RECLOSABLE BAG

Abstract

A reclosable bag with front and rear walls defining a top opening between them is closable with a fold-over hood on one of the walls. The walls are made of a flexible material that may be folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds. The hood extends along an upper portion of the wall near, but spaced apart from, the top opening. The fold-over hood is effective for folding over and retaining the upper portions of the front and rear walls after they have been folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds until they reach the hood.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to bags, and more particularly to a reclosable bag that can be used to hold food or other small objects.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Many packaged products are not single-use, and consumers often do not consume or use all of the product contained in the package the first time the package is opened. This creates a need to preserve the remaining contents for future use or consumption. Un-preserved and un-protected remaining products are subject to deterioration from infestation and leakage, as well as deterioration and degradation from many other sources including moisture and the atmosphere.

To preserve these remaining multiple use products, some original packages include reclosable features like rigid caps on bottles or zippers on flexible packages. Remaining products in packages that do not provide features to preserve product are sometimes transferred to another closable (and sometimes re-closable) package.

In some cases multiple use products do not provide a reclosable feature, and that is generally because no effective closure device has yet been invented to reclose some common packages like side gusseted bags, or the cost of reclosable features, like zippers, may approach or exceed the cost of the package itself, causing product manufacturers to deem the feature un-affordable.

A need therefore exists for a package closure system effective to re-close any type of package that has been opened, and to do so at an affordable cost. The present invention addresses that need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention provides a reclosable bag. The reclosable bag preferably comprises front and rear walls that are directly or indirectly connected to each other along their side and bottom edges, but are not connected along their top edges so that a top opening is formed between them. A fold-over hood is provided on one of the walls, with the fold-over hood having a first hood wall extending from one side of the bag to the other side of the bag along an upper portion of the front wall. The hood is preferably near, but spaced apart from, the top opening.

The front and rear walls preferably have substantially identical dimensions, and each of the front and rear walls preferably has an upper edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The front and rear walls are preferably made of a flexible material effective to permit the upper portions of the front and rear walls to be folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds.

The fold-over hood is preferably attached to the front wall along the sides and top edge of the hood to form a bottom opening between the hood wall and the front wall. The fold-over hood is effective for folding over and retaining the upper portions of the front and rear walls after they have been folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds until they reach the hood.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of making a reclosable bag. The inventive method comprises:

a) providing a bag having front and rear walls with substantially identical dimensions, with each of the front and rear walls having an upper edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, wherein the front and rear walls are directly or indirectly connected to each other along their side and bottom edges, but are not connected along their top edges so that a top opening is formed between them, wherein the front and rear walls are made of a flexible material effective to permit the upper portions of the front and rear walls to be folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds;

b) providing a fold-over hood on the front wall, the fold-over hood being formed by a first hood wall extending from the first side edge to the second side edge along an upper portion of the front wall near, but spaced apart from, the top opening, wherein the fold-over hood is attached to the front wall along the sides and top edge of the hood to form a bottom opening between the hood wall and the front wall, the fold-over hood being effective for folding over and retaining the upper portions of the front and rear walls after they have been folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds until they reach the hood.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of closing a bag. In one embodiment that method comprises:

a) providing a bag having front and rear walls with substantially identical dimensions, with each of the front and rear walls having an upper edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, wherein the front and rear walls are directly or indirectly connected to each other along their side and bottom edges, but are not connected along their top edges so that a top opening is formed between them, wherein the front and rear walls are made of a flexible material effective to permit the upper portions of the front and rear walls to be folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds;

b) providing a fold-over hood on the front wall, the fold-over hood being formed by a first hood wall extending from the first side edge to the second side edge along an upper portion of the front wall near, but spaced apart from, the top opening, wherein the fold-over hood is attached to the front wall along the sides and top edge of the hood to form a bottom opening between the hood wall and the front wall, the fold-over hood being effective for folding over and retaining the upper portions of the front and rear walls after they have been folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds;

c) folding the front and rear walls downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds until they reach the hood;

d) tucking the series of one or more folds under the fold-over hood to retain the folded portion under the hood to prevent the bag from opening.

In some embodiments the fold-over hood is a single-wall hood. In other embodiments the fold-over hood is a double-wall hood. A double-wall hood comprises a first hood wall like the single-wall hood, but additionally comprises a second hood wall extending from the first side edge to the second side edge along an upper portion of the front wall opposite the first hood wall. With this construction the second hood wall may be fixed to the front wall so that there is no opening between the front wall of the bag and the rear wall of the hood. This provides the bottom hood opening to be between the first hood wall and the second hood wall, and accordingly functions in all relevant respects in the same manner as the single-wall hood.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the reclosable bag of the present invention according to one embodiment, showing the bag in pre-folded form.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the reclosable bag of the present invention, according to one embodiment, showing the bag as the top portions of the two side walls are being folded toward the hood.

