Storage bag with openly biased mouth

This application claims priority under provisional patent application No. 60 / 336,442 filed on October 23, 2001.

The present invention generally relates to a storage bag. More specifically, it relates to a resealable storage bag that has the ability to maintain an open position that facilitates the entry of items.

Storage bags are well known. Such bags can be made from a variety of materials, including but not limited to paper and plastic. Paper is often the material of choice when the article (s) or article (s) to be preserved are dry or solid items. Paper is also used for aesthetic or traditional reasons, such as high-end clothing stores that offer paper bags with annular handles, or grocery stores where kraft paper bags have traditionally been used. , Often chosen.

However, if fresh food products, such as, but not limited to, food products, should be preserved, paper has a very limited effect, assuming that it cannot be sealed with its porosity. .. Plastic bags, especially those made from thermoplastic materials such as, but not limited to, high density and low density polyethylene, have therefore become the main products of choice in the area of food storage bags. It was. Such materials are impermeable to liquids, are relatively inexpensive and can be manufactured in transparent form, which facilitates identification of the contents.

Such thermoplastic bags are also typically provided to be resealable and largely sealable. One common approach to providing such features is to fold or heat-seal the first and second thermoplastic layers along the bottom and the edges of the first and second sides. A sealing member on the upper edge of the bag is used. The sealing member may be provided in a mating male and female contour, as provided by the Transferee under the ZIPLOC (R) trademark. Male and female contours are also typically made of plastic, and the male contours include linear tabs that are configured to fit into the linear grooves of the female contours.

Male and female contours can be connected to close the bag by tightening and pulling along the length of the upper edge over the entire sealing member. Such movement is a sliding element mounted with the user's thumb and index finger or on the male and female contours, as in the case of the bag provided by the Transferee under the ZIPLOC (R) trademark. Achievable through the use of.

While such bags have had tremendous commercial success from their inception to the present day, transferees continue to improve their products. One area that the transferee has found to be an improvement in his favor includes not only maintaining an open configuration, but also the ability of the bag to pop open. More specifically, as mentioned above, such bags typically have a closed bottom and side edges, and an open but resealable top edge. In the absence of folds in the bag, the upper edges tend to remain adjacent to each other, regardless of whether the male and female contours are engaged. This can be annoying because when trying to put things in a bag, the user has to keep the bag open with the other hand while putting things in the bag with one hand. unknown. Moreover, users are often frustrated by not knowing if the bag is actually open.

Therefore, the industry has begun to offer such thermoplastic storage bags with a stay-open shape configuration. Such a bag may be provided with semi-rigid plastic strips provided adjacent to the upper edge of the bag. These strips may be formed around an arched mandrel or cylinder to have a relaxed, flexed shape and a stressed, flattened shape. When the male and female sealing elements are engaged, the strips are stressed and kept in a flattened shape, but when the sealing member is separated, the strips relax and return to a flexed shape. This keeps the bag open. Patent Document 1 shows an example of a bag that keeps such an open state.<patcit num="1"><text>U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,477</text></patcit>

<p> While providing a shape that keeps the bag open, it has a shape that keeps it open, is less expensive to manufacture, and pops open as soon as the male and female contours are separated. It is advantageous to provide other forms of thermoplastic storage bags that provide improved capacity.</p>

