EP1321373A1 - Opening/closing system for bag and bag equipped with such a system - Google Patents

Abstract

The opening/closing system consists of two lengthwise elements a base (11) fastened to the bag on either side of its opening, and a slider (12) that engages with the base in the closed position and separates from it to reveal the opening. The base and slider engage by a system of grooves and projections (30), and the slider has a tab (34, 35) at each end for pulling it open and closed.

Description

The present invention relates to a system opening / closing of packaging bag, and a packaging bag equipped with this opening / closing system.

This bag is especially intended for the packaging of products relatively heavy, in granular or pulverulent form. The bag according to the invention finds a particularly interesting application for the packaging of animal feed products, such as kibbles or pasta, of foodstuffs sold in semi-wholesale, for example coffee, garden products such as potting soil, fertilizer or seeds, construction products such as cement or lime, or other.

The packaging of relatively heavy products in the form granular or powdery is currently carried out using bags in paper with handles at their upper ends, forming two carrying handles. These handles are made up of paper strips reinforced and are reported on the walls of the bag.

The upper part of such bags is closed by gluing or by seams.

These bags have the significant disadvantage of not being very easy to open and to be more or less torn to allow them opening, which makes the flow of products relatively imprecise and can lead to spills.

There is a packaging bag opening / closing system comprising a profiled longitudinal element which can be fitted into a another profiled longitudinal element having a complementary shape.

This system is not entirely satisfactory. Indeed, it is not very easy to handle and does not have a very good seal. Of more, it has the disadvantage of clogging when the product contained in the bag generates dust, as is the case with food for animals in the form of kibbles. In addition, the assembly of said longitudinal members may not be strong enough to allow the system to be used on packaging bags containing relatively heavy products.

The existing bags also have the disadvantage of not be very practical to handle when it comes to overturning them in order to realize the flow of the product they contain, and the conformation of openings of these bags is not always well suited to flow controlled product.

The existing paper bags also have drawbacks to have a poor seal, which poses odor problems on the points of sale for certain products, in particular products from pet food like kibbles, or exchange problems fluids generally through the walls of the bag the time required for the sale of products, including in particular the collection of moisture by the product or the drying of that product.

The walls of these bags may also not be perfectly assembled at the folds to form the bottom or the top of the bags, and sometimes there are openings at the level of these folds, which allow entry into bags of insects such as cockroaches.

The present invention aims to remedy all of these significant disadvantages.

Its main objective is to provide a system easy to open / close opening / closing, allowing easy opening and quick to make, having a good seal, not clogging when the product contained in the bag generates dust, and being strong enough to be used on packaging bags containing relatively heavy products.

The invention also aims to significantly improve handling of the bag when it is overturned in order to the flow of the product, and to ensure perfect control of this flow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag having a perfect seal, particularly with regard to odors and humidity.

An additional objective is to provide a bag having, for compared to bags according to the prior art, an improved visual appearance, especially having a reduced tendency to wrinkle and having an appearance shiny and smooth.

• deux éléments longitudinaux formant chacun un moyen de guidage en coulissement, l'un de ces éléments longitudinaux étant destiné à être relié, directement ou non, à l'un des bords du sac délimitant l'ouverture que comprend ce sac et l'autre de ces éléments longitudinaux étant destiné à être relié, directement ou non, à l'autre des bords du sac délimitant cette ouverture ;
• un coulisseau comprenant :
• (i) deux éléments longitudinaux formant chacun un moyen de guidage en coulissement, l'un de ces éléments longitudinaux étant destiné à venir en prise avec l'un desdits éléments longitudinaux destinés à être reliés au sac et pouvant coulisser par rapport à celui-ci, et l'autre de ces éléments longitudinaux étant destiné à venir en prise avec l'un desdits éléments longitudinaux destinés à être reliés au sac et pouvant coulisser par rapport à celui-ci ;
• (ii) une paroi médiane reliant les deux éléments longitudinaux du coulisseau l'un à l'autre.

According to the invention, the opening / closing system comprises:

• two longitudinal elements each forming a sliding guide means, one of these longitudinal elements being intended to be connected, directly or not, to one of the edges of the bag delimiting the opening that comprises this bag and the other of these longitudinal elements being intended to be connected, directly or not, to the other of the edges of the bag delimiting this opening;
• a slide comprising:
• (i) two longitudinal elements each forming a sliding guide means, one of these longitudinal elements being intended to come into engagement with one of said longitudinal elements intended to be connected to the bag and capable of sliding relative to the latter , and the other of these longitudinal elements being intended to come into engagement with one of said longitudinal elements intended to be connected to the bag and being able to slide relative to the latter;
• (ii) a central wall connecting the two longitudinal elements of the slide to one another.

