Side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack

Abstract

A t-shirt style grocery or merchandise bag pack includes a plurality of plastic bags, each having a pair of bag handles and a central tab located above the bag mouth. The bag pack is suspended from a dispensing rack by openings through the bag handles and a hanging aperture located in the central tab. The tab is designed to rupture at the hanging aperture when the bag is dispensed from the rack. The tab may have a flattened top and a pair of opposed lateral sides or it may have a rounded top. The weakened area may take the form of a cut or a notch. These weakened areas may begin at the hanging aperture or one of the lateral sides of the flattened top tab or at a point below the top most point of the rounded tab. The weakened area may also be perforation or a single opening.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention pertains to plastic grocery, produce and merchandise bags. More particularly, the invention relates to T-shirt style handle bags manufactured in registered stacks for dispensing from racks. The bags are dispensed without leaving a torn tab portion on the dispenser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

T-shirt style bags were developed to provide a strong, low-cost, high capacity bag for groceries or merchandise that incorporates strong, integral handles. This is accomplished by creating a gusseted polyethylene tube, sealing it at both ends and cutting out a “mouth section.” The result is a bag that includes a pair of strong handles formed from the side gussets and the bag's upper seam. While such bags are very useful for transporting heavy loads, they can be difficult to load as they lack the means to stand upright while empty, as does a square-bottomed paper bag.

For this reason, racks have been developed to hold and dispense registered packs of t-shirt style bags. In order to be dispensable from such racks, the bag packs typically have a pair of apertures through the bag handles to fit on side arms of the dispenser and a central tab. The central tab includes an opening or slit designed to fit over a hook or protrusion at the center of the dispenser. Early designs for T-shirt bag packs included a central tab designed to be torn from the bag upon dispensing. Such systems, while effective, required periodic removal of the torn off tabs from the dispensing rack. More modern designs, known as tables T-shirt bags, have incorporated a weakened area or perforation line connecting the aperture or slit used for suspending the bag pack from the dispenser's hook, to the top edge of the tab. Thus, when the bag is pulled from the dispensing rack, the weakened area will break and the tab will remain with the bag. Various designs for such tables systems have been developed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,655, issued to Tseng et al., discloses a plastic bag stack with special tab opening. A tab is mounted on the central retainer of a conventional rack. A slot or opening is provided by means of a cut comprising a transverse base line that extends part way between the side edges of the projection or tab and terminates at each end in an upwardly and backwardly extending curve respectively. The curve extends as a very short segment and then continues as a reverse curve upwardly toward the upper edge of the tab leaving a small tear space between the curve terminus and upper edge. Any force applied at the opening of the tab will rupture the area, thereby permitting removal of the tab from the rack retainer element with the remainder of the bag.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,810, issued to Huang et al., is directed to a tabless self-opening bag pack. The tab portion has a curved aperture slit that is used to suspend the pack of bags on a rack. Each curved aperture slit has a main cut section that is substantially parallel with the bottom edges, a first curved cut section coupled to one end of the main cut section, and a second curved cut section coupled to an opposite end of the main cut section. The slit extends from an end of the first curved section to the top edge of the tab and is made when the bag is opened up on the bagging rack.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,882, issued to Fletcher et al., discloses a plastic bag pack adapted to leave no residue on a supporting rack. The bags include a detaching central tab having an aperture for mounting the tabs on a tab retaining device of the rack. Each of the bags of the pack further includes a means to propagate a controlled tear from the tab mounting aperture to the open mouth for detaching the tab from the rack tab retaining device. This tear propagating means is in the form of a V-shaped cut-out formed in and extending downwardly from the top of the central tab and a nick formed at the apex of the V-shaped cut-out and extending downwardly there from toward the tab mounting aperture. When stresses are placed on the detaching central tab, the stresses are concentrated by the V-shaped cut-out into the nick to propagate a tear down through the wall of the detaching central tab to the aperture.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,310, issued to Nguyen, is directed to a thermoplastic bag system. The bag has a mouth from which emanates a tab. Situated at an angled, lateral position relative to the upper edge of the bulbous portion of tab is the tab support slit having first and second ends. The tab is shown in more detail and includes a slit having first and second ends, the first end being formed near the first bulbous tab extension and running generally toward the first, short neck edge, then generally leveling horizontally in the medial area of said slit, then running downward along path and curving back towards generally the first bulbous tab extension before terminating in an end. The user applies light pressure to the face of the tab and the slit ruptures at its higher, first end, tearing to the outer edge of the tab at rupture zone, releasing the tab from the rack.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,950, issued to Nguyen discloses a tab-free thermoplastic T-shirt bag system. Emanating from the bag mouth is a raised area with a support cut having first and second ends. Relative to the support cut is a laterally situated dispense cut having first and second ends. The application of light pressure to a medial edge of the support cut causes a rupture at the space between the edge and the second, bottom tip of the dispense cut, the rupture communicating with the dispense cut, releasing the bag from the support tab.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a T-shirt style grocery or merchandise bag that will not leave any portion of the bag tab on a dispensing rack. It is a further objective to provide such a tabless bag that can be easily and reliably manufactured and that can be stored in registered alignment for ease in placing into a dispensing rack. It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a tabless bag stack that includes a weakened area permitting the tab to rupture at a point below the top of the tab. Finally, it is an objective to provide a tabless T-shirt style bag incorporating self-opening features.

