Resealable bag for filling with food products and method

• US 7,086,782 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2002
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sargento Foods 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:
  US10/300,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20030072851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 383/63, 383/61.2, 383203-204, 383207-209, 383210-211
• 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 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 a primary portion and at least one secondary portion; and

said reclosable fastener structure extending past said primary portion of said areas of structural weakness but not extending past said at least one secondary portion of said areas of structural weakness;

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 primary portions of said areas of structural weakness extend in a direction which is generally parallel to said reclosable fastener structure.

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

6. 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.

7. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 6, wherein said peelable seal is hermetic.

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

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

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

11. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said areas of structural weakness are laid out in a pattern including a primary portion intermediate two secondary portions, and wherein said reclosable fastener structure does not extending past either of said secondary portions of said areas of structural weakness.

12. A reclosable bag for containing 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 located adjacent each other;

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 each being laid out in patterns including a primary portion located intermediate two secondary portions; and

a reclosable fastener including 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;

wherein said tops, bottoms, and sides of said front and rear panels are coupled together to enclose a food product in said resealable bag;

wherein at least said first and second interlockable fastener members of said reclosable fastener extend above said primary portion of said areas of structural weakness but not above said secondary portions of said areas of structural weakness.

13. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 12, wherein said areas of structural weakness comprise a hermetic seal.

14. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 12, 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.

15. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 12, 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.

16. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 12, wherein said primary portions of said areas of structural weakness are substantially linear.

17. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 12, wherein said secondary portions of said areas of structural weakness are arcuate.

18. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 12, wherein said secondary portions of said areas of structural weakness are S-shaped.

19. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 12, additionally comprising:

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

20. 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 hood structure, two predetermined areas of structural weakness on opposite sides of said hood structure, and an opening located generally opposite said hood 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 areas of structural weakness 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 areas of structural weakness 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 a primary portion located intermediate two secondary portions, said reclosable fastener structure extending past said primary portion of said areas of structural weakness but not extending past said secondary 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.