GB2382562A

GB2382562A - A closure means for a bag or the like

Info

Publication number: GB2382562A
Application number: GB0128656A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Gerrard Hancock
Original assignee: NORPRINT LABELLING SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: NORPRINT LABELLING SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 2001-11-30
Filing date: 2001-11-30
Publication date: 2003-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 2021-11-30
Also published as: GB0128656D0; GB2382562B

Abstract

A closure means for a bag or the like, comprises a substrate 1 with first and second opposed surfaces and a line of symmetry 3 dividing it into first and second halves, each half having an end portion 4, 5 distal from the line of symmetry 3 and a central portion 2 proximal to the line of symmetry 3; a layer of adhesive 18 provided on substantially all of the first surface (17) of the substrate; each end portion 4, 5 and the central portion 2 being respectively provided with a separate backing sheet 15, 16, 20 over the layer of adhesive 18 on the first surface 17; each half having a push-out portion 7, 8 located in the central portion 2; and a tear strip 6 provided between at least one of the end portions 4, 5 and the central portion 2. The end portions 4, 5 and the push-out portions 7, 8 respectively come substantially into registration with each other when the substrate 1 is folded in half along the line of symmetry 3.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO PACKAGING The present invention relates to a sealing device for packaging, and in particular but not exclusively to a sealing device for ready meal or take away bags.

In recent times, supermarkets and other retail food outlets have been marketing freshly packed ready meals and the like to be taken away by customers for re-heating. Examples include Indian-style ready meals or Chinese-style ready meals comprising a plurality of different dishes sealed in individual containers with plastics foil lids which are suitable for heating in a conventional or microwave oven. These containers are at present generally presented in a strong paper bag provided with loop handles, similar to the bags used by some restaurants when preparing meals to be taken away. These paper bags are not fully sealed, generally having only an adhesive sticker partially sealing the mouth of the bag and giving an indication of the contents.

This partial seal is not tamper-proof, in that it is still possible for a third party to gain access to the contents of the bag before it is sold, without this being obvious to a potential purchaser.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sealing device for a bag or the like, the sealing device comprising a substrate having first and second opposed surfaces and a line of symmetry dividing it into first and second halves, each half having an end portion distal from the line of symmetry and a central portion proximal to the line of symmetry; a layer of adhesive provided on substantially all of the first surface of the substrate; each end portion and the central portion being respectively provided with a separate backing sheet over the layer of adhesive on the first surface; each half having a push-out portion located in the central portion; and a tear strip provided between at least one of the end portions and the central portion; wherein the end portions and the push-out portions respectively come substantially into registration with each other when the substrate is folded in half along the line of symmetry.

The second surface of the substrate is advantageously provided with at least one label which may be adhered thereto. The at least one label is preferably releasably adhered to the second surface, for example in the regions of the push-out portions, possibly by way of a release layer provided on the second surface of the substrate which allows the label or a portion thereof to be peeled away and reaffixed to a different substrate, for example a bag to which the sealing device is to be fitted. The label may be preprinted or printed in-store with desired indicia relating, for example, to the contents of the bag to be sealed. Preferably, the push-out portions of the substrate and the portions of the label which cover the push-out portions are pre-cut, pre-scored or preperforated. The label or portions thereof may be peeled off and adhered to the bag or the like.

The line of symmetry may be pre-scored, pre-perforated or otherwise defined in a manner so as to allow the substrate to be folded easily and reliably therealong, thus bringing the two halves of the substrate into registration.

The sealing device of the present invention is particularly well suited to sealing block bottom paper bags, although it will be appreciated that other types of bag and bags of other materials may be sealed thereby.

In use, the backing sheet of the end portion which is connected to the central portion by way of the tear strip is peeled away from the first surface of the substrate, and the adhesive side of the end portion is attached by adhesion to one side of the mouth of the bag, ensuring that the tear strip is located just above the top of the bag. The bag may then be filled with appropriate contents, and the backing sheet of the central portion removed so as to expose the adhesive on the central portion of the substrate.

The substrate is then carefully folded along the line of symmetry and corresponding adhesive-coated parts of the central portion of the substrate are brought together in a sealing relationship, the parts being adhered to each other in registration, such that the push-out portions are also in registration. The two push-out portions are then pushed out of the folded substrate and discarded, thereby providing an aperture which

serves as a carrying handle. Finally, the backing sheet of the free end portion is removed so as to expose the adhesive on the first side of the substrate, and the end portion is attached by adhesion to the other side of the mouth of the bag. In this way, a tamper-evident and hygienic seal is formed over the mouth of the bag, with a carrying handle being defined by the aperture formed by pushing out the push-out portions.

