FIELD OF APPLICATION

[0001]The present invention relates to a food bag equipped with improved closing means.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002]As is known, food bags are widespread which comprise a bag body that is closed at the bottom and open at the top, preferably equipped with at least one handle for the holding and moving said bag.

[0003]In the foods sector, the need is felt to provide pre-filled bags (typically with a predetermined weight quantity) that make it possible to see their contents so as to permit the purchaser to view the product contained therein in order to decide whether or not to purchase it. [0004]However, there is also the need to impede or at least discourage the habit of some clients to touch the product contained therein or, even worse, to at least partially remove it. [0005]In order to confront this latter need, there are solutions of bags that comprise a paper or cardboard strip projecting between opposite walls of the bag at the upper open side of said bag so as to create a closure of the bag, but also an "anti-theft" and/or anti-tampering device regarding the contents of the bag. [0006]However, these solutions have the drawback of impeding the visibility of the contents of the bag from outside; where the strip has a reduced width compared to the transversal width of the bag, the known solutions allow only partial visibility of its interior and in any case do not properly protect the contents and do not impede partial removal thereof and/or tampering therewith.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007]There is therefore a need to solve the drawbacks and limitations mentioned with reference to the prior art. [0008]This need is satisfied by a food bag according to claim 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009]Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the below- mentioned description of preferred and non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which:

[0010]Figures la,lb,lc, Id respectively represent a perspective view, two side views and a top plan view of a food bag, in an open configuration, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0011]Figures 2a,2b,2c,2d respectively represent a perspective view, two side views and a top plan view of the food bag of Figures la,lb,lc,Id, respectively, in a closed configuration;

[0012]Figures 3a,3b,3c,3d respectively represent a perspective view, two side views and a top plan view of a food bag, in an open configuration, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]Figures 4a,4b,4c,4d respectively represent a perspective view, two side views and a top plan view of the food bag of Figures 3a,3b,3c,3d, respectively, in a closed configuration; [0014]Figures 5a,5b,5c,5d respectively represent a perspective view, two side views and a top plan view of a food bag, in an open configuration, according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]Figures 6a,6b,6c, 6d respectively represent a perspective view, two side views and a top plan view of the food bag of Figures 5a,5b,5c,5d, respectively, in a closed configuration.

[0016]Elements or parts of elements common to the embodiments described hereinafter will be indicated with the same reference numbers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017]With reference to the aforesaid figures, a food bag is denoted globally with 4.

[0018]The food bag 4 comprises a bag body 8 extending from a lower closed bottom 12 to an upper opening 16, so as to delimit a containment compartment 20 accessible through said upper opening 16.

[0019]At least one handle 24 arranged at said upper opening 16 for moving the bag 4 is associated with the bag body 8.

[0020]In particular, said at least one handle 24 is fixed to the bag body 8 at its opposite locking ends 28,32.

[0021]Advantageously, the bag 4 comprises at least one closure strip 36 made at least partially of transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material. Obviously, the closure strip 36 may be made integrally with said transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material. [0022]The bag body 8 may comprise at least one window 100 made of transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material in order to make it possible for an outside observer to view its interior.

[0023]The window 100 may have any shape and dimensions; for example, it may cover only partially or also integrally a side or face of the bag body 8 (including the lower closed bottom 12). Furthermore, the window may extend to the upper opening 16. The window 100 may be a single one, or a plurality of windows 100 may be provided on the same face or on different faces or walls of the bag body 8. Said windows 100 may have forms and dimensions that are equal to or different from one another.

[0024]Thanks to the fact that the closure strip 36 is made of transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material, it is possible to see through it, and, in particular, it is possible to see the contents of the containment compartment 20 via the same closure strip 36.

[0025]It is clear that at least the portion of strip that, once reclosed, is superposed on the containment compartment 20 and therefore the products contained therein, must be made of transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material.

[0026]Therefore, the bag body 8, in the closed configuration of at least one closure strip, makes it possible for an external observer to be able to see the interior of the containment compartment 20 through the at least one closure strip 36 and/or through the window 100 made of a transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material.

[0027]The use of at least one closure strip 36 and at least one window 100 made of transparent, semi ^¬ transparent or translucent material may be alternative or simultaneous; in other words, the bag must make it possible to view its interior through the at least one closure strip 36 and/or the at least one window 100. [0028]Preferably, said at least one closure strip 36 has a fixed end 40 at a first side 44 of the bag body 8 and a movable end 48 projecting towards a second side 52 of the bag body 8, opposite the first side 44.

