Abstract:
The reclosable bag includes a slider-operated zipper with a removable header formed over the zipper. The removable header includes a broad top seal provides room for a hang aperture and which can be shaped to stabilize or park the slider prior to removal of the header. Additionally, the broad top seal can be configured so as to leave a portion of the edges of the web immediately above the zipper unsealed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a reclosable bag with a slider-operated zipper. The reclosable bag further includes a header formed above the zipper which is removed in order to access the zipper. The header includes a broad seal which extends across the top of the bag, extending proximate to the zipper profile and minimizing the open area along the side of the header.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Reclosable bags with slider-operated zippers are well-known within the prior art and have been satisfactory for the intended purposes. Further, it is known to use the material which forms the bag walls to further form a removable header which limits access to the zipper, thereby providing an improved aesthetic appearance, a convenient location for a hang hole, as well as tamper evidence. Such a bag is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,242 entitled “Reclosable Package; and Methods”, issued on Feb. 11, 2003 to Buchman.  
         [0005]     The bag disclosed by the Buchman reference includes a slider-operated zipper with a removable header formed over the zipper. Main side seals extend from the bottom of the bag to just below the zipper profiles. Header side seals extend along the side of the header from just above the zipper profile to the top of the header thereby minimizing the open side area of the removable header.  
         [0006]     Such a configuration, while satisfactory is many respects, is somewhat deficient in aesthetics, the ease in which the header can be removed, the strength of the area surrounding any hang hole and the securing of the position of the slider within the header.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a reclosable bag with a slider-operated zipper and a removable header, wherein the need for side seals on the header is reduced or eliminated.  
         [0008]     It is therefore a further object of the present invention to increase the ease in which the header can be removed from such a reclosable bag.  
         [0009]     It is therefore a still further object of the present invention to increase the strength and aesthetics in the area of a hang hole formed in the removable header of such a reclosable bag.  
         [0010]     It is therefore a still further object of the present invention to increase the ability to park or stabilize the slider of the slider-operated zipper within the removable header.  
         [0011]     These and other objects are attained by sealing the top webs of the removable header with a wide horizontal (that is, parallel to zipper) seal that reduces the open area along the side of the header. Moreover, in order to provide for an even wider seal and further reduce the open area, the header seal can be sculpted to allow for a non-sealed area around the position of the slider in order to allow the header seal to extend closer to the zipper profile and minimize the open area along the side of the header. Additionally, this improves the stabilization or parking of the slider.  
         [0012]     Additionally, this header construction can be incorporated into packages with continuous side seals that extend from the top to the bottom of the package. This header construction would have improved aesthetics, improve the ease with which the header can be removed and increase or strengthen the area for the hang hole.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a fourth 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 of a first embodiment of the reclosable bag  10  of the present invention.  
         [0019]     Reclosable bag  10  includes a front panel  12  and a rear panel  14 , made from polymeric film as is known to those skilled in the art, which are joined at the bottom by a bottom seal  16 , which can be replaced by a fold in some embodiments (see fold  16 ′ in  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 ). Side seals  18 ,  20  extend from the ends of bottom seal  16  to the flanges of zipper  22 . Flanges of zipper  22  are sealed to front and rear panels  12 ,  14  along seal lines  21  (shown in  FIG. 1  for front panel  12  only). Additionally, the flanges are typically sealed together at their ends to maintain the integrity of the contents of reclosable bag  10 . Zipper  22  is opened and closed by a slider  24  in a conventional manner, as known to those skilled in the art, wherein the slider  24  moving in a first direction separates the profiles of the zipper  22  and the slider  24  moving in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, interlocks the profiles of the zipper  22 . Front and rear panels  12 ,  14  extend above zipper  22  to form removable header  30 . Top seal  40  is formed by sealing front and rear panels  12 ,  14  together along a wide area at the top of the reclosable bag  10 . Top seal  40  extends downwardly from the top of reclosable bag  10  to a position immediately above zipper  22  wherein, typically, the side edge portions  44 ,  46  of front and rear panels  12 ,  14  immediately above zipper  22  are free of sealing. A portion formed by a semi-circular area  48  (other shapes, such as rectangular or oval are likewise envisioned as a variation of this embodiment) of header  30  is left unsealed immediately above the slider  24  in order to allow the header  30  to wrap around and stabilize or park slider  24  without tearing front or rear panels  12 ,  14 . This stabilizing or parking of slider  24  is particularly effective if the bottom edge  41  of top seal  40 , except for semi-circular area  48 , is below the top surface of slider  24 . Additionally, hang aperture  50  is formed in a central position through top seal  40 .  
         [0020]     In order to allow the user to remove header  30  to access zipper  22  and slider  24 , lines of weakness  52  are provided on front and rear panels  12 ,  14  between top seal  40  and the seal lines  21 . Seal lines  21  join the front and rear panels  12 ,  14  to zipper  22 . These lines of weakness  52  can be scored lines or perforated lines.  
         [0021]     A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 2  wherein the lines of weakness  52  are above the zipper  22  at the edges of the package, extending into top seal  40  above side portions  44 ,  46 , but approach the seal lines  21  below the zipper  22  across the face of the reclosable bag  10 . Incidentally,  FIG. 2  further shows bottom seal  16  replaced by fold  16 ′.  
         [0022]     A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3  wherein the top seal  40  has an arced bottom surface  41 . The ends  42 ,  45  of arced bottom edge  41  approach zipper  22  thereby minimizing the unsealed area of side portions  44 ,  46  and typically extending below the level of slider  24  thereby confining slider  24  between the ends  42 ,  45  of the arced bottom edge  41  and inhibiting access to slider  24  until header  30  is removed while still providing ample room for slider  24  within header  30 . While no hang aperture  50  is illustrated in this embodiment, a hang aperture  50  such as those disclosed in other embodiments is likewise applicable to this third embodiment.  
         [0023]     A fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4  shows side seals  18 ,  20  extending along the sides of front and rear panels  12 ,  14 , from bottom fold  16 ′ to top seal  40  thereby eliminating unsealed side portions  44 ,  46  disclosed in the first three embodiments. Additionally, top seal  40  is spaced away from slider  24 , but includes sufficient room for the hang aperture  50 . This fourth embodiment is further illustrated with a line of weakness  52  which is located at the side seals  18 ,  20  at a position above zipper  22 , but which, in the central areas of front and rear panels  12 ,  14 , extends downwardly to a position between zipper  22  and seal line  21 .  
         [0024]     Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present embodiments can be adapted, possibly with modifications, to apply to various packaging styles, such as top fill (behind or through the zipper), bottom fill, gusseted bottom, etc.  
         [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.