EP1368249B1 - Bag for foodstuffs and, in particular, bag for foodstuffs of the granule type - Google Patents

Bag for foodstuffs and, in particular, bag for foodstuffs of the granule type Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1368249B1
EP1368249B1 EP20020737898 EP02737898A EP1368249B1 EP 1368249 B1 EP1368249 B1 EP 1368249B1 EP 20020737898 EP20020737898 EP 20020737898 EP 02737898 A EP02737898 A EP 02737898A EP 1368249 B1 EP1368249 B1 EP 1368249B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bag
line
gusset
base
foodstuffs
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP20020737898
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1368249A1 (en
Inventor
Michel Colas
Jean-François Marquet
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mars Inc
Original Assignee
Mars Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mars Inc filed Critical Mars Inc
Publication of EP1368249A1 publication Critical patent/EP1368249A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1368249B1 publication Critical patent/EP1368249B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/52—Details
    • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
    • B65D75/5861—Spouts
    • B65D75/5866—Integral spouts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to bags for foodstuffs.
  • Bags for granule-type foodstuffs which have a base from which two principal walls and two lateral flanks extend are already known, these walls and flanks being made from a material of flexible-sheet type, the two walls being, at their end opposite the base, assembled together along a line which is, for example, a weld or adhesive-bonding line, the two flanks being, at their end opposite the base, shaped as a gusset.
  • Bags of this type known to date generally have an opening line extending along one of the two principal walls, close to the assembling line formed, for example, by the weld or adhesive-bonding line opposite the base.
  • closure means of the removable anchoring type for example, a zip including a male anchoring line and a complementary female anchoring line - which enable the user to re-close the bag after a first use.
  • Such bags are difficult to handle for users wishing to pour foodstuffs, for example, into a petfood dish.
  • a bag according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in DE-U-88-12975-6
  • the invention proposes an improved bag having the characterising features of claim 1.
  • the bag which is shown in the figures, is in the form of a bag made from flexible sheet, which has a base 1, and also two principal walls 2 and two lateral flanks 3, which extend from said base.
  • the principal walls 2 are closed together, at their end opposite said base, along an assembling line 4.
  • the two principal walls 2 may be assembled by means of welding, adhesive bonding or any other technique that may be suitable.
  • flanks 3 are each folded about a fold line 7, which gives them the form of a gusset 8 over at least part of the height of the bag.
  • One of the two flanks 3 has, in the region of its part in the form of a gusset 8, an opening line 9 which extends over substantially the entire width of said flank, in a horizontal direction.
  • This line 9 is, for example, defined by broken lines for tearing or by a weakening thinning produced on the sheet of the bag at said flank 3.
  • This opening line 9 extends in a region shaped as a gusset over the part 8 in the form of a gusset opposite the base 1.
  • closure means of the removable anchoring type (zip strip, for example) (not shown in order not to complicate the figures), are also provided on the flank 3 on which the opening line 9 is provided.
  • the bag according to the invention may be reclosed in a particularly simple and reliable manner.
  • the removable anchoring closure means extend over only a limited length (corresponding at most to the width of the gusset 8), which facilitates their closure.
  • an opening such as that described above with an opening arranged as known, i.e. placed on a principal wall of the bag.
  • the user may choose one or other of the two openings.
  • a particularly simple and advantageous arrangement involves folding down the top band located at the upper end of the bag, above the assembling line 4, and securing the two lateral end parts of said top band over the principal-wall part of the bag opposite which the top band is folded down.
  • a grasping handle is thus created, formed by the central part of the top band which is folded down but not secured to the wall of the bag, doing so in a particularly simple and economical manner.
  • the "securing" referred to above may be achieved in any manner known per se, depending on the material used for the sheets of the bag (adhesive bonding, welding, etc.).
  • the other parts of the bag and, in particular, the base of the bag may have any configuration known per se (flat base, but also a base having any other shape).
  • This line 10 must be produced over only part of the height of the bag so as to join the two principal walls 2 in their upper part. This creates, close to the gusset (and thus to the pouring spout), a conduit which makes it possible better to guide the flow of granules or other products contained in the bag.
  • such a bag is particularly (but not in a limiting manner) suited to the dispensing of animal foodstuffs of the granule type.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)
  • Seeds, Soups, And Other Foods (AREA)
  • Dairy Products (AREA)
  • General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a bag for foodstuffs including a base, and also two principal walls and two lateral flanks extending from said base, these walls and flanks being made from a material of flexible-sheet type, the two walls being, at their end opposite the base, assembled together along an assembling line, the two flanks, at their end opposite the base, being shaped as a gusset. The bag also includes an opening line which extends, in the region shaped as a gusset, of one lateral flank, in the vicinity of one end of the region opposite the base, said region forming a gusset being capable of adopting two positions when the opening line is open. One position corresponds to its position when the bag is closed, the other being one in which the gusset shape is turned out and defines a pouring spout capable of guiding the foodstuffs as far as the opening.

