Product packaging bag, its opening / closing mechanism, and a wound labeling strip for such a bag

Abstract

A pouch (1) comprising a hollow body (2) defining a cavity accessible through an access zone, which, in its open configuration, defines an opening that can be closed by folding at least one portion of the body (2) adjacent to said opening. This portion of the body (2), in the closed state of the opening, forms a flap (6) positioned against a portion of the body separated from the flap (6) by a fold line (8). The pouch (1) includes a system for holding the opening in the closed state. The activatable / deactivatable holding system comprises a strap (10) permanently fixed to the outside of the body (2) and a mechanical fastening device for the strap (10) to allow the strap (10) to move from an open position, corresponding to an inactive state of the holding system, to a closed position. The closed position(s) of the strap correspond to an active state of the holding system in which the strap (10) holds the flap (6) against the base of the body (2).Figure for the abridged version: Fig. 5.

Description

Title of the invention: Product packaging bag, its opening / closing method and label-carrying wound strip for such a bag

[0001] The present invention relates to a bag for packaging any type of product, the method for opening / closing such a bag, and a wound label-carrying strip for obtaining such a bag.

[0002] It relates in particular to a sachet comprising a hollow body delimiting a cavity accessible by an access zone of said body capable of passing from a closed configuration to an open configuration, said access zone delimiting in the open configuration an opening, this opening being reclosable by folding at least a part of the body adjoining said opening, at least this part of the body adjoining the opening forming, in the closed state of the opening, a flap positioned as an applique on a part of the body, called the base of the body, and separated from the flap by a fold line, said sachet comprising a system for maintaining the opening in the closed state.

[0003] Such a bag is known. Generally, the system for maintaining the opening in the closed state is formed by a repositionable adhesive which extends across the flap and the body of the bag in a vertical direction, i.e. from the opening towards the bottom of the bag. This solution is not possible in the case of a bag used for packaging a powdery product or a freezer bag because condensation or the powdery product impairs the effectiveness of the adhesive. Manufacturers of such bags are therefore looking for simple solutions to implement on any type of bag regardless of the contents and use of the bag.

[0004] An aim of the invention is to propose a bag that can be reclosable by folding, the design of which allows effective reclosing regardless of the contents and use of the bag.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a bag comprising a hollow body delimiting a cavity accessible by an access zone of said body capable of passing from a closed configuration to an open configuration, said access zone delimiting in the open configuration an opening, this opening being reclosable by folding at least a part of the body adjoining said opening, at least this part of the body adjoining the opening forming in the closed state of the opening a flap positioned in application on a part of the body called the base of the body and separated from the flap by a fold line, said bag comprising a system for maintaining the opening in the closed state, characterized in that the activatable / deactivatable maintaining system comprises a strap permanently attached to the outside of the body and a mechanical strap closure device for the strap to move from an open position corresponding to an inactive state of the holding system to a closed position, the or one of the closed positions of the strap corresponding, in the closed state of the opening, to an active state of the holding system in which the strap holds the flap applied to the base of the body, said strap being at least in this closed position arranged in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the fold line separating the flap from the base of the body. The presence of a strap ensures good retention of the applied flap. The permanent attachment of the strap to the body of the bag facilitates its use. The design of the strap closure device in the form of a mechanical, i.e. non-adhesive, closure device allows the strap to be closed under all conditions.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the invention, in the active state of the holding system, the strap forms a loop at least partially surrounding the flap, said flap being arranged inside the loop. The loop can be exclusively formed by the strap or, by the strap in cooperation with the body of the bag, when the strap is made of several elements.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the strap comprises one or more band segments, the or each band segment comprising at least one zone for anchoring to the body and at least one end equipped with a part of the closure device. The strap can therefore be formed from a single band segment or from several band segments.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the strap comprises an intermediate portion and two end portions, the intermediate portion which is permanently coupled to the body is formed by the anchoring zone of the band segment(s) to the body and the end portions are formed by the or a part of the or each band segment equipped with a part of the closure device.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the end portions are connected in an articulated manner to the intermediate portion so as to be able to extend on one side or the other of the intermediate portion, the end portions being arranged along the same first side of the intermediate portion in the inactive state of the holding system and along said first side or the side opposite said first side in the active state of the holding system with the flap interposed between the end portions and the intermediate portion.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the strap comprises an additional closed position called the second closed position corresponding to an inactive state of the holding system in which the strap does not hold the flap applied to the base of the body and the end portions are arranged along the same first side of the intermediate portion in the second closed position of the strap corresponding to the inactive state of the holding system and along said first side or the side opposite said first side in the closed position of the strap corresponding to the active state of the holding system with the flap interposed between the end portions and the intermediate portion.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the strap is made of a material identical to the material of the body of the bag. This design facilitates recycling of the bag.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the mechanical closing device is a closing device by interlocking shapes and / or by self-gripping connection. This solution allows the production of a closing device in which each closing element is made in a single piece with at least part of the strap.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the closing device comprises at least two closing elements, each closing element being formed by a notch-shaped cutout in the strap, said notches cooperating with each other by fitting together.