While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses all of the deficiencies of prior art tabless T-shirt style bag pack inventions and satisfies all of the objectives described above.

(1) A side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack providing the desired features may be constructed from the following components. A plurality of registered polyethylene bags is provided. Each of the bags has front and rear walls joined at their substantially parallel first and second side edges. The front and rear walls are joined at their substantially parallel upper and lower edges. The front and rear walls have a U-shaped cut-out commencing at a first point on the upper edge spaced inwardly from the first side edge, extending downwardly toward the lower edge and returning upwardly to a second point on the upper edge spaced inwardly from the second side edge. The U-shaped cut-out forms an open bag mouth, a pair of bag handles and at least one of front and rear central tabs extending upwardly from a central point on the bag mouth. The bag handles are penetrated by first and second apertures. The apertures support the bag stack on side arms of a dispensing rack. The central tab has a top edge, first and second lateral edges and a hanging aperture. The hanging aperture supports the bag pack on a central projection of the dispensing rack. The central tab has a weakened area between the hanging aperture and the first or second lateral edges. When one of the bags is pulled from the dispensing rack, the weakened area of the central tab will rupture, thereby causing the central tab to remain with the dispensed bag.

(2) In a variant of the invention, the side tear tabless T-shirt style bags further include at least one side gusset. The side gusset extends from the upper edge to the lower edge and inwardly from at least one of the first and second side edges for a first predetermined distance.

(3) In a further variant, the weakened area comprises a perforation line extends from the hanging aperture to the first or second lateral edge.

(4) In still a further variant, the weakened area includes an opening. The opening is located between the hanging aperture and the first or second lateral edge.

(5) In yet a further variant, the weakened area includes a first cut. The first cut extends from the hanging aperture toward the first or second lateral edge.

(6) In another variant of the invention, the weakened area includes a second cut. The second cut extends from the first or second lateral edge toward the hanging aperture.

(7) In still another variant, the weakened area includes a first notch. The first notch extends from the hanging aperture toward the first or second lateral edge.

(8) In a further variant, the weakened area includes a second notch. The second notch extends from the first or second lateral edge toward the hanging aperture.

(9) In still a further variant, the side tear tabless T-shirt style bags include means for releasably adhering a rear surface of the rear wall of a first bag in the bag pack to a front surface of the front wall of a subsequent bag in the bag pack. This causes the subsequent bag to open upon dispensing of the first bag from the dispensing rack.

(10) In yet a further variant, the means for releasably adhering a rear surface of the rear wall of a first bag in the bag pack to a front surface of the front wall of a subsequent bag in the bag pack is selected from the group consisting of glue spotting, hot pinning, cold staking, corona treatment, pressure and corona treatment combined with pressure.

(11) In another variant of the invention, the means for releasably adhering a rear surface of the rear wall of a first bag in the bag pack to a front surface of the front wall of a subsequent bag in the bag pack is applied to rear surfaces of the bag handles of the first bag and front surfaces of the bag handles of the subsequent bag.

