Bag with support brace

Abstract

A bag formed of plastic film material has first and second side panels with a margin portion at a rear edge of the first side panel joining a margin portion at a rear edge of the second side panel at a rear seam. The rear seam along at least a part of its length is braced by a solid elongate brace of plastic material which is either fixed mechanically to the panels or is thermally welded to them.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bag formed of plastic film material, the bag having a first side panel, a second side panel, a margin portion at a rear edge of the first side panel joining a margin portion at a rear edge of the second side panel at a rear seam, a brace fixed to the rear seam along at least a part of its length .the brace being an elongate solid plastic member. 
     
     
         2 . A bag as claimed in  claim 1 , the rear seam being part of a complex of seams defining an interior storage space of the bag. 
     
     
         3 . A bag as claimed in  claim 1 , the rear seam part being at least part of a handle, the bag further comprising a rear gusset extending between respective side seams, the respective side seams formed between the rear gusset and the first and second side panels, the first and second side seams being part of a complex of seams defining an interior storage space of the bag, the handle being on the distal side of the rear gusset from the interior storage space. 
     
     
         4 . A bag as claimed in  claim 1 , the brace attached to the rear seam by rivets. 
     
     
         5 . A bag as claimed in  claim 1 , the plastic member positioned in an elongate pocket formed between the first and second panels at the rear seam. 
     
     
         6 . A bag as claimed in  claim 1 , the plastic member fixed between the first and second side panels at the rear seam. 
     
     
         7 . A bag as claimed in  claim 1 , the plastic member positioned against the rear seam on one side of the bag, and a second plastic member positioned against the rear seam on the other side of the bag. 
     
     
         8 . A bag as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a third plastic member fixed between the first and second side panels at the rear seam. 
     
     
         9 . A bag as claimed in  claim 7 , the rods being lamellar and joined by a spine portion to form a channel structure embracing a rear part of the rear seam. 
     
     
         10 . A bag as claimed in  claim 1 , the plastic member having a cross-section which, along at least a part of its length, is one of round, rectangular, regular polygon, lamellar and star. 
     
     
         11 . A bag as claimed in  claim 1 , the plastic member attached to the rear seam by adhesive. 
     
     
         12 . A bag as claimed in  claim 9 , the channel structure attached to the sides of the rear seam by the rear seam being pinched between the lamellar rods. 
     
     
         13 . A bag as claimed in  claim 1 , the cross-sectional shape of the plastic member varying along its length. 
     
     
         14 . A bag as claimed in  claim 1 , the plastic member fixed to a part of the rear seam, another plastic member fixed to another part of the rear seam, the rods integral with an intermediate handle part extending between the two rods and spaced from a contents storage part of the bag. 
     
     
         15 . A bag as claimed in  claim 14 , the brace bowed or angled outwardly s to present a space between the handle part and the contents storage part of the bag. 
     
     
         16 . A bag as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an openable and closeable pouring fixture at the front of the bag.