Resealable bag for filling with food product(s) and method

• US 6,360,513 B1
• Filed: 11/01/1999
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SARGENTO CHEESE INC.
• Original Assignee: Sargento Foods Inc
• Inventors: Kolbe, Jerry D., Fischer, Judy, Linck, Karl L., Spaeth, Thomas J., Strand, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Sipos, John
• Application Number:
  US09/431,732
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 531/412, 531/133.4, 531/139.2, 493/213, 493/927, 383/5, 383/63
• US Class Current: 53/412
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/8132 Applying the closure elements in the machine direction
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/2508 using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 493/927 Reclosable

Abstract

A reclosable bag for filling with at least one food product. The reclosable bag generally includes at least one sheet of web material having at least two areas of structural weakness. At least one fold structure is located between and defined by the two areas of structural weakness. An opening is located generally opposite the fold structure. The reclosable bag further includes a reclosable fastener structure having an integral skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom. The integral skirt structure includes a distal margin. The distal margin is coupled to the web material at, at least one location between the areas of structural weakness and the opening. The reclosable fastener structure extends past the areas of structural weakness and into the fold structure. The reclosable bag capable of being filled with at least one food product through the opening.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a reclosable bag for filling with at least one food product said reclosable bag comprising:

at least one sheet of web material including a first area of structural weakness and a second area of structural weakness;

said sheet of web material including at least one fold structure located between and defined by said first and second areas of structural weakness, and a fill opening;

said sheet of web material including a first panel coupled to said fold structure adjacent said first area of structural weakness and a second panel coupled to said fold structure adjacent said second area of structural weakness;

a reclosable fastener structure including a male track structure and a female track structure;

said male track structure including a first skirt structure of web material extending therefrom and said female track structure including a second skirt structure of web material extending therefrom;

each said skirt structure including a predetermined coupling portion;

said coupling portion of said first skirt structure being coupled to said first panel and said coupling portion of said second skirt structure being coupled to said second panel;

said reclosable fastener structure extending past said areas of structural weakness and into said fold structure;

said areas of structural weakness being located on said material between said reclosable fastener structure and said coupling portions;

said reclosable bag capable of being filled with at least one food product through said fill opening, said method comprising;

providing a sheet of web material having a first area of structural weakness and a second area of structural weakness;

folding said sheet of web material along a predetermined folding area located between said areas of structural weakness to form said fold structure and said fill opening;

providing a reclosable fastener having at least one skirt structure including a predetermined coupling portion;

inserting said reclosable fastener into said fold structure and locating said reclosable fastener at a position between said areas of structural weakness and said folding area;

coupling said predetermined coupling portion of said at least one integral skirt structure to a location on said web material on the side of the structural weakness opposite said fold area;

sealing said web material along at least two predetermined linear areas located generally perpendicular to said fold structure;

filling said reclosable bag with at least one food product through said opening; and

sealing said opening.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of sealing said web material along at least two predetermined linear areas occurs last.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first step is coupling at least one predetermined portion of said distal margin of said at least one integral skirt structure to at least one predetermined portion of said web material prior to folding said sheet of web material.

4. The method of claim 1 including the further step of inserting and sealing a header material into said predetermined fold area at least prior to the step of sealing said web material along at least said two predetermined linear areas.

5. The method of claim 1 including the further step of inserting and sealing at least one tear structure into said predetermined fold area at least prior to the step of sealing said web material along at least said two predetermined linear areas.

6. The method of claim 1 including the further step of sealing a predetermined portion of said fold structure and forming a header structure;

said further step being subsequent to said step of folding said sheet of web material along a predetermined folding area located between said areas of structural weakness to form said fold structure.

7. A method of manufacturing a reclosable bag for filling with at least one food product, said reclosable bag including at least one sheet of web material having at least one predetermined tear area, at least one fold structure, and an opening located generally opposite said fold structure;

a reclosable fastener assembly including at least one integral skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom;

said integral skirt structure including at least one distal margin;

said distal margin being coupled to said web material at, at least one location between said tear area and said opening;

said reclosable fastener structure extending past said tear area and into said fold structure;

said tear area being located on said web material between said reclosable fastener assembly and said distal margin said reclosable bag capable of being filled with at least one food product, said method comprising;

providing a sheet of web material having at least one predetermined tear area;

folding said sheet of web material along a predetermined folding area to produce said fold structure and said fill opening;

providing a reclosable fastener assembly having at least one integral skirt structure, said skirt structure including at least one distal margin;

inserting said reclosable fastener assembly into said fold structure and locating said reclosable fastener assembly at a position between said predetermined tear area and said folding area;

coupling said distal margin of said integral skirt structure to a location on said web material on the side of the tear area opposite said fold structure;

sealing said web material along at least two predetermined linear areas located generally perpendicular to said fold structure;

filling said reclosable bag with at least one food product through said opening; and

sealing said opening.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of sealing said web material along at least two predetermined linear areas occurs last.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the first step is coupling at least one predetermined portion of said distal margin of said integral skirt structure to at least one predetermined portion of said web material prior to folding said sheet of web material.

10. The method of claim 7 including the further step of inserting and sealing a header material into said predetermined fold area at least prior to the step of sealing said web material along at least said two predetermined linear areas.

11. The method of claim 7 including the further step of inserting and sealing at least one tear structure into said predetermined fold area at least prior to the step of sealing said web material along at least said two predetermined linear areas.

12. The method of claim 7 including the further step of sealing a predetermined portion of said fold structure and forming a header structure;

said further step being subsequent to said step of folding said sheet of web material along a predetermined folding area located between said areas of structural weakness to form said fold structure.