Freezer bags with integral closure means

Abstract

A bag useful for forming ice cubes or the like has a pouch-like fill chamber which may extend across the whole of the width of the bag. The fill chamber has an outlet opening connecting to the interior of the bags which comprises at least two passageways in parallel relationship. An internal seal is provided to isolate the fill chamber from the interior of the bag. The seal may comprise a zip type fastener, or a simple flap valve disposed in each of the passageways. The arrangement facilitates the handling of the bags to permit larger bags that may be filled more rapidly and with little or no air trapped within the bag, in comparison to other known bags.

1 . A bag for freezing liquids comprising a pair of similar flexible walls each having a rectangular shape with an upper margin extending in a transverse direction, a lower margin, and side margins extending therebetween, arranged in mutually confronting relationship and sealed together about said lower margin and said side margins; upper portions of said bag walls together defining a fill chamber having an entrance thereto in communication with the exterior of said bag and an outlet opening thereto disposed beneath said entrance in communication with the interior of said bag, characterized wherein said outlet opening comprises at least two passageways disposed in parallel relationship, and formed by interconnecting opposed wall portions of said bag; said passageways serving to constrain the outward movement of said walls of said bag; and 
 means disposed within the chamber for isolating said outlet opening from said entrance.    
     
     
         2 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 1  wherein said passageways together have a combined transverse dimension of not less than about 35 percent of the transverse dimension of said bag.  
     
     
         3 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 1  wherein said passageways are formed by interconnecting opposed wall portions of said bag by welds.  
     
     
         4 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 3  wherein said welds are of a releasable type.  
     
     
         5 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 4  wherein said isolating means comprises a zip fastener.  
     
     
         6 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 5  wherein said zip fastener is of a push-together type.  
     
     
         7 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 6  wherein said side margins are united together in a welded joint, and wherein said zip fastener has a pair of opposed ends united in said welded joints at a juncture and wherein said juncture extends transversely along said zip fastener by an amount at least equal to about 5 mm.  
     
     
         8 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 6  wherein said passageways together have a combined transverse dimension equal to not less than 90 percent of the transverse dimension of the interior of said bag.  
     
     
         9 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 6  wherein said chamber has an entrance opening having a transverse dimension equal to not less than 90 percent of the transverse dimension of the interior of said bag.  
     
     
         10 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 6  wherein said walls are joined together in the interior of said bag by an open grid of welds to form ice cube compartments.  
     
     
         11 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 10  wherein said welds are of a releasable type.  
     
     
         12 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 10  wherein said bag has an interior transverse dimension so as to provide at least six passageways in parallel each having a transverse dimension of not less than about 40 mm.  
     
     
         13 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 1  wherein said isolating means comprises a flap valve associated with each of said passageways.  
     
     
         14 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 13  wherein there are at least three said passageways which together have a combined transverse dimension of not less than about 35 percent of the transverse dimension of the interior of said bag.  
     
     
         15 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  13  wherein said walls are joined together in the interior of said bag by an open grid of welds to form ice cube compartments.  
     
     
         16 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 15  wherein said welds are of a releasable type.  
     
     
         17 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 16  wherein the mutually opposed surfaces of the bag are joined together to form a small passage adjacent to the lower margin of the bag in flow relation with the interior of the bag.  
     
     
         18 . A bag for freezing liquids as defined in  claim 1  wherein said bag is closed by a tamper resistant barrier that must be removed to permit the use of the bag.