Abstract: A bottom filled, top gusset plastic bag (10, 106) includes a pair of flexible ear handles (24, 26 or 130, 132). The handles include circular hand-receiving openings (76 or 134) and have circular outlines and circular transition regions (78, 80 or 136, 138) are provided between the ear handles (24, 26 or 130, 132) and attached base portions of the handles. The circular hand-receiving openings (76 or 134) and the curved transition regions (78, 80 or 136, 138) function to distribute weight forces substantially across the full width of each side of a filled bag (10, 106).

Abstract: A top cover (22) of flexible thermoplastic material is provided at the upper end of a bottom-loaded plastic bag of a type having a closed top (10) and a "carton" look when filled. The top cover is connected by heat seals (44, 46) to upper peripheral portions of the bag. The top cover is heat sealed to itself at (56), dividing the top cover into a base (22) and a handle (24). The handle (24) includes a hand-receiving opening (76).

Abstract: A false gusset (12, 82) is positioned between bag panels (26, 28 or 98, 100) to form a bag having a handle (24, 80) at its upper end formed by upward continuations of the sides (26, 28 or 98, 100) of the bag (10, 78). This construction removes the false gusset (12, 82) and the seals (66, 68 or 114, 116) which connect the false gusset (12, 82) to the bag panels (26, 28 or 98, 100) from the forces created by the weight of the bag (10, 78).

Abstract: A handle web (14) is heat sealed to the gusset end of a bag web (10). The bag is a bottom filled top gusset bag which assumes a carton shape when filled. The handle web (14) has a central portion which extends over the gusset (18). Substantially D-shaped hand openings (16, 18) are formed in the handle web (14). These openings (16, 18) have inwardly-directed arcuate sides (60, 62) and substantially flat outwardly-directed sides (64, 66). Rounded corners (68, 70, 72, 74) are formed where the arcuate sides (60, 62) meet the flat sides (64, 66). This construction results in a four-sided stretching of the handle web when under load, along smoothly curving arcuate paths, providing good stress distribution in the handle web material and the elimination of tear-inducing stress concentrations.