[0014] The invention also relates to a method for opening / closing a bag, characterized in that the bag being of the aforementioned type, the method comprises a step of at least partial separation by cutting or tearing at least a part of the access zone of the body of the bag to provide an opening, a step of closing the opening by folding at least a part of the body of the bag adjoining said opening, at least this part of the body adjoining the opening forming, in the closed state of the opening, a flap positioned in application on a part of the body called the base of the body and separated from the flap by a fold line and a step of holding the flap in application on the base of the body of the bag by closing the strap. Despite the effectiveness of the reclosing, the manufacture of the bag remains as simple as in the presence of an adhesive.

[0015] The invention also relates to a wound strip carrying at least partially adhesive labels for the automated application of at least one label on the body of a bag in order to obtain a bag of the aforementioned type, characterized in that each label is in the form of a strip segment to form at least part of the strap of the bag holding system in the state in which said label is placed on the body of said bag. Brief description of the drawings

[0016] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0017] [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of a bag according to the invention during the passage into the open configuration of the access zone,

[0018] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of a bag according to the invention in the open configuration of the access zone and in the closed position known as storage or transport of the strap in which the strap is stored and awaiting use in cooperation with the flap,

[0019] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of a bag according to the invention in the open position of the strap before resealing the bag by folding the body of the bag,

[0020] [Fig.4] represents a perspective view of a bag according to the invention in the open position of the strap before resealing the bag during folding of the body of the bag,

[0021] [Fig.5] represents a perspective view of a bag according to the invention in the closed state of the opening during the closing of the strap,

[0022] [Fig.6] represents a perspective view of a bag according to the invention in the closed position of the strap in the closed state of the bag,

[0023] [Fig.7] represents a perspective view of a bag according to the invention during emptying of the bag,

[0024] [Fig.8] represents a schematic view of a wound label-carrying strip.

[0025] As mentioned above, the invention relates to a bag 1 for packaging any products, such as powdered products or others. This bag 1, which can be of any shape although it has been shown here in quadrangular shape, comprises a hollow body 2 delimiting a cavity 3 accessible by a part of the body 2 called zone 4 of access to the body 2.

[0026] Generally, the body 2 is formed of two facing sheets assembled by welding at their edges. The access zone 4 may be delimited by a line forming a break initiation, also called a tear line. The access zone 4 is capable of being removed or cut, at least partially, to change from a closed configuration to an open configuration, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. In this example, a portion of the bag forming the top of the bag in the vertically positioned state of the bag can be cut using a pair of scissors along a line parallel to the upper edge of the bag.

[0027] In the open configuration, the access zone 4 delimits an opening 5 which opens into the cavity 3. This type of bag has the advantage of making it possible to delimit a large opening 5, which facilitates emptying the bag by inserting a spoon or by pouring.

[0028] This opening 5 is conventionally closable by folding a part of the body 2 adjoining the opening 5. This part of the body adjoining the opening 5 forms, in the closed state of the opening 5, a flap 6 positioned as an applique on a part of the body called the base 7 of the body 2, this part of the body being separated from the flap 6 by a line 8 folding. The bag 1 includes a system 9 for maintaining the opening 5 in the closed state.

[0029] The advantage of a folding closure is that it allows a closure to be obtained which can be watertight. The holding system 9 allows the bag to be opened and closed as many times as necessary. This holding system 9 comprises a strap 10 positioned on the outer face of the body of the bag 1 and permanently coupled to said body 2, which makes it captive and facilitates its use. This strap 10 is generally fixed by gluing to the outer surface of the body. 2.

[0030] The holding system 9 also comprises a device 11 for mechanical closure, i.e. non-adhesive closure of the strap 10 for the passage of the strap 10 from an open position, corresponding to an inactive state of the holding system 9, to a closed position. The or one of the closed positions of the strap 10 corresponds to an active state of the holding system 9, in which the strap 10 keeps the flap 6 applied to the base 7 of the body. The strap 10 is, in this closed position, arranged in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the folding line 8 separating the flap 6 from the base 7 of the body.

