Abstract:
Reclosable gusseted packages or bags have improved resistance to leaking or spilling through the gussets by way of glue or adhesive applied in the gussets in the areas proximate to the reclosable zipper of the bag. This can be done by applying a glue smear to the interior and exterior of the gusset walls; applying glue dots between the exterior facing walls of the gussets; or by applying the glue smear between the exterior facing walls of the gussets.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to improving the leak-proof or spill-resistant quality of gussets in reclosable packages, particularly those made with multi-wall paper or woven polypropylene. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    In the prior art of reclosable packages or bags, it is well known to use gussets between the front and rear walls to increase the capacity of the package or bag with only a small increase in the packaging material, such as multi-wall paper or polypropylene. 
         [0005]    However, the use of gussets can increase the tendency for the contents of the reclosable package or bag to leak from the gusset area proximate to the intersection of the package or bag walls and the zipper. More specifically, the contents can travel up the center of the package or bag, between the zipper profiles and out the gusset. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to eliminate or reduce the leakage of contents of a gusseted reclosable package or bag through the gussets proximate to the intersection of the zipper profiles and the package or bag walls. 
         [0007]    This and other objects are attained by applying glue or adhesive to the walls of the package or bag within the gusset proximate to the zipper assembly, typically within the gusseted area which is between the zipper flanges. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a plan view, partially in phantom, of a prior art gusseted package or bag, showing the route through which contents may inadvertently escape. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view along plane  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the gusseted walls of a reclosable package or bag, prior to application of a zipper assembly, illustrating where the glue or adhesive is applied in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along plane  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a plan view, partially in phantom, of the gusseted package or bag of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a plan view, partially in phantom, of a first alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional, partially exploded, view along plane  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view, partially exploded, along plane  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6  (not including the zipper). 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an alternative cross-sectional, partially exploded view, along plane  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 , thereby illustrating a second alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one sees that  FIG. 1  is a plan view, partially in phantom, of a prior art reclosable package or bag  100  and that  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view thereof. The package or bag  100  is formed from co-extensive front wall  102  and rear wall  104  which are typically formed from polymeric materials (such as, but not limited to, polyethylene or polypropylene, including woven polypropylene), multi-wall paper or laminates. Gussets  106 ,  108  (illustrated in phantom in  FIG. 1  and in cross section in  FIG. 2 ) are formed as inwardly pointing folds between the side edges of front and rear walls  102 ,  104 , typically integral with, or at least of the same material as, front and rear walls  102 ,  104 . Gusset  106  is formed from gusset walls  106   a ,  106   b  in an inwardly pointing V-shaped configuration while gusset  108  is formed from gusset walls  108   a ,  108   b  in an inwardly pointing V-shaped configuration. The bottom edges of front and rear walls  102 ,  104  are sealed or otherwise closed or joined to form bottom  110 . Mouth  112  is formed between the top edges of front and rear walls  102 ,  104 . Zipper assembly  200  is sealed, glued or otherwise secured to the upper exterior of front and rear walls  102 ,  104 . As shown best in  FIG. 7 , zipper assembly  200  includes first profile  202  and second profile  204  which are, referring back to  FIG. 1 , sealed together at ends  205 ,  207 . First profile  202  includes first interlocking element  206  and first flange  210 . Second profile  204  includes second interlocking element  208  and second flange  212 . First and second flanges  210 ,  212  are sealed, glue or otherwise secured to the upper exterior of front and rear walls  102 ,  104 , respectively. Typically, zipper assembly  200  includes slider  214  mounted on first and second profiles  202 ,  204 . Slider  214  operates in a conventional manner of interlocking first and second interlocking elements  206 ,  208  with each other when moved in a first direction and separating first and second interlocking elements  206 ,  208  when moved in a second direction. However, alternatively, first and second interlocking elements  206 ,  208  may have a “press-to-close” configuration in which no slider is required. 
         [0019]    As shown by the circuitous path indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 1 , this design is susceptible to contents within package or bag  100  traveling up the center of the package or bag  100 , between the first and second flanges  210 ,  212  and out the gussets  106 ,  108 . This leakage or spillage is illustrated for the first gusset  106  but is equally applicable to the second gusset  108 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , this leakage or spillage can be prevented or minimized by placing a smear of glue or adhesive  400 ,  402  in the gussets  106 ,  108  in the corner areas  300 ,  302 . These smears can be on both the internal and external sides of gusset walls  106   a ,  106   b ,  108   a  and  108   b  so that gusset wall  106   a  is glued to the interior of front wall  102  and to gusset wall  106   b ; gusset wall  106   b  is further glued to the interior of rear wall  104 ; gusset wall  108   a  is glued to the interior of front wall  102  and to gusset wall  108   b ; and gusset wall  108   b  is further glued to the interior of rear wall  104 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  shows, in phantom, glued areas  220 ,  222  which are formed between first and second profiles  202 ,  204 . Glued areas  220 ,  222  are formed to block off or gasket-close the space above the front and rear walls  102 ,  104  and below the first and second interlocking elements  206 ,  208 . This further provides the leak-proof characteristics of the package or bag  100 . An alternative configuration to create the desired gasket effect is to apply glue along the top of the gussets  106 ,  108  or on the gussets  106 ,  108  and pressing the package or bag  100  so that the glue is urged into the space above the front and rear walls  102 ,  104  and below the first and second interlocking elements  206 ,  208 . 
         [0022]    In a first alternative embodiment of the present invention, shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8 , a series of glue or adhesive dots  500  (shown in an exaggerated or elongated in the exploded views of  FIGS. 7 and 8 ) is placed between gusset walls  106   a ,  106   b  in corner area  300  and between gusset walls  108   a ,  108   b  in corner area  302 . 
         [0023]    In a second alternative embodiment of the present invention, shown in  FIG. 9 , glue smear  400 ′ is placed between the external sides of gusset walls  106   a ,  106   b  and glue smear  402 ′ is placed between the external sides of gusset walls  108   a ,  108   b . In other words, in this second alternative embodiment, glue smears  400 ′,  402 ′ are intended to glue the respective gusset walls together with minimal, if any, contact with the interior of front and rear walls  102 ,  104 . 
         [0024]    The resulting package or bag  100  has reduced leakage and can be filled, transported and used in the same way as similar packages or bags. 
         [0025]    Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.