DE29905925U1 - Bags, especially tobacco bags - Google Patents

Description

Eisenführ, Speiser & Partner

Bremen, 1 April 1 999

Our reference: N 1563 JB/ml
Applicant/Owner: NIEMEYER BV

Official reference number: New registration

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»· · BJfSm(Jh: ; Hamburg
Patent Attorney ·· ·· European FatSnt Attorneys Dipl.-Phys. Frank Meier Dipl.-Ing. Günther Eisenführ Dipl.-Ing. Dieter K. Speiser Lawyers Dr.-Ing. WernerW. Rabus Christian Spintig Dipl.-Ing. Jürgen Brügge Rainer Boehm Dipl.-Ing. Jürgen Klinghardt Dipl.-Ing. Klaus G. Göken Munich . Jochen Ehlers Patent attorneys Patent Attorney European Patent Attorneys Dipl.-Ing. Mark Andres Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. Rainer Frits Lbm.-Chem. Gabriele Leißler-G Lawyers Patent Attorney Ulrich H. Sander Dipl.-Chem. Dr. Peter Schuler Sabine Richter Berlin Martinistrasse 24 Patent attorneys D-28195 Bremen European Patent Attorneys Phone +49-10)421-36 35 0 Dipl.-Ing. Henning Christianse Fax +49-10)421 -36 35 35 (G3) Dipl.-Ing. Jutta Kaden Fax+49-10)421-328 8631 (G4) Patent Attorney mail@eisenfuhr.com Dipl.-Ing. Joachim von Oppen Alicante European Trademark Attorney Dipl.-Ing. Jürgen Klinghardt

Theodorus Niemeyer BV,
Paterswoldseweg 43, NL - 9700 AA Groningen

Bags, especially tobacco pouches

The invention relates to a bag, in particular a tobacco pouch, made from a rectangular blank of flexible sheet material, in particular plastic film, which is folded over to form a pouch pocket with a section parallel to a narrow side and welded to the adjoining section along the overlapping longitudinal edges, while the rest of the blank can be folded around the pouch pocket as a closing flap, wherein a closure that can be opened and closed repeatedly is provided between the closing flap and the pouch pocket, which consists of an edge strip of the closing flap that is separated parallel to the other narrow side of the blank and can be placed around the pouch pocket.

Such bags are well known and are used in particular for filling and storing tobacco, as well as for consuming it. When such filled bags are sold, the bag pocket is usually additionally welded or sealed to protect the goods contained therein from environmental influences, which is particularly important for tobacco, as it is filled with a certain moisture content and this should be maintained during consumption. After the bag is opened for the first time, only a small amount of the goods contained therein is usually consumed, and the bag must then be closed again fairly tightly. This is done with such bags

by folding the closure flap around the bag pocket and then securing it against coming loose. This was usually done using an adhesive strip, but the adhesive effect of this strip decreased over the course of the bag's use because the adhesive layer became contaminated by tobacco particles, particularly when tobacco was stored.

A tobacco pouch is already known from DE-GM 295 11 339 in which, instead of an adhesive strip, a closure in the form of an edge strip is provided which is wrapped around the entire pouch to reclose the pouch. This edge strip was obtained from the closing flap material by punching out in the transverse direction, but the problem arose that the length of the edge strip is limited by the width of the closing flap in the transverse direction and thus could only be wrapped around the tobacco pouch with great difficulty by pressing it together. This publication also shows variants in which the material of the edge strip was pulled laterally around the broad side of the pouch in order to increase the length, but these solutions again had the disadvantage that the closing flap obtained in this way had constrictions and sharp edges which impaired the tensile stability of the edge strip.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a bag of the type mentioned at the outset which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art outlined above and enables the bag body opening to be permanently and securely and frequently reclosed.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a bag of the type mentioned at the outset in that between the edge strip and the remaining part of the closing flap there are two spaced-apart perforation lines which merge into punched holes on both sides which are wider than the distance between the perforation lines, and that an intermediate strip formed between the perforation lines and the punched holes can be torn out. The advantages of the invention are that the edge strip integrated into the closing flap does not impair the stability of the closing flap and the bag as a whole when the filled bag is on sale, and that after the intermediate strip delimited by the perforation lines has been torn out, a closed edge strip is obtained whose transition area into the closing flap does not impair the tensile strength of the material due to the rounded punched holes in between, and a sufficiently long edge strip is obtained which can easily be looped around the filled bag.

The bag according to the invention is preferably designed in such a way that an intermediate section adjoins the bag pocket, which completely covers the bag pocket (on one side) in length, and that this is followed by the actual closing flap, which on the other side of the bag pocket only extends over part of the length of the bag pocket. The edge strip extending from the end of the closing flap on both sides and which has now been exposed can then easily be looped over the filled tobacco pouch to enable secure re-closing. So that the edge strip has a certain hold in the lengthwise direction of the bag and does not slip away, side recesses, in particular in the form of rounded notches, are preferably provided on the long edges of the blank, into which the edge strip slides to lock when closing and is held securely.

