Bag for automated filling and sealing machine

Abstract

A sealable bag for storing merchandise includes a body having a pocket that is adapted to receive the merchandise. The pocket has an opening through which merchandise is placed into the pocket. The body has a pair of flanges disposed along the sides of the body. The body has a neck with the opening of the pocket being disposed at the neck of the body. The neck has a sealing area. The bag includes a pair of stress relief notches disposed in the flanges intermediate the sealing area and the opening of the pocket. The stress relief notches prevent the sealing area from becoming wrinkled while the bag is being sealed with automated equipment thus allowing a clean, unwrinkled seal to be formed in the bag.

1 . A method of sealing a bag comprising the steps of: 
 providing a bag having an opening, a pair of upper corners at the edges of the opening, a sealing area, and pair of flanges that each define a stress relief notch intermediate the sealing area and the opening;    grasping the upper corners of the bag with fingers;    moving the upper corners of the bag away from each other; and    forming a seal in the sealing area of the bag.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the stress relief notches define upper and lower portions of the flanges and further comprising the step of folding the upper portions of the flanges independent of the lower portions of the flanges when the upper corners of the bag are grasped by the fingers.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising the step of cutting the bag between the seal and the stress relief notches after the seal is formed in the bag.  
     
     
         4 . A method of sealing a bag wherein the bag has an opening, a pair of upper corners at the edges of the opening, a sealing area, and pair of flanges that each define a stress relief notch intermediate the sealing area and the opening; the method comprising the steps of: 
 engaging the upper corners of the bag with first and second members;    moving the first and second members away from each other to tighten the opening of the bag; and    forming a seal in the sealing area of the bag.    
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 4   , wherein the stress relief notches define upper and lower portions of the flanges and further comprising the step of folding the upper portions of the flanges independent of the lower portions of the flanges when the upper corners of the bag are grasped by the fingers.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 4   , further comprising the step of cutting the bag between the seal and the stress relief notches after the seal is formed in the bag.  
     
     
         7 . A method of sealing a bag wherein the bag has an opening, a pair of upper corners at the edges of the opening, a sealing area, and pair of flanges that each define a stress relief notch intermediate the sealing area and the opening; the stress relief notches defining upper and lower portions of the flanges; the method comprising the steps of: 
 engaging the upper corners of the bag with first and second members;    folding the upper portions of the flanges independent of the lower portions of the flanges when the upper corners of the bag are engaged;    pulling the upper corners away from each other to tighten the opening of the bag; and    forming a seal in the sealing area of the bag.    
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 4   , further comprising the step of cutting the bag between the seal and the stress relief notches after the seal is formed in the bag.