(12) In still another variant, the means for releasably adhering a rear surface of the rear wall of a first bag in the bag pack to a front surface of the front wall of a subsequent bag in the bag pack is applied to rear surfaces of the central tab of the first bag and front surfaces of the central tab of the subsequent bag.

(13) A side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack providing the desired features may also be constructed from the following components a plurality of registered polyethylene bags is provided. Each of the bags has front and rear walls joined at their substantially parallel first and second side edges. The front and rear walls are joined at their substantially parallel upper and lower edges. The front and rear walls have a U-shaped cut-out commencing at a first point on the upper edge spaced inwardly from the first side edge, extending downwardly toward the lower edge and returning upwardly to a second point on the upper edge spaced inwardly from the second side edge. The U-shaped cut-out forms an open bag mouth, a pair of bag handles and at least one of front and rear central tabs extending upwardly from a central point on the bag mouth. The bag handles is penetrated by first and second apertures. The apertures support the bag stack on side arms of a dispensing rack. The central tab has a rounded peripheral edge. The peripheral edge has an uppermost point, and a hanging aperture. The hanging aperture supports the bag pack on a central projection of the dispensing rack. The central tab has a weakened area between the hanging aperture and a third point below the uppermost point. When one of the bags is pulled from the dispensing rack, the weakened area of the central tab will rupture, thereby causing the central tab to remain with the dispensed bag.

(14) In a variant of the invention, the side tear tabless T-shirt style bags, further includes at least one side gusset. The side gusset extend from the upper edge to the lower edge and inwardly from at least one of the first and second side edges for a first predetermined distance.

(15) In a further variant, the weakened area includes a perforation line extending from the hanging aperture to the third point.

(16) In still a further variant, the weakened area includes an opening. The opening is located between the hanging aperture and the third point.

(17) In yet another variant, the weakened area includes a first cut. The first cut extends from the hanging aperture toward the third point.

(18) In still another variant, the weakened area includes a second cut. The second cut extends from the third point toward the hanging aperture.

(19) In a further variant, the weakened area includes a first notch. The first notch extends from the hanging aperture toward the third point.

(20) In still a further variant, the weakened area includes a second notch. The second notch extends from the third point toward the hanging aperture.

(21) In yet a further variant, the side tear tabless T-shirt style bags further include means for releasably adhering a rear surface of the rear wall of a first bag in the bag pack to a front surface of the front wall of a subsequent bag in the bag pack. This causes the subsequent bag to open upon dispensing of the first bag from the dispensing rack.

(22) In another variant of the invention, the means for releasably adhering a rear surface of the rear wall of a first bag in the bag pack to a front surface of the front wall of a subsequent bag in the bag pack is selected from the group consisting of glue spotting, hot pinning, cold staking, corona treatment, pressure and corona treatment combined with pressure.

(23) In still another variant, the means for releasably adhering a rear surface of the rear wall of a first bag in the bag pack to a front surface of the front wall of a subsequent bag in the bag pack is applied to rear surfaces of the bag handles of the first bag and front surfaces of the bag handles of the subsequent bag.

(24) In a final variant of the invention, the means for releasably adhering a rear surface of the rear wall of a first bag in the bag pack to a front surface of the front wall of a subsequent bag in the bag pack is applied to rear surfaces of the central tab of the first bag and front surfaces of the central tab of the subsequent bag.

An appreciation of the other aims and objectives of the present invention and an understanding of it may be achieved by referring to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of a preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention including a bag pack disposed upon a dispensing rack;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bag of the FIG. 1 embodiment partially cut-away to illustrate an ungusseted bag edge;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bag of the FIG. 1 embodiment partially cut-away to illustrate a gusseted bag edge;

FIG. 4 is a detailed partial plan view of the bag of the FIG. 1 embodiment illustrating a weakened area disposed at 90 degrees to the vertical axis of the bag;

FIG. 5 is a detailed partial plan view of the bag of the FIG. 1 embodiment illustrating a weakened area disposed at 270 degrees to the vertical axis of the bag;

FIG. 6 is a detailed partial plan view of a second embodiment of a bag illustrating a rounded central tab and a weakened area disposed at approximately 290 degrees to the vertical axis of the bag;