FIG. 3 shows the reclosable bag of the present invention, according to one embodiment, as the hood is being inverted over the folded top portions of the two side walls after those top portions have been folded to the hood.

FIG. 4 is another view of the reclosable bag of the present invention, according to one embodiment, showing the hood being inverted over the folded top portions of the two side walls after those top portions have been folded to the hood.

FIG. 5 is a view of the reclosable bag of the present invention, according to one embodiment, showing the hood overlaying the folded top portions of the two side walls after those top portions have been folded to the hood and the hood has been inverted over them.

FIG. 6 shows the “single wall” embodiment of the hood of the reclosable bag of the present invention, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows the “double wall” embodiment of the hood of the reclosable bag of the present invention, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows one embodiment of an optionally pleated connection between the front wall and the rear wall of the reclosable bag.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to certain embodiments and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, with such alterations and modifications to the illustrated device being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

As indicated above, one aspect of the present invention provides a reclosable bag. The reclosable bag preferably comprises:

front and rear walls that are directly or indirectly connected to each other along their side and bottom edges, but are not connected along their top edges so that a top opening is formed between them; and

a fold-over hood on one of the walls, with the fold-over hood having a first hood wall extending from one side of the bag to the other side of the bag along an upper portion of the front wall near, but spaced apart from, the top opening.

The front and rear walls preferably have substantially identical dimensions, and each of the front and rear walls preferably has an upper edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The front and rear walls are preferably made of a flexible material effective to permit the upper portions of the front and rear walls to be folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds. The fold-over hood is preferably attached to the front wall along the sides and top edge of the hood to form a bottom opening between the hood wall and the front wall. The fold-over hood so made is effective for folding over and retaining the upper portions of the front and rear walls after they have been folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a bag constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The illustrated bag is a sandwich bag, although it should be clear that this size of bag is purely exemplary, as other sizes and materials may also be used.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, reclosable bag 10 comprises front wall 11 and rear wall 12 having substantially identical dimensions, with each of said front and rear walls having an upper edge 21 and 31, a bottom edge 22 and 32, a first side edge 23 and 33, and a second side edge 24 and 34, respectively. The front and rear walls are directly or indirectly connected to each other along their side and bottom edges, but are not connected along their top edges so that a top opening is formed between them. The front and rear walls are made of a flexible material effective to permit the upper portions of the front and rear walls to be folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds.

A fold-over hood 50 is provided on front wall 11, with fold-over hood 50 being formed by a first hood wall 51 extending from first side edge 23 to second side edge 24 along an upper portion of the front wall. Fold-over hood 50 is preferably located near, but spaced apart from, the top opening. In one embodiment fold-over hood 50 is provided so that the top of the hood is at least one inch, but no more than six inches, from top opening 40. In a preferred embodiment for certain food storage bags, fold-over hood 50 is provided so that the top of the hood is at least two inches, but no more than four inches, from top opening 40.

Fold-over hood 50 is attached to front wall 11 along the sides and top edge of the hood to form a bottom opening 60 between first hood wall 51 and front wall 11. Fold-over hood is effective for folding over and retaining the upper portions of the front and rear walls after they have been folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds.

Use of the illustrated bag will now be described.

FIG. 2A shows the reclosable bag as upper portion 41 of front wall 11 and upper portion 42 of rear wall 12 are folded over in a series of one or more folds. In the illustrated embodiment the two walls are folded away from hood 50, but the walls may be folded toward hood 50 if desired.

FIG. 2B shows the reclosable bag as upper portion 41 of front wall 11 and upper portion 42 of rear wall 12 are folded over in a series of two or more folds. In the illustration, the two walls are being folded away from hood 50 in a second fold following the first fold shown in FIG. 2A. While a single fold may be used, two or more folds generally provide a more secure closure.

FIG. 3 illustrates the beginning of the fold-over operation as a user inserts his fingers into fold-over hood 50 and folds the hood over the folded upper portion of the bag. The fold-over hood is fashioned so that a user may slide his/her fingers therealong to neatly tuck the hood over the folds. Most users will find that the fold-over hood 50 is easily pulled up and over the folded portion of the bag to finish the bag closing operation.

FIG. 4 shows the fold-over operation as a user uses his fingers to flip the hood into fold-over hood 50 and folds the hood over the folded upper portion of the bag.