<p> According to one aspect of the invention, a resealable storage bag is provided that includes first and second sides, a sealing member, and a biased rail. The first side surface includes a bottom edge, a left side edge, a right side edge, a top edge, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The second side surface includes a bottom edge, a left side edge, a right side edge, a top edge, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The bottom edges of the first and second sides are attached, the left edges of the first and second sides are attached, and the right edges of the first and second sides are attached. Sealing members are provided adjacent to the upper edges of the first and second sides. Biasing rails are attached to the first and second sides, each having a relaxed, outwardly biased shape and a stressed, flat shape. The sealing member has a closing force and the biasing rail has an opening force. The closing force is stronger than the opening force, and each biased rail contains multiple hinged portions.</p><p> According to another feature of the invention, a sheet of thermoplastic film is traversed around the cylinder and simultaneously engages a biased rail with multiple hinged segments with the sheet of thermoplastic film. A method is provided for forming a resealable storage bag that swivels around a cylinder, attaches each hinged portion to a sheet of thermoplastic film, and folds the thermoplastic film into a bag with an openable top. There is.</p><p> According to another aspect of the invention, a resealable storage bag is provided that includes first and second sides, a sealing member, and a biased rail. The first side surface includes a bottom edge, a left side edge, a right side edge, a top edge, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The second side surface includes a bottom edge, a left side edge, a right side edge, a top edge, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The bottom edges of the first and second sides are attached, the left edges of the first and second sides are attached, and the right edges of the first and second sides are attached. Sealing members are provided adjacent to the upper edges of the first and second sides. Biasing rails are attached to the first and second sides, each having a relaxed, outwardly biased shape and a stressed, flat shape. The sealing member has a closing force and the biasing rail has an opening force. The closing force is stronger than the opening force. Each biased rail is deformed on at least one side surface to have an outwardly biased shape.</p><p> According to another aspect of the invention, a resealable storage bag is provided that includes first and second sides, a sealing member, and a biased rail. The first side surface includes a bottom edge, a left side edge, a right side edge, a top edge, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The second side surface includes a bottom edge, a left side edge, a right side edge, a top edge, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The bottom edges of the first and second sides are attached, the left edges of the first and second sides are attached, and the right edges of the first and second sides are attached. Sealing members are provided adjacent to the upper edges of the first and second sides. Biasing rails are attached to the first and second sides, each having a relaxed, outwardly biased shape and a stressed, flat shape. The sealing member has a closing force and the biasing rail has an opening force. The closing force is stronger than the opening force, and each biasing rail is elastic.</p><p> According to another aspect of the invention, a resealable storage bag is provided that includes first and second sides, a sealing member, and a biased rail. The first side surface includes a bottom edge, a left side edge, a right side edge, a top edge, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The second side surface includes a bottom edge, a left side edge, a right side edge, a top edge, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The bottom edges of the first and second sides are attached, the left edges of the first and second sides are attached, and the right edges of the first and second sides are attached. Sealing members are provided adjacent to the upper edges of the first and second sides. Biasing rails are attached to the first and second sides, each having a relaxed, outwardly biased shape and a stressed, flat shape. The sealing member has a closing force and the biasing rail has an opening force. The closing force is stronger than the opening force, each biasing rail has polarity, and each biasing rail has the same polarity.</p><p> According to another aspect of the invention, a resealable storage bag is provided that includes first and second sides, a sealing member, and a biased rail. The first side surface includes a bottom edge, a left side edge, a right side edge, a top edge, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The second side surface includes a bottom edge, a left side edge, a right side edge, a top edge, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The bottom edges of the first and second sides are attached, the left edges of the first and second sides are attached, and the right edges of the first and second sides are attached. Sealing members are provided adjacent to the upper edges of the first and second sides. Biasing rails are attached to the first and second sides, each having a relaxed, outwardly biased shape and a stressed, flat shape. The sealing member has a closing force and the biasing rail has an opening force. The closing force is stronger than the opening force. Each biased rail contains first and second layers of different lengths.</p><p> According to another aspect of the invention, a pouch having an access path to a storage area inside the pouch and an engaged position adjacent to the access path, closing the access path and an isolated position opening the access path. A means of biasing, including a rail having a plurality of hinged portions, which is movable between the sealing device and a means for biasing the access path into an open shape when the sealing device is separated. And, a resealable storage bag is provided.</p><p> According to another aspect of the invention, between a pouch having an access path to a storage area inside the pouch and an engaged position adjacent to the access path and closing the access path and a separate position opening the access path. Resealable storage bag with a sealable device that can be moved around and a means of biasing that biases the access path to an open shape when the sealant is separated and contains multiple layers. Is provided.</p><p> According to another aspect of the invention, between a pouch having an access path to a storage area inside the pouch and an engaged position adjacent to the access path and closing the access path and a separate position opening the access path. Movable with a sealing device and when the sealing device is separated, the access path is biased into an open shape, including a rail with deformation, which biases the rail away. A resealable storage bag is provided, which comprises means of biasing.</p><p> According to another aspect of the invention, between a pouch having an access path to a storage area inside the pouch and an engaged position adjacent to the access path and closing the access path and a separated position opening the access path. Movable with, re-equipped with a sealing device and a means of biasing, including a polarized element that biases the access path to an open shape when the sealing device is separated. A sealable storage bag is provided.</p><p> According to another aspect of the invention, subassemblies of rails and sealed strips are formed, the subassemblies of rails and sealed strips are connected to a web of thermoplastic material, and the rails are compressed into an elongated shape with the web. A resealable bag with steps, which processes the connected rail and the subassembly of the sealed strip into a bag with an opening having the rail and the subassembly of the sealed strip adjacent to the opening. A manufacturing method is provided.</p><p> According to another aspect of the invention, a rail made of a plastic material having first and second opposed sides is formed so that one of the first and second sides is deformed to have a deflection therein. , Attaching the rail to a web of thermoplastic material, processing the web of thermoplastic material into a bag with a mouth, with steps, the rail deflection was arranged to bias the mouth into an open shape , A method of manufacturing a bag that can be resealed is provided.</p><p> According to another aspect of the invention, the sealing members are provided adjacent to the first side surface, the second side surface, and the upper edges of the first and second side surfaces, each of which is biased. A resealable storage bag, which may include a bow-shaped sealing member, is disclosed.</p><p> According to still another aspect of the present invention, a first side surface, a second side surface, a sealing member provided adjacent to the upper edge of the first and second side surfaces, and a first and second side surface. Disclosed are resealable bags that may include a sealing member provided adjacent to the upper edge of the side surface.</p><p> These and other embodiments and features of the invention will become even more apparent when reading the following detailed description with the accompanying drawings.</p>