FIG. 7 is a detailed partial plan view of the tab of the FIG. 4 embodiment taken along the line 7 illustrating a weakened area consisting of a cut between the hanging aperture and tab perimeter disposed at 90 degrees to the vertical axis of the bag;

FIG. 8 is a detailed partial plan view of the tab of the FIG. 1 embodiment illustrating a weakened area consisting of a perforation line extending between the hanging aperture and tab perimeter disposed at 45 degrees to the vertical axis of the bag;

FIG. 9 is a detailed partial plan view of the tab of the FIG. 1 embodiment illustrating a weakened area consisting of a cut between the hanging aperture and tab perimeter disposed at 45 degrees to the vertical axis of the bag;

FIG. 10 is a detailed partial plan view of the tab of the FIG. 1 embodiment illustrating a weakened area consisting of a cut extending from the hanging aperture toward the tab perimeter disposed at 45 degrees to the vertical axis of the bag;

FIG. 11 is a detailed partial plan view of the tab of the FIG. 1 embodiment illustrating a weakened area consisting of a cut extending from the tab perimeter toward the hanging aperture disposed at 45 degrees to the vertical axis of the bag;

FIG. 12 is a detailed partial plan view of the tab of the FIG. 1 embodiment illustrating a weakened area consisting of a notch extending from the hanging aperture toward the tab perimeter disposed at 45 degrees to the vertical axis of the bag;

FIG. 13 is a detailed partial plan view of the tab of the FIG. 1 embodiment illustrating a weakened area consisting of a notch extending from the tab perimeter toward the hanging aperture disposed at 45 degrees to the vertical axis of the bag;

FIG. 14 is a detailed perspective view of a tab of the bag of the FIG. 1 embodiment being broken as it is removed from the central hook of a dispensing rack;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a bag pack being hot pinned to provide self-opening features;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a bag pack being cold-staked to provide self-opening features;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a bag pack being glue spotted at the central tab to provide self-opening features; and

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a bag pack illustrating corona treatment and printing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(1) FIGS. 1-X illustrate a side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack 10 providing the desired features that may be constructed from the following components. A plurality of registered polyethylene bags 15 is provided. Each of the bags 15 has front 20 and rear 25 walls joined at their substantially parallel first 30 and second 35 side edges. The front 20 and rear 25 walls are joined at their substantially parallel upper 40 and lower 45 edges. The front 20 and rear 25 walls have a U-shaped cut-out 50 commencing at a first point 55 on the upper edge 40 spaced inwardly from the first side edge 30, extending downwardly toward the lower edge 45 and returning upwardly to a second point 60 on the upper edge 40 spaced inwardly from the second side edge 35. The U-shaped cut-out 50 forms an open bag mouth 65, a pair of bag handles 70 and at least one of front 75 and rear 80 central tabs extending upwardly from a central point 85 on the bag mouth 65.

The bag handles 70 are penetrated by first 90 and second 95 apertures. The apertures 90, 95 support the bag pack 10 on side arms 100 of a dispensing rack 105. The central tab 75, 80 has a top edge 110, first 115 and second 120 lateral edges and a hanging aperture 125. The hanging aperture 125 supports the bag pack 10 on a central projection 130 of the dispensing rack 105. The central tab 75, 80 has a weakened area 135 between the hanging aperture 125 and the first 115 or second 120 lateral edges. When one of the bags 15 is pulled from the dispensing rack 105, the weakened area 135 of the central tab 75, 80 will rupture, thereby causing the central tab 75, 80 to remain with the dispensed bag 15.

(2) In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the side tear tabless T-shirt style bags 15 further include at least one side gusset 140. The side gusset 140 extends from the upper edge 40 to the lower edge 45 and inwardly from at least one of the first 30 and second 35 side edges for a first predetermined distance 145.

(3) In a further variant, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the weakened area 135 comprises a perforation line 150 that extends from the hanging aperture 125 to the first 115 or second 120 lateral edge.

(4) In still a further variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9, the weakened area 135 includes an opening 155. The opening 155 is located between the hanging aperture 125 and the first 115 or second 120 lateral edge.

(5) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the weakened area 135 includes a first cut 160. The first cut 160 extends from the hanging aperture 125 toward the first 115 or second 120 lateral edge.

