Sealing gussets together through apertures in multi-wall paper and woven polypropylene packages or bags

Abstract

Reclosable gusseted packages or bags have improved resistance to leaking or spilling through the gussets by sealing the gussets together through apertures in the gusset walls, by sealing the zipper flanges together through apertures passing through the gussets in the package or bag, or by sewing the gussets shut in areas proximate to the zipper.

1 . A reclosable package or bag comprising:
 a front wall and a rear wall;   a first gusset formed between a first edge of the front wall and a first edge of the rear wall, the first gusset including a first front gusset wall and a first rear gusset wall;   a second gusset formed between a second edge of the front wall and a second edge of the rear wall, the second gusset including a second front gusset wall and a second rear gusset wall;   a mouth formed between a top edge of the front wall and a top edge of the rear wall;   a reclosable zipper secured to the front and rear walls proximate to the mouth; and   wherein the first front gusset wall includes a first front gusset wall aperture and the first rear gusset wall includes a first rear gusset wall aperture, wherein when the first front gusset wall aperture and the first rear gusset wall aperture align, a first portion of the front wall is sealed to a first portion of the rear wall through the aligned first front and rear gusset wall apertures; and   wherein the second front gusset wall includes a second front gusset wall aperture and the second rear gusset wall includes a second rear gusset wall aperture, wherein when the second front gusset wall aperture and the second rear gusset wall aperture align, a second portion of the front wall is sealed to a second portion of the rear wall through the aligned second front and rear gusset wall apertures.   
   
   
       2 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 1  wherein the first and second portions of the front wall are sealed to the respective first and second portions of the rear wall by conduction or ultrasonic heat sealing. 
   
   
       3 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 1  wherein the first and second portions of the front wall are sealed to the respective first and second portions of the rear wall by adhesive. 
   
   
       4 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 1  wherein the gusset wall apertures are formed in an area of the front and rear gusset walls proximate to the reclosable zipper. 
   
   
       5 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 1  wherein the first front gusset wall and the first rear gusset wall form a first inwardly pointing V-shape and the second front gusset wall and the second rear gusset wall form a second inwardly pointing V-shape. 
   
   
       6 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 1  wherein the gusset walls are formed of a same material as the front wall and the rear wall. 
   
   
       7 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 1  wherein the gusset walls are formed integrally with the front wall and the rear wall. 
   
   
       8 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 1  wherein the reclosable zipper includes a first profile attached to the front wall, a second profile attached to the rear wall, and a slider to interlock the first and second profiles when moved in a first direction and to separate the first and second profiles when moved in a second direction. 
   
   
       9 . A reclosable package or bag comprising:
 a front wall including a first front wall aperture and a second front wall aperture;   a rear wall including a first rear wall aperture and a second rear wall aperture;   a first gusset formed between a first edge of the front wall and a first edge of the rear wall, the first gusset including a first front gusset wall and a first rear gusset wall;   a second gusset formed between a second edge of the front wall and a second edge of the rear wall, the second gusset including a second front gusset wall and a second rear gusset wall;   a mouth formed between a top edge of the front wall and a top edge of the rear wall;   a reclosable zipper including a first flange secured to the front wall and a second flange secured to the rear wall proximate to the mouth; and   wherein the first front gusset wall includes a first front gusset wall aperture and the first rear gusset wall includes a first rear gusset wall aperture, wherein when the first front gusset wall aperture, the first rear gusset wall aperture, the first front wall aperture and the first rear wall aperture align, a first portion of the first flange is sealed to a first portion of the second flange through the aligned first front and rear gusset wall apertures and the first front and rear wall apertures; and   wherein the second front gusset wall includes a second front gusset wall aperture and the second rear gusset wall includes a second rear gusset wall aperture, wherein when the second front gusset wall aperture, the second rear gusset wall aperture, the second front wall aperture and the second rear wall aperture align, a second portion of the first flange is sealed to a second portion of the second flange through the aligned second front and rear gusset wall apertures and the second front and rear wall apertures.   
   
   
       10 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 9  wherein the first and second portions of the first flange are sealed to the respective first and second portions of the second flange by conduction or ultrasonic heat sealing. 
   
   
       11 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 9  wherein the first and second portions of the front wall are sealed to the respective first and second portions of the rear wall by adhesive. 
   
   
       12 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 9  wherein the gusset wall apertures and the wall apertures are formed in an area of the gussets and the walls, respectively, proximate to the reclosable zipper. 
   
   
       13 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 9  wherein the first front gusset wall and the first rear gusset wall form a first inwardly pointing V-shape and the second front gusset wall and the second rear gusset wall form a second inwardly pointing V-shape. 
   
   
       14 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 9  wherein the gusset walls are formed of a same material as the front wall and the rear wall. 
   
   
       15 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 9  wherein the gusset walls are formed integrally with the front wall and the rear wall. 
   
   
       16 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 9  wherein the reclosable zipper includes a first profile including the first flange, a second profile including the second flange, and a slider to interlock the first and second profiles when moved in a first direction and to separate the first and second profiles when moved in a second direction. 
   
   
       17 . A reclosable package or bag comprising:
 a front wall and a rear wall;   a first gusset formed between a first edge of the front wall and a first edge of the rear wall;   a second gusset formed between a second edge of the front wall and a second edge of the rear wall;   a mouth formed between a top edge of the front wall and a top edge of the rear wall;   a reclosable zipper secured to the front and rear walls proximate to the mouth;   a first stitch joining a first portion of the front wall, the first front gusset wall, the first rear gusset wall and a first portion of the rear wall; and   a second stitch joining a second portion of the front wall, the second front gusset wall, the second rear gusset wall and a second portion of the rear wall.   
   
   
       18 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 17  wherein the first and second stitches are formed from thread. 
   
   
       19 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 17  wherein the first front gusset wall and the first rear gusset wall form a first inwardly pointing V-shape and the second front gusset wall and the second rear gusset wall form a second inwardly pointing V-shape. 
   
   
       20 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 17  wherein the reclosable zipper includes a first profile attached to the front wall, a second profile attached to the second wall, and a slider to interlock the first and second profiles when moved in a first direction and to separate the first and second profiles when moved in a second direction.