Bag having reclosable seal and associated methods

• US 6,969,196 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hood Packaging Corporation (Hood Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Exopack-Technology LLC (Coveris Management GmbH)
• Inventors: Solomon, George, Woodham, L. Roseann, Sullivan, Debra L., McLellan, Alfred A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascua, Jes F.
• Application Number:
  US10/383,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20040175060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 383 88- 91, 383 82- 83, 383/85, 383/5
• US Class Current: 383/89
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/20 using pressure-sensitive adhesive

Abstract

A bag having a reclosable sealer and methods of forming and using the same are provided. The bag, for example, can include a tube body having a plurality of laminated layers. A reclosable sealer can be attached to a first wall of the tube body. When the bag is in an open bag position, a first portion of the reclosable sealer is separated from a second portion of the reclosable sealer. When the reclosable sealer is in the closed seal position, the first portion of the reclosable sealer contacts the second portion of the reclosable sealer forming a seal to thereby allow the bag to be readily opened and closed. Peripheral portions of the bag can remain unsealed after initial opening when the reclosable sealer is in the closed seal position to indicate that initial opening has occurred and that tampering with the bag may have occurred.

Claims

1. A bag comprising:

a tube body having an open end, a closed end positioned substantially opposite the open end, a first wall positioned between the open end and the closed end, and a second wall positioned to face opposite the first wall between the open and the closed end, the open end being substantially wide when in an open bag position to allow ready filling of the bag with contents and to allow ready access to the contents when positioned in the bag and being positioned to be closed so that end portions of the second wall abuttingly contact end portions of the first wall when in a closed bag position; and

a reclosable sealer having a first portion connected to the first wall of the tube body in a preselected region thereof and a second portion connected to and extending outwardly from the second wall of the tube body adjacent the open end so that when the first portion of the reclosable sealer is separated from the second portion the reclosable sealer is in an open seal position and when the first portion abuttingly contacts the second portion forming a seal the reclosable sealer is in a closed seal position, the bag having a bonding material connected to the second wall of the tube body and to the second portion of the reclosable sealer to bond the second portion of the reclosable sealer to the second wall, the first portion of the reclosable sealer having a first adhesive layer positioned to adhere the first portion of the reclosable sealer to the first wall of the tube body, a first film layer overlying and abuttingly contacting the first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer overlying and contacting the first film layer and positioned to abuttingly contact a second portion of the reclosable sealer when in the closed seal position, the second portion having a second film layer positioned to abuttingly contact the second adhesive layer of the first portion of the reclosable sealer when in the closed seal position and a paper layer overlying and abuttingly contacting the second film layer, the paper layer substantially contacting and adhering to the bonding material positioned on the outer surface of the second wall of the tube body thereby forming a bond between the second portion of the reclosable sealer and the tube body.

2. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein the second portion of the reclosable sealer has regions thereof extending toward the closed end of the tube body when in the closed seal position devoid of contact with the second adhesive layer of the first portion of the reclosable sealer to allow easy grasping by a user, and wherein the second portion of the reclosable sealer further comprises a release agent positioned on the second film layer between the second film layer of the second portion of the reclosable sealer and the second adhesive layer of the first portion of the reclosable sealer to enhance ready release of the second film layer of the second portion of the reclosable sealer from the second adhesive layer of the first portion of the reclosable sealer when an upright bag is in a closed seal position by manual upward pressure on the second portion.

3. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein the first wall comprises a front wall having a first end and a second end, wherein the second wall comprises a back wall having a first end and a second end, wherein the respective first ends of the front and back walls define the open end of the tube body, wherein the respective second ends of the front and back walls define the closed end of the tube body, and wherein each of the first ends of the front and back walls is substantially linear and substantially perpendicular to side peripheries of the respective first and second walls.

4. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein the end portions of the first and second walls are folded when in the closed bag position, wherein the second portion of the reclosable sealer comprises at least one of the following:

a plastic material, a paper material, and a metal material, and wherein the reclosable sealer extends substantially the entire lateral extent of second wall of tube body adjacent the open end.

5. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein peripheral portions of the bag further remain unsealed after initial opening of the reclosable sealer and when the reclosable sealer is in the closed seal position to thereby indicate that initial opening has occurred and indicate that tampering with the bag may have occurred.

6. A bag as defined in claim 1, further including perforations on peripheral portions of the second portion of the reclosable sealer and wherein the peripheral portions of the reclosable sealer further remain sealed and the perforation separates the peripheral portions of the second portion of the reclosable sealer from a remaining portion of the second portion of the reclosable sealer after initial opening of the reclosable sealer and when the reclosable sealer is in the open seal position to thereby indicate that initial opening has occurred and indicate that tampering with the bag may have occurred.

7. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein the tube body includes a plurality of layers of laminated material comprising at least one of the following:

a polymeric material, a metal foil material, and a paper material.

8. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein the second adhesive layer of the first portion comprises a continuous preselected pattern of adhesive material positioned in a preselected region of the outer surface of the first film layer of the first portion of the reclosable sealer.

9. A bag as defined in claim 8, wherein the continuous preselected pattern comprises a plurality of spaced apart lines of adhesive material positioned on the outer surface of the first film layer in the preselected region.

10. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein the first portion of the reclosable sealer comprises a first bag flange member and the second portion of the reclosable sealer comprises a second bag flange member, the second portion of the reclosable sealer overlies and substantially contacts the first portion of the reclosable sealer when in the closed seal position.

11. A bag comprising:

a tube body having an open end, a closed end positioned substantially opposite the open end, a first wall positioned between the open end and the closed end, and a second wall positioned to face opposite the first wall between the open and the closed end; and

a reclosable sealer having a first portion connected to the first wall of the tube body in a preselected region thereof and a second portion connected to and extending outwardly from the second wall of the tube body adjacent the open end so that when the first portion of the reclosable sealer is separated from the second portion the reclosable sealer is in an open seal position and when the first portion of the reclosable sealer abuttingly contacts the second portion of the reclosable sealer forming a seal the reclosable sealer is in a closed seal position, the bag having a bonding material connected to the second wall of the tube body and to the second portion of the reclosable sealer to bond the second portion of the reclosable sealer to the second wall, the first portion of the reclosable sealer having a first adhesive layer positioned to adhere the first portion of the reclosable sealer to the first wall of the tube body, a first film layer overlying and abuttingly contacting the first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer overlying and contacting the first film layer and positioned to abuttingly contact the second portion of the reclosable sealer when in the closed seal position, the second portion of the reclosable sealer having a second film layer positioned to abuttingly contact the second adhesive layer of the first portion of the reclosable sealer when in the closed seal position and a paper layer overlying and abuttingly contacting the second film layer, the paper layer substantially contacting and adhering to the bonding material positioned on the outer surface of the second wall of the tube body thereby forming a bond between the reclosable sealer and the tube body, the reclosable sealer has regions thereof extending toward the closed end of the tube body when in the closed seal position devoid of contact with the second adhesive layer of the first portion of the reclosable sealer for easy grasping by a user, the second portion of the reclosable sealer having a release agent positioned on the second film layer to enhance ready release of the second portion of the reclosable sealer from the second adhesive layer of the first portion of the reclosable sealer when an upright bag is in a closed seal position by manual upward pressure on the second portion.

12. A bag as defined in claim 11, wherein the first wall has a first end and a second end, wherein the second wall has a first end and a second end, wherein the respective first ends of the first and second walls define the open end of the tube body, wherein the respective second ends of the first and second walls define the closed end of the tube body, wherein each of the first ends of the first and second walls is substantially linear and substantially perpendicular to side peripheries of the respective first and second walls, and wherein the open end being substantially wide when in an open bag position to allow ready filling of the bag with contents and to allow ready access to the contents when positioned in the bag.

13. A bag as defined in claim 11, wherein the end portions of the first and second walls are folded when in the closed bag position, wherein the second portion of the reclosable sealer comprises a plastic material, and wherein the reclosable sealer extends substantially the entire lateral extent of second wall of tube body adjacent the open end.

14. A bag as defined in claim 11, wherein peripheral portions of the bag further remain unsealed after initial opening of the reclosable sealer and when the reclosable sealer is in the closed seal position to thereby indicate that initial opening has occurred and indicate that tampering with the bag may have occurred.

15. A bag as defined in claim 11, further including perforations on peripheral portions of the second portion of the reclosable sealer and wherein the peripheral portions of the reclosable sealer further remain sealed and the perforation separates the peripheral portions of the second portion of the reclosable sealer from a remaining portion of the second portion of the reclosable sealer after initial opening of the reclosable sealer and when the reclosable sealer is in the open seal position to thereby indicate that initial opening has occurred and indicate that tampering with the bag may have occurred.

16. A bag as defined in claim 11, wherein the tube body includes a plurality of layers of laminated material comprising at least one of the following:

a polymeric material, a metal foil material, and a paper material.

17. A bag as defined in claim 11, wherein the second adhesive layer of the first portion comprises a continuous preselected pattern of adhesive material positioned in a preselected region of the outer surface of the first film layer of the first portion of the reclosable sealer.

18. A bag as defined in claim 17, wherein the continuous preselected pattern comprises a plurality of spaced apart lines of adhesive material positioned on the outer surface of the first film layer in the preselected region.

19. A bag as defined in claim 11, wherein the first portion of the reclosable sealer comprises a first bag flange member and the second portion of the reclosable sealer comprises a second bag flange member, the second portion of the reclosable sealer overlies and substantially contacts the first portion of the reclosable sealer when in the closed seal position.