Easy opening, re-closeable bag

Abstract

A bag for storing products such as powdered or granular detergent, pet food, coffee, cereal etc., has a line of weakness for easy opening. The bag also has a means for re-closing after initial opening by the user.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bag comprising a front and back panel and two inwardly folded side panels, each panel having an upper and lower edge, a top and a bottom formed from the joining of the front and back panels, the top being further defined by a line of weakness, said line of weakness spanning one of the front and back panels and both side panels.  
     
     
         2 . A bag according to  claim 1  wherein the line of weakness is formed using a method selected from the group consisting of chemical treatment, laser scoring, laser perforation, mechanical scoring, mechanical perforation, embossing methods or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . A bag according to  claim 2  wherein the line of weakness is formed using laser scoring.  
     
     
         4 . A bag according to  claim 1  further comprising means to re-close the bag after opening.  
     
     
         5 . A bag according to  claim 1  wherein the yield stress value of the bag with the line of weakness as measured according to ASTM method number D-882 is at least 90% of the yield stress value of the bag before the line of weakness is added.  
     
     
         6 . A bag according to  claim 1  wherein the final or rupture stress value of the bag as measured according to ASTM method number D-882 is at least 90% of the yield stress value of the bag before the line of weakness is added.  
     
     
         7 . A bag according to  claim 1  wherein the average trapezoidal tearing strength of the bag as measured according to ASTM method number D-5733 is less than 4 Kg.  
     
     
         8 . A bag according to  claim 1  further comprising laundry detergent.  
     
     
         9 . A bag comprising a front and back panel and two inwardly folded side panels, each panel having an upper and lower edge, a top and a bottom formed from the joining of the front and back panels, the top being further defined by a line of weakness, wherein at least a portion of the top of one panel is unaffected by the line of weakness, and wherein the bag further comprises means to re-close the bag after initial opening.  
     
     
         10 . A bag according to  claim 9  wherein the means to re-close is comprised of a mechanical fastening system selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fastening system, hook and hook fastening system and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         11 . A bag according to  claim 10  wherein the means to re-close is comprised of a hook and loop fastening system comprising a hook component and a loop component, wherein the hook component is positioned on the front panel and the loop component is positioned on the back panel of the bag.  
     
     
         12 . A bag according to  claim 10  wherein the means to re-close is comprised of a hook and loop fastening system comprised of a hook component and a loop component, wherein the loop component is positioned on the front panel and the hook component is positioned on the back panel of the bag.  
     
     
         13 . A bag according to  claim 11  wherein at least one component of the fastening system has text imprinted on it.  
     
     
         14 . A bag according to  claim 12  wherein at least one component of the fastening system has text imprinted on it.  
     
     
         15 . A bag according to  claim 11  wherein at least one component of the fastening system has instructions, for using the contents of the bag, imprinted on it.  
     
     
         16 . A bag according to  claim 12  wherein at least one component of the fastening system has instructions, for using the contents of the bag, imprinted on it.  
     
     
         17 . A bag according to  claim 9  wherein the yield stress value of the bag with the line of weakness as measured according to ASTM method number D-882 is at least 90% of the yield stress value of the bag before the line of weakness is added.  
     
     
         18 . A bag according to  claim 9  wherein the final or rupture stress value of the bag as measured according to ASTM method number D-882 is at least 90% of the yield stress value of the bag before the line of weakness is added.  
     
     
         19 . A bag according to  claim 9  wherein the average trapezoidal tearing strength of the bag as measured according to ASTM method number D-5733 is less than 4 Kg.  
     
     
         20 . A bag according to  claim 9  further comprising laundry detergent.  
     
     
         21 . A bag according to  claim 9  wherein the line of weakness is formed using a method selected from the group consisting of chemical treatment, laser scoring, laser perforation, mechanical scoring, mechanical perforation, embossing methods or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         22 . A bag according to  claim 9  wherein the line of weakness is formed using laser scoring.  
     
     
         23 . A bag according to  claim 1  wherein the line of weakness comprises a pattern, said pattern comprising a dashed line said dashed line including a plurality of scored segments whereby the length of each scored segment ranges from about 0.12 mm to 4.4 mm and wherein the distance between adjacent scored segments ranges from about 0.4 mm to 4 mm.  
     
     
         24 . A bag according to  claim 9  wherein the line of weakness comprises a pattern, said pattern comprising a dashed line said dashed line including a plurality of scored segments whereby the length of each scored segment ranges from about 0.12 mm to 4.4 mm and wherein the distance between adjacent scored segments ranges from about 0.4 mm to 4 mm.