Reclosable Plastic Bags with Multiple Closures

Abstract

A reclosable plastic bag, comprising front and rear panels formed of plastic film and sealed about their side and bottom edges to leave a top opening, each of the panels having an inner surface and an outer surface, first and second closures on the inner surfaces of each of the front and rear panels to close and open the top opening, wherein the first and second closures are parallel to one another and spaced apart at a distance from one another, and a thickened region on the outer surface of the front panel between the first and second closures.

1 . A reclosable plastic bag, comprising:
 front and rear panels formed of plastic film and sealed about their side and bottom edges to leave a top opening, each of the panels having an inner surface and an outer surface;   first and second closures on the inner surfaces of each of the front and rear panels to close and open the top opening, wherein the first and second closures are parallel to one another and spaced apart at a distance from one another; and   a thickened region on the outer surface of the front panel between the first and second closures.   
     
     
         2 . The reclosable plastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first closure is between the second closure and the top opening. 
     
     
         3 . The reclosable plastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein the thickened region is formed by one or both of extrusion and embossing. 
     
     
         4 . The reclosable plastic bag of  claim 3 , wherein the embossing comprises raised or impressed crosses or criss-crosses. 
     
     
         5 . The reclosable plastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein the thickened region has a width that is 20% to 80% of the distance between the first and second closures. 
     
     
         6 . The reclosable plastic bag of  claim 5 , wherein the width of the thickened region is 50% or 60% of the distance between the first and second closures. 
     
     
         7 . The reclosable plastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein the thickened region has a thickness or height above the front panel that is greater than a wall thickness of the front and rear panels. 
     
     
         8 . The reclosable plastic bag of  claim 7 , wherein the thickened region has a thickness or height above the outer surface of the front panel that is greater than or approximately equal to the thickness or height above the inner surface of the first and second closures. 
     
     
         9 . The reclosable plastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein the thickened region has a stiffness or rigidity greater than the stiffness or rigidity of walls of the front and rear panels. 
     
     
         10 . The reclosable plastic bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second closures comprise first and second zip-lock closures. 
     
     
         11 . The reclosable plastic bag of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second zip-lock closures comprise interlockable rib and groove profiles. 
     
     
         12 . The reclosable plastic bag of  claim 11 , wherein the first zip-lock closure comprises a rib profile on the inner surface of the front panel and a groove profile on the inner surface of the rear panel, and the second zip-lock closure comprises a groove profile on the inner surface of the front panel and a rib profile on the inner surface of the rear panel. 
     
     
         13 . The reclosable plastic bag of  claim 11 , wherein the rib and groove profiles are configured to generate an audible clicking sound when interlocking to close the first and second zip-lock closures. 
     
     
         14 . The reclosable plastic bag of  claim 3 , wherein the thickened region is integrally extruded with the front and rear panels, and the first and second zip-lock closures. 
     
     
         15 . The reclosable plastic bag of  claim 10 , wherein, in use, the thickened region increases ease of opening and closing the first and second zip-lock closures.