Recloseable bag

Abstract

A bag, method of making, and machine for making are disclosed. The bag has an upper and lower portion. The lower portion has a generally rectangular bottom with first, second, third and fourth bottom edges. It also has a generally rectangular front, back left and right walls, each having a lower edge joined with the a bottom edge. The upper portion is joined to the lower portion. The bag has one or more of a zipper closure, a top peak with a resealable closure that extends the length thereof, four generally vertical corner seals, extending part of the way up the walls, and a resealable closure affixed along the entire length of the top.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A bag comprising: 
 a lower portion having 
 a generally rectangular bottom having first, second, third and fourth bottom edges,  
 a generally rectangular front wall, having a front lower edge joined with the first bottom edge,  
 a generally rectangular back wall, having a back lower edge joined with the third bottom edge,  
 a generally rectangular left side wall, having a left lower edge joined with the fourth bottom edge, and  
 a generally rectangular right side wall, having a right lower edge joined with the second bottom edge; and  
   an upper portion, joined to the lower portion, and having a zipper closure at a top thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion includes a top peak having the zipper closure thereon, and wherein the top peak has a length, and the zipper closure extends the length thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first generally vertical corner seal joining the front wall and the left side wall, wherein the first corner seal does not extend the entire height of the front and left side walls;    a second generally vertical corner seal joining the front wall and the right side wall, wherein the second corner seal does not extend the entire height of the front and right side walls;    a third generally vertical corner seal joining the back wall and the right side wall, wherein the third corner seal does not extend the entire height of the back and right side walls; and    a fourth generally vertical corner seal joining the back wall and the left side wall, wherein the fourth corner seal does not extend the entire height of the back and left side walls.    
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the right and left side walls each have a generally vertical side seal extending from the top of the bag towards the bottom.  
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 4 , wherein the bag is one of a plurality of bags formed from a film, and wherein the side seals separate adjacent bags.  
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 4 , wherein the side seals extend at least a length toward the bottom such that they extend below an upper end of the corner seals.  
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 6 , wherein the side seals extend to the bottom.  
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom is a gusseted insert sealed to the front and back walls.  
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion is comprised of a laminated material.  
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 9 , further comprising a handle sealed between upper poly and lower laminate, near the top of the lower portion.  
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 9 , wherein the upper portion is comprised of a poly material.  
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 11 , wherein the laminate includes a poly layer that extends to and forms the upper portion.  
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein when filled with product to a fill level, the shape of the filled portion is generally a cuboid.  
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 13 , wherein when the bag is filled the upper portion lays flat to form a top of the cuboid.  
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the zipper is a tamper-evident feature seal.  
     
     
         16 . A bag comprising: 
 a lower portion having 
 a generally rectangular bottom having first, second, third and fourth bottom edges,  
 a generally rectangular front wall, having a front lower edge joined with the first bottom edge,  
 a generally rectangular back wall, having a back lower edge joined with the third bottom edge,  
 a generally rectangular left side wall, having a left lower edge joined with the fourth bottom edge, and  
 a generally rectangular right side wall, having a right lower edge joined with the second bottom edge; and  
   an upper portion, joined to the lower portion, and having a top peak having a length, and having a resealable closure at the top peak that extends the length thereof.    
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a first generally vertical corner seal joining the front wall and the left side wall, wherein the first corner seal does not extend the entire height of the front and left side walls;    a second generally vertical corner seal joining the front wall and the right side wall, wherein the second corner seal does not extend the entire height of the front and right side walls;    a third generally vertical corner seal joining the back wall and the right side wall, wherein the third corner seal does not extend the entire height of the back and right side walls; and    a fourth generally vertical corner seal joining the back wall and the left side wall, wherein the fourth corner seal does not extend the entire height of the back and left side walls.    
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 17 , wherein the right and left side walls each have a generally vertical side seal extending from the top of the bag towards the bottom.  
     
     
         19 . The bag of  claim 18 , wherein the bag is one of a plurality of bags form from a film, and wherein the side seals separate adjacent bags.  
     
     
         20 . The bag of  claim 19 , wherein the side seals extend at least a length toward the bottom such that they extend below an upper end of the corner seals.  
     
     
         21 . The bag of  claim 18 , wherein the side seals extend to the bottom.  
     
     
         22 . The bag of  claim 17  wherein the bottom is a gusseted insert sealed to the front and back walls.  
     
