HFFS slider bags with zipper in fin seal

Abstract

Reclosable bags are disclosed wherein a sheet of web is folded so that outward longitudinal quarters are folded over a central longitudinal half in a horizontal form fill seal apparatus. The central longitudinal half forms the back wall of the bag while the two outward longitudinal quarters form the front wall of the bag. A fin seal is formed where the longitudinal edges meet. The zipper is formed within the fin seal. However, in an alternative embodiment, the zipper is formed within the top fold while the longitudinal edges are joined by a fin seal.

1 . A reclosable bag comprising: 
 a front wall and a rear wall;    a reclosable zipper; and    wherein a sheet of web is folded whereby edges of said web are brought together in a central portion of said front wall and joined with said reclosable zipper in a fin seal.    
   
   
       2 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1  further including a top edge and a bottom edge formed by folding of said sheet of web.  
   
   
       3 . The reclosable bag of  claim 2  further including side seals joining said front wall and said rear wall.  
   
   
       4 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1  wherein said zipper includes first and second interlocking profiles and respective first and second flanges.  
   
   
       5 . The reclosable bag of  claim 4  wherein said first and second flanges are sealed within said fin seal.  
   
   
       6 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1  wherein said first and second interlocking profiles protrude from said fin seal.  
   
   
       7 . The reclosable bag of  claim 6  wherein said zipper further includes a slider to open and close said interlocking profiles.  
   
   
       8 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1  wherein said interlocking profiles are sealed to said edges within said fin seal and said zipper is substantially free of protrusion from said fin seal.  
   
   
       9 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1  wherein said web is joined to said reclosable zipper inwardly from said edges, and said edges are joined to each other above said zipper thereby forming a shroud.  
   
   
       10 . The reclosable bag of  claim 9  wherein said shroud includes one or more lines of weakness.  
   
   
       11 . The reclosable bag of  claim 10  wherein said zipper includes first and second interlocking profiles and respective first and second flanges, wherein said flanges are sealed to said web.  
   
   
       12 . The reclosable bag of  claim 11  wherein said zipper further includes a slider to open and close said interlocking profiles.  
   
   
       13 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1  wherein said reclosable zipper is a string zipper.  
   
   
       14 . A reclosable bag comprising: 
 a front wall and a rear wall;    a reclosable zipper;    wherein a sheet of web is folded thereby forming a top edge and a bottom edge whereby edges of said web are brought together in a central portion of said front wall in a fin seal; and    said reclosable zipper is sealed within the fold formed at said top edge.    
   
   
       15 . The reclosable bag of  claim 14  further including side seals joining said front wall and said rear wall.  
   
   
       16 . The reclosable bag of  claim 15  wherein said zipper includes first and second interlocking profiles and respective first and second flanges.  
   
   
       17 . The reclosable bag of  claim 16  wherein said flanges are sealed to said web.  
   
   
       18 . The reclosable bag of  claim 17  wherein said zipper further includes a slider to open and close said interlocking profiles.  
   
   
       19 . The reclosable bag of  claim 14  wherein said reclosable zipper is a string zipper.  
   
   
       20 . A method of forming a reclosable bag, including the steps of: 
 providing a sheet of web;    providing a zipper;    folding said web whereby outward longitudinal quarters of said web are brought over a central longitudinal half of said web thereby bringing longitudinal edges of said web and said zipper together; and    forming a fin seal with said longitudinal edges and the zipper therebetween.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said zipper includes first and second interlocking profiles with respective first and second flanges and further includes a slider.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said web extends over said zipper wherein said longitudinal edges are joined thereby forming a shroud over said zipper.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said zipper is free of a slider and said zipper is substantially free of protrusion from said fin seal.  
   
   
       24 . A method of forming a reclosable bag, including the steps of: 
 providing a sheet of web;    providing a zipper;    folding said web whereby outward longitudinal quarters of said web are brought over a central longitudinal half of said web thereby bringing longitudinal edges of said web and said zipper together and forming a top fold and a bottom fold, said zipper being within said top fold; and    forming a fin seal with said longitudinal edges.