While the present invention allows various modifications and other configurations, certain exemplary embodiments thereof are illustrated and described in detail below. However, as a matter of course, there is no intention to limit the present invention to the specified form disclosed. However, on the contrary, it is intended to cover all modifications, other configurations, and equivalents within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Resealable storage bags configured in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, with reference to the figures, particularly with reference to FIG. 1, are generally indicated by reference number 20. Although the resealable storage bag is represented in the front or rear view to have a generally rectangular shape, the teachings of the present disclosure are, of course, circular, cylindrical, trapezoidal. Alternatively, it can be used with the same effect for bags having other shapes including, but not limited to, polygonal shapes. Further, it is described in more detail here that the bag 20 is constructed as a transparent, thermoplastic material, but of course the teachings of the present disclosure include, but include, cellulosic materials. Can be applied to opaque bags as well as bags made from other materials, but not limited to.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the bag 20 has a first layer 22 and a th layer, each containing a bottom edge 26, a first side edge 28, a second side edge 30, and a top edge 32. It is represented to include two layers 24. The first and second layers 22 and 24 are coupled at the bottom edge 26, the first side edge 28, and the second side edge 30, as will be described in more detail here. The upper edge 32 is not coupled, but is connected by engaging the sealing device 34. At that time, a mouth 36 to the inside 38 of the bag for accommodating the contents 39 is provided adjacent to the upper edge 32. In the embodiment represented, the bottom edge 26 is connected by a crease, and the first side edge 28 and the second side edge 30 are connected by a heat seal. However, of course, heat seals, creases, or any other type of bond can be used at any of the edges 26, 28 or 30. In addition, the top edge 32 may be coupled and the open edge of the bag 20 may be provided on any of the other edges 26, 28, or 30.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sealing device 34 includes a male contour strip 40 and a female contour strip 42 that are configured to be engaged to close the bag mouth 36. You can stay. In the embodiment represented, the male contour strip 40 is bound to the first layer 22 and the female contour strip 42 is bound to the second layer 24. However, of course, other forms of sealing devices may be utilized, including, but not limited to, adhesives, tongue and loop fasteners, and creases. In addition, the male and female strips 40, 42, respectively, include, but are not limited to, coextrusion, bonding, ultrasonic welding, bonding, etc., in various ways, the second and first layers 24. And may be bonded to the second layer 22.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the male contour strip 40 may include a base 44 from which the linear tabs 46 extend. The linear tab 46 may include an enlarged end 48 provided with a hook 50. The female contour strip 42 may include a base 52 having a groove 54 therein. The groove 54 may include a front edge 56 having a shoulder 58 adapted to inter-engage with the tab hook 50. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, when the tab 46 is housed in the groove 54, between the two, as if the male and female contour strips 40, 42 were both compressed. The frictional engagement of the strips 40 and 42 is sufficient to hold them together until they are forcibly separated. For example, the user may grasp the top edge 32 and pull the contours 40, 42 apart, or use the sliding element 59 (FIG. 4) to make the strip 40 easily understood by those skilled in the art. , 42 may be forcibly separated. In other forms of male and female contours, the male contour may include a single tab and groove combination, or more than two linear tabs, and the joining female contours have a corresponding number of grooves. ..

