Window bag and method for making a window bag

Abstract

A multi-purpose window bag having multiple layers includes a window, an outer surface and an inner surface. The bag is formed from a multi-ply blank having an interior polymeric layer and one or more outer layers. The outer layers are typically formed from paper or paper like material and have a window cut through the outer layers. First, the outer layers are adhered to one another and then the window is cut through the adhered outer layers. Next, a skip laminator is used to apply adhesive to the interior surface of the adhered outer layers, except for the window. Finally, the polymeric interior layer is adhered to the outer layers. Preferably, the interior layer is transparent or translucent. The multi-ply is formed into closed bottom bag with the polymeric interior layer fully lining the inside of the bag.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bag comprising: 
 a multi-ply blank comprising: 
 an outer layer having at least one ply, the outer layer having at least one window cut therethrough; and  
 a polymeric inner layer adhesively adhered to the outer layer.  
   
     
     
         2 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric inner layer is transparent.  
     
     
         3 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric inner layer is translucent.  
     
     
         4 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer and the inner layer have comparable size and shape, the inner layer being offset from the outer layer in at least one direction.  
     
     
         5 . The bag according to  claim 4 , wherein the multi-ply blank is arranged into a tube, a portion of one surface of the outer layer being adhesively adhered to another surface of the outer layer.  
     
     
         6 . The bag according to  claim 5 , wherein a surface of the inner layer proximate one longitudinally extending edge of the inner layer is adhesively adhered to a surface of the inner layer proximate to the other longitudinally extending edge of the inner layer.  
     
     
         7 . The bag according to  claim 4 , wherein the outer layer comprises at least two plies, each ply having comparable size and shape, one of the at least two plies being offset from another of the at least two plies in at least one direction.  
     
     
         8 . The bag according to  claim 7 , wherein a portion of each ply is adhesively adhered to itself.  
     
     
         9 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the multi-ply blank is formed into the shape of a bag having a front, a back, two sides and a closed bottom.  
     
     
         10 . The bag according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one window is positioned in one of the front, the back and the sides.  
     
     
         11 . A bag comprising: 
 a multi-ply blank comprising: 
 an outer layer having at least one ply, the outer layer having at least one window cut therethrough; and  
 a transparent polymeric inner layer adhesively adhered to the outer layer, the outer layer and the inner layer having comparable size and shape, the inner layer being offset from the outer layer in at least one direction,  
 the multi-ply blank being arranged into a tube, a portion of one surface of the outer layer being adhesively adhered to another surface of the outer layer, a surface of the inner layer proximate one longitudinally extending edge of the inner layer being adhesively adhered to a surface of the inner layer proximate to the other longitudinally extending edge of the inner layer,  
 the tubular multi-ply blank being formed into the shape of a bag having a front, a back, two sides and a closed bottom.  
   
     
     
         12 . The bag according to  claim 11 , wherein the outer layer comprises at least two plies, each ply having comparable size and shape, one of the at least two plies being offset from another of the at least two plies in at least one direction.  
     
     
         13 . The bag according to  claim 12 , wherein a portion of each ply is adhesively adhered to itself.  
     
     
         14 . A method of forming a bag comprising the steps of: 
 providing a multi-ply blank comprising: an outer layer having at least one ply, the outer layer having at least one window cut therethrough; and a polymeric inner layer adhesively adhered to the outer layer, the multi-ply blank being formed by: 
 cutting the at least one window in the outer layer;  
 applying adhesive to one surface of the outer layer;  
 adhering the outer layer to the inner layer;  
   applying adhesive to a portion of one surface of the outer layer;    applying adhesive to a portion of one surface of the inner layer;    forming the multi-ply blank into a tube, adhering the portion of one surface of the inner layer to another surface of the inner layer, adhering the portion of one surface of the outer layer to another surface of the outer layer; and    forming the tubular multi-ply blank into the shape of a bag having a front, a back, two sides and a closed bottom.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , prior to the step of adhering the outer layer to the inner layer, offsetting the inner layer from the outer layer in at least one direction.  
     
     
         16 . A method of forming a bag comprising the steps of: 
 providing a multi-ply blank comprising: an outer layer having at least two plies, the outer layer having at least one window cut therethrough; and a polymeric inner layer adhesively adhered to the outer layer, the multi-ply blank being formed by: 
 adhering the at least two plies to one another, one ply being adhered to an adjacent ply;  
 cutting the at least one window in the adhered at least two plies;  
 applying adhesive to one surface of the outer layer;  
 adhering the outer layer to the inner layer;  
   applying adhesive to a portion of one surface of each of the at least two plies;    applying adhesive to a portion of one surface of the inner layer;    forming the multi-ply blank into a tube, adhering the portion of one surface of the inner layer to another surface of the inner layer, adhering the portion of one surface of each of the at least two plies to itself; and    forming the tubular multi-ply blank into the shape of a bag having a front, a back, two sides and a closed bottom.    
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , prior to the step of adhering the outer layer to the inner layer, offsetting the inner layer from the outer layer in at least one direction.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , prior to the step of adhering the at least two plies to one another, offsetting one of the at least two plies from another of the at least two plies in at least one direction.