Bag and method for handling of bags

Bags, and then in particular plastic bags, today exist in a great number of different versions, sizes and materials etc. and have many different fields of application. Manufacture and handling is rational, as also packing and distribution. The handling is rational for instance by manufacturing the bags from very thin- walled hoses that are welded, perforated and rolled to rolls of bags connected together, from which bags then can be torn as needed. At for instance freezer bags the rollers are in most cases placed in boxes that serve both as transport packing and feeding out device.

The handling of many bags in one unit is thus practical and easy to handle. If however one is only to bring one bag or a couple of bags along, perhaps with different sizes etc. it however becomes more difficult to manage or at least very unpractical. The bags have a tendency to spread out, are in the way of each other and other objects, become difficult to identify, take up space and look generally unsorted. The handling of many bags together is thus rational and practical today but the handling of single bags as also the handling of groups of different bags is unpractical.

The object of the invention is to remedy the above problem and achieve a more rational and practical handling of bags.

In accordance with the invention the above object is solved by each bag constituting its own unit where the bag in itself is folded and/or rolled so that it has a small volume and in this position the bag is held together, until it is to be used, by a preferably surrounding part, for instance a label extending all around.

An, in accordance with the above packed and in a more or less compressed state held together, bag constitute a surprisingly small unit that can easily be brought along, and that furthermore is practical to handle and store. In a practical embodiment the bag is first folded laterally forming a strip, preferably with an opening in one end and the bottom in the other. Preferably the bag is folded two or three times so that it forms a strip. This strip is then rolled together with the bottom end of the bag in the middle and can be provided with a surrounding envelope. Alternatively the strip may be folded a number of times before it is rolled together. One can also consider to fold the strip, for instance double, a number of times, and that then the folded strip (bag) by for instance a surrounding label is shaped to and retained in a more or less cylindrical shape.

The rolling together of the strip may for instance be achieved by placing the strip between two pins that are then rotated together until a roll has been obtained. The roll is

fixed in this position and the pins are drawn out from this. As is realized the manufacturing may be automatized with a reasonable amount of resources.

The invention is particular suitable for plastic bags of thin material (foil) and with moderate size for instance up to ten liters. Normally these are bags that are to be considered as intended for single use for instance freezer bags, dog bags etc. , that are normally disposed of after use.

As to the folding and rolling of each bag the bag is folded as many times as required to achieve appealing and practical proportions for the packed bag. As example can be mentioned that freezer bags that are packed piece by piece in accordance with the invention can constitute packages that are 2 - 3 cm long and about 1 cm in diameter. Advantageously the bags are folded and rolled so that the proportions between length and diameter for each roll will be between 2: 1 and 2:4 which result in a pleasing look and a practical shape that is easy to handle. For smaller bags it is often enough with a double folding twice in order to achieve a sufficient narrow strip. Larger bags may have to be folded double three times. In certain cases the bags may already before being folded to a strip have lateral sides that are folded inward.

The surrounding envelope is as mentioned constituted by a self-adhesive label that is sufficiently long to extend just over a full turn around the folded and together rolled bag.

By choosing a glue for the self-adhesive label that allow removal and renewed adhering to the bag and the outside of the label itself this may be removed from the bag when it is to be used and when the bag is filled (at least for the time being) be put back on the bag, but now instead to serve as a seal for the twisted and/or folded together opening of the bag.

The label may in its simplest form be constituted by a piece of adhesive tape but may of course simultaneously serve as a label defining the use of the bag, for instance dog bag alternatively the label may have a writing area for optional statement of the content in the bag, for instance in the case of freezer bags.

Even if the rolled together bag is held together by a small label or a piece of adhesive tape between the outer end of the rolled bag strip and the underlying layer of the bag, the diameter of a twisting together of the bag at closing is in the normal case smaller than that of the originally rolled together bag so that a good seal can be achieved.

The label may either have its entire back side provided with glue, alternatively in an advantageous embodiment only two areas a circumferential distance from each other may be provided with glue, one area advantageously being in the end (circumferentially). In this way

the label can at sealing be fastened to the bag, whereafter the part free from glue may slide essentially free from friction against the bag during the tightening, then when sufficiently tightened be fixed with the second glue provided area adhering to the outside of the label.