(6) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the weakened area 135 includes a second cut 165. The second cut 165 extends from the first 115 or second 120 lateral edge toward the hanging aperture 125.

(7) In still another variant, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the weakened area 135 includes a first notch 170. The first notch 170 extends from the hanging aperture 125 toward the first 115 or second 120 lateral edge.

(8) In a further variant, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the weakened area 135 includes a second notch 175. The second notch 175 extends from the first 115 or second 120 lateral edge toward the hanging aperture 125.

(9) In still a further variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 15-18, the side tear tabless T-shirt style bags 15 include means 180 for releasably adhering a rear surface 185 of the rear wall 25 of a first bag 15 in the bag pack 10 to a front surface 190 of the front wall 20 of a subsequent bag 15 in the bag pack 10. This causes the subsequent bag 15 to open upon dispensing of the first bag 15 from the dispensing rack 105.

(10) In yet a further variant, the means 180 for releasably adhering a rear surface 185 of the rear wall 25 of a first bag 15 in the bag pack 10 to a front surface 190 of the front wall 20 of a subsequent bag 15 in the bag pack 10 is selected from the group consisting of glue spotting 195, hot pinning 200, cold staking 205, corona treatment 210, pressure (not shown) and corona treatment combined with pressure (not shown).

(11) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, the means 180 for releasably adhering a rear surface 185 of the rear wall 25 of a first bag 15 in the bag pack 10 to a front surface 190 of the front wall 20 of a subsequent bag 15 in the bag pack 10 is applied to rear surfaces 215 of the bag handles 70 of the first bag 15 and front surfaces 220 of the bag handles 70 of the subsequent bag 15.

(12) In still another variant, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the means 180 for releasably adhering a rear surface 185 of the rear wall 25 of a first bag 15 in the bag pack 10 to a front surface 190 of the front wall 20 of a subsequent bag 15 in the bag pack 10 is applied to rear surfaces 225 of the central tab 75, 80 of the first bag 15 and front surfaces 230 of the central tab 75, 80 of the subsequent bag 15.

(13) A side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack 10 providing the desired features may also be constructed from the following components, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6. A plurality of registered polyethylene bags 15 is provided. Each of the bags 15 has front 20 and rear 25 walls joined at their substantially parallel first 30 and second 35 side edges. The front 20 and rear 25 walls are joined at their substantially parallel upper 40 and lower 45 edges. The front 20 and rear 25 walls have a U-shaped cut-out 50 commencing at a first point 55 on the upper edge 40 spaced inwardly from the first side edge 30, extending downwardly toward the lower edge 45 and returning upwardly to a second point 60 on the upper edge 40 spaced inwardly from the second side edge 35. The U-shaped cut-out 50 forms an open bag mouth 65, a pair of bag handles 70 and at least one of front 75 and rear 80 central tabs extending upwardly from a central point 85 on the bag mouth 65.

The bag handles 70 are penetrated by first 90 and second 95 apertures. The apertures 90, 95 support the bag pack 10 on side arms 100 of a dispensing rack 105. The central tab 75, 80 has a rounded peripheral edge 235. The peripheral edge 235 has an uppermost point 240, and a hanging aperture 125. The hanging aperture 125 supports the bag pack 10 on a central projection 130 of the dispensing rack 105. The central tab 75, 80 has a weakened area 135 between the hanging aperture 125 and a third point 245 below the uppermost point 240. When one of the bags 15 is pulled from the dispensing rack 105, the weakened area 135 of the central tab 75, 80 will rupture, thereby causing the central tab 75, 80 to remain with the dispensed bag 15.

(14) In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 19, the side tear tabless T-shirt style bags 15 further include at least one side gusset 140. The side gusset 140 extends from the upper edge 40 to the lower edge 45 and inwardly from at least one of the first 30 and second 35 side edges for a first predetermined distance 145.

(15) In a further variant, as illustrated in FIG. 20, the weakened area 135 includes a perforation line 150 extending from the hanging aperture 125 to the third point 245.

(16) In still a further variant, as illustrated in FIG. 21, the weakened area 135 includes an opening 155. The opening 155 is located between the hanging aperture 125 and the third point 245.

