Bag for collecting waste

Abstract

 Bag (1) for collecting waste, of the type produced from a precut blank (20) of paper material and comprising a lower bottom portion (3), an upper opening (4) and one or more side walls (5-11), and at least one lower flap (21) extending from a crease line (B) disposed along the bottom portion (3) of the bag (1), the flap (21) being joined to the outer surface of the bag (1) through at least one joining line or area (23). The afore said joining line or area (23) of the flap (21) is disposed along a side wall (7) of the bag (1) and it is positioned at a distance from said bottom portion (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention concerns a bag made of paper material for collecting waste, particularly and preferably for collecting organic waste, and a relevant method for its erection starting from a precut blank of paper material.

[0002] It is known art, for example from Patents EP-A-1762510 or WO-A- 2007/029272, both in the name of the Applicant, to realize bags for collecting waste, also including a high moisture content, that are completely made of paper material.

[0003] The production of bags made of paper material for collecting organic waste, or in any case with a high moisture content, is a long-felt need getting more and more important, most of all in case wherein the waste is intended to be the subject of a composting process, because of the very good atoxicity and biodegradability proprieties of paper.

[0004] The paper materials further allow the exchange of air through the bag and then they determine the start of the first composting process step. In fact, the transpiration allows the activation of the oxidation process of the organic waste, that would be only partially possible, or in some cases even not possible, in bags produced from plastic materials.

[0005] Such paper bags may have a flat bottom, that is a flat lower surface for allowing their resting on the ground, "bellows" side walls (see WO-A-2007/029272), adapted for reducing bulk when not used, and further may present some tricks suitable for improving the mechanical and fluidic sealing of the paper bag when in presence of liquids.

[0006] As to their production, these paper bags are usually erected from a precut blank of paper material that presents a set of longitudinal (vertical) and transversal (horizontal) crease lines, as well as - possibly - a particular shape of the lower edge, and that is conveniently folded and glued to realize the bag.

[0007] Usually, during the steps of folding and gluing the precut blank of paper material, some lower portions of the same precut blank, obtained by the concurrent longitudinally and transversally folding of the latter, are reciprocally overlapped, thereby becoming glued, or any way mutually joined, in such a way to define the bottom, preferably with a flat resting surface, of the bag.

[0008] Such a solution, very common indeed, presents nevertheless some drawbacks, in case wherein such a shaped bag is intended for collecting waste having a high moisture content.

[0009] In fact, in case of collecting waste having a high moisture content, the assembly of overlapped portions of the bottom of the bag, realized as before described, and the corresponding joining, or gluing, lines, or areas, may be subjected to a considerable load, because of the water presence, that could lead to a mechanical collapse of the constraints (realized by the joining lines or areas) between the overlapped portions of the bag, up to the breaking of the bottom of the bag itself.

[0010] Furthermore, since the glues usually used for joining the paper portions of the bag bottom are considerably water - soluble, the presence of waste with a high moisture content contacting such glues, may cause the loss of their adhesive propriety, with a consequent breaking of the bag.

[0011] It has to be observed that, most of all in case of paper bags adapted for containing waste intended for composting, it is not possible to use glues, or any other adhesive types, not being atoxic or biodegradable.

[0012] Finally, in any case, the water presence at the glued joining areas, or lines, of the bag made of paper causes, with the passing of time, the solubilization of such superficial layers made of paper on which the glue used for realizing the afore said joining areas or lines will adhere, thereby inducing the mutual detachment of the bag edges. In fact, usually, the glues used for joining the areas of the bag made of paper adhere over the superficial layers of the paper material only, which layers, in presence of water, would tend to solubilize and then to break up.

[0013] Moreover, it is known in the art to realize paper bags wherein, after the longitudinal and transversal folding of the precut blank and the overlapping and corresponding gluing of the lower ending portions of the same precut blank in order to form the bag bottom, it is possible to further fold a conveniently provided end of the bag bottom. Such a further folding, constituting a flap of the bag bottom, is glued to the same bottom to impart more mechanical strength to the latter.

