AU2004217859A1

AU2004217859A1 - System and method for forming an indicia for use in vacuum packaging

Info

Publication number: AU2004217859A1
Application number: AU2004217859A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Charles Wade Albritton; David Brakes; Hongyu Wu
Original assignee: Tilia International Inc USA
Current assignee: Tilia International Inc USA
Priority date: 2003-03-05
Filing date: 2004-03-05
Publication date: 2004-09-16
Also published as: KR20050107601A; EP1615822A2; CA2517852A1; MXPA05009457A; WO2004078592A3; WO2004078592A2

Description

WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 1 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORMING AN INDICIA FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING CLAIM OF PRIORITY [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/451,954, entitled "SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INDICIA FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Henry Wu, et al., filed March 5, 2003 (Attorney Docket No. TILA 5 01179USO); U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/451,948, entitled "METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INDICIA FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Henry Wu, et al., filed March 5, 2003 (Attorney Docket No. TILA 01 179US1); U.S. Patent Application No. 10/ entitled "SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INDICA FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Hongyu Wu, et al., filed March 4, 2004 10 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01179US2); and U.S. Patent Application No. 10/ ,_ entitled "METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INDICIA FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Hongyu Wu, et al., filed March 4, 2004 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01179US3). 15 CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS [0002] This application incorporates by reference all of the following co-pending applications: [0003] U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/4.52,168, entitled "LIQUID TRAPPING BAG FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Henry Wu, et al., filed March 5, 20 2003 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01177USO); [0004] U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/452,138, entitled "METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING LIQUID-TRAPPING BAG FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Henry Wu, et al., filed March 5, 2003 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01 177US1); [0005] U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/452,172, entitled "SEALABLE BAG 25 HAVING AN INTEGRATED TRAY FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Henry Wu, et al., filed March 5, 2003 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01 178USO); [0006] U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/452,171, entitled "METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED TRAY FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Henry Wu, et al., filed March 5,2003 (Attorney Docket No. TILA 30 01178US1); [0007] U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/452,142, entitled "SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED ZIPPER FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Henry Wu, et al., filed March 5, 2003 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01 180USO); WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 2 [0008] U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/452,021, entitled "METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED ZIPPER FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Henry Wu, etal., filed March 5,2003 (Attorney Docket No. TILA 01 180US1); 5 [0009] U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 601451,955, entitled "SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED VALVE STRUCTURE FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Henry Wu, et al., filed March 5, 2003 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01 181 USO); [0010] U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/451,956, entitled "METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED VALVE STRUCTURE 10 FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Henry Wu, et al., filed March 5, 2003 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01181US1); [0011] U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/452,157, entitled "SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED TIMER/SENSOR FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Henry Wu, et al., filed March 5, 2003 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01 182US0); 15 [0012] U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/452,139, entitled "METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED TIMER/SENSOR FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Henry Wu, et al., filed March 5, 2003 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01182US1); [0013] U.S. Patent Application No. 10/169,485, entitled "METHOD FOR 20 PREPARING AIR CHANNEL EQUIPPED FILM FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGE," filed June 26, 2002; [00141 U.S. Patent Application No. 10/ entitled "LIQUID-TRAPPING BAG FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Hongyu Wu, et al., filed March 4, 2004 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01177US2); 25 [0015] U.S. Patent Application No. 10/_ , entitled "METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING LIQUID-TRAPPING BAG FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Hongyu Wu, et al., filed March 4, 2004 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01177US3); [0016] U.S. Patent Application No. 10/,_, entitled "SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED TRAY FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Hongyu Wu, et al., filed 30 March 4, 2004 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01178US2); (0017] U.S. Patent Application No. 10/_,_, entitled "METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED TRAY FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Hongyu Wu, et al., filed March 4, 2004 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01 178US3); 35 [0018] U.S. Patent Application No. 10/_,_, entitled,"SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED ZIPPER FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Hongyu Wu, et al., WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 3 filed March 4, 2004 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01 180US2); [0019] U.S. Patent Application No. 10/ , _, entitled, "METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED ZIPPER FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Hongyu Wu, et al., filed March 4, 2004 (Attorney Docket No. 5 TILA-01180US3); [0020] U.S. Patent Application No. 101,, entitled, "SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED VALVE STRUCTURE FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Hongyu Wu, et al., filed March 4, 2004 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01 181 US2); [0021] U.S. Patent Application No. 10/ ,_, entitled, "METHOD FOR 10 MANUFACTURING A SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED VALVE STRUCTURE FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Hongyu Wu, et al., filed March 4, 2004 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01181US3); [0022] U.S. Patent Application No. 10/_,_, entitled, "SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED TIMER/SENSOR FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Hongyu Wu, 15 et al., filed March 4, 2004 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01 182US2); and [0023] U.S. Patent Application No. 10/ _, entitled, "METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SEALABLE BAG HAVING AN INTEGRATED TIMER/SENSOR FOR USE IN VACUUM PACKAGING," by Hongyu Wu, et al., filed March 4,2004 (Attorney Docket No. TILA-01182US3). 20 FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0024] The present invention relates to bags for use in vacuum packaging and methods and devices for manufacturing bags for use in vacuum packaging. 25 BACKGROUND [0025] Methods and devices for preserving perishable foods such as fish and meats, processed foods, prepared meals, and left-overs, and non-perishable items are widely known, and widely varied. Foods are perishable because organisms such as bacteria, fungus and mold grow over time after a food container is opened and the food is left exposed to the 30 atmosphere. Most methods and devices preserve food by protecting food from organism-filled air. A common method and device includes placing food into a gas-impermeable plastic bag, evacuating the air from the bag using suction from a vacuum pump or other suction source, WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 4 and tightly sealing the bag. [0026] A bag for use in vacuum packaging can consist of a first panel and second panel, each panel consisting of a single layer of heat-sealable, plastic-based film (for example, polyethylene). The panels are sealed together along a substantial portion of the 5 periphery of the panels by heat-sealing techniques so as to form an envelope. Perishable products, such as spoilable food, or other products are packed into the envelope via the unsealed portion through which air is subsequently evacuated. After perishable products are packed into the bag and air is evacuated from the inside of the bag, the unsealed portion is heated and pressed such that the panels adhere to each other, sealing the bag. 10 [0027] U.S. Pat. No. 2,778,173, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method for improving the evacuation of air from the bag by forming channels in at least one of the panels with the aid of embossing techniques. Air escapes from the bag along the channels during evacuation .The embossing forms a pattern of protuberances on at least one of the panels. The protuberances can be discrete pyramids, hemispheres, etc., and are 15 formed by pressing a panel using heated female and male dies. The first panel is overlaid on the second panel such that the protuberances from one panel face the opposite panel. The contacting peripheral edges of the panels are sealed to each other to form an envelope having an inlet at an unsealed portion of the periphery. The perishable or other products are packed into the envelope through the inlet, and the inlet is sealed. Thereafter, an opening 20 is pierced in a part of the panel material that communicates with the channels, air is removed from the interior of the envelope through the channels and opening, and the opening is sealed. This type of bag requires two additional sealing steps after the perishable or other product is packed into the envelope. One further problem is that embossing creates impressions on the plastic such that indentations are formed on the opposite side of the 25 panel. [0028] To avoid additional sealing steps, a vacuum bag is formed having a first panel and a second panel consisting of laminated films. Each panel comprises a heat- WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 5 sealable inner layer, a gas-impermeable outer layer, and optionally, one or more intermediate layers. Such a bag is described in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 34,929, incorporated herein by reference. At least one film from at least one panel is embossed using an embossing mold to form protuberances and channels defined by the space between protuberances, so that air is 5 readily evacuated from the vacuum bag. [0029] , U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,423, incorporated herein by reference, discloses still another bag usable in vacuum packaging. The bag consists of a first and second panel, each panel consisting of a gas-impermeable outer layer and a heat-sealable inner layer. A plurality of heat-sealable strand elements are heat bonded at regular intervals to the inner layer of 10 either the first panel or the second panel. The spaces between strand elements act as channels for the evacuation of air. The strand elements are extruded from an extrusion head and heat bonded to the heat-sealable layer by use of pressure rolls. Separate equipment is required for producing strand elements, and a procedure of heat bonding a plurality of strand elements at regular intervals to the heat-sealable inner layer is complicated. Also, various 15 shapes of pattern are hard to form using this process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0030] Further details of embodiments of the present invention are explained with the help of the attached drawings in which: 20 [0031] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a method for manufacturing a vacuum bag in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; [0032] FIG. 11B is a side view of the method shown in FIG. 1A illustrating the embossing method used in an embodiment of the present invention; [0033] FIG. IC is a close-up view of a portion of FIG. 1B; 25 [0034] FIG. 2A-C are plan views of exemplary indicia on a panel in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, manufactured by the process shown in FIGs. 1A and

