Reclosable bag and methods of forming and using same

Abstract

An exemplary reclosable bag includes a first ply joined to a second ply to define a main bag portion having a compartment and a product receiving opening. A reclosing flap is connected to the main bag portion and is spaced apart from the product receiving opening. A reclosing material and a release material are applied to the bag and are arranged such that the reclosing material releasably adheres to the release material. The reclosing flap is movable between a passive position and an active position. A bag opening zone formed in the main bag portion proximate the reclosing flap may be opened to create a product retrieval opening for retrieving a product from the compartment. The product is returned to the compartment through the product retrieval opening, and the compartment is reclosed by moving the reclosing flap from the passive position to the active position.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method of forming a reclosable bag containing a product comprising:
 joining a first ply to a second ply to define a main bag portion having a compartment including a first side, a second side, a third side that extends between the first side and the second side, a product receiving opening, and a reclosing flap that is connected to the third side and is spaced apart from the product receiving opening;   applying a reclosing material to the bag;   applying a release material to the bag;   forming a bag opening zone in the main bag portion proximate the reclosing flap;   moving the reclosing flap to bring the reclosing material into contact with the release material;   loading a product into the compartment through the product receiving opening; and   sealing the product receiving opening after the product has been loaded into the compartment.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising sealing a portion of the reclosing flap to one of the first ply, the second ply, or another portion of the reclosing flap, and forming a line of reduced strength in the reclosing flap. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising sealing the reclosing flap to both the first ply and the second ply. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of applying the reclosing material is performed by printing the reclosing material onto the bag. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of applying the release material is performed by printing the release material onto the bag. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the reclosing material is a pressure sensitive adhesive selected from the group consisting of an acrylic based adhesive, a methacrylate based adhesive, a polyurethane based adhesive, a rubber based adhesive, a styrene copolymer based adhesive, a silicone based adhesive, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the release material is a chemical release material selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, carbamates, polyolefins, fluorocarbons, chromium stearate complexes, silicones, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first ply and the second ply comprise a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, cellophane, vinyl films, pliofilms, cellulose acetate film, polystyrene, polypropylene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of reclosing a product in a bag comprising:
 providing a bag that comprises:
 a first ply, a second ply joined to the first ply to define a main bag portion having a top end, a bottom end, a compartment, and a product receiving opening at the top end; 
 a reclosing flap connected to the main bag portion at the bottom end; 
 a reclosing material applied to the bag; 
 a release material applied to the bag, wherein the reclosing material and the release material are arranged such that the reclosing material releasably adheres to the release material; and 
 a bag opening zone formed in the main bag portion proximate the reclosing flap; 
   loading a product into the compartment through the product receiving opening;   sealing the first ply to the second ply to close the product receiving opening;   opening the bag opening zone to create a product retrieval opening to permit retrieval of the product from the compartment;   returning the product to the compartment through the product retrieval opening;   moving the reclosing flap to separate the reclosing material from the release material to expose the reclosing material; and   moving the reclosing flap such that the reclosing material adheres to a portion of the bag and the product retrieval opening is covered to reclose the compartment.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the reclosing flap includes a distal end that is connected to at least one of the first ply, the second ply, or another portion of the reclosing flap. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprises separating the distal end of the reclosing flap from the at least one of the first ply, the second ply, or another portion of the reclosing flap. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the distal end is connected to both the first ply and the second ply. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the distal end is connected to another portion of the reclosing flap. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the product retrieval opening is between the release material and the reclosing material. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the reclosing material and the release material are positioned on the reclosing flap. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the release material is applied to the main bag portion at a first location and moving the reclosing flap such that the reclosing material adheres to a portion of the bag further comprises the reclosing material adhering to the main bag portion at a second location that is different than the first location. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the compartment defines a fillable volume when the reclosing material is releasably adhered to the release material, and wherein moving the reclosing flap such that the reclosing material adheres to a portion of the bag and the product retrieval opening is covered to reclose the compartment does not decrease the fillable volume of the compartment. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the reclosing flap covers the bag opening zone when the reclosing material is releasably adhered to the release material.