WO2025234880A1

WO2025234880A1 - Paper bag for holding, transporting, and exposing food, and a paper sheet for manufacturing thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2025234880A1
Application number: PCT/NL2025/050220
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus Petrus Nicolaas ROOIJAKKERS
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2024-05-08
Filing date: 2025-05-08
Publication date: 2025-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2026-11-08
Also published as: NL2037657B1

Abstract

The present document relates to a paper bag (1) for holding, transporting and exposing a food product. The bag is a rectangular bag, comprising a rectangular top surface (2), a rectangular bottom surface (3), a backside (4) and two side surfaces (5, 6) that connect the top surface to the bottom surface, such as to form an open end at a front of the bag and a closed end at the backside of the bag. The bag further comprises two tear lines (7, 8) comprising a first tear line and a second tear line running transversely with respect to each other across the front surface, wherein the first tear line runs near the closed end of the bag from a point near the corner between the top surface and the first side surface to a point near the corner between the top surface and the second side surface, and wherein the second tear line runs from a point on the first tear line to the open end of the bag.

Description

P136933NL00 Title: Paper bag for holding, transporting, and exposing food, and a paper sheet for manufacturing thereof. Field of the invention The present invention is directed at a paper bag for holding, transporting, and exposing food, and a paper sheet for manufacturing such a bag. Background In the fast food industry, paper bags are commonly used for delivering food items to consumers. These bags serve as a convenient and hygienic means of packaging food orders. Such bags provide the food with insulation, which helps retain heat for hot items, and provide protection to both the food and to the consumer and his other property by helping to prevent spills or leaks during transit. However, in order to access the food contained in the bag, the food must typically first be removed from the bag. The bag therefore forms a barrier between the consumer and his food. This barrier can be overcome in various ways, including by means of ripping the bag, such as to expose the food. Such rips are often messy and can render the bag useless. This can also expose the food to bacteria in its surroundings. Known solutions to this problem provide bags with tear lines. These tear lines allow bags to be torn open more neatly. Some bags feature tear lines that enable the bag to be used as a placemat after being torn open. However, such torn bags are disadvantageously shaped for this purpose. Given the typical dimensions of bags in this industry, in a torn open state they are often too oblong. The small width makes it easy for food to fall on the surface underneath the bag and the large length results in a portion of the bag remaining unused. There is thus a need for a bag that can be used as a placemat that is more suitably shaped. Summary of the invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper bag that overcomes the abovementioned drawback. To this end, there is provided herewith, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a paper bag for holding, transporting and exposing a food product, the bag being a rectangular bag, wherein the bag comprises a rectangular top surface, a rectangular bottom surface, a backside and two side surfaces that connect the top surface to the bottom surface, such as to form an open end at a front of the bag and a closed end at the backside of the bag, wherein the bag further comprises exactly (i.e. no more and no less than) two tear lines. The two tear lines comprise a first tear line and a second tear line running transversely with respect to each other across the front surface. The first tear line runs near the closed end of the bag from a point near the corner between the top surface and the first side surface to a point near the corner between the top surface and the second side surface. The second tear line runs from a point on the first tear line to the open end of the bag. In the ideal case, the first tear line runs on the closed end of the bag from a point on the corner between the top surface and the first side surface to a point on the corner between the top surface and the second side surface. This allows the bag to be neatly torn open along the full length and along the full width of the bag and enables a maximally neatly rectangular placemat to be formed. In many cases however, the bag often includes small pieces of excess paper used to construct the bag. These excess pieces can for example be folded around a corner between two surfaces of the bag. The width of such a piece of excess paper may be on the order of a centimeter. The presence of these excess pieces of paper can make it impractical to place the first tear line such as to run on a corner. It may instead be preferred to place the tear line near corners, such as to run clear of the excess pieces of paper. Because the two tear lines of the bag run transversely with respect to each other, tearing open the bag along the tear lines will form a placemat from the bag by expansion in the lateral directions of the bag, rather than in a longitudinal direction of the bag. This advantageously results in a less oblong placemat. Furthermore, since the bag has only two tear lines, all that has to be done to turn the bag into a placemat is perform two tearing motions along the two tear lines. This gives the bag a further advantage of being easy to turn into a placemat. Furthermore, the second tear line can run from any point on the first tear line to any point of the top surface at the open end of the bag. The second tear line thus advantageously has a high degree of freedom in its exact path across the top surface of the bag without removing its functionality. With this being explained, it will be appreciated that some trajectories or locations of the tear line may provide additional advantageous features. In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the backside is formed by a corner between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the side surfaces are folded side surfaces. The bag may in that case be stored in a compact stack with other bags, while at the same time enable the unfolding thereof to provide a large enough volume to store a product, such as a food item. Furthermore, the size of the bag in terms of its capacity may easily be scaled during manufacturing of the bag, while keeping the bag compact in storage. In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the second tear line runs from the middle of the first tear line to the open end of the bag. An advantage of these embodiments is that the second tear line is highly visible. This reduces the