Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SACHET HAVING A CONCEALED OPENING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of packaging bags.
More precisely, the present invention relates to the field of packaging
bags comprising opening/closing means, for example and non¨limiting in
the form of complementary profiles.
TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
Many packaging bags and many closing devices for this purpose
have already been proposed.
The majority of closing devices known for this purpose comprises two
complementary profiles, for example of male/female type or of velvet/hook
type, or again of complementary hook type, carried by respective support
webs.
Document FR 2 628 067 particularly proposed a bag comprising two
main walls comprising two complementary closure profiles carried by
respective support webs fixed respectively to the walls. The attachment
zone of the support web on the wall is not superimposed on the male profile
but rather offset from it so as to hinge the corresponding support web on the
wall at the attachment zone. As is described in document FR 2 628 067, the
foregoing arrangement avoids internal pressure to the bag from being
applied to the closure profiles and tends to separate the latter. In fact, the
separation of the walls of the bag (to open the latter) results in possible
pivoting of the support web at the hinge zone formed by its attachment,
without risk of separation of the closure profiles.
Bags responding to this arrangement have already provided major
service and make reopening of the bag difficult, so as to ensure its user that
its contents cannot be taken out easily.
Document FR 2 963 927 also proposes that the two attachment
zones of the webs are located at a distance from and on either side of the
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corresponding complementary profiles in such a way that one of the hinged
webs is directed towards the inside of the bag, whereas the other hinged
web is directed towards its mouth.
These bags also resist internal and external stresses of the walls of
the bag, to such a point where today it proves very difficult to open it
without
damaging the closure device or the walls of the bag.
But in some cases, it can prove necessary to be able to open the bag
without damaging it to access its contents and be sure of reclosing it after
io opening.
Such a bag for example applies to the field of packaging harmful
products, such as dishwasher tablets. In fact, it is important to be able to
ensure users that the bag stays closed between two uses, especially to
prevent children accessing its contents, and letting parents open and
reclose the bag several times without risking damaging it, and preferably
without successive openings and closings being too difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An objective of the invention is therefore to propose a bag comprising
opening/closing means, for example and without limitation in the form of
complementary profiles, and having a system allowing such opening/closing
means to be opened easily. If necessary, when the opening means are
hinged on one and/or the other of the walls of the bag, the system must
allow an adult to open a bag despite the hinge effect generated by the joint.
To this end, the invention proposes a bag comprising:
- a first and a second wall connected together so as to define the
lateral sides and a bottom of the bag,
- a closure assembly comprising a first and a second support web
respectively connected to the first and the second wall and each including a
complementary closure element,
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- the first support web has an upper edge and a lower edge, the lower
edge being closer to the bottom of the bag than the upper edge,
the bag being characterized in that the upper edge is discontinuously
connected to the first wall of the bag and in that:
- the upper edge of the first support web is continuously fixed on the
first wall along a first section and is continuously separated from said first
wall along a second section, and
- the lower edge of the first support web is continuously fixed on the
first wall along the second section over all or a portion of its height,
io so as to provide at least one passage between this first support web and
the
first wall of the bag from the outside of the bag, said passage allowing a
local deformation of the first support web capable of modifying the local
relative orientation of the closure elements during a spacing of the walls of
the bag and facilitating the separation of the complementary closure
is elements.
