The present invention relates generally to reclosable polymeric bags. More particularly, the present invention relates to improved fasteners or zippers for use with the polymeric bags.
Polymeric bags are popular household items that are used in a variety of applications including storage of food. The addition of reclosable fasteners or zippers to these bags has further enhanced their utility and the addition of a slider has made the fasteners easier to open and close. The fasteners include complementary first and second profiles that engage each other to close the polymeric bag.
There are a variety of food items that are desirable to store in these polymeric bags. Some desired items for storage include packaged material, such as particles or powders. This packaged material may include such items as sugar, salt, baby formula, coffee, pancake mix and dog food. Existing reclosable fastener or zipper bags, such as press to close bags and slider bags, often do not reclose after the packaged material is poured from the bag because the material gets trapped in an interior area of one or more of the profiles. The trapped material can prevent or inhibit the first and second profiles from rolling or snapping together, resulting in the fastener not being able to reclose.
A need therefore exists for an improved reclosable fastener that reduces or eliminates the above-described problem of reclosing the first and second profiles after packaged material has been trapped therein.
According to one embodiment, a slider is adapted for use with a reclosable fastener for bags containing material. The reclosable fastener includes a first track and a second track. The first track includes a first profile, while the second track includes a second profile. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other. At least one of the first and second profiles has an interior portion. The slider comprises a body that includes a top, a first side, a second side and a separation member on an underside of the top. The separation member is adapted to open and close the fastener and includes a first slider finger and a second slider finger. The first slider finger extends generally downwardly from the top. The first slider finger extends into an interior portion of the first profile so as to assist in removing material trapped in the interior portion of the first profile when closing the reclosable fastener. The second slider finger extends generally downwardly from the top. The second slider finger extends into an interior portion of the second profile so as to assist in removing material trapped in the interior portion of the second profile when closing the reclosable fastener.
According to one embodiment, a reclosable fastener is adapted for use with bags having an interior space adapted to receive material. The reclosable fastener comprises a first track and a second track. The first track includes a first profile, first fin portion and a first fin flap. The second track includes a second profile, a second fin portion and a second fin flap. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other. The first fin portion extends generally downwardly from the first profile toward the interior space of the bag. The second fin portion extends generally downwardly from the second profile toward the interior space of the bag. The first fin flap is attached to the first fin and extends upwardly and outwardly to the second profile so as to prevent or inhibit material from entering one of more interior areas of the first and second profiles. The second fin flap is attached to the second fin portion and extends upwardly and outwardly to the first profile so as to prevent or inhibit material from entering one of more interior areas of the first and second profiles.
According to another embodiment, a reclosable fastener is adapted for use with bags having an interior space adapted to receive material. The reclosable fastener comprises a first track and a second track. The first track includes a first profile, and a first fin portion. The second track includes a second profile, a second fin portion and a first fin flap. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other. The first fin portion extends generally downwardly from the first profile toward the interior space of the bag. The second fin portion extends generally downwardly from the second profile toward the interior space of the bag. The first fin flap is attached to the second fin portion and extends upwardly and outwardly to the first profile so as to prevent or inhibit material from entering one of more interior areas of the first and second profiles.
According to a further embodiment, a reclosable fastener is adapted for use with bags having an interior space adapted to receive material. The reclosable fastener comprises a first track and a second track. The first track includes a first profile that has an interior area, while the second track includes a second profile. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other. The first profile has a thin walled deflection shield that prevents or inhibits material from entering the interior area of the first profile. A portion of the thin walled deflection shield is adapted to break, rupture or slit in response to a portion of the second profile entering the interior area of the first profile. The thin walled deflection shield may be formed by a seam portion.
According to yet another embodiment, a reclosable fastener is adapted for use with bags having an interior space adapted to receive material. The reclosable fastener comprises a first track and a second track. The first track includes a first profile, while the second track includes a second profile. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other. The first profile is a general c-shape and further includes two thin walled deflection shields. The general c-shape is formed from two extensions spaced apart and attached to a first portion. The two extensions has two outer ends spaced from the first portion. Each of the two thin walled deflection shields is attached near a respective one of the two outer ends of the two extensions so as to prevent or inhibit material from entering the interior area of the first profile. The thin walled deflection shields are spaced slightly apart so as to allow a portion of the second profile to enter into the interior area formed by the general c-shape section.
