US20130251290A1

US20130251290A1 - Tear open bag with transmission barrier

Info

Publication number: US20130251290A1
Application number: US13/428,300
Authority: US
Inventors: Brad Sterling; Michael Lepone
Original assignee: SALERNO PACKAGING Inc
Current assignee: SALERNO PACKAGING Inc
Priority date: 2012-03-23
Filing date: 2012-03-23
Publication date: 2013-09-26
Also published as: CA2782597A1

Abstract

A bag configured for holding contents and configured for permitting a user to dispense the contents from the bag. The bag includes at least front and rear panels of generally flexible film. The bag defines a volume adapted for holding the contents. The bag includes a tear line for facilitating opening of the bag body by tearing the bag body along the zone of weakness. The tear line includes an embossment structure. In one embodiment, the embossment structure has a tear force that is substantially constant over the entire length of the tear line. The embossment structure may have a particular arcuate shape. The embossment structure may include indentations having a non-linear shape.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to a bag adapted for holding contents, and, more particularly, to such a bag including a tear open feature that inhibits transmission of substances into and out of the bag prior to opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bags used for packaging various materials include pre-formed zones of weakness on tear lines for facilitating opening of the bags. For example, materials such as water conditioning pellets, bird seed, mulch, salt, fertilizer, and other materials may be packaged in bags having pre-formed tear lines. Conventional types of pre-formed tear lines include perforations or slits. These are openings which extend through the material of the bag, exposing contents in the interior of the bag to the outside environment. Such openings are unfavorable because contents from inside the bag can escape through the openings and contaminants such as water can infiltrate the bag through the openings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a bag configured for holding contents and configured for permitting a user to dispense the contents from the bag. The bag includes a bag body including at least front and rear panels of generally flexible film. The bag body defines a volume adapted for holding the contents. The front and rear panels include respective inner surfaces which face each other and form at least part of the volume. The front and rear panels include respective outer surfaces which face away from the volume. The panels each have upper ends, lower ends, and left and right sides which together respectively form an upper end, a lower end, and left and right sides of the body. The bag body includes a zone of weakness on at least one of the front and rear panels for facilitating opening of the bag body by tearing the bag body along the zone of weakness. The zone of weakness includes an embossment structure that has a tear force that is substantially constant over the entire length of the zone of weakness.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a bag configured for holding contents and configured for permitting a user to dispense the contents from the bag. The bag includes a bag body including at least front and rear panels of generally flexible film. The bag body defines a volume adapted for holding the contents. The front and rear panels include respective inner surfaces which face each other and form at least part of the volume. The bag body includes edge margins. A zone of weakness on at least one of the front and rear panels facilitates opening of the bag body by tearing the bag body along the zone of weakness. The zone of weakness includes an embossment structure extending along a path from a first of the edge margins to a second of the edge margins. Adjacent the first edge margin, the path includes a first portion starting at said first edge margin and extending away from said second edge margin and a second portion extending from said first portion to said second edge margin.
In yet another aspect, the present invention is directed to a bag configured for holding contents and configured for permitting a user to dispense the contents from the bag. The bag includes a bag body including at least front and rear panels of generally flexible film. The bag body defines a volume adapted for holding the contents. The front and rear panels include respective inner surfaces which face each other and form at least part of the volume. The bag body includes a zone of weakness on at least one of the front and rear panels for facilitating opening of the bag body by tearing the bag body along the zone of weakness. The zone of weakness includes an embossment structure. The embossment structure includes a series of indentations each having a non-linear shape.
Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of a bag of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the bag of FIG. 1 showing a tear line on the bag;

FIG. 2B is a view similar to FIG. 2A but showing the bag partially torn along the tear line;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bag showing in closer detail indentations of the tear line;

