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

• US 8,523,437 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2002
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sargento Foods Inc
• Original Assignee: Sargento Foods Inc
• Inventors: Strand, Aaron, Linck, Karl L., Fischer, Judy, Spaeth, Thomas J., Kolbe, Jerry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylton, Robin
• Application Number:
  US10/300,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20030072502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,940 Days
• Field of Search: 383/5, 383/64, 383/63, 383/210, 383/211, 383/61.2, 383203-205, 383/208, 383/116, 534/12, 493/214
• US Class Current: 383/64
• 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 single sheet of web material comprising a fold transversely located therein at a position between first and second ends of said single sheet of web material, two areas of structural weakness on opposite sides of said fold, and an opening defined between said first and second ends of said single sheet of web material, wherein said areas of structural weakness are integral to said single sheet of web material; and

a reclosable slider fastener structure comprising two interlockable fastener tracks each having a skirt structure of skirt web material extending downwardly therefrom and a slider mounted on the tops of said interlockable fastener tracks, said reclosable slider fastener structure being located within said fold, wherein opposite ends of said interlockable fastener tracks are sealed together, thereby retaining said slider thereupon, and wherein said slider is moveable on said interlockable fastener tracks between said opposite ends of said interlockable fastener tracks to selectively engage and disengage said interlockable fastener tracks to respectively close and open said reclosable bag, and wherein said areas of structural weakness extend in a direction which is generally parallel to said reclosable slider fastener structure and are being located below said slider adjacent said skirt structures;

said skirt structures each including a distal margin, wherein said distal margins of said skirt structures are releasably coupled to each other by a releasable and resealable adhesive material;

said distal margins of said skirt structures being respectively coupled to said single sheet of web material at opposing locations respectively located between said areas of structural weakness and said opening, said interlockable fastener tracks and said slider extending into said fold beyond said areas of structural weakness;

said reclosable bag being capable of being filled with at least one food product through said opening.

2. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said skirt web material is integral with said interlockable fastener tracks.

3. A reclosable bag as defending claim 1, wherein said areas of structural weakness comprise a hermetic seal.

4. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said single sheet of web material comprises a multiple laminate film.

5. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 4, wherein said multiple laminate film comprises at least one layer of material comprising said two areas of structural weakness.

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

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

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

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

at least one tear tape structure coupled to said single sheet of web material and adjacent to at least one of said areas of structural weakness.

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

notches in said single sheet of web material which are located adjacent opposite ends of said areas of structural weakness.

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

a single sheet of web material comprising a fold transversely located therein at a position between first and second ends of said single sheet of web material, two areas of structural weakness on opposite sides of said fold, and an opening defined between said first and second ends of said single sheet of web material, wherein said areas of structural weakness are integral to said single sheet of web material, wherein said single sheet of web material includes an outside surface and an inside surface, said inside surface comprising a predetermined area having a releasable and resealable adhesive material located thereupon whereby a peelable seal may be formed; and

a reclosable slider fastener structure comprising two interlockable fastener tracks each having a skirt structure of skirt web material extending downwardly therefrom and a slider mounted on the tops of said interlockable fastener tracks, said reclosable slider fastener structure being located within said fold, wherein opposite ends of said interlockable fastener tracks are sealed together, thereby retaining said slider thereupon, and wherein said slider is moveable on said interlockable fastener tracks between said opposite ends of said interlockable fastener tracks to selectively engage and disengage said interlockable fastener tracks to respectively close and open said reclosable bag, and wherein said areas of structural weakness extend in a direction which is generally parallel to said reclosable slider fastener structure and are being located below said slider adjacent said skirt structures;

said skirt structures each including a distal margin;

said distal margins of said skirt structures being respectively coupled to said single sheet of web material at opposing locations respectively located between said areas of structural weakness and said opening, said interlockable fastener tracks and said slider extending into said fold beyond said areas of structural weakness;

said reclosable bag being capable of being filled with at least one food product through said opening.

12. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 11, wherein said peelable seal, when formed, is hermetic.

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

a single sheet of web material comprising a fold transversely located therein at a position between first and second ends of said single sheet of web material, two areas of structural weakness on opposite sides of said fold, and an opening defined between said first and second ends of said single sheet of web material, wherein said areas of structural weakness are integral to said single sheet of web material;

a reclosable slider fastener structure comprising two interlockable fastener tracks each having a skirt structure of skirt web material extending downwardly therefrom and a slider mounted on the tops of said interlockable fastener tracks, said reclosable slider fastener structure being located within said fold, wherein opposite ends of said interlockable fastener tracks are sealed together, thereby retaining said slider thereupon, and wherein said slider is moveable on said interlockable fastener tracks between said opposite ends of said interlockable fastener tracks to selectively engage and disengage said interlockable fastener tracks to respectively close and open said reclosable bag, and wherein said areas of structural weakness extend in a direction which is generally parallel to said reclosable slider fastener structure and are being located below said slider adjacent said skirt structures;

said skirt structures each including a distal margin, wherein at least one of said distal margins of said skirt structures is coated with a releasable and resealable adhesive material and coupled to a predetermined portion of said single sheet of web material; and

said distal margins of said skirt structures being respectively coupled to said single sheet of web material at opposing locations respectively located between said areas of structural weakness and said opening, said interlockable fastener tracks and said slider extending into said fold beyond said areas of structural weakness;

said reclosable bag being capable of being filled with at least one food product through said opening

14. A reclosable bag as defined in claim 13, wherein said peelable seal is hermetic.

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

a single sheet of web material comprising a fold transversely located therein at a position between first and second ends of said single sheet of web material, two areas of structural weakness on opposite sides of said fold, and an opening defined between said first and second ends of said single sheet of web material, wherein said areas of structural weakness are integral to said single sheet of web material; and

a reclosable slider fastener structure comprising two interlockable fastener tracks each having a skirt structure of skirt web material extending downwardly therefrom and a slider mounted on the tops of said interlockable fastener tracks, said reclosable slider fastener structure being located within said fold, wherein opposite ends of said interlockable fastener tracks are sealed together, thereby retaining said slider thereupon, and wherein said slider is moveable on said interlockable fastener tracks between said opposite ends of said interlockable fastener tracks to selectively engage and disengage said interlockable fastener tracks to respectively close and open said reclosable bag, and wherein said areas of structural weakness extend in a direction which is generally parallel to said reclosable slider fastener structure and are being located below said slider adjacent said skirt structures, wherein said skirt structures each include an outside surface and an inside surface, said inside surface of one of said skirt structures including a predetermined area having a releasable and resealable adhesive material thereon, thereby forming a peelable seal with said inside surface of said other of said skirt structures;

said skirt structures each including a distal margin;

said distal margins of said skirt structures being respectively coupled to said single sheet of web material at opposing locations respectively located between said areas of structural weakness and said opening, said interlockable fastener tracks and said slider extending into said fold beyond said areas of structural weakness;

said reclosable bag being capable of being filled with at least one food product through said opening.