WO2025198576A1

WO2025198576A1 - A bag that transforms from a packaging form into a reusable carrying form

Info

Publication number: WO2025198576A1
Application number: PCT/TR2025/050422
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ali Avci
Original assignee: Netpak Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Netpak Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2024-03-22
Filing date: 2025-04-30
Publication date: 2025-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-22

Abstract

The invention relates to a bag (100) that allows long-term use by tearing the perforation section (102) located at the mouth part (104) of packages used by cargo companies or for sending products, confidential documents, information, or items from one point to another, thereby revealing the concealed handles (103) inside.

Description

A BAG THAT TRANSFORMS FROM A PACKAGING FORM INTO A REUSABLE CARRYING FORM

Technical Field:

The invention relates to a cargo or gift bag designed for long-term use, which, after reaching the end user, allows the perforated section at the opening to be torn and concealed handles inside to be revealed, thereby transforming the package into a reusable carrying bag.

Background of the Invention:

As is known, cargo companies (or businesses shipping products directly to customers) send products to end-users using packaging materials — typically plastic-based nylon bags. These bags are sealed by folding and sticking the adhesive areas at the opening. Sometimes, depending on the product type or preference, paper-based materials are used, which are torn open along a perforated line to access the contents.

Currently, these bags are designed for single use, leading to significant material waste and environmental harm due to their non-biodegradable nature. Additionally, paper or cardboard bags used for carrying various products are produced using high-grammage paper and cannot be economically recycled or converted into reusable bags due to their structure and joining methods, such as stitching or ultrasonic welding.

Though textile-based or nonwoven polypropylene bags have emerged as alternatives, they are not widely preferred due to their inability to match the print quality of paper bags — especially when it comes to logos, branding, and artwork. As a result, these alternatives have not effectively replaced conventional paper bags in terms of market usage.

Numerous patent applications have attempted to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks: US2021122530A1 describes a plastic transport bag with a flap that can be folded over the front wall and includes a transition opening for integrated handles. While suitable for transporting goods like chilled food, this structure lacks the practicality needed for conventional cargo bags and fails to serve as a fully functional alternative.

In the transportation bag disclosed in the aforementioned American patent, the handles are mounted inside the bag but are designed to be visible from the outside. However, this structure does not offer practical use suitable for cargo bags. Therefore, it falls short of providing a functional alternative to existing cargo bags. The related invention describes a bag with integrated handles, aiming to facilitate the transportation of chilled foods. However, it does not meet the technical need for a portable, low-cost cargo bag solution that, when opened, transforms into a bag and offers enhanced carrying functionality.

JP2020114756A discloses a bag with foldable and extendable handles and a resealable flap. Although it enables multiple sealing operations, its complex structure and lack of perforation make it an impractical substitute for widely used cargo bags.

The Japanese patent in question describes a carrying bag that can be sealed multiple times thanks to its lid mechanism. However, this invention does not include the perforation section commonly found in cargo bags widely used in the current state of the art, and due to its bulky lid system, it does not provide a functional alternative for conventional cargo bags.

As a result, due to the aforementioned shortcomings and the inadequacy of existing solutions regarding the subject matter, it has become necessary to develop an improvement in the relevant technical field.

Summary of the Invention:

This invention aims to introduce an innovative and practical solution that differs from current applications in the field. One objective is to provide a shipping or gift bag that transforms into a carry bag once opened by the recipient — revealing hidden handles inside and making the bag suitable for long-term use.

Another major goal is to eliminate the disposable nature of packaging and repurpose the material for continued use, thereby contributing to a sustainable, eco-friendly economy.

The bag also offers a surface area for branding, allowing logistics providers or partnering companies to display logos and messages — effectively turning every shipment into a continuous advertising opportunity.

Another objective of the invention is to enhance brand awareness and contribute to brand promotion through the use of an advertising surface. Another important objective of the invention is to introduce a product that contributes to the economy and prevents waste. Yet another important objective of the invention is to ensure the secure delivery of confidential information or documents to their rightful owner.

