REGGI, Marco (Via Mosca 10, Piacenza, I-29100, IT)
| Claims 1. A bag for containing a product, in particular a food product, preferably in the form of a granular product or a product in pieces; the bag being preferably made of a flexible material such as layered plastic film and comprising a front wall (12) and an opposite rear wall (14) and preferably has respective lateral pleats (16a, 16b, 18a, 18b) interposed in the lateral zones to form the sides (16, 18) of the bag, it being possible to form in the bag a product outlet mouth (31); the bag being characterized in that it comprises means (840) for opening and closing the product outlet mouth (831), said opening and closing means (840) having a respective end (840a) that extends at, or in the proximity of, an end closure (22) of the bag. 2. The bag according to claim 1 or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (840) for opening and closing the product outlet mouth (831), said opening and closing means (840) extending in the vicinity of an end edge (22') of the bag. 3. The bag according to either of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (840) for opening and closing the product outlet mouth (831), said opening and closing means (840) extending at or in the vicinity of a lateral edge of the bag. 4. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (840) for opening and closing the product outlet mouth (831), said opening and closing means (840) having a respective end (840b) at or in the vicinity of a lateral seal (124a) of the bag. 5. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (840) for opening and closing the product outlet mouth (831), said opening and closing means (840) extending obliquely with respect to a longitudinal axis (L) of the bag. 6. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (840) for opening and closing the product outlet mouth (831), said opening and closing means (840) having a respective end portion (840') that overlaps the respective pleat (16). 7. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that the front and rear walls (12, 14) extend beyond the longitudinal ends (16', 18') of the respective pleats, forming a longitudinal end portion (10") of the bag where the front and rear walls (12, 14) are directly face to face. 8. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for sealing the respective ends (161, 18') of the pleats (16, 18). 9. The bag according to claim 8, characterized in that the means for sealing the ends (16', 18') of the pleats (16, 18) are in the form of a band means (43a, 43b). 10. The bag according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the opening and closing means (840) comprise a respective end portion (840') that overlaps the corresponding means for sealing the end (16') of the pleat (16). 11. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (840) for opening and closing the product outlet mouth (831), said opening and closing means (840) being in the form of an elongated element. 12. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (880, 940) for opening and closing the product outlet mouth (940), said opening and closing means (880) being in the form of first and second elongated elements (880', 880"; 940b, 140). 13. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (880, 940) for opening and closing the product outlet mouth, said opening and closing means (880, 940) comprising respective longitudinal and transversal stretches (880', 880"; 940b, 140). 14. The bag according to claim 13, characterized in that the opening and closing means (940) comprise a respective transversal stretch (140) having an end (El, E2) extending transversally beyond the inside edge (16c) of the bag and at which the longitudinal stretch (940b) extends. 15. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the closing means (840) comprise first and second opposite portions (841, 842) having respective engageable/disengageable interlocking portions (841a, 841b) attached respectively to the corresponding opposite inside faces of the front and rear walls (12, 14). 16. The bag according to claim 15, characterized in that the opening and closing means (840) comprise a respective interlocking portion (842) that is attached to the corresponding inside face of one of the panels forming a side pleat (16). 17. The bag according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the opening and closing means (840) comprise a respective interlocking portion (842) that overlaps, and in particular is attached to corresponding means (43 a) for sealing the end (16') ofthe pleat (16). 18. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 8 to 17, characterized in that the opening and closing means (840) comprise a respective portion (842) that extends longitudinally beyond the corresponding means (43 a) for sealing the end (16') ofthe pleat (16). 19. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (830) for tearing the bag open to form a product outlet mouth (831). 20. The bag according to claim 19, characterized in that the tear means (30) are provided on the lateral zone of the longitudinal end portion (10") of the bag, situated at the respective pleat (18) and extending transversally across only a part of the width of the bag. 21. The bag according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that it comprises means (40) for opening and closing the outlet mouth (31), said opening and closing means (40) being provided at the tear means (30). 22. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 21, characterized in that the opening and closing means (840) are located near the tear means (830). 23. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 22, characterized in that the tear means (830) extend at the upper closure (22) of the bag. 24. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 23, characterized in that the tear means (830) extend at a lateral edge of the bag. 25. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 24, characterized in that the tear means (830) comprise a longitudinal stretch (880a). 26. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 25, characterised in that the tear means (830) comprise a transversal stretch (830a). 27. The bag according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the opening and closing means (840) are located in the vicinity of the longitudinal stretch of the tear means. 28. The bag according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that the opening and closing means (840) extend longitudinally beyond the transversal stretch (830a) of the tear means (830). 29. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that the product outlet mouth (871) opens in a direction transversal to the bag. 30. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that the product outlet mouth (871) is spaced from the lateral edge of the bag. 31. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 30, characterized in that it comprises tear means (230) designed to form a product outlet mouth and extending under the top end (18') of the respective pleat (18). 32. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 30 characterized in that it comprises means (40) for opening and closing the bag, located above the longitudinal end (18') of the respective pleat (18). 33. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 32, characterized in that it comprises tear means (30) designed to form a product outlet mouth and extending transversally beyond the inside edge (18c) of the respective pleat (18). 34. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises opening and closing means (140) located at the respective pleat (16). 35. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 34, characterized in that it comprises first tear means (330) and second tear means (380) designed to form corresponding product outlet mouths. 36. The bag according to claim 35, characterized in that it comprises first tear means (330) and second tear means (380) extending at opposite pleats (16, 18). 37. The bag according to claim 35 or 36, characterized in that the first and second tear means (330, 380) form respective product outlet mouths of different sizes. 38. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises first and second opening and closing means (340, 390). 39. The bag according to claim 38, characterized in that it comprises first and second opening and closing means (340, 390) extending at opposite pleats (16, 18) of the bag. 40. The bag according to claim 38 or 39, characterized in that the first and second opening and closing means (340, 390) have different transversal extensions. 41. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises opening and closing means (440) extending transversally across the central zone of the bag. 42. The bag according to claim 41, characterized in that it comprises opening and closing means (440) extending at opposite pleats (16, 18) of the bag. 43. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises opening and closing means0 (440) extending transversally across the full transversal extension of the respective bag (400). 44. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 43, characterized in that it comprises tear means (30) which comprise a tear portion (30a) extending transversally on the respective front and rear walls (12, 14). 5 45. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 44, characterized in that it comprises tear means (130, 230) which comprise a tear portion (130c, 230c) extending transversally on the respective pleat panel. 46. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 45, characterized in that it comprises tear means which comprise a tear portion (30b) extending o longitudinally on the respective wall (12, 14). 47. The bag according to claim 46, characterized in that the tear means comprise a longitudinal tear line (230b) extending on the respective wall (12, 14) under the end edge (18') of the respective pleat. 48. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 47, characterized5 in that it comprises tear means which comprise a respective transversal tear line (230a, 230c) extending longitudinally between the end edge (18') of the respective pleat and the opening and closing means (140). 49. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 48 characterized in that it comprises opening and closing means (140) located under the0 longitudinal end (18') of the respective pleat (18). 50. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 19 to 49, characterized in that it comprises tear means (230) that form a pleated mouth (231) that can be widened. 51. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the5 preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises opening and closing means (40) extending on respective inside faces of the front and rear wall (12, 14) of the bag. 52. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises opening and closing means (140) extending on respective inside faces of the front and rear wall (12, 14) and of the facing pleat panels (16a, 16b). 53. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises opening and closing means (40) positioned longitudinally between the top end (18') of the respective pleat and the tear means (30). 54. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the opening and closing means (40) extend transversally across only a part of the side ofthe bag (lθ). 55. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the opening and closing means (40) extend transversally beyond the inside edge (18c) of the respective pleat (18). 56. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the opening and closing means (40) extend inside the bag substantially at the inside edge of the tear means (30). 57. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the opening and closing means (40) extend substantially parallel to the transversal tear line (30a) of the tear means (30). 58. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that the opening and closing means (140) comprise, on opposite inside faces of the bag, inserting means and means for receiving and engaging the inserting means and which in turn respectively comprise a plurality of protrusions (Pl, P2, P3) between which there are respective seats (Sl, S2) for receiving and engaging opposite protrusions. 59. The bag according to claim 58, characterized in that the opening and closing means (140) comprise three inserting protrusions (Pl, P2, P3) between which there are two receiving seats (Sl, S2). 60. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that the opening and closing means (140) comprise respective interconnecting portions (141, 141'; 142, 142'; 141, 142), which, when the bag is closed, are located on opposite inside faces of the walls and/or panels (12, 14, 16a, 16b) and are mutually interconnected. 61. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 58 to 60, characterized in that the opening and closing means (140) comprise respective interconnecting portions (141, 141'; 142, 142'; 141, 142) which are located on opposite inside faces of the walls or panels (12, 14, 16a, 16b) of the bag and which are designed to be interconnected, their respective opposite perpendicular protrusions (Pl, P2, P3) being, longitudinally, slightly offset from each other. 62. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that the opening and closing means (140) extend slightly obliquely or at a slight angle relative to the transversal axis (T) of the bag. 63. The bag according to claim 62, characterized in that the opening and closing means (140) extend obliquely or at an angle to the transversal of the bag so that the longitudinal distance between the opposite transversal ends (El, E2) of the opening and closing means (140) is between 1 mm and 3 mm. 64. The bag according to claim 62 or 63, characterized in that the opening and closing means (140) located on the respective opposite inside face of the front and/or rear wall (12, 14) of the bag and on the opposite inside face of the corresponding panel (16a, 16b) of the pleat are inclined in opposite angular directions. 65. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises opening and closing means (140) whose portions are located on the respective inside face of the front and/or rear wall (12, 14) of the bag and on the opposite inside face of the respective pleat panel (16a, 16b) and which are sealed to each other at the respective transversal end (141a, 141 'a, 142a, 142'a). 66. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises opening and closing means (140) which are located on the respective inside face of the front and/or rear wall (12, 14) of the bag and on the opposite inside face of the respective pleat panel (16a, 16b) and whose respective transversal ends (141a, 141'a, 142a, 142'a) are inserted between opposite longitudinal portions of the bag, joined to each other. 67. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises opening and closing means (140) which are located on the respective pleat panels (16a, 16b) and whose respective transversal ends (141 'b, 142'b) are connected to each other and separated by a respective fold line. 68. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (550) designed to form product outlet mouths (531, 532) transversally opposite each other. 69. The bag according to claim 68, characterized in that it comprises means (550) designed to form product outlet mouths transversally opposite each other and having different extensions. 70. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (550) for joining the front wall and the rear wall and extending longitudinally of the bag. 71. The bag according to claim 70, characterized in that the means (550) for joining the front wall and the rear wall extend at the top of the bag (500). 72. The bag according to claim 70 or 71, characterized in that the means for joining the front wall and the rear wall extend downwardly at the opening and closing means (540). 73. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 70 to 72, characterized in that the means (550) for joining the front wall and the rear wall are closer to one side of the bag. 74. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first and a second chamber (651, 652; 751, 752) for containing a respective product. 75. The bag according to claim 74, characterized in that it comprises means (650) forming corresponding chambers (651, 652) positioned side by side and each containing a respective product. 76. The bag according claim 74 or 75, characterized in that each of the chambers (651, 652) extends vertically. 77. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 70 to 76, characterized in that the means (650) for joining the front wall and the rear wall extend for the full height of the bag. 78. The bag according to claim 77, characterized in that the means (650) for joining the front wall and the rear wall extend at the bottom transversal seal (20) of the bag. 79. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises first opening and closing means (140) and second opening and closing means (440) longitudinally aligned -with each other. 80. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 74 to 79, characterized in that it comprises first and second means forming respective longitudinally distributed chambers (751, 752) for containing a respective product. 81. The bag according to any of the foregoing claims from 74 to 80, characterized in that it comprises means, in the form of opening and closing means (440), designed to form respective chambers (751, 752) for containing a respective product. 