FIG. 5 shows the bag when the upper portions of the walls have been folded over in a double fold and the hood has been folded over to retain the folded upper portion of the bag in its folded condition.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment where the fold-over hood is provided as a single-wall hood 50. Single-wall hood 50 includes a front wall 51, an upper edge portion 52, a first side edge portion 53, and a second side edge portion 54. Edges 52, 53, and 54 are fixed to the bag by an adhesive or by some other method. Since only three edges are fixed to the bag wall, an opening 57 is provided along the bottom edge of the wall.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment where the fold-over hood is provided as a double-wall hood 60. In the illustrated embodiment, double-wall hood 60 comprises a front hood wall 61 and a rear hood wall 71, with the two hood walls being joined along their top edge 62 and two side edges 63 and 64, leaving an opening 67 at the bottom of the hood. Rear hood wall 71 is fixed to the bag along its entire area, so that there is no opening between the front wall of the bag and the rear wall of the hood. With this construction the effective hood opening is between the front hood wall and the bag wall.

FIG. 8 shows one method for indirectly connecting the front and rear walls together. In this method, a side or bottom wall 81 is provided between the front and rear walls. The bottom wall or side wall so formed may provide a pleated or gusseted wall or floor that expands outward to provide additional bag storage space as needed.

As described, the bag of the invention is particularly suitable for use as a sandwich bag, although other uses are also envisioned. The bag can be made out of any suitable plastic, preferably a transparent plastic such as polyethylene or the like.

It is to be appreciated that the flexible hood costs less per unit to manufacture than any other known reclosable feature. The flexible hood also eliminates most of the complexity and cost related to extrusion and application of the polyethylene zipper, which is the most common product used to re-close flexible packages. The flexible hood can be extruded, printed and formed at speeds significantly higher than any other known reclosable feature. The flexible hood can be pre-applied to virtually any flexible package including side gusseted bags. The flexible hood can be provided separately from the package and then used to re-close the package. The flexible hood works on all types of top opening flexible packages. The flexible hood works on all types of flexible packaging materials. The flexible hood can be made from a large variety of materials. The flexible hood can applied in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, sealed, adhesive, sewn or attached by the consumer.

The flexible hood provides as strong, if not stronger re-closure than PE zipper when the open end of the bag is double folded beneath the hood. The flexible hood can be made from either a single wall or double wall. The flexible hood may be considered useful on some single use packages to reduce spillage while being used. The flexible hood can be applied to packages prior to filling with product. The flexible hood can be applied after the package has been filled with product.

The flexible hood can be used to re-close non-flexible packages, including ridged containers like boxes and cans. The flexible hood can be made of plain flexible film. The flexible hood can be made of printed or highly decorated flexible film. The flexible hood can be shaped to improve package contour fit. The flexible hood can be shaped to improve eye appeal.

It is also to be appreciated that the inventive bag closure works on a vast spectrum of product styles and materials in the packaging field. While illustrated herein in an embodiment in which the bag has front and side walls, the closure hood may alternatively be used on a flexible bag that has a single wall that extends from a top opening to a bottom. As long as the bag wall(s) can be folded over in a series of one or more folds, the inventive closure hood may be used to secure the bag in its closed condition.

The hood can be supplied by the packaging supplier either separately or already attached to the packaging material. The hood can also be supplied by a third party and then attached to the packaging material at any point in the production process or later by the consumer.

Attachment of the hood to a package varies as much as the materials and styles of packages that it works on. Examples of attachments methods include:

1. Heat sealing with compatible material. Example: (poly to poly, etc.)

2. RF sealing with materials like vinyl.

3. Adhesives for non-compatible materials. Example: (poly to paper, etc.)

4. Sewn on materials like cloth or canvas.

The hood may be adhered to the wall of the packaging by the packaging material supplier. This may be done by using a sealing method or adhesive to apply the hood to the rolled material stock of the package.

The hood may be supplied to the bag manufacturer in a roll and applied during the bag making. The materials used for the hood and the bag walls may inform the appropriate method for applying the hood.

In some manufacturing it may be preferred to apply the hood during filling or after filling of the package. The hood may be supplied with an adhesive backing in roll stock form for this application.

The hood may also be supplied in a pre-cut length with an adhesive backing and applied to the package in the same matter as a label.

The hood may also be supplied in different sizes with adhesive backing for the consumer to apply to packaging that does not have this closure.

The hood may be applied to the raw packaging material, applied during manufacturing of the package, applied after or during filling of the package, or applied by the consumer.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, it being understood that only certain preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. In addition, it is to be appreciated that the present invention may comprise or consist essentially of any or all of the illustrated or described features. For example, the present invention includes devices comprising each of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, and the present invention includes devices consisting essentially of any of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8. Additionally, any or all of the features and/or embodiments disclosed herein may be combined with any or all of the other features and/or embodiments disclosed herein to provide a device that comprises or consists essentially of such features.

