Recloseable bag

Abstract

The invention relates to bag ( 10 ) comprising a line of weakness ( 28 ) for ease of opening, and a reclosing means ( 32 ), wherein the bag ( 10 ) comprises a front panel ( 12 ), back panel ( 14 ) and opposing side panels ( 16, 18 ), the panels being sealed together to provide a top section ( 24 ) and a bottom section ( 26 ), and wherein the line of weakness ( 28 ) extends around all of the front ( 12 ), back ( 14 ) and side ( 16, 18 ) panels so that the top section ( 24 ) is completely removable from the rest of the bag, and wherein the reclosing means ( 32 ) is attached to the front ( 12 ), back ( 14 ) and side ( 16, 18 ) panels adjacent to the line of weakness ( 28 ). The invention also relates to process for forming bags ( 10 ) from a web of film ( 30 ), wherein the web of film ( 30 ) is transported along one or more machines, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a line of weakness ( 28 ) across substantially the whole width of the film substantially in the cross-machine direction, (b) affixing reclosing means ( 32 ) adjacent to the line of weakness; (c) cutting and sealing the film to form a bag ( 10 ) comprising the line of weakness ( 28 ) and the reclosing means ( 32 ).

1 . A bag ( 10 ) comprising a line of weakness ( 28 ) for ease of opening, and a reclosing means ( 32 ), wherein the bag ( 10 ) comprises a front panel ( 12 ), back panel ( 14 ) and opposing side panels ( 16 ,  18 ), the panels being sealed together to provide a top section ( 24 ) and a bottom section ( 26 ), and wherein the line of weakness ( 28 ) extends around all of the front ( 12 ), back ( 14 ) and side ( 16 ,  18 ) panels so that the top section ( 24 ) is completely removable from the rest of the bag, wherein the reclosing means ( 32 ) is attached to the front ( 12 ), back ( 14 ) and side ( 16 ,  18 ) panels adjacent to the line of weakness ( 28 ). 
   
   
       2 . A bag according to  claim 1  wherein the bag ( 10 ) comprises front panel ( 12 ), back panel ( 14 ) and opposing side panels ( 16 ,  18 ), the side panels ( 16 ,  18 ) forming gussets between the front ( 12 ) and back ( 14 ) panels, and wherein the front ( 12 ), back ( 14 ) and gusset-forming side panels ( 16 ,  18 ) are sealed together at opposite ends ( 20 ,  22 ) to form a top seal and a bottom seal, and wherein the line of weakness ( 28 ) extends around all of the front ( 12 ), back ( 14 ) and gusset-forming side ( 16 ,  18 ) panels so that the top seal is completely removable from the rest of the bag. 
   
   
       3 . A bag ( 10 ) according to  claim 1  wherein the reclosing means ( 32 ) extends around substantially all of the front ( 12 ), back ( 14 ) and side ( 16 ,  18 ) panels on the inside of the bag ( 10 ), the reclosing means ( 32 ) being attached to the front ( 12 ), back ( 14 ) and side ( 16 ,  18 ) panels adjacent to the line of weakness ( 28 ) so that the bag ( 10 ) is recloseable after the top section ( 24 ) has been completely removed from the rest of the bag. 
   
   
       4 . A bag ( 10 ) according to  claim 1  wherein the reclosing means ( 32 ) comprises a mechanical fastener, the mechanical fastener comprising interoperating hooks and/or loops. 
   
   
       5 . A bag ( 10 ) according to  claim 4  wherein the loop materials have a basis weight of less than 40 grams per square metre and the basis weight of the hook material is less than 200 grams per square metre. 
   
   
       6 . A bag according comprising a line of weakness ( 28 ) for ease of opening, and a reclosing means ( 32 ), wherein the bag ( 10 ) comprises front panel ( 12 ), back panel ( 14 ) and opposing side panels ( 16 ,  18 ), the side panels ( 16 ,  18 ) forming gussets between the front ( 12 ) and back ( 14 ) panels, and wherein the front ( 12 ), back ( 14 ) and gusset-forming side panels ( 16 ,  18 ) are sealed together at opposite ends ( 20 ,  22 ) to form a top seal and a bottom seal, and wherein the line of weakness ( 28 ) extends around all of the front ( 12 ), back ( 14 ) and gusset-forming side ( 16 ,  18 ) panels so that the top seal is completely removable from the rest of the bag, wherein the reclosing means ( 32 ) comprises a mechanical fastener, the mechanical fastener comprising interoperating hooks and/or loops attached to the front ( 12 ), back ( 14 ) and side ( 16 ,  18 ) panels adjacent to the line of weakness ( 28 ). 
   
   
       7 . A bag ( 10 ) according to  claim 6  wherein the loop material has a basis weight of less than 40 grams per square metre. 
   
   
       8 . A bag ( 10 ) according to  claim 6  wherein the hook material has a basis weight of less than 200 grams per square metre. 
   
   
       9 . A process for forming bags ( 10 ) from a web of film ( 30 ), wherein the web of film ( 30 ) is transported along one or more machines in a machine direction, the perpendicular direction in the plane of the film being the cross-machine direction, the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a line of weakness ( 28 ) across substantially the whole width of the film substantially in the cross-machine direction,   (b) affixing reclosing means ( 32 ) adjacent to the line of weakness;   (c) cutting and sealing the film to form a bag ( 10 ) comprising the line of weakness ( 28 ) and the reclosing means ( 32 ); and   
     wherein steps (a), (b) and (c) are carried out in any order, on the same or separate machines; and repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) at regular intervals along the web of film so as to form multiple bags. 
   
   
       10 . A process for forming bags ( 10 ) according to  claim 9  wherein steps (a) and (b) are completed before step (c). 
   
   
       11 . A process for forming a bag ( 10 ) according to  claim 9  wherein step (c) comprises the steps of folding the film to form a front panel ( 12 ), back panel ( 14 ) and opposing side panels ( 16 ,  18 ), sealing adjacent to opposing edges of the film to form a back seal, and cutting and sealing the film to form top and bottom seals. 
   
   
       12 . A process for forming a bag ( 10 ) according to  claim 9  wherein the film is folded so that the reclosing means ( 32 ) extends around substantially all of the front ( 12 ), back ( 14 ) and side ( 16 ,  18 ) panels on the inside of the bag ( 10 ). 
   
   
       13 . A process for forming a bag ( 10 ) according to  claim 12  wherein the reclosing means ( 32 ) comprises a mechanical fastener, the mechanical fastener comprising interoperating hooks and/or loops. 
   
   
       14 . A process for forming a bag ( 10 ) according to  claim 13  wherein the loop material has a basis weight of less than 40 grams per square metre. 
   
   
       15 . A process for forming a bag ( 10 ) according to  claim 13  wherein the hook material has a basis weight of less than 200 grams per square metre. 
   
   
       16 . A process for forming a bag ( 10 ) according to  claim 9  wherein the line of weakness ( 28 ) is formed by scoring, perforating, chemical treatment, or embossing methods. 
   
   
       17 . A process for forming a bag ( 10 ) according to  claim 16  wherein the line of weakness ( 28 ) is formed by laser scoring, laser perforation, mechanical scoring, or mechanical perforation.