High strength plastic bag

Abstract

A high strength plastic bag is formed from two sheets of polymeric material. The sheets are folded, machined, and heat sealed to form a receptacle portion, a flap for covering an opening to the receptacle portion, and a handle having three layers of polymeric material for improved strength. The bag includes a tamper-indicating closure and has a high friction coefficient to prevent sliding of stacked bags.

1. A plastic bag having a high strength handle, comprising:
 a receptacle portion having first and second opposing walls, said first and second walls joined substantially around the perimeters of said walls to define an interior cavity for receiving articles and an opening permitting access to said interior cavity;  
 a handle portion having an aperture whereby user may grasp said handle portion;  
 a flap portion integral with said receptacle portion and proximate said opening, said flap portion extending over said opening to form a closure for said opening;  
 said handle portion further comprising first and second outer plastic layers and an interior plastic layer sandwiched between said first and second outer layers;  
 upper and lower lateral heat seals above and below said aperture, respectively, and a heat seal around said aperture;  
 a tamper-indicating adhesive disposed on said receptacle portion proximate said opening to bond said flap portion over said opening to seal the bag;  
 a first receipt portion frangibly attached to said handle portion above said heat seal; and  
 a second receipt portion frangibly attached to said flap portion and having a printed area.  
 
     
     
       2. The bag of  claim 1  wherein said handle portion is located at a distal end of said bag and said aperture is located at least approximately 3 inches inboard of said end of said bag. 
     
     
       3. The bag of  claim 1  wherein said first receipt is a discrete strip of material formed by perforating the bag proximate a distal end of said bag. 
     
     
       4. The bag of  claim 1  wherein said second receipt is a discrete strip of material formed by perforating the bag proximate a distal end of said flap portion. 
     
     
       5. The bag of  claim 1  wherein the entire bag is formed from two sheets of polymeric material which are folded, die cut, and heat sealed to form said individual receptacle, handle, flap, and receipt portions. 
     
     
       6. A plastic bag, comprising:
   a receptacle portion having first and second opposing walls, said first and second walls joined substantially around the perimeters of said walls to define an interior cavity for receiving articles and an opening permitting access to said interior cavity;        a handle portion having an aperture whereby user may grasp said handle portion;        a flap portion integral with said receptacle portion and proximate said opening, said flap portion extending over said opening to form a closure for said opening;        upper and lower lateral heat seals above and below said aperture, respectively, and a heat seal around said aperture;        a tamper - indicating adhesive disposed on said receptacle portion proximate said opening to bond said flap portion over said opening to seal the bag;        a first receipt portion frangibly attached to said handle portion above said heat seal; and        a second receipt portion frangibly attached to said flap portion and having a printed area.     
     
     
       7. The plastic bag of  claim 6 , wherein said handle portion comprises a plurality of thermoplastic layers heat sealed together around said aperture. 
     
     
       8. The plastic bag of  claim 6 , wherein said aperture is located approximately  3  inches inboard from a distal end of the bag. 
     
     
       9. A plastic bag, comprising:
   a receptacle portion having first and second opposing walls, said first and second walls joined substantially around the perimeters of said walls to define an interior cavity for receiving articles and an opening permitting access to said interior cavity;        a handle portion having an aperture whereby user may grasp said handle portion;        a flap portion integral with said receptacle portion and proximate said opening, said flap portion extending over said opening to form a closure for said opening;        said handle portion further comprising first and second outer plastic layers and an interior plastic layer sandwiched between said first and second outer layers;        said interior plastic layer of said handle portion including outer layers formed from linear low - density ethylene and metalocene, and a central layer formed from high density polyethylene;        upper and lower lateral heat seals above and below said aperture, respectively, and a heat seal around said aperture;        a tamper - indicating adhesive disposed on said receptacle portion proximate said opening to bond said flap portion over said opening to seal the bag; and        a receipt portion frangibly attached to one of said handle portion or said flap portion.