Multi-layered bags and methods of manufacturing the same

• US 8,282,539 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hood Packaging Corporation (Hood Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Exopack LLC (Coveris Management GmbH)
• Inventors: Sharp, Stuart, Smith, Allyson, Solomon, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Durand, Paul R
• Application Number:
  US12/341,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20100158417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 493/186, 493/189, 493/193, 493/212, 493/213, 493/214, 493/927, 493/933, 428/34.1, 428/34.3, 428/34.6, 428/34.7, 428/35.2, 428/35.7, 428/36.9, 428/36.91
• US Class Current: 493/212
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/05 5 or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/31 Heat sealable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/41 Opaque
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/5825 Tear resistant
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/584 Scratch resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/702 Amorphous
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/704 Crystalline
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7163 Biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/748 Releasability
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2419/00 Buildings or parts thereof walls, panels B32B2607/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2439/00 Containers; Receptacles closures therefor B32B2435/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2439/70 Food packaging
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/10 of paper or cardboard
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/302 comprising aromatic vinyl (co)polymers, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/304 comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/34 comprising polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/04 : characterised by at least one layer folded at the edge, e.g. over another layer ; characterised by at least one layer enveloping or enclosing a material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/09 : by stitching, needling or sewing by mechanically connecting fibrous layers to another layer B32B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 : using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 31/02 : with laminated walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1307 : Bag or tubular film [e.g., pouch, flexible food casing, envelope, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1393 : Multilayer [continuous layer]

Abstract

A bag can include walls formed of a material having multiple layers, which can include two polyolefin layers and a paper layer. The bag can be formed into a sewn-open-mouth configuration in which a stitching element extends through a wall of the bag. The bag can include a grease-resistant seal that substantially prevents grease from escaping from the bag via an opening in the wall through which the stitching element extends.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a bag, the method comprising:

attaching a polyamide film to a first side of a paper layer so that the polyamide film and the paper layer are abuttingly joined to each other and so as to form a barrier relative to the paper that is capable of preventing the passage of grease and solvents therethrough;

forming the polyamide film and the paper layer into a tube body having a first end, a second end, a front wall, and a back wall, wherein the polyamide film is exterior to the paper layer;

introducing a stitching element into openings in the front wall and the back wall of the tube body to thereby form a substantially grease-impermeable seal at the first end of the tube body; and

forming substantially grease-impermeable seals between the stitching element and the openings in the front wall and the back wall of the tube body.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching a grease-resistant ply in abutting contact to a second side of the paper layer that is opposite the first side of the paper layer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a thickness of the grease-resistant ply is between about 0.5 mils and about 6.0 mils.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the grease-resistant ply comprises polyethylene.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the polyamide film to the first side of a paper layer comprises positioning a water-based adhesive between the polyamide film and the paper layer.

6. A bag comprising:

a tube body that defines a front wall and a back wall, wherein the tube body comprises;

a polyamide layer that defines a barrier capable of preventing the passage of grease and solvents therethrough; and

a paper layer abuttingly joined to at an interior surface of the polyamide layer; and

a stitching element providing a substantially grease-impermeable seal between the front wall and the back wall at a first end of the tube body, wherein the stitching element extends through a first opening in the front wall that passes through the polyamide and paper layers and a second opening in the back wall that passes through the polyamide and paper layers,

wherein the front wall interacts with the stitching element at the first opening to substantially prevent grease from entering or exiting the tube body via the first opening, and the back wall interacts with the stitching element at the second opening to substantially prevent grease from entering or exiting the tube body via the second opening.

7. The bag of claim 6, wherein the tube body further defines a first sidewall and a second sidewall that extend between the front wall and the back wall, and wherein at least the first sidewall defines a third opening and a fourth opening through which the stitching element extends.

8. The bag of claim 6, wherein the substantially grease-impermeable seal between the front wall and the back wall extends substantially across a full transverse width of the tube body.

9. The bag of claim 6, wherein a second end of the tube body comprises a resealable zipper closure.

10. The bag of claim 6, wherein the tube body further comprises a grease-resistant ply abuttingly joined to an inner surface of the paper layer.

11. The bag of claim 10, wherein the grease-resistant ply comprises polyethylene.

12. The bag of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the grease-resistant ply is heat-sealable.

13. The bag of claim 12, wherein the grease-resistant ply comprises one or more of heat-sealable polyethylene and biaxially oriented polypropylene.

14. The bag of claim 10, wherein a thickness of the grease-resistant ply is between about 0.5 mils and about 6.0 mils.

15. The bag of claim 6, wherein the polyamide layer is resilient such that the polyamide layer is configured to close around the stitching element to form a substantially grease-proof seal therewith.

16. The bag of claim 6, wherein the paper layer is abuttingly joined to the interior surface of the polyamide layer via an adhesive.

17. The bag of claim 16, wherein the adhesive is water-based.

18. The bag of claim 6, wherein the polyamide layer is laminated to the paper layer.

19. A bag comprising:

a tube body formed from a material that comprises a polyamide film and a paper layer abuttingly joined to an inwardly facing surface of the polyamide film, wherein the tube body defines a front wall and a back wall, and wherein the polyamide film defines a barrier capable of preventing the passage of grease and solvents therethrough; and

a stitching element that extends through both the front wall and the back wall, wherein the polyamide film of the front wall interacts with the stitching element to form a seal that is configured to substantially prevent passage of grease, and wherein the polyamide film of the back wall interacts with the stitching element to form a seal that is configured to substantially prevent passage of grease.

20. The bag of claim 19, wherein the seal formed by the polyamide film of the front wall is configured to substantially prevent passage of odor.

21. The bag of claim 19, wherein the tube body further defines a first sidewall and a second sidewall that extend between the front wall and the back wall, wherein the stitching element extends through the first sidewall, and wherein the polyamide film interacts with the stitching element to form a seal that is configured to substantially prevent passage of grease.

22. The bag of claim 19, wherein the stitching element cooperates with the tube body to form a substantially grease-impermeable seal at the first end of the tube body that extends substantially across a full transverse width of the tube body.

23. The bag of claim 19, wherein a second end of the tube body comprises a resealable zipper closure.

24. The bag of claim 19, wherein the tube body further comprises a grease-resistant ply abuttingly joined to an inner surface of the paper layer.

25. The bag of claim 24, wherein the grease-resistant ply comprises polyethylene.

26. The bag of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of the grease-resistant ply is heat-sealable.

27. The bag of claim 26, wherein the grease-resistant ply comprises one or more of heat-sealable polyethylene and biaxially oriented polypropylene.

28. The bag of claim 24, wherein a thickness of the grease-resistant ply is between about 0.5 mils and about 6.0 mils.

29. The bag of claim 19, wherein the paper layer is abuttingly joined to the interior surface of the polyamide layer via an adhesive.

30. The bag of claim 29, wherein the adhesive is water-based.

31. The bag of claim 19, wherein the paper layer is laminated to the polyamide film.