Description of the Figures:

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that the features of the invention may be more clearly understood and appreciated; however, it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific arrangements illustrated. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that may be included within the scope defined by the appended claims. It should be understood that the details shown are provided solely for the purpose of describing preferred arrangements of the present invention and are presented to provide the most useful and easily understood description of both the structuring of the methods and the principles and conceptual features of the invention. In these drawings:

Figure- 1 Front view of the first phase of the reusable bag

Figure-2 Front view as the perforated line is torn.

Figure-3 Front view after the handles have emerged.

Figure-4 Final usable form of the reusable carry bag. The figures that will assist in the understanding of this invention are numbered as indicated in the accompanying drawings and are listed below along with their names.

Reference Numbers Explanation:

100 Bag

101 Body

102 Perforation section

103 Handle

104 Mouth part

105 Protective strip

106 Suspension layer

107 Strip layer

108 Fixing edge

109 Bottom edge

110 Advertising surface

Detailed Description:

Subsequently, Figure 4 illustrates the final phase view in which the said carrying bag (100) or pouch is made ready for use.

This invention aims to provide a bag (100) that enables long-term use after reaching the end user, particularly for packages used by cargo companies or for sending products, confidential documents, or items from one point to another. Typically, packages sent by cargo companies are quickly opened and discarded. However, this situation causes material waste, leads to the squandering of national resources, and contributes to environmental pollution through waste materials.

With this invention, in cases where products are delivered via cargo or other means, the bag or outer packaging in which the products are placed can be reused after the perforated section, which cannot be opened by anyone other than the rightful owner, is torn off. Tearing the perforated section (102) located at the mouth part (104) as indicated in Figure 4 (refer to Figure 3), and exposing the concealed handles (103) inside, enables the transition to a long-term bag use phase.

The said bag (100) is produced as follows: In the production flow phase, a strip layer (107) is fixed along both longitudinal edges of the roll-formed material, whether printed or unprinted. This fixation is achieved by advancing the roll-formed nonwoven fabric or alternative material in layers through an automation system. In the subsequent production phase, an adhesive layer is applied continuously over the mentioned strip layers (107), after which a protective strip (105) is placed on top of the adhesive layer.

Additionally, in the ongoing production phase, handles (103) are fixed onto the material via reference axes determined by the automation system. These handles (103) are joined using ultrasonic welding or alternative methods. In the continuing production flow, a perforation section (102) is created over the said strip layer (107) using a cutting unit. The perforation section (102) holds significant importance, as it must be torn for the handles (103) to be revealed and for the bag to be transitioned into its long-term use phase.

In the ongoing continuous production phase, the folding edges of the material are folded in half by a folding unit, and both fixing edges (108) are joined via ultrasonic welding or alternative methods such as sewing or gluing.

Moreover, in the final stage, without requiring a joining operation such as ultrasonic welding, a bottom edge (109) with a sealed surface is formed when the material is folded by the folding unit. The bottom edge (109) is created during the production phase as a result of the material being folded in half, yielding a closed surface at the folded edge. However, in the continuing two-ply layered material, the long edges are welded in two parallel linear seams with a gap between them via ultrasonic welding (or double stitching using a sewing machine), and the material in between is cut with a cutting unit to finalize the bag form.

The cutting unit performs the cutting operation from the exact middle of the material, which has been welded on both sides via ultrasonic welding (or double stitching). In this way, at the bottom edge (109) line of the bag (100), welding is performed on both sections, and the material is simultaneously cut down the middle.

During the production flow, a suspension layer (106) is laminated onto the inner surface of the bag body (101). The suspension layer is applied optionally. In situations where it is undesirable for the product inside the package to be damaged by external factors, a suspension layer (106) is produced. This suspension layer (106) is made of small bubble wrap or a polyethylene foam layer that absorbs external impacts and protects the product inside. Additionally, if the product placed inside the bag is a food item, an insulation material may optionally be integrated into the inner surface of the bag body (101) to preserve the product and maintain a stable temperature.