FIG. 4 is a schematic fragmentary section of the bag taken in the plane including line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of a segment of a bag of a second embodiment of the present invention, a tear line of the bag being shown;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of a segment of a bag of a third embodiment of the present invention, a tear line of the bag being shown;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bag of FIG. 6 showing in closer detail indentations of the tear line;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of a segment of a bag of a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a tear line of the bag being shown; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bag of FIG. 8 showing in closer detail indentations of the tear line.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a bag of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The bag is generally indicated by the reference number 10. The bag is configured for holding contents and for permitting a user to dispense the contents from the bag. For example, the bag may be used to hold contents such as water conditioning pellets, bird seed, mulch, salt, and fertilizer. The bag may be used for holding other types of contents without departing from the scope of the present invention. Desirably, the bag is closed in use to contain the contents in the bag and provides a barrier to transmission of substances into and out of the bag. However, the bag is adapted for being easily opened so a user can dispense the contents from the bag by, for example, pouring or scooping the contents from the bag.
The bag includes a body defining a volume 12 (FIG. 4) adapted for holding the contents. The bag body includes front and rear panels 14, 16 of generally flexible film. The front and rear panels 14, 16 (FIGS. 2B and 4) include respective inner surfaces that face each other and form at least part of the volume 12 between the front and rear panels. The front and rear panels 14, 16 include respective outer surfaces that face away from the volume 12 and form outer surfaces of the bag 10. The panels 14, 16 each have upper ends, lower ends, and left and right sides which together respectively form an upper end, a lower end, and left and right sides, of the bag 10. Various suitable materials may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the film may be a laminated material or include a multi-layer material.
In the illustrated embodiment, the generally flexible film forming the panels 14, 16 is manufactured as a tube having opposite open ends. The front and rear panels are front and rear portions of the tube. The flexible film material extends continuously between the side margins of the front and rear panels except at the upper and lower ends of the bag 10 where the front panel is sealed to the rear panel defining upper and lower seal seams 20 to close the open ends of the tube. In other words, the bag 10 includes seal seams 20 traversing the upper and lower edge margins of the bag 10. The bag 10 has a skirt 26 at the upper edge margin of the bag and a skirt 26 at the lower edge margin of the bag. The skirts 26 are formed by the free ends of the panels 14, 16 which are outboard from the seal seams 20.
It will be understood that at certain stages during production, such as before the bag 10 is filled with the contents, the bag may not have a seal seam 20 at the upper and/or lower edge margin. Bags may have other constructions without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the front and rear panels 14, 16 may be formed as separate sheets of material which are sealed together about their peripheral edge margins to form the volume 12 between the sheets. Moreover, the front and rear panels 14, 16 need not be connected directly to each other. For example, other structure such as additional panels of generally flexible film (e.g., a gusset) may extend between the front and rear panels 14, 16.
The bag 10 includes features which facilitate opening of the bag for dispensing contents from the bag. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, the bag 10 includes a tear line (broadly, “zone of weakness”), generally indicated by the reference number 30. The tear line 30 facilitates opening of the bag 10 by tearing the bag along the tear line. The tear line 30 is shown in closer detail in FIG. 2A. In general, the tear line 30 includes a notch 32 formed in the upper edge margin of the bag, a slit 34 extending downward from a lower end of the notch, and an embossment structure 36 extending along the bag body. The notch 32 and slit 34 are generally aligned with an upper end of the embossment structure 36. The notch 32 is provided to facilitate finding the tear line on the perimeter of the bag 10 and start the tear. The slit 34 is provided to initiate tearing through the seal seam 20. The embossment structure 36 is provided for facilitating tearing of the bag body in a controlled to open the bag 10 easily and accurately.