82. The bag according to claim 81, characterized in that it comprises means designed to form respective chambers for containing a respective product and being in the form of opening and closing means (440) extending transversally across the full width of the bag. 83. A process for making a bag for containing a product, in particular a food product, preferably in the form of a granular product or a product in pieces; the process comprising making the bag from a film (51), preferably made of flexible material, such as multilayer plastic film, the process being characterized in that it0 comprises associating with the film (851) bag opening and closing means (840) which are positioned at an angle to the longitudinal axis (L) of the film. 84. The process according to claim 83, characterized in that the opening and closing means (840) comprise first and second opposite interlocking portions (841, 842). 5 85. The process according to claim 83 or 84, characterized in that the opening and closing means are located at a longitudinal portion (54) forming the rear wall of the bag. 86. The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 83 to 85, characterized in that the opening and closing means are located at a longitudinal o portion (56) forming a respective pleat of the bag. 87. The process according to claim 86, characterized in that the opening and closing means (840) are positioned in such a way as to overlap a folded longitudinal portion (56) forming a respective pleat of the bag. 88. The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 83 to 87, characterized in that the opening and closing means (840) are located at a longitudinal above means (43 a) for sealing the end of the pleated portion. 89. The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 83 to 88 or according to the preamble to claim 83, characterized in that the film (51) is provided with tear means (830). 90. The process according to claim 89, characterized in that the tear means (830) for making a product outlet mouth (831) are applied to the film after application of the opening and closing means (840). 91. The process according to claim 89 or 90, characterized in that the tear means (830) have a respective longitudinal portion (830") in the vicinity of, and parallel to, the oblique opening and closing means (840). 92. The process according to any of the foregoing claims from 83 to 91, characterized in that the opening and closing means (840) are located at the respective opening (57) forming an unpleated zone of the bag. 93. The process according to claim 92, characterized in that the opening and closing means are positioned alongside the respective opening (57) that forms the unpleated zone of the bag. 94. A process for making a bag for containing a product, in particular a food product, preferably in the form of a granular product or a product in pieces; the process comprising making the bag from a film (51), preferably made of flexible material, such as multilayer plastic film, the process being characterized in that it comprises associating with the film (51) bag opening and closing means (140) which are systematically positioned obliquely at a predetermined angle (α) to the transversal axis (T) of the bag. 95. The process according to claim 94, characterized in that it comprises associating with the film (51) bag opening and closing means (140) which are systematically positioned obliquely at a predetermined angle to the transversal axis (T) of the bag such that the longitudinal distance (d) between the opposite transversal ends (El, E2) of the opening and closing means (140) is between 1 mm and 3 mm. 96. The process according to claim 94 or 95, characterized in that it comprises applying opening and closing means in the form of a single piece (140) in a stretched out condition. 97. A process for making a bag for containing a product, in particular a food product, preferably in the form of a granular product or a product in pieces; the process comprising making the bag from a film (51), preferably made of flexible material, such as multilayer plastic film, the process being characterized in that it comprises applying to the film (151) opening and closing means (440) substantially across the full width of the film. |
Bag and process for making a bag
Technical Field
This invention relates to a bag for containing a product.
The bag is preferably, but not exclusively, suitable for containing a food product, even a pet food, that is preferably in the form of a granular product or a product in pieces.
Further, the bag is preferably made from a flexible film, in particular a layered plastic film.
The present invention also relates to a process for obtaining such bags.
Background Art
Bags made of flexible, layered plastic film are known which comprise a front wall and a rear wall opposite it, with respective lateral pleats interposed in the lateral zones to form the sides of the bag, and where the pleats extend for the full height of the bag. These prior art bags have a product outlet opening extending across the full transversal extension of the bag, at the top end of the bag, and have a convenient zip for opening and closing the opening. The zip extends across the full width of the bag and of the outlet opening and consists of two opposite flanges, or bands, with interlocking profiles. One of the bands is attached to the front wall of the bag and the other to the pleats and to the central portion of the rear wall of the bag.
Although the outlet opening of prior art bags of this type can be opened to allow the product to be poured out and then closed until the next time the product is required, it is not easy to pour out a measured quantity of the product into a precise area without spilling. In fact, the opening is so large that when the bag is turned over to pour the product out, it is quite easy to let out an excessive amount of the product, an obvious nuisance, or to cause the product to spill over outside the area or container it was directed at. Thus, the product must be poured out slowly and cautiously and the operation can become quite an awkward and excessively time-consuming task. Also known in the prior art are bags made of flexible, layered plastic film comprising a main longitudinal portion defined by a front wall and a rear wall opposite it, with respective lateral pleats interposed in the lateral zones to form the sides of the bag, and where the front and rear walls of the bag extend beyond the longitudinal ends of the pleats, forming a longitudinal bag end portion where the front and rear walls are directly face to face.
These prior art bags have a transversal tear line extending across the full width of the bag to form a large outlet opening for the product contained and a zip for opening and closing the bag and extending right across the full width of the bag.
In practice, without a pleated zone at the top of the bag, it is easier not only to obtain good seal at the top of the bag after it has been filled, since the seal need only be provided between the front and rear walls of the bag, but also to improve the pouring convenience since pouring is not hampered by pleated portions at the top of the bag.
In these prior art bags, too, however, the product outlet opening is too large, creating the same problems as those of the bags described above with pleats extending for the full height of the bag, and making it difficult and awkward to pour out a measured quantity of the product into a precise area or container. Also known in the prior art are bags of the type described above and comprising means for tearing the bag open to form a product outlet opening on one side of a longitudinal end portion of the bag on the extension of the respective pleat and extending transversally for only a part of the width of the bag so that the width of the opening is smaller than the corresponding transversal dimension of the respective pleat.
These bags, although they improve pouring convenience since they allow the product to be directed precisely at a specific area or container through the lateral outlet opening, do not allow the bag to be opened and closed in an equally convenient manner. Moreover, the outlet openings of these bags are not always suitable in size for pouring the product out in the required quantities or for products in pieces of all sizes, which to some extent limits the range of products they can be used for to good advantage.
In yet another type of bag known in the prior art, one of the pleats is made in such a way that it can extend outwards from the bag in order to facilitate pouring of the product. In prior art bags of this type, however, it would be desirable to improve the means for opening and closing the product outlet opening.
The field therefore feels a general need for bags that offer optimum pouring convenience and that have practical and effective means for repeatedly opening and closing the bag.
Summary of the Invention
This invention therefore proposes to overcome one or more of the above mentioned drawbacks and/or meet one of the above mentioned needs. It is accordingly provided a bag for containing a product, in particular a food product, preferably in the form of a granular product or a product in pieces; the bag being preferably made of a flexible material such as layered plastic film and comprising a front wall and an opposite rear wall, with respective lateral pleats interposed in the lateral zones to form the sides of the bag, it being possible to form in the bag a product outlet mouth; the bag being characterized in that it comprises means for opening and closing the product outlet mouth, said opening and closing means having a respective end that extends at, or in the proximity of, the end closure of the bag.
The bag thus obtained has an outlet mouth provided with opening and closing means that are conveniently and advantageously designed to close also the zone near the upper end closure of the bag. This prevents the product from coming out of the bag when not required.
It is also provided a bag for containing a product, in particular a food product, preferably in the form of a granular product or a product in pieces; the bag being preferably made of a flexible material such as layered plastic film and comprising a front wall and an opposite rear wall, with respective lateral pleats interposed in the lateral zones to form the sides of the bag; the bag being characterized in that the front and rear walls extend beyond the longitudinal ends of the pleats, forming a longitudinal end portion of the bag where the front and rear walls are positioned directly face to face; in that it comprises means for tearing the bag open designed to form a product outlet mouth, said tear means being provided in the lateral zone of the longitudinal end portion of the bag, situated on the extension of the respective pleat and extending transversally across only a part of the side of the bag; and in that it comprises means for opening and closing the product outlet mouth of the bag, said opening and closing means being located at the tear means.
The bag thus obtained is practical and easy to use and, in particular, has a product outlet mouth that allows the product to be poured out easily and in the
5 optimum quantities. Indeed, the product outlet mouth prevents the product from coming out in excessive amounts and provides sure means for directing the product accurately at a desired destination zone.
Furthermore, the lateral outlet mouth can be easily and conveniently opened and closed repeatedly using advantageously and conveniently designed opening o and closing means.
Moreover, it is provided a bag which, once filled, can advantageously be re- closed using a corresponding join at the top of it, in particular a seal between the front and rear walls of the bag.
Other advantageous aspects of the bag are described in the other claims.5 The invention also relates to a process for making a bag, as described in the corresponding claims.
Brief Description of the Drawings
These technical characteristics of the invention may be clearly inferred from0 the contents of the appended claims and its advantages are apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred non-limiting example embodiments of the invention and in which:
- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first preferred embodiment5 of the bag according to the invention in a bag full and re-closed condition;
- Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the upper part of the first preferred embodiment of the bag in the open condition suitable for pouring out the product;
- Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the upper part of the o first preferred embodiment of the bag with the product outlet mouth closed;
- Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the bag shown with the upper part open, prior to filling and closing, or sealing, of the upper end of the bag; - Figure 5 A is a schematic perspective view of the upper part of a second preferred embodiment of the bag according to the invention in the bag closed condition;
- Figure 5B is a partially cut away side view of the upper part of a second preferred embodiment of the bag according to the invention in the bag closed condition;
- Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the upper part of the second preferred embodiment of the bag according to the invention in the bag open condition; - Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the upper part of the second preferred embodiment of the bag in the open condition suitable for pouring out the product, with the respective pleat extending outwards from the bag for improved pouring convenience;
- Figure 8 illustrates the second embodiment of the bag in a section view through the line VIII- VIII of Figure 5 A;
- Figure 9 is a schematic section view, through the line EX— IX of Figure 5 A, of the second preferred embodiment of the bag;
- Figures 1OA to 1OC are a top plan view and perspective views of the different steps of a preferred process for making a bag according to the invention; - Figure 11 is a schematic perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the bag according to the invention;
- Figure 12 is a schematic perspective view of the upper part of the third preferred embodiment of the bag hi the open condition suitable for pouring out the product; - Figure 13 is a perspective view of the upper part of the third preferred embodiment of the bag in the open condition, with the outlet mouth re-closed;
- Figure 14 is a schematic perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of the bag in the empty condition with the upper part open, prior to filling and closing, or sealing, of the upper end; - Figure 15 is a schematic perspective view of the upper part of a fourth preferred embodiment of the bag in the open condition before filling;
- Figure 16 is a schematic side view of the upper part of the fourth preferred embodiment of the bag in the closed condition;
- Figure 17 is a schematic perspective view of the upper part of a fifth preferred embodiment of the bag in the open condition before filling; - Figure 18 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a step of a second preferred process for making a bag according to the invention;
- Figure 19 is a schematic perspective view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the bag in the open condition before filling; - Figure 20 is a schematic perspective view of a seventh preferred embodiment of the bag in the open condition before filling;
- Figures 21 and 22 are schematic perspective views of an eighth preferred embodiment of the bag, making it possible to illustrate the process for filling the bag; - Figures 23 and 24 are schematic perspective views illustrating the steps of a method of using the eighth preferred embodiment of the bag;
- Figure 25 is a schematic perspective view showing a ninth preferred embodiment of the bag in the filled and closed condition;
- Figure 26 is a schematic perspective view of the upper part of the ninth preferred embodiment of the bag in the open condition with product being poured out of it;
- Figure 27 is a schematic section view, through the line XXVII of Figure 25, of the ninth preferred embodiment of the bag;
- Figure 28 is a schematic top plan view illustrating the steps of a preferred process for making the ninth preferred embodiment of the bag;
- Figure 29 is a schematic perspective view of the upper part of a tenth preferred embodiment of the bag in the open condition without product in it;
- Figure 30 is a schematic perspective view of the upper part of the tenth preferred embodiment of the bag in the filled and closed condition; - Figure 31 shows a partial perspective view of the tenth preferred embodiment of the bag in the open condition and in the position where product can be poured out of it;
- Figure 32 shows a partial perspective view of the tenth preferred embodiment of the bag in the fully open condition and in the position where product is being poured out of it;
- Figure 33 shows a partial perspective view of an eleventh preferred embodiment of the bag in the open condition and in the position where product can be poured out of it;
- Figure 34 is a perspective view showing a twelfth preferred embodiment of the bag in the open condition; - Figure 35 is a perspective view of the twelfth preferred embodiment of the bag in the closed condition.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention As will become clearer as this description continues, the bag is preferably made by suitably folding and sealing a flat web of film, in particular flexible layered plastic film.
