Easy Access Non-Woven Plastic Bags

Abstract

A non-woven laminated plastic bag having a weakened portion is provided. The weakened portion is generally defined by a plurality of perforations in the bag. In various aspects the bag can be fabricated from a non-woven polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polyamide layer which can be laminated with a film layer, can form a pinch bottom bag, and can have one or both sides include graphics and/or printing. The bag can also provide a top end and/or a bottom end either or both of which provide a discrete area which may contain discrete graphics and/or printing.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A bag comprising a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, an interior surface, an exterior surface, a top end, a bottom end, and a first layer, each of the front wall, back wall, first side wall and second side wall having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a top end and a bottom end, wherein the first layer comprises a non-woven polymer, and wherein the bag comprises a weakened area located on the front wall of the bag, the first side wall of the bag and the back wall of the bag proximal the top end of the bag. 
     
     
         2 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyester, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first layer comprises a printed area thereon. 
     
     
         4 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the weakened area comprises a plurality of perforations that penetrate through at least a portion of the front wall of the bag, the first side wall of the bag and the back wall of the bag. 
     
     
         5 . The bag according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of perforations forms a line. 
     
     
         6 . The bag according to  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of perforations forms a line that extends from about 20% of a distance across the front wall of the bag across the first side wall of the bag to about 50% of a distance across the back wall of the bag. 
     
     
         7 . The bag according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of perforations forms a wave pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The bag according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of perforations forms a zigzag pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the weakened area comprises a deformation in least a portion of the front wall of the bag, the first side wall of the bag and the back wall of the bag. 
     
     
         10 . The bag according to  claim 9 , wherein the weakened area further comprises a scoring mark. 
     
     
         11 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the back wall of the bag comprises a seam. 
     
     
         12 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the top end of the back wall projects further than the top end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the back wall and the top end of a portion of the second side wall proximal to the back wall, the top end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the back wall and the top end of a portion of the second side wall proximal to the back wall projects further than the top end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the front wall and the top end of a portion of the second side wall proximal to the front wall, and the top end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the front wall and the top end of a portion of the second side wall proximal to the front wall projects further than the top end of the front wall. 
     
     
         13 . The bag according to  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the bottom end of the front wall projects further than the bottom end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the front wall and the bottom end of a portion of the second side wall proximal to the front wall, the bottom end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the front wall and the bottom end of a portion of the second side wall proximal to the front wall project further than the bottom end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the back wall and the bottom end of a portion of the second side wall proximal to the back wall, and the bottom end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the back wall and the bottom end of a portion of the second side wall proximal to the back wall project further than the bottom end of the rear wall. 
     
     
         14 . The bag according to  claim 13 , wherein the top end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the back wall and the top end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the front wall are separated by an angled cut, and the bottom end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the back wall and the bottom end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the front wall are separated by an angled cut. 
     
     
         15 . The bag according to  claim 13 , wherein the portion of the bottom end of the front wall that projects further than the bottom end of the first side wall and the bottom end of the second side wall, and the portion of the bottom end of the first side wall and the bottom end of the second side wall that project further than the bottom end of the rear wall are sealed to the outer surface of the bottom end of the rear wall. 
     
     
         16 . The bag according to  claim 15 , wherein the bottom end of the bag is sealed using an adhesive sealing, heat sealing, adhesive lamination, extrusion lamination, stitching, ultrasonic energy, pressure, tape, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The bag according to  claim 15 , wherein the bottom end of the bag is sealed using adhesive-to-adhesive sealing or adhesive-to-bag sealing. 
     
     
         18 . The bag according to  claim 12 , wherein the bottom end of the front wall, the bottom end of the first side wall, the bottom end of the rear wall and the bottom end of the second side wall each project the same distance. 
     
     
         19 . The bag according to  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of a single fold of the bottom end of the bag is sealed to the outer surface of the front wall or the outer surface of the rear wall of the bag. 
     
     
         20 . The bag according to  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of a double fold of the bottom end of the bag is sealed to the outer surface of the front wall or the outer surface of the rear wall of the bag. 
     
     
         21 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the top end of the front wall, the top end of the first side wall, the top end of the rear wall and the top end of the second side wall each project the same distance. 
     
     
         22 . The bag according to  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the bottom end of the front wall projects further than the bottom end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the front wall and the bottom end of a portion of the second side wall proximal to the front wall, the bottom end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the front wall and the bottom end of a portion of the second side wall proximal to the front wall project further than the bottom end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the back wall and the bottom end of a portion of the second side wall proximal to the back wall, and the bottom end of a portion of the first side wall proximal to the back wall and the bottom end of a portion of the second side wall proximal to the back wall project further than the bottom end of the rear wall. 
     
     
         23 . The bag according to  claim 22 , wherein the portion of the bottom end of the front wall that projects further than the bottom end of the first side wall and the bottom end of the second side wall, and the portion of the bottom end of the first side wall and the bottom end of the second side wall that project further than the bottom end of the rear wall are sealed to the outer surface of the bottom end of the rear wall. 
     
     
         24 . The bag according to  claim 23 , wherein the bottom end of the bag is sealed using an adhesive sealing, heat sealing, adhesive lamination, extrusion lamination, stitching, ultrasonic energy, pressure, tape, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The bag according to  claim 23 , wherein the bottom end of the bag is sealed using adhesive-to-adhesive sealing or adhesive-to-bag sealing. 
     
     
         26 . The bag according to  claim 21 , wherein the bottom end of the front wall, the bottom end of the first side wall, the bottom end of the rear wall and the bottom end of the second side wall each project the same distance. 
     
     
         27 . The bag according to  claim 26 , wherein at least a portion of a single fold of the bottom end of the bag is sealed to the outer surface of the front wall or the outer surface of the rear wall of the bag. 
     
     
         28 . The bag according to  claim 26 , wherein at least a portion of a double fold of the bottom end of the bag is sealed to the outer surface of the front wall or the outer surface of the rear wall of the bag. 
     
     
         29 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the top end and the bottom end of the bag are sealed, and wherein the bag comprises at least ten pounds by weight of a filling material. 
     
     
         30 . The bag according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second layer comprising a polymer or paper attached to the first layer. 
     
     
         31 . The bag according to  claim 30 , wherein the third layer comprises polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyester, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The bag according to  claim 30 , wherein each of the first layer and the second layer comprise a weakened portion. 
     
     
         33 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the bag comprises printing on the front wall, the first side wall, the back wall, the second side wall, the first end, the second end, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein at least portions of the exterior surfaces of each of the front wall and the back wall comprise a plurality of discrete areas further comprising printing thereon. 
     
     
         35 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the front wall and a portion of the back wall combine to form a discrete portion of the bag located at or near either the top end or the bottom end, wherein the discrete portion of the bag comprises printing thereon.