Various gusset seals or treatments for reclosable packages

Abstract

Reclosable gusseted packages or bags have improved resistance to leaking or spilling through the gussets by sealing the gussets together through apertures in the gusset walls, by sealing the zipper flanges together through apertures passing through the gussets in the package or bag, by folding portions of the gussets, or by sewing the gussets shut in areas proximate to the zipper.

1 . A reclosable package or bag including:
 a front wall and a rear wall;   a first gusset between a first side of the front wall and a first side of the rear wall, the first gusset including a first front gusset wall and a first rear gusset wall;   a second gusset between a second side of the front wall and a second side of the rear wall, the second gusset including a second front gusset wall and a second rear gusset wall;   wherein a portion of the front wall and a portion of the rear wall extends above the first and second gussets;   a first fastening device joining the first front gusset wall and the first rear gusset wall; and   a second fastening device joining the second front gusset wall and the second rear gusset wall.   
   
   
       2 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 1  wherein the portion of the front wall and the portion of the rear wall are brought together. 
   
   
       3 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 2  further including a zipper attached to the portion of the front wall and the portion of the rear wall. 
   
   
       4 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 1  wherein the first and second fastening devices are first and second clips. 
   
   
       5 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 1  wherein the first and second fastening devices are first and second pieces of tape. 
   
   
       6 . A reclosable package or bag including:
 a front wall and a rear wall;   a first gusset between a first side of the front wall and a first side of the rear wall;   a second gusset between a second side of the front wall and a second side of the rear wall;   a first front slit between a portion of the first gusset and the front wall;   a first rear slit between a portion of the first gusset and the rear wall;   a second front slit between a portion of the second gusset and the front wall;   a second rear slit between a portion of the second gusset and the rear wall;   a first gusset slit in a central portion of the first gusset, thereby dividing a portion of the first gusset into a first front gusset flap and a first rear gusset flap; and   a second gusset slit in a central portion of the second gusset, thereby dividing a portion of the second gusset into a second front gusset flap and a second rear gusset flap.   
   
   
       7 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 6  wherein the first front gusset flap and the first rear gusset flap are folded against the first gusset and wherein the second front gusset flap and the second rear gusset flap are folded against the second gusset. 
   
   
       8 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 7  wherein the first front gusset flap and the first rear gusset flap are sealed to the first gusset and the second front gusset flap and the second rear gusset flap are sealed to the second gusset. 
   
   
       9 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 7  further including a zipper attached to the upper edges of the front wall and the rear wall. 
   
   
       10 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 7  wherein the first front gusset flap is sealed to the first rear gusset flap and the second front gusset flap is sealed to the second rear gusset flap. 
   
   
       11 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 6  wherein the first front gusset flap and the first rear gusset flap are folded against the exterior of the first gusset and the second front gusset flap and the second rear gusset flap are folded against the exterior of the second gusset. 
   
   
       12 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 10  wherein the first front gusset flap and the first rear gusset flap are sealed to the exterior of the first gusset and wherein the second front gusset flap and the second rear gusset flap are sealed to the exterior of the second gusset. 
   
   
       13 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 10  further including a zipper attached to the upper edges of the front wall and the rear wall. 
   
   
       14 . A reclosable package or bag including:
 a front wall and a rear wall;   a first gusset between a first side of the front wall and a first side of the rear wall;   a second gusset between a second side of the front wall and a second side of the rear wall;   a first front slit between a portion of the first gusset and the front wall;   a first rear slit between a portion of the first gusset and the rear wall thereby forming a first gusset flap;   a second front slit between a portion of the second gusset and the front wall; and   a second rear slit between a portion of the second gusset and the rear wall thereby forming a second gusset flap.   
   
   
       15 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 14  wherein the first gusset flap is folded against the first gusset and the second gusset flap is folded against the second gusset. 
   
   
       16 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 15  wherein the first and second gusset flaps are folded against a center fold of the respective first and second gussets, thereby creating opposing front and rear gusset flap faces which are sealed together. 
   
   
       17 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 14  wherein the first gusset flap is sealed to the first gusset and the second gusset flap is sealed to the second gusset. 
   
   
       18 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 14  further including a zipper attached to the upper edges of the front wall and the rear wall. 
   
   
       19 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 14  wherein the first gusset flap is folded against the exterior of the first gusset and wherein the second gusset flap is folded against the exterior of the second gusset. 
   
   
       20 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 19  wherein the first front gusset flap and the first rear gusset flap are sealed to the exterior of the first gusset and the second front gusset flap and the second rear gusset flap are sealed to the exterior of the second gusset. 
   
   
       21 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 19  further including a zipper attached to the upper edges of the front wall and the rear wall. 
   
   
       22 . A reclosable package or bag including:
 a front wall and a rear wall;   a first gusset between a first side of the front wall and a first side of the rear wall;   a second gusset between a second side of the front wall and a second side of the rear wall;   a first front slit between a portion of the first gusset and the front wall;   a first rear slit between a portion of the first gusset and the rear wall;   a second front slit between a portion of the second gusset and the front wall;   a second rear slit between a portion of the second gusset and the rear wall;   a first front gusset slit in the first gusset extending from an end of the first front slit into the first gusset;   a first rear gusset slit in the first gusset extending from an end of the first rear slit into the first gusset thereby forming a first gusset flap;   a second front gusset slit in the second gusset extending from an end of the second front slit into the second gusset; and   a second rear gusset slit in the second gusset extending from an end of the second rear slit into the second gusset thereby forming a second gusset flap.   
   
