Reclosable Bag

Abstract

A reclosable bag for storing edibles is provided and includes a body having an inner surface defining an inner volume that receives the edibles and an outer surface formed on an opposite side of the body than the inner surface. A seal extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body and is formed by joining a first portion of the inner surface to a second portion of the inner surface. A deadfold material is disposed in the seal between the first portion of the inner surface and the second portion of the inner surface, is formed from a malleable material, and is retained in position along the body by the seal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reclosable bag for storing edibles, the reclosable bag comprising:
 a body having an inner surface defining an inner volume that receives the edibles and an outer surface formed on an opposite side of the body than the inner surface;   a seal extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body and formed by joining a first portion of the inner surface to a second portion of the inner surface; and   a deadfold material disposed in the seal between the first portion of the inner surface and the second portion of the inner surface, the deadfold material being formed from a malleable material and retained in position along the body by the seal.   
     
     
         2 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the deadfold material includes a first element and a second element, the first element and the second element being spaced apart from one another by a gap extending in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The reclosable bag of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the inner surface and the second portion of the inner surface are attached to one another within the gap. 
     
     
         4 . The reclosable bag of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the inner surface and the second portion of the inner surface are spaced apart from one another within the gap, the first element and the second element opposing one another in the first direction within the gap. 
     
     
         5 . The reclosable bag of  claim 2 , wherein the gap is about 1 mm to about 5 mm in the first direction. 
     
     
         6 . The reclosable bag of  claim 2 , wherein the first element is formed from a metallic strip or wire and the second element is independently formed from a metallic strip or wire. 
     
     
         7 . The reclosable bag of  claim 2 , wherein the seal is formed by welding the first portion of the inner surface to the second portion of the inner surface at a first location along the first element and at a second location along the second element. 
     
     
         8 . The reclosable bag of  claim 7 , wherein the seal is formed by welding the first portion of the inner surface to the second portion of the inner surface at a third location within the gap. 
     
     
         9 . The reclosable bag of  claim 8 , wherein the first location, the second location, and the third location extend along an entire length of the first element and the second element in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The reclosable bag of  claim 8 , wherein the first portion of the inner surface and the second portion of the inner surface are ultrasonically welded to one another at the first location, the second location, and the third location. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing a reclosable bag comprising:
 forming a sheet of material having a first surface and a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the sheet of material than the first surface into a body having a substantially cylindrical shape;   aligning a first longitudinal edge of the sheet with a second longitudinal edge of the sheet such that a first portion of the first surface opposes a second portion of the first surface;   positioning a deadfold material between the first portion of the first surface and the second portion of the first surface;   attaching the first portion of the first surface to the second portion of the first surface to retain the deadfold material between the first portion and the second portion.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the attaching the first portion to the second portion includes ultrasonically welding the first portion to the second portion to form a seal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the positioning the deadfold material includes positioning a first element and a second element of the deadfold material between the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein positioning the first element and the second element includes aligning a longitudinal axis of the first element and a longitudinal axis of the second element with a longitudinal axis of the body such that all three of the axes are substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein attaching the first portion of the first surface to the second portion of the first surface includes attaching the first portion to the second portion at a first location along an entire length of and adjacent to the first element and at a second location along an entire length of and adjacent to the second element. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein attaching the first portion of the first surface to the second portion of the first surface includes attaching the first portion to the second portion at a third location between the first element and the second element. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein attaching the first portion to the second portion at the third location includes attaching the first portion to the second portion along an entire length of the first element and the second element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein attaching the first portion to the second portion at the first location, the second location, and the third location includes ultrasonically welding the first portion to the second portion at the first location, the second location, and the third location. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein positioning the deadfold material between the first portion of the first surface and the second portion of the first surface includes positioning a malleable material between the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising sealing a first end of the body having a substantially cylindrical shape and a second end of the body having a substantially cylindrical shape, the first end and the second end extending substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge.