Granted Patent B2

US 12,297,040 · App. 16/703,272 · Granted May 13, 2025

Inventors: Shifeng Chen (Newport News, VA); Greg Sollie (Sharpsburg, GA); Jamie Waltermire (Peachtree City, GA)

Assignee: Pratt Corrugated Holdings, Inc.

B65F1/1415B65F1/14B65B3/04B65B51/04B65D33/06B65D33/12B65D33/1608B65F1/002B65F2001/1653B65F2220/106B65F2220/1063B65F2240/138

Abstract

Claims (70)

1. A lawn refuse bag comprising:

a lawn bag body formed from a single lawn bag blank, the lawn bag body defining a top end, a bottom end opposite the top end, and an interior cavity configured to receive lawn refuse, the top end defining a top opening, the top end configurable in an open orientation and a closed orientation, the lawn bag body comprising a front sidewall panel, a rear sidewall panel opposite the front sidewall panel, a right sidewall panel, and a left sidewall panel opposite the right sidewall panel;

wherein the lawn bag blank is rectangular and defined by a linear top edge, a linear bottom edge that is parallel to the linear top edge, a linear right side edge, and a linear left side edge, the linear right side edge and the linear left side edge being parallel to each other and extending between respective distal ends of the linear top edge and the linear bottom edge;

wherein the right sidewall panel comprises a first subpanel adjacent to one edge of the front sidewall panel and a second subpanel adjacent to one edge of the rear sidewall panel, the right sidewall panel defining a first vertical center bend line extending from the top end to the bottom end, the first vertical center bend line positioned between the first subpanel and the second subpanel;

wherein the left sidewall panel comprises a third subpanel adjacent to another edge of the front sidewall panel and a fourth subpanel adjacent to another edge of the rear sidewall panel, the left sidewall panel defining a second vertical center bend line extending from the top end to the bottom end, the second vertical center bend line positioned between the third subpanel and the fourth subpanel;

a first handle assembly, the first handle assembly comprising a first connection portion coupled to the front sidewall panel at the top end;

a second handle assembly, the second handle assembly comprising a second connection portion coupled to the rear sidewall panel at the top end;

a first top flap segment extending from the front sidewall panel at the top end, the first top flap segment comprising a first single flap defining a first slit, the first single flap folded inwardly about 180° relative to the front sidewall panel and abutting against an inner surface of the front sidewall panel such that the first slit accommodates the first connection portion of the first handle assembly; and

a second top flap segment extending from the rear sidewall panel at the top end, the second top flap segment comprising a second single flap defining a second slit, the second single flap folded inwardly about 180° relative to the rear sidewall panel and abutting against an inner surface of the rear sidewall panel such that the second slit accommodates the second connection portion of the second handle assembly;

wherein:

in an assembled state of the lawn refuse bag, the lawn bag body is configured to stand erect on a ground surface in both the open orientation and the closed orientation of the top end;

the closed orientation is defined by each of the right sidewall panel and the left sidewall panel assuming an outwardly folded configuration with respect to the interior cavity and by the front sidewall panel confronting the rear sidewall panel at the top end;

the lawn refuse bag is configured to assume a folded orientation defined by each of the right sidewall panel and the left sidewall panel assuming an outwardly folded configuration with respect to the interior cavity such that the first subpanel of the right sidewall panel contacts the second subpanel of the right sidewall panel and such that the third subpanel of the left sidewall panel contacts the fourth subpanel of the left sidewall panel;

the lawn bag body defines a continuous joining seam extending along the front sidewall panel from the top end to the bottom end;

the lawn bag blank further defines a bottom panel arranged at the bottom end, the bottom panel defining a plurality of bottom panel bend lines and a plurality of bottom panel attachment regions, each bottom panel attachment region partially defined by a bottom panel bend line in the plurality of bottom panel bend lines;

each bottom panel attachment region in the plurality of bottom panel attachment regions is configured to be secured to at least one of another bottom panel attachment region in the plurality of bottom panel attachment regions and a portion of the bottom panel other than a bottom panel attachment region;

in the assembled state of the lawn refuse bag, each portion of the bottom panel secured by a bottom panel attachment region in the plurality of bottom panel attachment regions at least partially defines a bottom panel seam;

a first corner bend line is defined in the lawn bag body between a first portion of the front sidewall panel and the right sidewall panel;

a second corner bend line is defined in the lawn bag body between the right sidewall panel and the rear sidewall panel;

a third corner bend line is defined in the lawn bag body between the rear sidewall panel and the left sidewall panel;

a fourth corner bend line is defined in the lawn bag body between the left sidewall panel and a second portion of the front sidewall panel;

each of the first, second, third, and fourth corner bend lines extend from the top end of the lawn bag body to the bottom end of the lawn bag body;

the right sidewall panel of the lawn bag body defines a first pair of angled bend lines, the first pair of angled bend lines comprising

a first angled bend line extending at approximately a 45° angle between the first vertical center bend line and a first intersection defined by an intersection of the first corner bend line, the right sidewall panel, and the bottom panel, and

a second angled bend line extending at approximately a 45° angle between the first vertical center bend line and a second intersection defined by an intersection of the second corner bend line, the right sidewall panel, and the bottom panel;

the left sidewall panel of the lawn bag body defines a second pair of angled bend lines, the second pair of angled bend lines comprising

