Sculpted header seal for reclosable bags

Abstract

The reclosable bag includes a slider-operated zipper with a removable header formed over the zipper. The removable header includes a broad top seal provides room for a hang aperture and which can be shaped to stabilize or park the slider prior to removal of the header. Additionally, the broad top seal can be configured so as to leave a portion of the edges of the web immediately above the zipper unsealed.

1 . A reclosable bag, comprising: 
 a first web panel sealed to a second web panel;    a zipper, operated by a slider, sealed to said first web panel and said second panel along seal lines;    a portion of said first web panel and said second web panel extending over said zipper thereby forming a header over said zipper;    said header including a header seal between a portion of said first web panel and a portion of said second web panel;    a hang aperture extending through and being completely surrounded by said header seal; and    wherein side edges of said header seal extend from a top edge of said first and second web panels to upwardly adjacent from said zipper.    
   
   
       2 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of side edges of said first web panel and said second web panel are free of sealing to each other between said zipper and said header seal.  
   
   
       3 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1  wherein side edges of said first web panel are sealed to side edges of said second web panel between said zipper and said header seal.  
   
   
       4 . The reclosable bag of  claim 2  including lines of weakness in said first and second web panels between said header seal and said seal lines, thereby allowing a user to remove said header from the reclosable bag, thereby accessing said zipper.  
   
   
       5 . The reclosable bag of  claim 4  wherein a lower edge of said header seal includes an upwardly extending portion above said slider which is free of sealing, thereby stabilizing a position of said slider prior to removal of said header from the bag.  
   
   
       6 . The reclosable bag of  claim 2  including lines of weakness which are formed at ends of said header seal and which, in central portions of said first and second web panels, are formed between said header seal and said seal lines, thereby allowing a user to remove said header from the reclosable bag, thereby accessing the zipper.  
   
   
       7 . The reclosable bag of  claim 6  wherein a lower edge of said header seal includes an upwardly extending portion above said slider which is free of sealing, thereby stabilizing a position of said slider prior to removal of said header from the bag.  
   
   
       8 . A reclosable bag, comprising: 
 a first web panel sealed to a second web panel;    a zipper, operated by a slider, sealed to said first web panel and said second panel along seal lines;    a portion of said first web panel and said second web panel extending over said zipper thereby forming a header over said zipper; and    said header including a header seal between a portion of said first web panel and a portion of said second web panel, a lower edge of said header seal including an upwardly extending portion above said slider which is free of sealing, thereby stabilizing a position of said slider prior to removal of said header from the bag.    
   
   
       9 . The reclosable bag of  claim 8  wherein side edges of said header seal extend from a top edge of said first and second web panels to upwardly adjacent from said zipper.  
   
   
       10 . The reclosable bag of  claim 9  wherein at least a portion of side edges of said first web panel and said second web panel are free of sealing to each other between said zipper and said header seal.  
   
   
       11 . The reclosable bag of  claim 9  wherein side edges of said first web panel are sealed to side edges of said second web panel between said zipper and said header seal.  
   
   
       12 . The reclosable bag of  claim 8  including lines of weakness in said first and second web panels between said header seal and said seal lines, thereby allowing a user to remove said header from the reclosable bag, thereby accessing said zipper.  
   
   
       13 . The reclosable bag of  claim 8  including lines of weakness which are formed at ends of said header seal and which, in central portions of said first and second web panels, are formed between said header seal and said seal lines, thereby allowing a user to remove said header from the reclosable bag, thereby accessing the zipper.  
   
   
       14 . A reclosable bag, comprising: 
 a first web panel sealed to a second web panel;    a zipper, operated by a slider, sealed to said first web panel and said second panel along seal lines;    a portion of said first web panel and said second web panel extending over said zipper thereby forming a header over said zipper;    said header including a header seal between a portion of said first web panel and a portion of said second web panel; and    said header seal including an arcuate lower edge thereby confining said slider between the ends of said arcuate lower edge.    
   
   
       15 . The reclosable bag of  claim 14  wherein said side edges of said header seal extend from a top edge of said first and second web panels to upwardly adjacent from said zipper.  
   
   
       16 . The reclosable bag of  claim 15  wherein at least a portion of side edges of said first web panel and said second web panel are free of sealing to each other between said zipper and said header seal.  
   
   
       17 . The reclosable bag of  claim 15  wherein side edges of said first web panel are sealed to side edges of said second web panel between said zipper and said header seal.  
   
   
       18 . The reclosable bag of  claim 14  including lines of weakness in said first and second web panels between said header seal and said seal lines, thereby allowing a user to remove said header from the reclosable bag, thereby accessing said zipper.