According to yet a further embodiment, a reclosable fastener is adapted for use with bags having an interior space adapted to receive material. The reclosable fastener comprises a first track and a second track. The first track includes a first profile, while the second track includes a second profile. The first profile includes a gasket formed in an interior area thereof. The gasket is adapted to prevent or inhibit material from entering the interior area of the first profile and/or expel material from the interior area of the first profile. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other and the gasket is compressed upon engagement of the first and second profiles.
a, b are perspective views of the slider of
a is a female track and a male track with respective fin flaps according to one embodiment of the present invention.
b is a female track and a male track with respective fin flaps according to another embodiment of the present invention.
c is a female track and a male track with a fin flap according to another embodiment of the present invention.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Referring to
Bag B (as shown in
Alternatively, bag B may be formed from separate polymeric sheets where the first and second opposing body panels are sealed after being initially separated so as to form the pair of sides and the bottom (i.e., sealed on three sides). Alternatively, bag B may be formed from a single flexible plastic sheet having a side fold, a seal on the side opposite the side fold, and an end seal (not shown).
Alternatively, bag B (not shown) may be a stand-up polymeric bag that comprises first and second opposing body panels, a bottom wall and a reclosable feature or fastener, such as a reclosable zipper which can be opened and closed either by the use of an auxiliary slider mechanism, by finger pressure, or by an auxiliary squeezing device other than an auxiliary slider mechanism. The first and second opposing body panels are coupled to opposing portions of the bottom wall. The bottom wall may be a gusseted bottom wall comprising gusseted portions or may be comprised of configurations other than a gusseted bottom wall. One example of a stand-up polymeric bag is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,588 to Thomas et al. It is contemplated that the bag may be a side-gusseted bag.
The body panels 24, 26 typically comprise one or more polymeric resins. The body panels 24, 26 may be comprised of polyolefins including, but not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene or combinations thereof.
Referring to
The fastener 12 typically comprises one or more polymeric resins. The fastener may be comprised of polyolefins including, but not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene or combinations thereof.
Referring specifically to
In the open position of the slider 10, the male and female profiles 18, 20 are disengaged from each other so that a user can gain access to the interior of the bag B. Movement of the slider 10 from the open position to the closed position interlocks the male and female profiles 18, 20 so as to restrict access to the interior of the bag B. For example, the male and female profiles 18, 20 may be rolled or pressed into their interlocking arrangement so as to securely close the bag B by one of two means. First, the tracks may be rolled or pressed together at one end by a user and then sequentially fitted together along the length of the fastener by a user running a finger along the length of the fastener on each side of the tracks. Alternatively, some bags employ a polymeric slider that rides along the tracks of the fastener. If the slider is pulled in one direction, the bag is sealed shut; if the slider is pulled in the opposite direction, the bag is reopened. As may be seen in
The opposite ends of the fastener 12 are typically provided with opposing end terminations. One example of an end termination is end termination clip 40 depicted in
End terminations may have various purposes such as (a) preventing or inhibiting the slider 10 from going past the ends of the fastener 12, (b) interacting with the slider 10 to give a tactile indication of being closed, (c) assisting in inhibiting or preventing leakage from the bag B and (d) holding the male and female profiles 18, 20 together and providing additional strength in resisting stresses applied to the profiles 18, 20 during normal use of the bag B. Further details concerning the construction and operation of the slider 10 and the end clips 40 may be obtained from U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,208 to Herrington, Jr. et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
It is contemplated that other end terminations may be used instead of the above-described end terminations clip 40. For example, an end weld may be formed by heated bars pressed against the end of the fastener, ultrasonic welding or other ways known in the art.
Improved Sliders
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a slider is adapted to remove packaged material, such as particles or powder, that has been trapped in an interior area of one or more of the tracks. The slider includes a slider finger that removes the packaged material that has been trapped in an interior area out of one or more of the profiles. The removal of the trapped material increases the likelihood of reclosing the pouch or bag (e.g., a stand-up bag).