B;

WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 6 [0035] FIG. 3A is a cross-section of a portion of a first panel as illustrated in FIG. 2B, overlapping a second panel of an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the indicia are indented into the inner layer; [0036] FIG. 3B is a cross-section of a portion of a first panel as illustrated in FIG. 2B, 5 overlapping a second panel of an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the indicia are protuberances; [0037] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a method for manufacturing a vacuum bag having colored indicia in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; [0038] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a method for manufacturing a vacuum bag 10 having colored indicia in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and [0039] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a vacuum bag in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 15 DETAILED DESCRIPTION [00401 FIGs. IA-IC illustrate one embodiment of a method for manufacturing a vacuum bag in accordance with the present invention. The vacuum bag comprises a first panel and a second panel, wherein each panel comprises a gas-impermeable base layer 108 and a heat-sealable inner layer 106 with at least one panel having indicia. A laminating roll 20 102 and a cooling roll 104 are arranged so that the heat-sealable inner layer 106 can be laminated to the gas-impermeable base layer 108 as the melt-extruded resin is cooled. As illustrated in FIG. 1 B, the gap between the laminating roll 102 and the cooling roll 104 can be controlled according to specifications (for example, thickness) of a panel for use in vacuum packaging. The temperature of the cooling roll 104 is maintained in a range such that the 25 melt-extruded resin is sufficiently cooled to form the desired pattern. For example, a temperature range of about -15*C to about -10 0 C can be sufficient to properly form the WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 7 desired pattern. The temperature range of the cooling roll 104 can vary according to the composition of the resin, the composition of the gas-impermeable base layer 108, environmental conditions, etc. and can require calibration. Also, the cooling roll 104 can be sized to have a larger diameter than the laminating roll 102, thereby bringing the melt 5 extruded resin into contact with more cooled surface area. For example, the diameter of the cooling roll 104 can be about one-and-a-half to about three times as large (or more) as that of the laminating roll 102. [0041] The heat-sealable inner layer 106 typically comprises a thermoplastic resin. For example, the resin can be comprised of polyethylene (PE) suitable for preserving foods 10 and harmless to a human body. A vacuum bag can be manufactured by overlapping two panels such that the heat-sealable inner layers 106 of the two panels are brought into contact and heat is applied to a portion of the periphery of the panels to form an envelope. The thermoplastic resin can be chosen so that the two panels strongly bond to each other when sufficient heat is applied. 15 [0042] The gas-impermeable base layer 108 is fed to the gap between the cooling roll 104 and the laminating roll 102 by a feeding means (not shown). The gas-impermeable base layer can be comprised of polyester, polyamide, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), nylon, or other material having similar properties and capable of being used in this manufacturing process, and also capable of being heated. The gas-impermeable base layer 108 can consist 20 of one layer, or two or more layers, and can be transparent so that indicia is visible through the gas-impermeable base layer 108. When employing a multilayer-structured base layer, it should be understood that a total thickness thereof is also adjusted within the allowable range for the total gas-impermeable base layer 108, [0043] An extruder 110 is positioned in such a way that the melt-extruded resin is 25 layered on the gas-impermeable base layer 108 by feeding the melt-extruded resin to the nip between the cooling roll 104 and the gas-impermeable layer 108. The resin is fed through a WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 8 nozzle 112 of the extruder 110. The temperature of the melt-extruded resin is dependent on the type of resin used, and can typically range from about 2000C to about 2500C. The amount of resin to be extruded into the laminating unit 100 is dependent on the desired thickness of the heat-sealable inner layer 106. 