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

• US 6,910,806 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2002
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• 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): Pascua, Jes F.
• Application Number:
  US10/300,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20030072503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 383/61.2, 383/63, 383/64, 383/203, 383/204, 383/210, 383/211, 534/12, 493/213
• US Class Current: 383/61.2
• 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 reclosable bag for filling with at least one food product, said reclosable bag comprising:

at least one sheet of web material including at least two areas of structural weakness, said areas of structural weakness being integral to said web material;

an opening;

a reclosable fastener structure including a skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom;

said skirt structure including a distal margin;

said distal margin being coupled to said web material such that said areas of structural weakness are located between said distal margin and said reclosable fastener structure;

said reclosable fastener structure extending past said areas of structural weakness;

said areas of structural weakness defining a tear off portion, said tear off portion capable of being removed by tearing along said areas of structural weakness;

said areas of structural weakness being laid out in a pattern including an arcuate portion; and

said reclosable bag capable of being filled with at least one food product through said opening.

2. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said areas of structural weakness comprise a hermetic seal.

3. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said opening is located generally opposite said fold structure.

4. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said areas of structural weakness extend in a direction which is generally parallel to reclosable fastener structure.

5. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said skirt web material is integral to said reclosable fastener structure.

6. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said skirt web material is coupled to said reclosable fastener structure.

7. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said distal margins are releasably coupled to each other by a releasable adhesive material.

8. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said distal margins is coated with a releasable adhesive material and coupled to a predetermined portion of said web material.

9. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said integral skirt includes an outside surface and an inside surface, said distal margin being located on said outside surface, said inside surface including a predetermined area having a releasable adhesive material thereon, thereby forming a peelable seal.

10. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 9, wherein said peelable seal is hermetic.

11. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said web material of said reclosable bag substantially comprises a sheet of a parent film material having predetermined dimensions.

12. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 11, wherein said areas of structural weakness are integral to said parent film material.

13. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said sheet of web material comprises a multiple laminate film.

14. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 13, wherein said multiple laminate film comprises at least one layer of material comprising said two areas of structural weakness.

15. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein areas of structural weakness comprise perforations.

16. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein areas of structural weakness comprise microperforations.

17. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein areas of structural weakness comprise scoring.

18. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said areas of structural weakness extend across a predetermined dimension of said sheet of web material.

19. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 18, wherein said predetermined dimension of said sheet of web material is the width thereof.

20. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 18, wherein said predetermined dimension of said sheet of web material is the length thereof.

21. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, additionally comprising:

at least one tear tape structure coupled to said web material and adjacent to at least one of said areas of structural weakness.

22. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, additionally comprising:

notches in said sheet of web material which are located adjacent opposite ends of said areas of structural weakness.

23. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said areas of structural weakness are laid out in a pattern including two arcuate portions.

24. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 23, wherein said areas of structural weakness each comprise:

a substantially straight portion located between said two arcuate portions;

wherein said reclosable fastener extends beyond said at substantially straight portions of said areas of structural weakness but not beyond at least a portion of said arcuate portions of said areas of structural weakness.

25. A reclosable bag for filling with at least one food product, said reclosable bag comprising:

at least one sheet of web material defining;

a front panel having a top, a bottom, and sides; and

a rear panel having a top, a bottom, and sides, said tops and said sides of said front and rear panels being coupled together;

an area of structural weakness located in each of said front and rear panels below said tops of said front and rear panels and extending between at least a substantial portion of said sides of said front and rear panels, said areas of structural weakness being laid out in patterns including at least one non-linear portion;

a reclosable fastener including first and second interlockable fastener tracks each having a skirt structure of skirt web material extending downwardly therefrom, said skirt structures each including a distal portion, said distal portion of said skirt structure of said first fastener track being coupled to said front panel below said area of structural weakness located in said front panel, said distal portion of said skirt structure of said second fastener track being coupled to said rear panel below said area of structural weakness located in said rear panel; and

an opening located between said bottoms of said front and rear panels;

wherein at least said first and second interlockable fastener tracks of said reclosable fastener extend above a substantial portion of said areas of structural weakness, and wherein said reclosable bag is capable of being filled with at least one food product through said opening.

26. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 25, wherein said front panel and said back panel comprise a single segment of web material, a fold being located in said segment of web material intermediate said front panel and said rear panel.

27. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 26, wherein said fold is located intermediate said areas of structural weakness.

28. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 25, wherein said areas of structural weakness comprise a hermetic seal.

29. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 25, wherein at least a substantial portion of said areas of structural weakness extend in a direction which is generally parallel to said reclosable fastener structure.

30. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 25, wherein said distal portions of said skirt structures of said first and second fastener tracks are releasably coupled to each, thereby forming a peelable hermetic seal.

31. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 25, wherein said areas of structural weakness are integral to said parent film material.

32. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 25, wherein said sheet of web material comprises a multiple laminate film.

33. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 32, wherein said multiple laminate film comprises at least one layer of material comprising said two areas of structural weakness.

34. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 25, wherein areas of structural weakness comprise perforations.

35. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 25, wherein areas of structural weakness comprise microperforations.

36. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 25, wherein areas of structural weakness comprise scoring.

37. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 25, additionally comprising:

at least one tear tape structure coupled to said web material and adjacent to at least one of said areas of structural weakness.

38. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 25, wherein said areas of structural weakness are laid out in a pattern including two non-linear portions.

39. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 38, wherein said areas of structural weakness each comprise:

a substantially straight portion located between said two non-linear portions;

wherein said reclosable fastener extends beyond said at least substantially straight portions of said areas of structural weakness but not beyond at least a portion of said non-linear portions of said areas of structural weakness.

40. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 38, wherein said areas of structural weakness each comprise:

two end portions located relatively close adjacent said sides of said front and rear panels; and

a substantially straight portion located between said two non-linear portions;

wherein said non-linear portions of said areas of structural weakness are located between said end portions and said substantially straight portions of said areas of structural weakness.

41. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 40, wherein said non-linear portions of said areas of structural weakness are arcuate.

42. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 40, wherein said non-linear portions of said areas of structural weakness are S-shaped.

43. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 40, wherein said reclosable fastener extends beyond said at substantially straight portions of said areas of structural weakness but not beyond said end portions of said areas of structural weakness.

44. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 40, wherein said end portions of said areas of structural weakness extends beyond said reclosable fastener.

45. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 40, wherein said end portions of said areas of structural weakness are adjacent said reclosable fastener.

46. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 40, additionally comprising:

notches in said sides of said front and rear panels which are located adjacent said end portions of said areas of structural weakness.

47. A reclosable bag for filling with at least one food product, said reclosable bag comprising:

at least one sheet of web material including at least one fold structure, two predetermined tear areas on opposite sides of said fold structure, and an opening located generally opposite said fold structure; and

a reclosable fastener structure including two releasably engageable fastener halves each having an integral skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom;

wherein said integral skirt structure includes at least one distal margin;

wherein said distal margin of said integral skirt structure of one of said fastener halves is coupled to said web material between one of said tear areas and said opening, and wherein said distal margin of said integral skirt structure of the other of said fastener halves is coupled to said web material between the other of said tear areas and said opening;

wherein said areas of structural weakness define a tear off portion located therebetween, said tear off portion being capable of being removed by tearing along said areas of structural weakness;

wherein said areas of structural weakness are each being laid out in a pattern including two non-linear portions having a substantially linear portion located therebetween, said reclosable fastener structure extending past said substantially linear portions of said areas of structural weakness; and

wherein said reclosable bag capable of being filled with at least one food product through said opening.