Many structures can be used to bias the mouth 36 into an open shape. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-7, the biasing structure is provided in the form of a biasing rail 60 provided adjacent to the top edge 32. Each of the bias rails 60 includes a plurality of segments 62 connected by a hinge 64. The rail 60 may be made from a plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, but not limited to, extruded or otherwise linear length with a rectangular cross section. It may be formed. The rail 60 may then be die-cut or otherwise machined so that a plurality of grooves 62 are formed therein to form a region of reduced thickness. The area of reduced thickness serves as a hinge 64. As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, portion 62 includes a short side 66, a long side 68, and first and second sloping ends 70, 72. The ends 70, 72 are preferably tilted at angles that intersect each other, the importance of which is explained in more detail here.

In the first embodiment, the force required to bias the opening 36 into the open configuration is the rail 60 and the way the rails are coupled to the first and second layers 22 and 24. And provided by both. Now referring to FIG. 5, the thermoplastic or elastomeric web 74 used to form the first and second layers 22, 24 is represented to swirl around a cylindrical roller 76. ing. In addition, the rails 60 are both shown to be coupled to the web 74 so as to swivel around a cylindrical roller 76. More specifically, each of the hinged portions 62 is attached to the web 74 as through-spot welds, adhesives, preheats, etc., both as they travel through the arcuate passage around the cylindrical roller 76. The rollers 76 may be independently cooled to facilitate such mounting. Thereby, the inclined end portions 70, 72 adjacent to the hinge fastening portion 62 are arranged so as to come into contact with each other as the portion 62 swivels around the hinge 64 to move around the cylindrical roller 76.

The importance of attaching this element in such an arched configuration is that the rails 60 are placed in a linear configuration, similar to when the male and female contours 40, 42 are engaged to close the bag 20. If so, the plastic forming the first and second sides 22, 24 is under tension. Such tension is applied to the plastic material of layers 22 and 24 as the hinged portions 62 individually attached to layers 22 and 24 swivel around the hinge 64 in the opposite direction to that of the roller 76. It arises from pulling. Frictional fit between engaged male and female contours 40, 42 when bag 20 is closed Interference) is sufficient to overcome the biasing forces generated by such tension and keep the top edge 32 sealed and linear. However, when the male and female contours 40, 42 are separated, the rail 60 is free to curl around the hinge 64, thereby removing tension in layers 22 and 24 and opening the mouth 36. At that time, the rail 60 is seen to have a relaxed and flexed shape and a stressed and flat shape. In another embodiment, each of the hinges 64 can be filled with a polymer, resin, etc. to force the rail into an arch shape.

As mentioned above, various materials may be used to make the bag 20. Even with the advantageous use of thermoplastic materials such as, but not limited to, high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), chain low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and polypropylene (PP). good. Other materials that may be used are styrene block copolymers, polyolefin blends, elastomer alloys, thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic copolyesters, thermoplastic polyamides, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), saran polymers, Contains, but is not limited to, polymers and copolymers of ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymers, cellulose acetate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), ionomers, polystyrene, polycarbonate, styrene acrylonitrile, aromatic polyesters, chain polyesters, and thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohols. ..

According to the second preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8-11, reference number 120 generally indicates another storage bag. Here, the same elements as those in the first embodiment are like reference numbers in the second and subsequent embodiments, except for the preceding 100 serial numbers (or serial numbers such as 200, 300, 400, etc.). It is used in. For the sake of clarity, it is not described here in an iterative form.

