Sealable Bag

Abstract

A sealable plastic bag has a first panel and a second panel. The first and second panels are joined to each other along three edges to define a bag interior and an opening permitting access to the bag interior. A resealable sealing structure extends continuously between the first and second side edges of at least one of the panels and is configured to repeatedly and nondestructively seal and unseal the first and second panels to close and open the bag interior. A secondary sealing structure extends continuously between the first and second side edges of both of the panels below the resealable sealing structure but spaced toward the top edges of the panels. The secondary sealing structure is also configured to repeatedly and nondestructively seal and unseal the first and second panels together to close and open the bag interior.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to sealable bags, and more specifically, a plastic bag that includes a secondary resealable sealing structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sealable bags are used for many different applications, such as shipping, food packaging, biohazard disposal, etc. Sealable bags generally include a permanent or a temporary sealing structure, depending on the application. Some sealable bags include a peelable seal, or a permanent seal that must be unsealed before the bag can be used in addition to a temporary seal. However, the combination of a permanent seal and a temporary seal may not be preferable, because repeated use of multiple seals may be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a plastic bag generally comprises a first panel having a bottom edge, first and second side edges, and a top edge, and a second panel having a bottom edge, first and second side edges, and a top edge. The first and second panels are joined to each other along the respective bottom edges and first and second side edges to define a bag interior. The first and second panels define an opening between the respective top edges permitting access to the bag interior. A resealable sealing structure extends continuously between the first and second side edges of at least one of the panels generally adjacent to the top edges of the panels. The resealable sealing structure is configured to repeatedly and nondestructively seal the first and second panels together to prevent access to the bag interior. A secondary sealing structure extends continuously between the first and second side edges of both of the panels at a location closer to the bottom edge than the resealable sealing structure. The secondary sealing structure is spaced from the resealable sealing structure a distance less than a distance between the secondary sealing structure and the bottom edges of the first and second panels. The secondary sealing structure is configured to selectively seal the first and second panels together to prevent access to the bag interior.

In another aspect of the present invention, a plastic bag generally comprises a first panel having a bottom edge, first and second side edges, and a top edge, and a second panel having a bottom edge, first and second side edges, and a top edge. The first and second panels are joined at the respective bottom edges and first and second side edges to define a bag interior. The first and second panels define an opening between the respective top edges permitting access to the bag interior. An interlocking sealing structure extends continuously between the first and second side edges of both of the panels generally adjacent to the top edges of the panels. The interlocking sealing structure is configured to repeatedly and nondestructively seal and unseal the first and second panels to close and open the bag interior. A first cling film strip extends continuously between the first and second side edges of the first panel at a location closer to the bottom edge than the interlocking sealing structure. The first cling film strip is spaced from the interlocking sealing structure a distance less than a distance between the first cling film strip and the bottom edges of the first and second panels. A second cling film strip extends continuously between the first and second side edges of the second panel at a location closer to the bottom edge than the interlocking sealing structure. The second cling film strip is spaced from the interlocking sealing structure a distance less than a distance between the second cling film strip and the bottom edges of the first and second panels. The first and second cling film strips are adapted to repeatedly and nondestructively seal and unseal with each other to close and open the bag interior.

Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a sealable bag with a front panel thereof partially broken away to show internal construction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross section of the sealable bag of FIG. 1, showing both the releasable sealing structure and the secondary sealing structure in the sealed position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section of the sealable bag of FIG. 1, illustrating the releasable sealing structure in an unsealed position and the secondary sealing structure in the sealed position; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating the unsealed position of the sealing structures of the sealable bag of FIG. 1.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a sealable bag is shown generally at 10. The sealable bag 10 includes coextensive front and panels 12 and 14, respectively (broadly, first and second panels). The panels 12, 14 are joined at the bottom and sides of the bag 10. In one embodiment, the panels 12, 14 are formed as a single sheet of material that is folded at the bottom of the bag 10 along a linear fold 16. The side edges are joined together by fusion lines 18 and 20. The panels 12, 14 can be joined in other manners within the scope of this invention. For example, the panels may be formed as separate sheets and fused together along the bottom and side edges. Whether the panels are formed as one piece and folded over, or formed as two pieces, the edges are considered to be “joined” together for purposes of this description. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the panels 12, 14 may not be coextensive. For example, the top of one of the panels can extend above the top of the other panel.

