Bag With Detachable Coupon Portions and Foldable Pattern Therefor

Abstract

A foldable bag pattern includes a body having two longitudinal edges, top and bottom transverse edges running between the longitudinal edges, and elongate body panels arranged side-by-side between the longitudinal edges. Longitudinal fold lines extend between the transverse edges. Each longitudinal fold line is disposed between an adjacent pair of body panels. A top transverse fold line and a bottom transverse fold line extend between the longitudinal edges. The body also includes a top margin defined between the top transverse edge and the top transverse fold line, and a bottom margin defined between the bottom transverse edge and the bottom transverse fold line. The top margin has at least one detachable coupon portion. The body panels are foldable along the longitudinal and transverse fold lines to form a bag having an open top bag portion with at least one detachable coupon portion disposed adjacent thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable bag pattern comprising:
 a body having:
 a pair of first and second longitudinal edges, and a pair of top and bottom transverse edges running between the first and second longitudinal edges; 
 a plurality of elongate body panels arranged side-by-side between the first and second longitudinal edges; 
 a plurality of longitudinal fold lines extending between the top and bottom transverse edges; each longitudinal fold line being disposed between an adjacent pair of body panels; 
 a top transverse fold line extending between the first and second longitudinal edges; 
 a bottom transverse fold line extending between the first and second longitudinal edges; 
 a top margin defined between the top transverse edge and the top transverse fold line; the top margin having at least one detachable coupon portion; 
 a bottom margin defined between the bottom transverse edge and the bottom transverse fold line; and 
   The body panels being foldable along the longitudinal and transverse fold lines to form a bag having a base bag portion formed by the bottom margin, an open top bag portion, and the at least one detachable coupon portion disposed adjacent the top bag portion.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 1  wherein the body further includes at least one perforated line extending along the boundary of the at least one detachable coupon portion to facilitate detachment of the coupon portion from the body. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 1  wherein the at least one detachable coupon portion depends from the top bag portion when the bag is formed. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 3  wherein:
 the body includes an intermediate portion disposed between the top margin and the bottom margin; and 
 the at least one detachable coupon portion overlies the intermediate portion of the body when the bag is formed. 
 
     
     
         5 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 1  wherein the at least one detachable coupon portion is contained within the interior of the bag when the bag is formed. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 1  wherein:
 the body has an inner face and an outer face; the inner face defining at least partially the boundaries of the interior of the bag, when the bag is formed; and 
 the at least one detachable coupon portion is arranged opposite the inner face when the bag is formed. 
 
     
     
         7 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 6  wherein at least part of the at least one detachable coupon portion is retained against the inner face when the bag is formed. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 1  wherein:
 the body has an inner face and an outer face; the inner face defining the boundary of the interior of the bag, when the bag is formed; and 
 the at least one detachable coupon portion is arranged opposite the outer face when the bag is formed. 
 
     
     
         9 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 8  wherein at least, part of the at least one detachable coupon portion is retained against the outer face when the bag is formed. 
     
     
         10 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 1  wherein the at least one detachable coupon portion includes a plurality of detachable coupon portions arranged in at least one of a row and a column. 
     
     
         11 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 1  wherein the at least one detachable coupon portion includes a plurality of detachable coupon portions arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. 
     
     
         12 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 11  wherein the body has a perforated line extending between each pair of adjacent rows of detachable coupon portions to facilitate detachment of the coupon portions. 
     
     
         13 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 11  wherein the body has a perforated line extending between each pair of adjacent columns of detachable coupon portions to facilitate detachment of the coupon portions. 
     
     
         14 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 1  wherein the at least one detachable coupon portion has a first face and a second face; at least one of the faces of the at least one detachable coupon portion displaying an item selected from the group consisting of: (a) text; (b) graphics; (c) logos; (d) branding; (e) barcodes; (f) coupon identification numbers; and (g) coupon verification identifiers. 
     
     
         15 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 1  wherein:
 the plurality of body panels includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh body panels; and 
 the plurality of longitudinal fold lines includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth fold lines; the first longitudinal fold line being disposed between the first body panel and the second body panel; the second longitudinal fold line being disposed between the second body panel and the third body panel; the third longitudinal fold line being disposed between the third body panel and the fourth body panel; the fourth longitudinal fold line being disposed between the fourth body panel and the fifth body panel; the fifth longitudinal fold line being disposed between the fifth body panel and the sixth body panel; and the sixth longitudinal fold line being disposed between the sixth body panel and the seventh body panel. 
 
     
     
         16 . The foldable bag pattern of  claim 1  wherein the body has a shape selected from the group consisting of: (a) substantially rectangular; and (b) substantially square. 
     
     
         17 . A bag formed from a foldable bag pattern, the bag comprising:
 a base;   an open top; and   an intermediate sleeve portion extending between the base and the top; the intermediate sleeve portion having a margin adjacent the top; the margin being formed in part by a folded portion; the folded portion including at least one detachable coupon portion.   
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 17  wherein the at least one detachable coupon portion lies inside the bag. 
     
     
         19 . The bag of  claim 17  wherein the at least one detachable coupon portion lies outside the bag. 
     
     
         20 . The bag of  claim 17  wherein the folded portion includes at least one perforated line extending along the boundary of the at least one detachable coupon portion to facilitate detachment of the coupon portion from the folded portion. 
     
     
         21 . The bag of  claim 17  wherein the open top has a rim, and the at least one detachable coupon portion is carried below the rim. 
     
     
         22 . The bag of  claim 21  wherein:
 the bag includes a pair of handles connected to the intermediate sleeve portion at locations below the rim; and 
 the at least one detachable coupon portion is carried below the locations where handles connect to the intermediate sleeve portion. 
 
     
     
         23 . The bag of  claim 17  wherein:
 the at least one detachable coupon includes a plurality of detachable coupon portions; 
 the intermediate body portion includes a plurality of sides; 
 the folded portion includes a plurality of parts corresponding to the plurality of sides; each part of the folded portion overlying one side of the plurality; 
 at least two parts of the folded portion include detachable coupon portions. 
 
     
     
         24 . The bag of  claim 23  wherein:
 the plurality of sides includes first, second, third and fourth sides; 
 the plurality of parts of the folded portion including first, second, third and fourth parts; the first part of the folded portion overlying the first side; the second part of the folded portion overlying the second side; the third part of the folded portion overlying the third side; the fourth part of the folded portion overlying the fourth side; 
 each of the parts of the folded portion include at least one detachable coupon portion.