After the gift bag (100) reaches the end user and the handles (103) are revealed, the bag becomes ready for use. For long-term use, an advertising surface (110) is provided to enhance the company's brand visibility. Companies’ advertisements are printed on this surface during the production phase. The aforementioned handles (103) are continuously concealed inside the bag during the production flow and are exposed when the perforated section (102) is tom.

The said bag body (101) is made of nonwoven fabric material, and it can also be produced from polyethylene film and/or paper and/or nylon-type material. Additionally, the inner or outer surface of the nonwoven fabric may be laminated with OPP or another material. Furthermore, during the production flow, the strip layers (107) are fixed to both longitudinal edges of the roll-formed material via ultrasonic welding and/or gluing and/or stitching techniques.

When handles (103) are fixed onto the material that has at least a two-layered structure at the fixation region, a stronger bag (100) with enhanced carrying capacity is obtained. If desired, handles (103) can also be fixed directly onto a single-layer surface without using strip layers, resulting in a bag with a lower carrying capacity. In cases where the product placed inside the bag does not require confidentiality, fastening systems such as a zipper lock or hook-and-loop tape can optionally be used for the opening and closing mechanism of the bag mouth. Various applications related to the subject of the invention may be developed, and the invention is not limited to the examples described herein, but essentially as defined in the claims. It is evident that a person skilled in the art may realize the novelty introduced by the invention using similar structures and/or apply this configuration to other fields of the art with comparable purposes. Consequently, it is also apparent that such configurations would lack the criteria of novelty and especially inventive step beyond the known state of the art.

Claims

1. The invention relates to a bag (100) that allows long-term use after reaching the end user, particularly for packages used by cargo companies or for sending products, confidential documents, or items from one point to another; characterized in that: for enabling long-term bag use by tearing the perforation section (102) located at the mouth part (104) and revealing the concealed handles (103) inside;

- a strip layer (107) fixed along both longitudinal edges of the roll-formed material during the production flow phase,

- an adhesive layer applied over the mentioned strip layers (107) during the ongoing production phase, and a protective strip (105) placed over this adhesive layer,

- alternatively, an adhesive layer directly applied to both longitudinal edges of the roll-formed material without using the mentioned strip layers (107),

- opposing handles (103) fixed onto the material via reference axes determined by the automation system during the ongoing production phase,

- a perforation section (102) formed on the mentioned strip layer (107) via a cutting unit during the continuing production flow phase,

- and subsequently, fixing edges (108) formed by folding the material in half in a folding unit and joining it by ultrasonic welding or by other methods.

2. A bag according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a suspension layer (106) fixed to the inner surface of the bag body (101) during the production flow phase.

3. A bag according to Claim 1, characterized in that, after the handles (103) of the gift bag (100) reaching the end user are revealed, it comprises an advertising surface (110) that increases the company’s brand visibility during the long-term use phase.

4. A bag according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises handles (103) continuously concealed inside the bag during the production flow phase and exposed by tearing the perforation section (102).

5. A bag according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a bag body (101) made of nonwoven fabric material.

6. A bag according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a bag body (101) made of polyethylene film and/or paper and/or nylon-type material.

7. A bag according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a strip layer (107) fixed to both longitudinal edges of the roll-formed material during the production flow phase by ultrasonic welding and/or gluing and/or stitching techniques.

8. A bag according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a bottom edge (109) with a sealed surface formed by folding the material in the folding unit without requiring a joining operation such as ultrasonic welding.

9. A bag according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an insulation material on the inner surface of the bag body (101) for preserving the product and maintaining a stable temperature in cases where the product inside is a food item.

10. A bag according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in cases where the product placed inside the said bag (100) does not require confidentiality, it comprises openingclosing mechanisms such as a zipper lock or hook-and-loop fastening systems at the bag mouth section.