According to the essential characteristic of the invention, the system comprises a flat base part defining at least partially a opening through it and comprising the two longitudinal elements intended to be connected to the bag, this basic part can thus receive the slider and being intended to be fixed to the wall of the bag so that the opening it defines coincides with the opening in the wall of the bag.

This basic part allows, in addition to the assembly of the system to the wall of the bag, to stiffen the areas of the bag bordering the opening in the wall of the bag, so as to favor the displacement of the slide.

This middle wall of the slide thus covers the opening of the bag when said longitudinal elements intended to be connected to the bag are connected to the wall of the bag and that said longitudinal elements of the slide come into engagement with these longitudinal elements intended to be connected to the bag.

The opening or closing of the bag is carried out simply by moving the slide relative to the wall of the bag.

The opening / closing system according to the invention does not imply thus no assembly by the consumer of a longitudinal element with another, but simply the displacement of the slide relative to the longitudinal elements intended to be connected to the bag.

This opening / closing system is easy to handle and allows quick and easy opening of the bag. It does not get dirty when when it equips a bag containing a product which generates dust, these dust being extracted from the guide means formed by said longitudinal elements with each movement of the slide.

In the closed position, the slide fully covers the opening of the bag, which allows it to close with good seal.

In addition, the two pairs of longitudinal elements give the system according to the invention a resistance allowing the use of this system on packages containing relatively heavy products.

Advantageously, the slide comprises at least one tab intended to be entered by the user to operate the movement of the slide. It may in particular have a tab at each end allowing its displacement by traction on these legs in the direction of opening then in the direction of closing the bag.

Preferably, said longitudinal elements intended to be connected to the bag and said longitudinal elements of the slide are shaped so that they can be snapped into place, which very significantly facilitates the manufacture and assembly of the system.

Advantageously, said longitudinal elements intended for be connected to the bag, said slide, and / or said longitudinal elements of the slide comprise means forming limit stops of the displacement of the slide in the direction of opening of the bag.

This stop eliminates the risk of elements coming longitudinal of the slide out of grip with the longitudinal elements intended to be connected to the bag.

These same longitudinal elements intended to be connected to the bag, this slide and / or these longitudinal elements of the slide can also include means forming limiting stops of the displacement of the slide in the direction of closing the bag, allowing clearly define the closing position of the slide.

This clear definition of the closed position of the slide greatly reduces the risk of improper handling of the system.

Advantageously, the slide comprises a lug of grip connected to it by a connecting portion, and extends from one side of said base piece while said grip tab extends from the other side of the base part, said connecting portion thus being engaged at across the opening that delimits the base part.

The latter can thus be fixed against the internal face of the wall of the bag, which allows to hide it and hide the slide that it contains. In addition, only the grip tab protrudes from the outside of the bag, which has the advantage of making handling of the obvious system for the consumer, that is to say the capture of this gripping tab for moving the slide.

Preferably, the basic part delimits the entirety of the opening that it includes, especially the ends of this opening, and the areas of this base piece that delimit these ends of the opening, as well as said connecting portion, are dimensioned for constitute said stops limiting the movement of the slide.

Advantageously, each of said zones of the base part delimiting one end of said opening forms a flap projecting in direction of the interior of this opening.

The flaps thus formed are covered by said portion of connection in the closed position, which ensures a perfect seal opening / closing system according to the invention.

These shutters preferably have a shape which is substantially semicircular.

The bag according to the invention is, in turn, equipped with the system opening / closing as mentioned above.

• deux parois réunies l'une à l'autre au niveau de leurs parties supérieures, le long d'une ligne de jonction, dont une comprend ladite ouverture le long de cette ligne de jonction et à proximité de celle-ci, et
• une poignée aménagée au niveau de ces parties supérieures, dans la zone médiane de ladite ligne de jonction.

Preferably, this bag includes:

• two walls joined to each other at their upper parts, along a junction line, one of which comprises said opening along this junction line and close to it, and
• a handle arranged at the level of these upper parts, in the median zone of said junction line.

Pulling on the handle to lift the bag causes an uplift of the middle area of said junction line with respect to the extreme zones thereof, which tends to bring these two extreme zones from each other. This rapprochement tends to confer a curvature concave to the bag above said opening and, correlatively, a convex curvature to the bag below this opening. This simple lifting thus tends to form a chute product flow.

Handling the bag for overturning to the flow of the product is particularly simple since enough, after said cutting has been carried out, to grasp said handle with one hand to lift the bag, grab the bottom of the bag with the other hand and raise the bottom until the product slides into the chute.