Some preferred though non¨limiting features of the bag described
hereinabove are the following, taken individually or in combination:
- the lower edge of the first support web is continuously connected to
the first wall between the lateral sides of the bag,
20 - the first support web is divided into a lower portion and an upper
portion, the lower portion being closer to the bottom than the upper portion
and carrying the closure element, and wherein the upper portion of the first
support web is discontinuously connected to the first wall so as to provide
the passage,
25 - the first support web is divided into e lower portion and an upper
portion, the lower portion being closer to the bottom than the upper portion
and carrying the closure element, and wherein the upper portion of the first
support web is locally cut out so as to provide the passage,
- the passage has a length, in the direction extending between the
30 sides of the bag, comprised between 12 mm and 35 mm,
- the second support web is hinged on the second wall so that tension
on the walls of the bag when the complementary closure elements are
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engaged causes rotation of the support webs around said complementary
closure elements,
- the second support web is fixed on the second wall in a localized
zone which is not superimposed with the closure element and which is
offset with respect to said closure element so that the second support web
is hinged on the second wall,
- the second support web is divided into a lower portion and an upper
portion, the lower portion being closer to the bottom than the upper portion
and carrying the closure element, and wherein the localized zone at which
the second support web is fixed on the second wall is part of the lower
portion of said second support web,
- the upper portion of the second support web has a height less than a
height of the closure element,
- the first and the second support web are connected to the first and
second walls through a first and a second extension web, respectively, at
least one of the support webs being fixed to the extension web at a distance
from its upper edge,
- the at least one support web is fixed to the corresponding extension
web in a zone adjacent to the complementary closure element carried by
said support web,
- the bag further comprises an additional wall having a first panel and a
second panel, the first panel being connected to the second wall in proximity
to the mouth of the bag while the second panel is connected to the first wall,
said additional wall being folded between ttio first panel and the second
panel along a fold so that the first panel extends towards the bottom, and
wherein the first support web is further fixed on the second wall, and the
second support web is further fixed on the second panel of the additional
wall,
- the second panel of the additional wall is fixed in proximity to the
lateral edges of the first wall, between the second support web and the fold,
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- the complementary closure elements each comprise at least one
complementary profile, preferably at least two complementary profiles, for
example between three and six complementary profiles, and/or
- all or part of the complementary profiles comprise sequential
5 alterations substantially parallel to the lateral sides, typically
sequential
crushings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features, aims and advantages of the present invention will
emerge more clearly from the following detailed description and with respect
to the appended drawings given by way of non¨limiting examples, wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a view in transversal cross¨section of a first
embodiment of a bag according to the invention, the bag being at rest,
Figure 2 illustrates a view in transversal cross¨section of a second
embodiment of a bag according to the invention, the bag being at rest,
Figure 3 illustrates a view in transversal cross¨section of a third
embodiment of a bag according to the invention, the bag being at rest,
Figure 4 illustrates a view in transversal cross¨section of a fourth
embodiment of a bag according to the invention, when the bag is at rest,
Figure 5 is a detail view of an embodiment of a passage allowing
easy opening of a bag according to the invention,
Figure 6a is a top view of a variant embodiment of the first exemplary
embodiment of a bag according to the invention, comprising the easy
opening of figure 5, when a user attempts to open the bag in the
conventional manner,
Figure 6b is a view in cross¨section of the bag of figure 6a, along the
axis A¨A illustrated in figure 6A,
Figure 7 is a view in cross¨section of the bag of figure 6a, along the
axis B¨A illustrated in figure 6a, when a user inserts one of his thumbs in
the passage and places the other of his thumbs along the second wall,
Figure 8a is a top view of the bag of figure 6a when a user uses the
passage and is just at the point of separating the closure elements,
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Figure 8b is a view in cross¨section of the bag of figure 8a, along the
axis B¨B illustrated in figure 7,
Figure 9 is a top view of the bag of figure 6a when the closure
elements are in the process of being separated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT
A bag 1 comprises, in a manner that is itself conventional, a first and
a second wall 10, 20 connected together so as to define lateral sides and a
bottom 2 of the bag 1, as well as a mouth, extending opposite its bottom 2.
The bag 1 can be made by means of a single sheet folded back on
itself and welded on two sides, or several sheets, for example two sheets
welded together at their sides, preferably along ridges connecting the
walls and forming the lateral sides and the bottom 2 of the bag 1.
The bag 1 further comprises a closure assembly 3. The closure
assembly 3 extends in proximity to the mouth.
The closure assembly 3 comprises a first and a second support
web 30, 32 respectively connected to the first and the second wall 10, 20.
Each support web 30, 32 carries at least one complementary closure
element 34, for example of the complementary profile, velvet/hook strip
type, etc.
The first support web 30 has an upper portion 30a and a lower
portion 30b, the upper portion 30a being closer to the mouth of the bag 1
than the lower portion 30b. Moreover, the lower portion 30b carries all or
part of the closure element 34.
In order to allow a local deformation of the first support web 30
capable of modifying the relative local orientation of the closure elements 34
during spreading of the walls of the bag 1 and facilitating the opening of the
closure assembly 3, the first support web 30 is discontinuously connected
over its length to the first wall 10 of the bag 1 so as to allow at least one
passage between this first support web 30 and the first wall 10 of the bag 1,
from the outside of the bag 1.
