Metallic laminated gusseted insulated bag

• US 20040120611A1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation US (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: Arora, Atul, Kannankeril, Charles, Wormwood, Dale
• Granted Patent: US 6,913,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 383/110
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 31/10 with gusseted sides
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/20 using pressure-sensitive adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3897 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls

Abstract

A metallic laminated gusseted insulated bag includes a front and rear wall each having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge; first and second side walls; a bottom member; and a means for hermetically closing the bag; wherein the front and rear walls are joined along their respective lateral edges to the first and second side walls; either or both of the side walls and bottom member are gusseted; and the front and rear walls are joined along their respective bottom edges to the bottom member; and the front and rear walls each include an outer ply including a metallic foil or metallic coated web, and an inner ply having an inner and outer surface, including a thermal insulating layer; the metallic foil or metallic coated web being adhered to the outer surface of the inner ply.

Claims

1. A metallic laminated gusseted insulated bag comprising:

a) a front wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

b) a rear wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

c) a first gusseted side wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

d) a second gusseted side wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

e) a bottom member; and

f) a means for hermetically closing the bag;

wherein;

i) the front and rear walls are joined along their respective lateral edges to the respective lateral edges of the first and second gusseted side walls;

ii) the front and rear walls are joined along their respective bottom edges to the bottom member; and

iii) the first and second gusseted side walls are joined along their respective bottom edges to the bottom member;

the front and rear walls, and the first and second gusseted side walls, each comprising

a) an outer ply comprising a metallic foil or metallic coated web, and

b) an inner ply having a first surface and a second surface, the inner ply comprising a thermal insulating layer;

the metallic foil or metallic coated web being adhered to the first surface of the inner ply.

2. The bag of claim 1 wherein the means for hermetically closing the bag comprises a closure flap, attached to the top edge of the rear wall, the closure flap having a first and second lateral flap extension, the flap adapted to fold down over the top edges of the front and rear wall, and the first and second lateral flap extensions adapted to fold inwardly across a portion of the back wall of the bag, after the flap has been folded down.

3. The bag of claim 2 wherein the closure flap is integrally attached to the top edge of the rear wall.

4. The bag of claim 2 wherein the closure flap is a discrete member that is attached to the top edge of the rear wall.

5. The bag of claim 2 wherein the closure flap comprises an adhesive layer disposed on one side of the flap.

6. The bag of claim 5 wherein the adhesive layer is covered by a release tape.

7. The bag of claim 2 wherein the closure flap is adapted to fold down over the top edges of the front and rear wall, and to be heat sealed to the front wall.

8. The bag of claim 1 wherein the means for hermetically closing the bag comprises:

a) a closure flap attached to the top edge of the rear wall, and

b) a supplemental flap, having a top and bottom edge, the supplemental flap attached at its bottom edge to a portion of the front wall of the bag, near the top edge of the front wall;

the closure flap and supplemental flap adapted to adhere together, when the bag is closed, to form a hermetic seal.

9. The bag of claim 8 wherein an adhesive layer is disposed on one side of at least one of the closure flap and supplemental flap.

10. The bag of claim 8 wherein the adhesive layer is covered by a release tape.

11. The bag of claim 8 wherein the closure flap and supplemental flap are adapted to be heat sealed to one another.

12. The bag of claim 1 wherein the thermal insulating layer comprises an air cellular material.

13. The bag of claim 1 wherein the thermal insulating layer comprises a foamed material.

14. The bag of claim 1 wherein the thermal insulating layer comprises paper fiber.

15. The bag of claim 1 wherein the front and rear walls are joined along their respective lateral edges to the first and second gusseted side walls by means of a fold.

16. The bag of claim 1 wherein the front and rear walls are joined along their respective bottom edges to the bottom member by means of a fold.

17. The bag of claim 1 wherein the first and second gusseted side walls are joined along their respective bottom edges to the bottom member by means of a fold.

