Stand up bag and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A stand up bag has an indented, cup-shaped bottom wall that allows the bag to stand up. A lower rim is formed between the bottom wall and the sidewall. Portions of the rim are welded so that the bottom wall is held in its indented position. The invention provides numerous different weld patterns for the lower rim.

1 . A stand up bag comprising: 
 a body having a sidewall and a bottom wall that cooperate define the storage compartment of the bag;    the bottom wall being disposed substantially transverse to the sidewall to provide a stand up bag configuration; and    a rim disposed between sidewall and bottom wall; the rim being welded in at least one location wherein the material of the sidewall is welded to the material of the bottom wall.    
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall has a lower end; the bottom wall being indented with respect to the lower end of the sidewall.  
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom wall is indented between {fraction (1/4)} inch and 2½ inches.  
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 3 , wherein bottom wall is indented 1½ inches.  
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the rim has a circumferential length and the at least one weld has a length; the length of the at least one weld being at least 60 percent of the circumferential length of the rim.  
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall is formed from a tube having a longitudinal overlapped seam.  
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 6 , wherein the sidewall is free of protruding flaps.  
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall is formed from a tube having a continuous sidewall.  
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 8 , wherein the sidewall is free of protruding flaps.  
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the body is fabricated from a flexible material.  
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall has an upper end that is joined in a top closure seam to close the storage compartment.  
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall has a lower end that is joined to form a bottom closure seam; the bottom closure seam disposed along the bottom wall of the body.  
     
     
         13 . A stand up bag comprising: 
 a body having a sidewall and a bottom wall that cooperate to define the storage compartment of the bag;    the bottom wall being disposed substantially transverse to the sidewall to provide a stand up bag configuration; and    the sidewall being free of longitudinal protruding flanges.    
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 13 , wherein the sidewall has a lower end; the bottom wall being indented with respect to the lower end of the sidewall.  
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 14 , wherein the bottom wail is indented between {fraction (1/4)} inch and 2½ inches.  
     
     
         16 . The bag of  claim 13 , further comprising a rim disposed between sidewall and bottom wall; the rim being welded in at least one location.  
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 16 , wherein the rim has a circumferential length and the at least one weld has a length; the length of the at least one weld being at least 60 percent of the circumferential length of the rim.  
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 13 , wherein the sidewall is formed from a tube having a longitudinal overlapped seam.  
     
     
         19 . The bag of  claim 13 , wherein the sidewall is formed from a tube having a continuous sidewall.  
     
     
         20 . A stand up bag comprising: 
 a body having a sidewall and a bottom wall that cooperate define the storage compartment of the bag;    the bottom wall being disposed substantially transverse to the sidewall to provide a stand up bag configuration; and    a rim disposed between sidewall and bottom wall; the rim being welded in a plurality of spaced locations wherein the material of the sidewall is welded to the material of the bottom wall at each weld location.    
     
     
         21 . The bag of  claim 20 , wherein the rim has a circumferential length and the plurality of welds have a combined length; the combined length of the welds being at least 60 percent of the circumferential length of the rim.