Flexible bags – Bag closure secured by a releasable or frangible bond
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-25
2001-12-04
Pascua, Jes F. (Department: 3727)
Flexible bags
Bag closure secured by a releasable or frangible bond
C383S061100, C383S063000, C383S120000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325543
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gusseted reclosable plastic bags and, in particular to zipper bags made of barrier films, wherein the gusset can be fully opened and the zipper can fully close the bag
2. Prior Art
Heretofore reclosable plastic bags have been provided with gusseted sides. An advantage of such gusseted bags is that they may be opened more fully to facilitate filling and emptying or the gusset may be inverted to form a pouring spout.
In previous concepts for such bags, the profiles of the zipper had to be sufficiently large to capture a double thickness of the bag film in order to accommodate the gussets. This results in a construction that was generally not acceptable in applications where barrier films were required. The problem becomes more acute the more complex the film and hence, the thicker the bag walls
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved gusseted zipper bag, wherein the bag wall thickness will not prevent the zipper profiles from capturing a portion of the gusset.
A further object is to provide a gusset bag which may readily be formed to have one gusset open as a spout.
The above and other objects and advantages are attained in accordance with the present invention by providing a bag having front and rear walls and gusseted side walls. Mating zipper profiles are provided on the front and rear walls respectively and a thinned wall section is provided in the gusset portions aligned with the zipper profiles. The thinned gusset wall portions may be provided in different manners. The portions of the bag film material forming the gussets may be physically thinned in the areas aligned with the profiles. Alternatively, windows may be cut in the plastic film material of the gussets in the areas aligned with the profiles, with the windows, in turn, being covered by thin film segments. The gusset windows may be covered by separate strips of thin film which is free of profiles. Alternatively, the zipper profiles may be provided on a thin carrier strip wherein segments of profiles are separated from each other by a distance equal to that of the length of the windows. The carrier strip may then be attached to the bag wall, with the profile free portions of the strip covering the window openings. The gussets may be open at both opposite ends of the bag or may be sealed together at one end to provide a spout at the opposite end.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2929123 (1960-03-01), Schneideman
patent: 4997104 (1991-03-01), Pohl
patent: 5037138 (1991-08-01), McClintock et al.
patent: 5692837 (1997-12-01), Beer
patent: 5941643 (1999-08-01), Linkiewicz
patent: 6030123 (2000-02-01), Mitarai
patent: 6132089 (2000-10-01), Galomb et al.
patent: 6164826 (2000-12-01), Petkovsek
patent: 6186663 (2001-02-01), Ausnit
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Pascua Jes F.
Piteny, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch LLP
LandOfFree
Gusseted zipper bag does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Gusseted zipper bag, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Gusseted zipper bag will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2584812