Reclosable bag

Abstract

A reclosable bag with front and rear walls defining a top opening between them is closable with a fold-over hood on one of the walls. The walls are made of a flexible material that may be folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds. The hood extends along an upper portion of the wall near, but spaced apart from, the top opening. The fold-over hood is effective for folding over and retaining the upper portions of the front and rear walls after they have been folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds until they reach the hood.

1 . A reclosable bag, comprising:
 front and rear walls having substantially identical dimensions, with each of said front and rear walls having an upper edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge,   wherein said front and rear walls are directly or indirectly connected to each other along their side and bottom edges, but are not connected along their top edges so that a top opening is formed between them,   said front and rear walls being made of a flexible material effective to permit the upper portions of said front and rear walls to be folded downward from said top opening in a series of one or more folds; and   a fold-over hood on said front wall, said fold-over hood being formed by a first hood wall extending from said first side edge to said second side edge along an upper portion of said front wall near, but spaced apart from, said top opening,   wherein said fold-over hood is attached to said front wall along the sides and top edge of the hood to form a bottom opening between said first hood wall and said front wall, said fold-over hood being effective for folding over and retaining the upper portions of the front and rear walls after they have been folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1  wherein said fold-over hood additionally comprises a second hood wall extending from said first side wall to said second side wall along an upper portion of said front wall opposite said first hood wall, wherein said second hood wall is fixed to said front wall and spaced apart from said first hood wall so that said bottom opening between said first hood wall and said front wall additionally provides a bottom opening between said first hood wall and said second hood wall, but avoids any opening between said front wall and said second hood wall. 
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 1  wherein said front and rear walls are indirectly connected to each other along their side and/or bottom edges. 
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 3 , and further comprising first and second side walls effective to indirectly connect said front and rear walls along their side edges. 
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 3 , and further comprising a bottom wall effective to indirectly connect said front and rear walls along their bottom edges. 
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 1  wherein said bag walls are made of polyethylene. 
     
     
         7 . A method of making a reclosable bag, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a bag having front and rear walls with substantially identical dimensions, with each of said front and rear walls having an upper edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, wherein said front and rear walls are directly or indirectly connected to each other along their side and bottom edges, but are not connected along their top edges so that a top opening is formed between them, wherein said front and rear walls are made of a flexible material effective to permit the upper portions of the front and rear walls to be folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds;   b) providing a fold-over hood on said front wall, said fold-over hood being formed by a first hood wall extending from said first side wall to said second side wall along an upper portion of said front wall near, but spaced apart from, said top opening, wherein said fold-over hood is attached to said front wall along the sides and top edge of the hood to form a bottom opening between said hood wall and said front wall, said fold-over hood being effective for folding over and retaining the upper portions of the front and rear walls after they have been folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds.   
     
     
         8 . A method of closing a bag, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a bag having front and rear walls with substantially identical dimensions, with each of said front and rear walls having an upper edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, wherein said front and rear walls are directly or indirectly connected to each other along their side and bottom edges, but are not connected along their top edges so that a top opening is formed between them, wherein said front and rear walls are made of a flexible material effective to permit the upper portions of the front and rear walls to be folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds;   b) providing a fold-over hood on said front wall, said fold-over hood being formed by a first hood wall extending from said first side wall to said second side wall along an upper portion of said front wall near, but spaced apart from, said top opening, wherein said fold-over hood is attached to said front wall along the sides and top edge of the hood to form a bottom opening between said hood wall and said front wall, said fold-over hood being effective for folding over and retaining the upper portions of the front and rear walls after they have been folded downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds;   c) folding the front and rear walls downward from the top opening in a series of one or more folds;   d) folding the fold-over hood over the folded front and rear walls and tucking the series of one or more folds under the fold-over hood to retain the folded portion under the hood to prevent the bag from opening.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said providing a fold-over hood step provides a fold-over hood that additionally comprises a second hood wall extending from said first side wall to said second side wall along an upper portion of said front wall opposite said first hood wall, wherein said second hood wall is fixed to said front wall and spaced apart from said first hood wall so that said bottom opening between said first hood wall and said front wall additionally provides a bottom opening between said first hood wall and said second hood wall, but avoids any opening between said front wall and said second hood wall. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said providing a bag step provides a bag having front and rear walls that are indirectly connected to each other along their side and/or bottom edges. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said providing a bag step provides a bag that further comprises first and second side walls effective to indirectly connect said front and rear walls along their side edges. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said providing a bag step provides a bag that further comprises a bottom wall effective to indirectly connect said front and rear walls along their bottom edges. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said providing a bag step provides a bag having walls made of polyethylene.