5 [0044] A pattern fabricated on the circumferential surface of the cooling roll 104 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention can include protuberances and/or cavities or other pattern forforming indicia. The resin extruded from the nozzle 112 is pressed between the cooling roll 104 and the gas-impermeable base layer 108 and squeezed out where protuberances of the cooling roll 104 press into the resin, and/or the resin flows into 10 the cavities of the cooling roll 104. The resin quickly cools and solidifies in the desired pattern while adhering to the gas-impermeable base layer 108, thereby forming the heat sealable inner layer 106 of the panel 220 as shown in FIG. 2A-2E. The heat-sealable inner layer 106 can be formed while the resin is sufficiently heated to allow the resin to flow, thereby molding the resin, unlike other methods adopting a post-embossing treatment where the heat-sealable 15 inner layer is drawn by a die or embossed between male and female components. [0045] The depth (or thickness) of indicia formed on the heat-sealable inner layer 106 of a panel 220 can be determined by the height of the protuberances (or depth of the cavities) of the cooling roll 104. Thus, the shape, width, and depth (or thickness) of the indicia can be controlled by changing the specifications for the protuberances and/or cavities of the 20 cooling roll 104. FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-section of two panels in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention wherein protuberances of the cooling roll 104 impress indicia into the melt-extruded resin .The heat-sealable inner layer 106 can range from 0.5-6.0 mils in thickness at the indicia, and 1.0-12.0 mils in thickness between indicia, while the gas impermeable base layer 108 can range from about 0.5-8.0 mils in thickness. FIG. 3B 25 illustrates a cross-section of two panels in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the cavities of the cooling roll 104 form indicia on the inner layer WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 9 106. The heat-sealable inner layer 106 forthis alternative embodiment can range from 0.5-6.0 mils in thickness between indicia and 1.0-80.0 mils in thickness at the indicia. The dimensions of the inner layer 106 and the base layer 108 are set forth to illustrate, but are not to be construed to limit the dimensions. 5 [0046] FIG. 2A-2C are plan views of panels 220 formed by the cooling roll 104 for use in a vacuum bag, in which the heat-sealable inner layer 106 is molded in such a way that indicia 224 are formed on the heat-sealable inner layer 106. The indicia 224 can denote the intended contents of the bag, for example the indicia can resemble fish or poultry, etc. This can be useful for identifying the contents of a bag or for identifying pre-seasoned bags for 10 marinating foods. Alternatively, the indicia 224 can be a trademark denoting the manufacturer or some other entity, for example. In other embodiments, the indicia 224 can be text, such as cooking or storing instructions or recipes. In still other embodiments, the indicia 224 can correspond to seasonal symbols such as snowmen or jack-o-lanterns. In still other embodiments, the indicia 224 can correspond to a name or mark of an owner of the contents. 15 One of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate the different methods for communicating messages, both informative and whimsical. [0047] The indicia 224 can also be used to improve a characteristic of the bag. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, a pattern of protruding indicia 224 resembling fishes can be used to suspend contents such that liquid collects in the bag beneath the contents and 20 between the indicia 224. The indicia 224 can also act as channels for the evacuation of air and/or other gases from the bag. [0048] In other embodiments, the indicia 224 can comprise a thermoplastic resin, wherein the thermoplastic resin is dyed or colored as desired so that the indicia is visually more apparent to a user. The colored indicia 224 can be applied to the surface, for example, 25 in a separate manufacturing step. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 4A, indicia 224 imprinted as described above can be subsequently filled with dyed resin melt-extruded from WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 10 a second extruder 450. Excess resin can be removed by a knife edge 452, and the panel can be cooled so that the dyed resin adheres to the heat-sealable inner layer 106, forming colored indicia. [0049] In other embodiments, cavities and/or protuberances of the cooling roll 104 5 can include ink or dye so that indicia formed are colored by the ink or dye, while the melt extruded resin surrounding the indicia is not colored by the ink or dye. The cavities and/or protuberances of the cooling roll 104 can be re-coated with ink or dye by a soft, saturated material mated to the cooling roll 104 as it rotates, thereby acting as an "inkpad" for the cooling roll 104. Alternatively, the ink or dye can be "sweated" into the cavities and/or 10 protuberances through pores in the surface of the cavities and/or protuberances. One of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate the different methods for applying ink to grooves. [0050] FIG. 4B illustrates yet another embodiment in which a first layer of melt extruded resin can be laminated to the gas-impermeable layer 108 as described above, however without any pattern. Subsequently, the laminated film can be fed to a gap between 15 a second cooling roll 444 and a second laminating roll 442, where a second extruder 450 feeds melt-extruded, dyed resin to the second cooling roll 444 having cavities corresponding to indicia 224. A knife edge 452 removes excess resin as the second cooling roll 444 rotates, and the still-cooling dyed resin adheres to the laminated film to form raised, colored indicia 224. Alternatively, the laminated film can be fed to an ink-jet printer, or other printing device. 20 Accordingly, colored fish, for example, can be formed against a clear background or a background of another color. [0051] FIG. 5 illustrates a bag for use in vacuum packaging in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The vacuum bag 560 comprises a first panel 520 overlapping a second panel 522. At least one indicia 224 is formed on at least one panel 25 520,522 in accordance with an embodiment described above. A panel 522,520 optionally includes channels 562 for evacuating air and other gases from the bag. The channels 562 WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 11 can be formed, for example, along a portion of the panel as described in the cross-referenced application "LIQUID-TRAPPING BAG FOR VACUUM PACKAGING," incorporated herein by reference. The heat-sealable inner layer 106 and the gas-impermeable base layer 108 of the first and second panels 520,522 are typically made of the same material respectively, but can 5 alternatively be made of different materials that exhibit heat-sealability and gas impermeability respectively. Additionally, at least one panel 520,522 can be transparent so that indicia is visible. [0052] The features and structures described above can be combined with other manufacturing techniques to form a valve or other structure, tray, or integrated sensor, as 10 described in the cross-referenced provisional applications, incorporated herein by reference. In other embodiments, the circumferential surfaces of the cooling rolls 104 described above can optionally include protuberances for forming perforations (not shown), such that a bag can be separated from a roll of bags by a customer. [0053] As described above, the heat-sealable inner layer 106 is used as an inner 15 layer and the gas-impermeable base layer 108 is used as an outer layer. The lower, left, and right edges of the first and the second panel 520,522 are bonded to each other by heating, so as to form an envelope for receiving a perishable or other product to be vacuum packaged. Once a perishable or other product is placed in the vacuum bag 560, air and/or other gases can be evacuated from the bag 560, for example by a vacuum sealing machine as described 20 in the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,310, which is incorporated herein by reference. Once the air and/or other gases are evacuated to the satisfaction of the user, the inlet can be sealed by applying heat, thereby activating the heat-sealable inner layers 106 and bonding them together where contacted by the heat. [0054] The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present invention 25 has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. It is to be understood that WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 12 many modifications and variations will be apparent to the practitioner skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications that are suited to the 5 particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalence.

Claims

1. A bag adapted to receive an article, comprising: a first panel defining at least one molded portion; a second panel; and 5 the first panel and the second panel secured together to form the bag; wherein the at least one molded portion is an indicia.

2. A bag adapted to receive an article, comprising: a first panel having: 10 a first outer layer; and a first inner layer connected with the first outer layer, the first inner layer including at least one molded portion integrally formed with the first inner layer; wherein the at least one molded portion is an indicia; and a second panel connected with the first panel such that the first panel and the 15 second panel form an envelope having an inlet, the second panel having: a second outer layer; and a second inner layer connected with the second outer layer.

3. The bag of claim 2, wherein the first outer layer and the second outer layer comprise 20 a gas-impermeable material.

4. The bag of claim 3, wherein the gas-impermeable material is one of polyester, polyamide, ethylene vinyl alcohol, and nylon. 25

5. The bag of claim 2, wherein the first inner layer and the second inner layer comprise a thermoplastic resin. WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 14

6. The bag of claim 5, wherein the thermoplastic resin is polyethylene.

7. The bag of claim 2, wherein the indicia is information. 5

8. The bag of claim 7, wherein the information is one or more recipes.

9. The bag of claim 7, wherein the information is storage instructions.

10. The bag of claim 7, wherein the information is a label identifying the article. 10

11. The bag of claim 7, wherein the information is a trademark.

12. The bag of claim 7, wherein the information is one of a name and a mark of an owner of the article. 15

13. The bag of claim 2, wherein the indicia is a seasonal decoration.

14. The bag of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the indicia includes a surface having a color different than a color of the first and second panel. 20

15. A bag adapted to receive an article, comprising: a first panel including: a first gas-impermeable layer; and a first inner layer laminated to the first gas-impermeable layer, the 25 first inner layer having a textured exposed surface; wherein the textured exposed surface is an indicia; a second panel including: WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 15 a second gas-impermeable layer; and a second inner layer laminated to the second gas-impermeable layer; wherein the first panel is connected with the second panel to form an envelope such that the first inner layer opposes the second inner layer, the envelope 5 including a heat-sealable opening for evacuating gas.

16. A heat-sealable bag adapted to receive an article, comprising: a first panel including: a first gas-impermeable layer; 10 at least one first intermediate layer connected with the first gas impermeable layer; and a first inner layer laminated to the atleast one first intermediate layer, the first inner layer having a textured exposed surface; wherein the textured exposed surface is an indicia; and 15 a second panel including: a second gas-impermeable layer; at least one second intermediate layer connected with the second gas-impermeable layer; and a second inner layer laminated to the at least one second 20 intermediate layer; wherein the first panel is connected with the second panel to form an envelope such that the first inner layer opposes the second inner layer, the envelope including a heat-sealable opening for evacuating gas. 25

17. The bag of claim 16, wherein the first gas-impermeable layer and the second gas impermeable layer comprise one of polyester, polyamide, ethylene vinyl alcohol, and nylon. WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 16

18. The bag of claim 16, wherein the first inner layer and the second inner layer comprise a thermoplastic resin.

19. The bag of claim 18, wherein the thermoplastic resin is polyethylene. 5

20. The bag of claim 16, wherein the indicia is information.

21. The bag of claim 20, wherein the information is one or more recipes. 10

22. The bag of claim 20, wherein the information is storage instructions.

23. The bag of claim 20, wherein the information is a label identifying the article.

24. The bag of claim 20, wherein the information is a trademark. 15

25. The bag of claim 20, wherein the information is one of a name and a mark of an owner of the article.

26. The bag of claim 16, wherein the indicia is a seasonal decoration. 20

27. The bag of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the indicia includes a surface having a color different than a color of the first and second panel.

28. A system for forming a bag including a three-dimensional structure formed on atleast 25 one panel, comprising: a cooling roll having one or more structures for forming one or more indicia; a laminating roll; WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 17 a backing material; a flowable material that can be flowed into the one or more structures to form the one or more indicia, the one or more indicia adhering to the backing material. 5

29. A method for forming a panel for use in a sealable bag, comprising: flowing a material onto a backing film, such that the flowing material is molded to form a structure; wherein the structure is an indicia; cooling the flowing material such that the flowing material solidifies to form 10 an inner layer having the structure; and wherein the inner layer adheres to the backing film.

30. A method for forming a bag adapted to receive an article, the bag being partially formed between a laminating roll and a cooling roll having a plurality of cavities for forming 15 a structure, comprising: feeding a gas-impermeable film to a nip formed by the cooling roll and the laminating roll; extruding resin such that the resin fills the nip and the plurality of cavities exposed to the nip; 20 pressing the resin between the cooling roll and the laminating roll; cooling the resin such that the resin forms the structure and adheres to the gas-impermeable film, forming a panel; wherein the structure includes one or more indicia; folding the panel such that a first portion of the panel overlaps a second 25 portion of the panel; and applying heat to a portion of a periphery of the first and second portions such that an envelope is formed. WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 18