Differences regarding the second preferred embodiment are provided in the form of bias rail 160. As best shown in FIG. 10, the bias rail 160 further includes a plurality of segments 162 connected by a hinge 164 as in the first embodiment, but is further added to the bag 120. Includes an elastic band 166, such as a rubber band, to provide a biased force. The elastic band 166 may be attached to the bias rail 160 by spot welding the elastic band 166 to each hinged portion 162. As shown in FIG. 5, when the bag 120 is closed, the elastic band 166 is pulled to the stressed position. When the male and female contours 140 and 142 are separated, the bias rail 160 and the elastic band 166 curl and move to a relaxed position.

According to a third preferred embodiment, no bias rails are used, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, only the elastic bands 266 have tensions in the first and second layers 222 and 224. When it has a flat shape, it is spot welded to the first and second layers 222 and 224. Thus, when the male and female contours 240 and 242 are separated, the elastic band can retract to a relaxed shape, thereby biasing the mouth 236 into a curved and open shape, as represented. ..

According to a fourth preferred embodiment, the bias rail 360 is deformed prior to attachment to the bag 320, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. The rail 360 is deformed to have a curved shape that is relaxed and unstressed. Rail 360 includes opposing first and second sides 362 and 364, one of which is deformed and the other undeformed. Therefore, in order to relieve tension in the rail 360, the rail 360 tends to curl away from the stressed side.

Rails 360 are attached to the upper edge 332 of the bag 320, and if they move freely, they flex outward and separate from each other, thereby biasing the mouth 336 into an open shape. The biasing force of the rail 360 is less than the closing force generated by the frictional fit between the male and female contours 340, 342 of the sealing device 334. Alternatively, the rail 360 can be extruded integrally with the bag 320. Rail 360 may be made of any material, including but not limited to plastic and foam rubber.

The first or second aspects 362, 364 can be biased in a number of ways. Those skilled in the art will be familiar with, for example, coil springs used in retractable blinds or decorative ribbons for packaging and the like. In both examples, one side of the linear strip is deformed or stressed so that the strip curls around the deformed side. The bias rail 360 is deformable as shown in FIG. 15, where a deformable wheel or gear 366 with multiple deformable teeth 368 rotatably engages the first side surface 362, in between. Generate a part 371 and multiple variants 370 in it. The deformable wheel 366 may be powered by a motor, water pressure, or the like, and it is desirable to deform the rail 360 before attaching the rail 360 to the bag 320. The portion 371 is then compressed horizontally to partially or completely fill each of the variants 370 and thus keep the rail 360 in a curved shape. Alternatively, each of the variants 370, such as, but not limited to, plastic or foam rubber to prevent the portion 370 from returning in a linear direction and thus retain its flexed shape. It can be filled with material.

According to the fifth preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 16-18, in order to bias the bag mouth 436 into an open shape, the bag 420 has a deformed biasing element provided on the upper edge 432. I am using it. However, according to a fifth embodiment, the male and female contours 440 and 442 deform themselves to have an angular tilt, thereby biasing the mouth 436, rather than providing a separate rail element. Make it an open shape.

As shown, each contour 440, 442 will be noticed to include a lower 480 and an upper 482. The lower 450 is connected to the first and second layers 422, 424 and is parallel to it. However, in the relaxed state, the upper 482 extends from the lower at an angle α. Contours 440, 442 return to an angled or sloping shape when no stress is applied, thereby biasing and opening the mouth 436, as shown in FIG. It is desirable that it be made from a plastic material that has memorable properties, such as polypropylene. In one embodiment, linear notches 484 may be provided between the top and bottom 482, 480, respectively, to facilitate contour bias and bending.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that contours 440, 442 can be manufactured from a large number of materials and that many methods result in such angular shapes. For example, contours 400, 442 can be extruded from a die (not shown) with an outlet of the desired shape, or injected or blow molded with a mold (not shown) having the desired shape. As mentioned above, the material is preferably a plastic material having memorable properties such as polypropylene, but may be many other types of plastics and metals.

According to the sixth, seventh, and eighth preferred embodiments, a multilayer bias rail is provided adjacent to the upper edge of the bag to bias the bag into an open shape. Starting with the sixth embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20, the bag 520 is provided with a bias rail 560 adjacent to the upper edge 532 to bias the mouth 536 into an open shape. Has been done. As represented there, the bag 520 places a bias rail 560 on each of the first and second layers 522 and 524 to bias the mouth 536 by their outward curls and place it in an open position. Including.