[0031] In the active state of the holding system 9, the strap 10 forms a loop at least partially surrounding the flap 6. The flap 6 is arranged inside the loop. Ideally, the strap 10 and the body 2 of the bag are made of the same material.

[0032] This strap 10 can be made in one piece or in several elements. In the example of [Fig. 3], the strap 10 is made in one piece and the closing device 11 is made in one piece with the strap 10. As a variant, the strap 10 can be made in several elements. As a further variant, the closing device 11 can be attached to the strap 10. When the strap 10 is in one piece, it can be made in the form of a single segment 12 of strip with an anchoring zone 121 to the body 2 and two ends 122 each equipped with a part of the closing device 11. This is the case of [Fig. 3].

[0033] Alternatively, the strap 10 may comprise, for example, two band segments 12 with each band segment 12 comprising a zone for anchoring to the body and one end of the band segment 12 equipped with a part of the closing device 11.

[0034] Regardless of its embodiment, the strap 10 comprises an intermediate portion 13 and two end portions 14. The intermediate portion 13, which is permanently coupled to the body 2, is formed by the anchoring zone 121 of the segment(s) 12 of the band to the body 2 and the end portions 14 are formed by the or a part of each segment 12 of the band equipped with a part of the closing device 11.

[0035] The end portions 14 are hingedly connected to the intermediate portion 13, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], so as to be able to extend to one side or to the other. the other of the intermediate part 13. The strap 10 may have an additional closed position. This additional closed position, also called the second closed position, corresponds to an inactive state of the holding system 9. In this closed position, the strap 10 does not hold the flap 6 applied to the base 7 of the body 2. This additional closed position is for example visible in Figures 1 and 2. This additional closed position corresponds to the position occupied by the strap 10 before its first use to hold the flap 6 and each time it is not necessary to hold the flap 6, as is the case, for example, when emptying the bag (see [Fig.7]).

[0036] In this additional closed position in which the holding system is inactive, the end portions 14 can extend along the same side of the intermediate portion.

[0037] After opening the strap 10 and re-closing, once the flap 10 has been produced, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the end portions 14 can be arranged in a parallel or substantially parallel direction, i.e. to within plus or minus 15° of the folding line 8 separating the flap 6 from the base 7 of the body to form with the intermediate portion 13 a loop at least partially surrounding the flap 6, the flap 6 being arranged inside the loop.

[0038] In the example illustrated in the figures, the end portions 14, which are arranged along the same first side of the intermediate portion 13 in the inactive state of the holding system 9, are arranged along the side opposite the first side in the active state of the holding system 9 with the flap 6 interposed between the end portions and the intermediate portion.

[0039] Alternatively and depending on the number of folds of the flap, the end portions 14 may be arranged along the first side of the intermediate portion 13 in the inactive state of the holding system 9 and along the first side in the active state of the holding system 9 with the flap interposed between the end portions 14 and the intermediate portion 13.

[0040] In the examples shown, the closure device 11 is a closure device by interlocking shapes. In the example of [Fig. 5], the closure device 11 comprises two closure elements 111. Each closure element 111 is formed by a notch-shaped cutout of the strap 10. The notches cooperate with each other by interlocking. Each notch is provided at one end of the strap, at one of the end portions 14.

[0041] The strap can be closed and opened in a simple manner any number of times. Alternatively and / or additionally, each end portion 14 can be equipped with a self-gripping connection element of the type Velcro (registered trademark). The strap 10 is preferably made of a material identical to the material of the body of the bag.

[0042] By way of example, the strap 10 and the body 2 of the bag may be made of paper, polyethylene, polypropylene or other material. The design of the strap 10 may allow it to be placed on the bag 1 in the manner of an adhesive label after the body of the bag has been manufactured. In this case, each label 16 is in the form of a strip segment to form at least a portion of the strap 10 of the system 9 for holding the bag 1 in the state in which said label is placed on the body 2 of said bag. Each label 16 is, before being placed, fixed to a peelable support strip to form a wound label-carrying strip 15 conforming to that shown in [Fig. 8], as is well known to those skilled in the art for placing labels.

[0043] The opening of a sachet according to the invention therefore comprises: - a step of at least partial separation by cutting or tearing at least part of the access zone 4 of the body 2 of the bag 1 to provide an opening 5, as illustrated in figures 1 and 2, - a step of closing the opening 5 by folding to provide a flap 6 as illustrated in figures 3 to 5 and - a step of holding the flap 6 in place on the base of the body 2 of the bag 1 by closing the strap 10.