FIG. 2B illustrates the tear line 30 in a partially torn configuration. Tearing the bag 10 along the tear line 30 forms an opening 38 in the bag from which the contents may be dispensed. In the illustrated embodiment, the tear line 30 is positioned for tearing at a corner of the bag 10 and thus for forming the dispensing opening 40 at the corner of the bag. Zones of weakness having other positions, arrangements, and orientations may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The notch 32 provides a user with a clear visual and tactile indicator of where it is suggested to begin tearing along the tear line 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the notch 32 is formed in the upper skirt 26. Desirably, the notch 32 is shaped and sized to be visually distinct from adjacent portions of the bag 10. For example, the notch 32 is large enough and is shaped differently than waves, ruffles, indentations, or other structure on the skirt 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the notch 32 defines an opening having the shape of an irregular pentagon. The notch 32 has opposite generally parallel sides connected to a lower portion which forms a point leading into the slit 34.
The slit 34 extends downward from the notch 32 toward an upper end of the embossment structure 36 and assists the user in beginning to tear the embossment structure. In the illustrated embodiment, the slit 34 extends entirely across the upper seal seam 20. Accordingly, the user does not need to tear across the seal seam 20 when tearing the tear line 30. The slit 34 extending across the seal seam 20 may reduce the initial tear force by about 25 to 45 percent, and keeps the tear force more consistent of its full length. If the slit 34 extends across and beyond the seal seam 20 the slit may create a slight opening in the bag body. Even in this instance, there is no significant compromise to the transmission barrier at the tear line 30. Other slit configurations may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the slit 34 may stop short of the seal seam 20 or may extend only partially across the seal seam.
The embossment structure 36 includes a series of indentations 40. The indentations 40 are arranged one after another along a path. The embossment structure 36 may extend partially or entirely across a portion of the bag 10 or from one edge margin to another. In the illustrated embodiment, the embossment structure 36 traverses a corner of the bag 10, from the upper edge margin to the right side edge margin. The indentations 40 extend along a curvilinear path. Other arrangements, such as indentations extending along other paths or along paths having other shapes (e.g., a rectilinear path) may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.
A portion of the embossment structure 36 is shown in closer detail in FIG. 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the indentations 40 of the embossment structure are deformations at which the generally flexible film is stretched beyond a yield point of the flexible film but not stretched beyond a break point of the flexible film. The result is the film at the deformations 40 is susceptible to tearing by application of less manual force than would be required to tear the bag body if not deformed. As used herein, the term yield point refers to the point at which irreversible plastic deformation occurs. Before reaching the yield point, the film behaves elastically, such that it resumes its original local state (e.g., generally planar) when the applied forces are removed. As used herein, the term break point refers to the point at which the film tears or an opening is formed in the film which extends entirely through the film. Desirably, before the tear line 30 is torn, the embossment structure 36 is free from any opening passing through the tear line so that the function of the bag to bar transmission of substances into or out of the bag is maintained at the tear line.
Referring to FIG. 3, each of the indentations 40 has a front end 40A and a rear end 40B. The rear end 40B of each indentation 40 is positioned adjacent the front end 40A of an immediately previous indentation in the series. The front end 40A of each indentation 40 is positioned adjacent the rear end 40B of an immediately subsequent indentation in the series. Each of the indentations 40 has a length L extending along the path formed by the indentations and a width W extending generally perpendicular to the path formed by the indentations. In the illustrated embodiment, the embossment structure 36 also includes connecting segments 50. The indentations 40 are spaced from one another (e.g., about 0.06 inches or 1.52 mm) and connected to one another by the connecting segments 50, which have a generally linear shape and have a length equal to the space between adjacent indentations. More specifically, the connecting segments 50 extend between and connect the front and rear ends 40A, 40B of adjacent indentations 