Triple-folded hot air sealed thermoplastic bags

Abstract

A method for sealing a thermoplastic bag includes forming a first fold in a top end of the bag; forming a second fold in the top end that includes the first fold; folding the first fold to form a first portion of the first fold and a second portion of the first fold, the second portion of the first fold is folded onto the first portion of the first fold; and heat sealing the first fold and the second fold to each other and to a portion of the bag that faces the first fold, the heat sealing including applying hot air to the bag. Preferably the second fold has a height that is less than a height of the first fold such that the forming of the second fold folds the first fold to form the first and second portions of the first fold.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A sealed thermoplastic bag comprising:
 a first panel;   a first fold comprising a first portion and further comprising a second portion folded onto the first portion, the first fold faces a portion of the first panel;   a second fold on an opposite side of the first fold relative to the portion of the first panel that faces the first fold; and   the first portion of the first fold, the second portion of the first fold, and the second fold have been heat sealed by hot air to each other and to the portion of the first panel that faces the first fold.   
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 9  wherein the first portion of the first fold and the second portion of the first fold have the same top edge. 
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 9  wherein the second fold and the first portion of the first fold have the same bottom edge. 
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 9  wherein the second fold and the portion of the first panel that faces the first fold have the same top edge. 
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 9  wherein the second portion of the first fold comprises a bottom edge comprising an opening of the bag that is closed by the heat seal. 
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 9  comprising vents positioned in a section of the bag selected from the group consisting of the first fold, the second fold, the portion of the first panel that faces the first fold, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 9  comprising gussets that connect the first panel to a second panel of the sealed thermoplastic bag, the second panel forming an opposite side of the sealed thermoplastic bag relative to the first panel, the bag comprising vents positioned in a part of the gussets that is above a bottom edge of the first fold. 
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled)