Reclosable bag and method of manufacture

Abstract

A reclosable bag is disclosed. The bag includes a body having sealed sides, a sealed bottom, a top opening, an inner surface and an outer surface. A hook and loop fastener constructed and arranged to permit selective opening and closing of the top opening is adhered to the inner surface of the body between the top opening and sealed bottom. A method of manufacturing a reclosable bag and a self-closing reclosable bag are also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A reclosable bag comprising: 
 a body having sealed sides, a sealed bottom and a top opening, the body including a front panel having an inner surface and a back panel having an inner surface; and    a fastener including a first member affixed to an inner surface of the front panel and a second member affixed to the inner surface of the back panel such that the second member is substantially aligned with and opposed to the first member, the body constructed and arranged to urge the first member into reclosable engagement with the second member such that the top opening is self-closing.    
     
     
         2 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1  wherein the fastener comprises a hook and loop fastener.  
     
     
         3 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1  wherein the sealed bottom comprises an expandable gusset.  
     
     
         4 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1  further comprising a reclosable pocket disposed on the outer surface of the body.  
     
     
         5 . The reclosable bag of  claim 4  wherein the pocket is formed from a transparent plastic material.  
     
     
         6 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1  further comprising an integral handle.  
     
     
         7 . The reclosable bag of  claim 6  wherein the integral handle is positioned between the fastener and the top opening.  
     
     
         8 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1 , wherein each of the body and the fastener comprises a plastic material, and wherein the fastener is affixed to the body with heat.  
     
     
         9 . A process of manufacturing a reclosable bag, the process comprising the steps of: 
 affixing a first fastening member to an inner surface of a front panel;    affixing a second fastening member to an inner surface of a back panel; and    securing the back panel to the front panel such that the first and second fastening members are substantially aligned with, opposed to, and urged into reclosable engagement with one another to form a body having sealed sides, a sealed bottom and a self closing top opening.    
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9  wherein the affixing steps comprise the steps of heating the front and back panels to a temperature sufficient to adhere the first and second fastening members to the inner surfaces of the front and back panels, respectively.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 9  wherein the securing step comprises the step of thermally sealing the side edges of the back panel to the side edges of the front panel.  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 9  further comprising the step of forming an expandable bottom between the bottom of the front panel and the bottom of the back panel prior to the securing step.  
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 9  further comprising the step of thermally adhering a sheet of plastic material to one of the front panel or back panel to form a reclosable pocket on the outer surface of the body.  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 9  further comprising the step of removing a portion of the front and back panel between the fastening members and the top opening to form a handle.  
     
     
         15 . A reclosable bag comprising: 
 a body having sealed sides, a sealed bottom, a top opening, an inner surface and an outer surface; and    a hook and loop fastener thermally adhered to the inner surface of the body between the top opening and the sealed bottom, the hook and loop fastener constructed and arranged to permit selective opening and closing of the top opening.    
     
     
         16 . The reclosable bag of  claim 15  wherein the body is constructed and arranged to be self-closing.  
     
     
         17 . The reclosable bag of  claim 15  further comprising a reclosable pocket affixed to the outer surface of the body.  
     
     
         18 . The reclosable bag of  claim 17  wherein the reclosable pocket comprises a transparent sheet of plastic material thermally adhered to the body such that the pocket has sealed sides, a sealed bottom and a top opening.  
     
     
         19 . The reclosable bag of  claim 18  wherein the reclosable pocket further comprises an adhesive material positioned between the sheet of plastic material and the outer surface of the body to selectively seal the top opening of the pocket.  
     
     
         20 . The reclosable bag of  claim 18  wherein the sealed bottom comprises an expandable gusset.  
     
     
         21 . The reclosable bag of  claim 18  further comprising an integral handle positioned between the hook and loop fastener and the top opening.  
     
     
         22 . A method of manufacturing a reclosable bag, the method comprising the steps of: 
 thermally adhering a hook and loop fastener including a hook member and a loop member to the inner surface of a plastic web material as the web material is paid out of a web material roll;    folding the web material over and onto itself such that the hook member is substantially aligned with and facing the loop member; and    sealing the sides of the plastic web material to form a body comprising a front panel, a rear panel, sealed sides, a sealed bottom and a top opening adapted to be selectively opened and closed by urging the hook member and loop member into and out of engagement with one another.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the adhering step comprises the steps of heating a first portion of the plastic material to a temperature sufficient to bond the hook member to the first portion of the plastic web material and heating a second portion of the plastic web material to a temperature sufficient to bond the loop member to the second portion of the plastic web material.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of forming a bottom gusset in the folded web material prior to performing the sealing step.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the sealing step comprises the step of cutting the plastic web material with a hot knife.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of forming a reclosable pocket on the exterior surface of the plastic web material.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of forming an integral handle between the hook and loop fastener and the top opening.