Recloseable package with protective patch

Abstract

According to the invention, a patch is provided to be attached to the outside of the wall of the bag over the profile strip fastener assembly that is attached to the front panel of the package. The patch is made from a gas barrier type of substrate as to prevent oxygen and other gases from entering or leaving the perforations within the opening feature used to access the fastener assembly. The side of the patch that is in contact with the front panel of the bag includes an adhesive for securement to the package. A variety of adhesives can be utilized for securement depending on the arrangement of the perforations. Printing can be included on the outside of the patch to highlight the reclosable feature of the package thereby eliminating the need to modify the original printing on the package.

1 . A bag, comprising:
 a bag body, formed from a rectangular sheet of film material, said bag body having a top end, a bottom end, a front wall, and a back wall, said front wall being joined to said back wall by upper and lower seams respectively provided at said top and bottom ends: and   a reclosable fastener assembly joined to said front wall and comprising first and second interlocking profile strips respectively extending along the length of the fastener assembly, said profile strips being configured for releasable interlocking engagement with each other by the provision of at least one protuberance on one of said profile strips, and at least one groove defined by the other of said profile strips for respectively releasably receiving said protuberance,   said first profile strip including a body flange portion joined at a first seal to said bag body, and said second profile strip including a second body flange portion joined at a second seal to the inside of the surface of said front wall of said bag body;   said front wall including an openable joint being formed from a series of perforations between said first and second seals, said first and second seals formed around said joint; and   a protective patch completely covering said joint to prevent gasses from entering and leaving said bag through said perforations.   
   
   
       2 . The bag according to  claim 1 , wherein said protective patch is formed from a flexible substrate that has an oxygen transmission rate of between 2.5 cc-mil/100 square inches/24 hrs at 23 degrees Celsius and 75% relative humidity and 0.25 5 cc-mil/100 square inches/24 hrs at 23 degrees C. and 75% relative humidity. 
   
   
       3 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said protective patch includes an adhesive on one side as means of adhering to said bag. 
   
   
       4 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said protective patch has two zones of adhesive on one side, an outer portion being more aggressive than the inner portion, thereby allowing the outer portion of the patch to be easily peeled away from the bag panel while the inner portion of said patch is aggressive enough to open said perforated joint when peeled away. 
   
   
       5 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said protective patch is formed from two separate pieces of material, one being an outer piece and the other being an inner piece, whereby said outer piece remains on said bag panel when said inner piece of said protective patch is removed from bag, said outer piece acting as barrier to tear propagation around said joint.