Bulk bag with full perforation

Abstract

A novel bag for holding, transporting, and pouring a bulk product is provided. The bag comprises a perforated section extending the majority of the way (and preferably the entire way) horizontally across the bag. The bag can be opened by tearing along the perforations and separating the resulting two sections of the bag. The bag is typically formed of plastic, and can be used for salt, animal food, and other pourable products.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A bag for holding a pourable product, said bag comprising front and back panels each comprising:
 first and second end portions presenting respective outermost edges;   first and second side portions presenting respective outermost edges, said front and back panels and said end and side portions cooperating to form a chamber for holding the pourable product, there being a width “W,” defined as the shortest distance between the respective outermost edges of said first and second side portions; and   perforations extending from at least one of said respective outermost edges of said first and second side portions a distance of at least about 50% of “W” towards the other of said respective outermost edges of said first and second side portions.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , said perforations extending a distance of at least about 75% of “W.” 
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 1 , said perforations extending a distance of about 100% of “W.” 
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 1 , said perforations forming a linear pattern that is substantially parallel to at least one of said respective outermost edges of said first and second end portions. 
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 1 , said bag further comprising a handle adjacent at least one of said first and second end portions. 
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 5 , wherein said handle is at said first end portion. 
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 5 , wherein said handle is integrally formed with said bag. 
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said chamber includes therein a quantity of a pourable product, said product being selected from the group consisting of salt, animal food, flour, sugar, cement, seed, fertilizer, ice, sand, rice, spices, soil, pesticides, industrial chemicals, mortar, plaster, marble dust, and stones. 
     
     
         9 . A method of dispensing a pourable product from a bag, the method comprising:
 providing a bag comprising front and back panels each comprising:
 first and second end portions presenting respective outermost edges; 
 first and second side portions presenting respective outermost edges, said front and back panels and said end and side portions cooperating to form a chamber for holding the pourable product, there being a width “W,” defined as the shortest distance between the respective outermost edges of said first and second side portions; 
 perforations extending from at least one of said respective outermost edges of said first and second side portions at a distance of at least about 50% of “W” towards the other of said respective outermost edges of said first and second side portions; and 
 a quantity of the pourable product in said chamber; 
   tearing said bag at said perforations to form an opening; and   causing said pourable product to exit the bag through the opening.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , said perforations extending a distance of at least about 75% of “W.” 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , said perforations extending a distance of about 100% of “W.” 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , said perforations forming a linear pattern that is substantially parallel to at least one of said respective outermost edges of said first and second end portions. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , said bag further comprising a handle adjacent at least one of said first and second end portions. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said handle is at said first end portion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said handle is integrally formed with said bag. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said pourable product is selected from the group consisting of salt, animal food, flour, sugar, cement, seed, fertilizer, ice, sand, rice, spices, soil, pesticides, industrial chemicals, mortar, plaster, marble dust, and stones. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising gripping said handle while causing said product to exit said bag. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said causing comprises tilting said bag.