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

• US 7,165,887 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2002
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• 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:
  US10/300,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20030072852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 383/5, 383203-205, 383207-209, 383/61.2, 383/63, 383/65
• US Class Current: 383/203
• 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:

a sheet of web material having first, second, third, and fourth edges wherein said first and second edges are respectively located opposite each other in said sheet of web material and said third and fourth edges are respectively located opposite each other in said sheet of web material, said sheet of web material comprising a fold located therein intermediate said first and second edges of said sheet of web material to define two opposite sides of said reclosable bag, said sheet of web material also having two tear lines that are respectively located on opposite sides of said fold, said first and second edges of said sheet of web material being located adjacent each other to define an opening therebetween which is distally located with respect to said fold;

a tear assistance structure located adjacent to each of said tear lines and secured to said sheet of web material; and

a reclosable fastener structure comprising two releasably engageable tracks each having a skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom, said reclosable fastener structure being located in said fold with said skirt structures respectively extending toward said first and second edges of said sheet of web material;

said skirt structures each including a distal margin, said distal margins of said skirt structures being respectively coupled to said web material on said opposite sides of said reclosable bag at opposed locations which are respectively located between said lines of weakness and said opening;

said releasable engageable tracks of said reclosable fastener structure extending past said tear lines and into said fold structure;

said two opposite sides of said reclosable bag being sealed at said third and fourth edges of said sheet of web material to define sides of said reclosable bag, said reclosable bag being capable of being filled with at least one food product through said opening intermediate said first and second edges of said sheet of web material, following which said first and second edges of said sheet of web material are sealed together to enclose the at least one food product inside said reclosable bag.

2. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said tear assistance structures each comprise a strip of tear tape which is bonded or sealed to said sheet of web material.

3. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said tear assistance structures are located on the side of said sheet of web material which is inside said fold structure.

4. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said tear lines each comprise an area of structural weakness located in said sheet of web material at locations which are respectively close to the adjacent one of said tear assistance structures.

5. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, additionally comprising a tear notch located in said reclosable bag which facilitates initiation of the removal of said fold structure from the rest of said reclosable bag.

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

a rectangular sheet of web material having first, second, third, and fourth edges, said sheet of web material having a fold structure located midway between said first and second edges and two tear lines which are located in said sheet of web material on opposite sides of said fold structure, said fold structure separating said sheet of web material into front and back sides of said reclosable bag, said first and second edges being located adjacent each other to define an opening therebetween which opening is distally located with respect to said fold;

a tear assistance structure located adjacent to each of said tear lines and secured to said sheet of web material;

a reclosable fastener structure having two releasably engageable fastener halves each including a skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom, said skirt structures each having a distal margin, wherein said distal margin of said skirt structure of one of said fastener halves is coupled to said web material on said front side of said reclosable bag between the one of said tear lines on said front side of said reclosable bag and said opening, and wherein said distal margin of said skirt structure of the other of said fastener halves is coupled to said web material on said back side of said reclosable bag between the one of said tear lines on said back side of said reclosable bag and said opening;

wherein said fastener halves of said reclosable fastener structure extend past said tear lines and into said fold structure;

said front and back sides of said reclosable bag being sealed at said third and fourth edges, said reclosable bag being capable of being filled with at least one food product through said opening between said first and second edges, following which said first and second edges are sealed together to enclose the at least one food product inside said reclosable bag.

7. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 6, wherein said tear assistance structures each comprise a strip of tear tape which is bonded or sealed to said sheet of web material.

8. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 6, wherein said tear assistance structures are located on the side of said sheet of web material which is inside said fold structure.

9. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 6, wherein said tear lines each comprise an area of structural weakness located in said sheet of web material at locations which are respectively close to the adjacent one of said tear assistance structures.

10. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 6, additionally comprising a tear notch located in said reclosable bag which facilitates initiation of the removal of said fold structure from the rest of said reclosable bag.

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

a sheet of web material having a centrally located fold separating said sheet of web material into a front panel and a rear panel;

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

said rear panel having a top, a bottom, and sides, said tops of said front and rear panels coinciding at said fold, said sides of said front and rear panels being coupled together, an opening being located between said bottoms of said front and rear panels;

a tear line 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, the portion of said sheet of web material located intermediate said tear lines forming a tear off portion;

a tear assistance structure located adjacent to each of said tear lines and secured to said sheet of web material; and

a reclosable fastener assembly extending between said sides of said front and rear panels and comprising 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 oriented toward said opening and being coupled to said front panel below said tear line located in said front panel, said distal portion of said skirt structure of said second fastener track being oriented toward said opening and being coupled to said rear panel below said tear line located in said rear panel;

wherein at least a substantial portion of the lengths of said first and second interlockable fastener tracks of said reclosable fastener assembly which extend between said sides of said front and rear panels extend completely above said tear lines, and wherein said reclosable bag is capable of being filled with at least one food product through said opening.

12. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 11, wherein said tear assistance structures each comprise a strip of tear tape which is bonded or sealed to said sheet of web material.

13. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 11, wherein said tear assistance structures are located on the side of said sheet of web material which is inside said fold.

14. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 11, wherein said tear lines each comprise an area of structural weakness located in said sheet of web material at locations which are respectively close to the adjacent one of said tear assistance structures.

15. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 11, additionally comprising a tear notch located in said reclosable bag which facilitates initiation of the removal of said fold structure from the rest of said reclosable bag.

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

a sheet of web material having first, second, third and fourth edges and including a fold structure which is centrally located therein midway between said first and second edges which fold structure separates said sheet of web material into front and rear sides of said reclosable bag, two tear lines being located in said sheet of web material on opposite sides of said fold structure and defining a tear off hood portion which is located intermediate said two tear lines, an opening being defined between said first and second edges;

a tear assistance structure located adjacent to each of said tear lines and secured to said sheet of web material; and

a reclosable fastener structure including two releasably engageable fastener tracks each having an integral skirt structure of skirt web material extending from a bottom side thereof, 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 oriented toward said opening and coupled to said sheet of web material between the one of said tear lines and said opening on said front side of said reclosable bag, and wherein said distal margin of said integral skirt structure of the other of said fastener halves is oriented toward said opening and coupled to said web material between the other of said tear lines and said opening on said rear side of said reclosable bag;

wherein at least a substantial portion of said fastener tracks extend entirely above said tear lines into said tear off hood portion;

wherein said front and rear sides of said reclosable bag are sealed at said third and fourth edges;

wherein said tear off hood portion is capable of being removed by tearing along said tear lines; and

wherein said reclosable bag is capable of being filled with at least one food product through said opening between said first and second edges of said sheet of web material, following which said between said first and second edges are sealed together to enclose the at least one food product inside said reclosable bag.

17. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 16, wherein said tear assistance structures each comprise a strip of tear tape which is bonded or sealed to said sheet of web material.

18. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 16, wherein said tear assistance structures are located on the side of said sheet of web material which is inside said fold structure.

19. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 16, wherein said tear lines each comprise an area of structural weakness located in said sheet of web material at locations which are respectively close to the adjacent one of said tear assistance structures.

20. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 16, additionally comprising a tear notch located in said reclosable bag which facilitates initiation of the removal of said tear off hood from the rest of said reclosable bag.