[0029]The movable end 48 is foldable, in a closed configuration, towards said second side 52 of the bag body 8, covering said upper opening 16; the closing strip 36 extending between said two opposite sides 44,52 of the bag body 8 so as to prevent access to the containment compartment 20 in said closed configuration. [0030]Preferably, the movable end 48 is provided with closing means 56.

[0031]For example, said closing means 56 may comprise a tab and/or a glueable portion, typically in the form of a glueable strip. [0032]According to one possible embodiment, the at least one handle 24 is associated, at said opposite locking ends 28,32, with inner walls 60 of the bag body 8 delimiting said containment compartment 20.

[0033]According to one possible embodiment, the at least one closure strip 36 is associated, at at least one fixed first end 40 thereof, with one of said internal walls 60 of the bag body 8 delimiting said containment compartment 20.

[0034]Preferably, the at least one closure strip 36 is at least partially superposed at a locking end 32 of the at least one handle 24.

[0035]Preferably, the food bag 4 comprises two handles 24, each one associated with one of said first and second sides 44,52 of the bag body 8. In other words, in this embodiment, the handles are not arranged astride the containment compartment 20.

[0036]More in detail, each of said handles 24 provides two locking ends 28,32 associated with the same side 44,52 of the bag body 8. [0037]For example, said handles 24 are constituted by flat strips glued, at the opposite locking ends 28,32, to internal walls 60 of the bag body 8 which delimit said containment compartment 20.

[0038]According to one possible embodiment, the bag 4 comprises two closure strips 36',36'' at least partially made of transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material, wherein the first closure strip 36' has the fixed end 40 at the first side 44 of the bag body 8 and the movable end 48 projecting towards the second side 52 of the bag body 8, and wherein the second closure strip 36'' has the fixed end 40 at the second side 52 of the bag body 8 and the movable end 48 projecting towards the first side 44 of the bag body 8. Obviously, it is also possible to provide that the two closures strips 36',36'' are made integrally of transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material.

[0039]Preferably, but not necessarily, in a closed configuration, the two closure strips 36',36'' at least partially superpose each other at respective movable ends 48.

[0040]Preferably, the at least one closure strip 36 has an axial width T of at least 80% of the axial width L of the corresponding side 44,52 of the bag body 8 to which it is applied. [0041]Even more preferably, the at least one closure strip

36 has an axial width T of at least 90% of the axial width L of the corresponding side 44,52 of the bag body 8 to which it is applied.

[0042]It is clear that the greater the axial width T of the closure strip 36 compared to the axial width L of the corresponding side 44,52 of the bag body 8, the greater the protection afforded by the closure strip 36 with respect to the products arranged in the containment compartment 20. [0043]In any case, the visibility of the contents of the bag 4 for an outside observer is not invalidated because the closure strip 36 is, as shown, made at least partially of transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material and, in particular, it is made of such material at the portion thereof which superposes the upper opening 16 of the containment compartment 20 in the closed configuration .

[0044]Preferably, the at least one closure strip 36 has an axial width T not less than the axial width M of the corresponding handle 24 to which it is applied.

[0045]For example, the bag body 8 and/or the at least one handle 24 and/or the closure strip 36 is made of paper and is foldable.

[0046]As may be appreciated from that which has been described, the present invention makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0047]In particular, the present invention makes it possible to protect the contents of the bag by using transparent, semi-transparent or translucent closure strips which, at the same time, make it possible for the user to see the contents of the same bag from outside. [0048]Thanks to the property of transparency, at least partial, of the closure strips, it is possible to employ closure strips having an axial width substantially equal to the maximum width of the bag without, as a result, limiting the visibility of the internal contents of the bag.

[0049]Furthermore, thanks to such an increased axial width, it is possible to create with the closure strips an actual barrier for the internal contents of the bag to protect against theft and possible tampering, unlike the solutions of the prior art.

[0050]Furthermore, the bag of the present invention turns out to be convenient and practical to move using the provided handles.

[0051]Furthermore, said handles are robust and are also able to support considerable weights thanks to the fact that the strips employed are utilized as a further attachment and reinforcement element of the same handles. [0052]The solutions with closing means on the closure strips allow for greater security against tampering with the bags and also an increased practicality of use in the steps of opening/closing the bag.

[0053]A person skilled in the art, for the purpose of satisfying contingent and specific needs, may make numerous modifications and variations to the solutions described above.

[0054]The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the following claims.