In order to open the seal, a customer who has purchased the ready meal or the like merely tears away the tear strip provided between at least one of the end portions of the substrate and the central portion so as to separate the at least one end portion therefrom. Because the tear strip is located just above the mouth of the bag, this means that the mouth of the bag can be opened so as to provide access to the contents of the bag.

It will be appreciated that each of the two end portions may be connected to the central portion by way of a tear strip, although it is only essential for one of the end portions to be thus connected.

The tear strip may be formed by two substantially parallel rows of perforations through the substrate which define a strip of substrate therebetween. A separate reinforcing strip may be adhered to the second side of the substrate along the strip, the reinforcing strip being made of a more tear-resistant material than the substrate itself, and having a protruding tab or the like at one end so as to allow a person easily to grip the tab and to tear away the tear strip. Any other suitable type of tear strip may be used, provided that it allows the end portion of the substrate to be separated from the central portion when the device of the present invention has been fitted to the mouth of a bag or the like.

The adhesive is preferably a contact adhesive, although hot-melt and other adhesives may find utility in some applications.

The substrate may be made of cardboard or plastics materials or any other suitable material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of sealing a bag or the like with a sealing device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the backing sheet of the end portion connected to the central portion by the tear strip is removed to reveal the adhesive on the first side of the substrate, the first side of the end portion is adhered to a first side of a mouth portion of the bag or the like with the tear strip being positioned above the mouth of the bag, the backing sheet of the central portion is removed to reveal further adhesive on the first side of the substrate, the substrate is folded in half along the line of symmetry such that the first and second halves come into registration and adhere to each other in the region of the central portion, the push-out portions are pushed out of the substrate, the backing sheet of the other end portion is removed to reveal further adhesive, and the first side of the other end portion is adhered to a second side of the mouth portion of the bag opposed to the first in order to seal the bag or the like.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference shall now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE I shows a plan view of a sealing device of the present invention next to a block bottom paper bag; FIGURE 2 shows a label portion being removed from a push-out portion of a substrate of the sealing device for transfer to the paper bag; FIGURE 3 shows a backing sheet being removed from an end portion of the substrate of the sealing device;

FIGURE 4 shows the end portion of the sealing device being adhered to a mouth portion of the paper bag; FIGURE 5 shows the paper bag being filled with contents; FIGURE 6 shows a backing sheet being removed from a central portion of the substrate of the sealing device; FIGURE 7 shows the substrate of the sealing device being folded along a line of symmetry; FIGURE 8 shows the push-out portions of the substrate of the sealing device being removed; FIGURE 9 shows a backing sheet being removed from an opposed end portion of the substrate of the sealing device and the opposed end portion being adhered to the mouth portion of the paper bag; and FIGURE 10 shows the sealing device being opened by removal of a tear strip.

Figure 1 shows a sealing device of the present invention comprising a substrate 1 having a first side lowermost and a second side uppermost in the Figure. The substrate 1 has a central portion 2 with a line of symmetry 3, first and second end portions 4,5, a tear strip 6 connecting the first end portion 4 to the central portion 2, and two push-out portions 7,8. The first side of the substrate 1 bears a peelable adhesive label 9 including separate portions 10,11 located on the push-out portions 7,8. The label portions 10,11 (and indeed the entire label 9) may be preprinted with relevant indicia or may be overprinted in a retail store or the like just prior to use.

Also shown is a block bottom paper bag 12 having a mouth portion 13.

Figure 2 shows the label portion 10 being peeled away from a release layer 14 on the second (uppermost) side of the substrate 1. The label portions 10,11 may each bear indicia relating to a product to be presented in the paper bag 12 and adhered to the paper bag 12 as shown.

Figure 3 shows a backing sheet 15 being peeled away from the first (lowermost) side of the substrate 1 in the region of the first end portion 4. By peeling away the backing sheet 15, a layer of contact adhesive (not shown) is revealed on the first (lowermost) side of the substrate.

As shown in Figure 4, the first end portion 4 is then adhered to one side of the mouth portion 13 of the paper bag 12 by way of the layer of contact adhesive revealed by the removal of the backing sheet 15. It is important to ensure that the tear strip 6 is located just above the mouth portion 13 of the paper bag 12.