[0044] When the bag is opened again, it is sufficient to open the strap 10, close it by placing it in the additional closed position, as illustrated in [Fig.7], deploy the flap and empty the bag 1 using a spoon or by pouring it out. These operations can be repeated as many times as necessary. Recycling the bag is then easy due to the nature of the strap 10.

Claims

1. Claims Bag (1) comprising a hollow body (2) delimiting a cavity (3) accessible by an access zone (4) of said body (2) capable of passing from a closed configuration to an open configuration, said access zone (4) delimiting in the open configuration an opening (5), this opening (5) being reclosable by folding at least a part of the body (2) adjoining said opening (5), at least this part of the body (2) adjoining the opening (5) forming, in the closed state of the opening (5), a flap (6) positioned applied to a part of the body called the base (7) of the body and separated from the flap (6) by a folding line (8), said bag (1) comprising a system (9) for maintaining the opening (5) in the closed state,the activatable / deactivatable holding system (9) comprising a strap (10) permanently fixed to the outside of the body (2) and a device (11) for mechanically closing the strap (10) for the strap (10) to move from an open position corresponding to an inactive state of the holding system (9) to a closed position, the or one of the closed positions of the strap (10) corresponding, in the closed state of the opening (5), to an active state of the holding system (9) in which the strap (10) holds the flap (6) applied to the base (7) of the body (2), said strap (10) being at least in this closed position arranged in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the folding line (8) separating the flap (6) from the base (7) of the body, characterized in that the strap (10) comprises one or more segments (12) of band,the or each band segment (12) comprising at least one anchoring zone (121) to the body (2) and at least one end (122) equipped with a part of the closing device (11), in that the strap (10) comprises an intermediate portion (13) and two end portions (14), in that the intermediate portion (13) which is permanently coupled to the body (2) is formed by the anchoring zone (121) of the or each band segment (12) to the body (2) and in that the end portions (14) are formed by the or a part of the or each band segment (12) equipped with a part of the closing device (11), in that the end portions (14) are connected in an articulated manner to the intermediate portion (13) so as to be able to extend on one side or the other of the intermediate portion (13), the end portions, (14) being arranged along the same first side of the intermediate portion (13) in the inactive state of the holding system (9) and along said first side or the side opposite said first side in the active state of the holding system (9) with the flap (6) interposed between the end portions (14) and the intermediate portion (13),in that the strap (10) comprises an additional closed position called the second closed position corresponding to an inactive state of the holding system (9) in which the strap (10) does not hold the flap (6) applied to the base (7) of the body and in that the end portions (14) are arranged along the same first side of the intermediate portion in the second closed position of the strap (10) corresponding to the inactive state of the holding system (9) and along said first side or the side opposite said first side in the closed position of the strap (10) corresponding to the active state of the holding system with the flap (6) interposed between the end portions (14) and the intermediate portion (13).,

2. Bag (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the active state of the holding system (9), the strap (10) forms a loop at least partially surrounding the flap (6), said flap (6) being arranged inside the loop.

3. Bag (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the strap (10) is made of a material identical to the material of the body (2) of the bag (1).

4. Bag (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the mechanical closing device (11) is a closing device by interlocking shapes and / or by self-gripping connection.

5. Bag (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the closing device (11) comprises at least two closing elements (111), each closing element (111) being formed by a notch-shaped cutout of the strap (10), said notches cooperating with each other by fitting together.

6. Method for opening / closing a bag (1), characterized in that the bag (1) being in accordance with one of claims 1 to 5, the method comprises a step of at least partial separation by cutting or tearing of at least a part of the access zone (4) of the body (2) of the bag (1) to provide an opening (5), a step of closing the opening (5) by folding at least a part of the

7. body (2) of the bag (1) adjoining said opening (5), at least this part of the body (2) adjoining the opening (5) forming in the closed state of the opening (5) a flap (6) positioned in application on a part of the body called base (7) of the body (2) and separated from the flap (6) by a fold line, and a step of holding the flap (6) in application on the base of the body (2) of the bag (1) by closing the strap (10). Strip (15) wound with at least partially adhesive labels (16) for the automated application of at least one label on the body (2) of a bag (1) in order to obtain a bag (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each label (16) is in the form of a strip segment to form at least part of the strap (10) of the system (9) for holding the bag (1) in the state in which said label is placed on the body (2) of said bag (1).