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This configuration is particularly advantageous in the case of a bag 1
of which the closure assembly 3 is difficult to open, such as a closure
assembly 3 hinged over at least one of the walls of the bag 1, but also finds
application when the closure assembly 3 is conventional (not hinged). In
fact, to open the closure assembly 3, it is sufficient for the user:
- to insert one of his thumbs from the outside of the bag 1 - or through
the mouth - so as to grip the second wall 20, preferably in proximity to the
closure element 34 of the second support web 32,
- to insert his second thumb in the mouth of the bag 1 in the passage
40 formed between the first wall 10 and the first support web 30 (see figure
7). In this position, the support webs are substantially parallel to one
another, and
- to separate the walls by applying force on said walls using the first
thumb and the second thumb shown in figure 8b which extends substantially
perpendicular to the plane of the closure assembly 3 (see figures 8a and
8b).
In practice, the passage 40 allows locating the point of application of
the force at the closure element 34 of the first support web 30, or even of
the lower portion of the first support web 30 (depending on the height of the
passage 40) (see figure 8b). In this manner, in cases where the second
support web 32 is hinged, during a spacing of the walls, the gripping of the
first wall 10 behind the first support web 30 serves to limit the rotation of
the
closure assembly 3 and therefore bringing closer together to the separation
direction the force application direction on the closure elements 34.
By way of comparison, as illustrated in figures 6a and 6b, when the
user attempts to open a bag 1 including a hinge (zones 31 or 33)
conventionally, the tension force applied to the walls 10, 20 has the effect
of
causing the closure assembly to rotate and to align it with the direction of
application of this force (see the arrows in figure 6b), or perpendicular to
the
direction of separation of the closure elements 34 (said separation direction
extending perpendicular to the plane of the support webs 30, 32). The result
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is that the closure elements 34 remain engaged and prevent the opening of
the bag 1.
By connected is meant here that the support web 30, 32 is either
applied and fixed, for example by welding, on the associated wall, or formed
in one piece (i.e. formed integrally and in a single piece) with said wall 10,
20. The welding can be of the heat welding type, ultrasonic welding, for
example spot welding, or both (accomplished in succession).
Of course, the first and the second support web 30, 32 can be
1.0 connected according to identical or different techniques to the
associated
wall 10, 20: for example, the first support web 30 can be applied and fixed
on the first wall 10 while the second support web 32 can be formed in one
piece with the second wall 20, or vice versa.
In one embodiment, the passage 40 extends along a substantial
height of the first support web 30, so as to allow the user to better block
the
movements of the first support web 30.
The first support web 30 can for example be divided into several
consecutive sections, each corresponding to a portion of the first support
web 30 which is welded, or not, to the first wall 10.
For example, in an embodiment illustrated in figure 5, the first support
web 30 can be divided into three sections A, B, C:
- a first section A, which extends between one of the lateral edges of
the bag 1 and the passage 40, in which the first support web 30 is
.. connected to the first wall 10,
- a second section B, which extends along the passage 40, in which
the first support web 30 is not connected over at least a portion of its
height
to the first support web 30, so as to provide the passage 40, and
- a third section C, which extends between the other of the lateral
edges of the bag 1 and the passage 40, in which the first support web 30 is
connected to the first wall 10.
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The first support web 30 is then in fact discontinuously connected
over its length to the first wall 10 of the bag 1, because it is not fixed to
at
least a portion of its height to the first wall 10 along the second section B.
What will be understood here by length is the dimension which
extends along the extension direction of the closure assembly 3 and which
extends between the lateral sides of the bag 1. Moreover, what will be
understood by height is the dimension which extends perpendicular to the
extension direction of the closure assembly 3 and which extends between
the mouth and the bottom 2 of the bag 1.
It will be understood that the bag 1 can comprise more sections,
including two disjoint sections in which the first support web 30 is not
connected to the first wall 10 over a portion of its height.
In one embodiment, the passage 40 can extend over the entire height
of the upper portion 30a of the first support web 30, or possibly to a zone
underlying the closure element 34. For this purpose, the upper portion 30a
of the first support web 30 can be connected to the first wall 10 in the first
and third sections A, C, for example by welding, while it is left free (not
welded) along the second section B.
As a variant, the upper portion 30a of the first support web 30 can
comprise a local notch at the second section B and connected to the first
wall 10 along the first and second sections A, C. The notch can in particular
be obtained by cutting out the upper portion of the first support web 30, at
the second section B.
In one embodiment, in order to facilitate the opening of the closure
assembly 3, the lower portion 30b of the first support web 30 is continuously
connected over all or a part of its height to the first wall 10 of the bag 1
in
the zone which extends facing the passage 40. This continuous connection
of the lower portion 30b in the extension of the passage 40 makes it
possible to increase the force applied by the first wall 10 to the closure
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elements 34 in the separation direction, and therefore simplifying their
separation and the opening of the closure assembly. In one embodiment,
only a lower zone, underlying the closure element 34, of the lower portion
30b of the first support web 30 is connected to the first wall 10 (see figure
5 5). In this manner, the user can insert his thumb into the passage beyond
the closure element 34, which facilitates the triggering of the separation of
the closure elements 34.