(17) In yet another variant, as illustrated in FIG. 22, the weakened area 135 includes a first cut 160. The first cut 160 extends from the hanging aperture 125 toward the third point 245.

(18) In still another variant, as illustrated in FIG. 23, the weakened area 135 includes a second cut 165. The second cut 165 extends from the third point 245 toward the hanging aperture 125.

(19) In a further variant, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the weakened area 135 includes a first notch 170. The first notch 170 extends from the hanging aperture 125 toward the third point 245.

(20) In still a further variant, as illustrated in FIG. 25, the weakened area 135 includes a second notch 175. The second notch 175 extends from the third point 245 toward the hanging aperture 125.

(21) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 15-18, the side tear tabless T-shirt style bags 15 further include means 180 for releasably adhering a rear surface 185 of the rear wall 25 of a first bag 15 in the bag pack 10 to a front surface 190 of the front wall 20 of a subsequent bag 15 in the bag pack 15. This causes the subsequent bag 15 to open upon dispensing of the first bag 15 from the dispensing rack 105.

(22) In another variant of the invention, the means 180 for releasably adhering a rear surface 185 of the rear wall 25 of a first bag 15 in the bag pack 10 to a front surface 190 of the front wall 20 of a subsequent bag 15 in the bag pack 15 is selected from the group consisting of glue spotting 195, hot pinning 200, cold staking 205, corona treatment 210, pressure (not shown) and corona treatment combined with pressure (not shown).

(23) In still another variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, the means 180 for releasably adhering a rear surface 185 of the rear wall 25 of a first bag 15 in the bag pack 10 to a front surface 190 of the front wall 20 of a subsequent bag 15 in the bag pack 15 is applied to rear surfaces 215 of the bag handles 70 of the first bag 15 and front surfaces 220 of the bag handles 70 of the subsequent bag 15.

(24) In a final variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the means 180 for releasably adhering a rear surface 185 of the rear wall 25 of a first bag 15 in the bag pack 10 to a front surface 190 of the front wall 20 of a subsequent bag 15 in the bag pack 15 is applied to rear surfaces 225 of the central tab 75, 80 of the first bag 15 and front surfaces 230 of the central tab 75, 80 of the subsequent bag 15.

The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack 10 has been described with reference to particular embodiments. Other modifications and enhancements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, comprising:

a plurality of registered polyethylene bags, each of said bags having front and rear walls joined at substantially parallel first and second side edges thereof;

said front and rear walls being joined at substantially parallel upper and lower edges thereof;

said front and rear walls having a U-shaped cut-out commencing at a first point on said upper edge spaced inwardly from said first side edge, extending downwardly toward said lower edge and returning upwardly to a second point on said upper edge spaced inwardly from said second side edge;

said U-shaped cut-out forming an open bag mouth, a pair of bag handles and at least one of front and rear central tabs extending upwardly from a central point on said bag mouth;

said bag handles being penetrated by first and second apertures, said apertures supporting said bag pack on side arms of a dispensing rack;

said central tab having a top edge, first and second lateral edges and a hanging aperture, said hanging aperture supporting said bag pack on a central projection of the dispensing rack;

said central tab having a weakened area between said hanging aperture and either of said first and second lateral edges; and

whereby, when one of said bags is pulled from said dispensing rack, said weakened area of said central tab will rupture, thereby causing said central tab to remain with said dispensed bag.

2. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 1, further comprising at least one side gusset, said side gusset extending from said upper edge to said lower edge and inwardly from at least one of said first and second side edges for a first predetermined distance.

3. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 1, wherein said weakened area comprises a perforation line extending from said hanging aperture to either of said first and second lateral edges.

4. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 1, wherein said weakened area comprises an opening, said opening being disposed between said hanging aperture and either of said first and second lateral edges.

5. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 1, wherein said weakened area comprises a first cut, said first cut extending from said hanging aperture toward either of said first and second lateral edges.

6. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 1, wherein said weakened area comprises a second cut, said second cut extending from either of said first and second lateral edges toward said hanging aperture.

7. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 1, wherein said weakened area comprises a first notch, said first notch extending from said hanging aperture toward either of said first and second lateral edges.

8. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 1, wherein said weakened area comprises a second notch, said second notch extending from either of said first and second lateral edges toward said hanging aperture.

9. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 1, further comprising means for releasably adhering a rear surface of said rear wall of a first bag in said bag pack to a front surface of said front wall of a subsequent bag in said bag pack, thereby causing said subsequent bag to open upon dispensing of said first bag from said dispensing rack.

10. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 9, wherein said means for releasably adhering a rear surface of said rear wall of a first bag in said bag pack to a front surface of said front wall of a subsequent bag in said bag pack is selected from the group consisting of:

glue spotting, hot pinning, cold staking, corona treatment, pressure and corona treatment combined with pressure.

11. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 9, wherein said means for releasably adhering a rear surface of said rear wall of a first bag in said bag pack to a front surface of said front wall of a subsequent bag in said bag pack is applied to rear surfaces of said bag handles of said first bag and front surfaces of said bag handles of said subsequent bag.

12. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 9, wherein said means for releasably adhering a rear surface of said rear wall of a first bag in said bag pack to a front surface of said front wall of a subsequent bag in said bag pack is applied to rear surfaces of said central tab of said first bag and front surfaces of said central tab of said subsequent bag.

13. A side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, comprising:

a plurality of registered polyethylene bags, each of said bags having front and rear walls joined at substantially parallel first and second side edges thereof;

said front and rear walls being joined at substantially parallel upper and lower edges thereof;

said front and rear walls having a U-shaped cut-out commencing at a first point on said upper edge spaced inwardly from said first side edge, extending downwardly toward said lower edge and returning upwardly to a second point on said upper edge spaced inwardly from said second side edge;

said U-shaped cut-out forming an open bag mouth, a pair of bag handles and at least one of front and rear central tabs extending upwardly from a central point on said bag mouth;

said bag handles being penetrated by first and second apertures, said apertures supporting said bag stack on side arms of a dispensing rack;

said central tab having a rounded peripheral edge, said peripheral edge having an uppermost point, and a hanging aperture, said hanging aperture supporting said bag pack on a central projection of said dispensing rack;

said central tab having a weakened area between said hanging aperture and a third point below said uppermost point; and

whereby, when one of said bags is pulled from said dispensing rack, said weakened area of said central tab will rupture, thereby causing said central tab to remain with said dispensed bag.

14. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 13, further comprising at least one side gusset, said side gusset extending from said upper edge to said lower edge and inwardly from at least one of said first and second side edges for a first predetermined distance.

15. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 13, wherein said weakened area comprises a perforation line extending from said hanging aperture to said third point.

16. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 13, wherein said weakened area comprises an opening, said opening being disposed between said hanging aperture and said third point.

17. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 13, wherein said weakened area comprises a first cut, said first cut extending from said hanging aperture toward said third point.

18. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 13, wherein said weakened area comprises a second cut, said second cut extending from said third point toward said hanging aperture.

19. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 13, wherein said weakened area comprises a first notch, said first notch extending from said hanging aperture toward said third point.

20. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 13, wherein said weakened area comprises a second notch, said second notch extending from said third point toward said hanging aperture.

21. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 13, further comprising means for releasably adhering a rear surface of said rear wall of a first bag in said bag pack to a front surface of said front wall of a subsequent bag in said bag pack, thereby causing said subsequent bag to open upon dispensing of said first bag from said dispensing rack.

22. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 21, wherein said means for releasably adhering a rear surface of said rear wall of a first bag in said bag pack to a front surface of said front wall of a subsequent bag in said bag pack is selected from the group consisting of:

glue spotting, hot pinning, cold staking, corona treatment, pressure and corona treatment combined with pressure.

23. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 21, wherein said means for releasably adhering a rear surface of said rear wall of a first bag in said bag pack to a front surface of said front wall of a subsequent bag in said bag pack is applied to rear surfaces of said bag handles of said first bag and front surfaces of said bag handles of said subsequent bag.

24. The side tear tabless T-shirt style bag pack, as described in claim 21, wherein said means for releasably adhering a rear surface of said rear wall of a first bag in said bag pack to a front surface of said front wall of a subsequent bag in said bag pack is applied to rear surfaces of said central tab of said first bag and front surfaces of said central tab of said subsequent bag.