The bias rail 560 preferably includes inner and outer layers 570, 572 coupled to each other. Prior to joining layers 570, 572, the inner layer 570 is tensioned by pulling. Therefore, when free to move, the inner layer 570 contracts, thereby pulling on the outer layer 572, which is connected to the inner layer 570 by tongue and groove joints, etc., along with bending the bias rail 560. Rails. Since the rail 560 is attached to the upper edge 532 of the bag 520, this also causes the upper edges 532 to flex outward and separate from each other, thereby opening the mouth 536. The bias rail 560 may be made from any suitable elastically deformable plastic material, such as, but not limited to, polypropylene. In addition, the rail 560 may be manufactured from fewer or more layers.

According to a seventh preferred embodiment, the bag 620 is similarly provided with a multilayer bias rail 660, as illustrated in FIGS. 21-24. However, rather than pulling one of the layers prior to joining the layers together, the inner and outer layers 670, 672 are made from materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion and will bond when the materials are heated. Or co-extruded. Thus, when the layers 670, 672 are cooled, they shrink, but due to their different coefficients of thermal expansion, they shrink to different degrees. Desirably, the inner layer 670 is made of a material having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the outer layer 672. With such material selection, the inner layer 670 shrinks significantly more than the outer layer. Since the layers 670, 672 are bonded together, the greater contraction of the inner layer 670 pulls the outer layer 672 by the inner layer 670, thereby causing the rail 660 to flex around the inner layer 670. Tend to do. Also, since the inner layer 670 is attached to the sides 622 and 624 of the bag, the mouth 636 tends to open due to the separation of the male and female sealed strips 640, 642.

Similarly, according to the eighth desirable embodiment, at the upper edge 732 of the bag 720, the bag 720 is provided with a multi-layer biased structure. Both male and female contours 740, 742 contain a bias rail 760 therein, as illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26. Desirably, the contours 740 and 742 are integrally extruded onto the outer surface 780 of the male and female contours 740, 742 to form contours 740, 742. The bias rail 760 is compressed along its overall length in order to stretch the rail 760 along its overall length in the direction of its vertical axis β, after extrusion or in mutual formation.

Stretching of the bias rail 760 after extrusion allows the bias rail 760 and the male and female contours 740, 742 to be tensioned when flattened. This tension is removed as the rail 760 curls or bends along with the male and female contours 740, 742 according to the deflection. Since the rail 760 is provided on the outer surface 780 of the contours 740, 742 and both are provided on the upper edge 732 of the bag 720, the rail 760 flexes outward when the male and female contours 740, 742 are separated. Separated from each other, the mouth 736 of the bag tends to open.

The bias rail 760 may be compressed according to a number of different methods. One non-limiting method involves the passage of rail 760 between a pair of nip rollers 790, 792, as shown in FIG. The nip rollers 790, 792 include a gap or nip 794 in between that is thinner than the thickness of the rail 760. Therefore, as the rail 760 passes through the nip 794, the rail 760 is compressed, thereby reducing its thickness and stretching its length in a manner similar to drawing motion. Desirably, the rail 760 is made from a material that is harder than the contours 740, 742 to facilitate its deflection.

According to a ninth desirable embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 27 and 28, the bag 820 is provided with a biased structure provided on the upper edge 832 that utilizes the repulsive force of materials of the same polarity. Has been done. More specifically, the bag 820 includes a bias rail 860 with magnetic or electret properties. Each of the magnets or electrets has the same polarity so that they repel each other and separate from each other. Male and female contours 840 because the bias rail 860 is attached to the top edge 832 of the side 822, 824 of the bag 820 and the sides of the bag are heat-sealed or folded along the side edges 828, 830. When the 842 is separated, the rails 860 tend to flex and separate from each other, thereby opening the mouth 836. Magnets or electrets (defined here as solid dielectrics exhibiting permanent dielectric polarization) are caused by a frictional fit between the male and female contours 840, 842 than when the contours are engaged. It is large enough to show a repulsive force that is smaller than the force applied.