likelihood that a bag will be ripped open without use of the tear lines. Furthermore, even if ripped open by a user without paying attention to the tear line, this will likely cause the bag to be torn across the tear line due to this point providing a weakness and being located near a very likely location wherein the user pulls the paper to rip the bag. In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the second tear line runs from an end point of the first tear line to the open end of the bag along the border between the front surface and one of the two side surfaces. In these embodiments, the bag can advantageously be torn open using a single tearing motion, rather than two separate tearing motions. When tearing open the bag along the second tear line, the tear in the bag will eventually reach the beginning of the first tear line. The bag can then be torn open along the first tear line by continuing the same tearing motion. Thus, a single pulling motion of the user will cause the bag to be torn across both tear lines, and hence fully expose the item in the bag. In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the top surface, the back surface, and the two side surfaces define an inside of the bag, wherein one or more of the surfaces is provided on the inside of the bag with text or images. The text or images may convey information about the food contained in the bag, such as an amount of calories, or a list of ingredients for the food. Alternatively, the text or images may show a predetermined arrangement of the food contained in the bag and of condiments or drinks for additionally placing on the bag after it is torn open such as to form a placemat. Alternatively, the text or images may convey information about the human body, or about food-related factors affecting the health thereof. Alternatively, the text or images may convey information about the material origin of the bag, about recycling of paper, or other pieces of information relating to the sustainability of paper bags. Alternatively, the text or images may show advertisements. As a further alternative, the image may include a quick response code (QR-code) or bar code that enables the user to obtain additional information, link to a website, or obtain an audio or video file using his or her mobile phone. For example, a user may obtain a promotional code via such a QR-code in order to obtain some advantage with a future order at the same store. In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the top surface further comprises a fold line, wherein the fold line runs through an intersection point on the second tear line and transversely thereto for enabling the bag to be partially torn open locally around the intersection point. Disadvantageously, during transport of warm food products in a bag, trapped steam can often make the food products turn soggy. The fold line in these embodiments is oriented such that it forms a mountain fold. In this way, the top surface can easily be pinched by a consumer, providing a convenient point of grip for locally tearing open the bag around the intersection point of the second tear line. This creates a small opening in the top surface of the bag through which steam from warm food products can escape the bag. In this way, food products can be prevented from turning soggy, while still providing a large degree of insulation for keeping the food products warm during transport. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided herewith a paper sheet for manufacturing of a paper bag according to the first aspect of the invention. The sheet is pre-cut along a predefined contour, wherein the contour is defined by a row of four adjacent shapes, wherein the row consists of: a first shape for forming the top surface of the bag, including a first border for providing a connection to a second shape for forming the first side surface of the bag, including a second border for providing a connection to a third shape for forming the bottom surface of the bag, including a third border for providing a connection to a fourth shape for forming the second side surface of the bag, wherein the first shape includes a fourth border for providing a connection to the fourth shape. The first shape and the third shape are rectangular and are connectable to each other at a back edge of the first shape and a back edge of the third shape for forming a backside of the paper bag. The first shape further comprises exactly two tear lines, wherein the two tear lines comprise a first tear line and a second tear line running transversely with respect to each other across the first shape. The first tear line runs near the back edge from a point near the first border to a point near the fourth border opposite the first border. The second tear line runs from a point on the first tear line to an open edge of the first shape opposite the back edge. The paper bag can easily be formed from the paper sheet by connection of the first shape to the fourth shape along the fourth border and connection of the first shape to the third shape along the back edge of the first shape and the back edge of the third shape. These connections can be made in multiple ways, such as by way of gluing, stapling or otherwise connecting the shapes together. In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the second shape comprises a back edge connecting the back edge of the first shape to the back edge of the third shape, and an open edge opposite the back edge, wherein the fourth shape comprises a back edge in an extended direction of the back edge of the third shape, and an open edge opposite the back edge, wherein the sheet further comprises five crease lines including a first crease line running along the first border, a second crease line running along the second border, a third crease line running along the third border, a fourth crease line running across the second shape from a point near the back edge of the second shape, to a point near an open edge of the second shape, and a fifth crease line running across the fourth shape from a point near the back edge of the fourth shape, to a point near the open edge of the fourth shape. The five crease lines allow the sheet to take the desired shape of the paper bag when connecting the first shape to the fourth shape along the fourth border and to the third shape along the back edges of the first and third shapes. The first, second and third crease lines serve to form corners between the top surface, the bottom surface and the side surfaces of the paper bag. The fourth and fifth crease lines serve to enable forming of a paper bag having the desired shape by folding of the second shape and the fourth shape along the fourth crease line and the fifth crease line, respectively. In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the sheet further comprises a first attachment strip for enabling the connection between the first shape and the fourth shape, wherein either one of the following: