for wrapping various products, particularly solid powered and/or bulk materials such as soil, fertilizers, grains, sugar, coffee, flour, animal feed, PVC compounds, cement, among many others.

[003] As a rule, the bags or sack are composed of polymer materials having low-density polypropylene, polyethylene and additives as base, although other materials are also used. The material for manufacturing this type of sack is called raffia and comprises flat strands produced by extrusion, employed in the production of polymer fabrics.

[004] The raffia packaging is comprised of various flat strands, a few millimeters in width, manufactured by means of an extrusion process of a polymer such as, for example, polypropylene or polyethylene, or other fibers or fiber mixtures. These raffia strands are driven, pulled and rolled into cores and then woven, resulting in a polymer fabric. These fabrics are usually divided into flat fabrics and tubular fabrics.

[005] Besides providing safety and guaranteeing the integrity of the products, the main attraction of this raffia packaging is its reuse, that is, after being used, the packaging does not generate trash, being re-utilized for other purposes such as, for example, bagging supplies, discarding rubble at construction works and other applications. [006] More resistant and inviolable, the raffia guarantees effective protection against humidity, dirt and the action of rodents, important characteristic for storing foods. Another positive aspect is the economy provided by the material, both with the reduction of losses during transport, and with the possibility of recycling, which makes raffia even more sustainable, as its environmental impact is lower.

[007] The bags are divided by the type of closure, and can be sewed or soldered, and may contain an upper or lower valve which serves as the place for filling the bag. Usually, access to the bagged product, at the point of consumption, is by cutting the body or bag cover, since the filling valve enables the product to be wrapped thereby, but which cannot be withdrawn from the packaging by the valve.

[008] The state of the art for bags or raffia sacks seek to present solutions in the sense of providing support and reinforcement, particularly in the closure portions of the bags, demonstrating the need to develop technologies capable of providing efficient closure of these bags.

[009] German document DE202009007915 and Brazilian document

PI9507701 -4 disclose materials and methods for closing packaging, be it packaging made of paper or polymer material, providing the reinforcement and resistance required to maintain the integrity of the packaging in the transport and handling of heavy loads.

[0010] Besides the need for efficient closure of the raffia bags, solutions are found in the state of the art solutions for easy-opening of these bags, particularly for opening at the time of using the bagged product.

[001 1] Chinese document CN2095841 and document WO2013/123015 present solutions for opening packaging, both made of paper and of polymer material, disclosing folds or cutting lines capable of promoting the opening of bags for using the products. It is noted that both the use of easy-open folds and the use of weakening lines for easy cut of the bags or sacks invariably result in more fragile packaging, that is, more prone to being violated, since it presents less resistance at the opening points. [0012] So in light of the need for reinforced closure and the possibility of opening the bags, a bag or sack-like packaging has been developed, made of polymer material, and provided with a detachable cover which besides providing safety and guarantee of resistance required for transporting and handling the loaded packaging, also enables the opening of the packaging for reuse thereof.

Objectives of the Invention

[0013] A first objective of the present invention is to promote a bag or sack-like packaging that is made of polymer material and is provided with a detachable cover that enables the opening of the packaging by detaching the cover, providing safety and guaranteeing the resistance required for transporting and handling the loaded packaging, enabling the opening of the packaging for reuse thereof.

Brief Description of the Invention

[0014] The objectives of the present invention are achieved by a bag or sack-like packaging, particularly idealized for packing, transporting and handling of solid powered and/or bulk materials, provided with a body composed of a polymer material, defining a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, at least one of the end portions comprising a detachable cover for opening the packaging.

[0015] The objectives of the present invention are also achieved by a bag or sack-like packaging, particularly idealized for packing, transporting and handling of solid powered and/or bulk materials, provided with a body composed of a polymer material, defining: (i) a first end portion which forms a first surface; and (ii) a second end portion opposite the first end portion, which forms a second surface; the packaging comprising at least one substantially flat detachable cover defining a third surface, the detachable cover being associated to at least one of the end portions by contacting the third surface with the first and/or second surfaces for opening the packaging. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] The present invention will now be described in greater detail based on a sample execution represented in the drawings. The drawings show:

[0017] Figure 1 - representation of the bag or sack-like packaging of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 - representation of the second end portion of the packaging closed with the detachable cover of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 - representation of the second end portion of the packaging open with the detachable cover fully detached;

[0020] Figure 4 - representation of the second end portion of the packaging with a detachable cover partially detached;

[0021] Figure 5 - a top view of the second end portion of the packaging with a detachable cover partially detached;

[0022] Figure 6 - a top view of the second end portion of the packaging fully open; and

[0023] Figure 7 - representation of the packaging open with the detachable cover fully detached.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

[0024] The present invention refers to a bag or sack-like packaging 1 , idealized for packing, transporting and handling various products, particularly solid powered and/or bulk materials such as soil, fertilizers, grains, sugar, coffee, flour, animal feed, PVC compounds, cement, among many others.

