Claims
- 1. A reclosable fastener assembly comprising:
- a) a first fastener strip having an inner surface and an outer surface, the first fastener strip having at least an uppermost closure element and a bottommost closure element positioned along the length of the inner surface;
- b) a second fastener strip having an inner surface and an outer surface, the second fastener strip having at least an uppermost closure element and a bottommost closure element positioned along the length of the inner surface, the closure elements along the second fastener strip being adapted to engage with the closure elements along the first fastener strip, thereby interlocking the second fastener strip with the first fastener strip; and
- c) a slider for moving between a closed position and an open position along the fastening strips in straddling relation, the slider having a top and side walls depending from opposite sides of the top for receiving the fastener strips therebetween, the side walls extending downward from the top to a point below the uppermost closure elements, so that at least a portion of the fastener strips are held between the side walls, the side walls extending from a separating end of the slider to a pinching end, the slider including pinching means proximate to the pinching end, the pinching means being adapted to press the first and second fastener strips into an interlocked relationship as the slider is moved toward the closed position, the slider having a separating leg depending from the top between the first and second side walls at the separating end of the slider, the separating leg penetrating at least one of the uppermost closure elements of the first or second fastener strips, but not the bottommost closure elements.
- 2. The fastener assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastener strips are fused proximate to the closed position.
- 3. The fastener assembly of claim 2 wherein the fused fastener strips create an end stop.
- 4. The fastener assembly of claim 2, wherein the fused fastener strips create an end stop and hold the bottommost closure elements together such that when the slider is in the closed position, the bottommost closure elements are in interlocked relationship throughout their entire length.
- 5. The fastener assembly of claim 4, further comprising means for maintaining the slider in straddling relation with the fastening strips.
- 6. The fastener assembly of claim 5, wherein the means for maintaining the slider in straddling relation includes shoulders depending from the side walls of the slider, and at least one ridge projecting from the outside edges of the fastener strips along the lengths thereof, such that the shoulders grasp the surface of at least one ridge.
- 7. The fastener assembly of claim 6, wherein the end stop rises vertically from the fastener strips and the ridge extends into the end stop to a point beyond the separating end of the slider when the slider is in the closed position.
- 8. The fastener assembly of claim 7, wherein the first fastener strip includes a flange positioned above the uppermost closure element along the length thereof.
- 9. The fastener assembly of claim 8, wherein the profiles are fused by means of a clamp, an adhesive, melting means, ultrasonic means, or mechanical means.
- 10. The fastener assembly of claim 9, wherein the pinching means includes ribs on the inside of the sidewalls proximate to the pinching end of the slider, walls angled so as to have a smaller spacing at the pinching end that at the separating end, or a combination thereof.
- 11. A thermoplastic bag having the fastener assembly of claim 10 positioned across the top thereof.
- 12. The fastener assembly of claim 5, wherein the means for maintaining the slider in straddling relation includes a flange positioned above the uppermost closure element along the length of at least one of the fastener strips, and an extension protruding from the separating leg, the extension sliding between the uppermost closure element and the flange as the slider moves.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a Continuation-In-part of application Ser. No. 08/711,643 filed Sep. 10, 1996.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
711643 |
Sep 1996 |
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