the first attachment strip runs along the fourth border; or the first attachment strip runs along a side edge of the fourth shape opposite the third border, wherein the sheet further comprises a second attachment strip for enabling the connection between the first shape and the third shape, wherein either one of the following: the second attachment strip runs along the back edge of the first shape; or the second attachment strip runs along the back edge of the third shape. The first attachment strip and the second attachment strip are typically folded around a corner between surfaces between which the strips are to enable a connection. The connection can then be enabled in multiple ways, including by way of gluing or stapling the shapes together. In the ideal case, the first tear line runs on the back edge from a point on the first border to a point on the fourth border opposite the first border. This allows a bag constructed from a paper sheet in accordance with the second aspect of the invention to be neatly torn open along the full length and along the full width of the bag and enables a maximally neatly rectangular placemat to be formed. However, the widths of the first attachment strip and the second attachment strip may both be on the order of a centimeter. The presence of the attachment strips can make it impractical to place the first tear line such as to run on an edge or border. It may instead be preferred to place the tear line near borders, such as to run clear of the attachment strips. Brief description of the drawings The invention will further be elucidated by description of some specific embodiments thereof, making reference to the attached drawings. The detailed description provides examples of possible implementations of the invention, but is not to be regarded as describing the only embodiments falling under the scope. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and the description is to be regarded as illustrative without being restrictive on the invention. In the drawings: Figures 1A-1B schematically illustrate embodiments in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. Figures 2A-2B schematically illustrate a use of an embodiment in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. Figure 3 schematically illustrates an embodiment in accordance with the second aspect of the invention. Detailed description Figure 1A shows a paper bag (1), comprising a top surface (2), a bottom surface (3), a backside (4) and two side surfaces (5, 6) connecting the top surface (2) to the bottom surface (3). The bag (1) has an opening at the front defined by the open edges of the top surface (2), the bottom surface (3) and the side surfaces (5, 6). The opening is positioned opposite the backside (4). The bag (1) further comprises exactly two tear lines (7, 8) running transversely with respect to each other across the front surface (2). The first tear line (7) runs along the backside (4) of the bag from the corner between one side surface (5) and the top surface (2), to the corner between the top surface (2) and the other side surface (6). In alternative embodiments, the first tear line (7) may be positioned at another point on the top surface (2), such as to avoid overlap with an attachment strip (20). The second tear line (8) runs from the middle of the first tear line (7) to the middle of the open edge of the top surface (2). The two tear lines (7, 8) thus form a T-shape on the top surface (2) of the bag. Food contained in the bag (1) may then be easily exposed and accessed for consumption by means of tearing open the bag (1) along the tear lines (7, 8), such as to form a placemat. In alternative embodiments, the second tear line (8) may run from another point on the first tear line (7) to another point on the open edge of the top surface (2). The top surface (2) of the bag is further provided with a fold line (21) forming a mountain fold. This fold line (21) intersects with the second tear line (8) and runs transversely thereto. Because a mountain fold creates an inverted V- shaped protrusion in the top surface, it can easily be pinched by a consumer from the outside of the bag (1). The bag (1) can then be torn open locally around the point of intersection. This allows steam from warm food products contained within the bag (1) to escape, preventing the food products from turning soggy. Since the opening around the intersection point can be kept small, most of the insulation provided by the bag is maintained, such that enough steam can escape the bag to prevent the food products from turning soggy, but enough heat is kept inside the bag such that the food product is kept warm. Figure 1B shows an alternative embodiment of such a paper bag (1). The bag (1) comprises exactly two tear lines (7, 8) running transversely with respect to each other across the front surface (2). The first tear line (7) runs along the backside (4) of the bag from the corner between one side surface (5) and the top surface (2), to the corner between the top surface (2) and the other side surface (6). In alternative embodiments, the first tear line (7) may be positioned at another point on the top surface (2), such as to avoid overlap with an attachment strip (20). The second tear line (8) runs from an end point of the first tear line (7) at the corner between the top surface (2) and the side surface (5), to the open edge of the top surface (2) at the corner between the top surface (2) and the side surface (5). The two tear lines (7, 8) thus form an L-shape on the top surface (2) of the bag. Food contained in the bag (1) may then be easily exposed and accessed for consumption by means of tearing open the bag (1) along the tear lines (7, 8), such as to form a placemat. In alternative embodiments, the second tear line (8) may run from another point on the first tear line (7) to another point on the open edge of the top surface (2). Figure 2A shows use of an embodiment of a paper bag (1). In use, the bag may be holding a food item. A user may open the bag by gripping the bag near the middle of the open edge of the top surface of the bag. Gripping the bag at this point provides a starting point from which the bag may be easily opened, such as to form a placemat. The bag may be torn open along the second tear line 8 until the end of the second tear line 8 is reached near the backside 4 of the bag 1. From there, the bag 1 may be torn open further along the first tear line 7. A tearing motion along the first tear line 7 may start from an intersection point between the first and second tear lines. In this embodiment, the tearing motion may move from the middle of the backside 4 toward the two sides 5 and 6 of the bag 1. In alternative embodiments, in which the second tear line is positioned at another location on the top surface, this tearing motion may move between different points. Figure 2B shows an embodiment of a paper bag 1 in a torn open state. A paper bag 1 in this state has been formed to be