[0014] Such a solution, not particularly used, would not seem particularly effective, nor adducing any further advantage, in case wherein the paper bag is intended for collecting waste with a high moisture content.

[0015] It is therefore an object of the present invention to realize a bag made of paper for collecting waste, particularly for collecting waste of the type having a high moisture content, not presenting the drawbacks of the known prior art and then proving to be particularly resistant to the water, while maintaining high composting characteristics.

[0016] It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for realizing a bag for collecting waste from a precut blank made of paper material, not presenting the known art drawbacks.

[0017] It is further an object of the present invention to realize a bag made of paper material for collecting waste, particularly having a high moisture content, being simple and economic to realize, and in the meanwhile being resistant to the water and then effective and convenient to use.

[0018] These and other objects are obtained by the bag for collecting waste according to the first independent claim and the subsequent dependent claims, as well as the corresponding erection method, according to the ninth independent claim and the subsequent claims depending therefrom.

[0019] The bag for collecting waste, according to the present invention, is of the type realized from a precut blank made of paper and comprises a lower bottom portion, preferably, but not exclusively flat, an upper opening and one or more side walls, as well as one lower flap extending from a crease line disposed along the bottom portion of the bag. Such a flap is joined to the outer surface, or body, of the bag by at least one joining line or area. Advantageously, such a joining line or area of the flap is disposed along a side wall of the bag and it is positioned at a distance from the afore said bottom portion.

[0020] Such a solution, as will be evident for a person skilled of the art, increases the liquid seal of the bag made of paper, both because the lower end of the bag is flapped, that is it is folded and turned over, towards its own side wall, thereby resulting vertical relatively to the substantially horizontal bottom portion of the same bag, and because such a lower end of the bag is joined, preferably glued, to the afore said side wall, such that the possible liquids contained inside the same bag will not immediately and easily reach the gluing area of such a flap, with a corresponding risk of solubilization of the used adhesive and/or the superficial layers of the paper glued in such an area.

[0021] In fact, the aqueous liquids resulting from waste, preferably moist waste, that the bag according to the present invention would contain inside, will tend to deposit at the lower bottom portion of the bag, not contacting, except at minimum because of capillarity, the adhesive and the corresponding superficial layers made of paper, whereon the adhesive has been affixed, of the joining areas or lines closing the flap of the bag itself.

[0022] It has to be observed that herein and later on with the term "precut blank made of paper" is intended any paper sheet conveniently cut and creased, i.e. that is provided with crease lines, indifferently obtained by continuously punching a bobbin, or by punching a laminar sheet with a discrete process, or by any other process known in the art.

[0023] Further, according to a particular aspect of the present invention, the afore said flap comprises a plurality of paper layers reciprocally overlapped and joined, sometimes also by appropriate glues (i.e. adhesives), at the joining lines or areas. Such paper layers, particularly, are made f folded portions of an end of the starting precut blank, opposite to that intended for constituting the opening portion of the bag.

[0024] This solution allows to join one to each other, by glues (adhesives), the ending portions of the bag, and to "close" an end of the latter, only along the flap itself, thereby avoiding the presence of glues at the bottom portion of the bag.

[0025] It has to be observed that, most of all in case of bottom with a flat resting surface of the bag, that is a bag bottom provided with a lower bottom surface developing horizontally, the absence of the glue (adhesive) at such a flat bottom will increase the bag strength against the action of liquids that are eventually contained in the waste that the bag itself is intended to receive.

[0026] In fact, remembering that the glues or adhesives used for paper bags for waste being intended for composting processes, preferably have to be water - soluble, as well as the paper material whereon the glue is disposed is soluble, the lack of gluing lines or areas on the bottom flat portion of the bag substantially avoids the released liquids from the organic waste to damage, because of solubilization, the paper surfaces and the adhesive cooperating in traditional bags for closing the bottom, thereby markedly reducing the bag strength itself.