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting segments 50 are deformations which are formed at the same time as the indentations 40. The connecting segments 50 may be omitted or have other shapes without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The indentations 40 each have a non-linear shape; meaning that the indentations are not very thin rectangles such as would be formed by a knife edge type tool. The non-linear shape of the indentations 40 improves the consistency of force required to tear along the embossment structure 36. Each indentation 40 includes an intermediate portion between its front and rear ends 40A, 40B. The width of each indentation 40 at its front and rear ends 40A, 40B is less than the width of the indentation at its intermediate portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the front and rear ends 40A, 40B of each indentation 40 are pointed. The tear line 30 includes a tearing path formed by the indentations 40 along which the tear line is most prone to tearing. In the illustrated embodiment, the tearing path is arcuate. Each indentation 40 includes first and second sides 40C, 40D extending between its front and rear ends 40A, 40B along the length of the indentation. The first side 40C is positioned in register with and forms a segment of the tearing path. The first sides 40C of the indentations 40 are aligned along the tearing path to form the tearing path. The pointed front and rear ends 40A, 40B of the indentations are positioned on the tearing path. The pointed front and rear ends 40A, 40B of adjacent indentations are connected to each other by the generally linear connecting segments 50, which are also positioned in register with and form part of the tearing path. In the illustrated embodiment, the indentations 40 include a generally semi-circular shape. Other sizes and shapes of indentations may be used (including in some embodiments linear shaped indentations) without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The notch 32, slit 34, and embossment structure 36 may be formed on the bag 10 using the same or separate tools. For example, the embossment structure 36 may be formed on bags in a continuous fashion using a rotary die unit. Such a die unit may include flexible or rigid dies or rollers between which the film is moved. At least one of the rollers is a male roller including a raised pattern which impresses a corresponding embossed pattern on the film. Optionally, the other roller may be a female roller including an indented pattern corresponding to the raised pattern on the other roller for receiving the raised pattern and the indentations as they are formed in the film. If the front and rear panels 14, 16 are already arranged in opposing relationship, the embossed pattern is applied in register to both the front and rear panels. Such a configuration is illustrated in the schematic partial section of FIG. 4. The embossment structure 36 may be formed in the front and rear panels 14, 16 at the same or different times without departing from the scope of the present invention. The rollers may or may not be heated to heat the film as the indentations are formed. Other methods of forming the indentations may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the embossment structure 36 may be formed on bags in a batch process, using, for example, stamps which are pressed into bags as they are momentarily stationary in register with the stamps.
In the illustrated embodiment, the tear line 30 is provided on both the front and rear panels 14, 16 of the bag. In other words, the notch 32, slit 34, and embossment structure 36 are formed in both the front and rear panels 14, 16. The tear line 30 or portions of the tear line may be formed in only one of the front and rear panels 14, 16 without departing from the scope of the present invention.
As is now apparent, the bag 10 provides several advantages. In use, the notch 32 makes the tear line 30 clearly identifiable, and the slit 34 extending from the notch facilitates easy initiation of tearing through the seal seam 20. The embossment structure 36 facilitates tearing of the bag 10 along a predetermined tearing path to form a desired opening in the bag 10. The embossment structure 36 is free from any openings extending through the film forming the bag 10 at the embossment structure such that contents inside the bag are less likely to leak from the bag, and moisture and contaminants are less likely to infiltrate the bag through the tear line 30. Accordingly, contents in the bag 10 are less likely to escape and form a sticky, dusty, or otherwise undesirable residue or coating on the exterior surface of the bag. Contents having relatively smaller particle size (e.g., finer grain salt) can be contained in the bag 10 without risk of the contents leaking out of the tear line 30. In addition, contents in the bag 10 are less likely to be contaminated, such as by water entering the bag through the tear line 30.