a placemat. The placemat is formed by tearing open the bag 1 along the first and second tear lines 7 and 8, such as to expand the bag in the lateral directions. This allows a placemat formed by tearing open the bag to be more suitably shaped than a placemat formed by expansion in the longitudinal directions. Figure 3 shows a paper sheet (9) for manufacturing of a paper bag (1) according to an embodiment of the invention. The sheet (9) is pre-cut along a contour defined by a row of four adjacent shapes. The first shape (10) is rectangular in shape and is for forming the top surface (2) of the bag (1). It has a border (11) along which the first shape (10) is connected to the second shape (12). The second shape (12) is for forming the side surface (6) of the bag (1). It has a border (13) along which the second shape (12) is connected to the third shape (14). The third shape (14) is rectangular in shape and is for forming the bottom surface (3) of the bag (1). It has a border (15) along which the third shape (14) is connected to the fourth shape (16). The fourth shape (16) is for forming the side surface (5) of the bag (1). The first shape (10) is provided with exactly two tear lines (7, 8) running transversely with respect to each other. The first tear line (7) runs near the back edge (101) from a point near the border (11) to a point near the side edge (103) of the first shape. In alternative embodiments, the first tear line may run from another point near the border (11) to another point near the side edge (103). The second tear line (8) runs from the middle of the first tear line (7) to an open edge (102) of the first shape (1) opposite the back edge (101). In alternative embodiments, the second tear line (8) may run from another point on the first tear line (7) to another point on the open edge (102). The sheet (9) is provided with five crease lines. The first crease line (11) runs along the border (11). The second crease line (13) runs along the border (13). The third crease line (15) runs along the border (15). The fourth crease line (17) runs across the second shape (12) from the back edge (121) of the second shape to the open edge (122) of the second shape. The fifth crease line (18) runs across the fourth shape (16) from the back edge (161) of the fourth shape (16) to the open edge (162) of the fourth shape (16). The sheet (9) further comprises a first attachment strip (19) for enabling a connection between the first shape (10) and the fourth shape (16) along a side edge (103) of the first shape (10) and a side edge (163) of the fourth shape (16). In this embodiment, the attachment strip (19) is positioned along the side edge (163) of the fourth shape. In alternative embodiments, the attachment strip (19) may instead be positioned along the side edge (103) of the first shape (10). The sheet (9) further comprises a second attachment strip (20) for enabling a connection between the first shape (10) and the third shape (14) along the back edge (101) of the first shape and the back edge (141) of the third shape (14). In this embodiment, the attachment strip is positioned at the back edge (141) of the third shape. In alternative embodiments, this attachment strip (18) may instead be positioned along the back edge (101) of the first shape. The present invention has been described in terms of some specific embodiments thereof. It will be appreciated that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described herein are intended for illustrated purposes only and are not by any manner or means intended to be restrictive on the invention. It is believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description and drawings appended thereto. It will be clear to the skilled person that the invention is not limited to any embodiment herein described and that modifications are possible which should be considered within the scope of the appended claims. Also kinematic inversions are considered inherently disclosed and to be within the scope of the invention. Moreover, any of the components and elements of the various embodiments disclosed may be combined or may be incorporated in other embodiments where considered necessary, desired or preferred, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. In the claims, any reference signs shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The term 'comprising' and ‘including’ when used in this description or the appended claims should not be construed in an exclusive or exhaustive sense but rather in an inclusive sense. Thus the expression ‘comprising’ as used herein does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps in addition to those listed in any claim. Furthermore, the words ‘a’ and ‘an’ shall not be construed as limited to ‘only one’, but instead are used to mean ‘at least one’, and do not exclude a plurality. Features that are not specifically or explicitly described or claimed may be additionally included in the structure of the invention within its scope. Any of the claimed or disclosed devices or portions thereof may be combined together or separated into further portions unless specifically stated otherwise, without departing from the claimed invention. Expressions such as: "means for ...” should be read as: "component configured for ..." or "member constructed to ..." and should be construed to include equivalents for the structures disclosed. The use of expressions like: "critical", "preferred", "especially preferred" etc. is not intended to limit the invention. Additions, deletions, and modifications within the purview of the skilled person may generally be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as is determined by the claims. The invention may be practiced otherwise then as specifically described herein, and is only limited by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. Paper bag for holding, transporting and exposing a food product, the bag being a rectangular bag, wherein the bag comprises a rectangular top surface, a rectangular bottom surface, a backside and two side surfaces that connect the top surface to the bottom surface, such as to form an open end at a front of the bag and a closed end at the backside of the bag, wherein the bag further comprises exactly two tear lines, wherein the two tear lines comprise a first tear line and a second tear line running transversely with respect to each other across the front surface, wherein the first tear line runs near the closed end of the bag from a point near the corner between the top surface and the first side surface to a point near the corner between the top surface and the second side surface, and wherein the second tear line runs from a point on the first tear line to the open end of the bag, wherein the top surface further comprises a fold line, wherein the fold line runs through an intersection point on the second tear line and transversely thereto for enabling the bag to be partially torn open locally around the intersection point.

