US 4,966,286 A · Easy open flexible bag

Abstract

An easy open flexible bag preferably containing one or more stacks of flexible articles which are compressed in a direction substantially parallel to their thickness. The degree of compression may be as much as 50% or more. In a preferred embodiment, the bag encloses the compressed articles and exhibits a substantially rectilinear shape. The bag preferably includes an integral carrying handle. The side, front, and back panels of the bag are subject to tension imposed by the articles. The top of the bag is closed by forming inwardly folded side gussets and sealing the vertically extending portions of the front and back panels to one another. A continuous line of weakness spanning a tensioned side wall of the bag and continuing into the closed uppermost end of the bag is provided. The portion of the line of weakness in the uppermost end of the bag is located near the innermost portions of the opposed inwardly folded side gussets such that the bag may be easily opened by grasping the outermost edge of the top of the bag and partially separating or completely removing the corner of the bag, along with the included side gusset, along the continuous line of weakness. Partial separation or complete removal of a portion of the tensioned side panel of the bag allows the coinciding portion of the stack of compressed articles to project in fan-like array through the aperture to permit easy one-at-a-time removal.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An easy open substantially rectangular flexible bag of articles, said articles being arranged in a stack in a direction substantially parallel to their thickness, said bag of articles comprising:

(a) a flexible bag having a front and a back panel connected to one another by means of a pair of side panels, a bottom panel secured about its periphery to said front and back and side panels and a closed uppermost end comprising a pair of inwardly folded side gussets secured between the vertically extending portions of said front and back panels by means of at least one horizontal area of securement;
(b) a stack of articles contained within said flexible bag, said articles being oriented so that the substantially planar surface of said articles is aligned substantially parallel to the side panels of said bag and the outermost peripheral edges of the articles contained within said stack are aligned substantially parallel to the front and back panels of said bag;
and
(c) an easy open device comprising a substantially continuous line of weakness located partially within one of said side panels of said bag and extending into said closed uppermost end of said bag near an innermost end of one of said opposed, inwardly folded side gussets, whereby said easy open bag can be easily opened by at least partially separating a corner portion of said bag from the remainder of said bag by applying tension along said continuous line of weakness, said separation also removing the included portion of said side gusset from the closed uppermost end of said bag during the separation process.

1 more element

An easy open substantially rectangular flexible bag of articles, said articles being arranged in a stack in a direction substantially parallel to their thickness, said bag of articles comprising:

(a) a flexible bag having a front and a back panel connected to one another by means of a pair of side panels, a bottom panel secured about its periphery to said front and back and side panels and a closed uppermost end comprising a pair of inwardly folded side gussets secured between the vertically extending portions of said front and back panels by means of at least one horizontal area of securement;
(b) a stack of articles contained within said flexible bag, said articles being oriented so that the substantially planar surface of said articles is aligned substantially parallel to the side panels of said bag and the outermost peripheral edges of the articles contained within said stack are aligned substantially parallel to the front and back panels of said bag;
and
(c) an easy open device comprising a substantially continuous line of weakness located partially within one of said side panels of said bag and extending into said closed uppermost end of said bag inboard of said opposed, inwardly folded side gussets, whereby said easy open bag can be easily opened by at least partially separating a corner portion of said bag from the remainder of said bag by applying tension along said continuous line of weakness, said separation also removing said included side gusset portion of said bag from the closed uppermost end of said bag during the separation process.

1 more element

An easy open substantially rectangular flexible bag of compressed flexible articles, said flexible articles being arranged in a stack and held in compression in a direction substantially parallel to their thickness, said bag of articles comprising:

(a) a flexible bag having a front and a back panel connected to one another by means of a pair of side panels, a bottom panel secured about its periphery to said front and back and side panels and a closed uppermost end comprising a pair of inwardly folded side gussets secured between the vertically extending portions of said front and back panels by means of at least one horizontal area of securement;
(b) a stack of articles contained within said flexible bag, said articles being oriented so that the substantially planar surface of said articles is aligned substantially parallel to the side panels of said bag and the outermost peripheral edges of the articles contained within said stack are aligned substantially parallel to the front and back panels of said bag, said articles being compressed in a direction substantially parallel to their thickness so that said front and back panels and said side panels of said flexible bag are subject to tension;
and
(c) an easy open device comprising a substantially continuous line of weakness located partially within one of said tensioned side panels of said bag and extending into said closed uppermost end of said bag near an innermost end of one of said opposed, inwardly folded side gussets, whereby said easy open bag can be easily opened by at least partially separating a corner portion of said bag from the remainder of said bag by applying tension along said continuous line of weakness, said separation also removing said included portion of said side gusset of said bag from the closed uppermost end of said bag during the separation process, whereupon the portion of the stack of compressed articles coinciding with the aperture created in said tensioned side panel projects through said aperture in a fan-like array to facilitate easy one-at-a-time removal of said articles from said bag.

1 more element

(a) a flexible bag having a front and a back panel connected to one another by means of a pair of side panels, a bottom panel secured about its periphery to said front and back and side panels and a closed uppermost end comprising a pair of inwardly folded side gussets secured between the vertically extending portions of said front and back panels by means of at least one horizontal area of securement;
(b) a stack of articles contained within said flexible bag, said articles being oriented so that the substantially planar surface of said articles is aligned substantially parallel to the side panels of said bag and the outermost peripheral edges of the articles contained within said stack are aligned substantially parallel to the front and back panels of said bag, said articles being compressed in a direction substantially parallel to their thickness so that said front and back panels and said side panels of said flexible bag are subject to tension;
and
(c) an easy open device comprising a substantially continuous line of weakness located partially within one of said tensioned side panels of said bag and extending into said closed uppermost end of said bag inboard of said opposed, inwardly folded side gussets, whereby said easy open bag can be easily opened by at least partially separating a corner portion of said bag from the remainder of said bag by applying tension along said continuous line of weakness, said separation also removing said included side gusset portion of said bag from the closed uppermost end of said bag during the separation process, whereupon the portion of the stack of compressed articles coinciding with the aperture created in said tensioned side panel projects through said aperture in a fan-like array to facilitate easy one-at-a-time removal of said articles from said bag.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Easy open flexible bag

Life of this patent

Easy open flexible bag

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22