[0027] According to another aspect of the present invention, it is provided a method for erecting a bag made of paper material adapted for collecting waste, comprising the steps of:

a) preparing a precut blank provided with longitudinal crease lines, with a lower perimeter area and with at least one transverse crease line disposed in proximity of the lower perimeter area;

b) mutually joining, preferably with an appropriate adhesive, the longitudinal edges of the precut blank to form one or more side walls of the bag;

c) mutually joining the lower perimeter area of the precut blank to form the bottom portion of the bag;

d) folding the precut blank along the afore said lower crease line, to form at least one lower flap.

[0028] According to the present invention, such a method further comprises the step of:

e) joining, by for example ad adapted adhesive, the lower flap to a side wall of the bag through at least one joining line or area, said at least one joining line or area being at a distance from said bottom portion of the bag.

[0029] The afore mentioned method allows the easy and effective erection of the bag, according to the present invention, of the afore suggested type.

[0030] These and other advantages will be evident from the following description and the drawings in attachment, herein reported for illustrative and not limitative purposes, wherein:

• Fig. 1 is a prospective view of a bag according to the present invention in an open configuration realized from the precut blank according to figure 2;
• Fig. 2 is a plant view of a precut blank for realizing the bag of fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is a plant view of a precut blank for a second possible embodiment of a bag according to the present invention;
• Fig. 4 is a detail of the gluing surface of the precut blank reproduced in fig. 3.

[0031] Referring to figures 1 and 2, it is shown a particular embodiment of a bag made of paper for collecting waste, according to a particular aspect of the present invention.

[0032] The bag 1 is intended for the selective collecting of waste, particularly compostable organic waste with different origin, or any way with a high moisture content, and may be used in various fields, such for example the domestic field, the supermarkets, the vegetable markets, etc., and anywhere it is necessary the separate waste collection of the type above mentioned.

[0033] In connection with the amount of waste being produced, the bag 1, obtained from a precut blank 20 made of paper, may be advantageously realized with different dimensions, such that to satisfy the user needs and avoid the bag substitution happening too much frequently or rarely, because of its complete filling.

[0034] The bag 1, herein shown, is of the type having a bottom with a flat resting surface and comprising a body 2 provided with a flat lower base 3, or flat bottom portion 3, and with a higher opening 4 for inserting waste, as well as a side surface made of a plurality of walls 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, obtained by folding and gluing, or joining, the lines or areas of the precut blank itself.

[0035] It has to be observed that with the term "joining line or area" herein and after it is intended any longitudinal or transversal line or area of the precut blank 20 that, overlapped to a corresponding or complementary line or area, of the same precut blank 20, is joined thereto by any known joining means, such for example glue, clips, resins, etc.

[0036] More in detail, as can be seen in figure 1, the body 2 of the bag 1 is realized by joining two, reciprocally overlapped, longitudinal edges of the end walls 10, 11 of the precut blank 20, and presents a plurality of side faces 5 - 11, delimited by the corresponding longitudinal (vertical) crease lines 15, which are mutually parallel.

[0037] It has to be observed that the overlapping of the longitudinal edges of the walls 10 and 11 may be obtained as in figure 1, that is by overlapping the longitudinal end edge of the wall 10 to a corresponding longitudinal edge of the wall 11 or, on the contrary, by overlapping the longitudinal end edge of the wall 11 to the corresponding edge of the wall 10.

[0038] The dimensions, shape and number of side faces 5-11 are depending from the arrangement of the precut blank 20 made of paper used for realizing the bag, in its turn chosen according to the using needs of the latter. Particularly, the bag 1 herein illustrated is of the type comprising two side "bellows" - shaped portions, wherein the two couples of walls 5, 6 and 8, 9, reciprocally opposite, both presents a crease line 15 between the corresponding adjoining walls 5, 6 and 8, 9, defining a corner facing the inside of the bag 1.

[0039] The flat lower base 3 of the bag 1 herein shown is delimited by two crease transversal lines A and B, that are defining a band 22 constituting the same flat bottom 3 of the bag 1.