     
         23 . The bag of  claim 22 , wherein the lower portion is comprised of a laminated material.  
     
     
         24 . The bag of  claim 23 , further comprising a handle sealed between layers of the laminate, near the top of the lower portion.  
     
     
         25 . The bag of  claim 24 , wherein the upper portion is comprised of a poly material.  
     
     
         26 . The bag of  claim 24 , wherein the laminate includes a poly layer that extends to and forms the upper portion.  
     
     
         27 . The bag of  claim 22 , wherein when filled with product to a fill level, the shape of the filled portion is generally a cuboid.  
     
     
         28 . The bag of  claim 27 , wherein when the bag is filled the upper portion lays flat to form a top of the cuboid.  
     
     
         29 . The bag of  claim 16 , wherein the closure is a tamper proof seal.  
     
     
         30 . The bag of  claim 16 , wherein the top of the bag is a peak formed at least partially from a top edge on each of the front and back walls.  
     
     
         31 . A bag comprising: 
 a generally rectangular bottom having first and second pairs of generally parallel sides;    a first pair of generally vertical walls attached at lower edges thereof to the first pair of generally parallel sides;    a second pair of generally vertical walls attached at lower edges thereof to the second pair of generally parallel sides;    four generally vertical corner seals, each joining one of the first pair of generally vertical walls to one of the second pair of generally vertical walls, wherein a plurality of the corner seals do not extend the entire height of the generally vertical walls.    
     
     
         32 . The bag of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of the corner seals is all four of the corner seals.  
     
     
         33 . The bag of  claim 31 , wherein a top of the bag is a peak formed at least partially from a top edge on each of the first pair of generally vertical walls, and further wherein each of the second pair of generally vertical walls has a generally vertical side seal extending from the top of the bag towards the bottom.  
     
     
         34 . The bag of  claim 33  wherein the side seals extend at least a length toward the bottom such that they extend below an upper end of the corner seals.  
     
     
         35 . The bag of  claim 34  wherein the side seals extend to the bottom.  
     
     
         36 . The bag of  claim 33 , wherein a resealable closure is disposed along at least a portion of the peak.  
     
     
         37 . The bag of  claim 36 , wherein the resealable closure is disposed along the entire peak.  
     
     
         38 . The bag of  claim 37 , where the resealable closure is a zipper.  
     
     
         39 . The bag of  claim 36  wherein the resealable closure is a zipper.  
     
     
         40 . The bag of  claim 33 , wherein the bag is one of a plurality of bags formed from a film, and wherein the side seals separate adjacent bags.  
     
     
         41 . The bag of  claim 31 , wherein the bottom is a gusseted insert sealed to the first pair of walls.  
     
     
         42 . The bag of  claim 41 , wherein the lower portion is comprised of a laminated material.  
     
     
         43 . The bag of  claim 42 , further comprising a handle sealed between layers of the laminate, near the top of the lower portion.  
     
     
         44 . The bag of  claim 43 , wherein the upper portion is comprised of a poly material.  
     
     
         45 . The bag of  claim 42 , wherein the laminate includes a poly layer that extends to and forms the upper portion.  
     
     
         46 . The bag of  claim 41 , wherein when filled with product to a fill level, the shape of the filled portion is generally a cuboid.  
     
     
         47 . The bag of  claim 46 , wherein when the bag is filled the upper portion lays flat to form a top of the cuboid.  
     
     
         48 . The bag of  claim 36 , wherein the resealable closure is tamper proof.  
     
     
         49 . The bag of  claim 36 , wherein the first pair of generally vertical walls are formed from two webs of material with a gusset insert to form the bottom.  
     
     
         50 . A plurality of bags formed from first and second webs moving in a machine direction, each bag having first and second machine direction edges and wherein each bag is formed with spaced transverse seals extending the width of the webs, and further having a resealable closure mounted on the first machine direction edge of the bag, and further having a gusseted insert and a bottom seal on the second edge of the bag, and further having a plurality of corner seals, disposed between the transverse seals, and extending a portion of the way from the from the bottom seal toward the resealable closure.  
     
     
         51 . The bag of  claim 50 , further having angle seals extending from each transverse seal to the bottom seal, wherein each angle seal meets the transverse seals and the bottom seals at a distance from a point where the transverse seals meet the bottom seal.  
     
