Reclosable bag with a folded portion engaged by a unitary material separation arrangement

A bag construction adapted for reclosing. An elongated material separation arrangement of substantial width and transversely defined by an upper marginal region of the bag receives and positionally holds a folded over portion of the bag after an opening of same. A lower portion of a top seal is separated or removed to provide access to the contents of the bag. The upper marginal region of the bag may be fashioned in a variety of ways to convenience the opening of the bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to package containers such as heat-sealable plastic 
or foil-type bags, and more particularly to alternative sealing and 
structural arrangements for such containers. 
The common practice in the packaging of various commodities is to enclose 
same within plastic bags, such as those made of polyethelene and the like, 
having opposing front and rear panels and opposing transverse top and 
bottom seals. In bags of this class, the seals are conventionally formed 
by a combination of heat and pressure mechanically applied to appropriate 
locations on a continuously advancing web of sheet material previously 
formed into a generally tubular structure. In addition to top and bottom 
seals, a longitudinally extending, vertical midline seam is usually seen 
on a rear panel of the bag and is formed by heat-sealing overlapping edges 
of the sheet material used in its construction. The top and bottom seals, 
which are often three-eighths to three-quarters of an inch in width, may 
take on a corrugated or pleated appearance, while the midline seam is 
generally flat in character and may be folded against the rear panel of 
the bag. 
Packaged food items, such as snack foods and frozen foods, represent a type 
of commodity which may not be entirely used after opening. It is often 
desireable to store such contents in the package until the package is 
empty. Particularly with regard to food items, it is desirable, after 
opening, to reclose the bag in some fashion which will return the bag to a 
substantially closed state, in an effort to preserve the freshness of the 
product and to prevent a spilling of contents. Examples of reclosing 
arrangements are Lieschke, U.S. Pat. No. 3,036,756; Ehlers, U.S. Pat. No. 
3,233,821; Palmer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,618,850; and Pace, U.S. Pat. No. 
4,603,537. As prior art teaching has been found difficult or expensive to 
practice, or otherwise unacceptable, often no provision attends the 
construction of the bag which allows for an effective bag reclosing. 
Because of the inherent strengh of the heat seals, packaging material, 
and/or structural formation of the bag itself, another problem related to 
the construction of plastic bags is a difficulty encountered in their 
opening. This problem is well known, and has been addressed in the past by 
the use of readily openable heat seals (U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,537 to Pace), 
tear strips (U.S. Pat. No. 2,613,049 to Bartelt), perforated lines (U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,189,253 to Mojonnier), and tab projections in various forms 
(U.S. Pat. No. 2,189,174 to Hohl and U.S. Pat. No. 3,036,756 to Lieschke), 
to mention a few of the easy-opening provisions for plastic bags and the 
like. Because of inherent drawbacks in practicing some of these and other 
prior art methods and arrangements, often no special provision is made in 
the construction and sealing of bags to convenience their opening. 
Therefore, the consumer is left to the undesireable or difficult task of 
tearing at the bag or cutting the bag to gain access to its contents. 
The present invention provides an improved bag construction which fulfills 
a much-needed resealing function and which, in turn, readily lends itself 
to the practice of embodiment which allow for an ease-of-opening for 
access to package contents. 
It is, therefore, a principle object of the present invention to provide an 
improved bag construction which allows for an effective reclosing of the 
bag after opening. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a reclosing 
arrangement for bags, together with further improvements in bag 
construction favoring a convenient and easy opening thereof. 