a third angled bend line extending at approximately a 45° angle between the second vertical center bend line and a third intersection defined by an intersection of the third corner bend line, the left sidewall panel, and the bottom panel, and

a fourth angled bend line extending at approximately a 45° angle between the second vertical center bend line and a fourth intersection defined by an intersection of the fourth corner bend line, the left sidewall panel, and the bottom panel;

the bottom panel further defines

a first bottom panel sector, the first bottom panel sector bounded on one side by the first blank end, and on an opposite side by the first corner bend line,

a second bottom panel sector, the second bottom panel sector bounded on one side by the second corner bend line, and on an opposite side by the third corner bend line, and

a third bottom panel sector, the third bottom panel sector bounded on one side by the fourth corner bend line, and on an opposite side by the second blank end;

the first angled bend line extends downwardly beyond the first intersection and into the first bottom panel sector, an extended segment of the first angled bend line located in the first bottom panel sector defining a first angled bend line extension;

the second angled bend line extends downwardly beyond the second intersection and into the second bottom panel sector, an extended segment of the second angled bend line located in the second bottom panel sector defining a second angled bend line extension;

the third angled bend line extends downwardly beyond the third intersection and into the second bottom panel sector, an extended segment of the third angled bend line located in the second bottom panel sector defining a third angled bend line extension; and

the fourth angled bend line extends downwardly beyond the fourth intersection and into the third bottom panel sector, an extended segment of the fourth angled bend line located in the third bottom panel sector defining a fourth angled bend line extension.

2. The lawn refuse bag of claim 1 , wherein the first top flap segment is secured to the inner surface of the front sidewall panel.

3. The lawn refuse bag of claim 1 , wherein;

the first handle assembly further comprises a first handle portion extending from the first connection portion away from the lawn bag body; and

the second handle assembly further comprises a second handle portion extending from the second connection portion away from the lawn bag body.

4. The lawn refuse bag of claim 3 , wherein the first handle portion is tied to the second handle portion in the closed orientation.

5. The lawn refuse bag of claim 1 , wherein the first handle assembly and the second handle assembly comprise twisted paper cord.

6. The lawn refuse bag of claim 1 , wherein;

the lawn bag blank defines a first blank end and a second blank end;

a first fastening flap is formed at the first blank end;

a second fastening flap is formed at the second blank end; and

the first fastening flap is secured to the second fastening flap in the assembled state of the lawn refuse bag.

7. The lawn refuse bag of claim 1 , wherein:

the lawn bag body defines a first top edge and a second top edge at the top end;

a top width of the lawn bag body is defined at the top end between the first top edge and the second top edge; and

the top width of the lawn bag body in the open orientation is greater than the top width of the lawn bag body in the closed orientation.

8. The lawn refuse bag of claim 7 , wherein:

a bottom width of the lawn bag body is defined at the bottom end; and

the bottom width of the lawn bag body in the open orientation is equal to the bottom width of the lawn bag body in the closed orientation.

9. The lawn refuse bag of claim 1 , wherein each of the front and rear sidewall panels of the lawn bag blank defines a height and a width, the front sidewall panel including a first sidewall subpanel and a second sidewall subpanel that define a combined height-to-width ratio of about 29:20 prior to being joined to form the front sidewall panel, and the rear sidewall panel defines a height-to-width ratio of about 29:18.

10. The lawn refuse bag of claim 9 , wherein the height of each of the front and rear sidewall panels is about 29 inches, the combined width of the first and the second sidewall subpanels of the front sidewall panel is about 20 inches prior to being joined to form the front sidewall panel, and the width of the rear sidewall panel is about 18 inches.

11. The lawn refuse bag of claim 10 , wherein a width of each of the right and left sidewall panels is about 14 inches.

12. The lawn refuse bag of claim 1 , wherein:

the interior cavity of the lawn bag body is configured to receive a lawn bag insert therein to reinforce the lawn refuse bag in the open orientation; and

the front sidewall panel is configured to confront the lawn bag insert.

13. The lawn refuse bag of claim 12 , wherein the right sidewall panel is further configured to confront the lawn bag insert.

14. The lawn refuse bag of claim 13 , wherein the left sidewall panel is further configured to confront the lawn bag insert.

15. The lawn refuse bag of claim 1 , wherein:

in the folded orientation, at least a portion of the bottom panel is folded to lie substantially parallel to the front sidewall panel.

16. The lawn refuse bag of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bottom panel attachment regions comprises:

a first bottom panel attachment region, the first bottom panel attachment region partially defined by the first angled bend line extension and a first bottom panel bend line in the plurality of bottom panel bend lines that is colinear with the first corner bend line;

a second bottom panel attachment region, the second bottom panel attachment region partially defined by the second angled bend line extension and a second bottom panel bend line in the plurality of bottom panel bend lines that is colinear with the second corner bend line;

a third bottom panel attachment region, the third bottom panel attachment region partially defined by the third angled bend line extension and a third bottom panel bend line in the plurality of bottom panel bend lines that is colinear with the third corner bend line; and

a fourth bottom panel attachment region, the fourth bottom panel attachment region partially defined by the fourth angled bend line extension and a fourth bottom panel bend line in the plurality of bottom panel bend lines that is colinear with the fourth corner bend line.

17. The lawn refuse bag of claim 1 , wherein the continuous joining seam extends along the front sidewall panel from the top end to the bottom end at a position on the front sidewall panel between the first corner bend line and the fourth corner bend line.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (361)

Cited By (1)

US 1,097,739