Finally, the phrase A “and/or” B is used in this disclosure to mean A alone, or B alone, or both A and B.

Claims

1. A reclosable bag, comprising: front and rear walls having substantially identical dimensions, with each of said front and rear walls having an upper edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge,wherein said front and rear walls are directly or indirectly connected to each other along their side and bottom edges, but are not connected along their top edges so that a top opening is formed between them,said front and rear walls being made of a flexible material effective to permit the upper portions of said front and rear walls to be folded downward from said top opening in a series of one or more folds; anda fold-over hood on said front wall, said fold-over hood being formed by a first hood wall extending from said first side edge to said second side edge along an upper portion of said front wall near, but spaced apart from, said top opening,wherein said fold-over hood is attached to said front wall along the sides and top edge of the hood to form a bottom opening between said first hood wall and said front wall, said fold-over hood being effective for folding over and retaining the upper portions of the front and rear walls after they have been folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds.

2. The bag of claim 1 wherein said fold-over hood additionally comprises a second hood wall extending from said first side wall to said second side wall along an upper portion of said front wall opposite said first hood wall, wherein said second hood wall is fixed to said front wall and spaced apart from said first hood wall so that said bottom opening between said first hood wall and said front wall additionally provides a bottom opening between said first hood wall and said second hood wall, but avoids any opening between said front wall and said second hood wall.

3. The bag of claim 1 wherein said front and rear walls are indirectly connected to each other along their side and/or bottom edges.

4. The bag of claim 3, and further comprising first and second side walls effective to indirectly connect said front and rear walls along their side edges.

5. The bag of claim 3, and further comprising a bottom wall effective to indirectly connect said front and rear walls along their bottom edges.

6. The bag of claim 1 wherein said bag walls are made of polyethylene.

7. A method of making a reclosable bag, comprising the steps of: a) providing a bag having front and rear walls with substantially identical dimensions, with each of said front and rear walls having an upper edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, wherein said front and rear walls are directly or indirectly connected to each other along their side and bottom edges, but are not connected along their top edges so that a top opening is formed between them, wherein said front and rear walls are made of a flexible material effective to permit the upper portions of the front and rear walls to be folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds;b) providing a fold-over hood on said front wall, said fold-over hood being formed by a first hood wall extending from said first side wall to said second side wall along an upper portion of said front wall near, but spaced apart from, said top opening, wherein said fold-over hood is attached to said front wall along the sides and top edge of the hood to form a bottom opening between said hood wall and said front wall, said fold-over hood being effective for folding over and retaining the upper portions of the front and rear walls after they have been folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds.

8. A method of closing a bag, comprising the steps of: a) providing a bag having front and rear walls with substantially identical dimensions, with each of said front and rear walls having an upper edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, wherein said front and rear walls are directly or indirectly connected to each other along their side and bottom edges, but are not connected along their top edges so that a top opening is formed between them, wherein said front and rear walls are made of a flexible material effective to permit the upper portions of the front and rear walls to be folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds;b) providing a fold-over hood on said front wall, said fold-over hood being formed by a first hood wall extending from said first side wall to said second side wall along an upper portion of said front wall near, but spaced apart from, said top opening, wherein said fold-over hood is attached to said front wall along the sides and top edge of the hood to form a bottom opening between said hood wall and said front wall, said fold-over hood being effective for folding over and retaining the upper portions of the front and rear walls after they have been folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds;c) folding the front and rear walls downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds;d) folding the fold-over hood over the folded front and rear walls and tucking the series of one or more folds under the fold-over hood to retain the folded portion under the hood to prevent the bag from opening.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said providing a fold-over hood step provides a fold-over hood that additionally comprises a second hood wall extending from said first side wall to said second side wall along an upper portion of said front wall opposite said first hood wall, wherein said second hood wall is fixed to said front wall and spaced apart from said first hood wall so that said bottom opening between said first hood wall and said front wall additionally provides a bottom opening between said first hood wall and said second hood wall, but avoids any opening between said front wall and said second hood wall.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said providing a bag step provides a bag having front and rear walls that are indirectly connected to each other along their side and/or bottom edges.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said providing a bag step provides a bag that further comprises first and second side walls effective to indirectly connect said front and rear walls along their side edges.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said providing a bag step provides a bag that further comprises a bottom wall effective to indirectly connect said front and rear walls along their bottom edges.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said providing a bag step provides a bag having walls made of polyethylene.