Opening apparatus for a plastic bag

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an opening apparatus for a preferably reclosable pouch or plastic bag. The pouch has a sealing strip with first and second registrable profiles located along opposing inner faces of first and second panels. The apparatus includes a first discrete gripping area located substantially over a first portion of an outer face of the first panel adjacent the first registrable profile. The apparatus also includes a second discrete gripping area located substantially over a second portion of an outer face of the second panel adjacent the second registrable profile, At least one of the discrete gripping areas are textured so that the application of oblique opening forces relative to the sealing strip and within the plane of the panels against the areas separates the closed registrable profiles from each other so as to open the pouch.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . An opening apparatus for a plastic pouch having a pouch opening located along an edge thereof between opposing inner faces of first and second panels, the apparatus comprising:
 a) a first discrete gripping area located substantially over a first portion of an outer face of the first panel adjacent the pouch opening; and   b) a second discrete gripping area located substantially over a second portion of an outer face of the second panel adjacent the pouch opening and substantially in register with the first discrete gripping area, at least one of the first and the second discrete gripping areas being textured so that an oblique application relative to the pouch opening of opening forces thereagainst locally moves the first and second panels relative to one another so as to open the pouch.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which the plastic pouch is reclosable and has a sealing strip with first and second registrable profiles located along the pouch opening, and wherein the first and second discrete gripping areas are located adjacent the first and second registrable profiles, respectively, and wherein at least one of the first and the second discrete gripping areas is textured so that the oblique application relative to the sealing strip of opening forces thereagainst separates the closed first and second registrable profiles from each other so as to open the pouch. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus, according to  claim 2 , in which:
 a) the first discrete gripping area includes a first body having a first outer surface, the first body being connected to the first portion of the first panel adjacent the first registrable profile; and   b) the second discrete gripping area includes a second body having a second outer surface, the second body being connected to the second portion of the second panel adjacent the second registrable profile.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus, according to  claim 3 , in which:
 at least one of the first and the second outer surfaces being textured so that the application of oblique opening forces thereagainst separates the first and second closed registrable profiles from each other.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus, according to  claim 4 , in which:
 both the first and second outer surfaces of the first and the second bodies are textured.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus, according to  claim 3 , in which the first and the second bodies each being located on either side of the sealing strip. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus, according to  claim 3 , in which the first and second bodies are located at about a center portion of the sealing strip. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus, according to  claim 3 , includes two sets of first and second bodies, the sets being spaced apart from one another along the sealing strip. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus, according to  claim 3 , includes three sets of firsts and second bodies, the sets being spaced apart from one another along the sealing strip. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus, according to  claim 2 , in which the first and second discrete gripping areas are S-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus, according to  claim 2 , in which the first and second discrete gripping areas include a plurality of protrusions. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus, according to  claim 3 , in which the first and second bodies are S-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus, according to  claim 3 , in which the first and second bodies are continuous along a length of the sealing strip. 
     
     
         14 . An opening apparatus for a plastic pouch, the pouch having a pouch opening located along an edge thereof between opposing inner faces of first and second panels, the apparatus comprising:
 a) a first body having a first outer surface, the first body being connected to a first portion of an outer face of the first panel adjacent the pouch opening; and   b) a second body having a second outer surface, the second body being connected to a second portion of an outer face of the second panel adjacent the pouch opening and substantially in register with the first body, at least one of the first and the second outer surfaces being textured so that an oblique application relative to the pouch opening of opening forces thereagainst locally moves the first and second panels relative to one another so as to open the pouch.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus, according to  claim 14 , in which the plastic pouch is reclosable and has a sealing strip with first and second registrable profiles located along the pouch opening, and wherein the first and second bodies are located adjacent the first and second registrable profiles, respectively, and wherein at least one of the first and the second bodies is textured so that the oblique application relative to the sealing strip of opening forces thereagainst separates the closed first and second registrable profiles from each other so as to open the pouch. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus, according to  claim 15 , in which:
 at least one of the first and the second outer surfaces being textured so that the application of oblique opening forces thereagainst separates the first and second closed registrable profiles from each other.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which:
 both the first and second outer surfaces of the first and the second bodies are textured.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus, according to  claim 14 , in which the first and the second bodies are in a form of at least one local spot located adjacent the edge. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which the first and discrete gripping areas are continuous along a length of the edge. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus, according to  claim 15 , in which the first and second outer surfaces include a plurality of protrusions.