[0040] It has to be observed that, although bags made of paper for collecting waste having a flat bottom and side "bellows" walls are herein illustrated, any other bag made of paper having whatever bottom and side surface type, as long as provided with the characteristics claimed in the first independent claim herein reported, will fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0041] The bag 1, as can be seen in figure 1, further presents a flap 21 that, continuing from the afore said transversal crease line B, extends along the side wall 7 and rests and fixes thereon in permanent way, thanks to a joining transversal line, or area, placed near the transversal edge line C of the precut blank 20 (see figure 2), and/or - preferably - at a fin 23, of which the flap 21 is further extended, up to a transversal end line D.

[0042] The fin 23, as can be seen in figures, leans towards the side wall 7 of the body 2 of the bag 1, and has the same transversal dimensions of the side wall 7 itself.

[0043] The flap 21, in the same way, has longitudinal dimensions such as to allow not only an effective joining, or gluing, of its portions mutually overlapping, while the bag 2 is erecting, but such as to allow as well the effective joining, or gluing, of the fin 23 over the outer surface of the wall 7, at a certain distance from the band 22 defining the flat bottom 3 of the bag 1, and then at a certain distance from the transversal crease line B of the precut blank 20.

[0044] It has to be noticed that the dimensions of the band 22, that is of the portion comprised between the crease lines A and B, and those of the flap 21, comprised between the lines B and C, as well as those of the fin 23, comprised between the transversal lines C and D, may be changed according to the bag size and shape to be obtained.

[0045] It has further to be observed that the flap 21 and the fin 23, as can be noticed by the appended drawings, will rest in a substantially flat way over the corresponding outer surface of the side wall 7 of the bag 1, to which they are joined, that is they do not exhibit any other folding one over the other. In other words, when the bag 1 is erected, the flap 21 is extended in a flat way from the crease line B to the transversal line C, and the fin 23 is extended, in a substantially flat way too, between the transversal lines C and D.

[0046] As it can been observed in figure 1, the dimensions and the geometry of the precut blank 20 are such that the transversal edge line C and the fin 23, and hence the corresponding joining or gluing lines or areas, would lie, once the bag 1 is erected, at a side wall 7 of the same bag 1, in a position at a distance from the flat bottom 3.

[0047] Further, the flap 21, as well as the band 22 defining the flat bottom 3 of the bag 1, comprises more overlapped layers made of paper, obtained by its several longitudinal portions that, during the folding of the bag 1 itself, become mutually overlapped.

[0048] Particularly it has to be observed that, during the erection of the bag 1, such portions of the flap 21, becoming mutually overlapped while the body 2 is folding along the longitudinal crease lines 15, are reciprocally joined, by the joining or gluing lines or areas.

[0049] More in detail, the erection of bag 1, from the precut blank 20 made of paper shown in figure 2, provides the preventive gluing of one or more areas of those longitudinal portions of the flap 21 intended for reciprocal overlapping during the erection of the body 2 of the bag 1, as well as the preventive gluing of a longitudinal edge line of the end side wall 11, intended for being placed under a corresponding linear and longitudinal edge region of the end side wall 10 of the bag 1.

[0050] Preferably, during this step, the areas of the flap 21 that are intended to be overlapped one with each other are glued only, avoiding to glue areas of the band 22. In this way, the whole band 22 of the precut blank 20, intended for constituting the flat bottom 3 of the bag 1, will not present any evidence of glue, or other adhesive type or any other joining means.

[0051] Then the erection of the bag 1 provides a subsequent longitudinal folding step, along the lines 15, as well as a subsequent transversal folding step, along the lines A and B, of the precut blank 20, in such a way to longitudinally overlap one to another the edges of the side walls 10 and 11 and of the various portions of the band 22 and of the flap 21.

[0052] As will be evident for a person skilled in the art, the flap 21 will then be constituted by a plurality of overlapped layers being reciprocally joined, wherein such layers are made of folded portions of the same end of the precut blank 20 made of paper.

