Resealable, reusable, recyclable secondary packaging transport bag

Abstract

A secondary packaging transport bag has a body (44) formed from a multilayer polyethylene film containing post-consumer resin. The body (44) defines a front panel (48), and a rear panel (52) located opposite the front panel (48). The front and rear panels (48, 52) define an open top edge (68) and are connected along opposite, left and right peripheral edges (56, 60) and are further connected along a bottom edge (64) to define an internal cavity (72) configured to receive packages in a distribution hub. The body (44) has a resealable closing means (76) proximate to the open top edge (68).

1 . A secondary packaging transport bag comprising:
 a body formed from a multilayer polyethylene film containing post-consumer resin, said body defining a front panel and a rear panel located opposite said front panel, said front and rear panels defining an open top edge and being connected along opposite, left and right peripheral edges and being connected along a bottom edge to define an internal cavity configured to receive packages in a distribution hub, said body having a resealable closing means proximate to said open top edge.   
     
     
         2 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 1  wherein said resealable closing means is located at said open top edge or is recessed below said open top edge. 
     
     
         3 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 1  wherein said multilayer polyethylene film has thickness of about 4 mil. 
     
     
         4 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 1  wherein said multilayer polyethylene film contains at least 20% post-consumer resin by weight. 
     
     
         5 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 1  wherein said body includes at least two vent holes that extend fully through both of said front and rear panels at a location below said resealable closing means. 
     
     
         6 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 5  wherein said vent holes are configured to withstand at least 25 reuses at less than 50% deformation. 
     
     
         7 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 1  wherein said bottom edge includes a gusset to permit axial expansion of said internal cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 1  wherein said resealable closing means is a polyolefin slider constrained to polyethylene tracks on said front and rear panels. 
     
     
         9 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 1  wherein portions of said front and rear panels are corona treated to have a surface energy of about 50 dyne. 
     
     
         10 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 1  further comprising an external pouch that is adhered to, or integral with, one of said front and rear panels for retaining scannable tracking documentation. 
     
     
         11 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 1  wherein said front and rear panels have a depth of about 30 inches and a width of about 36 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 11  further comprising a gusset configured to provide about 10 inches of depth at a midpoint of said body. 
     
     
         13 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 1  wherein said multilayer polyethylene film has an impact strength of about 670 g. 
     
     
         14 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 1  wherein said multilayer polyethylene film has a machine direction flexural modulus of about 30-40 kpsi and a transverse direction flexural modulus of about 40-50 kpsi. 
     
     
         15 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 1  wherein said body is configured to be recycled, after no fewer than 25 uses. 
     
     
         16 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 1  wherein said resealable closing means lies along a central horizontal axis and is configured to remain closed when said top edge of said body is subjected to a pulling force of up to 25 lbf in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to said central horizontal axis. 
     
     
         17 . The secondary packaging transport bag according to  claim 1  wherein said resealable closing means lies along a central horizontal axis and is configured to remain closed when said front and rear panels of said body are subjected to a separating force of up to 12 lbf in a horizontal direction that is perpendicular to said central horizontal axis. 
     
     
         18 . A secondary packaging transport bag comprising:
 a body formed from a multilayer polyethylene film containing at least 20% post-consumer resin by weight, said body defining a front panel and a rear panel located opposite said front panel, said front and rear panels defining an open top edge and being connected along opposite, left and right peripheral edges and being connected along a bottom edge to define an internal cavity configured to receive packages in a distribution hub, said body having a polyolefin slider on a zipper track closing means at a location proximate to said open top edge, said bottom edge having a gusset to permit axial expansion of said internal cavity, said body having at least two vent holes extending fully through both of said front and rear panels at a location below said polyolefin slider on a zipper track closing means, and said body configured to be recycled.   
     
     
         19 . A method of using a secondary packaging transport bag, said method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a secondary packaging transport bag having a body formed from a multilayer polyethylene film containing post-consumer resin, said body defining a front panel and a rear panel located opposite said front panel, said front and rear panels defining an open top edge and being connected along opposite, left and right peripheral edges and being connected along a bottom edge to define an internal cavity configured to receive packages in a distribution hub, said body having a resealable closing means proximate to said open top edge;   using the secondary packaging transport bag a plurality of times for intermediary transfer of packages within a distribution hub; and   depositing all of said secondary packaging transport bag in a recycling stream.