Advantageously, the walls of the bag joined together are extend above said junction line so as to form a double wall strip, and this strip includes openings allowing to arrange said handle.

This handle is thus produced in a simple, easy and inexpensive manner. expensive, and is particularly solid, which ensures total security as for the resistance of this handle during transport of the bag.

Preferably, the walls of the bag are made of synthetic material can be welded.

This weldability makes it possible to obtain a perfect seal, which eliminates the problems of diffusion of odors as well as the exchanges fluidic between the inside and outside of the bag, or penetration insects inside the bag.

In addition, the use of such a material allows obtaining a bag having an improved visual appearance, in particular resulting from a tendency reduced to wrinkling and a shiny and smooth appearance.

This material can be formed by so-called "bubble" extrusion with a polyethylene structure - EVOH - polyamide - polypropylene, and all types of medium, low or high density polyethylene, and be complexed on aluminum, polypropylene, polyester, aluminized polyester, paper, etc.

This material proves to have, by its structure, a perfect sealing against fluid transfers between inside and outside from the bag.

The problems of diffusion of odors and capture of humidity or drying the product while the bags are on sale are thus eliminated.

La figure 1 en est une vue en perspective ;

la figure 2 en est une vue partielle, à échelle agrandie, en coupe selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1 ;

la figure 3 en est une vue similaire à la figure 1 après ouverture, dans la conformation qu'il prend lorsqu'il est soulevé par traction sur une poignée de portage qu'il comprend à sa partie supérieure ;

la figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale du système d'ouverture/fermeture qu'il comprend ;

la figure 5 est une vue en perspective de deux pièces constituant ce système, avant assemblage ;

la figure 6 est une vue du système d'ouverture/fermeture similaire à la figure 5, après assemblage desdites pièces ; et

les figures 7 à 11 sont des vues en coupe transversale de différentes possibilités de réalisation d'éléments longitudinaux de guidage en coulissement, que comprend ce système.

For a good understanding, the invention is again described below with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting example, a preferred embodiment of the packaging bag which it relates to.

Figure 1 is a perspective view;

Figure 2 is a partial view, on an enlarged scale, in section along the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 after opening, in the conformation that it takes when it is lifted by traction on a carrying handle that it includes at its upper part;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the opening / closing system it comprises;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of two parts constituting this system, before assembly;

Figure 6 is a view of the opening / closing system similar to Figure 5, after assembly of said parts; and

Figures 7 to 11 are cross-sectional views of different embodiments of longitudinal sliding guide elements, which includes this system.

The figures represent a packaging bag 1, particularly intended for the packaging of a relatively heavy product, in the form granular or powdery, such as kibbles for feeding animals.

The bag 1 has two main walls 2 and two walls side 3 of smaller dimensions.

These walls 2, 3 are made of a material that can be heat sealed.

The main walls 2 are joined together at the level of their upper parts, by heat sealing, along a line of junction 4, and each wall 3 is thermally welded to wall 2 adjacent, along junction lines that extend line 4.

The walls 2 extend above the line 4 so as to form a strip 5 with double walls in the middle part of the bag 1.

The walls 2, 3 include two openings 6 arranged in the middle zone of the strip 5, making it possible to arrange a handle 7 for carrying and handling the bag 1.

Two pieces of material can be attached to the face internal walls 2 at the level of these openings 6, in order to reinforce these walls at the level of these openings.

The wall 2 has a precut delimiting a band 9 in below and along line 4, and has a closure system 10 fixed on its internal face below this strip 9, as shown by the figure 2.

The strip 9 has rounded ends, which are cut and which can thus be lifted and seized to allow the withdrawal of this band 9 by manual traction.

As shown more particularly in FIGS. 4 to 6, the closure system 10 comprises a basic part 11 and a slide 12.

The base part 11 is made of a synthetic material capable of to be fixed to the wall 2 in particular by heat sealing. It presents a elongated shape and rounded ends, and defines an opening central 15 in the form of a slot.

On one of its faces, it includes two elements longitudinal profiles 20 forming slides, which extend along the edges of the part 11 longitudinally defining the opening 15, beyond the ends of it.

• deux parois longitudinales parallèles 21 pourvues de nervures extérieures 22, comme le montre la figure 7,
• deux parois longitudinales parallèles 21 pourvues de retours intérieurs 22 de différentes formes, comme le montrent les figures 8 à 11.

Each of these elements 20 can have one of the shapes shown on an enlarged scale on the lower parts of FIGS. 7 to 11, namely:

• two parallel longitudinal walls 21 provided with external ribs 22, as shown in FIG. 7,
• two parallel longitudinal walls 21 provided with internal returns 22 of different shapes, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11.