   
       23 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 22  wherein the first front gusset slit is essentially perpendicular to the first front slit, the first rear gusset slit is perpendicular to the first rear slit, the second front gusset slit is essentially perpendicular to the second front slit, and the second rear gusset slit is perpendicular to the second rear slit. 
   
   
       24 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 22  wherein the first front gusset slit approaches the first rear gusset slit thereby forming a first neck therebetween, joining the first gusset flap to the first gusset and wherein the second front gusset slit approaches the second rear gusset slit thereby forming a second neck therebetween, joining the second gusset flap to the second gusset. 
   
   
       25 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 24  wherein the first gusset flap is folded against the first gusset and the second gusset flap is folded against the second gusset. 
   
   
       26 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 25  wherein the first gusset flap is sealed to the first gusset and the second gusset flap is sealed to the second gusset. 
   
   
       27 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 25  further including a zipper attached to the upper edges of the front wall and the rear wall. 
   
   
       28 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 24  wherein the first front gusset flap and the first rear gusset flap are folded against the interior of the first gusset and the second front gusset flap and the second rear gusset flap are folded against the interior of the second gusset. 
   
   
       29 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 28  wherein the first front gusset flap and the first rear gusset flap are sealed to the interior of the first gusset and the second front gusset flap and the second rear gusset flap are sealed to the interior of the second gusset. 
   
   
       30 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 28  further including a zipper attached to the upper edges of the front wall and the rear wall. 
   
   
       31 . A reclosable package or bag including:
 a front wall and a rear wall;   a first gusset between a first side of the front wall and a first side of the rear wall;   a second gusset between a second side of the front wall and a second side of the rear wall;   a first central fold in the first gusset, parallel to the first side of the front and rear walls;   a second central fold in the second gusset, parallel to the second side of the front and rear walls;   wherein a portion of the first gusset and the second gusset are folded whereby upper folded portions of the first and second gussets are parallel to an upper edge of the front and rear walls; and   a zipper inserted into the upper folded portions of the first and second gussets.   
   
   
       32 . A reclosable package or bag including:
 a front wall and a rear wall;   a first gusset between a first side of the front wall and a first side of the rear wall;   a second gusset between a second side of the front wall and a second side of the rear wall;   a first front slot in the front wall and a front portion of the first gusset;   a second front slot in the front wall and a front portion of the second gusset;   a first rear slot in the rear wall and a rear portion of the first gusset;   a second rear slot in the rear wall and a rear portion the second gusset; and   a zipper with flanges which extend over the slots.   
   
   
       33 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 32  wherein the zipper includes flanges which are attached to a portion of the exterior faces of the front and rear walls. 
   
   
       34 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 32  wherein the first front slot is offset from the first rear slot and the second front slot is offset from the second rear slot. 
   
   
       35 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 32  wherein the first front slot is vertically offset from the first rear slot and the second front slot is vertically offset from the second rear slot. 
   
   
       36 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 32  wherein the zipper includes a slider. 
   
   
       37 . A reclosable package or bag including:
 a front wall and a rear wall,   a first gusset between a first side of the front wall and a first side of the rear wall;   a second gusset between a second side of the front wall and a second side of the rear wall;   a first pair of aligned apertures in the front wall and the first gusset;   a second pair of aligned apertures in the front wall and the second gusset;   a third pair of aligned apertures in the rear wall and the first gusset;   a fourth pair of aligned apertures into the rear wall and the second gusset; and   a zipper with flanges which extend over the aligned apertures in the front and rear walls.   
   
   
       38 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 37  wherein the zipper includes flanges which are attached to a portion of the exterior faces of the front and rear walls, and wherein a portion of the flanges extend through the aligned apertures. 
   
   
       39 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 37  wherein the first pair of aligned apertures is free of alignment with the third pair of aligned apertures and the second pair of aligned apertures is free of alignment with the fourth pair of aligned apertures. 
   
   
       40 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 37  wherein the first pair of aligned apertures is horizontally offset from the third pair of aligned apertures and the second pair of aligned apertures is horizontally offset from the fourth pair of aligned apertures. 
   
   
       41 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 37  wherein the first pair of aligned apertures is vertically offset from the third pair of aligned apertures and the second pair of aligned apertures is vertically offset from the fourth pair of aligned apertures. 
   
   
       42 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 37  wherein the zipper includes a slider. 
   
   
       43 . A reclosable package or bag including:
 a first wall and a second wall,   a first gusset between a first side of the first wall and a first side of the second wall;   a second gusset between a second side of the first wall and a second side of the second wall;   a first set of aligned apertures in the first wall, a first portion of the first gusset and a second portion of the first gusset, respectively;   a second set of aligned apertures in the first wall, a first portion of the second gusset and a second portion of the second gusset, respectively; and   a zipper with at least one flange which extends over the apertures in the first wall.   
   
   
       44 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 43  wherein the second wall is free of the first and second set of aligned apertures. 
   
   
       45 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 43  wherein the zipper includes a slider. 
   
   
       46 . A reclosable package or bag including:
 a first wall and a second wall,   a first gusset between a first side of the first wall and a first side of the second wall;   a second gusset between a second side of the first wall and a second side of the second wall;   a first aperture in the first wall adjacent to the first side, aligned with a second aperture formed in the first gusset, adjacent to the first side of the first wall;   a third aperture in the first wall adjacent to the second side, aligned with a fourth aperture formed in the second gusset, adjacent to the second side of the first wall; and   a zipper with at least one flange which extends over the first and third apertures in the first wall.   
   
   
       47 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 46  wherein the second wall is free of apertures aligned with any of the first, second, third and fourth apertures. 
   
   
       48 . The reclosable package or bag of  claim 46  wherein the zipper includes a slider.