Food bag

Abstract

A food bag for a food product includes a front layer and a back layer wherein the front layer and the back layer are interconnected to each other along at least one peripheral interconnection joint to form a pouch suitable to receive the food product between the front layer and the back layer through a pouch opening. The front layer and the back layer are arranged adjacent the pouch opening. A sealing means seals the pouch opening after the food product is received in the pouch. The front layer and the back layer each comprise a tear feature for separating the pouch into a first part for holding the food product and a second part. The tear feature of the front layer and the tear feature of the back layer are interconnected to each other in the area of the at least one peripheral interconnection joint.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A food bag ( 1 ) for a food product that includes a front layer ( 2 ) and a back layer ( 3 ), the food bag comprising:
 a. at least one peripheral interconnection joint ( 4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ) connecting the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ) to form a pouch ( 7 ) suitable to receive the food product between the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ) through a pouch opening ( 8 ), the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ) being arranged adjacent the pouch opening ( 8 );   b. a sealing means ( 12 ) to seal the pouch opening ( 8 ) after the food product (I) is received in the pouch ( 7 );   c. a tear feature ( 9 ) for separating the pouch ( 7 ) into a first part for holding the food product and a second part; and   d. the tear feature ( 9 ) of the front layer ( 2 ) and the tear feature ( 9 ) of the back layer ( 9 ) are interconnected to each other in the area of the at least one peripheral interconnection joint ( 4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ).   
     
     
         2 . The food bag ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the tear feature ( 9 ) of the front layer ( 2 ) and the tear feature ( 9 ) of the back layer ( 3 ) overlap one another at least partially in a direction normal to the faces of the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ). 
     
     
         3 . The food bag ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the tear feature ( 9 ) of the front layer ( 2 ) comprises at least one tear line ( 10 ) and the tear feature of the back layer ( 3 ) comprises at least one tear line ( 11 ), and wherein the at least one tear line ( 9 ) of the front layer ( 2 ) is essentially congruent with the at least one tear line ( 9 ) of the back layer ( 3 ). 
     
     
         4 . The food bag ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the tear feature ( 9 ) of the front layer ( 2 ) and the tear feature ( 9 ) of the back layer ( 3 ) are each slanted with respect to an insert direction of the food product. 
     
     
         5 . The food bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the tear features ( 9 ) each comprise a plurality of recesses, a plurality of debossments and/or a perforation. 
     
     
         6 . The food bag (I) according to  claim 1 , wherein the tear features ( 9 ) each comprise a tear-aid in at least one peripheral area of the food bag (I). 
     
     
         7 . The food bag ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the tear-aid is arranged in at least one area of the at least one peripheral interconnection joint ( 4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ). 
     
     
         8 . The food bag (i) according to  claim 1 , wherein tear features ( 9 ) are arranged between 30% to 70% of the length of the food bag ( 1 ) in the direction of food insertion. 
     
     
         9 . The food bag ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means ( 12 ) is arranged on the inside of the back layer ( 3 ), the inside of the front layer ( 2 ) or on the inside of both the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ). 
     
     
         10 . The food bag ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the back layer ( 3 ) of the food bag ( 1 ) comprises a flap section ( 3   a ) extending beyond the front layer ( 2 ) counter to the direction of food insertion into the food bag (I), the flap section ( 3   a ) being suitable to be folded over the front layer ( 2 ). 
     
     
         11 . The food bag (i) according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing means is arranged on the inside of the flap section of the back layer ( 3 ). 
     
     
         12 . The food bag ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means ( 12 ) comprises an adhesive, in particular a glue dot. 
     
     
         13 . The food bag (I) according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means ( 12 ) comprises a weld seam. 
     
     
         14 . The food bag ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the front layer ( 2 ) or back layer ( 3 ) or both the front and the back layer are made from a transparent material. 
     
     
         15 . The food bag ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ) are each made from a thermal resistant material, such that the food product in the food bag ( 1 ) can be grilled or heated in the food bag. 
     
     
         16 . The food bag ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ) are each oblong. 
     
     
         17 . The food bag ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , comprising a secondary pouch ( 13 ) suitable to receive a napkin or a condiment. 
     
     
         18 . The food bag ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ) are interconnected to each other at the at least one interconnection joint ( 4   a ,  4   b    4   c ) by means of a fixing means chosen out of at least one of the group: adhesive, heat-activated adhesive, hot-melt, cold glue. 
     
     
         19 . The food bag ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ) are interconnected to each other at the least one interconnection joint ( 4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ) by means of a fixing means chosen out of at least one of the group: crimping, interleaving, nesting. 
     
     
         20 . A method for manufacturing a food bag ( 1 ) for a food product, including:
 a. providing a front layer ( 2 ) and a back layer ( 3 );   b. arranging the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ) on top of one another, the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 );   c. providing the front layer ( 2 ) and/or the back layer ( 3 ) with sealing means to seal the pouch opening ( 8 ) after the food product ( 1 ) is received in the pouch ( 7 );   d. interconnecting the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ) to each other along at least one peripheral interconnection joint ( 4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ) to form a pouch ( 7 ) suitable to receive the food product between the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ) through a pouch opening ( 8 );   e. working a tear feature ( 9 ) into the front layer and the back layer ( 3 ) suitable for separating the pouch into a first part for holding the food product and a second part.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ) are interconnected to each other at the at least one peripheral interconnection joint ( 4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ) by means of a fixing means chosen out of at least one of the group: adhesive, heat-activated adhesive, hot-melt, cold glue. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the front layer ( 2 ) and the second layer ( 3 ) are interconnected to each other by means of a fixing means chosen out of at least one of the group: crimping, interleaving, nesting. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ) are arranged on top of one another so as to overlap each other with an offset relative to the direction of food insertion. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein a flap section ( 3   a ) of the back layer ( 3 ) extends beyond the front layer ( 2 ) counter to the direction of food insertion and is folded back over the front layer ( 2 ). 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein a flap section ( 2   a ) of the front layer ( 2 ) extends beyond the back layer ( 3 ) with respect to direction of food insertion and is folded back over the front layer ( 2 ) such as to form a secondary pouch ( 13 ). 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the tear features ( 9 ) are worked into the food bag ( 1 ) to extend between lateral sides of the food bag ( 1 ). 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the tear features ( 9 ) are worked into the food bag ( 1 ) at a slant with respect direction of food insertion. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the front layer ( 2 ) and the back layer ( 3 ) are each provided with recesses, debossments or at a perforated to form each tear feature ( 9 ).