Tear resistant bag

Abstract

A tie bag for storing refuse or garbage includes an undulating top edge defining an opening to the bag. The top edge may include two flaps and two valleys. In one embodiment, the valley may include a flat portion at the bottom of the valley. The flaps may be tied together to at least partially close the bag. The bag further may include a first seam that intersects the flat portion of the valley. The flat portion reduces the possibility of tearing the seam. In another embodiment, the valley may include a slit. In an additional embodiment, the valley may include two secondary valleys and a center valley. In another embodiment, the seam may intersect the top edge at a point other than the lowest point in the valley.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A tie bag for storing refuse or garbage comprising;
 an undulating top edge defining an opening to the bag, the top edge including,
 at least two rounded flaps with two convex sides, 
 at least two valleys with two concave sides, each valley having a substantially flat portion which defines the bottom of the valley, 
   wherein the top edge is composed of alternating flaps and valleys such that each side of a valley is disposed between the flat portion of a valley and the side of a flap, and each side of a flap is disposed between a peak of a flap and a side of a valley,   wherein at least one welded or heat sealed seam intersects the top edge at the flat portion of a valley, the flat portion being effective to reduce concentration of stress on the seam by spreading over a broader area the user-generated threes associated with gripping and pulling of adjacent flaps; and   wherein the flaps may be tied together to at least partially close the bag.   
     
     
         2 . The tie bag of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one seam intersects the flat portion of a valley at or near a middle point on the flat portion. 
     
     
         3 . The tie bag of  claim 1 , wherein the top edge includes four flaps and four valleys, wherein the bag is closed by tying the flaps together in two pairs such that no flap is tied to a flap that is the next flap on either side along the top edge. 
     
     
         4 . The tie bag of  claim 1 , wherein the peaks of the flaps are flat. 
     
     
         5 . The tie bag of  claim 1 , wherein the flat portion of the valleys has a length in the range from 0.25 inches to 30 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The tie bag of  claim 1 , wherein the seam divides the flat portion of the valley into a first portion and a second portion. 
     
     
         7 . The tie bag of  claim 1 , wherein the bag includes a second welded or heat sealed seam that intersects a second valley. 
     
     
         8 . The tie bag of  claim 7 , wherein first seam and second seam are connected by a third seam. 
     
     
         9 . A tie bag comprising:
 a front panel and a back panel joined along three edges;   a top edge defining an opening, the top edge including,
 at least two flaps, each flap having two convex sides, each flap having a peak, 
 at least two valleys, each valley having two concave sides, at least one valley having a bottom that includes a flat portion, 
 wherein each side of a flap connects the peak of the flap to a side of a valley and each side of a valley connects the bottom of the valley to a side of a flap, and 
 wherein the flaps may be tied to each other in order to at least partially close the bag; 
 a seam defining one of the joined edges, wherein the seam is formed by heat sealing or sonic welding and intersects the top edge at the flat portion of a valley; and 
 wherein the flat portion being effective to reduce concentration of stress on the seam by spreading over a broader area the use-generated forces associated with gripping and pulling of adjacent flaps. 
   
     
     
         10 . The tie bag of  claim 9 , wherein he flat portion has a length in the range of 0.25 inches to 30 inches.