Fiber-based webs of closable bags

Abstract

A web of bags includes a sheet material and a connecting material. The sheet material includes two sheets that are formed from a fiber-based material, are arranged to form a series of bags, and are connected together to form sides of the bags. Each bag is bounded by the sides where sheets are connected together and an opening. The connecting material is applied to inner surfaces of the sheets and can be activated to connect inner surfaces by the activated portions of the connecting material. The connecting material is applied to closing regions on the inner surfaces of the sheets such that the connecting material in the closing regions can be activated to close the opening.

1 . A web of preformed bags, comprising:
 a sheet material comprising a first sheet and a second sheet, wherein the first and second sheets are formed from a fiber-based material, wherein first and second sheets are arranged to form a series of bags, wherein the first and second sheets are connected together to form sides of each of the bags, wherein each of the bags is bounded by the sides where first and second sheets are connected together and an opening; and   a connecting material applied to an inner surface of the first sheet and to an inner surface of the second sheet, wherein, activation of portions of the connecting material where the first and second sheets that are in contact with each other causes the first and second sheets to be connected by the activated portions of the connecting material;   wherein the connecting material is applied to closing regions on the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets of at least one bag such that, after a product is inserted through the opening of the at least one bag, the connecting material in the closing regions can be activated to form a first activated portion of the connecting material that closes the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The web of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the at least one bag and a bottom of the at least one bag extend transversely across the first and second sheets. 
     
     
         3 . The web of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom of the at least one bag is formed by a second activated portion of the connecting material. 
     
     
         4 . The web of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second sheets are formed from a single sheet of the sheet material, and wherein a first longitudinal fold in the single sheet defines a boundary between the first sheet and the second sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The web of  claim 4 , wherein the first longitudinal fold forms a first lateral side of the at least one bag, wherein the first lateral side extends between the bottom of the at least one bag and the opening of the at least one bag. 
     
     
         6 . The web of  claim 5 , wherein longitudinal edges of the single sheet are connected together by a third activated portion of the connecting material to form a second lateral side of the at least one bag, wherein the second lateral side extends between the bottom of the at least one bag and the opening of the at least one bag. 
     
     
         7 . The web of  claim 5 , wherein a second longitudinal fold in the single sheet defines another boundary between the first sheet and the second sheet, wherein the second longitudinal fold forms a second lateral side of the at least one bag, wherein the second lateral side extends between the bottom of the at least one bag and the opening of the at least one bag, wherein longitudinal edges of the single sheet are connected together by a third activated portion of the connecting material to form a longitudinal seam, wherein the first sheet is bounded by the first and second longitudinal folds and includes the longitudinal seam, and wherein the second sheet is bounded by the first and second longitudinal folds. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The web of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second sheets are formed from separate sheets of the sheet material that are connected together along third and fourth activated portions of the connecting material. 
     
     
         10 . The web of  claim 9 , wherein the third and fourth activated portions of the connecting material form first and second lateral sides, respectively, of the at least one bag, and wherein each of the first and second sheets is bounded by the third and fourth activated portions of the connecting material. 
     
     
         11 . The web of  claim 9 , wherein the third and fourth activated portions of the connecting material form longitudinal seams in the web, wherein each of the separate sheets of the sheet material includes a longitudinal fold, and wherein each of the first and second sheets is bounded by the longitudinal folds in the separate sheets of the sheet material and includes one of the longitudinal seams in the web. 
     
     
         12 . The web of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the at least one bag extends along a first longitudinal side of the web, and wherein a bottom of the at least one bag extends along a second longitudinal side of the web. 
     
     
         13 . The web of  claim 12 , wherein a first lateral side of the bag that extends between the bottom and the opening of the at least one bag is formed by a second activated portion of the connecting material. 
     
     
         14 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The web of claim  14 , wherein the first and second sheets are formed from separate sheets of the sheet material that are connected together along a fourth activated portion of the connecting material, and wherein the fourth activated portion of the connecting material defines the bottom of the at least one bag. 
     
     
         17 . The web of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting material is applied to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets in a pattern, wherein the pattern includes at least one longitudinal strip of the connecting material along each of the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets. 
     
     
         18 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The web of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting material includes a polymer. 
     
     
         23 . The web of  claim 22 , wherein the connecting material is activatable by a heat seal configured to bond portions of the polymer on the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets. 
     
     
         24 . The web of  claim 22 , wherein the connecting material is applied as an aqueous solution that includes the polymer. 
     
     
         25 . The web of  claim 22 , wherein the polymer is laminated to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets. 
     
     
         26 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The web of  claim 1 , wherein the web further comprises:
 a first set of two longitudinal creases on opposite sides of a first longitudinal side of the web; and   a second set of two longitudinal creases on opposite sides of a second longitudinal side of the webs;   wherein a portion of the web that includes the at least one bag is in a lay-flat configuration prior to a product being inserted into the at least one bag; and   wherein, in the lay-flat configuration, the longitudinal creases of the first and second sets of two longitudinal creases are unfolded.   
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The web of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one bag is adjustable from the lay-flat configuration to a three-dimensional configuration where the longitudinal creases of the first and second sets of two longitudinal creases are folded such that lateral sides of the at least one bag are gusseted. 
     
     
         31 .- 32 . (canceled)