Integral reclosable bag

Abstract

.Iadd.A reclosable plastic bag having interlocking rib and groove elements integral with the plastic of the bag formed with an arrowhead shaped rib. The rib and groove are structurally interrelated in different forms so that the bag opens easily from the outside and resists opening from the inside..Iaddend.

I claim: 
     
       1. A reclosable flexible container comprising, a bag body having flexible walls formed of a plastic film having an opening therein,   releasably interlocking rib and groove elements integrally part of the walls on facing inner surfaces thereof formed of a resilient material and separable by drawing the elements apart and interlockable by pressing the elements together, external flanges on the upper exposed edges of said walls which may be gripped and drawn apart to separate said elements, said rib element being arrowhead shaped with the rib and groove elements having interengaging upper surfaces extending toward the outside of the bag and interengaging lower surfaces extending toward the inside of the bag with the upper engaging surface of the rib element being shorter than the lower engaging surface of the rib element so that the bag opens relatively easily from the outside and resists opening from the inside,   said rib element surfaces being on the base of the arrowhead shaped rib element.     
     
     
       2. A reclosable flexible container comprising, a bag body having flexible walls formed of a plastic film having an opening therein,   releasably interlocking rib and groove elements integrally part of the walls on facing inner surfaces thereof formed of a resilient material and separable by drawing the elements apart and interlockable by pressing the elements together,   external flanges on the upper exposed edges of said walls which may be gripped and drawn apart to separate said elements, said rib element being arrowhead shaped with the rib and groove elements having interengaging upper surfaces extending toward the outside of the bag and interengaging lower surfaces extending toward the inside of the bag with the angle between the center line of the stem of the arrowhead and the upper engaging arrowhead surface being larger than the angle between the stem center line and the lower engaging arrowhead surface so that the bag opens relatively easily from the outside and resists opening from the inside.     
     
     
       3. A reclosable flexible container in accordance with claim 2 wherein said angle between the center line of the stem of the arrowhead and said upper arrowhead engaging surface lies within the range of 80° to 90° and the angle between the stem center line and the lower arrowhead engaging surface lies in the range of 55° to 65°. 
     
     
       4. A reclosable flexible container comprising, a bag body having flexible walls formed of a plastic film having an opening therein, releasably interlocking rib and groove elements integrally part of the walls on facing inner surfaces thereof formed of a resilient material and separable by drawing the elements apart and interlockable by pressing the elements together, external flanges on the upper exposed edges of said walls which may be gripped and drawn apart to separate said elements, said rib element being arrowhead shaped with the rib and groove elements having interengaging upper surfaces extending toward the outside of the bag and interengaging lower surfaces extending toward the inside of the bag with the upper engaging surface of the rib element being shorter than the lower engaging surface of the rib element and with the engaging surfaces of the groove element having the same angle as the engaging surfaces of the rib element so that the bag opens relatively easily from the outside and resists opening from the inside, said rib element surfaces being on the base of the arrowhead shaped rib element.     
     
     
       5. A reclosable flexible container comprising, a bag body having flexible walls formed of a plastic film with an upwardly facing opening, releasably interlocking rib and groove elements integrally part of the walls on facing inner surfaces thereof formed of a resilient material and separable by applying a force directly to the walls drawing the elements apart and interlockable by pressing the elements together, and external flange means on the upper exposed edges of said walls which may be gripped and drawn apart to separate said elements, said rib element being arrowhead shaped with the rib and groove elements having interengaging upper surfaces extending toward the outside of the bag and interengaging lower surfaces extending toward the inside of the bag,   said groove element having .Iadd.two .Iaddend.side hook members .[.carrying the engaging surfaces of the groove element with the hook member carrying the lower surface of the groove element being longer than the hook member carrying the upper surface of the groove element so that the bag opens relatively easily from the outside and resists opening from the inside..]..Iadd., each projecting downwardly toward its associated wall so that one locks at each side of the rib element with the one inside the bag being longer than the other and each having a locking surface being at an angle less than 90° with a line drawn through the center line of the rib and groove elements so that the bag opens more easily from the outside than the inside. .Iaddend.     
     
     
       6. A reclosable flexible container comprising, a bag body having flexible walls formed of a plastic film, releasably interlocking rib and groove elements integrally part of the walls on facing inner surfaces thereof formed of a resilient material and separable by drawing the elements apart and interlockable by pressing the elements together, external flanges on the upper exposed edges of said walls which may be gripped and drawn apart to separate said elements, said external flanges being interconnected by a doubled portion with tear lines of weakened resistance at the upper edges of the flanges so that said doubled portion can be torn off to leave the flanges exposed and separated,   said rib element being arrowhead shaped with the rib and groove elements having interengaging upper surfaces extending toward the outside of the bag and interengaging lower surfaces extending toward the inside of the bag with the upper engaging surface of the rib element being shorter than the lower engaging surface of the rib element so that the bag opens relatively easily from the outside and resists opening from the inside,   said rib element surfaces being on the base of the arrowhead shaped rib element.     
     
     
       7. A reclosable flexible container comprising, a bag body having flexible walls formed of a plastic film having an opening therein, releasably interlocking rib and groove elements integrally part of the walls on facing inner surfaces thereof formed of a resilient material and separable by drawing the elements apart and interlockable by pressing the elements together,   external flanges on the upper exposed edges of said walls which may be gripped and drawn apart to separate said elements, said rib element being arrowhead shaped with the rib and groove elements having interengaging upper surfaces extending toward the outside of the bag and interengaging lower surfaces extending toward the inside of the bag with the angle between the center line of the rib and groove elements and the upper engaging groove element surface being larger than the angle between the center line of the rib and groove elements and the lower engaging surface of the groove element so that the bag opens relatively easily from the outside and resists opening from the inside.[...]..Iadd., .Iaddend. .Iadd.the flexible wall supporting the groove element having a thickened portion opposite where the groove element is mounted, said thickened portion supporting the groove element at right angles to the wall. .Iaddend.