Referring initially to
As shown in
The foldable depending wings or side walls 56, 58 extend from an opening end 10a of the slider 10 to a closing end 10b. It is noted that the body 50 and the torpedo 52a are wider at the opening end 10a than at the closing end 10b. Similarly, the side walls 56, 58 and the legs 54 are spaced wider apart at the opening end 10a of the slider 10 to permit separation of the male and female profiles 18, 20 by the torpedo 52a engaging the tracks 14, 16. The wings 56, 58 and legs 54 are spaced sufficiently close together at the closing end 10b of the slider to press the male and female profiles 18, 20 into an interlocking relationship as the slider 10 is moved in a fastener closing direction.
As shown in
The torpedo 52a has a wide portion 53 (
To close the fastener 12, the slider 10 is moved in the reverse direction and the narrow portion of the torpedo 52a cooperates with the shoulder structures 64 and the sides of the slider 10 to bring the first and second portions 22, 23 together. The first and second portions 22, 23 when brought together lock the male and female profiles 18, 20 (
Referring to
The slider 10 with generally straight slider finger 52b is depicted in relation to the male profile 18 and the female profile 20 in
According to another embodiment that is depicted in
The slider 110 with the angled slider finger 152b is shown with respect to a male profile 118 and a female profile 120 in
It is also contemplated that the generally straight slider finger 52b and the angled slider finger 152b may be sized and shaped differently than depicted in
Further examples of angled fingers are depicted in
According to one embodiment, a slider is adapted for use with a reclosable fastener for thermoplastic bags containing material. The reclosable fastener includes a first track and a second track. The first track includes a first profile, while the second track includes a second profile. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other. At least one of the first and second profiles has an interior portion. The slider comprises a body that includes a top, a first side, a second side and a separation member on an underside of the top. The separation member is adapted to open and close the fastener and includes a slider finger that extends generally downwardly from the top. The slider finger extends into an interior portion of the first profile so as to assist in removing material trapped in the interior portion of the first profile when closing the reclosable fastener. The slider may be a unitary structure and may be an inverted generally U-shaped member. The slider finger may be generally straight or angled, and the slider finger may abut a lower surface formed in the interior area of the profile.
Another embodiment is depicted in
As shown in
The second angled slider finger 352c assists in removing the material trapped in the interior area 378 of the second profile 380. The second angled slider finger 352c is shown as abutting portions of surfaces 382, 384 of the second profile 380. It is contemplated that the second angled slider finger 352c may abut one or none of the surfaces 382, 384.
It is contemplated that one slider finger with two distinct extensions may be able to extend into an interior area of the first and second profiles so as to assist in removing the trapped material.
The sliders 10, 110 and 210 may be formed from suitable polymeric materials such as, for example, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, copolymers of polyethylene and polypropylene, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyacetals, acrylic-butadiene-styrene copolymers or combinations thereof. The sliders 10, 110 and 210 of the present invention may be formed by injection molding.
Elastomeric Profiles
According to another embodiment of the present invention, one or more of the profiles is designed to (a) expel material, such as particles or powder, that has been trapped, and/or (b) prevent or inhibit material from entering an interior area of the profile(s). One or more of the profiles uses a generally thin piece of elastic material to expel the material and/or prevent or inhibit material from entering an interior area of the profile(s).
According to this embodiment, a reclosable fastener is adapted for use with thermoplastic bags containing material. The reclosable fastener comprises a first track and a second track. The first track includes a first profile, while the second track includes a second profile. At least the first profile has an elastomeric portion attached thereto. The elastomeric portion is adapted to cover at least a portion of the first profile to prevent or inhibit the material from entering an interior area of the first profile and/or expel the material from the interior area of the first profile. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other wherein the elastomeric portion is located between the first and second profiles during engagement thereto.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The elastomeric portion 410 may be placed in a first position (see
The elastomeric portion 410 may be made of any suitable material that (a) moves during the process of interlocking the female and male profile 406, 416 and (b) retracts upon the disengaging of the female and male profiles 406, 416 to remove unwanted material from at least the female gap 413 of the interior cavity 422 of the female profile 406. Examples of materials that may be used in forming the elastomeric portion 410 include wrapping polymeric materials such as polyvinylidene chloride (e.g., SARAN™ Wrap), rubber, rubberlike materials and alkenyl aromatic polymers (e.g., polystyrene foam).