It should be noted that, in the context of this description, the term bag may also be considered suitable for denoting containers with larger dimensions, such as sacks, or the like.
In particular, for making a bag according to the preferred embodiments described, it is contemplated the use of a web of plastic or plasticized film, where said film has a sealable face, in particular heat-sealable, and an opposite face which is not sealable and which is printed with appropriate writing, colours and images on predetermined areas of it, corresponding to predetermined parts of the front, rear and side faces of the finished bag.
Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a first preferred embodiment 10 of a bag, made from flexible film, in particular in the form of multi-layered plastic film, the bag
10 being designed to contain a product, in particular a food product, such as pet food or the like, and comprises a large front wall 12, an opposite large rear wall 14 and respective pleats 16, 18 interposed in the lateral zones to form the sides of the bag.
The pleats 16, 18 comprise respective panels, or flaps, 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b having, in cross section, the shape of a "V". The pleat panels are indented with respect to the lateral end edges of the respective front and rear walls 12 and 14 and are located between the front and rear walls 12, 14, to which they are connected at the respective lateral edges 12a, 12b, 14a, 14b, where there are respective longitudinal connecting or sealing strips 126, 128, 146, 148 between the facing inside surfaces of the front and rear walls 12, 14 and of the respective panels 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b of the pleats 16, 18.
Also, the panels 16a, 16b and 18a, 18b are respectively connected to each other at a longitudinal folding edge labelled respectively 16c and 18c in the drawings. For convenience of illustration, the reference characters "L" and "T" in Figure 1, denote the conventional longitudinal and transversal axes of the bag, respectively.
The bag comprises a main longitudinal portion 10', provided with the lateral pleats, and which is defined by the bottom parts of the front wall 12 and of the rear wall 14, and by the interposed lateral pleats 16, 18 in the respective lateral zones. hi the bag 10, the front wall 12 and the rear wall 14 extend beyond the upper edges 16', 18' of the pleats 16, 18, forming a longitudinal end portion 10" of the bag where the front and rear walls 12, 14 are directly face to face and connected laterally to each other by a respective longitudinal connecting strip 124a, 124b, in particular in the form of a seal that joins the respective inside surfaces of the front and rear walls 12, 14.
In practice, at its upper portion 10", the bag is not pleated and its front and rear walls 12, 14 are joined to each other directly along the respective lateral edges to form an end portion of the bag in the shape of a tube.
The bag 10 also has a bottom closure 20, obtained by joining or sealing the inside faces of facing transversal portions of the front and rear walls 12 and 14 and of the respective panels 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b of the pleats 16, 18. As may be inferred clearly from Figure 4, the bottom closure 20 is in the form of a transversal bag seal. The bottom part of the bag is then folded back and attached to the front wall 12.
Similarly, the bag according to the invention, after being filled, has an upper closure 22, also in the form of a respective join, or seal, provided between the corresponding facing inside faces of the front and rear walls 12, 14 of the bag. The seal 22 can be provided in optimum manner since there are no interposed pleats between the front and rear walls 12, 14.
Further, means are provided for sealing the end 16% 18' of the respective indented pleated portion 16, 18, said means being in the form of a first and a second short transversal sealing band 43a 43b, designed to seal off an end 16', 18' of a respective pleat 16, 18.
As illustrated, each of the sealing bands 43a, 43b is designed to overlap the end of the pleat it is sealed to and to engage and be sealed to the inside face of the rear wall 14 of the bag. In practice, the sealing band 43a, 43b designed to seal off one end of the pleated portion engages with and is joined to the respective end of the pleat and to the corresponding wall 14 of the bag, overlapping the end 16', 18' of the pleat in such a way as to hold it against the inside face of the wall 14. Other pleat sealing means are also imaginable.
Means are also provided for channelling the product out of the bag, said means being embodied by a respective oblique seal 45 a, 45b made between the inside faces of the rear wall 14 of the opposite panel 16b, 18b of the respective pleats 16, 18. The channelling seal 45a, 45b prevents the product from getting caught under the pleat between the inside face of the panel 16b, 18b and the corresponding inside face of the rear wall 14.
The channelling seal 45a, 45b extends between the corresponding outer edge, or longitudinal seal, and the inner end of the respective sealing band 43 a, 43b.
Means 30 are also advantageously provided for tearing the bag open, and adapted to form a product outlet mouth 31.
The tear means 30 form a product outlet mouth 31 which opens solely in a lateral zone of the bag and which, when open, has a generally circular shape, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Further, as illustrated, the tear means 30 are provided at the longitudinal end portion 10" of the bag and tear only the front and rear walls 12, 14 of the bag.
Further, as illustrated, the tear means 30 are provided at the lateral zone of the bag situated on the extension of the respective side pleat 18, starting from the respective lateral edge or strip 124b joining the front and rear walls 12, 14.
For this purpose, the tear means 30 extend only partly across the width of the bag.
According to another advantageous aspect, the tear means 30 extend transversally, that is to say, towards the central or middle portion of the respective pleat up to and beyond the inner edge 18c of the respective pleat 18, that is to say, for a distance greater than the width of the pleat 18.
In other words, the tear means 30 have an inner end that extends beyond the extension of the fold line, or inner edge 18c connecting the panels 18a, 18b of the respective pleat. Further, as illustrated, the tear means 30 extend transversally as far as a central zone of the bag, which, in particular, extends between the pleats 16, 18.
The lateral mouth 31 thus obtained is therefore sufficiently large and free of the obstructions which the pleat might create, making it very easy for the product to flow out of the bag and with obvious advantages in terms of pouring convenience.
As illustrated, the tear means 30 comprise, on the respective wall 12, 14, a corresponding tear portion 30a, 30a extending transversally of the longitudinal extension of the bag. In particular, the transversal tear portion 30a, 30a extends from the respective lateral edge, or strip 124b joining the front and rear walls 12, 14 and transversally beyond the longitudinal edge 18c of the respective pleat 18.
Where the transversal tear portions 30a, 30a extend at the lateral edge 124b, there are tearing aid means in the form of a respective notch 32 made on the strip 124b.
Further, the tear means 30 comprise, on the respective wall 12, 14, a corresponding tear portion 30b, 30b extending longitudinally of the bag, at an angle, or obliquely, with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the bag.
In particular, each tear portion 30b, 30b, on the respective wall 12, 14 extends from the upper transversal edge 22' of the corresponding front and rear wall 12, 14 of the bag, where the transversal join, or seal 22 is provided.
In addition, the longitudinal tear portions 30b, 30b extend from the inner end 30ab of the transversal tear portion 30a.
As illustrated, the portions extending principally longitudinally 30b, 30b make an angle with the longitudinal extension of the bag 10.
As illustrated in Figure 1, when the bag is full and sealed, the longitudinal tear portion 30b, 30b extends on the corresponding upper transversal seal 22, while the corresponding transversal portion 30a extends on the longitudinal lateral seal 124b. hi particular, the tear lines 30a, 30b are means for weakening the respective layer of material the bag is made of and, in particular, are in the form of thinned film lines.
Said tear lines 30a, 30b are, in particular, in the form of creases made by laser radiation. Advantageously, the bag comprises means 40 for opening and closing the outlet mouth 31 of the bag, said opening and closing means 40 being, advantageously, in the form of interlocking means having first and second opposite portions 41, 42 attached respectively to the corresponding inside face of the front and rear walls 12, 14.
The opening and closing means 40 are provided at the tear means 30, or just under the latter, to facilitate opening and closing of the bag after it has been opened for the first time by tearing the front and rear walls 12, 14 along the lines 30a, 30b to remove the corner portion 10a of the bag. In practice, the opening and closing means 40 are in the form of a zip composed of corresponding opposite portions 41, 42 having interlocking profiles 41a, 42a, being mounted on corresponding flanges or bands 41b, 42b extending longitudinally beyond the respective interconnecting profile 41a, 42a and joined or sealed to the inside face of the respective front and rear wall 12, 14. Advantageously, the opening and closing means 40 are provided longitudinally above the end 18' of the corresponding pleat 18, that is, at the longitudinal end zone, or portion 10" of the bag that is not pleated.
The opening and closing means 40 extend transversally of the bag at the zone that is not pleated, situated on the extension of the respective pleat 18. hi practice, the opening and closing means 40 advantageously extend longitudinally between the upper end 18' of the pleat or the pleat sealing means 43b and the bag tear means 30.
Li this way, convenient means are provided for opening and closing the bag outlet mouth 31. As illustrated, the opening and closing means 40 extend from the lateral edge 124b of the bag transversally and beyond the inner edge 18c of the respective pleat 18. It is, in particular, desirable that the end of the opening and closing means do not terminate in the vicinity of the seal or strip 124b so that they do not interfere with the strip 124b. hi practice, the opening and closing means 40 extend transversally across only a part of the bag width, extending inside the bag substantially at the inner end of the tear means 30 and, in particular, substantially at, or in longitudinal alignment with, the inner end 30ab of the transversal tear line 30.
Further, the opening and closing means 40 extend parallel or substantially parallel to the transversal tear line 30a, 30a of the tear means 30. In another embodiment of the bag, not illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the bag is substantially the same as the first embodiment of the bag just described but does not have the opening and closing means 40. In practice, besides the front and rear walls, the pleats, the pleat sealing means and the product channelling outlet means, the bag, in this further, not illustrated embodiment of it, comprises means for tearing it open to form a large product outlet mouth, said tear means being made in the same way as the above described means 130 of the first preferred embodiment of the bag.
Figures 5 A to 9 illustrate a second preferred embodiment 100 of the bag. The second preferred bag embodiment, too, is made from a corresponding film, in particular a flexible film, or multi-layered plastic film, and comprises a large front wall 12, an large rear wall 14 and opposite side walls defined by respective pleats 16 having respective panels 16a, 16b, and 18a, 18b connected to the front and rear walls 12 and 14 and to each other along a respective longitudinal folding edge 16c, 18c.
For convenience of illustration and description, the components of the second embodiment similar to those of the first embodiment are labelled with the same reference numerals as those of the first preferred embodiment and, for brevity, will not be described again in detail. Also, it will be understood that the bottom part of the bag 100, not illustrated, is identical to the corresponding bottom part of the bag 10.
