Pinch Seal Fill And Open Shipping Sack

Abstract

A shipping sack includes a body including a first end and a second end, opposed lateral sides, and opposed first and second panels. The first end is a first closed end defined by a first end portion of the first panel extending beyond a first end portion of the second panel and the first end portion of the first panel is folded-over and secured to the first end portion of the second panel. The second end is a second closed end defined by a second end portion of the second panel extending beyond a second end portion of the first panel and the second end portion of the second panel is folded-over and secured to the second end portion of the first panel. A fill opening is located on the second panel and extends between the lateral sides and is disposed at a location adjacent the first closed end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shipping sack, comprising:
 a body including a first end and a second end longitudinally spaced from the first end, opposed lateral sides, and opposed first and second panels,   the first end is a first closed end defined by a first end portion of the first panel extending beyond a first end portion of the second panel and the first end portion of the first panel is folded-over and secured to the first end portion of the second panel,   the second end is a second closed end defined by a second end portion of the second panel extending beyond a second end portion of the first panel and the second end portion of the second panel is folded-over and secured to the second end portion of the first panel, and   the body further including a fill opening located on the second panel, the fill opening extending between the lateral sides and disposed at a location adjacent the first closed end.   
     
     
         2 . The sack of  claim 1 , wherein the fill opening includes opposed ends, each end is spaced a predetermined distance from the lateral sides such that the fill opening has a width smaller than a width of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The sack of  claim 2 , wherein each end of the fill opening is spaced about 12 mm to about 25 mm from one of the lateral sides of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The sack of  claim 1 , wherein the first end portion of the first panel defines an edge and the fill opening is spaced about 55 mm from the edge of the first end portion of the first panel. 
     
     
         5 . The sack of  claim 4 , wherein the first end portion of the second panel defines an edge and the fill opening is spaced about 10 mm from the edge of the first end portion of the second panel. 
     
     
         6 . The sack of  claim 1 , wherein the first end portion of the first panel defines an edge and the fill opening is spaced about 62 mm from the edge of the first end portion of the first panel. 
     
     
         7 . The sack of  claim 6 , wherein the first end portion of the second panel defines an edge and the fill opening is spaced about 14 mm to about 17 mm from the edge of the first end portion of the second panel. 
     
     
         8 . The sack of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a first fold line for folding over the first end portion of the first panel to close the first end and define the first closed end, and the body includes a second fold line spaced from the first fold line for folding over the closed first end, the folded-over closed first end is secured to the second panel to close the fill opening. 
     
     
         9 . The sack of  claim 8 , wherein the first end portion of the first panel defines an edge and the first fold line is spaced about 15 mm to about 28 mm from the edge of the first end portion of the first panel, and the first fold line is spaced about 19 mm to about 38 mm from the second fold line. 
     
     
         10 . The sack of  claim 8 , wherein the fill opening is located between the first fold line and the second fold line. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a shipping sack comprising:
 providing a blank defining a first longitudinal axis and a second axis transverse to the first axis, the blank including a first end and a second end longitudinally spaced from the first end;   providing at least one first fold line extending parallel to the first axis, the first fold line separating the blank into a first panel and a second panel;   folding the blank along the first fold line, the blank now defining a tube including open first and second ends, first and second opposed panels and opposed lateral sides;   providing a pair of spaced second fold lines, each of the second fold lines extending parallel to the transverse axis, one of the second fold line located on the first panel adjacent the first end, the other of the second fold lines located on the second panel adjacent the second end;   folding the first end and the second end along the second fold lines, securing the first end to the second panel to define a closed first end, and securing the second end to the first panel to define a closed second end; and   cutting the second panel in a direction parallel to the transverse axis at a location adjacent the first end to form a fill opening.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a pair of spaced first fold lines which separate the second panel into a pair of second panel sections;
 folding the blank along the first fold lines, the second panel sections having end portions at least partially overlapping, and securing the overlapping end portions of the second panel sections; and   cutting the second panel sections to define the fill opening.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cutting step is performed after the first end is folded to define the closed first end. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cutting step is performed before the first end is folded to define the closed first end. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cutting step further includes spacing opposed ends of the fill opening a predetermined distance from the lateral sides such that the fill opening has a width smaller than a width of the second panel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a third fold line extending parallel to the transverse axis and adjacent the fill opening, folding the closed first end along the third fold line, and securing the folded-over closed first end to the second panel to cover and close the fill opening. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising filling the sack with an associated material through the fill opening prior to the folding of the closed first end. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising treating a portion of the second panel which will be engaged with the folded-over closed first end with a release layer to facilitate opening of the sack by pealing open the folded-over closed first end to reveal the fill opening. 
     
     
         19 . A shipping sack, comprising:
 a body including a first end and a second end longitudinally spaced from the first end, opposed lateral sides, and opposed first and second panels,   the first end is a first closed end defined by a first end portion of the first panel extending beyond a first end portion of the second panel and the first end portion of the first panel is folded-over and secured to the first end portion of the second panel,   the second end is a second closed end defined by a second end portion of the second panel extending beyond a second end portion of the first panel and the second end portion of the second panel is folded-over and secured to the second end portion of the first panel, and   the body further including a fill opening located on the second panel, the fill opening extending between the lateral sides and disposed at a location adjacent the first closed end, the fill opening includes opposed ends, each end is spaced a predetermined distance from the lateral sides such that the fill opening has a width smaller than a width of the body.   
     
     
         20 . The sack of  claim 19 , wherein the body includes a first fold line for folding over the first end portion of the first panel to close the first end and define the first closed end, and the body includes a second fold line spaced from the first fold line for folding over the closed first end, the fill opening is located between the first fold line and the second fold line, and the folded-over closed first end is secured to the second panel to close the fill opening.