The thickness of the elastomeric portion 410 is typically thinner than the remainder of the female profile 406. The elastomeric portion 410 generally has a thickness of from about 0.2 to about 10 mils and, more specifically, from about 0.5 to about 6 mils.
The interlocking portion 412 of the first profile 406, the second profile 416 and the fin portions 408, 418 may be independently made of polymeric resins such as polyolefinic resins. Nonlimiting examples of polyolefinic resins which may be used include low density polyethylenes, linear low density polyethylenes, high density polyethylenes (HDPE), medium density polyethylenes (MDPE), polypropylenes, piastomers, elastomers, ethylene vinyl acetates (EVA), ethyl methacrylates, polymethylpentene copolymers, polyisobutylenes, polyolefin ionomers, or combinations thereof. It is contemplated that other polyolefinic resins may be used. The preferred polyolefinic resins are low density polyethylenes and linear low density polyethylenes.
Referring to
It is contemplated that the elastomeric portion may be attached to the interlocking portion at different locations than depicted in
Referring to
Referring to
The elastomeric portion 510 may be placed in a first position (see
It is also contemplated that the elastomeric portion of the female profile may be used with different shaped female and/or male profiles, than those depicted in
The materials used to form the elastomeric portion 510 are the same as described above with respect to the elastomeric portion 410. Similarly, the materials used to form the interlocking portion 512 of the female profile 506, the male profile 516, and the fins 508, 518 are the same as described above to the interlocking portion 412, the male profile 416 and the fins 408, 418, respectively.
Fin Flap Fasteners
Referring to
The female and male fin flaps 610, 620 are designed to prevent or inhibit material, such as particles or powder, from entering an interior area of the female profile 606 and/or male profile 616 during the pouring of the material from a pouch or bag. By reducing or eliminating material from entering the interior area of the female profile 606 and/or male profile 616, the likelihood of the entirely reclosing the profiles 606, 616 is increased.
The female fin flap 610 and the male fin flap 620 of
The female fin flap 610 and the male fin flap 620 may be made of materials such as described above with respect to fins 408, 418. The female and male profiles 606, 616 may be made of materials such as discussed above with respect to male profile 416. Similarly, the female and male fins 608, 618 may be made of materials such as discussed above with respect to male and female fins 408, 418.
The female fin flap 610 and the male fin flap 620 may be integrally formed with the fins 608, 618, respectively. For example, the female fin 608 and the female fin flap 610 may be formed by profile extrusion. Similarly, the male fin 610 and the male fin flap 620 may be formed by profile extrusion or injection molding. Alternatively, the female fin 608 and the female fin flap 610 may be formed by coextrusion or other methods know in the art. Alternatively, the male fin 610 and the male fin flap 620 may be formed by coextrusion or other methods know in the art. For example, the female fin flap 610 and the male fin flap 620 may be attached to respective fins 608, 618 via an adhesive.
It is contemplated that the female and male fin flaps may be shaped differently and/or extend at different angles than depicted in
For example, in
It is also contemplated that the fin flap may be located on only one of the profiles. For example, in
Deflection Shield on Profile(s)
Referring to
The c-shaped section 704 includes a first portion 712 and two extensions 714, 716. The two extensions 714, 716 are generally perpendicular to and extend from the first portion 712. The two extensions 714, 716 are spaced apart from each other so as to form an interior area or cavity 718.
The thin-walled deflection shield 706 is designed to have at least a portion thereof (e.g., a seam portion) that enables a male profile to enter the interior area 718. The interior area 718 is adapted to receive a male profile (e.g., male profile 730 in
The interlocking relationship between the female profile 700 and the male profile 730 is depicted in
Upon the disengagement of the female profile 700 and the male profile 730 (see
The deflection shield 706 may be made from polymeric materials such as polyolefins, including polyethylenes, polypropylenes and combinations thereof. More specifically, the deflection shield 706 may be made of the materials discussed above in the fins 408, 418. The remainder of the female profile 700 (the ear 702 and the generally c-shaped section 704) may be formed by the same material as the deflection shield 706. It is contemplated, however, that the remainder of the female profile 700 may be formed from different materials than the deflection shield 706.