These and other objects will become apparent from a study of the summary 
and the detailed description of the invention in light of the attending 
drawing. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In an embodiment which best illustrates the principles of the invention, a 
bag of flexible material and largely of recognizably conventional 
construction is adapted for reclosing, and for this purpose contemplates 
the use of a transversely extending separation of packaging material of 
substantial width arranged and adapted to receive and positionally hold a 
folded-over portion of the bag. The material separation arrangement which 
extends in length a substantial distance across the width of the bag and 
involves both its front and rear panels, is placed a distance from the top 
margin of the bag, and is defined within an upper marginal region and 
between surrounding portions of a top seal. A lower portion of the top 
seal, which contributively defines both the upper marginal region and a 
commodity-confining compartment is intentionally separable for access to 
contents contained therein. A bottom seal, which also contributively 
defines said compartment, intimately relates with the bottom margin of the 
bag. The reclosing of the bag comprises steps performed following a 
separation of the lower portion of the top seal, and includes a transverse 
folding of the bag at a location suitably below the material separation 
and an introduction of said folded portion a distance within said material 
separation arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now in greater detail to the drawing, and with particular 
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the bag, referred to generally by reference 
numeral 18, comprises a package defined by a front panel 20 and an 
opposing rear panel 22, an elongated top seal 24 associated with a top 
margin 30, an opposing bottom seal 26 associated with a bottom margin 32, 
and opposing side margins 34 and 36. A midline seam 28, situated on the 
rear panel of the bag, is formed by heat sealing overlapping edges of 
packaging material, and represents the conventional practice of forming a 
generally tubular structure from an advancing web of flexible packaging 
material. The bag 18 is thin-walled and flexible in nature and may be 
constructed of polyethylene, polypropylene, or other heat-sealable 
materials or material laminations customarily used in the packaging 
industry, not to exclude future improvements on existing materials or 
materials heretofore unknown. In keeping with the resealing function of 
the bag, a preferred material would be one that particularly resists 
tearing under usual stresses. 
The top seal 24 and the bottom seal 26 of the bag contributively define a 
commodity-confining compartment 56 and initially close the package when 
formed, and represent heat seals of satisfactory width and character 
performed to sealingly approximate portions of opposing panels of packing 
material per conventional practice. Also per conventional practice, the 
top and bottom seals are corrugated in nature, having vertical 
heat-sealing lines 38, while the midline seam 28 is generally flat in 
character, though of similar width. 
It has been found that heat seals of the corrugated or pleated type in 
polyethylene and polypropylene, for example, can be intentionally made to 
be separable if formed in a temperature range of 177 to 250 degrees 
Celsius. (See U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,537 to Pace.) A separable seal 
characteristic is contemplated in the practice of the preferred embodiment 
and other embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, FIG. 2 illustrates 
the opening of the bag 18 by first pinching a portion of the bag on both 
front and rear panels a suitable distance below the top seal 24 and then 
pulling apart a lower portion 40 of the top seal. 
Particularly evident from a study of FIG. 1, the top seal 24 of the bag, 
though similar in nature to the bottom seal 26, is of a substantially 
greater width than the bottom seal and defines an upper marginal region 46 
that includes a transversly extending nad elongated material separation 48 
of generally rectangular shape extending a substantial distance across 
this upper portion of the bag. The material separation 48, which may be 
stamped or punched out of the packaging material at the appropriate 
location on the bag, may be performed during the sealing of the bag by use 
of sealing shoes adapted to punch through and remove a necessary amount of 
packaging material while at the same time sealing the bag. This 
through-the-bag separation comprises an intentional absence of packaging 
material in ts upper marginal region 46 which serves as a generally 
rectangular receptive area for receiving a folded over portion of the bag, 
and involves approximated portions of its front and rear panels 20 and 22. 
Further, the material separation 48 divides the top seal (and also the 
upper marginal region 46) into evident portions: an upper portion 42 
relating particularly to the top margin 30 of the bag, a lower portion 40 
relating particularly to the commodity-confining compartment 56, and side 
portions 52 and 54 communicating respectively with side margins 34 and 36. 
Also evident from a study of FIG. 1 is the curved nature of the four 
corners of packaging material the material separation 48, reference 
numeral 44 designating an example. It has been found that corners which 
define sharp angles packaging material separations create tear-initiating 
zones at points of angular intersection, whereas corners of a curved 
nature modify stresses and resist the initiation of tearing thereat. The 
provision of curved corners in the definition of the material separation 
has been found helpful in preventing an unintentional tearing occurrence 
from within the upper marginal region of the bag. 
As previously mentioned, the lower portion 40 of the top seal provides 
access to the contents of the package and is separable to a necessary 
width, or to the full width of the bag, when associated portions of the 
bag panels are pulled apart. The opening of the bag, in this manner, is 
illustrated in FIG. 2 and occurs when the opposing panels of the bag are 
grasped at a location below and near the lower portion 40 of the top seal 
and are subsequently pulled apart. It will be seen that the opening of the 
bag in this manner does not result, under normal circumstances, in a 
tearing away of the upper portion 42 of side portions 52 and 54 of the top 
seal. It will also be seen that the upper portion 42 of the top seal does 
not interfere with access to package contents. Additionally, the lower 
portion 40 of the top seal may be opened the full width of the bag without 
tearing the upper portion or the side portions of the top seal away from 
the bag. As shown in the figure, upon separating the lower portion of the 
top seal, a bag mouth 52 appears and is margined by opposing lip portions 
40a and 40b evident following the separation of the lower portion 40 of 
the top seal. 