31. A method for manufacturing a bag adapted to receive an article, comprising: feeding a first gas-impermeable film to a first nip formed by a first cooling roll and a first laminating roll, the first cooling roll having a plurality of cavities for forming a structure; 5 wherein the structure includes one or more indicia; extruding resin such that the resin fills the first nip and the plurality of cavities exposed to the first nip; pressing the resin between the first cooling roll and the first laminating roll; cooling the resin such that a first inner layer having the structure is formed; 10 wherein the first inner layer adheres to the first gas-impermeable film, thereby forming a first panel; feeding a second gas-impermeable film to a second nip formed by a second cooling roll and a second laminating roll; extruding resin such that the resin fills the second nip; 15 pressing the resin between the second cooling roll and the second laminating roll; cooling the resin such that a second inner layer is formed; wherein the second inner layer adheres to the second gas-impermeable film, thereby forming a second panel; 20 overlapping the first panel with the second panel; and applying heat to a first, second, and third side of the first and second panels.

32. A method for manufacturing a bag adapted to receive an article, comprising: rotating a first cooling roll at a first rate, the first cooling roll including one or 25 more cavities for forming a structure having one or more indicia; rotating a first laminating roll at a second rate; introducing a first film to a first nip between the first cooling roll and the first WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 19 laminating roll; extruding molten material to the first nip; pressing the molten material between the first cooling roll and the first film such that the molten material fills the plurality of cavities exposed to the first nip; 5 cooling the molten material such that a first inner layer is formed; wherein the first inner layer includes the structure; wherein the first inner layer adheres to the first film, thereby forming a first panel; rotating a second cooling roll at a third rate; 10 rotating a second laminating roll at a fourth rate; introducing a second film to a second nip between the second cooling roll and the second laminating roll; extruding molten material to the second nip; pressing the molten material between the second cooling roll and the second 15 film such that the molten material fills the plurality of cavities exposed to the second nip; cooling the molten material such that a second inner layer is formed; wherein the second inner layer adheres to the second film, thereby forming a second panel; overlapping the first panel with the second panel; and 20 applying heat to a portion of a periphery of the first and second panels such that the first panel and the second panel form an envelope.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the second rate is an integer multiple of the first rate and the fourth rate is an integer multiple of the third rate. 25

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the first film and the second film comprise at least one layer. WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 20

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the atleast one layer comprises a gas-impermeable material.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the gas-impermeable material is one of polyester, 5 polyamide, ethylene vinyl alcohol, and nylon.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the molten material is polyethylene.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein a thickness of the first inner layer is determined by 10 the size of the first nip and the thickness of the second inner layer is determined by the size of the second nip.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the one or more indicia is information. 15

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the information is one or more recipes.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the information is storage instructions.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the information is a label identifying the article. 20

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the information is a trademark.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein the information is one of a name and a mark of an owner of the article. 25

45. The method of claim 32 wherein the indicia is a seasonal decoration. WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 21

46. The method of claim 32, wherein at least a portion of the indicia includes a surface having a color different than a color of the first and second panel.

47. A method of manufacturing a bag adapted to receive an article, comprising: 5 rotating a first roller having one or more recesses that can define one or more indicia; rotating a second roller adjacent to the first roller, said second roller can feed a first film adjacent to the first roller; applying a molten material between the first roller and the film; 10 said molten material filling the recesses of the first roller, and said molten material and film moving between the first roller and the second roller forming a first panel with a plurality of receptacles; forming a second panel; and mating the first panel to the second panel in order to form a bag. 15

48. The method of claim 47 including: using a gas impermeable material for the film; and using a heat sealable material for the molten material. 20

49. The method of claim 47, wherein said second panel is formed with the first roller and the second roller.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein said second panel is formed with the first roller and the second roller, and the mating step includes folding the first panel over the second panel. 25

51. The method of claim 47, wherein the one or more indicia is information. WO 2004/078592 PCT/US2004/006954 22

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the information is one or more recipes.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the information is storage instructions. 5

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the information is a label identifying the article.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the information is a trademark.

56. The method of claim 51, wherein the information is one of a name and a mark of an 10 owner of the article.

57. The method of claim 47, wherein the indicia is a seasonal decoration.

58. The method of claim 47, wherein at least a portion of the indicia includes a surface 15 having a color different than a color of the first and second panel.