It is desirable that the deflection shields 706b, 706c have some flexibility to allow the male profile 730 to enter the female profile 700. The deflection shields 706b, 706c may have flexibility due to the thickness of the shields 706b, 706c and/or the materials used in forming the deflection shields 706b, 706c. This allows the first and second deflection shields 706b, 706c to be lengthened which assists in preventing or inhibiting more material from entering into or through the female gap 722. If the deflection shields 706b, 706c are not flexible, then the seam portion 706a must be sized to correspond with an interlocking portion of the male profile 730 that enters the interior area 718.
The first and second deflection shields 706b, 706c generally have a thickness of from about 0.5 to about 10 mils and more specifically, from about 2 to about 5 mils. The seam portion 706a is preferably thinner than the deflection shields 706b, 706c. The seam portion 706a generally has a thickness of from about 0.2 to about 8 mils and, more specifically, from about 1 to about 4 mils.
The female profile 700 with the deflection shield 706 may be formed by an extrusion process. The female profile 700 may be integrally formed. An air injection process is contemplated that will enhance the cooling time of the materials, especially the surfaces forming the interior area 718.
Alternatively, a female profile may comprise the first and second deflection shields 706b, 706c without the seam portion 706a. In other words, the female profile may initially have a small slit opening or gap (e.g., the female gap 722 of
According to another embodiment depicted to
The gasket portion 756 assists in preventing or inhibiting materials, such as particles or powders, from entering the interior area 758 by deflecting such materials. The gasket portion 756 prevents or inhibits such material from entering the interior area 758 when the female profile 750 and male profile 770 (see
The gasket portion 756 should be made of a generally resilient material so as to allow the gasket portion 756 to (a) compress in response to the process of interlocking the female profile 750 and the male profile 770 and (b) return to its initial position of
The female profile 750, including the gasket portion 756, may be formed from an extrusion process. It is contemplated that the female profile 750 with the gasket portion 756 may be formed by other methods known in the art, such as an injection molding process.
Track-In Track
According to yet another embodiment, a track-in-track feature is designed to prevent or inhibit materials, such as particles or powders, from entering an interior area of the female and male profiles. The track-in-track embodiment includes first male and female profiles being fit or engaged with second female and male profiles, respectively.
According to this embodiment, a reclosable fastener is adapted for use with thermoplastic bags having an interior space adapted to receive material. The reclosable fastener comprises a first male track, a second male track, a first female track, a second female track and a slider. The first and second male track includes a respective first and second male profile. The first and second female track includes a respective first and second female profile. The second male and female profiles are attached to the slider and when the slider is moved to an open position, the second male and female profiles engage with a respective first female and first male profiles so as to prevent or inhibit material from entering the interior first female and male profiles. When the slider is moved to a closed position, the second male and female profiles disengage with a respective first female and first male profiles.
Referring to
As the slider 814 is moved to an open position, the second female and male profiles 820, 822 slide forward and engage with respective first male profile 818 and first female profile 816. For example, a cross sectional of the profiles 816, 818, 820 and 822 is depicted in
As depicted in
When the bag 800 is in a closed position, the first profiles 816, 818 are interlocked with each other and the second profiles 820, 822 extend into the bag region. The second profiles 820, 822 may extend in a generally downwardly direction into an interior of the bag 800 such as depicted in
The first profiles 816, 818 and the second profiles 820, 822 may be independently formed from materials such as made of polymeric resins such as polyolefinic resins. Nonlimiting examples of polyolefinic resins which may be used include low density polyethylenes (LDPE), linear low density polyethylenes (LLDPE), high density polyethylenes (HDPE), medium density polyethylenes (MDPE), polypropylenes (PP), plastomers, elastomers, ethylene vinyl acetates (EVA), ethyl methacrylates, polymethylpentene copolymers, polyisobutylenes, polyolefin ionomers, or combinations thereof. It is contemplated that other polyolefinic resins may be used. The preferred polyolefinic resins are low density polyethylenes and linear low density polyethylenes.
While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Application 60/361,171 filed on Mar. 1, 2002 and entitled “Reclosable Fasteners or Zippers for Use with Polymeric Bags” and this provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60361171 | Mar 2002 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10374018 | Feb 2003 | US |
Child | 11644508 | Dec 2006 | US |