Reclosable containers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a re-closable package configured to provide a pouring mouth when the package is opened. The top of the package is sealed by a sealing strip that comprises two seal portions of different widths and a closure extending from one end side of the package up to the wider seal portion is secured to the outer surfaces of the package walls below the narrower seal portion such as to leave an unsealed strip between the closure and the seal.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 681,925 filed on Oct. 9, 2003 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 414,899 filed on Apr. 16, 2003.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention generally relates to closure means for containers and more specifically to an air-tight snap closure for allowing re-opening and re-closing of a container for keeping the freshness of the container contents. [0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art [0005] Various off-the-shelf goods, such as food products, are distributed in sealed packages to ensure that the package was not opened before purchasing, to prevent spillage of contents and to prevent exposure of the package contents to ambient atmosphere. For various food products it is also common to seal the package under vacuum, as is well known in the art, for better protecting the products. Once purchased, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The present invention provides a re-closable container that allows for re-closing the package after it is initially opened and for enhancing accessibility to the container contents when opened by providing a pouring mouth. The package comprises two opposite wall, a seal strip comprising of two seal portions of different widths provided at the top of the package and a closure secured to the package below one of the potions. The seal strip extends from one end side end of the package to opposite end side thereof. One portion of the seal strip extends from the top to a first distance below the top and the second seal portion extends from the top to a second distance below the top wherein the second distance is larger than said first distance. The closure is disposed below the first seal portion substantially parallel thereto so as to leave an unsealed strip between the closure and the first seal portion. The closure, having substantially the length of the first portion, extends from one end side of the package and up to the second seal portion having its top edge positioned at a distance larger than the first distance and smaller than the second distance. The closure comprises an elongated male unit and an elongated female unit configured to snap fit into each other. The male and female units are secured to the outer surfaces of the two opposite walls of the package. The first seal portion and the second seal portion may be separated by a vertical sealing line. The package may be an asymmetric one-side gusseted package or a symmetric two-side gusseted package wherein the closure is disposed across the gusset when the gusset is folded inwardly. Alternatively the package may be a non-gusseted bag having one of its upper corners folded inwardly wherein the closure is disposed across the folded corner. The closure may include at least one pull tongue member connected to the male or female closure units for facilitating opening the closure.

Problems solved by technology

However, many times the contents of the package are not consumed immediately but over a period of time.

Furthermore, internal closures do not fit for some goods, such as for example powder-like products, which tend to accumulate on the closure surface, hindering the closure operation.

One such a drawback is the limit to the separation that can be obtained between the two opposite walls of the container for forming a mouth or an opening sufficiently large to allow convenient access to the container contents This drawback is particularly crucial for bags known in the art as non-gusseted bags, where the two walls of the container are directly connected to each other with no intermediate side walls.

Another drawback is the extent of the force that should be applied in order to separate the two parts of the closure.

Yet another drawback is that for non-gusseted packages a continuous pressure should be applied to the closure in order to maintain the closure in the open position.

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