[0053] Such a folding step further provides the folding, along the transversal line B, of the flap 21 and the fin 23 towards the side wall 7 of the body 2 of the bag 1. Such a step is preferably preceded by a gluing step of such areas of the flap 21 and fin 23 intended for contacting the same side wall 7 of the bag 1.

[0054] It has to be observed that, though optionally, only the fin 23 may be glued at its surface intended for engaging with the side wall 7 of the bag 1, thereby making the addition of the glue, or adhesives, not necessary, over the whole flap 21.

[0055] Once the folding step is ended, according to the known art there is the joining of the previously glued areas or lines, for example by mechanical and/or thermic treatments.

[0056] The bag 1, so erected, presents several advantages relatively to the bags of the known art, most of all in case wherein the waste, for which the same bag 1 is intended for, are of organic type, that is they present high moisture.

[0057] In fact, firstly the folding of the flap 21 upwardly, along the wall 27, is a trap for a possible liquid that could deposit over the bottom 3 of the bag 1, the trap avoiding the accidental escape of possible liquids from the bottom 3.

[0058] Further, secondly, the preferable absence of adhesives or glues over the band 22 of the precut blank 20, and then over the flat bottom 3 of the bag 1, would avoid the water contained inside the waste and contacting such a bottom 3 to solubilize the glue and/or, also only superficially, the paper material on which the same glue is disposed, with a consequent loss of the characteristics of structural strength of the bag 1 made of paper.

[0059] Finally, the presence of more overlapped layers made of paper present both on the flat bottom 3 and the flap 21 of the bag 1, guarantees a higher ability of resistance against the liquid absorption as well as against the action, in time, of the liquids over the paper material of which the bag 1 is made of.

[0060] Figure 3 illustrates a precut blank 20A made of paper material that could be used for the production of a bag similar to that shown in figure 1.

[0061] It has to be noticed that in figure 3 the same numerical references of figure 2 has been used for the mutually identical parts of the precut blank 20A and the precut blank 20.

[0062] That is, similarly to the precut blank 20, the precut blank 20A presents a plurality of longitudinal crease lines 15, delimiting a corresponding plurality of side walls 5 - 11 of the bag body, two transversal crease lines A and B defining a band 22, suited for constituting the flat bottom of the bag itself, as well as a flap 21, defined by transversal lines of the edge C and C', and a fin 23 presenting, in its turn, a transversal edge line D.

[0063] The fin 23, as in the precut blank 20 described before, is placed at the side wall 7 and has transversal dimensions identical to this latter.

[0064] Differently from the precut blank 20, the precut blank 20A of figure 3 presents the lower fins 30, 31 that extend from the afore said transversal crease line B in a shorter way relatively to the rest of the flap 21, this latter being made of the fins 32, 33 and being defined by the transversal edge line C.

[0065] These fins 30, 31 are realized by making the lower transversal edge lines C' at a less distance from the crease line B relatively to the transversal edge lines C.

[0066] Thereby the lower edge lines C, C' and D, obtained by cutting a sheet made of paper material, define the lower fins 30, 31, 32, 33 and 23, which are suited to overlap in various way so that they constitute the afore said flap 21 of the bag obtained by the erection of the precut blank 20A.

[0067] As could be noticed, the higher edge line of the precut blank 20A presents fins 30A, 31 A too, as well as portions lowered having regard to such fins 30A, 31 A that are substantially placed at the different walls 5 - 9. Such a shape of the precut blank 20A, determining the shape of the higher opening of the bag, is determined by the particular cut of the sheet made of paper material, used to realize two or more longitudinally consequent precut blanks 20A without swarf. In such a way, only one cut defines both the higher edge of a precut blank 20A and the lower edge of a subsequent precut blank.

[0068] Similarly to the precut blank 20, the flap 21 too, defined by the transversal lines C, C', and the fin 23 of the precut blank 20A have such a dimension to allow both the effective reciprocal gluing of the fins 30, 31, 32, 33 during the folding of the same precut blank 20A, and the optimal arrangement of the fin 23 for its gluing to the side wall 7 of the bag.