According to a tenth preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 29 and 30, the bag 920 is provided with a bias rail 960 having the characteristics of two modes, here the first and second. It is defined as a device that is configured to move between stable positions in the. As shown, the bias rail 960 contains multiple parts 962 connected by a series of hinges 964. The rail 960 is stable in a flat or linear shape, with all parts aligned linearly and fitted together to form a curved shape, with the part 962 swiveling around the hinge 964 to form a bow shape. Rail 960 is stable and tends to remain bowed until forced back to linear mode.

The rail 960 is preferably formed by extruding an elongated raised member and then die-cutting a series of grooves in the raised member. To move the rail 960 from flat mode to arched mode, the upper edge 932 of the bag is pulled apart, separating the male and female contours 940, 942 and fitting the rail 932 in place. More specifically, the radius of travel of the hinged portion 962 travels through the thickness of the material used to form the hinge 964. When the hinged member 962 thus swings over the entire thickness of the material once used, the hinged member tends to remain in this position. After the rails 960 are fitted into the bowed mode, each hinged portion 962 is flattened, which requires force to achieve the linear mode.

According to the eleventh preferred embodiment, it will be noticed that the sealed contour 1000 can be made from materials with different densities, as shown in FIGS. 31-33. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 31, the sealed contour 1000 may include a base 1002 in which a plurality of meshing teeth 1004 are extended. The first and second materials may be made from polymers with different densities and may be co-extruded to form a stable seam 1006 between them. For example, the base 1002 may be made from a relatively low density polyester and the mating teeth 1004 may be made from a relatively high density polyester. Thus, when the polymer cools after extrusion, the dense polyester shrinks to a greater extent than the low density polyester, thereby bending the contour in the direction indicated by arrow 1008.

Such a variant of the subject is shown in FIG. Base 1002 is represented as containing an inorganic filler 1010 such as talc. Both base 1002 and tooth 1004 can be made from the same polyester, but by including an inorganic filler in base 1002, the density of base 1002 is even lower than that of tooth 1004, thereby pointing the contour 1000 to arrow 1008. Further curl in the direction of.

A further variant on such a subject is shown in Figure 33, where the base 1002 and the tooth 1004 are also made from the same polyethylene material, but the tooth has numerous voids in it. That is, it is manufactured to contain bubbles 1012. Since the void 1012 is filled with air when extruded, the air in it has a much larger volume than at room temperature. Therefore, when cooled, the air is relatively significantly reduced in volume, thereby causing the teeth to contract more than the base 1002, thus further curling the contour 1000 in the direction of arrow 1008. Although not represented, such bubbles 1012 can be provided in the teeth 1004 by feeding the raw material of air directly into the extruder. More specifically, a conduit or diversified tube with a plurality of relatively small openings can intermittently introduce air into the flow of extruded plastic, thereby creating air bubbles.

According to a twelfth preferred embodiment, a bag 1100 is provided that can be turned inside out from the position shown in FIG. 35 to the position shown in FIG. 36, as shown in FIGS. 34-36. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 34, the bag 1100 may include first and second sides 1102, 1104, each having a sealed contour 1106. However, in addition, the stay open sealed contour may have something like a female stay open or inside out contour 1107 and a male stay open or inside out contour 1008. good. When the main sealed contour 1106 is opened or separated, the male stay-open sealed contour 1108 is flipped over and locked to the female stay-open or sealed contour 1107 by engagement and friction, as indicated by arrow 1110 in FIG. As such, the first and second sides 1102, 1104 can be turned inside out. At that time, not only is the bag 1100 open and maintained in the open position, but the rigidity given by the flipping of the sides 1102 and 1104 inevitably keeps the bag 1100 in the open shape.

Finally, according to the thirteenth embodiment represented by FIG. 37, device 1200 can be provided to create the sealed contour 1202. Similar to the embodiment represented in FIG. 15, the contour 1202 is deformable on the first side surface 1204, thereby causing the contour 1202 to have a natural bow shape. Such deformation can be achieved by simply dragging the contour 1202 over the sharp edges or the entire knife 1206, thereby removing the material or otherwise deforming the material on the first side surface of the strip. However, given the relatively strong drag that occurs between the sharp edge 1206 and the sealed strip 1202, the sharp edge 1206 may be mounted on the support surface 1208 to alleviate such drag. For example, support surface 1208 can be provided in the form of an ultrasonic vibrator 1210 that vibrates at a period sufficient to alleviate drag, yet strips of sharp edges 1206 to deform strip 1202 in this way. Guarantee contact with 1202. In addition, the machine 1200 is equipped with tension rolls 1214, 1216 to ensure that the strips are dragged across the sharp edges 1206 with sufficient force to deform the first side surface 1204. Is also good. According to other embodiments, different forms of support surface can be reliably provided.

