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

• US 6,913,387 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2002
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• 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:
  US10/300,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20030072504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 383/61.2, 383/63, 383/64, 383/203, 383/204, 383/210
• 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 having at least one fold structure presenting first and second sidewall structures having inside surfaces, and an opening;

a reclosable fastener structure comprising first and second releasably engageable fastener members each having an integral skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom, said skirt structures being located opposite each other and including distal margins;

said skirt web material of said integral skirt structure of said first and second releasably engageable fastener members being respectively sealed to said inside surfaces of said first and second sidewall structures with said distal margins extending toward said opening;

a frangible barrier extending between and coupled to said distal margins of said integral skirt structures of said first and second releasably engageable fastener members; and

a removable header structure defined by a portion of said sheet of web material including said fold structure, said header structure enclosing said reclosable fastener structure prior to the removal of said header structure, wherein at least a substantial portion of said two releasably engageable fastener members extend beyond said sidewall structures after said header structure is removed.

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

two areas of structural weakness located in said sheet of web material on opposite sides of said fold structure;

wherein said reclosable fastener structure extends at least in part past said areas of structural weakness and into said fold structure.

3. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 2, wherein said areas of structural weakness define said removable header structure located therebetween, said removable header structure being capable of being removed by tearing along said areas of structural weakness.

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

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

a slider which is slidably mounted on said two releasably engageable fastener members between opposite ends of said releasably engageable fastener members to selectively engage said releasably engageable fastener members together and disengage said releasably engageable fastener members, thereby respectively closing and opening said reclosable bag.

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

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

8. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said integral skirt structures include each an outside surface and an inside surface, said distal margins being located on said outside surfaces, said inside each surfaces including a predetermined area having a releasable adhesive material disposed thereon, whereby a peelable seal may be formed between said inside surfaces.

9. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 8, wherein said peelable seal, when formed, is hermetic.

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

11. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said barrier comprises:

barrier web material which extends between and is coupled to said sidewall structures.

12. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said barrier comprises:

a first barrier web segment extending from said distal margin of said integral skirt structure of said first releasably engageable fastener member;

a second barrier web segment extending from said distal margin of said integral skirt structure of said second releasably engageable fastener member;

a peelable seal located between said first and second barrier web segments.

13. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said barrier comprises:

barrier web material extending between said distal margin of said integral skirt structure of said first releasably engageable fastener member to from said distal margin of said integral skirt structure of said second releasably engageable fastener member;

an area of structural weakness located in said sheet of barrier material at a location intermediate said first and second releasably engageable fastener members.

14. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 13, wherein said area of structural weakness comprises a hermetic seal.

15. 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 opening being located between said bottoms of said front and rear panels;

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; and

a reclosable fastener assembly comprising first and second interlockable fastener members 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 member 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 member being coupled to said rear panel below said area of structural weakness located in said rear panel;

a frangible barrier releasably sealing the area between said front and rear panels, said barrier extending between said two releasably engageable fastener members or between said front and rear panels at a location close adjacent to said two releasably engageable fastener members;

wherein at least a substantial portion of said first and second interlockable fastener members extend over the portions of said front and rear panels located between said areas of structural weakness and said tops of said front and rear panels.

16. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 15, wherein said barrier comprises:

a first barrier web segment extending from said integral skirt structure of said first releasably engageable fastener member or from said first panel at a location close adjacent to said integral skirt structure of said first releasably engageable fastener member;

a second barrier web segment extending from said integral skirt structure of said second releasably engageable fastener member or from said second panel at a location close adjacent to said integral skirt structure of said second releasably engageable fastener member;

a peelable seal located between said first and second barrier web segments.

17. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 15, wherein said barrier comprises:

barrier web material having two sides, a first side of said barrier web material extending from said integral skirt structure of said first releasably engageable fastener member or from said first panel at a location close adjacent to said integral skirt structure of said first releasably engageable fastener member, a second side of said barrier web material extending from said integral skirt structure of said second releasably engageable fastener member or from said second panel at a location close adjacent to said integral skirt structure of said second releasably engageable fastener member;

an area of structural weakness located in said sheet of barrier material at a location intermediate said first and second sides thereof.

18. 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 a fill opening located generally opposite said fold structure; and

a reclosable fastener structure including two releasably engageable fastener tracks each having an integral skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom, said integral skirt structures each having a 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 fill opening, said reclosable fastener structure defining an access opening providing access to food product in said reclosable bag after said reclosable bag is initially filled;

a frangible barrier for releasably sealing said access opening;

wherein at least a portion of said releasably engageable fastener tracks extend above said areas of structural weakness into said fold structure;

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.

19. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 18, wherein said barrier comprises:

a first barrier web segment extending from said integral skirt structure of said first releasably engageable fastener member or from said first panel;

a second barrier web segment extending from said integral skirt structure of said second releasably engageable fastener member or from said second panel;

a peelable seal located between said first and second barrier web segments.

20. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 18, wherein said barrier comprises:

barrier web material having two sides, a first side of said barrier web material extending from said integral skirt structure of said first releasably engageable fastener member or from said first panel, a second side of said barrier web material extending from said integral skirt structure of said second releasably engageable fastener member or from said second panel;

an area of structural weakness located in said sheet of barrier material at a location intermediate said first and second sides thereof.