Bag with gripping panels

1. A bag having top and bottom edge margins and opposite side margins, the bag comprising:

first and second bag panels defining a bag interior and an opening at the top edge margin of the bag;

a reclosable closing structure at the top edge margin of the bag configured to repeatedly close the bag; and

first and second gripping panels joined to the top edge margin of the bag at first and second joints, respectively, the first joint connecting the first gripping panel to the first bag panel and the second joint connecting the second gripping panel to the second bag panel, the first and second gripping panels extending from the first and second joints, respectively, outwardly away from one another to respective free ends to define surfaces for gripping and pulling the first and second gripping panels apart to open the bag;

wherein each of the first and second gripping panels includes an inner portion adjacent the respective flexible joint and an outer portion adjacent the respective free end; and

wherein the inner portion of each gripping panel is resiliently biased to extend generally laterally outward from the flexible joint and the outer portion is resiliently biased to extend generally upward from the inner portion such that the gripping panels are resiliently biased to define a gap between the outer portions and the free ends thereof.

2. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer portions of the first and second gripping panels are spaced apart from one another to receive a finger therebetween.

3. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least outermost segments of the outer portions of the first and second gripping panels are located above the top edge margin of the bag.

4. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer portions of the first and second gripping panels have respective thicknesses and the first and second joints have respective thicknesses, the thicknesses of the first and second joints being thicker than the thicknesses of the outer portions of the gripping panels.

5. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein a segment of at least one of the first and second gripping panels is positioned in spaced apart, laterally opposed relation with another surface defined by the top edge margin of the bag.

6. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the first and second joints is a flexible joint.

7. A bag as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of the first and second gripping panels is selectively pivotable about the respective one of the first and second joints.

8. A bag as set forth in claim 7 wherein the first and second gripping panels are pivotable at least from a generally upward extending position to a generally downwardly extending position.

9. A bag as set forth in claim 7 wherein at least one of the first and second gripping panels is pivotable to an unlocked position, the reclosable closing structure being configured to permit the bag to be opened when the first and second gripping panels are pulled apart with said at least one of the gripping panels in the unlocked position and to inhibit the bag from being opened when the first and second gripping panels are pulled apart with said at least one of the gripping panels in a position other than the unlocked position.

10. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the reclosable closing structure comprises at least one interlocking formation.

11. A bag as set forth in claim 10 wherein said at least one interlocking formation is spaced apart from the first and second joints toward the bottom edge margin of the bag.

12. A bag as set forth in claim 10 wherein the first and second joints are spaced apart from said at least one interlocking formation toward the bottom edge margin of the bag.

13. A bag as set forth in claim 10 wherein said at least one interlocking formation comprises a first interlocking formation and a second interlocking formation spaced apart from the first interlocking formation toward the bottom edge margin of the bag, the first and second joints being located at a position between the first and second interlocking formations.

14. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second gripping panels are frangibly joined together at the side margins of the bag such that the first and second gripping panels are configured to separate from one another at the side edge margins of the bag when the first and second gripping panels are pulled apart.

15. A bag having top and bottom edge margins and opposite side margins, the bag comprising:

first and second bag panels defining a bag interior and an opening at the top edge margin of the bag;

a reclosable closing structure at the top edge margin of the bag configured to repeatedly close the bag; and

first and second gripping panels joined to the top edge margin of the bag at first and second flexible joints, respectively, the first joint connecting the first gripping panel to the first bag panel and being configured to allow the first gripping panel to be pivoted about the first joint with respect to the first bag panel, the second joint connecting the second gripping panel to the second bag panel and being configured to allow the second gripping panel to be pivoted about the second joint with respect to the second bag panel;

wherein each of the first and second gripping panels includes a free end, an inner portion adjacent the respective flexible joint, and an outer portion adjacent the free end; and

wherein the inner portion of each gripping panel is resiliently biased to extend generally laterally outward from the flexible joint and the outer portion is resiliently biased to extend generally upward from the inner portion such that the gripping panels are resiliently biased to define a gap between the outer portions and the free ends thereof.

16. A reclosable closure for repeatably closing a bag, the closure comprising first and second closure elements, each of the first and second closure elements including vertically oriented walls, an interlocking profile, and a gripping panel, each interlocking profile extending inward from the respective wall in opposing relationship with the other interlocking profile and the interlocking profiles being configured for interlocking engagement when the bag is closed, each gripping panel being joined to the respective wall at a joint and extending outward from the respective joint to a free end spaced apart from the respective wall;

wherein each of the gripping panels includes an inner portion adjacent the joint and an outer portion adjacent the free end; and

wherein the inner portion of each gripping panel is resiliently biased to extend generally laterally outward from the joint and the outer portion is resiliently biased to extend generally upward from the inner portion such that the gripping panels are resiliently biased to define a gap between the outer portions and the free ends thereof.

17. A reclosable closure as set forth in claim 16 wherein each of the joints is a flexible joint, each gripping panel being selectively pivotable about the respective joint.

18. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the first and second gripping panels is resiliently biased to curve between the inner portion and the outer portion.

19. A reclosable closure as set forth in claim 16 wherein each of the gripping panels is resiliently biased to curve between the inner portion and the outer portion.

20. A reclosable closure as set forth in claim 16 wherein each of the gripping panels is integrally formed with the respective vertical wall.