Opening and re-sealing device for bag containers

Claim 2

In combination with a flexible sealed container storing fluent material, a device for opening and re-closing said container, said device being formed of flat, semi-rigid or rigid material and including a tear-away part engaging a corner of the container desired to be removed, a base portion attached to both sides of said container and extending about one edge thereof to support said container and said edge adjacent to the portion of the container desired to be removed, said tear-away part and said base portion being separable along a predetermined shear path extending about a corner of said container from said one edge and an appendage attached to said base portion along a fold line and including a locking mechanism, whereby said container may be opened by removing said tear-away part to shear a portion of said bag from said edge along said predetermined shear path and the aperture thus formed may be re-closed by application of said locking mechanism on said appendage.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said appendage is attached to the base portion of said device along the first fold line and wherein said base portion is divided into first and second sections along a second fold line spaced between said shear path and said first fold line, whereby after said tear-away part is removed to form an aperture in said bag, the upper part of said base portion adjacent the aperture thus formed may be folded downwardly along said second fold line and said appendage may be folded upwardly along said first fold line, said appendage further defining tab means for placement over the doubled-over base portion to lock the same in place.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 wherein said shear locus is a curved line thereby to provide at least one corner when said tear-away part is removed, and wherein said appendage includes a corresponding aperture to receive said corner in tucking relation when said base portion is folded along said second fold line.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein said tear-away part includes first and second quadrants located respectively on either side of said bag adjacent a corner thereof and wherein said base portion includes an upper section partially defining one of said quadrants and an extension partially defining the other of said quadrants, said upper section and said extension being bonded to the outer surface of said bag, said quadrants also being bonded to the outer surface of said bag, said base further including a lower section extending beneath the upper section thereof, whereby when said tear-away part is removed, said upper section of said base portion and said extension thereof may be folded about a second fold line partially defining the upper and lower sections of said base portion to bring said upper and lower sections thereof into contacting relation, whereupon said appendage may be folded over the doubled-over base portion and clipped along the outer edge of the fold in said base portion.

Claim 8

The device of claim 5 wherein said tear-away part includes first and second quarter-circle sections engaging and bonded to said bag on either sides of a corner thereof, said shear line being the portion of a circle, said base portion further including an extension attached to said bag opposite the side on which the upper section of said base portion is attached to said bag and foldable therewith when said tear-away part is removed from said device.

Claim 9

The device of claim 5 wherein said locking means of said appendage includes a tab foldable outwardly relative to said appendage and located to couple over said doubled-over base portion when the same is folded along said second fold line.

Claim 10

The device of claim 5 wherein said locking means of said appendage includes a tab partially defined by an inclined lead-in slot and a hinged aperture and adapted to be placed over the fold line in said bag formed when said base portion is doubled over to maintain said doubled-over base portion in its folded position until said tab is released.

Claim 11

A package comprising a sealed flexible plastic container for storing fluent goods; a device formed of flat material attached to said container about a corner thereof, and comprising a semi-rigid member folded about an edge of said container adjacent said corner and including a tear-away part secured to a portion of opposite exterior surfaces of said container about a segment desired to be removed, a base portion attached to opposite exterior surfaces of said container to support the same adjacent the segment of the container desired to be removed, said tear-away part and said base portion being separated along a predetermined shear path; an appendage attached to one side of said base portion along a first fold line and including an aperture for receiving a tip of said container and base portion in tucked relation after said segment has been removed and said base has been folded along said first fold line, said appendage further including a locking portion partially defined by a second fold line and including a bendable tab for fitting over the doubled-over portion of said base portion, after folding about said second fold line, whereby said bag may be opened by removing said tear-away part to shear a portion of said bag along said predetermined shear path and the aperture thus formed is reinforced by said base portion for dispensing.

Claim 12

A package comprising a sealed flexible plastic container for storing fluent goods; a device formed of flat material attached to said container about a corner thereof, and comprising a semi-rigid member folded about an edge of said container adjacent said corner and including a tear-away part secured to a portion of opposite exterior surfaces of said container about a segment desired to be removed, a base portion attached to opposite exterior surfaces of said container to support the same adjacent the segment of the container desired to be removed, said tear-away part and said base portion being separated along a predetermined shear path; an appendage attached to one side of said base portion along a first fold line and including an aperture for receiving a tip of said container and base portion in tucked relation after said segment has been removed and said base has been folded along said first fold line, said appendage further including a locking portion partially defined by a second fold line and including a bendable tab for fitting over the doubled-over portion of said base portion, after folding about said second fold line, whereby said bag may be opened by removing said tear-away part to shear a portion of said bag along said predetermined shear path and the aperture thus formed is reinforced by said base portion for dispensing.