It should be pointed out that the top seal 24, as well as the material 
separation 48, may be formed alternatively than described above or as 
depicted in the drawing without a departure from the principles of the 
invention. For example, the upper portion of the bag may be sealed only at 
a location below the material separation; however, a sealing of the upper 
marginal region, as shown, is preferred and will strengthen this portion 
of the bag and serve to reduce a potential tearing and unintended loss of 
this upper portion of the bag, particularly in the region of the side 
portions 52 and 54. Furthermore, the bag may be folded as shown in FIG. 5, 
or at another suitable location in the vicinity of the material 
separation, prior to consumer acquisition. Such a pre-folding would 
discourage an unintended use of the material separation for hanging the 
package or the use of the upper portion 42 of the top seal as a handle, 
activities which may tear loose the upper portion of the top seal from the 
bag and prevent the use of its resealing function. 
FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 demonstrate the reclosing sequence contemplated for 
package reclosure according to the present invention and the purpose and 
function of the elongated material separation. The reclosing sequence is 
manually performed according to the steps illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 to 
accomplish an end result, as illustrated in FIG. 5. 
With regard to the reclosing sequence, FIG. 3 illustrates a first fold A 
performed across the commodity-confining compartment of the bag 18 below, 
and in the vicinity of, the lower portion 40 of the top seal. Accordingly, 
the bag is folded backward in direction and away from its front panel 20 
(indicated by the arrow), an action which places the material separation 
48 closely adjacent a portion of the rear panel 22 of the bag. A second 
fold B, illustrated in FIG. 4 and occurring between fold A and the 
material separation, is then performed to bring the upper marginal region 
46 away from the rear panel 22 of the bag and toward its front panel 20 in 
an arcuate manner. (A reverse of this process, i.e. folding forward and 
then backward to accomplish folds A and B respectively, comprises an 
equivalent operation.) Continuing, the steps illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 
create folds (i.e. folds A and B) in the bag which effect a closure of the 
commodity-confining compartment 56, and also position the material 
separation 48 for a placement of the folded-over portion of the bag 
associated with fold A to within the elongated material separation 48 and 
between the upper portion 42 and the lower portion 40 of the top seal, as 
illustrated in FIG. 5. 
It should be pointed out that, when reclosing the bag, it is intended that 
the edges or margins of the bag in the area of the folded-over portion be 
deformed inwardly sufficient to be readily accepted by and within the 
material separation. It should also be pointed out that the material 
separation is represented in the various figures of the drawing as being 
sufficiently elongated and sized to satisfactorily and readily accomodate 
the folded-over portion of the bag. It has been found quite satisfactory, 
for example, in a bag measuring approximately 24 cm across, to offset a 
material separation 1.5 cm to 3 cm from each side margin of the bag. 
Equally satisfactory is a material separation 1.5 cm to 3 cm in width. 
Having thus described the invention in its preferred embodiment, attention 
will now be directed to alternatives in bag construction stemming 
therefrom which represent further expressions of inventive effort. 
In FIG. 6, the bag 58 illustrated is constructed similarly to that which 
appears in FIGS. 1 through 5, with the exception of detail within its 
upper marginal region 60, and contemplates a separable lower portion 66 of 
a top seal 62. Specifically, a multiple material separation arrangement 70 
divides the top seal 62 into an evident upper portion 64 and an evident 
lower portion 66, and comprises an arrangement of thin, aligned 
separations in and through the bag that collectively extend a substantial 
distance across the width of the bag, angulate downward, and then 
terminate at opposing side locations. The multiple material separation 
arrangement 70 is interrupted in its progression across the bag by brief 
marginal interconnections 68a and 68b. The marginal interconnections 68a 
and 68b, though optional in the practice of the invention, serve to 
maintain the general shape of the bag until opened, and help prevent an 
unintended separation or loss of the upper part of the upper marginal 
region away from its lower part by offering a degree of structural 
stability to the upper marginal region of the bag. 
