Resealable packaging bag and closing assembly for same

The present invention concerns a bag comprising a closing assembly (100) comprising two complementary elements (110, 120) supported by respective webs (112, 122) at least one of which is integral with a film (10) at a zone (114) located not superimposed on the corresponding closing element (110) in order to allow articulation of said web (112) on the film (10), characterized by the fact that the articulated web (112) extends beyond the closing element (110) such that upon engagement of the closing elements (110, 120), the end (115) of the articulated web (112) bears on a structure (20) opposite it.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of French Patent Application No. 0858680, filed Dec. 17, 2008. The disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention concerns the field of packaging bags.

More specifically, the present invention concerns the field of packaging bags comprising opening/closing means capable of multiple successive openings and closings, for example and non-limitingly in the form of complementary profiles.

Many packaging bags and many closing assemblies to that end have already been proposed.

Most of the known closing assemblies to this end comprise two complementary elements, for example of the male/female or Velcro/hook type, or complementary hooks, the hooks being supported by respective support webs.

In the appendedFIG. 1, we have shown the mouth of a resealable bag known from document FR-A-2628067.

InFIG. 1, one sees the two main walls10,20of the bag at the mouth thereof. One also sees, in the appendedFIG. 1, a closing assembly100comprising two complementary closing elements110,120supported by respective webs112,122secured on the films10and20, respectively.

More specifically, the fixing zones of the support webs112,122on the films10and20are referenced114and124.

One will note upon examiningFIG. 1that the zone114for fastening the support web112on the film10is not superimposed on the male element110, but offset in relation thereto. Alternatively this may involve an offset of the zone124for securing the support web122on the film20in relation to the female element120. Thus, the web112forming the support for the male element110is articulated on the film10at the fixing zone114. As described in document FR-A-2628067, the preceding arrangement makes it possible to avoid pressure inside the bag from being applied on the closing element110,120and tending to separate them. Indeed, due to the arrangement previously described and illustrated inFIG. 1, the pressure inside the bag leads to a possible pivoting of the support web110at the articulation zone formed by its fastening, without risk of the closing elements110,120separating.

The bags using the arrangement illustrated inFIG. 1have already rendered great services.

However, the present invention aims to improve the state of the art by proposing new means making it possible to further improve sealing, in particular with regard to liquid contents.

The aforementioned aim is achieved in the framework of the present invention using a Bag comprising a closing assembly comprising two complementary elements supported by respective webs at least one of which is integral with a film at a zone located not superimposed on the corresponding closing element in order to allow the articulation of said web on the film, characterized by the fact that the articulated web extends beyond the closing element such that during engagement of the closing elements, the end of the articulated web bears on a structure opposite it and in that it also comprises a stress assembly between the walls of the bag, on the side of the closing assembly opposite the free end of the articulated web.

InFIGS. 2 and 3, we have illustrated a bag according to the present invention. In these figures, one sees two main films10,20traditionally forming a bag in itself. The particular method for realizing a bag of this type, in its general structure, will not be described in detail below.

The walls10,20of the bag may be the object of many embodiments.

The walls are preferably made of thermoplastic materials.

These walls can be single or multi-layer and single or multi-material. If applicable, it may be a paper support coated with a layer of thermoplastic materials, or a metalized thermoplastic layer.

The bag can be realized using a single sheet folded on itself and welded on three sides or several sheets, for example two sheets welded together at their edges, preferably along edges connecting the main walls.

One also sees, in the appendedFIGS. 2 and 3, a closing assembly100comprising two complementary closing elements, one110male, the other120a complementary female element.

In its general structure, such a closing assembly is known in itself and will therefore not be described in detail below.

One will also note that according to the invention, at least one of the two elements110,120of the closing assembly100is supported by a support web112articulated on a wall10of the bag.

According to the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the articulated web112is integral, more precisely by extrusion, with the wall10of the bag and connected thereto in a zone referenced114.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, in variation, the articulated web112could be supported by an auxiliary web offset on the wall10and fastened thereto using any suitable means, preferably by heat sealing.

One will note that the connecting zone114between the articulated web112and the wall10of the bag does not coincide with the connecting zone111of the foot of the male element110on the articulated web112.

Moreover, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the web112extends beyond the male closing element110, in relation to the connecting zone114. In other words, the foot113of the male closing element110is situated between the articulation zone114and the free end115of the web112.

