[0001] The present invention relates to a net bag, with a handle, for horticultural fruit
products, which offers substantial advantages and original characteristics with respect
to the prior art.
[0002] Generally, net bags which are filled in the packaging machine itself and closed by
welding in order to close them at both ends are used for automatically packaging horticultural
fruit products, for example oranges and other citrus fruits. One of the problems involved
with this type of bag is the provision of handles to facilitate handling. Conventionally,
detachable handle systems were used, disposed in a given longitudinal direction of
the bag itself, i.e. the direction of the tubular element from which the successive
bags are separated. By welding at one of the ends of the bag, the latter was provided
with an added handle. Evidently, this system is awkward and expensive since it requires
the application of detachable elements which increase production costs owing to the
expense of the part itself and to the increased complexity of handling the bags in
the packaging machine.
[0003] In some cases, wide strips of smooth material overlapping over a large part of the
lateral faces of the bag were provided, the strips being welded together with the
bag ends and extending in an upper part or area in which, after welding, openings
were provided which were to be used as handles. In this system, the degree of complexity
and increased costs are considerable, owing to the need for multiple operations in
order to produce the added handle, the need to provide large sections for these added
handles, and the need for these handles to be double, i.e. provided for both faces.
For all these reasons, this bag system is complex and expensive.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to disclose a net bag, with a handle, which
satisfactorily overcomes the above disadvantages, facilitating the means of producing
a bag which is very simple and practical and has numerous advantages with respect
to the prior art.
[0005] Essentially, the bag to which the present invention relates comprises a section or
segment of a cylindrical bag body, preferably of net, obtained by separating a tubular
element in the packaging machine itself and which, after being filled, receives longitudinally
a narrow strip which is welded together with the ends of the bag and two small pieces
of plastics material strip having the same characteristics as the handle strip, opposite
the ends of said handle strip, to produce a perfect weld, the net assembly being interposed
between the strip and the afore-mentioned small pieces. The narrow strip or band is
to be used as a transverse handle, i.e. unlike the prior art which usually employs
longitudinally disposed handles.
[0006] By virtue of this arrangement, the net bag has a highly efficient handle which is
far more practical than the detachable handles of the prior art - which usually have
a very small cross-section and are awkward to use - and has the additional advantage
of greatly reduced costs, since the simple narrow longitudinal strip is of very low
cost which can in no way be compared with the cost of the additional handles welded
on subsequently or even of the narrow strips located on both sides of the bag, which
are welded then moulded subsequently.
[0007] In order to assist comprehension of the invention, some drawings illustrating a bag
with a handle produced in accordance with the present invention are appended by way
of example. In the drawings:
- Figure 1
- is an external view of a bag produced in accordance with the present invention, in
the area opposite the handle;
- Figure 2
- shows a section of a bag according to the present invention, together with its contents;
- Figure 3
- is a view similar to Figure 1, from the side on which the handle is located;
- Figures 4, 5 and 6
- show individual details of the connection of one end of the strip forming the handle
to the bag end and the arrangement of a short advertising label;
- Figure 7
- shows a detailed section of the connection of the handle strip to the bag and also
the arrangement of the advertising portion; and
- Figure 8
- shows schematically the full bag in use.
[0008] As can be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the bag to which the present invention relates
has a net body 1, of the type obtained by cutting a continuous tube in the packaging
machine, accommodates on the interior the pieces of fruit 2 or other items to be contained
therein, and comprises a narrow strip of plastics material 3, preferably of continuous
type, which can also be produced in the form of a lattice, a band or strip having
apertures, etc.. Said strip, which acts as a handle 3, is disposed at a definite spacing
from the body of the bag and is welded at its ends 4 and 5 to the corresponding ends
of the net bag 1 by means of the transverse welding portions designated 6 and 7. At
the ends to be connected to the net bag and on the side opposite the side on which
the strip 3 is positioned are short pieces of plastics material strip designated 8
and 9, having the same characteristics as the strip constituting the handle and connected
at the same afore-mentioned ends. If they are longer than is strictly necessary for
producing the weld, the handle strips can additionally be used for carrying advertising
material, enabling written areas 10 and 11 to be provided for advertising purposes,
indicating the price, etc..
[0009] As can be seen from Figure 8, the handle strip 3 enables the bag to be suitably fastened
lengthwise, that is, completely different from the bag which was conventional hitherto
and based on the arrangement of detachable transverse handles or at least produced
separately from the surrounding material of the bag.
[0010] As will be appreciated, some of the details of the bag can be varied widely and,
if desired, it can be made of continuous material or from a mixed structure of continuous
or non apertured areas and net-like apertured areas. Similarly, the actual production
of the handle strip and the material used therefor can be varied widely, as can the
additional portions bearing advertising material.
1. Net bag, with a handle, for horticultural fruit products, characterized in that it
comprises a central body (1) for carrying the products to be contained (2) and bears,
at a definite spacing from the bag body, a longitudinally disposed narrow strip (3)
of resistant, synthetic material, welded at its ends (4, 5) to the ends of the net
bag, along the welded areas for fastening the bag, facilitating the means for fastening
the bag owing to its provision as a longitudinal handle.
2. Net bag, with a handle, for horticultural fruit products, characterized by the arrangement
of individual small pieces of plastics material strip (8, 9) having the same characteristics
as the strip (3) constituting the handle, at both ends of the bag, opposite the ends
of the strip acting as the handle, and connected thereto and to the bag by the same
weld (6, 7).
