IES80919B2 - A package - Google Patents

Abstract

A package for a bread product comprises a plastics bag (2) for reception of the bread product, the bag (2) having a mouth (3) with a resealable closure (4)adjacent the mouth (3). The closure (4) comprises a channel mounted on an inside face of one panel of the bag (2) and a complementary tongue mounted on an inside face of the other panel of the bag (2), the tongue being releasably engageable within the channel to close the mouth of bag.

Description

This invention relates to a package, and in particular to « a package for a bread product.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming the problem of keeping bread fresh over a number of days during which period the bread is gradually used.

It is well known to keep bread fresh by resealing the bread within a packaging bag after removing a number of slices of bread for use for example. To this end, it is known to provide a strip of adhesive tape so that the mouth of the bag can be gathered in a neck and sealed closed by the tape. However, this solution has a number of disadvantages. The tape can be somewhat awkward to use and it tends to rip the bag when being removed if not removed extremely carefully. Also, adhesion may be lost with breadcrumbs sticking to the adhesive side of the tape. In addition, the strip of tape may be easily lost.

Another known solution to the problem of keeping bread fresh is to provide a plastics clip which has a slot for reception of a neck of the bag when gathered together to close the bag. A problem with this clip is that it tends to damage and rip the bag during use. It is also easily lost.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming these problems.

According to the invention, there is provided a package * for a bread product comprising a bag for reception of the bread product, the bag having a mouth with a resealable closure means at the mouth. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the closure means is integrally formed with - 2 or mounted on the bag. Ideally, the bag is of plastics material.

The package according to the invention advantageously allows bread to the resealed within the bag so that the bread can be kept fresh over an extended period of use. Also conveniently, by having the closure means integrally formed with or mounted on the bag, there is no danger of the closure being lost and it is also relatively easy to use without damaging the bag.

In another embodiment, the resealable closure means comprises complementary interengagable formations at opposite sides of the mouth of the bag.

Preferably, the complementary interengagable formations comprise a channel at one side of the mouth and a complementary tongue at the opposite side of the mouth which is releasably engagable with the channel to close the mouth of the bag. Conveniently, the tongue and channel are resiliently deformable for ease of engagement and release of the closure parts and also providing a good seal.

In another embodiment, the closure means is mounted within the bag spaced downwardly from an edge of the mouth. Thus conveniently, flaps are provided above the closure for gripping to simply part the closure for access to the bag.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the bag is manufactured from a clear plastics material to allow display and viewing of the contents of the package. A number of inscription panels may be provided on the bag to carry indicia and information relating to the contents of the package, advertising information and the like.

* The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given * by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:5 Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a package according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the package.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a package for a bread product according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The package 1 comprises a bag 2 which in this case is of clear plastics material. A mouth 3 is provided at one end of the bag 2. A resealable closure 4 is provided adjacent the mouth 3.

The bag 2 has a rectangular front panel 5 and rear panel 6 which are joined together along a bottom edge 7 and side edges 8 and 9. A top edge 10 is initially sealed also. A tear line 11 is imprinted on the front panel 5, and also the rear panel 6 if desired, whereby a user can tear away the upper portions of the panels 5, 6 above the tear line 11 to provide an opening between the panels 5, 6 at an upper end of the bag 2. This will then leave flaps on the front panel 5 and rear panel 6 above the closure 4, between the closure 4 and the tear line 11 which can be gripped to separate the closure 4 for access to the interior of the bag 2. a The closure 4 comprises a channel mounted on an inside * face of one of the panels 5, 6 and a complementary tongue mounted on an inside face of the other panel 5, 6, the tongue being releasably engagable within the channel to close the mouth of the bag 2. Conveniently, the channel and tongue are each carried on a mounting strip, the mounting strips being secured on an inside face of each panel 5, 6.

A number of inscription panels 12 are provided on the 5 front panel 5 and rear panel 6 of the bag 2 for carrying information about the contents of the package 1 advertising logos and the like. The inscription panels 12 may comprise a coloured or shaded background on which the indicia is printed in a contrasting colour.

In use, a loaf is bread is mounted within and sealed within the package 1. A user removes an upper portion of the bag 2 by tearing along the tear line 11 thus providing access to the closure 4. The front panel 5 and rear panel 6 are pulled apart at the closure 4 to separate the closure parts allowing access to an interior of the bag 2. To reseal the bag, the two parts of the closure 4 are simply pressed together to provide a seal at the mouth of the bag 2. Thus, the bread can be readily easily and quickly sealed within the bag 2 to maintain freshness during storage.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

CRUICKSHANK & CO.

Claims (5)

1. A bread package comprising a plastics bag for reception of a bread product, the bag having a mouth 5 with a resealable closure means at the mouth, the closure means comprising a channel mounted at one side of the mouth and a complementary tongue mounted at an opposite side of the mouth which is releasably engageable within the channel to close the mouth of 10 the bag.

2. A bread package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bag comprises a rectangular front panel and a rectangular rear panel, the panels being joined together along a 15 bottom edge and side edges of the bag, a top edge of the bag being sealed also, the closure channel being mounted on an inside face of one panel of the bag and the complementary tongue being mounted on an inside face of the other panel of the bag.

3. A package as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a number of inscription panels are provided on the bag to carry indicia. 25

4. A bread package substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. A bread product comprising a loaf of bread mounted 30 within a bread package as claimed in any preceding claim.