The joined panels 12, 14 define a bag interior 22 for receiving items placed in the bag 10. The top edges 24, 26 of the panels 12, 14 are initially unsecured along their length to define an opening 28 permitting access to the bag interior 22 and its contents. A resealable sealing structure extends between the side edges of the panels 12, 14 near the top edges 24, 26 of the panels. The resealable sealing structure can be any sealing structure that is repeatedly and nondestructively sealed and unsealed, such as a zipper structure, temporary adhesive, or other sealing structures known in the art.

In the illustrated embodiment, the resealable sealing structure comprises a continuous interlocking zipper structure 30. The interlocking zipper structure 30 includes first and second closure profiles 30a, 30b integrally formed along the panels 12, 14 near the top edges. In the illustrated embodiment, the first closure profile 30a is a male closure profile formed on the first panel 12, and the second closure profile 30b is a female closure profile formed on the second panel 14. As seen in FIG. 2, the female closure profile 30b is configured to receive the male closure profile 30a to releasably seal the panels 12, 14. The interlocking sealing structure 30 preferably forms a leak-proof seal between the panels 12, 14 to ensure that the contents contained in the interior 22 of the bag 10 cannot escape. The interlocking zipper structure 30 can have any suitable configuration (such as those that are well known in the art, including those having multiple interlocking closure profiles, or interlocking closure profiles of different shapes than those shown).

Each of the panels 12, 14 can also include an extruded rib 36 located above the interlocking zipper structure 30 toward the respective top edges 24, 26. The ribs 36 are coextruded with the panels 12, 14, and provide a gripping surface for a user to easily grab the top portions of the panels to pull them apart and unseal the interlocking sealing structure 30. Although one rib on each panel is illustrated, other configurations for the top portion of the panels are within the scope of the present invention, such as multiple ribs or a textured pattern. It is also understood that the rib can be omitted within the scope of the present invention.

The bag 10 also includes a secondary sealing structure located below the resealable sealing structure. The secondary sealing structure and the resealable sealing structure are both proximate the top edges 24, 26 of the panels 12, 14. The resealable sealing structure and secondary sealing structure may be immediately adjacent each other or separated. Preferably, the separation between the resealable sealing structure and the secondary sealing structure is less than the separation between the secondary sealing structure and the bottom fold (or “edge”) of the panels 12, 14. The secondary sealing structure can be any sealing structure that is repeatedly and nondestructively sealed and unsealed to close and open the bag interior 22. The secondary sealing structure ensures the bag 10 is closed, and adds a second layer of protection against accidental spills of the contents of the bag. In the illustrated embodiment, the secondary sealing structure comprises a pair of cling film strips 40, 42, each extending continuously between the side edges of a panel 12, 14.

The cling film strips 40, 42 are co-extruded with the panels 12, 14. The cling film strips are made of a different material than the panels 12, 14, which is essentially embedded in the material for the panels 12, 14 for co-axial extrusion. The cling film strips 40, 42 can sealingly engage each other to provide a secondary seal preventing access to the bag interior 22. In one embodiment, the cling film is made of a plastic wrap material, such as linear low-density polyethylene/Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (LLDPE/EVA), formulated without a slip additive. The omission of a slip additive ensures that each cling film strip will be tacky and stick to the other cling film strip. In another embodiment, the cling film is made of metallocene linear low-density polyethylene (mLLDPE), which is very tacky without a slip additive. Other materials known in the art are within the scope of the present invention.

The cling film strips 40, 42 are tacky and sealingly engage each other by sticking together along the width of the panels 12, 14 between the side edges thereof. Because of the tackiness of the cling film strips 40, 42, they will engage each other even without pressure applied by the user. Thus, the bag 10 will be closed by the cling film strips 40, 42, as shown in FIG. 3, unless a user selectively chooses to hold the bag open, in the position shown in FIG. 4. This default closed position is useful to prevent accidental spilling of the bag contents. Alternatively, the cling film strips 40, 42 can require pressure from a user to sealingly engage each other.

