GB2184997A

GB2184997A - Resealable bag

Info

Publication number: GB2184997A
Application number: GB08531951A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sai Pak Chung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-12-31
Filing date: 1985-12-31
Publication date: 1987-07-08
Also published as: GB8531951D0

Abstract

A resealable bag (5) comprises a single sheet of transparent flexible polyethylene which has been folded at (6) and (7) and heat-sealed along side seams (8). The bag can be closed by pressing together a first edge portion of the bag wall facing the exterior of the bag and a second edge portion facing the interior of the bag. The edge portions may carry interengageable male and female strips, releasable adhesive, or hook and loop pile fabric. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Resealable bag This invention relates to a resealable bag.

Fig. 1 of the drawings illustrates a previously proposed resealable bag 1 comprising a single sheet of transparent flexible polyethylene which has been folded at 2 and heat sealed along side seams 3. The open mouth of the bag 1 can be closed by means of a seal 4 comprising resilient elongate male and female components which can be press fitted together. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that, if the bag is full, the contents exert a force on the seal which tends to pull the components thereof apart, so that the seal may come undone and the contents fall out.

It is an object of the present invention to enable the provision of a resealable bag whereby the above disadvantage may be overcome or at least mitigated.

According to the present invention, there is provided a resealable bag, comprising a wall, an opening in the wall for gaining access to the interior of the bag, and sealing means for closing the opening by pressing together a first edge portion facing the exterior of the bag and a second edge portion facing the interior of the bag.

Thus, because the force exerted by the contents of the bag on the sealing means tends to act transversely of the direction in which the edge portions must be pulled to be separated from one another, the bag is less liable to come open accidentally than the previously proposed bag.

Also, because the opening is provided in a wall of the bag rather than an end, even if the opening comes undone there is a reduced tendency for the contents to fall out.

The sealing means preferably comprises a resilient elongate male member provided on one of the first and second edge portions and a resilient elongate female member provided on the other of the first and second edge portions for engaging the same. This arrangement has the advantage of being relatively inexpensive to manufacture. However, the sealing means may alternatively comprise, for example, "Velcro" (RTM) or releasable adhesive provided on one or both of the first and second edge portions. The bag can comprise any flexible material such as a plastics material but preferably comprises polyethylene.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a previously proposed resealable bag, Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a resealable bag in accordance with the invention, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2, and Figure 4 is an enlarged view of part of Fig.

3.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figs. 2 to 4, a resealable bag 5 in accordance with the invention comprises a single sheet of transparent flexible polyethylene which has been folded at 6, 7 and heat sealed along side seams 8. The bag can be closed by means of a seal 9 comprising resilient elongate male and female components which can be press-fitted together.

Thus, as can be seen most clearly in Fig. 4, when the bag is full, the contents tend to exert a force 10 on the components of the seal 9 transversely of the direction in which the components must be moved in order to pull them apart, so that there is less tendency for the seal to come undone than in the previously proposed arrangement. Furthermore, even if the seal 9 does come undone, the contents have less tendency to fall out than in the previously proposed arrangement, because the opening is in a face of the bag rather than an end.

As shown, the sealable opening of the bag 5 is closer to one fold 7 than to the other 6.

However, the position of the seal can be adjusted in accordance with the specific requirements, without reducing the volume of the bag. Furthermore, in an alternative construction, a free edge of the polyethylene sheet may extend some way beyond the inner component of the seal 9. This free edge, as well as the free edge 11 of the polyethylene sheet extending beyond the outer component of the seal 9, is preferably heat sealed to the front and rear faces of the bag along side seam 8, to simplify production and reduce still further the tendency of contents to fall out of the bag.

1. A resealable bag, comprising a wall, an opening in the wall for gaining access to the interior of the bag, and sealing means for closing the opening by pressing together a first edge portion facing the exterior of the bag and a second edge portion facing the interior of the bag.

2. A resealable bag according to Claim 1, which comprises polyethylene.

3. A resealable bag according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing means comprises a resilient male member provided on one of the first and second edge portions and a resilient female member provided on the other of the first and second edge portions.

4. A resealable bag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing means is disposed substantially on a straight line.

5. A resealable bag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Resealable bag This invention relates to a resealable bag. Fig. 1 of the drawings illustrates a previously proposed resealable bag 1 comprising a single sheet of transparent flexible polyethylene which has been folded at 2 and heat sealed along side seams 3. The open mouth of the bag 1 can be closed by means of a seal 4 comprising resilient elongate male and female components which can be press fitted together. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that, if the bag is full, the contents exert a force on the seal which tends to pull the components thereof apart, so that the seal may come undone and the contents fall out. It is an object of the present invention to enable the provision of a resealable bag whereby the above disadvantage may be overcome or at least mitigated. According to the present invention, there is provided a resealable bag, comprising a wall, an opening in the wall for gaining access to the interior of the bag, and sealing means for closing the opening by pressing together a first edge portion facing the exterior of the bag and a second edge portion facing the interior of the bag. Thus, because the force exerted by the contents of the bag on the sealing means tends to act transversely of the direction in which the edge portions must be pulled to be separated from one another, the bag is less liable to come open accidentally than the previously proposed bag. Also, because the opening is provided in a wall of the bag rather than an end, even if the opening comes undone there is a reduced tendency for the contents to fall out. The sealing means preferably comprises a resilient elongate male member provided on one of the first and second edge portions and a resilient elongate female member provided on the other of the first and second edge portions for engaging the same. This arrangement has the advantage of being relatively inexpensive to manufacture. However, the sealing means may alternatively comprise, for example, "Velcro" (RTM) or releasable adhesive provided on one or both of the first and second edge portions. The bag can comprise any flexible material such as a plastics material but preferably comprises polyethylene. For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a previously proposed resealable bag, Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a resealable bag in accordance with the invention, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2, and Figure 4 is an enlarged view of part of Fig. 3. Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figs. 2 to 4, a resealable bag 5 in accordance with the invention comprises a single sheet of transparent flexible polyethylene which has been folded at 6, 7 and heat sealed along side seams 8. The bag can be closed by means of a seal 9 comprising resilient elongate male and female components which can be press-fitted together. Thus, as can be seen most clearly in Fig. 4, when the bag is full, the contents tend to exert a force 10 on the components of the seal 9 transversely of the direction in which the components must be moved in order to pull them apart, so that there is less tendency for the seal to come undone than in the previously proposed arrangement. Furthermore, even if the seal 9 does come undone, the contents have less tendency to fall out than in the previously proposed arrangement, because the opening is in a face of the bag rather than an end. As shown, the sealable opening of the bag 5 is closer to one fold 7 than to the other 6. However, the position of the seal can be adjusted in accordance with the specific requirements, without reducing the volume of the bag. Furthermore, in an alternative construction, a free edge of the polyethylene sheet may extend some way beyond the inner component of the seal 9. This free edge, as well as the free edge 11 of the polyethylene sheet extending beyond the outer component of the seal 9, is preferably heat sealed to the front and rear faces of the bag along side seam 8, to simplify production and reduce still further the tendency of contents to fall out of the bag. CLAIMS

2. A resealable bag according to Claim 1, which comprises polyethylene.

5. A resealable bag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing means is spaced inwardly from a free edge of one or each of the first and second edge portions.

6. A resealable bag according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a further wall which is of substantially identical shape to the said wall, the wall and the further wall being joined together along the peripheries thereof.

7. A resealable bag according to Claims 5 and 6, wherein one or each of the first and second edge portions is joined to the wall and the further wall along the periphery thereof in the region between the sealing means and the free edge thereof.

8. A resealable bag, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figs. 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

9. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.