     
         52 . The bag of  claim 50 , wherein the webs are comprised of a poly layer extending from the bottom seal to the resealable closure, and the webs are further comprised of a multi-wall portion extending from the bottom seal part of the way to the resealable closure.  
     
     
         53 . The bag of  claim 52 , wherein the multi-wall portion extends the same distance the corner seals extend.  
     
     
         54 . The bag of  claim 53 , further comprising handle sealed to the bag between a wall of the multi-walled portion and the poly layer.  
     
     
         55 . The bag of  claim 50 , further comprising handles sealed to the bag.  
     
     
         56 . The bag of  claim 50 , wherein the resealable closure is a zipper.  
     
     
         57 . The bag of  claim 56 , wherein when filled with product to a fill level, the shape of the filled portion is generally a cuboid.  
     
     
         58 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the resealable closure is tamper proof.  
     
     
         59 . The bag of  claim 50 , wherein the transverse seals separate adjacent bags.  
     
     
         60 . A machine for making bags from first and second films comprising: an input section, including at least one driven roller disposed to contact the film, wherein the film follows a film path and moves in a machine direction along the film path therein, and a sealing section, downstream along the film path of the input section, including at least a second driven roller disposed to contact the film, wherein the film follows the film path and moves in the machine direction along the film path therein, wherein the sealing section further includes; 
 two transverse sealers, spaced in the machine direction, wherein each bag is formed with spaced transverse seals extending the width of the webs,    a resealable closure fixture, mounted on a first machine direction edge of the bag,    a gusseted insert fixture, on a second machine direction edge of the bag, and    a plurality of corner sealers, disposed between the transverse sealers, and extending a portion of the way from the from the gusseted insert fixture toward the resealable closure fixture.    
     
     
         61 . The bag of  claim 60 , further comprising angle sealers, extending from each transverse sealer to the gusseted insert fixture, wherein each angle sealer meets the transverse sealers and the gusseted insert fixture at a distance from a point where the transverse sealers meet the gusseted insert fixtures.  
     
     
         62 . A method of making a bag, comprising: 
 forming a lower portion having a bottom with four side walls, each adjacent to two of the other side walls and each attached on lower edges thereof to the bottom;    forming an upper portion, joined to the lower portion, and having a top; and    affixing a zipper closure to the top.    
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the top forms a peak having a length, and affixing includes affixing a zipper the entire length.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein forming a lower portion comprises sealing adjacent walls to form four corner seals that do not extend the entire height of the adjacent walls.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62 , further comprising forming, on two of the four walls, generally vertical seals extending from the top of the bag towards the bottom.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising forming a plurality of bags by repeating the method.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein forming the bottom includes sealing a gusseted insert to a first and second film.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising sealing a handle to the lower portion.  
     
     
         69 . A method of making a bag, comprising: 
 forming a lower portion having a bottom with four side walls, each adjacent to two of the other side walls and each attached on lower edges thereof to the bottom;    forming an upper portion, joined to the lower portion, and having a top peak having a length; and    affixing a resealable closure along the entire length of the top peak.    
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein forming a lower portion comprises sealing adjacent walls to form four corner seals that do not extend the entire height of the adjacent walls.  
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , further comprising forming, on two of the four walls, generally vertical seals extending from the top of the bag towards the bottom.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising forming a plurality of bags by repeating the method.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein forming the bottom includes sealing a gusseted insert to a first and second film.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising sealing a handle to the lower portion.  
     
     
         75 . A method of making a bag, comprising: 
 forming a lower portion having a bottom and first and second pairs of generally parallel sides walls, each adjacent to two of the other side walls and each attached on lower edges thereof to the bottom;    forming four generally vertical corner seals, each joining one of the first pair of generally vertical walls to one of the second pair of generally vertical walls, wherein the corner seals do not extend the entire height of the vertical walls; and    forming an upper portion, joined to the lower portion.    
     
     
         76 . A method of forming a plurality of bags from first and second webs moving in a machine direction, comprising: 
 forming spaced transverse seals extending the width of the webs;    affixing a resealable closure mounted on a first machine direction edge of the bag;    affixing a gusseted insert to a second machine direction edge of the bag; and    forming a plurality of corner seals, disposed between the transverse seals, and extending a portion of the way from the from the bottom seal toward the resealable closure.    
     