Desirably, the force required to tear along the tear line 30 to open the bag 10 (i.e., the “tear force”) is as small as possible, but the tear line is strong enough to resist opening in response to some forces not intended to tear the tear line. For example, the tear force may be between about 2 and 4 pounds. This makes it easy for the user to open the bag 10. In some embodiments, embossment structure 36 is configured to have such a minimal tear force while being strong enough to resist inadvertent opening such as by bursting or rupturing if the bag impacts the ground after being dropped. A test used to quantify the ability of a bag to withstand inadvertent opening of the bag is referred to as a Drop Test. The Drop Test as used herein means dropping a closed bag containing contents (e.g., granular salt) which substantially fill the internal volume of the bag from a height of four feet such that the bag falls freely and strikes and comes to rest against an impact surface (e.g., a concrete floor) without the tear line partially or completely opening, tearing, or bursting (i.e., the tear line remains unbroken). Pursuant to the Drop Test, the bag is dropped six separate times so that the bag strikes the impact surface one time on each of the top and bottom and front, rear, left, and right sides of the bag. Bags according to the present invention (e.g., including an embossment structure) have been constructed and tested pursuant to the Drop Test. The Drop Test is generally according to FDA B-12. The embossment structure had a tear force of between about 2 and 4 pounds, and the bags passed the Drop Test.
Referring to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of a bag of the present invention is generally designated by the reference number 110. The bag is identical to the bag 10 except as described. Corresponding parts are indicated by corresponding reference numbers. For example, the bag 110 has a zone of weakness or tear line 130 including an embossment structure 136. The embossment structure 136 includes a series of non-linear indentations 140 which are spaced from one another. The indentations 140 are connected to each other by connecting segments 150 each having a generally linear shape. The connecting segments 150 may be omitted or have other shapes without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the embossment structure 136 is constructed to tear in response to a tear force that is substantially constant over the entire length of the embossment structure, notwithstanding the change in direction of the embossment structure from extending generally lengthwise of the bag 110 (e.g., a “machine direction” of the bag) to generally widthwise of the bag (e.g., a “cross-machine direction” of the bag). For example, the tear force may be about 4 pounds or less. As shown in FIG. 5, the embossment structure 136 includes indentations 140 which are spaced different distances from each other. In other words, the density of the indentations 140 along the series of indentations is different at different portions of the series of indentations. In the illustrated embodiment, the indentations 140 extend along a path which includes a first portion that is oriented in predominantly an upper end to lower end direction of the bag body and a second portion that is oriented predominantly in a left side to right side direction of the bag body. The spacing between adjacent indentations 140 (or density of the indentations) is greater when the path is oriented in the predominantly upper end to lower end direction than when the path is oriented in the predominantly left side to right side direction. For example, the spacing between adjacent indentations 140 (or density of the indentations) in the first path portion oriented in the predominantly upper end to lower end direction may be about three times greater than the spacing of adjacent indentations (or density of the indentations) in the second path portion that is located in the predominantly left side to right side direction. The decrease in spacing between adjacent indentations 140 at the second portion that is oriented in the predominantly left side to right side direction of the bag 110 decreases the tear force at that second portion to make it more consistent with the tear force of the first portion that is oriented in the predominantly upper end to lower end direction of the bag. In general, the variation in spacing between the indentations may depend upon the composition of the material of the bag, and orientation of strength of the bag. There may be more than one variation in the spacing and the ratio of greatest to smallest spacing can be other than three times as described above.