Typically, in the embodiment illustrated in figure 5, the lower
portion 30b of the first support web 30 is connected over a portion of its
10 height to the first wall 10 along the second section B (see the hashed
zone 44).
Optionally, so as to stiffen the attachment of the lower portion 30b of
the first support web 30 to the first wall 10, transverse welds 42 can further
be carried out at the border between the first and the second section A, B
on the one hand and at the border between the second and the third
section B, C on the other hand (regardless of the height over which the
lower portion 30b is welded to the first wall). It will be noted that such
transverse welds 42 allow, in addition to stiffening the attachment of the
first
support web 10, ensuring a seal between the outside and the inside of the
bag 1 at the second section B, despite the presence of the passage 40.
At the first and third sections A, C, the lower portion 30b can be left
free (as illustrated in figure 5, on which the hashed zones represent the
welded portions of the first support web 30) or continuously connected to
the first wall 10 of the bag 1 over all or part of its height, in which case
the
lower portion is then connected to the lower portion of one lateral side of
the
bag 1 to the other.
In order to allow the passage 40 of a thumb, preferably of the thumb
of an adult, the passage 40 has a length, along the extension direction of
the closure assembly 3 between the lateral sides of the bag 1, comprised
between 12 mm and 35 mm.
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In one embodiment, the passage 40 is closer to one of the sides of
the bag 1 than to the other of said sides, so as not to extend centrally. In
this manner, the passage 40 is less likely to be stressed during the
manipulation of the bag 1. Typically, the edge of the passage 40 can extend
to a distance comprised between 10% and 30% of the distance between the
lateral sides of the bag 1, i.e. for a bag 1 having a length, between the
lateral sides, of 100 mm, the edge of the passage 40 extends to a distance
comprised between 10 mm and 30 mm from one of the lateral sides.
In one embodiment, each closure element 34 comprises several
complementary profiles, as illustrated in figures 3 to 9, preferably between
three and six complementary profiles, five for example.
The presence of several complementary profiles 34 in fact allows
facilitating the engagement of the closure assembly 3 from the outer faces
of the walls 10, 20 of the bag 1, by reducing the accuracy needed to ensure
their closure. Moreover, it ensures better resistance to internal and external
stresses of the walls 10, 20 of the bag 1.
The complementary profiles 34 can be of the male/female, male/male
(profiles shaped like arrows, as illustrated in the figures), velvet/hook or
even complementary hook type.
The complementary profiles 34 can be sequentially altered by
forming successive alterations along the complementary profiles 34 in a
direction transverse to the support webs. The sequential alterations are
local sequential modifications of the complementary profiles 34, which can
especially comprise sequential crushings and/or sequential incisions without
removal of material (i.e., either only sequential crushings or only sequential
incisions, or both sequential crushings and sequential incisions) and/or
sequential notches with removal of material. Reference could be made
especially to international application EP2012/073186 in the name of the
Applicant, which describes exemplary embodiments of sequential
alterations.
12
In one embodiment, all or part of the complementary profiles 34 can
comprise the sequential alterations. So, several complementary profiles 34
can comprise sequential alterations while at least one complementary
profile 34 can remain intact, or vice versa.
Hereafter, examples of closure assemblies 3 will now be described in
relation to the appended figures 1 to 4. These however consist of non¨
limiting embodiments, in that the invention applies to any closure assembly
3 including support webs 30, 32 formed in one piece on the walls 10, 20 of
the bag 1 or applied and fixed to said walls 10, 20 including closure
elements 34.
In these embodiments, the second support web 32 can be hinged on
the second wall 20 so that tension on the walls of the bag 1, when the
complementary closure elements 34 are engaged causes rotation of the
support webs 30, 32 around said complementary closure elements 34.
According to a first embodiment illustrated in figure 1, the second
support web 32 is fixed on the second wall 20 in a localized zone 33 which
is not superimposed on the closure element 34 and which is offset with
respect to said closure element 34, so that the second support web 32 is
hinged on the second wall 20. Such an attachment has for example been
described in document FR 2 628 067 in the name of the Applicant.
As described in document FR 2 628 067, the preceding disposition
allows avoiding having the internal pressure of the bag 1 be applied to the
closure elements 34 and tend to separate them. In fact, thanks to this
disposition, the separation of the walls of the bag 1 (so as to open the
latter)
leads to a possible pivoting of the support web at the hinge zone formed by
its attachment, without risking separation of the closure elements 34.