The second preferred embodiment of the bag differs from the first preferred embodiment of the bag in that the side pleats 16, 18 are equal in length to the front and rear walls and also terminate at the upper end of the bag, formed by the transversal seal 22, connecting to each other corresponding portions of the facing inside faces of the front and rear walls 12 and 14 and of the panels 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b of the respective pleats 16, 18.
The second preferred embodiment 100 of the bag comprises means for tearing the bag open to form a lateral outlet mouth 131, shown clearly in Figure 7. The tear means 130 are in the form of respective transversal tear lines 130a, 130a, provided respectively on the front wall 12 and on the rear wall 14, and tear lines 130b, 130b, also extending on the front wall 12 and on the rear wall 14, longitudinally or slightly obliquely or at an angle, these tear lines 130a, 130b being identical to the tear lines 30a, 30b of the first preferred embodiment. The second preferred embodiment also comprises transversal tear lines 130c, 130c which are located on the panels 16a, 16b of the pleat 16 and which are parallel and coincident with, in particular perpendicularly coincident or aligned with the lines 130a, 130a of the opposite large wall 12, 14. Obviously, in this second embodiment, too, the tear lines are preferably in the form of pre-weakened or thinned crease lines in the film layer obtained by laser radiation, in the same way as the corresponding tear lines of the first preferred embodiment of the bag.
The second preferred embodiment of the bag also comprises means for opening and closing the product outlet mouth 131, said means being embodied by corresponding zip means, denoted in their entirety by the reference numeral 140, and comprising a first and a second portion 141, 142 located, respectively, on the corresponding inside face of the front wall 12 and of the rear wall 14, as well as a third and a fourth portion 141', 142' located on the inside faces of the panels 16a, 16b of the pleat 16.
As illustrated, the opening and closing means 140 are provided, longitudinally or vertically, under the tear means 130, extending at the respective side pleat 16 of the bag.
Advantageously, the tear means 130 are adapted to form an outlet mouth 131 where the product can be poured out when the pleat 16 is in a widened or outwardly extended position relative to the bag, as illustrated in Figure 7, where the panels 16a, 16b extend laterally outside the edge of the bag, that is, outside the lateral edge 126, 146 of the front and rear walls 12, 14.
The outlet mouth 131, with the pleat extended, is obtained thanks to the provision of the tear lines 130c, 130c which extend on the respective panels 16a, 16b of the respective pleat 16.
As may be inferred from Figures 8 and 9, the zip 140 for opening and closing the mouth 131 comprises, on opposite inside faces of the bag, inserting means and means for receiving and engaging the inserting means and which in turn respectively comprise a plurality of protrusions, in particular three protrusions Pl, P2, P3 each having a widened end and between which there are respective receiving seats Sl, S2.
The protrusions Pl, P2, P3 extend from a respective base, or flange, attached to the corresponding inside face of the respective wall, or panel, of the bag. Advantageously, in the closed condition illustrated in Figure 6, the opening and closing means 140 comprise respective interlocking portions 141, 141' and
142, 142', located on opposite inside faces of the large bag walls 12, 14 and of the panels 16a, 16b of the respective pleat 16, said portions being mutually interconnected, as shown in Figure 9.
Also, in the closed condition shown in Figure 6, the interlocking portions 141 and 142 on the front and rear walls 12, 14 which, being longer than the opposite portions 141' and 142', protrude transversally beyond the respective pleat towards the central part of the bag, are mutually interconnected, as shown in Figure 8, so as to guarantee a better closure of the respective outlet mouth 131.
Although the second embodiment is especially preferred, in another embodiment that is not illustrated, the interlocking portions 141, 142 might be of a length such that they do not protrude beyond the respective pleat, being located solely at the zone of the respective front and rear walls 12, 14 that faces the respective panel 16a, 16b of the pleat 16.
In particular, the mutually interlocking portions have respective opposite protrusions Pl, P2, P3 that are slightly offset from each other longitudinally of the bag, so that the protrusions Pl, P2, P3 themselves can be easily inserted into the corresponding receiving seats Sl, S2 in the opposite interlocking portion, even when the bag is closed, as illustrated in Figure 5 A. In practice, in this embodiment, the opening and closing zip portions can be kept in a mutually engaged or interlocked condition even before the bag is opened, thus preventing said portions from creating an unpleasant and aesthetically undesired widened bag effect before the bag is torn open. Furthermore, in this way, thanks to the opening and closing means 140, the interlocking portions can, after opening the bag, be made to engage each other in an extremely easy and convenient manner for the user.
Advantageously, the opening and closing means 140 extend obliquely or inclined at a predetermined angle to the transversal axis "T", as shown in Figure 5B.
In particular, the opening and closing means 140 extend obliquely or at an angle, or more specifically, slightly obliquely or at an angle, to the transversal axis T of the bag, in such a manner that the opposite transversal ends El, E2 of the interlocking portions 141, 142 located on the opposite inside faces of the front and rear walls 12, 14 are longitudinally spaced from each other. The longitudinal spacing between the corresponding points of the corresponding transversal ends El, E2 of the interlocking portions 141, 142 is denoted by the reference character "d" in Figures 6 and 5B and is preferably between 1 mm and 3 mm.
Further, as may be inferred from Figures 6 and 5B, the opening and closing means located on the respective facing inside face of the front and/or rear walls 12, 14 of the bag and on the opposite inside face of the panel 16a, 16b of the pleat are inclined in opposite angular directions.
In practice, the interlocking portions 141 and 142' located on the inside face of the front wall 12 and of the panel 16b and which face towards the rear side of the bag, are parallel to each other and longitudinally spaced, like the interlocking portions 142 and 141' located on the inside face of the rear wall 14 and of the pleat 16 panel 16a and which face towards the front side of the bag. The interlocking portions 141 and 142' are inclined in the direction opposite to that at which the interlocking portions 142 and 141' are inclined. In practice, with this arrangement of the opening and closing means 140, the interlocking portions 141 and 142 located on the front and rear faces 12, 14 of the bag and extending beyond the inner edge 16c of the respective pleat, thus facing towards each other, can be mutually interconnected and engaged with each other, as illustrated in Figure 8. Further, the interlocking portions 141, 142 interconnect with facing portions 141', 142' located on the respective panels 16a and 16b of the pleat, as illustrated in Figure 9.
Further, the opening and closing means 141, 142, 141', 142' located on the respective inside face of the front and/or rear wall 12, 14 of the bag and of the opposite inside face of the panel 16a, 16b of the pleat 16 are sealed to each other along the corresponding transversal ends 141a, 141'a and 142a, 142'a, as may be inferred from Figure 5 A.
In effect, the interlocking portions 141, 141', 142, 142' comprise respective ends 141a, 141 'a, 142a, 142'a, located at a respective lateral and longitudinal edge of the bag. More specifically, the edges are those formed, respectively, by joining the large wall 12 with the opposite panel 16a and the large wall 14 with the opposite panel 16b of the pleat.
In particular, the mutually connecting transversal ends 141a, 141'a, 142a, 142'a of the interlocking portions 141, 141', 142, 142' located on the respective face of the front and rear walls 12, 14 of the bag and on the opposite inside face of the corresponding pleat panel 16, 16b are sealed to each other, being inserted and flattened between opposite longitudinal portions that are joined and, in particular, sealed to each other, or between lateral longitudinal portions of the front wall 12 and of the opposite panel 16a and between the lateral longitudinal portions of the rear wall 14 of the opposite panel 16b.
5 Further, the means 140 for opening and closing the mutually interlocking means 141' and 142' located on the respective pleat panels 16a, 16b have respective transversal ends 141'b, 142'b, facing towards the inside of the bag, which are connected to each other and separated by a corresponding fold line. Said fold is on the extension of the fold line 16c of the pleat and is formed when the l o pleat fold 16c itself is formed.
This provides an opening and closing zip 140 that does not create unwanted elastic reactions on, or deformation of, the bag such as to adversely affect the appearance of the bag itself.
Figures 1OA to 1OC illustrate different steps of a process for making the
15 second preferred embodiment of the bag.
The process for making a bag for containing a product, in particular a food product, preferably in the form of a granular product or a product in pieces comprises making the bag from a flat film 51, preferably of flexible material, such as a multi-layered plastic film.
20 The hatching indicates the longitudinal zones 052, 054, 056, 058 of the film that will form the front wall 12 and the rear wall 14 and the side pleats 16, 18.
As may be inferred from Figure 1OA, the process advantageously comprises associating to the film 051, in particular by sealing, means 140 for opening and closing the bag, in the form of an elongated zip, positioned systematically
25 obliquely, or inclined, and more specifically slightly obliquely or inclined relative to the axis T transversal of the film by a predetermined angle "α" and, in particular, such that the longitudinal distance "d" between the opposite transversal ends El and E2 of the opening and closing means 140 is between 1 mm and 3 mm.
30 The zip is positioned on the film 051, in a stretched out condition, with the respective supporting flange, or band, B sealed to the heat-sealable top face of the film 051 and with the interlocking protrusions Pl, P2, P3 facing perpendicularly towards the film or upwards. Advantageously, the opening and closing means 140 applied to the film are in the form of a single elongated body. When the strip of the zip 140 is stretched out, therefore, its profiles are not interlocked, that is, they are not interconnected.
Folding the film along the longitudinal fold lines illustrated brings the opening and closing means 140 to the configuration where the zip portions are face to face and in a position such that they can be interconnected, as illustrated in Figures 5A to 9.
According to the process, therefore, as may be inferred from Figure 1OB, the film 051 is folded into a tubular shape and the corresponding longitudinal edges of the film 051 folded into a tubular shape are sealed using the plates denoted by the reference character "S" in such a way as to flatten and seal the corresponding portions of the zip 140.
In an optional step following the above, illustrated in Figure 1OC, a lateral or longitudinal portion "W" of the sealed longitudinal borders of the tubular film can be trimmed using longitudinal blades C, which also remove the portions of the zip body 140 along the longitudinal edges W at the folded ends 14Or of the zip body.
For the other steps used to make the bag, the process to be followed might be similar to the one described in international patent application WO2006/067617 or the one described in international patent application
WO2008/120062 both in the name of the present applicant and both incorporated herein by reference.
Figures 11 to 14 illustrate a third preferred embodiment 200 of the bag.
In the third preferred embodiment, the body of the bag has the same characteristics as the first preferred embodiment, while the means 140 for opening and closing the product outlet mouth are substantially those described in connection with the second preferred embodiment. For brevity and convenience of description, the components that are similar to those of the previous embodiments are not described again in detail and are denoted by the same reference characters as those used for the other preferred embodiments already described.
In the third preferred embodiment 200, the portion 10" above the pleat is in the shape of a tube, that is to say, it is not pleated, and the means 140 for opening and closing the product outlet mouth extend longitudinally under the longitudinal ends 18' of the respective pleat 18. As may be inferred in particular from Figure 12, which illustrates an open condition suitable for pouring the product out, where the mouth 231 is formed by extending the pleat panels 18a, 18b outwards in the same way as in the second preferred embodiment, the opening and closing means 140 are in the form of zip means which, like the those of the second preferred embodiment of the bag, comprise a first interlocking portion 141, located on the inside face of the front wall 12, a second interlocking portion 142, located on the inside face of the rear wall 14, a third interlocking portion 141', which is adapted to cooperate or interconnect with the portion 141 on the front wall 12 and which is located on the inside face of the panel 18a which, in the closed condition, is face to face with the front wall 12, and an interlocking portion 142', which is located on the inside face of the pleat panel 18b facing the rear wall 14 and which cooperates or interconnects with the portion 142 on the rear wall 14.