2. Bag according to claim 1, wherein the backside is formed by a corner between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the side surfaces are folded side surfaces.

3. Bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second tear line runs from the middle of the first tear line to the open end of the bag.

4. Bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second tear line runs from an end point of the first tear line to the open end of the bag along the border between the front surface and one of the two side surfaces.

5. Bag according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the top surface, the back surface, and the two side surfaces define an inside of the bag, wherein one or more of the surfaces is provided on the inside of the bag with text or images.

6. Paper sheet for manufacturing of a paper bag according to claim 1, the sheet being pre-cut along a predefined contour, wherein the contour is defined by a row of four adjacent shapes, wherein the row consists of: a first shape for forming the top surface of the bag, including a first border for providing a connection to a second shape for forming the first side surface of the bag, including a second border for providing a connection to a third shape for forming the bottom surface of the bag, including a third border for providing a connection to a fourth shape for forming the second side surface of the bag, wherein the first shape includes a fourth border for providing a connection to the fourth shape, the first shape and the third shape being rectangular and being connectable to each other at a back edge of the first shape and a back edge of the third shape for forming a backside of the paper bag; wherein the first shape further comprises exactly two tear lines, wherein the exactly two tear lines comprise a first tear line and a second tear line running transversely with respect to each other across the first shape, wherein the first tear line runs near the back edge from a point near the first border to a point near the fourth border opposite the first border, and wherein the second tear line runs from a point on the first tear line to an open edge of the first shape opposite the back edge.

7. Paper sheet according to claim 6, wherein the second shape comprises a back edge connecting the back edge of the first shape to the back edge of the third shape, and an open edge opposite the back edge, wherein the fourth shape comprises a back edge in an extended direction of the back edge of the third shape, and an open edge opposite the back edge, wherein the sheet further comprises five crease lines including a first crease line running along the first border, a second crease line running along the second border, a third crease line running along the third border, a fourth crease line running across the second shape from a point near the back edge of the second shape, to a point near an open edge of the second shape, and a fifth crease line running across the fourth shape from a point near the back edge of the fourth shape, to a point near the open edge of the fourth shape.

8. Paper sheet according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a first attachment strip for enabling the connection between the first shape and the fourth shape, wherein either one of the following: - the first attachment strip runs along the fourth border; or - the first attachment strip runs along a side edge of the fourth shape opposite the third border, wherein the sheet further comprises a second attachment strip for enabling the connection between the first shape and the third shape, wherein either one of the following: -_{the second attachment strip runs along the back edge of the first shape; or} _{- the second attachment strip runs along the back edge of the third shape.} 9. Paper sheet according to any of the claims 6-8, wherein the top surface further comprises a fold line, wherein the fold line runs through an intersection point on the second tear line and transversely thereto for enabling the bag to be partially torn open locally around the intersection point.