18. The bag of claim 1 wherein the front wall and rear wall, and the first and second gusseted side walls, are of substantially equal length.

19. A method of making a metallic laminated gusseted insulated bag comprising:

a) providing a metallic foil or metallic coated web;

b) providing a thermal insulating layer;

c) laminating the metallic foil or metallic coated web to the thermal insulating layer to form a metallic insulating laminate;

d) cutting the laminate to form a blank; and

e) folding and adhering portions of the blank to produce a bag comprising

i) a front wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

ii) a rear wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

iii) a first gusseted side wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

iv) a second gusseted side wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

v) a bottom member; and

vi) a means for hermetically closing the bag;

wherein

(a) the front and rear walls are joined along their respective lateral edges to the respective lateral edges of the first and second gusseted side walls;

(b) the front and rear walls are joined along their respective bottom edges to the bottom member; and

(c) the first and second gusseted side wall are joined along their respective bottom edges to the bottom member; and

wherein the means for hermetically closing the bag comprises a closure flap, attached to the top edge of the rear wall, the closure flap having a first and second lateral flap extension, the flap adapted to fold down over the top edges of the front and rear wall, and the first and second lateral flap extensions adapted to fold inwardly across a portion of the back wall of the bag, after the flap has been folded down.

20. A method of making a metallic laminated gusseted insulated bag comprising:

a) providing a metallic foil or metallic coated web;

b) providing a thermal insulating layer;

c) laminating the metallic foil or metallic coated web to the thermal insulating layer to form a metallic insulating laminate;

d) cutting the laminate to form a blank; and

e) folding and adhering portions of the blank to produce a bag comprising

i) a front wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

ii) a rear wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

iii) a first gusseted side wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

iv) a second gusseted side wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

v) a bottom member; and

vi) a means for hermetically closing the bag;

wherein

(a) the front and rear walls are joined along their respective lateral edges to the respective lateral edges of the first and second gusseted side walls;

(b) the front and rear walls are joined along their respective bottom edges to the bottom member; and

(c) the first and second gusseted side wall are joined along their respective bottom edges to the bottom member; and

wherein the means for hermetically closing the bag comprises

a) a closure flap attached to the top edge of the rear wall, and

b) a supplemental flap, having a top and bottom edge, the supplemental flap attached at its bottom edge to a portion of the front wall of the bag;

the closure flap and supplemental flap adapted to adhere together, when the bag is closed, to form a hermetic seal.

21. A metallic laminated gusseted insulated bag comprising:

a) a front wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

b) a rear wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

c) a gusseted bottom member; and

d) a means for hermetically closing the bag;

wherein;

the front and rear walls are joined along their respective lateral edges; and

the front and rear walls, and the gusseted bottom member, each comprise

a) an outer ply comprising a metallic foil or metallic coated web, and

b) an inner ply having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner ply comprising a thermal insulating layer;

the metallic foil or metallic coated web being adhered to the outer surface of the inner ply.

22. A method of making a metallic laminated gusseted insulated bag comprising:

a) providing a metallic foil or metallic coated web;

b) providing a thermal insulating layer;

c) laminating the metallic foil or metallic coated web to the thermal insulating layer to form a metallic insulating laminate;

d) longitudinally folding the laminate to create a centerfolded laminate;

e) forming a gusset in the centerfolded laminate;

f) making a first and second transverse seal in the gusseted, centerfolded laminate; and

g) making a first and second transverse cut in the gusseted, centerfolded laminate to produce a bag comprising;

i) a front wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

ii) a rear wall having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge;

iii) a gusseted bottom member; and

iv) a means for hermetically closing the bag;

wherein;

the front and rear walls are joined along their respective lateral edges; and

the front and rear walls, and the gusseted bottom member, each comprise;

a) an outer ply comprising a metallic foil or metallic coated web, and

b) an inner ply having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner ply comprising a thermal insulating layer;

the metallic foil or metallic coated web being adhered to the outer surface of the inner ply.