From the above description, one of ordinary skill in the art can readily understand the teachings of the present invention which can be used to construct a storage bag having an improved, snap-open or open mouth. There will be.

<figref num="1">FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a first storage bag constructed according to the teachings of the present invention and shown in a closed shape.</figref><figref num="2">FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a first storage bag constructed according to the teachings of the present invention and shown in an open shape.</figref><figref num="3">FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view described using a closed contour of male and female engaged, cut along line 3-3 of FIG.</figref><figref num="4">It is an enlarged partial view of the corner of the bag of FIG.</figref><figref num="5">It is a schematic view of a bias rail attached to a thermoplastic membrane so that both swivel around a cylindrical roller.</figref><figref num="6">It is sectional drawing of the bias rail of the 1st storage bag when a bag is closed.</figref><figref num="7">It is sectional drawing of the bias rail of the 1st storage bag when the bag is opened.</figref><figref num="8">FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a second storage bag constructed according to the teachings of the present invention and shown in a closed shape.</figref><figref num="9">It is sectional drawing which cut along the line 9-9 of FIG.</figref><figref num="10">It is sectional drawing of the bias rail of a 2nd bag in a closed position.</figref><figref num="11">It is sectional drawing of the bias rail of a 2nd bag in an opened position.</figref><figref num="12">FIG. 3 is a plan view of a third storage bag constructed according to the teachings of the present invention and shown in a closed position.</figref><figref num="13">It is a top view of the third storage bag shown in the opened position.</figref><figref num="14">FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of a fourth storage bag configured according to the teachings of the present invention and represented in an open position.</figref><figref num="15">It is the schematic of the bias rail which is deformed according to the teaching of this invention.</figref><figref num="16">FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a fifth storage bag constructed according to the teachings of the present invention and represented in an open position.</figref><figref num="17">FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a sealed strip of a fifth storage bag, shown in a closed position.</figref><figref num="18">FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a sealed strip of a fifth storage bag, shown in the opened position.</figref><figref num="19">FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a sixth storage bag configured according to the teachings of the present invention.</figref><figref num="20">FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a sixth storage bag cut along line 20-20 of FIG.</figref><figref num="21">FIG. 5 is a plan view of a seventh storage bag constructed according to the teachings of the present invention and shown in a closed position.</figref><figref num="22">FIG. 5 is a plan view of a seventh storage bag constructed according to the teachings of the present invention and shown in an open position.</figref><figref num="23">It is sectional drawing of the 7th storage bag cut along the line 23-23 of FIG.</figref><figref num="24">It is the schematic of the bias rail of the 7th storage bag constructed according to the teaching of this invention.</figref><figref num="25">FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an eighth storage bag constructed according to the teachings of the present invention and shown in a closed position.</figref><figref num="26">It is the schematic of the bias rail of the 8th storage bag constructed according to the teaching of this invention.</figref><figref num="27">9 is a plan view of a ninth storage bag constructed according to the teachings of the present invention and shown in an open position.</figref><figref num="28">It is an enlarged sectional view of the bias rail of the 9th storage bag.</figref><figref num="29">FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a tenth storage bag constructed according to the teachings of the present invention and shown in a closed position.</figref><figref num="30">FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the tenth storage bag, represented in the open position.</figref><figref num="31">FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a closed contour configured as taught in the eleventh embodiment.</figref><figref num="32">It is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 31 showing that different materials are used.</figref><figref num="33">Other partial cross-sections similar to FIGS. 31 and 32 showing that a different material is used.</figref><figref num="34">FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the eleventh embodiment configured according to the teachings of the present invention.</figref><figref num="35">It is sectional drawing which cut along the line 35-35 of FIG.</figref><figref num="36">It is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 35 showing the bag in the open position.</figref><figref num="37">A machine configured to construct a bag according to the teachings of the present invention, according to a twelfth embodiment.</figref>