EP2272770A1

EP2272770A1 - Paper closure

Info

Publication number: EP2272770A1
Application number: EP10169280A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Zak Lowe
Original assignee: Euro Packaging UK Ltd
Current assignee: Euro Packaging UK Ltd
Priority date: 2009-07-10
Filing date: 2010-07-12
Publication date: 2011-01-12

Abstract

A paper produce bag comprises a front wall 12, a rear wall 14, side walls 16, a closed base end and an open mouth end opposite the base end. The side walls 16 each have a fold line 18 along the length thereof and each being folded inwardly between the front and rear walls 12, 14 to form a gusset. Each gusset has an inner edge spaced inwardly from the outside edges of the front and rear walls and running along the length of the bag from the base to mouth end. The rear wall 14 has an opening 20 formed adjacent the mouth end of the bag. A first contact adhesive region 22 is applied to the inner surface of the front wall 12 adjacent the mouth end between the inner edges of the gussets. A second contact adhesive region 24 is applied to the outer surface of the rear wall in an area adjacent the opening.

Description

The present invention relates to a paper bag having an improved method of closure.
It is known to seal a paper bag containing food products such as doughnuts using a sticker. However, it is usually a requirement that such bags are provided to the user in an open state, so that contents can be placed in them then the bags sealed. If a sticker is used, therefore, it must be provided separately to the bag, which is costly and inconvenient.
What is required is a means of sealing a paper bag, either for single use or re-sealably, that does not require additional components and that allows the bag to remain open until sealed by the user.
According to the present invention there is provided a paper produce bag comprising a front wall, a rear wall, side walls, a closed base end and an open mouth end opposite the base end, the side walls each having a fold line along the length thereof and each being folded inwardly between the front and rear walls to form a gusset, each gusset having an inner edge spaced inwardly from the outside edges of the front and rear walls and running along the length of the bag from the base to mouth end, the rear wall having an opening formed adjacent the mouth end of the bag, a first contact adhesive region applied to the inner surface of the front wall adjacent the mouth end between the inner edges of the gussets, and a second contact adhesive region applied to the outer surface of the rear wall in an area adjacent the opening.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a bag according to a first embodiment of the present invention in an open state;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the bag according to the embodiment of figure 1 in a closed state;
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a bag according to a second embodiment of the present invention in an open state; and
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a bag according to the embodiment of figure 3 in a closed state.

With reference to figure 1, the paper bag 10 in this embodiment comprises a flat underside (not shown), a front wall 12, a rear wall 14 and two sides 16. Each side 16 comprises a central crease 18. The rear wall 14 comprises a rectangular cut-out 20 positioned along its top edge and an area of adhesive 22, positioned on its outer face 15 below the cut-out 20. The front wall 12 comprises an area of adhesive 24 positioned on its inner face 13 opposite the cut-out 20 of the rear wall 14.
The bag 10 is formed from a blank, then folded and sealed along an overlap between one side 16 and the rear wall 14. One end is folded and sealed to form the underside, whilst the other is left open.
When in the open state shown in figure 1, the front wall 12, the rear wall 14 and the sides 16 are substantially perpendicular to the underside. Both sides 16 are gusseted, allowing the bag 10 to be closed as shown in figure 2. The upper portions of the front wall 12 and the rear wall 14 are brought together whilst the sides 16 fold inwards along creases 18.
The area of adhesive 24 is smaller than the cut-out 20, allowing the front and rear walls to come into contact without the area of adhesive 24 adhering to the inner surface of the rear wall 14. In order to seal the bag 10, the top is folded towards the rear wall 14. The two areas of adhesive 22, 24 are brought into contact with one another and form a seal.
With reference to figures 3 and 4, a second embodiment of the invention further comprises a cut-out 26 positioned in the front wall 12 so as to allow a view of any contents. A sheet of transparent plastic 28 is attached to the inner surface of the front wall 12 in order to cover the cut-out 26. The plastic sheet 28 does not cover the area of adhesive 24.
The adhesive used in areas 22, 24 is in this embodiment cold-applied latex based glue. The adhesive of one area bonds only on contact with a corresponding area of adhesive, preventing unwanted attachment to other portions of the bag. In other embodiments, the adhesive may be re-sealable, allowing the bag 10 to be opened and re-closed. However, one consideration with bags containing food is that of the need for evidence of any tampering, which is clearly more easily provided with a single use seal.
In alternative embodiments of the invention there may be more than one area of adhesive on each wall of the bag 10, allowing the bag to be sealed at more than one point. The adhesive may be on the inner or outer surfaces of the walls 12, 14. The shape of the areas of adhesive 22, 24 may be varied to improve ease of release or strength of bond. The bag may be made of some material other than paper, for example a polymer based material.

Claims

A paper produce bag comprising a front wall, a rear wall, side walls, a closed base end and an open mouth end opposite the base end, the side walls each having a fold line along the length thereof and each being folded inwardly between the front and rear walls to form a gusset, each gusset having an inner edge spaced inwardly from the outside edges of the front and rear walls and running along the length of the bag from the base to mouth end, the rear wall having an opening formed adjacent the mouth end of the bag, a first contact adhesive region applied to the inner surface of the front wall adjacent the mouth end between the inner edges of the gussets, and a second contact adhesive region applied to the outer surface of the rear wall in an area adjacent the opening.
A paper produce bag according to claim 1 further comprising a seam at one edge of the rear wall running from the base end to the mouth end.
A paper produce bag according to claim 2 wherein the seam is formed by an overlap of a side wall and the rear wall.
A paper produce bag according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the opening comprises a rectangular cut-out positioned between the inner edges of the gussets.
A paper produce bag according to claim 4 wherein the second contact adhesive region is positioned adjacent the opening and between the inner edges of the gussets.
A paper produce bag according to any preceding claim wherein the front wall comprises an opening.
A paper produce bag according to claim 6 wherein the front wall further comprises a transparent plastic sheet positioned on its inner surface to cover the opening.
A paper produce bag according to claim 7 wherein the transparent plastic sheet does not cover the first contact adhesive region.
A method of making a paper produce bag comprising the steps of:
taking a blank,

punching an opening from the blank,

folding the blank to form a tube,

gluing the side edges of the tube to one another to form a seam,

cutting the tube into sections,

folding and gluing one end of a section to form a closed base end,

applying adhesive to the outside of the section rear wall, and

applying adhesive to the inside of the section front wall.
A method of making a paper produce bag according to claim 9 and comprising, after folding the blank to form a tube, the further step of:
folding the side walls to form gussets.