Further, when the mouth 231 is closed, the end portions of the portions 141, 142 located on the front wall 12 and on the rear wall 14, cooperate or interconnect with each other.
According to another aspect of the third preferred embodiment, the tear means 230 which are designed to form the product outlet mouth 231 comprise, in the same way as in the second preferred embodiment of the bag, transversal tear lines 230a, 230a on the front and rear walls 12, 14, and transversal tear lines 230c, 230c on the pleat panels 18a, 18b.
The tear means also comprise long tear lines 230b, 230b extending from the inner end, labelled 230ab, of the tear lines 230a, 230a on the front and rear walls 12 and 14 as far as the upper edge of the bag. These tear means 230, too, are in the form of weakened or thinned crease lines made in the film layer and obtained, in particular, by laser radiation.
As illustrated, the tear means 230 comprise, on the respective front and rear walls and on the pleat panels 18a, 18b, a respective tear line 230a, 230a, 230c, 230c extending at the pleat 18, or under the upper end 18' of the pleat itself. Further, the tear means 230 of the third preferred embodiment comprise, on the front and rear walls 12, 14, a respective tear portion 230b, 230b, which extends longitudinally, though inclined at a certain angle to the longitudinal axis, as far as the bottom edge of the upper end 18' of the pleat and joining the transversal tear line 230a, 230a at the point labelled 230ab. As illustrated, the respective transversal tear line 230a, 230a, 23Oc 5 230c is provided between the opening and closing means 140 and the upper end 18' of the pleat or the pleat sealing means or band 43b.
The longitudinal tear lines or portions 230b, 230b on the front and rear walls 12, 14 extend at the upper end 22' of the bag, sealed inside the bag once the latter has been filled, whilst the transversal tear lines or portions 230a, 230a extend at the longitudinal lateral edge of the front and rear walls 12 and 14 which connect at the respective pleat panels 18a, 18b.
Yet another imaginable embodiment of the invention provides a bag very much the same as the third preferred embodiment of the bag but without the opening and closing means 240 of the third preferred embodiment.
Figures 15 and 16 illustrate a fourth preferred embodiment 300 of the bag. For brevity and convenience of description, the components of the fourth preferred embodiment that are similar to those of the preceding embodiments are not described in detail again and are denoted by the same reference characters as those used to describe and illustrate those embodiments. Also, it will be understood that the bottom part of the bag 300, not illustrated, is identical to the corresponding bottom part of the bag of those embodiments of the bag. hi particular, the fourth preferred embodiment of the bag, comprises first tear means 330 which extend at a first pleat 16, and second tear means 380 which extend at the opposite pleat 18, said tear means 330, 380 being substantially similar to those provided for the second preferred embodiment and extending from the opposite longitudinal lateral edges 126, 146, 128, 148 of the bag. hi another imaginable variant of the bag, not illustrated, the bag is similar to that of the fourth preferred embodiment being described but has pleats that do not extend for its full height, so that the bag has an upper part that not pleated and a main bottom part that is pleated, hi this case, first and second tear means would be provided on the upper, unpleated part of the bag or in a zone on the extension of the corresponding pleats 16 and 18, so as to provide corresponding lateral outlet mouths on opposite sides of the bag, as in the fourth preferred embodiment.
Returning now to the fourth preferred embodiment, the first and second tear means 330, 380 advantageously form product outlet mouths of different sizes, each of which can be conveniently used to pour the product out in a different quantity from that which can be poured out from the other, depending on the quantity required at a particular time. Thus, when a large amount of product is required, the larger mouth can be used to pour it out, whilst the smaller mouth can be used to pour the product out in a more limited quantity.
In particular, the first and second tear means 330, 380 differ in transversal extension, or width, so that they form outlet mouths of different widths. More specifically, in the embodiment illustrated, the tear means 330 comprise transversal, or horizontal, tear lines 330a and longitudinal tear lines 330b, located on the front and rear walls 12, 14, respectively, whilst the transversal tear lines located on the pleat panels 16a, 16b are labelled 330c.
The transversal extension, or width, of the transversal tear lines 330a, 330a on the front and rear walls 12, 14 is greater than that of the corresponding transversal front and rear wall 12, 14 tear lines 380a, 380a forming part of the tear means 330 on the opposite side.
The tear means 380 also comprise longitudinal tear lines 380b, 380b, which are very much the same as the corresponding tear lines of the first tear means 330, and tear lines 380c, 380c provided on the panels 18a, 18b of the pleat 18, which are very much the same as the corresponding tear lines 330c, 330c of the first tear means 130.
Similarly to the second embodiment, the fourth preferred embodiment, too, comprises first opening means 340 at the first tear means 330, and second opening and closing means 390 at the second tear means 380.
The opening and closing means of each of the product outlet mouths are the same as those described in connection with the second preferred embodiment and are in the form of zip means comprising respective interlocking protrusions and respective supporting bands attached to the corresponding inside faces of the bag. In particular, as may be inferred from Figure 15, each of the zips 340, 390 extends within the respective pleat, remaining just under the respective transversal tear lines 330a, 330c and 380a, 380c. The opening and closing zips 340, 390 extend from opposite longitudinal lateral edges of the bag.
As illustrated in particular in Figure 15, the first and second opening and closing means 340, 390 comprise respective portions 341, 391 attached to the front wall 12 of the bag and which are designed to cooperate or interconnect with the opposite portions 341', 391' located on the inside face of the respective pleat panel 16a, 18a.
Further, the first and second opening and closing means 340, 390 comprise respective portions labelled 342, 392, located on the rear wall 14 and which cooperate or interconnect with respective opposite portions 342', 392' attached to the inside face of the other pleat panel 16b, 18b.
The portions 341, 342, 391, 392 of the opening and closing means 340, 390, which extend, respectively, on the front face 12 and rear face 14 of the bag, are also designed to interface and connect with each other at the protruding parts, beyond the respective pleat edges 16c, 18c, as already described in connection with the second preferred embodiment.
In practice, first and second opening and closing means 340, 390, extending at opposite pleats 16, 18 of the bag, are provided. Advantageously, the first and second opening and closing means 340, 390 differ in transversal extension, that is to say, each extends widthways to a different extent from the other.
More specifically, the portions 341, 342 of the first opening and closing means 340 extend widthways on the front and rear walls 12, 14 to a greater extent than the corresponding portions 391, 392 of the second opening and closing means on the opposite side of the bag in order to provide a suitable closure for each of the product outlet mouths.
Obviously, in another imaginable embodiment, instead of providing first and second opening and closing means which extend within respective pleats, the bag might be provided with first and second opening and closing means on opposite sides of the unpleated upper part of the bag, as described above in connection with the first preferred embodiment.
Figure 17 illustrates a fifth preferred embodiment 400 of the bag, where the components similar to those of the preceding embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and, for brevity and convenience of description, are not commented again in detail. Also, it will be understood that the bottom part of the bag 400, not illustrated, is identical to the corresponding bottom part of the bag of those embodiments of the bag.
The fifth preferred embodiment 400 contemplates the use of respective opening and closing means 440 in the form of a single zip extending transversally across the full width of the bag, that is to say, extending both at the opposite pleats
16, 18 and at the central zone of the bag where the front and rear walls 12, 14 are directly face to face.
In practice, the fifth preferred embodiment of the bag comprises a zip closure which has a first portion 441 on the inside face of the front wall 12 and which comprises a central portion 441a and lateral portion 441b, 441c at the opposite panels of the pleats 16, 18.
These opening and closing means also comprise a portion 442, which is located on the inside face of the rear wall 14 and which has a central portion 442a designed to be coupled to the portion 441a located on the front wall 12, and opposite lateral portions 442b and 442c at the opposite panels of the pleats 16, 18.
The opening and closing means 440 further comprise corresponding portions 441 'b and 441 'c on the respective inside face of the respective pleat 16, 18 which is opposite the front wall 12, and portions 442'b and 442'c on the inside face of the other pleat panel which is opposite the rear wall 14 of the bag.
Though not specifically illustrated, the bag might also have first tear means 330 and/or second tear means 380 like those of the fourth preferred embodiment.
The fifth preferred embodiment is also provided with opening and closing means 440 extending transversally across the full width, or across substantially the full width, of the bag 400.
The opening and closing means 440 have interlocking profiles that are exactly the same as those of the opening and closing means provided on the second and fourth preferred embodiments.
The zip 440 further comprises respective bands for attachment to the respective inside faces of the bag and corresponding interlocking means for mutual engagement and disengagement that are exactly the same as those described above in connection with the second and fourth preferred embodiments.
The fifth preferred embodiment 400 thus constitutes a preformed bag which can be re-closed across the full transversal profile so that once opened, the bag can be re-closed to prevent the product from falling out and to better preserve the product in time.
Figure 18 illustrates a step of a preferred process for making the fourth preferred embodiment of the bag.
As illustrated in Figure 18, the process for making a bag for containing a product, in particular a food product, preferably in the form of a granular product or a product in pieces comprises making the bag from a flat film 151, preferably of flexible material, such as a multi-layered plastic film.
Advantageously, the process contemplates applying to the film 151 opening and closing means 440 that extend across substantially the full width of the film. The zip 440, in an open or not interlocked condition is placed on the film 151 stretched out, with the respective supporting flange, or band, B sealed to the heat-sealable top face of the film 151 and with the interlocking protrusions P', facing upwards, perpendicularly to the band B or to the film 151. Therefore, the opening and closing means 440 applied to the film are in the form of a single elongated body.
Folding the film along the longitudinal fold lines delimiting the zones 052, 054, 056, 058 constituting the front and rear walls of the finished bag creates the configuration where the zip portions are face to face, as illustrated in Figure 17. For the other steps used to make the bag, the process to be followed might be the one described in international patent application WO2006/067617 or the one described in international patent application WO2008/120062 both in the name of the present applicant and both incorporated herein by reference, and as illustrated in Figures 1OB and 1OC. Figure 19 illustrates a sixth preferred embodiment 500 of the bag. The components similar to those of the preceding embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and, for brevity and convenience of description, are not commented again in detail. Also, it will be understood that the bottom part of the bag 500, not illustrated, is identical to the corresponding bottom part of the bag of the preceding embodiments of the bag.
In particular, the sixth preferred embodiment comprises means for forming transversally opposite product outlet mouths 531, 532 and, more specifically, mouths 531, 532 of different sizes or, more particularly, different widths.
The means for forming outlet mouths 531, 532 that open longitudinally of the bag are in the form of means 550 adapted to join to each other the front and rear walls 12, 14 of the bag, said means 550 extending longitudinally of the bag and being in the form of a seal between the inside face of the front wall 12 and the inside face of the rear wall 14.
The means 550 for joining the front and rear walls extend at a transversally intermediate zone of the bag and are provided only on the upper part of the bag 500.
In particular, as illustrated, the means 550 for joining the front wall 12 and the rear wall 14 extend under, at and beyond the opening and closing means 540. The opening and closing means 540 can, for example, be like those illustrated in the fifth preferred embodiment, or similar to those of the fourth preferred embodiment, though with different lengths for the corresponding first and second transversally aligned opening and closing means.
In particular, as illustrated, the means 550 for joining the front and rear walls are closer to a side 16 of the bag than to an opposite side 18. In practice, the joining or sealing means 550 provide product outlet mouths 531, 532 on opposite sides of the bag and having different extensions, and, more specifically, different widths, to allow the product to be poured out in different quantities.
