Window bag and method of producing same

Abstract

A block-bottom or cross-bottom window bag having a graphic thereon is made by imprinting one side of a substrate web with a graphic, applying to substantially the entirety of that one side of the substrate web a thermally activatable laminating medium, punching a window opening through the substrate web in an area thereof not imprinted with the graphic, and, by thermal activation of the laminating medium, laminating onto substantially the entirety of the substrate web a transparent film thereby covering the window opening with the transparent film, and forming the block-bottom or cross-bottom bag from the laminated substrate web with the transparent film constituting the exterior of the bag.

1 .- 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A block-bottom or cross-bottom window bag comprising a bag body comprised of a laminated web, the laminated web being comprised of 
 a substrate web having a window opening therethrough and imprinted on one side thereof a graphic and    a transparent film laminated onto substantially the entirety of said one side of the substrate and covering the window opening,    wherein said one side of the laminated web comprises an exterior of the bag displaying the graphic and another side of the laminated web comprises an exterior of the bag.    
   
   
       12 . Method of producing a laminated web comprising a substrate web having a window opening therethrough and a graphic imprinted on one side thereof, and, laminated onto substantially the entirety of said one side thereof, a transparent film which covers the window opening, comprising 
 imprinting said one side of the substrate with a graphic,    applying to substantially the entirety of said one side of the substrate web a thermally activatable laminating medium for adhering to said one side said transparent film to be subsequently laminated,    punching a window opening through the substrate in an area thereof not imprinted with the graphic, and    by thermal activation of the laminating medium, laminating onto substantially the entirety of said one side of the substrate and covering the window opening with said transparent film.    
   
   
       13 . A method of producing block-bottom or cross-bottom window bags, comprising 
 producing a laminated web by the method of  claim 11  and    forming the laminated web into block-bottom or cross-bottom bags so that said one side of the laminated web comprises an exterior of each of the bags displaying the graphic and another side of the laminated web comprises an interior of each of the bags.    
   
   
       14 . Method according to  claim 12  or  13 , wherein the substrate web is continuously fed and the feeding and the punching of the web are coordinated to effect the punching of each window opening through said substrate web in the areas thereof not imprinted with the graphic.  
   
   
       15 . Method according to  claim 12  or  13 , wherein said punching is effected by a press or a laminating or slitting machine.  
   
   
       16 . Method according to  claim 13 , wherein the forming of the bags is effected by a bag machine or a form-fill-and seal-machine.  
   
   
       17 . Method according to  claim 12 , further comprising 
 winding the laminated web onto a reel.    
   
   
       18 . A method of producing a block-bottom or cross-bottom bag, comprising 
 producing a laminated web on a reel by the method of  claim 17 ,    unwinding the laminated web from the reel and    forming the laminated web into a block-bottom or cross-bottom window bag.    
   
   
       19 . Method according to  claim 18 , wherein the forming of the bag is effected by a bag machine or a form-fill- and seal-machine.  
   
   
       20 . Method according to  claim 11 ,  12  or  13 , wherein said transparent film is comprised of oriented polypropylene.  
   
   
       21 . Method according to  claim 12  or  13 , wherein said one side of the substrate web is comprised of paper.  
   
   
       22 . Method according to  claim 12  or  13 , wherein the transparent film comprises a plurality of webs of transparent film.