Description

The present invention relates to bags for foodstuffs.
It applies particularly advantageously to bags for foodstuffs of the granule type, such as dry dogfood or catfood, for example.
Bags for granule-type foodstuffs which have a base from which two principal walls and two lateral flanks extend are already known, these walls and flanks being made from a material of flexible-sheet type, the two walls being, at their end opposite the base, assembled together along a line which is, for example, a weld or adhesive-bonding line, the two flanks being, at their end opposite the base, shaped as a gusset.
Bags of this type known to date generally have an opening line extending along one of the two principal walls, close to the assembling line formed, for example, by the weld or adhesive-bonding line opposite the base.
It is also known to provide, for this type of bag, in the immediate vicinity of the opening line, closure means of the removable anchoring type - for example, a zip including a male anchoring line and a complementary female anchoring line - which enable the user to re-close the bag after a first use.
Such bags are difficult to handle for users wishing to pour foodstuffs, for example, into a petfood dish.
This is particularly the case when the bag has a large amount of contents and is consequently heavy to lift and to tip up.
A bag according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in DE-U-88-12975-6
The invention proposes an improved bag having the characterising features of claim 1.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description which is purely illustrative and non-limiting and should be read with reference to the appended figures in which Figures 1 to 3 are perspective representations illustrating a possible embodiment for the invention.
The bag, which is shown in the figures, is in the form of a bag made from flexible sheet, which has a base 1, and also two principal walls 2 and two lateral flanks 3, which extend from said base.
The principal walls 2 are closed together, at their end opposite said base, along an assembling line 4.
Depending on the material of the sheet forming the bag (metallized plastic sheet, metallized paper, etc.), the two principal walls 2 may be assembled by means of welding, adhesive bonding or any other technique that may be suitable.
In their upper part, opposite the base 1, the flanks 3 are each folded about a fold line 7, which gives them the form of a gusset 8 over at least part of the height of the bag.
One of the two flanks 3 has, in the region of its part in the form of a gusset 8, an opening line 9 which extends over substantially the entire width of said flank, in a horizontal direction.
This line 9 is, for example, defined by broken lines for tearing or by a weakening thinning produced on the sheet of the bag at said flank 3.
This opening line 9 extends in a region shaped as a gusset over the part 8 in the form of a gusset opposite the base 1.
It is advantageously in the immediate vicinity of the assembling line 4, just below the latter (the terms "below" , "above", "upper" , and "lower" should be understood in the present text as referring to an arrangement in which the bag is kept vertical by being placed on its base on a horizontal surface).
Moreover, closure means of the removable anchoring type (zip strip, for example) (not shown in order not to complicate the figures), are also provided on the flank 3 on which the opening line 9 is provided.
Such removable anchoring closure means are thus placed below the opening line 9.
In addition, provision is also made for complementary closure means, arranged on a wall part inside the bag extending vertically opposite that part of the flank 3 which has said removable anchoring closure means, and attached to the inside of the bag.
The bag just described is used as follows.
Upon first use, the user tears said line 9 in order to open the bag.
When said line 9 has been torn, the user separates the edges of the opening he has just made and pulls (i.e. towards the outside of the bag) the gusset 8 which of its own accord adopts the inverted form illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the gusset fold itself being inverted.
This inverted form which the gusset naturally assumes forms a pouring spout 6 which enables the user easily to guide the foodstuffs as far as the opening of the bag when the user tips the bag up, the actual opening of the bag (referenced 5 in Figures 2 and 3) being completely free.
When he has finished, the user folds down this form in the shape of a pouring spout 6 in order to give it a concavity which is the reverse of that shown in Figures 2 and 3 and to reconstitute the gusset 8. The latter, of its own accord, resumes a position in which the edges of the opening of the bag are substantially pressed against one another.
All the user now has to do is to re-close this opening totally by exerting a slight pressure on the removable anchoring closure means.
It will be noted that, compared with known bags in which the opening is provided in a principal wall of the bag (corresponding to a wall referenced 2 in the figures in the present text), the bag according to the invention may be reclosed in a particularly simple and reliable manner.
In fact, in the case of the invention, the removable anchoring closure means extend over only a limited length (corresponding at most to the width of the gusset 8), which facilitates their closure.
Moreover, it is also possible to combine, in one and the same bag, an opening such as that described above with an opening arranged as known, i.e. placed on a principal wall of the bag. In this case, the user may choose one or other of the two openings.
It is also possible to equip the bag as shown in the figures appended to the present application with grasping means in its top part.
To this end, a particularly simple and advantageous arrangement involves folding down the top band located at the upper end of the bag, above the assembling line 4, and securing the two lateral end parts of said top band over the principal-wall part of the bag opposite which the top band is folded down.
By securing the top band and the principal wall at only two opposite end parts, a grasping handle is thus created, formed by the central part of the top band which is folded down but not secured to the wall of the bag, doing so in a particularly simple and economical manner.
The "securing" referred to above may be achieved in any manner known per se, depending on the material used for the sheets of the bag (adhesive bonding, welding, etc.).
Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment presented above.
In particular, only the part of the bag described in connection with the invention and more particularly the part in the form of a gusset 8 is representative of the invention.
The other parts of the bag and, in particular, the base of the bag may have any configuration known per se (flat base, but also a base having any other shape).
Finally, it is pointed out that it is possible to form, inside the bag, a conduit enabling the contents that are to be poured out towards the pouring spout 6 to be channelled, once the spout has been folded out.
For these purposes, it is possible to make provision for the addition, between the two principal walls of the bag, of an element made from flexible sheet extending substantially vertically over part of the height of the bag, it being possible for the upper end of this element to end at the closure line 4.
It is also possible to produce such a conduit in a particularly simple and economical manner by producing a line welding together the two principal walls 2 of the bag, as shown by the line 10 in the figures.
This line 10 must be produced over only part of the height of the bag so as to join the two principal walls 2 in their upper part. This creates, close to the gusset (and thus to the pouring spout), a conduit which makes it possible better to guide the flow of granules or other products contained in the bag.
As will have been understood, and as illustrated in Figure 3, such a bag is particularly (but not in a limiting manner) suited to the dispensing of animal foodstuffs of the granule type.