A seventh preferred embodiment 600 of the bag is illustrated in Figure 20. The components of the seventh preferred embodiment similar to those of the preceding embodiments are not described again in detail and are labelled with the same reference characters as those used for those embodiments.
The seventh preferred embodiment 600 comprises advantageous means 650 for defining a first and a second chamber 651, 652 for containing a respective product, said chambers 651, 652 being positioned side by side and extending vertically up to an upper transversal seal 20 of the bag.
The seventh preferred embodiment of the bag has, on each side of it, towards the opposite lateral edges, corresponding tear means 330, 380 adapted to form corresponding product outlet mouths similar to those of the fourth preferred embodiment. The first and second chambers 651, 652 are provided with respective opening and closing means 540 which are located under the tear means 330, 380, and which may be like those of the sixth preferred embodiment described above. hi particular, the means for defining a first and a second chamber 651, 652 for containing respective products are in the form of means 650 for joining the front and rear walls 12, 14, and more specifically in the form of a seal between the inside faces of the front and rear walls 12, 14, said joining means 650 extending longitudinally for the full height of the bag, or at least as far as the opening and closing means 540.
In practice, a longitudinal sealing strip 650 connects the front wall 12 and the rear wall 14 to each other along a middle or intermediate zone of the bag, starting from the bottom transversal seal 20. hi this way, different chambers for containing different products or for the same product are obtained. If the product contained in the two chambers is the same, the consumer can use the product contained in one of the two chambers first and only when that is finished, open the second chamber to use the product in that one. This has the advantage of preserving the freshness of the product in the second chamber.
Figures 21 to 24 illustrate an eighth preferred embodiment 700 of the bag. In the eighth preferred embodiment, the components similar to those of the preceding embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and, for brevity and convenience of description, are not described again in detail.
The eighth preferred embodiment 700, too, has a first and a second chamber, labelled 751 and 752 in Figure 21, each containing a respective quantity of product. In the eighth embodiment, however, the first and second chambers 751, 752 are distributed longitudinally of the bag, placed on top of one another, with the chamber 752 at the top and the chamber 751 at the bottom.
In particular, the eighth preferred embodiment comprises first opening and closing means 440 and second opening and closing means 140 that are at least partially aligned with each other longitudinally.
The first opening and closing means 440 are in particular and advantageously, designed to form a first and a second chamber, namely a bottom bag chamber 752 and a top bag chamber 751.
In practice, the means for defining the respective product chambers 751, 752 are in the form of corresponding opening and closing means 440 embodied by a zip which extends transversally of the bag at a longitudinal intermediate zone of the bag which extends transversally across the full width of the bag 700 itself. The opening and closing means 440 are exactly the same as the opening and closing means described above in connection with the fifth preferred embodiment and are not therefore described again in detail.
In the eighth preferred embodiment 700, the first opening and closing means 440 and the second opening and closing means 140 are longitudinally spaced from each other by less than half the height of the bag.
More specifically, the second opening and closing means 140 are made in the same way as those of the second preferred embodiment and in this case, too, are not described again in detail.
This embodiment of the bag can be suitably provided with tear means 130 to form a respective product outlet mouth 131 and, being the same as those described above in connection with the second preferred embodiment, are not described again in detail. As may be inferred from Figures 22 to 24, after opening the outlet mouth of the bag 700 by removing the tear means 130, the opening and closing means 140 can be opened to pour out a certain amount of product from the top chamber without affecting the product contained in the chamber under the opening and closing means 440. The opening and closing means 440 can be opened at a later stage to pour the product out of the second chamber which has remained substantially untouched while the product was being taken from the top chamber 752.
It will be understood, however, that further means 440, longitudinally0 spaced from these opening means 440, might be provided to form a third or further vertically aligned or vertically distributed product chambers. This would have the added advantage of further preserving the product in the lower chambers.
An advantageous method of filling a ready-made bag comprises pouring into the bag a first quantity of product up to a predetermined level so as to fill the5 bag partially, closing the opening and closing means 440 located above the level of the product poured in, and pouring into the bag a second quantity of product which rests on the opening and closing means 440.
An advantageous method of using a respective bag containing a respective product comprises pouring a certain quantity of product out of the bag, opening0 the opening and closing means 440 and then pouring out of the bag a further quantity of the product from the chamber under the opening and closing means 440, as described above.
Figures 25 to 27 illustrate a ninth embodiment 800 of the bag, similar to the first preferred embodiment. 5 More specifically, the ninth preferred embodiment 800 of the bag, like the first preferred embodiment, is made from flexible film, in particular in the form of multi-layered plastic film, is designed to contain a product, in particular a food product, such as pet food or the like, and comprises a large front wall 12, an opposite large rear wall 14 and respective pleats 16, 18, interposed in the lateral o zones to form the sides of the bag.
The pleats 16, 18 comprise respective panels, or flaps, 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b, having, in cross section, the shape of a "V". When the bag is empty, the pleat panels 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b are indented with respect to the lateral end edges of the respective front and rear walls 12 and 14 and are located between the front and5 rear walls 12, 14, to which they are connected at the respective lateral edges 12a, 12b, 14a, 14b, where there are respective longitudinal connecting or sealing strips 126, 128, 146, 148 between the facing inside surfaces of the front and rear walls 12, 14 and of the respective panels 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b of the pleats 16, 18.
Also, the panels 16a, 16b and 18a, 18b are respectively connected to each other at a longitudinal folding edge labelled respectively 16c and 18c in the drawings.
For convenience of illustration, the reference characters "L" and "T" in Figure 25, denote the conventional longitudinal and transversal axes of the bag, respectively. The bag comprises a main longitudinal portion 10', provided with the lateral pleats, and which is defined by the bottom parts of the front wall 12 and of the rear wall 14, and by the interposed lateral pleats 16, 18 in the respective lateral zones. hi the bag 800 according to the invention, the front wall 12 and the rear wall 14 extend beyond the upper edges 16', 18' of the pleats 16, 18, forming a longitudinal end portion 10" of the bag where the front and rear walls 12, 14 are directly face to face and connected laterally to each other by a respective longitudinal connecting strip, in particular in the form of a seal 124a, 124b that joins the respective inside surfaces of the front and rear walls 12, 14. The bag 10 also has a bottom seal 20, obtained by joining or sealing the inside faces of facing transversal portions of the front and rear walls 12 and 14 and of the respective panels 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b of the pleats 16, 18. The bottom closure 20 is in the form of a transversal seal and is folded and joined to the front wall 12 together with a bottom portion of the bag Similarly, the bag according to the invention, after being filled, has an upper closure 22, also in the form of a respective join, or seal, provided between the corresponding facing inside faces of the front and rear walls 12, 14 of the bag.
Further, means are provided for sealing the end 16', 18' of the respective indented pleated portion 16, 18, said means being in the form of a first and a second short transversal sealing band 43a 43b, designed to seal off an end 16', 18' of a respective pleat 16, 18.
As illustrated, each of the sealing bands 43a, 43b is designed to overlap the end of the pleat it is sealed to and to engage and become sealed to the inside face of the rear wall 14 of the bag. In practice, the sealing band 43 a, 43b designed to seal off one end of the pleated portion engages with and is joined to the respective end of the pleat and to the corresponding wall 14 of the bag, overlapping the end 16% 18' of the pleat in such a way as to hold it against the inside face of the wall 14. Like the first preferred embodiment, the ninth preferred embodiment also advantageously comprises means 830 for tearing the bag open, and adapted to form a product outlet mouth 831.
The tear means 830 form a product outlet mouth 831 which opens solely at a lateral zone of the bag and which, when open so that product can be poured out, as illustrated in Figure 27, has opposite portions or zones of the front and rear walls 12 and 14 that are set apart or spaced from each other.
Further, as illustrated, the tear means 830 of the ninth preferred embodiment, too, are provided at the longitudinal end portion 10" of the bag and tear only the front and rear walls 12, 14 of the bag. In the ninth preferred embodiment, too, the tear means 830 are provided at the lateral zone of the bag situated on the extension of the respective side pleat 16. For this purpose, the tear means 830 extend only partly across the width of the bag.
Moreover, the tear means 830 extend transversally from the corresponding lateral edge 124a, towards the central or intermediate portion of the bag, as far as and beyond the inner edge 16c of the respective pleat 16, and hence, further in width than the respective pleat 16.
In particular, the tear means have a transversal stretch 830a that extends transversally substantially at the inner edge 16c of the pleat and from which an oblique longitudinal stretch 830b extends towards the central or inside part of the bag.
In other words, as illustrated, the tear means 830 extend transversally as far as a central zone of the bag, which, in particular, extends between the pleats 16, 18. The lateral mouth 831 thus obtained is therefore sufficiently large and free of the obstructions which the pleat might create, making it very easy for the product to flow out of the bag and with obvious advantages in terms of pouring convenience. As illustrated, the tear means 830 comprise, on the respective wall 12, 14, a corresponding tear portion 830a, 830a extending transversally of the longitudinal extension of the bag.
In particular, the transversal tear portion 830a, 830a extends from the respective lateral edge, or strip 124a joining the front and rear walls 12, 14.
Where the transversal tear portions 830a, 830a extend at the lateral edge 124b, tearing aid means may be provided, as illustrated, preferably in the form of a respective notch 32 made on the strip 124b.
Further, the tear means 830 comprise, on the respective front wall 12 and rear wall 14, a corresponding tear portion 830b, 830b extending longitudinally of the bag, at an angle, or obliquely, with respect to the longitudinal axis "L" of the bag.
More specifically, the tear means 830 have a transversal stretch 830a that extends from a lateral edge 124a of the unpleated upper part 10" of the bag, and a longitudinal stretch 840b, intersecting the transversal stretch at a point 830ab. The longitudinal stretch extends at the edge 22', that is, at the zone defining the transversal end closure or seal 22 of the bag.
In particular, each longitudinal tear portion or line 830b, 830b, on the respective wall 12, 14 extends from the upper transversal edge of the corresponding front and rear wall 12, 14 of the bag, where the transversal end join or seal 22 is provided. In practice, as illustrated in Figure 25, when the bag is full and sealed, the longitudinal tear portion 830b, 830b extends on or in the corresponding upper transversal seal 22, while the corresponding transversal portion 830a, 830a extends on or in the longitudinal lateral seal 124b. In particular, the tear lines 830a, 830b are means for weakening the respective layer of material the bag is made of and, in particular, are in the form of thinned lines in the film embodied by pre-weakened creases made by laser radiation.
Advantageously, the bag according to this embodiment of the invention comprises means 840 for opening and closing the product outlet mouth 831 of the bag, said opening and closing means 840 being, advantageously, in the form of means which engage and disengage each other to open and close the mouth 831 and which have first and second opposite portions 841, 842 attached respectively to the corresponding opposite inside faces of the bag. The opening and closing means 840 are provided at the tear means 830 to facilitate opening and closing of the bag after it has been opened for the first time by tearing the front and rear walls 12, 14 along the lines 830a, 830b to remove the corner portion 810' of the bag. As illustrated, the tear means 830 extend between an upper closure 22 of the bag and a lateral edge of the bag.
In practice, the opening and closing means 840 are in the form of a zip having corresponding opposite portions 841, 842 with corresponding linear or elongated profiles 841a, 842a designed to interconnect with each other and being mounted on corresponding elongated flanges or bands 841a, 842a which extend longitudinally beyond the respective interlocking profile 41a, 42a and which are joined or sealed to the inside faces of the bag. hi particular, as may be well inferred from Figure 27, the linear or elongated profiles 841a, 842a are designed to interconnect, forming at least one respective protrusion which is pressed into an opposite recess or groove in the other portion.