The bag 10 can include different colored portions to provide information to the user about the status of the seal between the cling film strips 40, 42. In one embodiment, the interlocking structure 30 is a different color than the panels 12, 14. The closure profiles 30a, 30b of the interlocking structure 30 can also be colored differently than each other to indicate to a user when the closure profiles have been engaged and the zippered structure has been closed. In another embodiment, the cling film strips 40, 42 are a different color than the panels 12, 14. This displays to a user the location of the cling film strips 40, 42, which indicates where the user should press if necessary to sealingly engage the cling film strips. The cling film strips 40, 42 can also be colored differently than each other to indicate to a user when the cling film strips have been sealingly engaged.

Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above products without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A plastic bag comprising:

a first panel having a bottom edge, first and second side edges, and a top edge;

a second panel having a bottom edge, first and second side edges, and a top edge, the first and second panels being joined to each other along the respective bottom edges and first and second side edges to define a bag interior, the first and second panels defining an opening between the respective top edges permitting access to the bag interior;

a resealable sealing structure extending continuously between the first and second side edges of at least one of the panels generally adjacent to the top edges of the panels, the resealable sealing structure being configured to repeatedly and nondestructively seal the first and second panels together to prevent access to the bag interior; and

a secondary sealing structure extending continuously between the first and second side edges of both of the panels at a location closer to the bottom edge than the resealable sealing structure, the secondary sealing structure being spaced from the resealable sealing structure a distance less than a distance between the secondary sealing structure and the bottom edges of the first and second panels, the secondary sealing structure being configured to selectively seal the first and second panels together to prevent access to the bag interior.

2. The plastic bag of claim 1, wherein the resealable sealing structure comprises a zipper structure.

3. The plastic bag of claim 1, wherein the resealable sealing structure comprises adhesive.

4. The plastic bag of claim 1, wherein the secondary sealing structure comprises a pair of cling film strips.

5. The plastic bag of claim 4, wherein each of the pair of cling film strips comprises metallocene linear low-density polyethylene.

6. The plastic bag of claim 1, wherein the resealable sealing structure is a different color than the first and second panels.

7. The plastic bag of claim 1, wherein the secondary sealing structure is a different color than the first and second panels.

8. The plastic bag of claim 1, wherein the secondary sealing structure is a different color than the resealable sealing structure.

9. The plastic bag of claim 1, further comprising an extruded rib extending continuously between the first and second side edges of at least one of the panels at a location closer to the top edge than the resealable sealing structure.

10. A plastic bag comprising:

a first panel having a bottom edge, first and second side edges, and a top edge;

a second panel having a bottom edge, first and second side edges, and a top edge, the first and second panels being joined at the respective bottom edges and first and second side edges to define a bag interior, the first and second panels defining an opening between the respective top edges permitting access to the bag interior;

an interlocking sealing structure extending continuously between the first and second side edges of both of the panels generally adjacent to the top edges of the panels, the interlocking sealing structure being configured to repeatedly and nondestructively seal and unseal the first and second panels to close and open the bag interior;

a first cling film strip extending continuously between the first and second side edges of the first panel at a location closer to the bottom edge than the interlocking sealing structure, the first cling film strip being spaced from the interlocking sealing structure a distance less than a distance between the first cling film strip and the bottom edges of the first and second panels; and

a second cling film strip extending continuously between the first and second side edges of the second panel at a location closer to the bottom edge than the interlocking sealing structure, the second cling film strip being spaced from the interlocking sealing structure a distance less than a distance between the second cling film strip and the bottom edges of the first and second panels, the first and second cling film strips being adapted to repeatedly and nondestructively seal and unseal with each other to close and open the bag interior.

11. The plastic bag of claim 10, wherein the first and second cling film strips comprise metallocene linear low-density polyethylene.

12. The plastic bag of claim 10, wherein the interlocking sealing structure is a different color than the first and second panels.

13. The plastic bag of claim 12, wherein the first and second cling film strips are a different color than the first and second panels.

14. The plastic bag of claim 10, wherein the first and second cling film strips are a different color than the interlocking sealing structure.

15. The plastic bag of claim 10, wherein the first cling film strip is a different color than the second cling film strip to provide visual indication to a user when the first and second cling film strips are engaged.

16. The plastic bag of claim 10, further comprising an extruded rib extending continuously between the first and second side edges of at least one of the panels at a location closer to the top edge than the interlocking sealing structure.

17. The plastic bag of claim 10, wherein the first cling film strip is co-extruded with the first panel and the second cling film strip is co-extruded with the second panel.