The paper bag 12 may then be filled with desired contents 21 as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 6 shows a backing sheet 16 being peeled away from the first side 17 of the substrate 1 so as to reveal a layer of contact adhesive 18. The backing sheet 16 is separate from the backing sheet 15 (not shown in Figure 6) and is located only over the central portion 2 of the first side 17 of the substrate. It may also be seen that label portion 11 has been removed from the release layer 14 of the substrate 1 and adhered to the other side of the paper bag 12.

The substrate 1 is then folded in half along the line of symmetry 3 so as to bring the halves of the central portion 2 into registration and adhesive contact by way of the layer of contact adhesive 18 on the first side 17 of the substrate 1, as shown in Figure 7.

Once the two halves of the central portion 2 of the substrate 1 have been adhered to each other with the push-out portions 7,8 in registration with each other, both push-

out portions 7,8 may be pushed out of the substrate 1 as shown in Figure 8 and discarded, leaving an aperture 19 which serves as a carrying handle.

Figure 9 shows a backing sheet 20 being peeled away from the first side 17 of the substrate 1 in the region of the second end portion 5, revealing a layer of contact adhesive 18 as before. The backing sheet 20 is separate from the backing sheets 15, 16 (not shown in Figure 9). Once the backing sheet 20 has been removed, the first side 17 of the second end portion 5 can be adhered to the other side of the mouth portion 13 of the paper bag 12 (cf.

Figure 4). Because both of the end portions 4,5 are as wide as the mouth portion 13 of the paper bag 12, the mouth portion 13 becomes fully sealed in a hygienic and tamper-evident manner.

In order to break the seal and gain access to the paper bag 12, a customer simply needs to grip the tear strip 6 at one end and then tear it away from between the first end portion 4 and the central portion 2 of the substrate 1 as shown in Figure 10. Because the tear strip 6 is located just above the mouth portion 13 of the paper bag 12, this enables the mouth portion 13 to be pulled open, and the contents 21 (not shown in Figure 10) to be removed from the paper bag 12.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A sealing device for a bag or the like, the sealing device comprising a substrate having first and second opposed surfaces and a line of symmetry dividing it into first and second halves, each half having an end portion distal from the line of symmetry and a central portion proximal to the line of symmetry ; a layer of adhesive provided on substantially all of the first surface of the substrate; each end portion and the central portion being respectively provided with a separate backing sheet over the layer of adhesive on the first surface; each half having a push-out portion located in the central portion; and a tear strip provided between at least one of the end portions and the central portion; wherein the end portions and the push-out portions respectively come substantially into registration with each other when the substrate is folded in half along the line of symmetry.
2. A sealing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second surface of the substrate is provided with at least one label which may be printed with indicia.
3. A sealing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one label is adhered to a release layer formed on the second surface of the substrate, and wherein the at least one label may be peelably removed from the release layer and readhered to a surface of the bag or the like.
4. A sealing device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the at least one label is located over at least one of the push-out portions of the substrate.
5. A sealing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the push-out portions of the substrate are pre-cut, pre-scored or pre-perforated.
6. A sealing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tear strip is formed by two substantially parallel rows of perforations through the substrate.

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7. A sealing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tear strip includes a reinforcing strip adhered thereto on the second side of the substrate, the reinforcing strip being made of a material with greater tear-resistance than the substrate.
8. A sealing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the reinforcing strip extends beyond at least one end of the tear strip so as to define a grip tab or the like.
9. A sealing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. A method of sealing a bag or the like with a sealing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the backing sheet of the end portion connected to the central portion by the tear strip is removed to reveal the adhesive on the first side of the substrate, the first side of the end portion is adhered to a first side of a mouth portion of the bag or the like with the tear strip being positioned above the mouth of the bag, the backing sheet of the central portion is removed to reveal further adhesive on the first side of the substrate, the substrate is folded in half along the line of symmetry such that the first and second halves come into registration and adhere to each other in the region of the central portion, the push-out portions are pushed out of the substrate, the backing sheet of the other end portion is removed to reveal further adhesive, and the first side of the other end portion is adhered to a second side of the mouth portion of the bag opposed to the first in order to seal the bag or the like.
11. A method of sealing a bag or the like, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A bag or the like sealed with a sealing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 in accordance with the method of claim 11 or 12.