T-shirt bag and stack of bags

Abstract

In embodiments of the invention, a T-shirt bag includes a breakout die cut between a rack hook die cut and a bag opening. Such breakout die cuts may thus limit tears from reaching the edge of the bag opening. In embodiments of the invention, a T-shirt bag includes multiple rack hook die cuts to accommodate dispensing racks having rack hooks in different positions. Such a T-shirt bag may thus enjoy wider application than conventional bags. Moreover, the multiple rack hook die cuts may further lessen the chance that a tear caused by tugging or elevated bags during loading will reach the edge of the bag opening.

1 . A thermoplastic bag comprising:
 a front layer; and   a rear layer, each of the front layer and the rear layer including:
 a top edge; 
 a bottom edge; 
 a first side edge; 
 and a second side edge, the front layer being joined to the rear layer at their respective bottom, first side and second side edges, at least a portion of the front layer top edge and at least a portion of the rear layer top edge forming an opening in the thermoplastic bag, each of the front layer and the rear layer further including: 
 a first rack hook die cut positioned relatively near the top edge and substantially mid-way between the first and second side edges; 
 a first fracture die cut connected to the first rack hook die cut, the first fracture die cut extending toward the top edge; and 
 a breakout die cut positioned between the first fracture die cut and the top edge, the breakout die cut not connected to the top edge, the thermoplastic bag thus configured such that, when in use, a tear will tend to extend from the first rack hook die cut and through the first fracture die cut, the tear terminating in the breakout die cut without reaching the top edge. 
   
   
   
       2 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein the front layer is joined to the rear layer via a plastic weld substantially located along the respective bottom edges. 
   
   
       3 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first fracture die cut defines a slit in each of the front layer and the rear layer. 
   
   
       4 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first fracture line defines a perforation track in each of the front layer and the rear layer. 
   
   
       5 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first fracture die cut defines a weakened portion in each of the front layer and the rear layer. 
   
   
       6 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first fracture die cut is further connected to the breakout die cut in each of the front layer and the rear layer. 
   
   
       7 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 1 , further including at least one compression point in each of the front layer and the rear layer, the at least one compression point configured to temporarily bond at least a portion of the front layer to at least a portion of the rear layer. 
   
   
       8 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 7 , wherein one of the at least one of compression point is located at an edge of the rack hook die cut. 
   
   
       9 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein each of the front layer and the rear layer further include:
 a second rack hook die cut positioned near the top edge and substantially mid-way between the first and second side edges; and   a second fracture die cut connected to the first rack hook die cut, the second fracture die cut extending toward the top edge, the first rack hook die cut being positioned between the second rack hook die cut and the top edge, the thermoplastic bag thus configured to receive a rack hook in one of the first rack hook die cut and the second rack hook die cut, the thermoplastic bag further configured such that, when the rack hook is extended in the second rack hook die cut, the tear will tend to extend from the second rack hook die, through the second fracture die cut, and to the first rack hook die cut.   
   
   
       10 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 9 , wherein the second fracture die cut defines a weakened portion in each of the front layer and the rear layer. 
   
   
       11 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 9 , wherein the second fracture die cut is further connected to the first rack hook die cut in each of the front layer and the rear layer. 
   
   
       12 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 9 , further including at least one compression point in each of the front layer and the rear layer, the at least one compression point configured to temporarily bond at least a portion of the front layer to at least a portion of the rear layer. 
   
   
       13 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 1 , each of the front layer and the rear layer further including:
 a first handle portion; and   a second handle portion, the first and second handle portions extending from the top edge, the first handle portion having a first arm die cut configured to receive a first dispensing rack arm, the second handle portion having a second arm die cut configured to receive a second dispensing rack arm.   
   
   
       14 . A thermoplastic bag comprising:
 a front layer; and   a rear layer, each of the front layer and the rear layer including:
 a top edge; 
 a bottom edge; 
 a first side edge; 
 and a second side edge, the front layer being joined to the rear layer at their respective bottom, first side and second side edges, at least a portion of the front layer top edge and at least a portion of the rear layer top edge forming an opening in the thermoplastic bag, each of the front layer and the rear layer further including: 
 a plurality of rack hook die cuts positioned relatively near the top edge and substantially mid-way between the first and second side edges, the plurality of rack hook die cuts positioned in a column, the column being substantially parallel to the first and second side edges; and 
 a plurality of fracture die cuts, each of the plurality of fracture die cuts connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of rack hook die cuts, each of the plurality of fracture die cuts extending toward the top edge the thermoplastic bag thus configured to receive a rack hook in any one or more of the plurality of rack hook die cuts. 
   
   
   
       15 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of fracture die cuts define a slit in each of the front layer and the rear layer. 
   
   
       16 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of fracture die cuts define a weakened portion in each of the front layer and the rear layer. 
   
   
       17 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of fracture die cuts is connected to two of the plurality of rack hook die cuts. 
   
   
       18 . The thermoplastic bag of  claim 14 , further including at least one compression point in each of the front layer and the rear layer, the at least one compression point temporarily bonding at least a portion of the front layer to at least a portion of the rear layer. 
   
   
       19 . A bag stack comprising a plurality of thermoplastic bags, each of the plurality of thermoplastic bags including:
 a front layer; and   a rear layer, each of the front layer and the rear layer including:
 a top edge; 
 a bottom edge; 
 a first side edge; 
 and a second side edge, the front layer being joined to the rear layer at their respective bottom, first side and second side edges, at least a portion of the front layer top edge and at least a portion of the rear layer top edge forming an opening in each of the plurality of thermoplastic bags, each of the front layer and the rear layer further including: 
 a first rack hook die cut positioned relatively near the top edge and substantially mid-way between the first and second side edges; 
 a first fracture die cut connected to the first rack hook die cut, the first fracture die cut extending toward the top edge; and 
 a breakout die cut positioned between the first fracture die cut and the top edge, the breakout die cut not connected to the top edge, each of the thermoplastic bags thus configured such that, when in use, a tear will tend to extend from the first rack hook die cut and through the first fracture die cut, the tear terminating in the breakout die cut without reaching the top edge. 
   
   
   
       20 . The bag stack of  claim 19 , wherein each of the front layer and the rear layer further include:
 a second rack hook die cut positioned near the top edge and substantially mid-way between the first and second side edges; and   a second fracture die cut connected to the first rack hook die cut, the second fracture die cut extending toward the top edge, the first rack hook die cut being positioned between the second rack hook die cut and the top edge, each of the thermoplastic bags thus configured to receive a rack hook in one of the first rack hook die cut and the second rack hook die cut, each of the thermoplastic bags further configured such that, when the rack hook is extended in the second rack hook die cut, the tear will tend to extend from the second rack hook die, through the second fracture die cut, and to the first rack hook die cut.