Reclosable bags

Abstract

A reclosable bag has a closure including first and second fastener strips. The first fastener strip includes a strip form base having an array of discrete hook fastener elements integrally molded with and extending from the base. The second fastener strip includes loop elements engageable by the hook fastener elements. The polyethylene bases of the fastener strips are welded directly to the body of the mailer, which is formed of a coextrusion of polyethylene materials. One of the fastener strips is unattached to the bag body along most of its length, so as to avoid undesired opening by shifting of bag contents. The bag is useful as an interoffice mailing envelope, for example.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A reclosable bag comprising: 
 a body having a first opposing side wall and a second opposing side wall, the first and the second side walls having edges, the edges being joined to form therebetween a pouch having an open end;    a closure including first and second elongated fastener strips each having a longitudinal upper region and a longitudinal lower region, the first fastener strip including a strip form base having an array of discrete first fastener elements integrally molded with and extending from the base, the second fastener strip including a plurality of second fastener elements, wherein one of the first and the second fastener strips is permanently attached at both its upper region and its lower region to an inner surface of the second opposing side wall and another of the first and the second fastener strips is permanently attached at its upper region to an inner surface of the first opposing side wall and is free at its lower region along at least a central portion of the first opposing sidewall, and wherein the first fastener elements and the second fastener elements are adapted to releasably engage one another to close the open end of the bag.    
     
     
         2 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the body is comprised of polyethylene.  
     
     
         3 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1 , wherein one of the edges of the first opposing side wall and one of the edges of the second opposing side walls are joined by a fold in a single sheet of bag material forming both side walls.  
     
     
         4 . The reclosable bag of  claim 3 , wherein the fold is located opposite the open end of the bag.  
     
     
         5 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the strip form base is formed of resin contiguous with the fastener elements and permanently adhesively attached to the inner surface of one of the first and second side walls.  
     
     
         6 . The reclosable bag of  claim 5 , wherein the strip form base is welded to the inner surface of one of the first and second side walls.  
     
     
         7 . The reclosable bag of  claim 6 , wherein the strip form base and the inner surface are comprised of compatible resin.  
     
     
         8 . The reclosable bag of  claim 7 , wherein the strip form base and the inner surface are comprised of polyethylene.  
     
     
         9 . The reclosable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener elements are hooks and the second fastener elements are loops.  
     
     
         10 . The reclosable bag of  claim 9 , wherein the hooks have a height of between 0.010 and 0.020 inch.  
     
     
         11 . The reclosable bag of  claim 10 , wherein the hooks have a height of 0.015 inch.  
     
     
         12 . The reclosable bag of  claim 10 , wherein the hooks are in the form of J-hooks.  
     
     
         13 . The reclosable bag of  claim 9 , wherein the loops are in the form of a non-woven material.  
     
     
         14 . The reclosable bag of  claim 13 , wherein the loops are encapsulated in and thereby permanently secured to the second fastener strip.  
     
     
         15 . A reclosable bag comprising: 
 a body having a first opposing side wall and a second opposing side wall, edges of the side walls being joined to form therebetween a pouch having an open end;    a closure including first and second elongated fastener strips, the first fastener strip including a strip form base having an array of discrete first fastener elements integrally molded with and extending from the base, the second fastener strip including a plurality of second fastener elements engageable by the first fastener elements, the fastener strips being permanently attached to the body and positioned to releasably engage one another to close the open end of the bag.    
     
     
         16 . The reclosable bag of  claim 15 , wherein the strip form base is formed of resin contiguous with the fastener elements and permanently adhesively attached to the inner surface of the first side wall.  
     
     
         17 . The reclosable bag of  claim 16 , wherein the strip form base is welded to the inner surface of the first side wall.  
     
     
         18 . The reclosable bag of  claim 17 , wherein the strip form base and the inner surface of the first side wall are comprised of compatible resin.  
     
     
         19 . The reclosable bag of  claim 18 , wherein the strip form base and the inner surface of the first side wall are comprised of polyethylene.  
     
     
         20 . The reclosable bag of  claim 15 , wherein the first fastener strip is attached to an inner surface of the first side wall and the second fastener strip is attached to an inner surface of the second side wall.  
     
     
         21 . The reclosable bag of  claim 20 , wherein one of the first and second fastener strips is attached at both an upper region and a lower region to the inner surface of one of the first and second side walls and the other fastener strip is attached at an upper region to another of the first and second side walls and free at a lower region along at least a central portion of another of the first and second side walls.  
     
     
         22 . The reclosable bag of  claim 21 , wherein the second fastener is attached at both an upper region and a lower region to the second side wall.  
     