Claims (10)

  1. A bag for foodstuffs including:
    a base (1), and also two principal walls (2) and two lateral flanks (3) extending from said base (1), these walls and flanks being made from a material of flexible-sheet type, the two walls (2) being, at their end opposite the base (1), assembled together along an assembling line (4), the two flanks, at their end opposite the base (1), being shaped as a gusset (8);
    an opening line (9) extending, in the region shaped as a gusset of one lateral flank, in the vicinity of one end of said region opposite said base (1), said region forming a gusset (8) being capable of adopting two positions when the opening line (9) is open, a first position which corresponds to its position when the bag is closed, a second position in which the gusset shape is turned out and defines a pouring spout (6) capable of guiding the foodstuffs as far as the opening (5);
    closure means arranged on the gusset, charaterised in that said closure means are of the removable anchoring type and are arranged below the opening line (9) on at least a part of the width of the gusset; and in that the bag comprises
       complementary closure means cooperating with the closure means for allowing to reclose the opening (5) when the region forming a gusset (8) is in said first position,
       wherein said complementary closure means are arranged on a wall part inside the bag extending vertically opposite the part of the gusset (8) on which said closure means are arranged, and attached to the inside of the bag.
  2. The bag according to claim 1, wherein said closure means and said complementary closure means comprise a male anchoring line and a complementary female anchoring line.
  3. The bag according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening line (5, 9) extends over an entire width of said lateral flank (3).
  4. The bag according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening line (5, 9) is arranged below the assembling line (4) of the two principal walls (2), in the immediate vicinity of said line.
  5. The bag according to one of the preceding claims, intended for containing granule-type foodstuffs.
  6. The bag according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a conduit inside the bag for channeling the contents of the bag to be poured out towards the pouring spout (6).
  7. The bag according to claim 6, wherein the conduit is formed with help of an element made from flexible sheet extending substantially vertically between the two principal walls (2) over part of the height of the bag, the upper end of this element ending preferably at the assembling line (4).
  8. The bag according to claim 6, wherein the conduit is formed with help of a line (10) welding together the two principal walls (2) produced over only part of the height of the bag, said welding line (10) joining the two principal walls (2) in their upper part.
  9. Use of a bag according to any one of claims 1 to 8 for containing foodstuffs.
  10. Use according to claim 9, wherein the foodstuffs is of granule-type.
EP20020737898 2001-03-01 2002-03-01 Bag for foodstuffs and, in particular, bag for foodstuffs of the granule type Expired - Lifetime EP1368249B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0102795A FR2821610B1 (en) 2001-03-01 2001-03-01 FOOD BAG AND ESPECIALLY PELLET TYPE FOOD BAG
FR0102795 2001-03-01
PCT/EP2002/003348 WO2002079049A1 (en) 2001-03-01 2002-03-01 Bag for foodstuffs and, in particular, bag for foodstuffs of the granule type

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1368249A1 EP1368249A1 (en) 2003-12-10
EP1368249B1 true EP1368249B1 (en) 2004-10-27

Family

ID=8860605

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20020737898 Expired - Lifetime EP1368249B1 (en) 2001-03-01 2002-03-01 Bag for foodstuffs and, in particular, bag for foodstuffs of the granule type

