Stay open bag mouth and methods of manufacture

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a stay-open configuration or structure at the mouth of a polymeric or similar package or bag, wherein the configuration or structure has sufficient stiffness or tenacity to be able to maintain the mouth of the package or bag in an open position after being placed into this position. The semi-rigid material which implements the stay-open configuration can be incorporated into zipper components, such as, but not limited to, the flanges. The semi-rigid material may further be a separate element which is attached proximate to the zipper. The semi-rigid material typically goes through processes of extrusion and orientation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A polymeric bag or container, including:
 a front wall and a rear wall, sealed together at edges thereof thereby forming a mouth;   a reclosure extending around the mouth, thereby making the mouth reclosable;   a semi-rigid element extending around and attached to the mouth with a sufficient modulus for the mouth of the bag to maintain an open position after being placed in an open position.   
     
     
         2 . The polymeric bag or container of  claim 1  wherein the semi-rigid element is made of polyethylene which has undergone steps of extruding and stretching. 
     
     
         3 . The polymeric bag or container of  claim 1  wherein the semi-rigid element includes at least a portion of high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         4 . The polymeric bag or container of  claim 2  wherein the step of stretching increases the modulus of the semi-rigid element in order for the semi-rigid element to maintain an open or a closed position of the bag. 
     
     
         5 . The polymeric bag of  claim 2  wherein the semi-rigid element is positioned between the reclosure and the front wall and between the reclosure and the rear wall. 
     
     
         6 . The polymeric bag of  claim 2  wherein the reclosure is a zipper including a first profile and a second profile, wherein the first profile includes at least one first flange and the second profile includes at least one second flange, and wherein the semi-rigid element forms at least the one first flange and the at least one second flange. 
     
     
         7 . The polymeric bag of  claim 2  wherein the first profile includes a first interlocking element and the second profile includes a second interlocking element. 
     
     
         8 . The polymeric bag of  claim 7  wherein the first and second interlocking elements are at least partially formed from low density polyethylene and the at least one first flange and the at least one second flange are at least partially formed from high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         9 . The polymeric bag of  claim 8  wherein the first and second interlocking elements are co-extruded with the at least one first flange and the at least one second flange. 
     
     
         10 . The polymeric bag of  claim 2  wherein the semi-rigid element is separate from the reclosure. 
     
     
         11 . The polymeric bag of  claim 2  wherein the semi-rigid element is attached in a position chosen from the group consisting of behind the bag wall, behind the interlocking elements and attached to the flanges. 
     
     
         12 . A reclosure for a bag or container, including:
 a first interlocking profile and a second interlocking profile;   the first and second interlocking profiles including a semi-rigid element with a sufficient modulus for the reclosure to maintain an open position after being placed in an open position.   
     
     
         13 . The reclosure of  claim 12  wherein the semi-rigid element is made of polyethylene which has undergone steps of extruding and stretching. 
     
     
         14 . The reclosure of  claim 12  wherein the semi-rigid element includes at least a portion of high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         15 . The reclosure of  claim 13  wherein the step of stretching increases the modulus of the semi-rigid element in order for the semi-rigid element to maintain an open or a closed position of the bag. 
     
     
         16 . The reclosure of  claim 13  wherein the reclosure is a zipper including a first profile and a second profile, wherein the semi-rigid element is attached to outwardly facing portions of the first and second profiles. 
     
     
         17 . The reclosure of  claim 13  wherein the reclosure is a zipper including a first profile and a second profile, wherein the first profile includes at least one first flange and the second profile includes at least one second flange, and wherein the semi-rigid element forms at least the one first flange and the at least one second flange. 
     
     
         18 . The reclosure of  claim 13  wherein the first profile includes a first interlocking element and the second profile includes a second interlocking element. 
     
     
         19 . The reclosure of  claim 18  wherein the first and second interlocking elements are at least partially formed from low density polyethylene and the at least one first flange and the at least one second flange are at least partially formed from high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         20 . The reclosure of  claim 19  wherein the first and second interlocking elements are co-extruded with the at least one first flange and the at least one second flange. 
     
     
         21 . The reclosure of  claim 13  wherein the semi-rigid element is attached in a position chosen from the group consisting of behind the bag wall, behind the interlocking elements and attached to the flanges.