In document FR 2 628 067, the localized zone extends in the upper
portion 32a of the second support web 32 so as to avoid the risks of
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opening of the bag 1 resulting from the internal pressure applied by the
content of the bag 1 to the closure assembly 3.
As a variant, the localized zone can extend in the lower portion 32b of
the second support web 32 so as to prevent the opening of the bag 1 from
the outside. To further reduce the possibilities of opening the bag 1,
particularly by children, the upper portion 32a of the second support web 32
can have a reduced height. In this manner, grasping the second support
web 32 would not be possible, thus rendering necessary the use of the
passage 40. For example, the height of the second support web 32 can be
less than the height of the closure element 34. In one exemplary
embodiment, the height of the upper portion of the second support web can
be less than or equal to 1 mm.
According to another variant also illustrated in figure 2, the two
support webs 30, 32 can be connected to the facing wall 10, 20 at a
localized zone 31, 33. The localized zones 31, 33, can be disposed on
respective opposite portions of the support webs 30 32 (here the upper
portion 30a and the lower portion 32b), respectively on either side of the
complementary closure elements 34, so that one of the hinged webs (here
the first support web 30) is directed toward the inside of the bag 1 while the
other hinged web (here the second support web 32) is directed toward its
mouth. Such a configuration is for example described in the document
FR 2 963 927 in the name of the Applicant, and illustrated in figure 2.
Alternatively, the localized zones 31, 33 can be disposed on respective
portions of the support webs 30, 32 which extend facing each other, that is
on the upper portions 30a, 32a of the webs 30, 32 or on their lower portions
30b, 32b.
According to a second exemplary embodiment illustrated in figure 3,
the first and the second support web 30, 32 can be connected to the first
and the second wall 10, 20 through a first and a second extension web 12,
14, respectively, at least one of the support webs 30, 32 being fixed to the
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extension web at a distance from its upper portion 30a, 32a. Such an
attachment has for example been described in document FR 14 58288 in
the name of the Applicant.
In document FR 14 58288, the support web 30, 32 can be fixed to the
corresponding extension web 12, 14 in a zone adjacent to the
complementary closure element 34 carried by said support web 30, 32. In a
variant embodiment, the two support webs 30, 32 are each connected to an
associated extension web 12, 14.
According to a third exemplary embodiment illustrated in figure 4, the
bag 1 further comprises an additional wall 16 having a first panel 17 and a
second panel 18. The first panel 17 of the additional wall 16 is connected to
the second wall 20 in proximity to the mouth of the bag 1 while the second
panel 18 is connected to the first wall 10. The additional wall 16 is folded
between the first panel 17 and the second panel 18 along a fold 19 so that
the second panel 18 extends towards the mouth. Moreover, the first support
web 30 is further fixed on the second wall 20 and the second support web
32 is fixed on the second panel 18 of the additional wall 16. Such an
attachment has for example been described in document FR 15 53143 in
zo the name of the Applicant.
In document FR 15 53143, the second panel 18 of the additional wall
16 can further be fixed in proximity to the lateral sides of the first wall
10,
between the second support web 32 and the fold 19 so as to make the
opening of the bag 1 by simple tension on the mouth more difficult.
The walls 10, 20 of the bag 1 can be made of an opaque (non¨
transparent) material, so as to reduce the possibility for children to see the
closure assembly 3 through the walls 10, 20.
The walls 10, 20, the support webs 30, 32 and the complementary
closure elements 34 can be implemented in only a single material,
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particularly one of the following materials: polypropylene PP, poly(ethylene
terephthalate) PET, polyethylene PE, high¨density polyethylene HDPE,
low¨density polyethylene LDPE and their associated copolymers, ethylene
copolymers and/or propylene copolymers.
5 As a variant, these
different elements of the bag 1 can be made of
different materials. It is also possible to cite, without limitation, a
bag 1 comprising a first wall 10 and a second wall 20 made of poly(ethylene
terephthalate) and/or polyethylene and a closure assembly 3 (support webs
30, 32 and complementary closure elements 34) of polypropylene.
Moreover, the first and the second wall 10, 20 can have a thickness
comprised between 30 micrometers and 200 micrometers, typically of the
order of 60 micrometers to 150 micrometers, especially when said walls are
formed from one of the materials described above. It is clear of course that
these walls can be made of complex materials comprising several layers of
different materials.