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20040114835A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1368249B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE280720T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2438788A1 (en)
DE (1) DE60201737T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2821610B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2002079049A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102006010576A1 (en) * 2006-03-06 2007-09-13 Reuther Verpackung Gmbh & Co. Kg bag
USD621280S1 (en) 2003-03-25 2010-08-10 Mark Steele Side access flexible package

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GB9604340D0 (en) 1996-02-29 1996-05-01 Unilever Plc Antiperspirant aerosol composition and method of making same
US7040810B2 (en) * 2002-03-26 2006-05-09 Mark Steele Flexible package with a transverse access panel device
US6971794B2 (en) 2003-04-15 2005-12-06 Innoflex Incorporated Package having reclosable pour spout and method of forming same
FR2856661B3 (en) * 2003-06-24 2005-09-02 Autobar Flexible France PACKAGING BAG IN PLASTIC MATERIAL
FR2857338B1 (en) 2003-07-11 2006-07-14 Mars Inc FOOD BAG WITH SPOUT
US20050069227A1 (en) * 2003-09-29 2005-03-31 Mark Steele Flexible package having integrated slit member
SI1707496T1 (en) * 2005-03-29 2009-04-30 Amcor Flexibles Europe Package formed from at least one flexible film
US20070086683A1 (en) * 2005-10-18 2007-04-19 Yeager James W Package having recloseable pour spout
DE102006029119A1 (en) 2006-06-22 2007-07-05 Nordenia Deutschland Halle Gmbh Werk Steinfeld Film bag, has folding edges between first lateral edge and the front surface and rear surface, which are stiffends by longitudinal sealed seams, which extend up to top sealing seam
ATE410376T1 (en) * 2006-06-22 2008-10-15 Nordenia D Halle Gmbh FILM BAG AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING IT
MX2009011124A (en) * 2007-04-20 2009-10-30 Alcan Packaging Flexible France Laser scored pour spout for flexible bag.
EP2535293A1 (en) * 2011-06-17 2012-12-19 Mondi AG Bag with reclosable top end comprising a closing flap within the top seam
EP2535294B1 (en) * 2011-06-17 2013-12-25 Mondi AG Bag with reclosable top end comprising a closing flap within the side seam
JP5799480B1 (en) * 2014-09-18 2015-10-28 晴代 出口 Anti-pointing bag
FR3074784B1 (en) * 2017-12-11 2020-10-09 Mc 3 PACKAGING BAG AND SPOOL FILM FROM WHICH THE BODY OF THE BAG IS MADE

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US4332344A (en) * 1980-02-08 1982-06-01 Strodthoff Glenn G Resealable package
DE8812975U1 (en) * 1988-10-15 1988-12-08 Rovema - Verpackungsmaschinen Gmbh, 6301 Fernwald, De
US5461845A (en) * 1992-10-26 1995-10-31 Yeager; James W. Zippered film and bag
FR2707602B1 (en) * 1993-06-28 1995-09-15 Cif Folding corner bag.
FR2727091A1 (en) * 1994-11-21 1996-05-24 Unisabi Sa PACKAGING BAG
EP0945360A1 (en) * 1998-03-25 1999-09-29 Welton Packaging Limited Bag
US6164826A (en) * 1998-10-09 2000-12-26 Reynolds Consumer Products Inc. Resealable spout for side-gusseted packages
AU2001232980A1 (en) * 2000-01-31 2001-08-07 Cryovac, Inc. Reclosable pouch
US6957915B2 (en) * 2002-03-21 2005-10-25 Hb Creative Llc Standup bag and method of manufacturing same
US7040810B2 (en) * 2002-03-26 2006-05-09 Mark Steele Flexible package with a transverse access panel device
US6971794B2 (en) * 2003-04-15 2005-12-06 Innoflex Incorporated Package having reclosable pour spout and method of forming same
US20050117819A1 (en) * 2003-12-02 2005-06-02 Kingsford Howard A. Packaging closures

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD621280S1 (en) 2003-03-25 2010-08-10 Mark Steele Side access flexible package
DE102006010576A1 (en) * 2006-03-06 2007-09-13 Reuther Verpackung Gmbh & Co. Kg bag
DE202006020724U1 (en) 2006-03-06 2009-09-17 Watterott, Oswald bag

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2002079049A1 (en) 2002-10-10
DE60201737T2 (en) 2005-12-01
CA2438788A1 (en) 2002-10-10
EP1368249A1 (en) 2003-12-10
US20040114835A1 (en) 2004-06-17
ATE280720T1 (en) 2004-11-15
FR2821610B1 (en) 2003-08-29
FR2821610A1 (en) 2002-09-06
DE60201737D1 (en) 2004-12-02

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