[0025] Initially, it is important to note that the packaging 1 of the present invention is, preferably, a bag or sack composed of a polymer material, such as polypropylene, polyethylene and derivatives thereof such as raffia, without limiting the use of other materials.

[0026] The packaging 1 of the present invention comprises, preferably, closure by an adhesive means, such as glue or solder, and a valve that acts as a portion for filling the bag. In an alternative arrangement, the packaging 1 comprises closure by an adhesive means without the presence of the filling valve 6.

[0027] To-date, raffia sacks, presenting a valve or not, have not been provided with a detachable cover 5 that besides providing the reinforcement and resistance required for the safe transport and handling of the sacks when loaded, also enables the opening of the sack by detachment of the cover 5, without making cuts or tears, without the main objective of reusing the sack.

[0028] Accordingly, various studies were carried out to develop a packaging 1 which, concomitantly, provided major reinforcement and resistance in fixing the detachable cover 5 so as to guarantee the integrity of the packaging 1 even with heavy loads, over 40kg, or 50kg, or 60kg, or 100kg, or 200kg and enabled the detachment of the cover promoting the opening of the packaging 1 for filling and reuse thereof.

[0029] The major innovative differentiating factor of the present invention does not lie in the body or the type of material used for the packaging 1 itself, but rather in the grammage and density of the detachable cover 5 and in the way it is fixed to the body, which enables said resistance and detachment possibility.

[0030] The bag or sack-like packaging 1 that is the object of the present invention is provided with a body 2 comprised of a polymer material, preferably, of a polymer fabric, such as raffia made of polypropylene or polyethylene. Even if the raffia is the preferred material, it is possible to conceive a packaging 1 in accordance with the scope of protection comprising a material composed of any other type of fiber, or also a mixture of fibers. Further, the packaging 1 can be composed of a non-fabric type material composed of any type or mixture of fibers. Moreover, the material can be composed not only of fibers, but by polymer films, such as polyethylene films, so that the scope of protection of the invention is not limited by the material that makes up the packaging 1.

[0031] The body 2 of the packaging 1 comprises a first end portion 3 that forms a first surface 3' and a second end portion 4, opposite the first end portion 3, that forms a second surface 4', as illustrated in figure 1.

[0032] Preferably, the first end portion 3 corresponds to the entry or filling portion of the packaging 1 , in which there may or may not be provided a filling valve 6, and the second end portion 4 corresponds and should be interpreted as the bottom portion and/or adjacent portions of the packaging 1.

[0033] The packaging 1 further comprises a substantially flat detachable cover 5 that defines a third surface 5', the detachable cover 5 being associated to at least one of the end portions 3, 4 by means of contact between the third surface 5' and the second and/or third surfaces 3', 4', the opening of at least one of the end portions 3, 4 being possible by detaching the cover 5. Figure 3 illustrates the third surface 5' and the second surface 4', with the detachable cover 5 already withdrawn from the packaging.

[0034] Preferably, but not compulsorily, the detachable cover 5 comprises a substantially rectangular portion, preferably composed of the same material as the body 2. In an alternative arrangement, the detachable cover 5 is composed of a polymer material different to the composition material of the body 2. Further, the detachable cover 5 comprises different grammage and density to the body 2. It is possible that the present invention would work with any grammage (lower, equal or higher) than that of the body 2. In any case, the preferred arrangement uses grammages of the detachable cover 5 higher than those of the body 2. The same reasoning applies to the density of the detachable cover 5 compared to the body 2.

[0035] The detachable cover 5 is associated to at least one of the end portions 3, 4 by an adhesive means, of the solder or glue type, and extends along the entire closing fold of the end portions 3, 4, varying in accordance with the fold length of the packaging 1.

[0036] Preferably, the detachable cover 5 comprises at least a greater size (in width or in length or in both) than the size of the end portions 3, 4, defining, for example, a projection on one or more sides of the detachable cover 5, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, with the objective of facilitating the detachment thereof. In an alternative arrangement, the detachable cover 5 comprises the same size as the end portions 3, 4 without defining a side, upper or lower projection.

[0037] The detachable cover 5 of the present invention is associated to the first end portion 3 and/or to the second end portion 4, according to the type of sack.

[0038] As explained previously, the sacks found on the market may or may not comprise a filling valve 6, which facilitates the filling process of the products.

[0039] For sacks that are not provided with filling valve 6 and whose closure occurs after filling, said sacks comprise an opened first end portion 3, the detachable cover 5 will be associated to the second end portion 4.