While the edge strip provided according to the invention secures the closing tab folded around the bag pocket, and if applicable the intermediate section in between, in the closed state and forms an external closure, so to speak, an internal closure is produced at the bend between the bag pocket and the closing tab or intermediate section in a closure area, which additionally closes the bag pocket from the outside against environmental influences. The bend alone can serve as the closure means in this closure area, or additional closure means are provided. Such closure means can consist, for example, of a spring-elastic strip which is attached to the opening edge of the closure area over its entire inner width. This strip is preferably made of plastic and has a flat V-shaped cross section, with the tip of the V preferably directed towards the inside of the bag pocket. Another embodiment can consist in the closure means consisting of two oppositely polarized, flexible magnetic strips, or a magnetic strip and a strip of ferromagnetic material, which are attached to the inner sides of the closure section. When the sheet material is placed on top of one another in the area of the closure area, the strips then attract one another, so that additional security of the sealing point is ensured.

Irrespective of this, the bag is welded or sealed, particularly in the closure section, and is opened for the first removal of the filled material.

Further advantageous embodiments can be found in the subclaims.

The invention is explained in more detail below using embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Show it:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bag according to the invention, in particular

tobacco pouch, in the resealed state;

Figure 2 shows a part of the locking tab with moulded edge strip;

Figure 3 shows the bag according to Figure 1 in the opened state in plan view;

Figure 4 shows the bag according to Figure 3 in side view in section;

Figure 5 shows a detailed view of a further development of the inventive

bag;

Figure 6 is a detailed view of a further development of the bag according to the invention; and

Figure 7 shows a part of the locking tab in a modified design.

Figure 1 shows the bag according to the invention, in particular a tobacco bag, in perspective view, wherein an edge strip 5 wrapped around the filled bag on the broad side can be clearly seen. In Figures 3 and 4, the bag is shown in a schematic representation in the opened state. It is made of flexible sheet material, in particular plastic film, and the bag pocket 1 consists of two overlapping sections 1a and 1b of the sheet material, with a closure region 15 adjoining it. This overlapping sheet material is provided with welds 12 along the longitudinal edges 23, so that a bag pocket 1 is formed which continues into the closure region 15. Adjoining a narrow side 21 of the blank is a further section which, together with the closure region 15, forms an intermediate section 2. This intermediate section 2 lies between two fold lines 13 and 14 indicated by dash-dot lines. At the end of the intermediate section 2, behind the fold line 14, lies the actual closing flap 3.

To close the bag, the intermediate section 2 is folded along the fold line 13 and placed around the side 1b of the bag pocket 1. The closing flap 3 is then folded around the fold line 14 and folded around the other side 1a of the bag pocket 1. In an intermediate section 15 not filled with tobacco 10, a weld or seal is provided for the closure after the initial filling, which protects the contents of the bag against external influences,

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in particular air humidity. This weld or seal is broken when opened for the first time so that the contents, in particular tobacco 10, can then be removed. To reclose, the intermediate section 2 is now folded around the fold line 13 and placed on the pouch pocket 1 so that a good seal against external influences is already achieved at the fold point. The closing flap 3 is then folded further around the pouch pocket 1.

At the end of the closing flap 3, an intermediate strip 6 is delimited by cut perforation lines 9, which run approximately parallel to a narrow side 22 of the blank, and by additional punched holes 7, which can be torn out along the perforation lines 9, with a tongue 8 serving to facilitate gripping the intermediate strip 6. This creates an opening, at the outer end of which an edge strip 5 is created. This edge strip can now be looped around the folded bag (see Figure 1) and holds the folded bag securely together so that it can no longer open. To ensure that the edge strip 5 does not slip lengthways on the bag, rounded notches or recesses 11 are provided in the area of the longitudinal edges 23, into which the edge strip 5 securely snaps when closed and can no longer slip. The bag is now securely closed, with an internal seal being created along the fold line 13 in the opening area of the bag pocket 1, while the folded-over closing flap 3 is held securely in the closed position by the edge strip 5.

Even if the contents 10 of the pouch 1 are quite well protected against external influences by folding around the fold line 13, additional sealing measures are shown in Figures 5 and 6. The closure means shown in Figures 5 and 6 are located in the closure area 15 near the fold line 13. In the solution according to Figure 5, a spring-elastic strip, preferably made of plastic, is attached to the section 2b of the sheet material, which extends over the full width of the closure area 15. This spring-elastic strip is designed in the shape of a flat V, with the tip of the V pointing towards the inside of the pouch 1, i.e. in the direction of the section 2a. When the pouch 1 is closed by folding along the fold line 13, the tip of the V and the section 2a are pressed together and ensure that the pouch 1 is well sealed.