Additional features which improve the quality of this embodiment are a 
circular character of the material separation terminations 72a and 72b and 
a thin unsealed border 74 intimately surrounding the entire multiple 
material separation arrangement 70. The purpose of the circular 
presentation of terminations 72a and 72b is to help prevent a tear 
initiation thereat with a possible loss of the resealing function of the 
bag, analogous to the curved corners bordering the material separation, 
exemplified by reference numeral 44 in FIG. 1. The purpose of the unsealed 
border 74 is similar to the purpose of the circular nature of terminations 
72a and 72b--namely, to deter a tear initiation at any location on the bag 
closely or intimately related to the multiple material separation 
arrangement 70. It accomplishes this purpose by allowing a degree of 
stretch and modification of stresses to occur thereat when the material of 
the bag is stressed. 
The lower portion 66 of the top seal 62, in this construction, is seen to 
follow or pattern the configuration of the multiple material separation 
arrangement 70 in its progression across the bag. This, too, is an 
optional feature, as this portion of the top seal may be constructed to 
extend straight across the bag. However, by deviating upward from its 
sides, as shown in the figure, a general uniformity in the width of this 
portion of the top seal is maintained as it extends across the bag, 
preventing an increase in difficulty encountered when opening the bag, 
such as would occur should be lower portion of the top seal be 
substantially widened by extending straight across. 
The bag 58 is opened according to the operation represented by FIG. 2, and 
is reclosed by the steps illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5. It will be seen 
that the marginal interconnections 68a and 68b, which are small and 
therefore somewhat weak in nature, will break during the stress of opening 
the bag and will subsequently allow a folded-over portion of the bag to 
enter the multiple material separation arrangement during reclosing. 
Optionally, the marginal interconnections may be first broken by lifting 
the upper portion 64 of the top seal a short distance away from the lower 
portion 66 of same before an opening of the bag is performed. 
It should be pointed out the multiple material separation arrangement 70 
comprises a thin material loss extending across the upper marginal region 
60 of the bag. Alternatively, the multiple material separation arrangement 
(or a material separation arrangement of a singular nature, as in FIGS. 
1-5) could comprise a similarly arranged cut or slit through the bag, 
representing no material loss or material removal whatsoever, and its 
practice would be an attractive form of this particular embodiment of the 
invention from the standpoint of ease of accomplishment, since an amount 
of the packaging material need not be removed and disposed of. 
FIGS. 7 and 8 represent an embodiment of the invention having features in 
similarity with both conventional practice and other embodiments of the 
present invention but which does not require a pulling apart of the 
opposing panels of the bag to effect its opening. Instead, a controlled 
tearing of a portion of the bag provides access to its contents, and also 
enlarges the width of the material separation at the same time. 
The bag, represented by reference numeral 78, contemplates an upper 
marginal region 80 which includes a thin, elongated material separation 88 
which extends across the width of the bag and then extends downwardly a 
predetermined distance to define side areas 90 and 92 spaced a suitable 
distance from the side margins of the bag. The material separation 88 
divides the top seal 82 into evident upper and lower portions, 84 and 86 
respectively. It is seen that the side areas 90 and 92 are completely 
bordered by the top seal 82 and extend downwardly a short distance below 
the lower portion 86 of said top seal. The top seal 82, or upper portion 
84 thereof, may be understood and viewed as extending across the top of 
the bag, down its sides or margins a short distance, around side portions 
90 and 92, and then upwardly until it merges with the lower portion 86 of 
the top seal. 
The opening of the bag 78, which is represented in FIG. 8, is accomplished 
by the provision of a side tab 94 lateral the lower portion 86 of the top 
seal and a tear-initiating notch 96 defined at the base of the side tab 
94, both of which are defined by material loss at side area 90. To open 
the bag, then, a thumb and forefinger grasp of side tab 90 is performed 
while the bag is held near the tear-initiating notch by the thumb and 
forefinger of the opposing hand. The tab is then pulled laterally away 
from the bag in an action that initiates a tearing at notch 96 and a 
tearing continuation across the bag below the lower portion 86 of the top 
seal until this lower portion of the top seal is removed. A bag mouth 98 
becomes evident by the tearing and removal of the lower portion of the top 
seal in the manner described. 
The reclosing of the bag 78 is accomplished by the sequence illustrated in 
FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. 