Thanks to the previously described arrangements, as one sees inFIG. 3, when the closing elements110,120are engaged, the end115of the web112is forced to bear on the opposite structure, in this case the wall20of the bag. Complete sealing is thus defined for any body, in particular liquids, placed in the internal volume30of the bag.

As one also sees inFIGS. 2 and 3, preferably, according to the invention, there is an additional stress assembly200, between the walls10,20of the bag. The purpose of the assembly200is to maintain a minimal gap between the walls10and20able to apply a lever arm on the walls10and20of a nature to stress the articulated web112bearing on the opposite structure.

According to the illustration provided inFIG. 3, the stress assembly200is made up of two complementary profiles, one male210, the other female220, similar to the closing100previously described. The structure of such an assembly200also being known in itself, it will not be described in more detail below.

InFIG. 4, we have shown an alternative embodiment according to which the stress assembly200is formed not by two complementary closing elements210,220, but by two complementary flanges230,240supported by the respective inner faces of the walls10and20.

Preferably, the assembly200is adapted to define a gap between the walls10and20at least essentially identical to the gap defined by the closing assembly100.

Preferably in the framework of the present invention, as shown in the appended figures, the end115of the articulated support web112is oriented toward the inside of the bag. In this case, the additional stress assembly200is placed on the outside of the bag in relation to the closing assembly100.

However, the opposite arrangement may be used. In other words, one may provide that the articulated support web112is oriented not toward the inside of the bag, but toward the outside thereof, in which case the additional closing assembly200would be placed on the inside of the bag in relation to the closing assembly100.

As previously indicated, the stress element200is preferably placed between the films or walls10,20of the bag on the side of the closing element100opposite the free end115of the articulated web112.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments just described, but extends to all variations in line with its spirit.

The stress assembly200may be subject to many variations. It may be not only a closing assembly with two complementary elements as illustrated inFIGS. 2, 3 and 5or with two complementary flanges230,240as shown inFIG. 4, but also, and non-limitingly, a single flange250as illustrated inFIG. 6.

The closing assembly100and the articulated support web112as well as the stress means200can be integral with the walls10,20of the bag or supported by auxiliary webs150,160themselves offset on the walls10,20and secured thereon by any suitable means, for example by heat sealing.

In the appendedFIGS. 2 to 5, the articulated support web112supports the male closing element110. Alternatively, the articulated web112could support the female element120.

According to still another alternative illustrated inFIG. 6, the two complementary closing elements110,120can each be supported by an articulated web. In this case, it is the free ends of the two aforementioned articulated webs which are in contact when the closing assembly110,120is engaged as shown inFIG. 6.

Preferably, in the framework of the present invention, the closing assembly100, the related articulated web112, and the stress assembly200are made in a thermoplastic material.

According to one alternative, at least the free end115of the articulated web112and/or the zone of the support element placed opposite, for example a zone of the wall20, is made in a flexible material and/or in an elastomeric material having properties facilitating adhesion, able to guarantee close contact between said free end115of the articulated web112and the zone of the support element placed opposite it, in order to further strengthen sealing.

Moreover, if applicable, the closing assembly100and/or the stress means200are connected to a slider facilitating their opening/closing.

Such a slider is known in itself in its general structure and will therefore not be described in detail below. One will recall simply that in general, such a slider comprises a sole which supports two lateral sheets and a central wall defining two non-parallel channels between them receiving at least the apex of one of the two support webs of the closing assemblies or of the walls10,20, respectively, such that depending on the direction of movement of the slider, the latter part stresses the closing100and stress200assemblies upon opening and closing, respectively.

According to still another alternative embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8, the free end115of the articulated web112and the zone of the support element placed opposite, have complementary geometric shapes adapted to cooperate by interlocking upon closing of the bags in order to strengthen sealing.

InFIG. 7we have thus illustrated a free end115of the articulated web112comprising a convex flange116and a zone opposite the support element20having a concave groove22complementary to the flange116. In the closing position, the flange116penetrates the groove22as shown inFIG. 7.

InFIG. 8, we have shown a free end115of the articulated web112comprising a concave groove117and a zone opposite the support element20having a convex flange24complementary to the groove117. In the closing position, the flange24penetrates the groove117as shown inFIG. 8.

Of course, the flanges116or24and complementary concave grooves22or117illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8could be replaced by any suitable equivalent means.