The present disclosure relates to closures, reclosures or zippers for flexible packaging which is child-deterrent or child-resistant. In particular, a profile of the closure, reclosure or zipper includes tabs which are partially cut from the flange and includes upper and lower press-to-close interlocking elements, on respective upper and lower portions of the flange, for engagement with the opposing profile.
The prior art of child-resistant packaging is well-developed. An example is disclosed in PCT/US2018/44941, entitled “Child Resistant Reclosable Bags,” filed on Aug. 2, 2018. Further examples are disclosed in PCT/US2019/34143 entitled “Running Tab Lock in a Transverse Direction (TD) Application,” filed on May 28, 2019; PCT/US2016/061979 entitled “Zipper Child Deterrent Closure With Three Web/Flange Design,” filed on Nov. 15, 2016; and U.S. Pat. No. 10,287,063 entitled “Child Resistant Reclosable Bags,” issued on May 14, 2019. However, further developments and improvements are sought, particularly with respect to press-to-close zippers or reclosures. In particular, developments and improvements in applications such as child-resistant packaging for dishwasher pods or medication are sought.
It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a child-resistant or child-deterrent closure, reclosure or zipper, particularly as a press-to-close zipper, for flexible packaging.
It is therefore a further object of the present disclosure to provide a closure, reclosure or zipper, particularly a press-to-close zipper, which is not intuitively obvious for a child to operate.
It is therefore a still further object of the present disclosure to provide a closure, reclosure or zipper, particularly a press-to-close zipper, which can be easily operated by an adult.
It is therefore a still further object of the present disclosure to provide a closure, reclosure or zipper, particularly a press-to-close zipper, which can be easily, economically and reliably manufactured.
This and other objects are attained by providing a closure, reclosure or zipper, typically configured as a press-to-close zipper, with a tab created from flange material on one of the profiles, between upper and lower sets of interlocking elements. The closure, reclosure or zipper is opened by a user grasping the tab and pulling apart the first and second profiles, thereby releasing the press-to-close interlocking elements.
Further objects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring now to the drawings in detail, one sees that
Alternatively, first flange 16 of first profile 11 could also be attached to the walls of the bag, package, pouch or similar container between the first upper and lower interlocking elements 12, 14 as long as the seal between the first flange 16 and the bag wall is sufficiently below the inverted tab 22 to allow the tab 22 to be grasped. The lower zipper half of first profile 11 could be attached by an upper flange, and may, in some embodiments, be attached to the guiding and sealing flange extension 24 as shown in
This reclosure or zipper 10 therefore includes a tab 22 created from material from first flange 16 between first upper and lower interlocking elements 12, 14.
Having no upper flanges to grasp, opening the zipper 10 is non-intuitive for operation by a child. The sealing of the zipper 10 to the package walls is done in a way that pulling on the bag walls above or below the zipper 10 will not open the zipper 10.
However, when the bag, package or pouch (and zipper 10) is in a closed or interlocked configuration, an adult may grasp and pull tab 22 so as to separate the first and second upper interlocking elements 12, 15 from each other, and the first and second lower interlocking elements 14, 17 from each other, thereby allowing the first and second profiles 11, 13 to separate from each other and to allow the bag, package or pouch to open. The embodiment illustrated in
Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/691,648, filed on Jun. 29, 2018, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2019/039727 | 6/28/2019 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62691648 | Jun 2018 | US |