Bag Closure System

Abstract

A system and method for sealing a flexible container such as a paper-based bag having two sets of opposing panels that can be pressed together and folded over each other. The system includes a strip of material having an adhesive on a single side of a top ply that is attached to a surface of a second or bottom ply that is partially coated with a release coating such that that part of the top ply is releasably attached to the bottom ply and part of it is permanently attached to the bottom ply. The user removes the portion of the top ply from the portion of the bottom ply that is coated with a release coating, partially folds the top edges panels and places the bottom surface of the top ply over opposite panels of the bag. Some embodiments have a second top ply attached to the first top ply.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of sealing a bag having a first panel, an opposing second panel and an opening between the first panel and the second panel comprising the steps of:
 applying a strip of adhesive material to an exterior surface of the first panel;   separating a portion of the strip of adhesive material away from the exterior surface of the first panel revealing a bottom surface of the strip of adhesive material coated with an adhesive;   applying the bottom surface of the strip of adhesive material to an exterior surface of the second opposing panel without removing the strip of adhesive material from the exterior surface of the first panel.   
     
     
         2 . A method of sealing a bag having a front panel, an opposing back panel and an opening between the front panel and the back panel comprising the steps of:
 forming a strip of material comprised of:
 a top ply with a bottom surface coated with an adhesive; 
 a bottom ply with a top surface coated with a release coating; 
 wherein the bottom surface of the top play is applied directly to and laid flush against the top surface of the bottom ply thereby releasably attaching the top ply to the bottom ply at a first end and non-releasably attaching the top ply to the bottom play at a second end forming a hinge; 
   applying an adhesive to a bottom surface of the bottom ply;   applying the bottom surface of the bottom ply to an exterior surface of the front panel at a point that is adjacent to the opening;   separating a portion of the top ply away from the bottom ply revealing the bottom surface of the top ply;   applying the bottom surface of the top ply to an exterior surface of the back panel.   
     
     
         3 . The method of claim  3  further comprising the steps of folding a top edge of the back panel over a top edge of the front panel before applying the bottom surface of the top ply to an exterior surface of the back panels. 
     
     
         4 . The method of claim  4  further comprising the steps of applying a release coating to a corner of the bottom surface of the top ply proximate to the first end of the top ply. 
     
     
         5 . A method of sealing a bag having a front panel, an opposing back panel and an opening between the front panel and the back panel comprising the steps of:
 coating a bottom side of a top ply of a strip of material with an adhesive;   partially coating a top surface of a bottom ply of the strip of material with a release coating;   attaching the bottom surface of the top ply to the top surface of the bottom ply forming an assembled strip of material wherein a first portion of the top ply is non-releasably attached to the bottom ply and a second portion of the top ply is releasably attached to the bottom ply.   
     
     
         6 . The method of claim  6  further comprising the steps of:
 removing the top ply from the portion of the bottom ply that is coated with a release coating; 
 folding a top edge of the back panel over a top edge of the front panel; 
 applying the bottom surface of the top ply that is no longer attached to the bottom ply to an exterior surface of the back panel thereby attaching the front and to the back panel with the top ply. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of claim  7  further comprising the steps of providing the top ply with a flexible portion that serves as a hinge when the top ply is partially removed from the bottom ply. 
     
     
         8 . The method of claim  8  further comprising the steps of applying a release coating to a corner of the bottom surface of the top ply.