In all cases, these ribs and returns 22 are shaped to allow a snap of elements 30 shown on the parts upper of FIGS. 7 to 11 in the elements 20 shown on the lower parts of Figures 7 to 11.

Each of the elements 20 can have a middle rib 23 forming an additional sliding surface, as well as appears in Figure 8.

Referring again to Figures 4 to 6, it appears that the base part 11 has, at one of its ends, a slot transverse 24 dimensioned to receive the slider 12 through it, with possibility of sliding.

In addition, the zones 11a of the part 11 which delimit the ends of the opening 15 form semi-circular flaps 25.

• deux parois longitudinales parallèles 31 présentant des rainures intérieures 32 aptes à être engagées par encliquetage sur les nervures 22 de l'élément 20, comme le montre la figure 7, ou
• une ou deux parois 31 à nervures d'encliquetage extérieures 32 aptes à être engagées par encliquetage sur les retours 22 des éléments 20, comme montré sur les figures 8 à 11.

The slide 12 comprises two profiled longitudinal elements 30, each of which may have one of the shapes shown on an enlarged scale on the upper parts of FIGS. 7 to 11, namely:

• two parallel longitudinal walls 31 having internal grooves 32 able to be engaged by snap-fastening on the ribs 22 of the element 20, as shown in FIG. 7, or
• one or two walls 31 with external snap ribs 32 capable of being snapped onto the returns 22 of the elements 20, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11.

This or these walls 31 can be received against the bottom that form the elements 20 or, as shown in FIG. 8, on the rib additional slip 23.

Referring again to Figures 4 to 6, it appears that the elements 30 extend parallel to each other and are shaped and positioned to snap into engagement with the elements 20, this clipping allowing the sliding of the slide 12 by compared to base part 11.

The slide 12 has a central wall 33, connecting the elements 30 to each other, and comprises two rounded parts 34, 35 connected at its ends, having a width greater than its own. These rounded parts 34, 35 form pull tabs which can be entered by the consumer and which facilitate the movement of the slide 12.

One of these legs 34 is separated from the slide 12 by two transverse slots, which define a connecting portion 36 of the tab 34 to the slide 12, this connecting portion 36 having a width less than the width of the opening 15.

The other tab 35 is attached to the slide 12 and forms two transverse edges 37 able to come into abutment against areas 11b of the part 11 which delimits the opening 24.

The slide 12 further comprises a transverse part 38 fixed to it near the slots separating the slider 12 from the tab 34. This part 38 protrudes on either side of the slide 12 and can come resting against zones 11b of part 11.

As can be understood by comparing Figures 5, 6 and 4, the slider 12 is intended to be engaged through the slot 24 of so that the elements 30 can engage with the elements 20 by snapping on the ribs or grooves 32 behind the returns or ribs 22.

The tab 34 is engaged through the slot 15 and extends so on the side of room 11 opposite to that on which the slide 12, said connecting portion 36 extending through opening 15.

The portions of the part 38 projecting on either side of the slide 12 bear against part 11.

As can be understood with reference to FIG. 6, the slide 12 can be moved relative to part 11 between a position of complete concealment of the opening 15 and a position of complete release of this opening 15. In the position of complete occultation, the connecting portion 36 comes to bear against the flap 25, which ensures closure of the opening 15 with a good seal, and the ledges 37 bear against said zones 11b, thus limiting clearly the movement of movement of the slide 12. In the position of complete release of the opening 15, the portions of the part 38 projecting on either side of the slide 12 come to bear against the zones 11b of part 11, also limiting the movement of the slide 12.

In practice, as appears with reference to Figure 1, the strip 9 is torn off so as to allow access to system 10 and to free the sliding of the lug 34, and therefore of the slider 12.

Leg 35 is grasped by the consumer and is moved in the direction of opening the bag 1.

The handle 7 is then grasped, which causes a line 4 midline uplift from zones extremes thereof, and tends to bring these two extreme zones closer together one from the other. This approximation tends to give a concave curvature to the upper part of the bag 1 and correspondingly a convex curvature to the part of the wall 2 located below the system 10, as shown in the figure 3. This lifting thus makes it possible to form a chute 40 product flow.

Handling the bag 1 with a view to overturning the flow of the product is particularly simple since just grasp said handle 7 with one hand to lift the bag, grab the bottom of the bag with the other hand and lift the bottom until slide the product into the chute 40.

After pouring, the bag 1 is closed simply by grabbing tab 34 and moving slide 12 until concealed of the opening 15.