     
         23 . The reclosable bag of  claim 15 , wherein the body includes a flap extending from one of the first and second side walls.  
     
     
         24 . The reclosable bag of  claim 23 , wherein one of the fastener strips is permanently attached to an inner surface of the flap.  
     
     
         25 . The reclosable bag of  claim 15 , wherein the body is comprised of polyethylene.  
     
     
         26 . The reclosable bag of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second opposing side walls are joined along at least one edge by a fold in a single sheet of bag material.  
     
     
         27 . The reclosable bag of  claim 26 , wherein the fold is located at the edge opposite the open end of the bag.  
     
     
         28 . The reclosable bag of  claim 15 , wherein the first fastener elements are hooks and the second fastener elements are loops.  
     
     
         29 . The reclosable bag of  claim 28 , wherein the hooks have a height of between about 0.010 and about 0.020 inch.  
     
     
         30 . The reclosable bag of  claim 29 , wherein the hooks have a height of about 0.015 inch.  
     
     
         31 . The reclosable bag of  claim 29 , wherein the hooks are in the form of J-hooks.  
     
     
         32 . The reclosable bag of  claim 28 , wherein the loops are in the form of a non-woven material.  
     
     
         33 . The reclosable bag of  claim 32 , wherein the loops are encapsulated in and thereby permanently secured to the second fastener strip.  
     
     
         34 . A reclosable mailer comprising: 
 a body having first and second opposing side walls, edges of the side walls being joined to form therebetween a pouch having an open end, wherein the first and second opposing side walls have a width and length sufficient to allow the pouch to accommodate an unfolded 8×11 inch piece of paper, and wherein an outer surface of at least one of the side walls includes an area markable with ink for identifying an intended recipient of the mailer; and    a closure including first and second fastener strips, the first fastener strip including a strip form base having an array of discrete first fastener elements integrally molded with and extending from the base, the second fastener strip including a plurality of second fastener elements engageable by the first fastener elements, the fastener strips being permanently attached to the body and positioned to releasably engage one another to close the open end of the pouch.    
     
     
         35 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 34 , wherein the first fastener strip is permanently attached to one of the first and second side walls and the second fastener strip is attached to another of the first and second side walls.  
     
     
         36 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 35 , wherein the first fastener strip is attached to an inner surface of the first side wall and the second fastener strip is attached to an inner surface of the second side wall.  
     
     
         37 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 36 , wherein the fastener strips are welded to the inner surfaces of the first and second side walls.  
     
     
         38 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 37 , wherein the welds have a height of between about 0.030 and about 0.040 inch.  
     
     
         39 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 34 , wherein the body includes a flap extending from one of the side walls.  
     
     
         40 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 39 , wherein one of the fastener strips is permanently attached to an inner surface of the flap.  
     
     
         41 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 34 , wherein the body is comprised of polyethylene.  
     
     
         42 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 34 , wherein the side walls are joined along at least one edge by a fold in a single sheet of bag material.  
     
     
         43 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 42 , wherein the fold is located opposite the open end of the bag.  
     
     
         44 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 34 , wherein the side walls have a width between about 8 and about 12 inches and a height between about 12 and about 16 inches.  
     
     
         45 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 44 , wherein the side walls have a width of about 10 inches and a height of about 14⅛ inches.  
     
     
         46 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 34 , wherein the side walls are opaque.  
     
     
         47 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the side walls includes viewing holes for viewing contents within the bag.  
     
     
         48 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 47 , wherein the viewing holes have a radius of between about ¼ and about ½ inch.  
     
     
         49 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 34 , wherein the markable area is comprised of a markable ink printed on the body.  
     
     
         50 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 34 , wherein the markable area includes a grid suitable for inscribing at least a name and a location of an intended recipient of the mailer.  
     
     
         51 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 34 , wherein the fastener strips have heights of between about ¼ inch and about 1 inch.  
     
     
         52 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 51 , wherein the fastener strips have heights of about ⅜ inch.  
     
     
         53 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 34 , wherein the first fastener strip is attached to an inner surface of the first side wall and the second fastener strip is attached to an inner surface of the second side wall.  
     
     
         54 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 53 , wherein one of the first and second fastener strips is attached at both an upper region and a lower region to one of the first and second side walls and the other fastener strip is attached at an upper region to another of the first and second side walls and free at a lower region along at least a central portion of another of the first and second side walls.  
     
     
         55 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 34 , wherein the first fastener elements are in the form of hooks and the second fastener elements are in the form of loops.  
     
     
         56 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 55 , wherein the hooks have a height of between about 0.010 and about 0.020 inch.  
     