[0069] Such dimensions make the presence of glues and adhesives not necessary on the band 22, constituting the flat bottom of the bag, once erected, with the consequent advantages above underlined.

[0070] The erection method of a bag from the precut blank 20A made of paper is similar to that described referring to the precut blank 20.

[0071] However, the realization of fins 30 - 33 placed at the lower edge of the precut blank 20A allows a better closing of the bottom portion of the bag, thanks to a more efficient mode for addition of glue or adhesive on such fins too.

[0072] In fact, the presence of such fins, or lowered portions, 30 and 31 will determine the removal, having regard to the precut blank 20 of figure 2, of a portion of the flap 21 comprised between the lines C and C', thus making part of the fins 32, 33 visible after the reciprocal overlapping of such fins, during the bag erection.

[0073] By doing so, the flap 21 will present a development that is no more along a straight line, thus allowing a different mode for adding the adhesive over the various zones of the same.

[0074] As can be seen in figure 4, just showing the flap 21 before its gluing, or joining, to the side wall 7 of the bag, the presence of the lowered fins 30, 31 will allow, after their overlapping to the fins 32, and 33, to add glue over such fins 32, 33 too, in addition to the fin 23, such that the subsequent gluing of the flap 21 over the side wall 7 would allow at one time a better reciprocal gluing of the fins 30 - 33 and a better fixing of the same flap 21 to such a side wall 7.

Claims

1. Bag for collecting waste, of the type produced from a precut blank of paper material and comprising a lower bottom portion, an upper opening and one or more side walls, and at least one lower flap extending from a crease line disposed along the bottom portion of the bag, said at least one flap being joined to the outer surface of the bag through at least one joining line or area, characterized in that said at least one joining line or area of said at least one flap is disposed along a side wall of the bag and it is positioned at a distance from said bottom portion.

2. Bag for collecting waste according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one flap comprises at least two layers of paper material, mutually joined.

3. Bag for collecting waste according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least two layers are mutually joined by at least one joining line or area.

4. Bag for collecting waste according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one flap comprises a plurality of superposed layers, said layers being folded portions of an end of said precut blank of paper material.

5. Bag for collecting waste according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bottom portion comprises a flat surface for resting on the ground.

6. Bag for collecting waste according to claim 5, characterized in that said flat surface of the bottom portion is delimited, on the one side, by said crease line of said at least one-flap.

7. Bag for collecting waste according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one joining line or area of said at least one flap extends transversely for the entire extension of a side wall of the bag.

8. Bag for collecting waste according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two bellows side walls, mutually opposite.

9. Method for erection of a bag made of paper material for collecting waste, of the type comprising the steps of:

a. Preparing a precut blank provided with longitudinal crease lines, with a lower perimeter area and with at least one transverse crease line disposed in proximity of the lower perimeter area;

b. mutually joining the longitudinal edges of the precut blank to form one or more side walls of the bag;

c. mutually joining the lower perimeter area of the precut blank to form the bottom portion of the bag;

d. folding the precut blank along said lower crease line, to form at folding the precut blank along said lower crease line, to form at least one lower flap;
characterized by comprising the step of:

e. joining said at least one lower flap to a side wall of the bag through at least one joining line or area, said at least one joining line or area being at a distance from said bottom portion of the bag.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that said at least one lower flap comprises a plurality of mutually joined superposed portions.

11. Method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said at least one joining line or area of the flap extends for the entire transverse length of the flap.

12. Method according to claim 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that said lower perimeter area comprises a plurality of tabs of different dimensions.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein said tabs extend longitudinally in a different manner to one another.

14. Method according to anyone of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that said precut blank comprises at least a second transverse crease line to define said bottom portion of the bag having a substantially flat supporting surface.

15. Method according to anyone of claims 9 to 14, wherein said longitudinal crease lines define two bellows side walls, mutually opposite.

Drawing