If so desired one can consider the above label or seal between its glue provided areas having a smaller diagonally arranged area that at a closing of the bag runs helically around the bag a number of turns. In this way the thickness is not increased more than what is necessary for the strength of the more narrow part. At the same time the increased number of turns at closing may increase the total contracting force several times and improve tightness. Furthermore the label may be used to establish a loop for hanging. By using a longer label the outer end of this may be folded double or free from glue to facilitate the gripping of the end of the label when this is to be used/removed. Furthermore the tendency of the bags to escape is reduced since their ability to roll is reduced. The compact folding/rolling eliminates further the risk that the bags in packed state are blown away. At the rolling together of the bag strips the openings of the bags are placed on the outside so that the labels already from the beginning will be in the sealing end, the label may thus all the time a accompany the bag and be close at hand when it is time for sealing.

When considering the invention one realizes that the handling of bags prior to the invention actually only is rational at serial use. Also the use today of freezer bags is not rational in comparison with the invented bag. An essential drawback with many bags on the same roll is that you don't really know how many bags you have on the roll. If you have a number of loose bags you have no idea of the size of each bag and furthermore you must in addition to a supply of bags have a supply of suitable seals and furthermore labels. No administrative impossibility but comparatively space requiring and impractical in comparison to the invention where the label at the same time serve as seal and can indicate the size of the bag. The invention is further facilitating since you easily can see how many bags you have and the label/seal is furthermore always at hand.

Several bags in accordance with the invention can advantageously be sold in the same package, either of the same size or mixed with various sizes. The packing of the bags can be constituted of a bag in accordance with the invention. The package may further have been sealed with a seal similar to or of the same type as the bags in the package are provided with and consequently the entire package can be used which both is an economic and environmental advantage, nor have special packages to be developed.

In order to reduce required transport volume as well as storage volume the bags may be packed next to each other in a more or less honey-comb-like system that is held together with surrounding plastic or paper tapes, plastic enclosure or in particular an identic plastic bag. One can also consider the bags with surrounding labels being collected to rods, which either may be achieved by enclosing the bags with their seals/labels after each other in a thin plastic or paper tube that sequentially can be torn away or broken off at use of the bags. One can also consider the labels constituting a tube that is provided with perforations between the individual bags so that bags easily can be broken away when needed, at which no material waste need to result.

In addition to the bag according to the invention being rational and practical it is to be noted that it has a large potential of use as advertisement carrier for instance on bags for people travelling by air, bags for dogs excrements, dog bags with advertisements, doggy bags for restaurants, sanitary bags, bags for "pick your own candies", bread and cakes and pastries, bags for clothes, bags related to hotels, baths, SPA activities and sporting events etc. The invention is useful for small bags, for instance freezer bags as well as for larger bin-liners.

As is realized one can with bags in accordance with the invention easily and rationally choose which and how many possibly different bags that one want to bring along or have available in some other way. It is also possible to consider the bags according to the invention being sold according to weight and in particular pick'n mix, that is you choose yourself how many and which bags that you want to buy, collect these in a bag in accordance with the invention and pay according to weight. Also the collecting bag is weighed and paid for but can in return be used as has been mentioned above. That also the package can be used is, as can be realized, an environment gain.

In the enclosed drawing an embodiment of a bag for arrangement in accordance with the invention is shown. In fig 1 a bag is shown flat and finished, in fig 2 is shown how the bag is folded to form a strip that is then rolled to the roll that is shown in fig 3 and in fig 4 is shown how the bag is held together and shaped to a cylindric shape by a label. When the bag 1 has been rolled together it is fixed with a surrounding label 2 that in the shown case extend all the way around the bag and a short distance with overlapping ends and a glue free outer end 3 allowing a good grip at opening of the label 2 serving as seal. The label is on its bag facing side provided with a glue that allows release from the other side

of the label as well as from the bag. The material in the label may be of the same as or related to that of the bag to facilitate destruction thereof after use.

Advantageously the bag is rolled so that the opening ends up on the outside and the bottom of the bag in the middle or inside the outer turns. In this way the advantages is obtained that the bottom of the bag ends up protected inside the roll itself reducing the risk that the bag when it is to be used is defect and leeks. A possible damage in the outer end is normally less troublesome.