As appears from the above, the invention provides a easy to handle packaging bag opening / closing system, allowing easy and quick opening, having good tightness, not clogging when the product contained in the bag generates dust, and being strong enough to be used on packaging bags containing relatively small products heavy.

The invention also provides a packaging bag, the handling is significantly improved and the seal is perfect especially with regard to odors and humidity.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the form of realization described above by way of example but that it embraces otherwise all variants. So the bag can be of the type with welded bellows edges, as shown in the figures, or may be of the square bottom or bottom gusset type, or may still be without bellows.

Claims (15)

System (10) for opening / closing a packaging bag (1), comprising an opening formed in one of its walls (2), delimited by edges of this wall (2), comprising: two longitudinal elements (20) each forming a sliding guide means, one of these longitudinal elements (20) being intended to be connected, directly or not, to one of the edges of the bag (1) delimiting the opening that comprises this bag and the other of these longitudinal elements (20) being intended to be connected, directly or not, to the other of the edges of the bag (1) delimiting this opening; a slide (12) comprising: (i) two longitudinal elements (30) each forming a sliding guide means, one of these longitudinal elements (30) being intended to come into engagement with one of said longitudinal elements (20) intended to be connected to the bag (1) and capable of sliding relative to the latter, and the other of these longitudinal elements (30) being intended to come into engagement with one of said longitudinal elements (20) intended to be connected to the bag (1) and slidable relative thereto; (ii) a central wall (33) connecting the two longitudinal elements (30) of the slide (12) to one another, characterized in that it comprises a flat base part (11) at least partially delimiting an opening (15) therethrough and comprising the two longitudinal elements (20) intended to be connected to the bag (1), this base part (11) can thus receive the slide (12) and being intended to be fixed to the wall of the bag (1) so that the opening (15) which it delimits coincides with the opening provided in the wall (2 ) from the bag (1). Opening / closing system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the slide (12) comprises at least one tab (34, 35) intended to be grasped by the user to operate the movement of the slide (12) . Opening / closing system (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the slide (12) has a tab (34, 35) at each end. Opening / closing system (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said longitudinal elements (20) intended to be connected to the bag (1) and the said longitudinal elements (30) of the slide (12) are shaped so that they can be snapped. Opening / closing system (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the said longitudinal elements (20) intended to be connected to the bag (1), the said slide (12), and / or the said elements longitudinal (30) of the slide (12) comprise means (11b, 38) forming stops limiting the movement of the slide (12) in the direction of opening of the bag (1). Opening / closing system (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the said longitudinal elements (20) intended to be connected to the bag (1), the said slide (12), and / or the said elements longitudinal (30) of the slide (12) comprise means (11a, 36, 37) forming stops limiting the movement of the slide (12) in the direction of closing the bag (1). Opening / closing system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the slide (12) comprises a gripping tab (34) connected to it by a connecting portion (36), and extends from a side of said base piece (11) while said grip tab (34) extends on the other side of the base piece (11), said connecting portion (36) being thus engaged through the opening (15) which delimits the base part (11). Opening / closing system (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the base part (11) delimits the entire opening (15) which it comprises, in particular the ends of this opening, and in that the zones (11a) of this base part (11) which delimit these ends of the opening (15), as well as said connecting portion (36), are dimensioned to constitute said stops limiting the movement of the slide ( 12). Opening / closing system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each of said zones (11a) of the base part (11) delimiting one end of said opening (15) forms a flap ( 25) projecting towards the interior of this opening (15). Packaging bag (1) equipped with the system (10) opening / closing according to one of claims 1 to 9. Packaging bag (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that one of its walls (2) has a precut delimiting a strip (9) and in that said opening / closing system (10) is fixed on the internal face of this wall (2) below this strip (9). Packaging bag (1) according to claim 10 or claim 11, characterized in that it comprises: two walls (2) joined to each other at their upper parts (5), along a junction line (4), one of which comprises said opening of the bag, arranged along this line of junction (4) and close to it, and a handle (7) arranged at the level of these upper parts (5), in the median zone of said junction line (4). Packaging bag (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that its walls joined to one another extend above said junction line (4) so as to form a strip with double walls (5 ), and in that this strip (5) comprises openings (6) making it possible to arrange said handle (7). Packaging bag (1) according to one of claims 10 to 13 characterized in that its walls (, 3) are made of synthetic material which can be welded. Packaging bag (1) according to claim 14 characterized in that said material is formed by so-called "bubble" extrusion with a polyethylene - EVOH - polyamide - polypropylene structure, and any type of medium, low or high density polyethylene, and can be complexed on aluminum, polypropylene, polyester, aluminized polyester, paper,

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