     
         57 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 56 , wherein the hooks have a height of about 0.015 inch.  
     
     
         58 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 56 , wherein the hooks are in the form of J-hooks.  
     
     
         59 . The reclosable mailer of  claim 34 , wherein the loops are in the form of a non-woven loop material.  
     
     
         60 . A method of delivering mail in a mailer having a body and first and second fastener strips, the method comprising: 
 depositing documents within a pouch of the body, the body having first and second opposing side walls joined along three edges to form therebetween the pouch having an open end, wherein the first and second opposing side walls have a width and length sufficient to allow the pouch to accommodate an unfolded  8  x  11  inch piece of paper, and wherein an outer surface of at least one of the side walls includes an area markable with ink for identifying an intended recipient of the mailer;    releasably engaging the first and the second fastener strips, the first fastener strip including a strip form base having an array of discrete first fastener elements integrally molded with and extending from the base, the second fastener strip including a plurality of second fastener elements engageable by the first fastener elements and positioned to releasably engage one another to close the open end of the bag; and    transporting the mailer from a first location to a second location.    
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising viewing the contents within the pouch through a viewing hole defined in at least one side wall.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising marking a name of an intended recipient of the mailer on the markable area prior to transporting the mailer.  
     
     
         63 . A reclosable tamper evident bag comprising: 
 a body having a first opposing side wall and a second opposing side wall, the first and the second side walls having edges, the edges being joined to form therebetween a pouch having an open end and an closure end, wherein the open end is capable of being permanently sealed closed by a user; and    a closure including first and second elongated fastener strips each having a longitudinal upper region and a longitudinal lower region, the first fastener strip including a strip form base having an array of discrete first fastener elements integrally molded with and extending from the base, the second fastener strip including a plurality of second fastener elements, wherein the first fastener strip is permanently attached to an inner surface of one of the first and second side walls and the second fastener strip is permanently attached to an inner surface of another of the first and second side walls, and wherein the first fastener elements and the second fastener elements are adapted to releasably engage one another to close the closure end of the bag.    
     
     
         64 . The reclosable tamper-evident bag of  claim 63 , wherein the closure end is adapted to be permanently heat-sealed closed.  
     
     
         65 . The reclosable tamper-evident bag of  claim 63 , wherein the closure end is adapted to be permanently pressure-sealed closed.  
     
     
         66 . The reclosable tamper-evident bag of  claim 63 , wherein the body is comprised of polyethylene.  
     
     
         67 . The reclosable tamper-evident bag of  claim 63 , wherein the side walls are joined along at least one edge by a fold in a single sheet of bag material.  
     
     
         68 . The reclosable tamper-evident bag of  claim 63 , wherein the closure end is located opposite the open end.  
     
     
         69 . The reclosable tamper-evident bag of  claim 63 , wherein the pouch is capable of accommodating an unfolded 8×10 inch piece of paper.  
     
     
         70 . The reclosable tamper-evident bag of  claim 69 , wherein an outer surface of at least one of the side walls includes a markable are capable of being marked with ink.  
     
     
         71 . The reclosable tamper-evident bag of  claim 63 , wherein the fastener strips have a height of about ⅜ inch.  
     
     
         72 . The reclosable tamper-evident bag of  claim 63 , wherein one of the first and second fastener strips is attached at both an upper region and a lower region to one of the first and second side walls and the other fastener strip is attached at an upper region to another of the first and second side walls and free at a lower region along at least a central portion of another of the first and second side walls.  
     
     
         73 . The reclosable tamper-evident bag of  claim 63 , wherein the first fastener elements are hooks and the second fastener elements are loops.  
     
     
         74 . A method of handling and delivering articles, the method including: 
 inserting contents into a pouch of a reclosable, tamper-evident bag, the bag including a body having a first opposing side wall and a second opposing side wall, the first and the second side walls having edges, the edges being joined to form therebetween the pouch having an open end and an closure end, wherein the open end is capable of being permanently sealed by a user, the bag further including a closure including first and second elongated fastener strips, the first fastener strip including a strip form base having an array of discrete first fastener elements integrally molded with and extending from the base, the second fastener strip including a plurality of second fastener elements, wherein the first and the second fastener strips are permanently attached to inner surfaces of the first and second side walls, and wherein the first fastener elements and the second fastener elements are adapted to releasably engage one another to close the closure end of the bag.;    permanently sealing the open end;    transporting the bag and its contents to an intended recipient;    unsealing an closure end of the bag;    removing the contents from the pouch;    replacing the contents and/or inserting new contents into the pouch;    engaging first and second fastener elements to reclose the closure end; and    reusing the bag to contain and organize the replaced contents and/or new contents.