     
         77 . A bag comprising: 
 a generally rectangular bottom having first and second pairs of generally parallel sides;    a first pair of generally vertical walls having a first height attached and at lower edges thereof to the first pair of generally parallel sides;    a second pair of generally vertical walls having a second height and attached at lower edges thereof to the second pair of generally parallel sides;    a plurality of corner means for joining along less than the first and second heights each of the first pair of generally vertical walls to one of the second pair of generally vertical walls.    
     
     
         78 . The bag of  claim 77 , wherein a top of the bag is a peak formed at least partially from a top edge on each of the first pair of generally vertical walls, and further wherein each of the second pair of generally vertical walls has a generally vertical side seal extending from the top of the bag towards the bottom.  
     
     
         79 . The bag of  claim 78  wherein the side seals extend at least a length toward the bottom such that they extend below an upper end of the corner means.  
     
     
         80 . The bag of  claim 77 , wherein means for resealably closing the bag is disposed along at least a portion of a top of the bag.  
     
     
         81 . A machine for making bags from first and second films comprising: an input section, including at least one driven roller disposed to contact the film, wherein the film follows a film path and moves in a machine direction along the film path therein, and a sealing section, downstream along the film path of the input section, including at least a second driven roller disposed to contact the film, wherein the film follows the film path and moves in the machine direction along the film path therein, wherein the sealing section further includes; 
 means for forming two transverse seal, spaced in the machine direction, wherein each bag is formed with spaced transverse seals extending the width of the webs,    means for affixing a resealable closure on a first machine direction edge of the bag,    means for affixing a gusseted insert on a second machine direction edge of the bag, and    a plurality of means for forming corners that are disposed between the transverse seals and extend a portion of the way from the from the gusseted insert fixture toward the resealable closure.    
     
     
         82 . A bag making machine, comprising: 
 means for forming a lower portion having a bottom with four side walls, each adjacent to two of the other side walls and each attached on lower edges thereof to the bottom;    means for forming an upper portion, joined to the lower portion, and having a top; and    means for affixing a zipper closure to the top.    
     
     
         83 . The bag making machine of  claim 82 , wherein the means for forming a lower portion includes means for sealing adjacent walls to form four corner seals that do not extend the entire height of the adjacent walls.  
     
     
         84 . The bag making machine of  claim 83 , further comprising means for forming, on two of the four walls, generally vertical seals extending from the top of the bag towards the bottom.  
     
     
         85 . The bag making machine method of  claim 84 , wherein the means for forming the lower portion includes means for sealing a gusseted insert to a first and second film.  
     
     
         86 . The bag making machine of  claim 84 , further comprising means for sealing a handle to the lower portion.  
     
     
         87 . A bag making machine, comprising: 
 means for forming a lower portion having a bottom with four side walls, each adjacent to two of the other side walls and each attached on lower edges thereof to the bottom;    means for forming an upper portion, joined to the lower portion, and having a top peak having a length; and    means for affixing a resealable closure along the entire length of the top peak.    
     
     
         88 . The bag making machine of  claim 87 , further comprising means for forming, on two of the four walls, generally vertical seals extending from the top of the bag towards the bottom.  
     
     
         89 . The bag making machine of  claim 87 , wherein the means for forming the lower portion includes means for sealing a gusseted insert to a first and second film.  
     
     
         90 . The bag making machine of  claim 89 , further comprising means for sealing a handle to the lower portion.  
     
     
         91 . A bag making machine for making a bag, comprising: 
 means for forming a lower portion having a bottom and first and second pairs of generally parallel sides walls, each adjacent to two of the other side walls and each attached on lower edges thereof to the bottom;    means forming four generally vertical corner seals, each joining one of the first pair of generally vertical walls to one of the second pair of generally vertical walls, wherein the corner seals do not extend the entire height of the generally vertical walls; and    means for forming an upper portion, joined to the lower portion.    
     
     
         92 . A bag making machine for forming a plurality of bags from first and second webs moving in a machine direction, comprising: 
 means for forming spaced transverse seals extending the width of the webs;    means for affixing a resealable closure mounted on a first machine direction edge of the bag;    means for affixing a gusseted insert to a second machine direction edge of the bag; and    means for forming a plurality of corner seals, disposed between the transverse seals, and extending a portion of the way from the from the bottom seal toward the resealable closure.    
     
     
         93 . The bag making machine of  claim 92 , further comprising angle sealers, extending from each transverse sealer to the gusseted insert fixture.