[0040] For valved sacks (that are provided with filling valve 6), whether the filling valve 6 is provided at the first end portion 3 or at the second end portion 4, the detachable cover 5 will be associated to at least one of the end portions 3, 4, such that the packaging 1 comprises the detachable cover 5 provided at the first end portion 3 and/or at the second end portion 4. In other words, the detachable cover 5 can be disposed at the end of the valve or at the end opposite the end containing the valve.

[0041] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate how to detach the detachable cover 5. It is noted that the detachable cover 5 is easily withdrawn by an operator, without the need for making cuts in the packaging, simply pulling the detachable cover 5, which peels off with a certain ease without damaging the packaging 1.

[0042] Figure 6 represents the second end portion 4 fully open, whereas Figure 7 illustrates the packaging, in a vertical position, supported on the first end portion 3 with the second end portion 4 open and detachable cover 5 already withdrawn, the packaging being ready for filling and reuse for filling supplies, filling rubble at construction works and other purposes.

[0043] The packaging 1 that is the object of the present invention comprises the body 2 made of a tubular polymer fabric having grammage over 48g. The grammage of the body 2, after lamination of the fabric tubular, varies between 50g and 150g, preferably between 40g and 55g, preferably between 45g and 50g. Further, the density of the weave of the body 2 varies between 14/10cm and 80/10cm, preferably between 15/10cm and 50/10cm, preferably between 21/10cm and 23/10cm.

[0044] The filling valve 6, which may or may not be provided in the packaging 1 , is made of flat polymer fabric having a grammage varying between 20g and 150g, preferably between 40g and 55g, preferably between 45g and 53g, with the density of the weave varying between 14/10cm and 80/10cm, preferably between 15/10cm and 50/10cm, preferably between 17/10cm and 20/10cm.

[0045] Differently to packaging found in the state of the art, the cover 5 for closing the end portions 3, 4 of the packaging 1 is detachable and preferably made of flat polymer fabric which, after lamination, comprises grammage over 20g, preferably over 49g, varying between 50g and 200g, between 60g and 160g, between 100g and 120g, preferably grammage varying between 107g and 1 12g. The segment further presents weave density over 14/10cm, preferably over 21/10cm, varying between 22/10cm and 40/10cm, preferably density varying between 30/10cm and 35/10cm.

[0046] It is important to note that the weave density of the fabric may vary according to the closure of the weave strands. Therefore, as an example, it is noted that for strands comprising 5 millimeters in width, the weave of the fabric will have a density of 20/10cm for a closure of 100%, that is, every 10 centimeters there will be placed 20 strands of 5 millimeters, such that the 10 centimeters will be fully filled, resulting in a closure of 100%. In another example, for strands of 5 millimeters in width, there may be a density of 18/10cm, meaning that the closure of the weave will be 90%, such that the weave will not be fully filled, there being empty spaces between the strands. It is important to note that although the closure of the weave may be equal to or less than 100%, preferably, but not compulsorily, the closure is over 100%, such that the strands overlap, reaching closure values of up to 200%, 300%, 400%, 500%, 1000%, or even 1500%, according to the need and adjustments in the process.

[0047] Therefore, the detachable cover 5 of the present invention a polymeric fabric with closure between 60% and 1500% of the weave, which may vary between 60% and 500%, between 60% and 350%, between 80% and 200%, preferably being over 100%. Accordingly, the detachable cover 5 comprises a fabric weave with overlapping strands, such that the cover 5 is more pounded, resulting in a harder and more robust material.

[0048] Furthermore, the closure of the weave of the fabrics for making the body 2 and the filling valve 6 comprises percentages between 60% and 1500%.

[0049] As an illustration, tests were carried out to read the withdrawal strength of the detachable cover so that the packaging withstands drops of three heights. Preferably, but not compulsorily, the minimum strength required for withdrawal of the detachable cover was 2.5 kgf, so as to guarantee the resistance to breakage of the packaging. The drop tests were carried out on sacks loaded with 50kg and subjected to drops of 2 meters, 2.5 meters and 3 meters in height in lying position. All the sacks with the result of 2.5 kgf in the withdrawal test of the detachable cover withstood the three drops, in the three specified heights, that is, the packaging did not break with the impact from the drop. Other values may be achieved in accordance with the need and adjustment of the process.

[0050] Therefore, the present invention presents a bag or sack-like packaging 1 , made of polymer material, comprising a detachable cover 5 which guarantees the resistance of fixing required for safe transport and handling of the loaded packaging, withstanding drops without breakage of the packaging, at the same time in which it enables the opening of the packaging for future reuse.

[0051] Having described one example of a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention encompasses other possible variations, being limited solely by the content of the accompanying claims, potential equivalents being included therein.