In the other solution according to Figure 6, a flexible magnetic strip 1 7a or 1 7b is attached to the sections 2a and 2b of the blank in the closure area 1 5, which also extends over the entire width of the closure area 1 5.

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The magnetic strips are magnetized with opposite poles so that they attract each other and ensure a good seal. Instead of two magnetic strips 17a and 17b with opposite poles of magnetization, it is also possible to use just one magnetic strip and one flexible strip made of ferromagnetic material, whereby these also attract each other. In order to prevent corrosion of these magnetic strips or ferromagnetic strips, they are expediently covered by a plastic layer.

Figure 7 shows a slightly modified embodiment of the locking tab 3 compared to the embodiment according to Figure 2. This locking tab 3 according to Figure 7 differs from that according to Figure 2 in that the punched holes
7 are designed differently in such a way that cutting lines 9a are connected to the perforation lines 9, between which narrow webs 9b remain in order to connect the circular area in the initial state with the rest of the closing flap 3. The entire intermediate strip 6 is then torn out along these cutting lines 9a and the perforation lines 9.

A further modification of the closing flap 3 can consist in the intermediate strip 6 or areas of the intermediate strip being glued to the underlying intermediate section 2 of the bag. When it is torn open for the first time along the perforation lines 9 or the cutting lines 9a, the intermediate strip 6 remains on the intermediate section 2 or on the bag, while the remaining areas of the closing flap are severed.

Claims (11)

1. A bag, in particular a tobacco bag, made from a rectangular blank of flexible sheet material, in particular plastic film, which is folded over to form a pouch pocket ( 1 ) with a section parallel to a narrow side ( 21 ) and welded to the adjoining section along the overlapping longitudinal edges ( 23 ), while the rest of the blank can be folded around the pouch pocket ( 1 ) as a closing flap ( 2 , 3 ),
wherein between the closing flap ( 2 , 3 ) and the pouch pocket ( 1 ) there is provided a closure which can be repeatedly opened and closed and which consists of an edge strip ( 5 ) of the closing flap ( 4 ) which is separated parallel to the other narrow side ( 22 ) of the blank and which can be placed around the pouch pocket ( 1 ),
characterized in that between the edge strip ( 5 ) and the remaining part of the closing flap ( 2 , 3 ) there are provided two perforation lines ( 9 ) which run at a distance from one another and which merge on both sides into punched holes ( 7 ) which are wider than the distance between the perforation lines ( 9 ) and
that an intermediate strip ( 6 ) formed between the perforation lines ( 9 ) and the hole punches ( 7 ) can be torn out. 2. Bag according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of the closing flap ( 2 , 3 ) is sufficient to cover almost both outer surfaces of the bag pocket ( 1 ). 3. Bag according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bag pocket ( 1 ) is adjoined by an intermediate section ( 2 ) which completely covers the length of the bag pocket ( 1 ), and that the actual closing tab ( 3 ) adjoins this and extends over only part of the length of the bag pocket ( 1 ). 4. Bag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that lateral recesses ( 11 ), in particular in the form of rounded notches, are provided on the longitudinal edges ( 23 ) of the blank, into which the edge strip ( 5 ) slides for locking during closing. 5. Bag, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a closure region ( 15 ) is provided between the bag pocket ( 1 ) and the closing tab ( 3 ), in which the sheet material ( 2a , 2b ) overlaps as in the bag pocket ( 1 ) and in which closure means ( 16 ; 17a , 17b ) are provided which close the bag pocket ( 1 ) again when the closing tab ( 2 , 3 ) is folded over onto the bag pocket ( 1 ). 6. Bag according to claim 5, characterized in that the closure means consist of a spring-elastic strip ( 16 ) which is fastened to the closure region ( 15 ) along the opening edge over its entire inner width. 7. Bag according to claim 6, characterized in that the strip ( 16 ) consists of plastic. 8. Bag according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the strip ( 16 ) is flat V-shaped in cross section, the tip of the V being directed towards the interior of the bag pocket ( 1 ). 9. Bag according to claim 5, characterized in that the closure means consist of two oppositely polarized, flexible magnetic strips ( 17 a, 17 b), or a magnetic strip and a strip of ferromagnetic material, which are attached to the inner sides of the closure section ( 15 ). 10. Bag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bag pocket ( 1 ), in particular in the closure section ( 15 ), is additionally welded or sealed and is opened here when opened for the first time. 11. Bag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the region of the intermediate strip ( 6 ) is glued to the bag and remains on the bag when the bag is first torn open along the perforation lines ( 9 , 9a ).