Reclosable bag

Abstract

A reclosable bag includes front and rear panels joined to each other, and optionally includes inwardly extending side gussets. The bag includes a reclosable fastener assembly joined to the exterior of the bag, with the fastener assembly including cooperating, first and second fastener elements. The fastener elements are respectively secured to the front and rear panels of the bag, and permit an open mouth of the bag to be closed, and the top of the bag folded and maintained in a folded disposition by the cooperating fastener elements.

1 . A recloseable bag, comprising: 
 a front bag panel;    a rear bag panel joined at respective opposite side edges thereof to said front bag panel;    a bottom seal joining said front and rear bag panels to each other, and    a reclosable fastener assembly joined to the exterior of said bag, said fastener assembly comprising first and second fastener elements respectively joined to said front and rear bag panels, at least one of said fastener elements being spaced from a top edge of said bag, so that said bag can be folded closed, and maintained in a releasably closed disposition by detachable engagement of said first and second fastener elements.    
     
     
         2 . A reclosable bag in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first and second fastener elements comprise profile strip fastener elements.    
     
     
         3 . A reclosable bag in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each of said first and second fastener elements includes at least one flange portion, at least one of said flange portions including printed graphics thereon for viewing from the exterior of said bag.    
     
     
         4 . A reclosable bag in accordance with  claim 1 , including: 
 a pair of inwardly extending side gussets respectively joining opposite side edges of said front and rear bag panels.    
     
     
         5 . A reclosable bag in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said reclosable fastener assembly includes at least one retention element for limiting relative movement of said first and second fastener elements in a direction along the lengths thereof.    
     
     
         6 . A reclosable bag in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said retention element is provided on one of said first and second fastener elements, and is engageable with an end edge of the other of said first and second fastener elements.    
     
     
         7 . A reclosable bag in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said fastener assembly includes a pair of cooperating retention elements respectively joined to said first and second fastener elements.    
     
     
         8 . A reclosable bag in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein: 
 one of said retention elements includes a projection, and the other of said retention elements defines an opening for detachably receiving said projection.    
     
     
         9 . A recloseable bag, comprising: 
 a front bag panel;    a rear bag panel joined at respective opposite side edges thereof to said front bag panel;    a bottom seal joining said front and rear bag panels to each other, and    a reclosable fastener assembly joined to the exterior of said bag, said fastener assembly comprising first and second fastener elements respectively joined to said front and rear bag panels, so that said bag can be closed, and maintained in a releasably closed disposition by detachable engagement of said first and second fastener elements.    
     
     
         10 . A reclosable bag in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said first and second fastener elements comprise profile strip fastener elements.    
     
     
         11 . A reclosable bag in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 each of said first and second fastener elements includes at least one flange portion, at least one of said flange portions including printed graphics thereon for viewing from the exterior of said bag.    
     
     
         12 . A reclosable bag in accordance with  claim 9 , including: 
 a pair of inwardly extending side gussets respectively joining opposite side edges of said front and rear bag panels.    
     
     
         13 . A reclosable bag in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said reclosable fastener assembly includes at least one retention element for limiting