Flexible bags – Bag closure secured by a releasable or frangible bond – Adhesive bond
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-18
2001-12-11
Pascua, Jes F. (Department: 3727)
Flexible bags
Bag closure secured by a releasable or frangible bond
Adhesive bond
C383S086000, C383S203000, C383S205000, C383S906000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328472
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to bags of one or more layers, wherein at least one layer may be fabricated from paper or plastic material, for the containment and dispensing of fluent material.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Bags for the containment and dispensing of fluent material, such as dry dog food or cat litter, which are fabricated from one or more layers, wherein at least one layer may be fabricated from paper or plastic, are well known. One such type of bag is known as a stepped-end, folded-over, pinch bottom bag (hereinafter “pinch bottom bag”).
Such a bag may be fabricated from one or more layers of plain, untreated paper, although typically, one or more layers may be fabricated from a fine-grain, siftproof paper. In addition or alternatively, one or more of the layers may be fabricated from an inherently moisture-proof material, such as polyethylene, or treated paper. The several layers of the bag are aligned atop one another and, while still in a continuous web, formed into a tube. As the tube is cut into individual bag tubes, the ends of each bag tube may be cut in a stepped fashion, to create a stepped progression of layers on both sides of the opening of such a flattened bag. The exposed mating stepped surfaces of one or both sides may be provided with a heat-sealable coating or may themselves be heat-sealable (in the case of polyethylene layers).
Typically, the “top” of the bag (the end the ultimate product customer opens) is folded over, and passed through a heat-sealing device to close an end of the bag. The opposite end of the bag (usually the bottom) is left open by the bag manufacturer, so that the customer of the bag (the product producer) can fill the bag with product, and then seal the bag.
In the simplest form of such a bag, once both ends have been sealed shut, the bag can only be opened by tearing or cutting. Once opened, the sealed condition of the bag is lost, and the contents are exposed to air, humidity, spillage, and the possibility of intrusion of contaminants, etc. If not all of the contents are to be used at once, the only options for reclosure of the bag, are folding or rolling down the opened top, or using some kind of cinch closure (twist-ties and the like). Alternatively, if a greater degree of protection for remaining unused contents is required, usually, the contents must be tipped into a reopenable/resealable container, such as a lidded metal or plastic drum or the like.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a multi-layer bag, for example, of the stepped-end, pinch bottom variety, which is susceptible of opening, without having to excessively tear or cut the material of the bag, so that the bag is capable of substantially truly sealable reclosure in a facilitated manner.
It would further be desirable to provide a multi-layer bag, for example, of the stepped-end, pinch bottom variety, which is provided with a spout or opening, which can be opened and closed repeatedly, until all of the contents of the bag have been dispensed from the bag.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in light of the present description, claims and drawings.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A bag apparatus, having a repeatedly openable and reclosable pour spout, comprises a tubular bag body, fabricated from at least one layer of bag material, in which the tubular bag body has at least one end configured to form an open mouth and having first and second opposing sides adjacent the mouth. A closure flap emanates from the first of the opposing sides of the mouth, and is operably configured to be folded across the mouth and over at least a portion of an outer surface of the second of the opposing sides of the mouth.
The closure flap has an inside surface operably configured to be placed in juxtaposed alignment over the at least first portion of the outer surface of the second of the opposing sides of the mouth.
A spout structure is operably affixed to a portion of the outside surface of the tubular bag body, including a base sheet, operably positioned on and over at least a further portion of the portion of the outer surface of the second of the opposing sides of the mouth, the base sheet having an outside surface; a spout flap, operably disposed in substantially aligned overlying contact with the base sheet; and a first adhesive material operably disposed on at least one of the inside surface of the spout flap and the outside surface of the base sheet, the first adhesive material being operably disposed to releasably hold the spout flap to the base sheet, after the spout flap and the base sheet have been brought into the substantially aligned overlying contact with each other.
The spout structure is operably disposed on the further portion of the portion of the outer surface of the second of the opposing sides of the mouth, so that upon operable positioning of a second, substantially non-releasable adhesive material upon the inside surface of the closure flap and further upon the juxtaposed alignment of the closure flap over and against the portion of the outer surface of the second of the opposing sides of the mouth, the spout flap becomes non-releasably affixed to a portion of the inside surface of the closure flap.
Complete separation of the spout flap from the base sheet enables a portion of the mouth of the bag to be reopened for providing access to an interior region of the tubular bag body, the first adhesive material permitting the spout flap and base sheet to be repeatedly separated and releasably reattached to one another, to, in turn, permit at least a portion of the mouth to be repeatedly opened and reclosed.
The spout flap preferably further comprises at least first and second flap sheets laminated to one another. The at least first and second flap sheets may be fabricated from different materials.
The first adhesive material is preferably disposed to remain on the spout flap, upon separation of the spout flap from the base sheet. Alternatively, the first adhesive material may be disposed to remain on the base sheet, upon separation of the spout flap from the base sheet.
The base sheet preferably comprises a sheet, fabricated from a polymer-based material.
The first adhesive material preferably comprises at least one material from the group consisting of polyesters, polyethylenes, polyamids.
The spout structure is preferably operably disposed upon the further portion of the portion of the outer surface of the second of the opposing sides of the mouth so that, after the juxtaposed alignment of the closure flap over the portion of the outer surface of the second of the opposing sides of the mouth and non-releasable affixation of the spout flap to the closure flap, upon initial separation of the spout flap and the base sheet, and upon continued pulling of the spout flap, a portion of the closure flap, to which the spout flap is non-releasably affixed, becomes partially separated from a remaining portion of the closure flap, for facilitating partial opening of the mouth of the bag.
Preferably, portions of the inside surface of the spout flap and of the base sheet are left free of the at least one adhesive material, so that an object may be inserted between the portions of the inside surface of the spout flap and the base sheet, for facilitating grasping of the spout flap, toward permitting pulling of the spout flap away from the base sheet.
The bag body is preferably formed from a plurality of layers of bag material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the layers of bag material is fabricated from paper. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, at least one of the layers of bag material is fabricated from a plastic material.
The bag body may be gusseted. Further, the bag body may be fabricated
Bartles Bruce
Crosby Morris
Laurence James B.
Wiggins Steve
Dick and Harris
Pascua Jes F.
Stone Container Corporation
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