In the illustrated embodiment, the series of indentations 140 include three separate regions 160A-160C along the path of indentations. The first region of indentations 160A extends along the portion of the path that is oriented in the predominantly upper end to lower end direction of the bag body. The third region of indentations 160C extends along the portion of the path that is oriented in the predominantly left side to right side direction. The second region 160B extends along an intermediate portion of the path between the first and second regions 160A, 160C. The indentations 140 in the first, second, and third regions 160A-160C are spaced apart from one another different distances (i.e., the connecting segments 150 have different lengths in each of the zones). For example, the spacing between adjacent indentations 140 in the first region 160A may be about 0.20 inches (5.1 mm), the spacing between adjacent indentations in the second region 160B may be about 0.10 inches (2.5 mm), and the spacing between adjacent indentations in the third region 140C may be about 0.05 inches (1.3 mm). In other words, the density of indentations 140 in the first region 160A is on the order of three to four times greater than the density of the indentations in the third region 160C. Other spacings or densities may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, there may be two regions of different indentation spacings, having for example spacings of 0.06 inches (1.6 mm) and 0.19 inches (4.8 mm), respectively. The spacing or density of the indentations 140 may more gradually change or change continuously along substantially all or a portion of the path of indentations. The ration of spacing between the largest and smallest spacing may be other than described within the scope of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a third embodiment of a bag of the present invention is generally designated by the reference number 210. The bag is identical to the bag 10 except as described. Corresponding parts are indicated by corresponding reference numbers. For example, the bag 210 has a zone of weakness or tear line 230 including an embossment structure 236. The embossment structure 236 includes a series of non-linear indentations 240 which are spaced from one another. In this embodiment, there are no connecting segments (e.g., like segments 50 of the first embodiment) which connect adjacent indentations. The indentations 240 have pointed front and rear ends 240A, 240B. The front and rear ends 240A, 240B of adjacent indentations 240 are not connected to each other.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a fourth embodiment of a bag of the present invention is generally designated by the reference number 310. The bag is identical to the bag 10 except as described. Corresponding parts are indicated by corresponding reference numbers. For example, the bag 310 has a zone of weakness or tear line 330 including an embossment structure 336. The embossment structure 336 includes a series of non-linear indentations 340 which are spaced from one another. In this embodiment, the indentations 340 each have a generally trapezoidal shape. Referring to FIG. 9, each indentation 340 has pointed front and rear ends 340A, 340B. The indentations 340 are not connected to each other by connecting segments. For example, adjacent indentations 340 may be spaced from each other from about 0.02 to 0.30 inches (0.51 mm to 7.6 mm). In the illustrated embodiment, adjacent indentations are spaced from each other about 0.06 inches (1.5 mm). The indentations 340 have a long side 340C and a short side 340D. The long sides 340C of the indentations 340 are positioned in register with each other and form segments of the tearing path along which the tear line 330 is most prone to tearing.
Referring again to FIG. 8, the embossment structure 336 extends along an arcuate path which is different than the paths of embossment structures described above. The embossment structure 336 extends along a path from the upper edge margin of the bag 310 to the right side margin of the bag. Adjacent the upper edge margin, the path includes a first portion 370A starting at the upper edge margin and extending away from the right side edge margin and a second portion 370B extending from the first portion to the right side edge margin. As a result, the center of the arc formed by the embossment structure 336 extends farther into the bag than a conventionally shaped perforation structure that extend parallel to the right side margin. The path having this configuration provides the opening formed by tearing the embossment structure 336 with a large mouth. More specifically, the path portion 370A adjacent the upper edge margin which extends away from the right side edge margin provides the resulting opening with a larger mouth compared to the opening if the path portion adjacent the upper edge margin did not extend away from the right side edge margin. For example, the mouth may be over ten percent larger than conventionally formed mouths. The wider opening makes it easier to pour contents from the bag 310.
Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A bag configured for holding contents and configured for permitting a user to dispense the contents from the bag, the bag comprising:

a bag body including at least front and rear panels of generally flexible film, the bag body defining a volume adapted for holding the contents, the front and rear panels including respective inner surfaces which face each other and form at least part of the volume, the front and rear panels including respective outer surfaces which face away from the volume, the panels each having upper ends, lower ends, and left and right sides which together respectively form an upper end, a lower end, and left and right sides of the body; the bag body including a zone of weakness on at least one of the front and rear panels for facilitating opening of the bag body by tearing the bag body along the zone of weakness, the zone of weakness comprising an embossment structure that has a tear force that is substantially constant over the entire length of the zone of weakness.

2. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tear force is less than 4 pounds force.

3. A bag as set forth in claim 2 wherein the zone of weakness remains unbroken after a Drop Test.

4. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the embossment structure is free from any opening passing through the front or rear panel to prevent the contents from escaping from the volume through the zone of weakness before the zone of weakness is torn.

5. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the embossment structure includes deformations at which the flexible film is stretched beyond a yield point of the flexible film but not stretched beyond a break point of the flexible film.

6. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the embossment structure comprises a series of indentations each having a non-linear shape.

7. A bag as set forth in claim 6 wherein the indentations are arranged in one after another along a path including at least one of a rectilinear and curvilinear shape.

8. A bag as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of the indentations has front and rear ends and an intermediate portion between the front and rear ends, each of the indentations including a length extending along the path formed by the indentations between the front and rear ends, each of the indentations including a width extending generally perpendicular to the path formed by the indentations, the width of each indentation at its front and rear ends being less than the width of the indentation at its intermediate portion.

9. A bag as set forth in claim 8 wherein the indentations each have a generally semi-circular shape.

10. A bag as set forth in claim 8 wherein the rear end of each indentation is positioned adjacent the front end of an immediately previous indentation in the series, and the front end of each indentation is positioned adjacent the rear end of an immediately subsequent indentation in the series.

11. A bag as set forth in claim 10 wherein the indentations are spaced from each other.

12. A bag as set forth in claim 10 wherein the front and rear ends of each indentation are pointed.

13. A bag as set forth in claim 8 wherein the zone of weakness includes a tearing path along which the zone of weakness is most prone to tearing, each indentation including first and second sides extending along the length of the indentation, the first side being positioned in register with and forming a segment of the tearing path.

14. A bag as set forth in claim 13 wherein each indentation includes front and rear ends, the front and rear ends of each indentation being pointed and being positioned on the tearing path.

15. A bag as set forth in claim 8 wherein the zone of weakness further includes a notch positioned adjacent the upper end of the bag body and extending toward an upper end of the series of indentations to facilitate initiation of tearing along the tearing path, the notch being sized to be visually distinct from the adjacent portions of the bag.

16. A bag as set forth in claim 15 wherein the zone of weakness further includes a slit positioned between the notch and the series of indentations, the slit extending from a lower end of the notch toward the upper end of the series of indentations to facilitate initiation of tearing along the tearing path.

17. A bag as set forth in claim 16 wherein the bag includes a seal seam traversing an edge margin of the bag, the upper end of the series of indentations and the notch and slit being generally aligned with each other and the slit extending through the seal seam.

18. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the embossment structure comprises a series of indentations that are spaced apart different distances from each other along the zone of weakness.

19. A bag as set forth in claim 18 wherein the indentations extend along a path including a portion that is oriented in predominantly an upper end to lower end direction of the bag body and a portion that is oriented predominantly in a left side to right side direction of the bag body, the spacing between adjacent indentations being greater when the path is oriented in the predominantly upper end to lower end direction than when the path is oriented in the predominantly left side to right side direction.

20. A bag as set forth in claim 19 wherein the spacing between adjacent indentations in the path portion oriented in the predominantly upper end to lower end direction is about three times greater than the spacing of adjacent indentations in the path portion that is located in the predominantly left side to right side direction.

21. A bag configured for holding contents and configured for permitting a user to dispense the contents from the bag, the bag comprising:

a bag body including at least front and rear panels of generally flexible film, the bag body defining a volume adapted for holding the contents, the front and rear panels including respective inner surfaces which face each other and form at least part of the volume, the bag body including edge margins, a zone of weakness on at least one of the front and rear panels for facilitating opening of the bag body by tearing the bag body along the zone of weakness, the zone of weakness comprising an embossment structure, the embossment structure extending along a path from a first of the edge margins to a second of the edge margins, adjacent the first edge margin, the path including a first portion starting at said first edge margin and extending away from said second edge margin and a second portion extending from said first portion to said second edge margin.

22. A bag as set forth in claim 21 wherein the path is generally arcuate in shape.

23. A bag configured for holding contents and configured for permitting a user to dispense the contents from the bag, the bag comprising:

a bag body including at least front and rear panels of generally flexible film, the bag body defining a volume adapted for holding the contents, the front and rear panels including respective inner surfaces which face each other and form at least part of the volume, the bag body including a zone of weakness on at least one of the front and rear panels for facilitating opening of the bag body by tearing the bag body along the zone of weakness, the zone of weakness comprising an embossment structure, the embossment structure comprising a series of indentations each having a non-linear shape.