Advantageously, the opening and closing means 840 are provided at the side pleat 16 of the bag. hi practice, the ninth preferred embodiment 800, like the preceding embodiments, comprises means 840 for opening and closing the product outlet mouth 831, being in the form of a plastic zip that can be opened and closed. More specifically, the zip 840 can be opened by pulling the portions 841 e 842 apart and closed by pressing the 841 and 842 together again.
As illustrated, means 840 are advantageously provided for opening and closing the product outlet mouth 831, said opening and closing means 840 having a respective end 840a that extends at, or in the vicinity of, the transversal end closure 22 of the bag.
As illustrated, the bag extends along a respective longitudinal axis "L" between an upper closure 22 and a bottom closure 20.
As illustrated, the closing means 840 extend obliquely with respect to the bag or to a longitudinal axis "L" of the bag. More specifically, the opening and closing means 840 make an angle "A" with the longitudinal axis "L" of the bag. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 25 to 28, the opening and closing means 840 extend at an angle of around 45° to the longitudinal axis "L". Further, as illustrated, the opening and closing means 840 extend in the vicinity of the edge 22' without, however, interfering or coming into contact with the transversal end closure 22.
The opening and closing means 840 also extend at the lateral edge of the bag and have a respective end 840b at or in the vicinity of the sealed lateral edge 126 of the bag.
The opening and closing means 840 also have a respective bottom end portion 840' that overlaps the pleat 16, or more precisely, an end 16' of the pleat 16. The opening and closing means 840 have a respective end portion 840' that overlaps and is, more specifically, attached or sealed to the respective means for closing the end 16' of the pleat, in particular to a respective band 43a for closing or sealing the end 16' of the respective pleat.
The opening and closing means 840 are, in particular, in the form a single elongated or linear element comprising opposite first and second elongated portions or strips 841, 842 consisting of respective flanges 841b, 842b that support interlocking elements 841a, 842a which protrude towards each other and which can be engaged and disengaged to and from each other in order to close and open the bag. The first and second portions 841, 842 that support or form respective engageable/disengageable interlocking elements are attached by the respective flanges 841b, 842b to the corresponding inside faces of the front and rear walls 12, 14.
Further, the opening and closing means 840 have a respective interlocking portion 842 which is attached to the inside face of the rear wall 14 of the bag and which has a respective part 842' that is attached to the corresponding inside face of a panel 16a of the side pleat.
The opening and closing means 840 also have a respective interlocking portion 842 which has a respective part 842" that is attached to corresponding means 43a for sealing the corresponding end 16' of the pleat 16.
In particular, as illustrated, the respective interlocking portions of the opening and closing means 840 have a respective part 840' that extends beyond the respective sealing means 43a of the corresponding end 16' of the pleat 16 on the side opposite the side facing towards the upper end closure 22. The opening and closing means 840 extend at an upper, unpleated part 10" of the bag where the front and rear walls 12, 14 are directly connected to each other.
The opening and closing means 840 extend transversally for a predetermined stretch less than half the width of the bag but greater than the width 16' of the respective pleat 16. hi practice, the opening and closing means 840 extend at the pleat 16 and overlap an end portion 16' of the pleat 16 itself.
The opening and closing means 840 provided at the tear means 830. As illustrated, the tear means 830 extend between a zone at the transversal end seal 22 and a zone at the longitudinal seal or closure 124a.
The opening and closing means 840 extend parallel to and in the vicinity of the longitudinal stretch 830b of the tear means 830.
The opening and closing means 840 extend in the vicinity of the point of intersection 830ab between the transversal stretch 830a and the longitudinal stretch 830b of the tear means 830.
The opening and closing means 840 also extend beyond the transversal stretch 830a of the tear means in the opposite direction to that facing towards the upper end 22', or upper closure 22, of the bag. As illustrated, one end 840b of the opening and closing means 840 is spaced from the transversal stretch 830a of the tear means so as to create, between the front wall 12 and the pleat 16 and downstream of the zip, a zone for channelling out the product, useful to better control the amount of product poured out. This preferred embodiment 800 also comprises a handle M located at the pleat, or side 18 of the bag opposite the side where the outlet mouth 831 is located. The handle makes it easier to lift the bag and to control the amount of product poured out.
The provision of oblique opening and closing means extending between the upper transversal closure 22 and the corresponding lateral edge makes it possible to obtain a complete, or almost complete, closure of the outlet mouth 831 which can thus be made conveniently large enough to facilitate pouring out of the product.
Moreover, the provision of oblique opening and closing means extending between the upper transversal closure 22 and the corresponding lateral edge also means that the product can be poured out in a much easier and more controlled manner since, as may be inferred from Figure 26, it flows along the inside edge of the bag.
The ninth preferred embodiment of the bag is made according to a process illustrated in Figure 28. The process, which can preferably be implemented by a single apparatus or production line to make a bag according to the embodiment shown in Figure 25, comprises unwinding a film 51 of plastic or plasticized material from a roll , where said film has a sealable face 51', in particular heat- sealable, and an opposite face which is not sealable and which is printed with appropriate writing, colours and images on predetermined areas of it, corresponding to predetermined parts of the front, rear and side faces of the finished bag.
The layered plastic film 51, in a flat condition, has its opposite longitudinal edges 51a, 51b extending parallel with the longitudinal direction of film feed. This process comprises a first step, corresponding to an operating station, of making in the film 51 corresponding openings 55, 57 transversally aligned with and spaced from each other on the extension of the respective longitudinal zones or strips 56, 58 of the film 51 itself that will form a respective pleated side 16, 18 of the bag and which are illustrated with dashed lines in Figure 28. As shown in Figure 28, the openings 55, 57 have a quadrangular shape made by suitable cutting elements or punches.
In a subsequent step, or station, of this process, V-shaped pleated portions are formed in the flat film 51, using blades or means for forming the pleats in the film. In this condition, the flat film 51, according to the present preferred embodiment, is divided into V-shaped portions, 56 and 58, suitable for forming the respective pleated side wall 16, 18 of the finished bag, and into flat portions 52, 54, designed to form the front and rear walls 12 and 14 of the bag.
In a subsequent step, or station, of this process, corresponding pleat sealing means 43a, 43b are applied to the pleat portions 56, 58 of the film 51 and are in the form of band means comprising bands or strips 43 a, 43b, preferably a respective flat band or strip 43 a, 43b made preferably of heat-sealable material, especially material that is heat-sealable on both sides or faces, that is to say, both on the face that is attached to the wall 54 and to the respective pleat 56 and 58 and on the opposite face on which the zip 840 is attached, as will become clearer as this description continues. Preferably, the single, short band 43 a, 43b is made, for example, of polythene.
The respective sealing band 43a, 43b, designed to seal off one end of a pleated portion, has a face which engages with and is placed over the pleated end, to which it is sealed, and which engages with and is sealed to the rear wall 54 of the bag.
In a subsequent step, or station, the means 840 for opening and closing the mouth of the bag are applied.
Advantageously, opening and closing means 840 are applied to the film 51 obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis "L" of the film.
The opening and closing means 840 are applied to a zone 54 of the film that forms the rear wall 14 of the bag.
The opening and closing means 840 are applied to a folded longitudinal portion 56 forming a respective pleat of the bag and, more specifically, are positioned in such a way as to overlap a folded longitudinal portion 56 forming a respective pleat of the bag.
Advantageously, as may be inferred from Figures 25 and 26, which show the bag obtained using this process, the opening and closing means 840 associated or applied to the film obliquely comprise first and second opposite portions 841, 842 that are interlocked with the respective interlocking elements 841a, 842a that are engaged with each other. In practice, the flange 842b of the zip portion 842 is attached, in particular heat sealed, to the top face of the film 51, in particular at the zone 54 forming the rear wall of the bag and at the top face of the longitudinal portion 56 forming the bag pleat, and to the top face, opposite that to which the film 51 is attached, of the band 43a for sealing the end of the pleat.
More specifically, the opening and closing means 840 are positioned obliquely at a predetermined angle A to the longitudinal axis L of the film. The angle to the longitudinal axis is around 45°.
As illustrated, the opening and closing means 840 are located at the respective opening 55 forming the longitudinal zone of the bag without pleats on it, being in particular positioned next to the corresponding opening 55 forming the unpleated zone.
As mentioned, the zip 840 is fed to the film in the closed condition, that is to say, in a condition in which its fastening elements are engaged and the respective supporting flanges, or strips lie opposite one another. The zip 840 is joined to the film by its flange 842 which is sealed to the upper face of the rear wall 54, to the upper face of the upper panel of the pleat 56 folded into a V shape, and to the upper face of the band 43 a for sealing the end of the pleat. hi a subsequent step, or station, the film 51 is provided with tear means 830 for forming a respective product outlet mouth 831.
The tear means 830 are applied after the opening and closing means 840 have been applied and are located near the latter.
In particular, the tear means 830 are in the form of a corresponding crease or thinned line made in the layer of material and having a general "U" or "V" shape, and obtained by laser radiation applied to the upper face 51 ' of the film 51.
The tear means 830 also comprise a transversal line 830' forming the transversal tear lines 830a, 830a on the front wall 12 and rear wall 14 of the bag.
On the sides of the transversal line 830' there extend obliquely longitudinal lines 830", 830" forming the longitudinal tear lines 830b, 830b on the front wall 12 and rear wall 14 of the bag.
The longitudinal portion 830" of the sealing means is located in the vicinity of, and parallel to, the oblique opening and closing means 840. hi the next step or station, where the film is formed into a tubular shape, the edges 51a and 5 Ib of the film are drawn near each other by a rotational movement that positions one transversal portion 52 of the film over the other part of the film.
Said movement is imparted by suitable means for making the film into a tube.
This forms a tube of film with V-shaped pleated side portions. hi a yet further step, or station, the flange 841b of the corresponding portion 841 of the opening and closing means are joined, or more specifically, heat-sealed, to the inside face of the portion 52 of the film forming the front wall 12 of the bag.
A subsequent step, or station, involves making longitudinal joining or sealing strips SL forming the longitudinal edges 126, 146, 128, 148 e 124a, 124b of the finished bag. hi a subsequent step, or station downstream, the longitudinal end borders
RL are trimmed off the sealed longitudinal strips SL and in a step or station following this, the transversal seals 20 forming the bottoms 20 of the bags are made. hi a subsequent step, or station, each bag 800 is cut off to separate it from the web 51 of bags. For other steps used to make the bag 800, the process to be followed might be similar to the one described in international patent application
WO2006/067617 or the one described in international patent application
WO2008/120062 both in the name of the present applicant and both incorporated
5 herein by reference.
Figures 29 to 32 illustrate a tenth preferred embodiment 850 of the bag. The tenth preferred embodiment has substantially the same characteristics as the ninth preferred embodiment and the parts of it that are similar to those of the other embodiments already described are denoted by the same reference characters and0 are not commented again detail.
Figures 29 and 30 respectively show the bag in the conditions where it is empty and flattened and after it has been filled and is closed at the top by a transversal seal 22 engaging corresponding portions of the front and rear walls 12 and 14 of the bag. 5 The tenth preferred embodiment 850 comprises means 870 for tearing the bag open by removing a portion 850' of the bag to form an outlet mouth 871 as illustrated in Figure 31.
