Bag having an improved heat seal closure and associated methods

• US 7,544,403 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2005
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hood Packaging Corporation (Hood Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Exopack LLC (Coveris Management GmbH)
• Inventors: Johnson, Sarajane, Woodham-Grant, Roseann, Hartzell, Mark, Millslagle, Lesley M., Cash, Mary K., McLellan, Alfred A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miggins; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US11/265,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20060073292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 428/35.7, 428/36.9, 428/36.92, 428/34.3, 383/61.2, 383/64, 383/109, 383/120, 383/119
• US Class Current: 428/34.3
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/10 of paper or cardboard
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/188 by applying or incorporating profile-strips, e.g. for reclosable bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 31/02 with laminated walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/2541 characterised by the slide fastener, e.g. adapted to interlock with a sheet between the interlocking members having sections of particular shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1038 Hollow cylinder article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1307 Bag or tubular film [e.g., pouch, flexible food casing, envelope, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1334 Nonself-supporting tubular film or bag [e.g., pouch, envelope, packet, etc.]

Abstract

A multiwall bag having a slider zipper and fin combination and methods of forming same are provided. The multiwall bag, for example, can include a tube body. A bag seal zone can be formed in the tube body, and a combination fin member, zipper track, and zipper block can be connected to an end of the tube body in the bag seal zone. The other end of the tube body can be filled with product so that the bag seal zone operates as a constructive bottom during filling. Then, the end of the tube body through which product is filled can be closed and sealed to provide a bag filled with product. The method can include forming a tube body, sealing inner surfaces of the tube body to define a bag seal zone, and connecting a combination fin member, zipper track, and zipper block to the bag seal zone.

Claims

1. A tamper-evident closure for a bag that comprises a tube having at least one layer of polymeric material, the closure comprising:

a first strip and a second strip at a first end of the bag, the first and second strips configured to transition between an open strip position in which the first and second strips are separated from each other and a closed strip position in which the first and second strips are in abutting contact with each other to thereby form a strip seal; and

a bag seal zone between a second end of the bag and the first and second strips, wherein the second end of the bag is opposite the first end of the bag, wherein the bag seal zone is closer to the first end of the bag than to the second end of the bag, and wherein the bag seal zone comprises an inner surface of a front wall region of the tube in abutting contact with an inner surface of a back wall region of the tube,

wherein the at least one layer of polymeric material comprises the abutting inner surfaces of the front and back wall regions, and wherein the abutting inner surfaces comprise a heat seal.

2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the heat seal allows the inner surfaces of the front wall and back wall regions to peelingly separate and unseal the inner surfaces of the front and back wall regions without substantial damage to the inner surfaces when the bag is initially opened.

3. The closure of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material comprises at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, maleic anhydride grafted polyethylenes and propylenes, and polyesters.

4. The closure of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of polymeric material is formed by at least one of extrusion, co-extrusion, lamination, and coating processes.

5. The closure of claim 1, wherein the heat seal extends substantially the entire lengthwise extent of the bag seal zone and substantially the entire widthwise extent of the bag.

6. The closure of claim 1, wherein the bag seal zone is configured to transition from an initial closed orientation to an open orientation without returning to the closed orientation.

7. The closure of claim 6, wherein the bag seal zone, when in the closed orientation, substantially prevents movement of product from a position between the second end of the bag and the heat seal zone to a position between the heat seal zone and the first and second strips.

8. The closure of claim 7, further comprising a fin member of which at least a portion is disposed between the heat seal zone and the first and second strips, wherein the fin member is configured to transition from a closed orientation to an open orientation.

9. The closure of claim 1, further comprising a fin member of which at least a portion is disposed between the heat seal zone and the first and second strips, wherein the fin member is configured to transition from a closed orientation to an open orientation.

10. The closure of claim 9, wherein the fin member defines a score line along which the fin member is configured to be separated to move to the open orientation.

11. The closure of claim 1, wherein the first and second strips comprise zipper tracks.

12. The closure of claim 11, further comprising a zipper block that is configured to transition the first and second strips between the open strip position and the closed strip position.