Flexible bag with resealable pour spout

Abstract

A four corner bag constructed of flexible thermoplastic sheet or film material having overlying front and rear wall panels and a bottom sealed end. The upper portion of the bag includes a first closure region terminating in a top sealed end, a second closure region disposed inwardly of the top sealed end, and a perforated seal or tear strip extending across the width of the bag and located between the first and second closure regions. The second closure region includes an inner heat seal which extends approximately halfway across the width of the bag and a reclosable fastener which extends the remaining distance across the bag. In one embodiment, the inner heat seal is oriented transversely across the bag while the reclosable fastener is upwardly angled so that it forms a natural pour spout during use. In other embodiments, the reclosable fastener is transversely oriented while the inner heat seal is angled. In still other embodiments, the reclosable fastener is vertically or longitudinally oriented and disposed adjacent a side edge at an upper corner region of the bag. In all embodiments containing a reclosable fastener, the tear strip is removed to access the reclosable fastener.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A flexible bag for packaging pourable contents such as dry cereal, the bag being formed of sheet material and comprising: 
 a) first and second wall panels disposed opposite each other and joined to each other to form a hollow interior with closed opposite first and second sides and a sealed lower end portion;    b) an upper end portion having a first closure region terminating in a sealed top end;    c) a tear strip extending across said upper end portion and being disposed inward of said sealed top end;    d) said upper end portion further including a second closure region disposed inward of said tear strip, wherein said second closure region includes: 
 i) an inner heat seal extending from a first side of said bag to a junction point located inward of a second side of said bag; and  
 ii) a reclosable fastener extending from said junction point to said second side of said bag; and  
   e) whereby removal of said tear strip allows access to said reclosable fastener, and opening said reclosable fastener forms a pour spout for the pourable contents contained within the bag.    
     
     
         2 . The bag according to    claim 1   , wherein said inner heat seal is oriented along a transverse direction of said bag and said reclosable fastener is oriented at an angle relative to said transverse orientation of said inner heat seal so as to form a pour spout upon opening of said bag.  
     
     
         3 . The bag according to    claim 1   , wherein said reclosable fastener is oriented along a transverse direction of said bag and said inner heat seal is oriented at a downward sloping angle relative to said transverse orientation of said reclosable fastener so as to form a pour spout upon opening of said bag.  
     
     
         4 . The bag according to    claim 1   , wherein said inner heat seal is oriented along a transverse direction of said bag and said reclosable fastener is oriented at a downward sloping angle relative to said transverse orientation of said inner heat seal so as to form a pour spout upon opening of said bag.  
     
     
         5 . The bag according to    claim 1   , wherein said reclosable fastener and inner heat seal are co-aligned and oriented along a transverse direction of said bag and said tear strip is oriented along an upwardly sloping angle so as to form a pour spout upon opening of said bag.  
     
     
         6 . The bag according to    claim 1   , wherein said reclosable fastener and inner heat seal are co-aligned and oriented at an angle relative to a transverse direction of said bag so as to form a pour spout upon opening of said bag.  
     
     
         7 . The bag according to    claim 1   , wherein said upper end portion is perforated to permit said bag to be removably hung from a retail display fixture.  
     
     
         8 . An improved flexible bag for packaging pourable contents such as dry cereal and adapted to be received within a fairly close fitting carton, the bag being formed of sheet or film material having opposite wall panels providing a bag bottom and closed opposite sides, and said panels defining an openable bag top, wherein the improvement comprises: 
 a) an upwardly angled top edge portion provided to the openable bag top; and    b) said upwardly angled top edge portion defining an openable pour spout that extends beyond an opening of a close fitting carton for said bag so that the dry cereal contents are more easily poured from the bag.    
     
     
         9 . The bag according to    claim 8   , wherein said top edge portion is perforated to permit said bag to be removably hung from a retail display fixture.  
     
     
         10 . An improved flexible bag for packaging pourable contents such as dry cereal and adapted to be received within a fairly close fitting carton, the bag being formed of sheet or film material having opposite wall panels providing a bag bottom and closed opposite sides, and said panels defining an openable bag top, wherein the improvement comprises: 
 a) an upper end portion of said bag which extends beyond an open end of said box;    b) said upper end portion including a tear strip which extends across a width of said bag at an upwardly sloping angled relative to a transverse direction of said bag so as to form a pour spout upon opening of said bag.    
     
     
         11 . The bag according to    claim 10   , wherein said upper end portion further includes a sealed top end that is perforated to permit said bag to be removably hung from a retail display fixture.  
     
     
         12 . A flexible bag for packaging pourable contents such as dry cereal, the bag being formed of sheet material and comprising: 
 a) first and second wall panels disposed opposite each other and joined to each other to form a hollow interior with closed opposite first and second sides and a sealed lower end portion;    b) an upper end portion having a first closure region terminating in a sealed top end;    c) said upper end portion further including a second closure region disposed adjacent an upper corner region of said bag, wherein said second closure region includes: 
 i) a reclosable fastener oriented along a longitudinal direction of said bag and disposed inwardly of one longitudinal side edge of said bag and extending downwardly a distance from said sealed top end;  
 ii) a tear strip disposed between said reclosable fastener and said one longitudinal side edge of said bag; and  
   d) whereby removal of said tear strip allows access to said reclosable fastener, and opening said reclosable fastener forms a pour spout for the pourable contents contained within the bag.    
     
     
         13 . The bag according to    claim 12   , wherein said sealed top end extends from said one longitudinal side edge of said bag at a downward angled across a width of said bag.  
     
     
         14 . The bag according to    claim 12   , wherein said sealed top end is perforated to permit said bag to be removably hung from a retail display fixture.