Means 880 are also advantageously provided for opening and closing the product outlet mouth 871, said opening and closing means having a respective o upper end 880a that extends at, or in the vicinity of, the transversal end closure 22 of the bag.
The means 880 for opening and closing the mouth 871 have a longitudinal portion 880' and a transversal portion 880".
More specifically, the transversal portion and the longitudinal portion of the5 opening and closing means make an angle substantially equal to 90°.
The opening and closing means 880' extend longitudinally of the bag and have a bottom end 880b which extends at the end 16' of the pleat 16.
The longitudinal portion 880' of the opening and closing means are embodied by a linear strip comprising opposite portions 881', 882' which extend o along, or parallel to, the longitudinal axis "L" of the bag.
The transversal portion 880" of the opening and closing means 880 are embodied by a linear strip comprising opposite portions 881", 882" which extend along, or parallel to, the transversal axis "T" of the bag, that is to say, at right angles, or substantially at right angles, to the longitudinal axis "L". As illustrated, the opening and closing means, or zip, 880 comprise first and second opposite portions 881', 882', 881", 882" having respective engageable/disengageable interlocking elements and are attached by the respective flanges 881b, 882b to the corresponding inside faces of the front and rear walls 12, 14.
As in the other preferred embodiments already described, the portions 881',
882', 881", 882" of the zip 880, comprise a respective protruding element that is pressed into an opposite cavity formed by opposite protruding elements on the other portion. These interlocking elements are labelled 881a and 882a in the drawing.
In practice, the transversal portion 880" of the opening and closing means overlaps a strip or band 43a that seals the end 16' of the pleat 16.
The bottom end 880b of the opening and closing means 880 extends at a strip or band 43a that seals the end 16' of the pleat 16. The means 880 for opening and closing the mouth 871 extend alongside and parallel to tear means 870.
The tear means 870 are in the form of weakened crease lines made, in particular, by laser radiation in the respective front and rear walls 12, 14.
The tear means 870 have a linear longitudinal stretch 870b having an end 870' at the transversal end closure or seal 22 and a bottom end 870ab at the means 43a for sealing the end 16' of the pleat 16.
The tear means 870 also have a stretch 870a that extends transversally from the respective lateral edge 124a of the bag and up to the point 870ab where it meets the longitudinal stretch 870b of the tear means. In practice, in this preferred embodiment, a zip 880" that comprises a fixed portion overlapping the sealing band 43 a and/or fixed to the rear wall 14 is placed over the band 43a. The other portion of the zip 880" is fixed to the front wall 12, as may be inferred from Figure 32.
The bag obtained in this way can be easily filled and can, if necessary, be used with the outlet mouth facing towards one side only, as illustrated in Figure
31. Thus, when product needs to be poured out, the opposite engageable/disengageable portions of the transversal stretch 880" of the zip can be left in the engaged condition and only the portions 881', 882' of the longitudinal stretch 880' of the zip opened or spread apart. As shown in Figure 32, if the product is to be poured out in a larger quantity, the zip 880" can also be opened by spreading the portions 881", 882" apart so as to make the outlet opening for the product P larger.
An eleventh embodiment is illustrated in Figure 33. The eleventh embodiment is very much the same as the tenth embodiment from which it differs in that it has only the longitudinal opening and closing means 880' and in that the inside face of the front wall 12 is joined, and in particular sealed, directly to the opposing face of the band 43a that seals the end 16' of the pleat 16.
The product outlet mouth 871' thus obtained faces towards one side and is recessed with respect to the side of the bag. According to the eleventh embodiment of it, illustrated in Figure 33, the invention might contemplate the provision of a seal 845a designed to join the inside face of the front wall 12 to the corresponding portion of the bag, and in particular to the corresponding and opposite inside face of the facing panel 16a of the pleat 16, so as to form means for channelling the product towards the outlet mouth 871.
There might also be a seal 45a similar to the one of the first preferred embodiment, aligned with the channelling seal 845a and designed to join the inside face of the rear wall 14 to the opposite inside face of the facing panel 16b of the pleat 16. This prevents the product P from getting caught under the pleat 16.
The channelling seal or means 845a allows the product to be suitably channelled towards the transversally recessed outlet mouth 871 '. hi practice, the means 845a for channelling the product out are oblique, that is, inclined at a certain angle to the longitudinal axis L of the bag. The product channelling seal 845a is inclined and thus has one end 845'a that extends at the lateral edge of the bag or longitudinal side seal 126 of the bag and another end 845"a that extends at the outlet mouth 871 or, more precisely, at the lower end of the outlet mouth 871. In practice, the end 845"a of the oblique seal 845 a extends at the inner end of the sealing means 43 a and at the lower end 870ab of longitudinal tear means 870b.
Hence, the product outlet mouth 871 faces transversely and makes it easier to direct the product being poured out towards a specific destination.
The outlet mouth 871' formed by a corresponding longitudinal tear stretch 870a opens transversely and is recessed, or spaced, with respect to the corresponding lateral edge, or side, of the bag. This preferred embodiment 850 also comprises a handle M located on the side opposite the outlet mouth 871' and, more specifically, is applied or provided at the pleat 18 opposite the pleat where the product outlet mouth 871 is made.
In practice, as illustrated, the product outlet mouth 871 is located substantially at the inner edge 16c of the respective pleat 16 with the tear means 870 on it.
Figures 34 and 35 illustrate a twelfth preferred embodiment 900 of the bag. In addition to front and rear walls 12 and 14, the twelfth preferred embodiment of the bag has pleats 16 and 18 that extend for the full height of the bag. The twelfth preferred embodiment 900 of the bag is substantially the same as the second preferred embodiment described above with reference to Figures 5A to 7. hi the twelfth preferred embodiment, the components similar to those of the other embodiments described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and, for brevity and convenience of description, are not commented again in detail. hi particular, the twelfth embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that the means 940 for opening and closing the bag, in addition to a transversal portion 140 have, starting at the inside end of the portion 144a itself, a corresponding longitudinal portion 940b that extends at a defined angle to the longitudinal axis "L" of the bag. More specifically, the transversal portion and the longitudinal portion of the opening and closing means make an angle slightly greater than 90°.
Means 940 are also advantageously provided for opening and closing the product outlet mouth 940' which extends at, or in the vicinity of, the transversal end closure 22 of the bag. The means 940 for opening and closing the product outlet mouth have another end 940" that extends at, or in the vicinity of a lateral, longitudinal edge 126, 146 of the bag. More specifically, the means 940 for opening and closing the product outlet mouth have respective end portions 940", 940" that extend at the sealed longitudinal edges 126, 146 of the pleat 16. In their entirety, the opening and closing means 940 have a transversal stretch 140 comprising opposite portions 141, 142, 141', 142' and a longitudinal stretch 940b, comprising opposite portions 941, 942 that form a generally L- shaped configuration, as may be inferred from Figure 35.
The longitudinal stretch 940b of the zip, 940 comprises respective facing portions 941, 942 that can be engaged/disengaged thanks to corresponding mutually interlocking elements 941a, 942a located on respective flanges 941b, 942b for attaching the respective inside faces of the front wall 12 and of the rear wall 14. The longitudinal stretch 940b of the zip is the same as the corresponding longitudinal stretch of the preceding and tenth embodiments. As illustrated, the longitudinal portions 941, 942 of the opening and closing means 940 extend towards the transversal end closure 22 from the respective ends El, E2 of the respective stretches 141, 142 of the opening and closing means 940 which extend towards the inside of the bag starting from the lateral edges 126, 146 of the bag. In practice, the longitudinal portions 941, 942 are attached through the flanges 941b, 942b to the inside face of the front wall 12 and to the inside face of the rear wall 14, respectively.
The opening and closing means 940 comprise a transversal stretch 140 and a longitudinal stretch 940b with a respective end 94 lab opposite the end 940' that extends at the transversal seal 22 and meets, or is located at, the corresponding inside ends El, E2 of the transversal stretch 140.
In practice, the lower end 94 lab of the longitudinal stretch 940b extends at the inside ends El, E2 of the transversal stretch 140 of the tear means 940.
As illustrated, the longitudinal stretch 940b of the opening and closing means extends at a respective longitudinal stretch 130b of the tear means, said longitudinal stretch of the tear means being located on the respective front and rear walls 12 and 14. The longitudinal stretch 940b, or the respective portions 941, 942 of the opening and closing means extend parallel to, and in the vicinity of, the longitudinal tear stretches 130b, 130b. The transversal stretch 140 of the tear means 940 in turn comprises respective portions 141, 141', 142, 142' which extend respectively on the inside faces of the front and rear walls 12, 14 and of the corresponding panels 16a, 16b of the pleat 16, having respective flanges for attaching the inside faces of the walls and pleat panels and corresponding mutually interlocking elements, as described above in connection with the second preferred embodiment.
The respective portions 141, 141', 142, 142' of the transversal stretch 140 of the tear means 940 extend at the respective stretches, or tear lines, the parts that extend on the front and rear walls 12, 14 being labelled 130a, 130a, and the parts that extend on the pleat panels 16a, 16b being labelled 130c, 130c. As illustrated, the transversal stretch 140 of the opening and closing means is located in the vicinity of, and substantially parallel to, the respective transversal stretch 130a, 130c of the tear means 130.
As in the other preferred embodiments described above, the tear lines are in the form of weakened lines obtained by laser radiation.
The product outlet mouth 131 thus made is advantageously large, similarly to that of the second embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, and can be completely closed by providing the transversal opening and closing means 140 with an additional longitudinal stretch 940b. The transversal stretch 140 of the opening and closing means 940 extends transversally for a certain stretch less than half the width of the bag but greater than the width of the respective pleat 16.
In practice, the opening and closing means 940 comprise a respective transversal stretch 140 extending transversally beyond the inner edge 16c of the bag and from the end of which El, E2 opposite the end 940" at the respective lateral edge 126, 146 there extends the longitudinal stretch 940b towards the upper end or edge 22' of the bag, where the upper transversal seal 22 is made when the bag is filled.
The point 940ab where the longitudinal and transversal stretches of the opening and closing means 940 meet is located substantially at the point 130ab where the transversal stretches 130a and 130b of the tear means 130 meet.
The embodiments of the invention described above thus constitute a preformed bag which can be easily filled and which once filled, can advantageously be re-closed using a corresponding join 22 at the top of it, in particular a seal between the front wall 12 and the rear wall 14 of the bag.
Moreover, the preformed bag obtained is practical and easy to use and, in particular, has a product outlet mouth that allows the product to be poured out easily and in the optimum quantities. Indeed, the product outlet mouth prevents the product from coming out in excessive amounts and provides sure means for directing the product accurately at a desired destination zone.
Furthermore, the lateral outlet mouth can thus be easily and conveniently opened and closed repeatedly using advantageously and conveniently designed opening and closing means.
The preformed bag thus obtained also has an outlet mouth provided with opening and closing means that are conveniently and advantageously designed to close also the zone near the upper end closure of the bag. The product outlet mouth can thus be closed completely and prevents the product from coming out of the bag when not required.
Moreover, the zips or zip portions embodying the opening and closing means in all the embodiments of the invention described comprise respective interlocking portions applied to respective flanges which are wider than the interlocking portions and which can easily be sealed to the respective walls of the bag.
It will be understood, however, that although the bag according to the invention is designed especially for a product in granular form or in pieces, it is also suitable for a powder or other type of product, including non-food products.
The invention described is susceptible of industrial application. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that several changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, described in depth above. In particular, one skilled in the art could easily imagine further embodiments of the invention comprising one or more of the characteristics of those described herein. It will also be understood that all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.