Bags with reinforced handles and related methods

Abstract

A bag including a handle disposed through a reinforcement member is provided. A handle indicator can be disposed on the bag at a position adjacent the handle or around a portion of the handle. The handle indicator can also communicate a position of the handle to a user. Bags including two or more handles, reinforcement members, and handle indicators are also provided.

1 . A bag, comprising:
 a first wall and a second wall, wherein the first and second walls cooperate to define at least a portion of a cavity;   a first reinforcement member coupled to a first portion of the second wall;   a first handle disposed through the first wall, the second wall, and the first reinforcement member; and   a first handle indicator disposed on the first wall at a position adjacent the first handle.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first elongate seal disposed along a width of the bag at a position below a top bag edge, wherein the first handle is disposed between the top bag edge and the first elongate seal.   
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second reinforcement member coupled to a second portion of the second wall;   a second handle disposed through the first wall, the second wall, and the second reinforcement member; and   a second handle indicator disposed on the first wall at a position adjacent the second handle.   
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 3 , wherein the bag further comprises a second elongate seal disposed along a width of the bag at a position above a bottom bag edge and wherein the second handle is disposed between the bottom bag edge and the second elongate seal. 
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first reinforcement member is coupled to an outside surface of the second wall. 
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first reinforcement member is coupled to an inside surface of the second wall. 
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first reinforcement member is formed from at least one of tape, film, and fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first handle indicator is disposed on an outside surface of the first wall. 
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first handle indicator surrounds at least a portion of the first handle. 
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first handle indicator communicates a position of the first handle to a user. 
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first handle comprises a slit through each of the first wall, the second wall, and the first reinforcement member. 
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein a width and a height of the first reinforcement member are greater than a width and a height of the first handle. 
     
     
         13 . A bag, comprising:
 a first wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge, a first lateral edge, and a second lateral edge;   a second wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge, a first lateral edge, and a second lateral edge;   a first gusset extending from the first lateral edge of the first wall to the first lateral edge of the second wall;   a second gusset extending from the second lateral edge of the first wall to the second lateral edge of the second wall, wherein the first wall, the second wall, the first gusset, and the second gusset cooperate to define at least a portion of a cavity in an interior of the bag;   a first reinforcement member coupled to a first portion of the second wall at a position adjacent a top bag edge;   a first handle disposed through the first wall, the second wall, and the first reinforcement member; and   a first handle indicator disposed on a first portion of the first wall at a position adjacent the first handle.   
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first elongate seal disposed along a width of the bag at a position below the top bag edge, wherein the first handle is disposed between the top bag edge and the first elongate seal.   
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a second reinforcement member coupled to a second portion of the second wall at a position adjacent a bottom bag edge;   a second handle disposed through the first wall, the second wall, and the second reinforcement member; and   a second handle indicator disposed on a second portion the first wall at a position adjacent the second handle.   
     
     
         16 . The bag of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second elongate seal disposed along a width of the bag at a position above the bottom bag edge, wherein the second handle is disposed between the bottom bag edge and the second elongate seal.   
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 13 , wherein the first reinforcement member is formed from at least one of tape, film, and fabric. 
     
     
         18 . The bag  claim 13 , wherein a width and a height of the first reinforcement member are greater than a width and a height of the first handle. 
     
     
         19 . A method of forming a bag, comprising:
 coupling a reinforcement member to a bag material having a first wall and a second wall, wherein the reinforcement member is coupled to a portion of the second wall;   forming a handle through each of the first wall, the second wall, and the reinforcement member; and   disposing a handle indicator on the first wall at a position surrounding a portion of the handle.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein disposing the handle indicator on the first wall comprises embossing, etching, labeling, or printing the handle indicator on the first wall.