A special consideration in the practice of this form of bag construction is 
a midline seam 100 formed to allow a tearing to be completed, in an 
uninterrupted manner, through and past the seam. This may be suitably 
accomplished by involving both overlapping edges in the formation of the 
seam and by forming the seam with heat and pressure sufficient to create a 
separation-resistant bond between the overlapping edges of the packaging 
material. In this way, the tear which initiates the opening of the bag can 
progress across the bag without interruption or entanglement with a 
separating or otherwise uncooperating midline seam. 
In FIGS. 9 through 11, an alternate form of the invention is shown which 
incorporates the use of opposing pull tabs to aid in the opening of the 
bag. A first pull tab 124a is in direct view in FIG. 9 and is opposed, in 
back-to-back relation, by a second pull tab 124b which appears in direct 
view in FIGS. 10 and 11. The pull tabs 124a and 124b present as closely 
approximated projections of both front 112 and rear panels 114 of the bag 
110, and emerge, relatively speaking, within an elongated material 
separation 122 that is defined within an upper marginal region 116 of the 
bag. The tabs are not sealed together as is the remainder of the packaging 
material within the marginal region, and are therefore freely separable. A 
top seal 118 with a separable lower portion 120 is contemplated in this 
form of bag construction. 
To open the bag, a thumb and forefinger grasp of each tab, as in FIG. 10, 
will allow for a separation of the lower portion 120 of the top seal to 
occur when the tabs are pulled away from each other. A bag mouth 126 
becomes evident and provides access to the contents of the bag, as 
illustrated in FIG. 11. 
The reclosing of the bag is performed by the steps illustrated in FIGS. 3 
through 5. 
A consideration of the practice of this form of bag construction is the 
inclusion of one or a plurality of brief marginal interconnections (not 
shown) between the tabs and the upper portion of the top seal, similar or 
identical to those described in connection with FIG. 6 and provided for 
the same purpose. 
In FIGS. 12 and 13 another alternative in bag construction is presented. 
The bag 130 is constructed substantially identical to the bag construction 
which appears in FIGS. 1-5, with the exception of an upper marginal region 
of alternate construction. The upper marginal region 132 defines a 
recessively defined pocket 140 which is bordered by an evident lower 
portion 136 of a top seal 134, by opposing and unsealed pocket walls 142 
and 144, and by an elongated material separation 148 formed within the 
upper marginal region of the bag. The pocket 140, which is bordered on 
three sides by the top seal 134, defines an unsealed area within the upper 
marginal region which extends from the material separation 148 to below 
the major part of the lower portion 136 of the top seal in an arrangement 
whereby a portion of the pocket resides at the side of, or laterial to, an 
upper portion of the commodity-confining compartment 152, a provision 
which will become apparent in the discussion of the opening of the bag. 
Also, an open pocket mouth 146 is seen that allows the admission of a 
blunt object, such as a forefinger, to initiate the opening of the bag, as 
will presently be discussed. 
The opening of the bag is depicted in FIG. 13. To accomplish this task, the 
bag may be grasped with the thumb and forefinger 160 of one hand at a 
suitable location near the pocket and associating side margin of the bag, 
and the forefinger 162 of the other hand is inserted deep within the 
pocket 140. Because the pocket extends below a major part of the lower 
portion 136 of the top seal and at the side of the commodity-confining 
compartment, the tip of the forefinger will enter the commodity-confining 
compartment 152 when the forefinger is moved in a direction away from the 
pocket 140 and toward the other side of the bag. The performance of such a 
step separates the lower portion 136 of the top seal and effects a bag 
mouth 150 for access to package contents. 
The reclosing of the bag is accomplished according to the steps outlined in 
FIGS. 3 through 5. 
A special consideraton in the practice of this form of bag construction is 
the location of the pocket 140 with respect to the overlapping arrangement 
of a midline seal 154. To prevent a possible exit of the forefinger out 
the midline seam at it meets and attempts to pass said seam, it is 
desireable to overlap the edges of packaging material in such a way that 
the edge 156 furthest the pocket is defined within the commodity confining 
compartment 152, as illustrated in FIG. 13. Alternatively, the midline 
seam may be of a strongly-bonded type which resists separation, and can 
then be constructed without respect to the placement of the pocket. 
In closing, it should be noted that the exclusive use of the 
corrugated-type heat seal in FIGS. 1 through 13 does not limit the 
invention solely thereto, as it would be in keeping with the spirit and 
scope of the present invention to use other types of seals such as thin, 
non-corrugated heat seals or seals accomplished by means other than heat 
sealing.