Patent Application
20240351750
This disclosure relates to a reclosable zipper closure, uses on packages/pouches, and methods of use. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a reclosable zipper closure having a tear-off section.
Flexible packaging pouches (e.g., plastic bags) are often opened by tearing off the top portion of the pouch to gain entry through the reclosable zipper. This tearing is sometimes initiated by a tear notch at the edge(s) of the package. Once initiated, the direction of the tear is dependent upon the type/structure of the film, thickness of the film, orientation of the film, and variability of the person tearing the film (speed of tear, strength of the person, etc.). To aid in keeping the tear line straight so that is allows for easily opening the reclosable zipper and does not compromise the integrity of the pouch and its contents, pouch designers sometimes use a tear tape strip or a film perforation line (mechanical or laser score). Building the tear feature into the zipper is another option.
These past solutions still can be unreliable in achieving a straight tear line, due to variabilities in the film and the person doing the tearing. Tear tapes add cost and additional raw materials, and are not very effective on thicker films. Perforations compromise hermeticity/barrier characteristics. Laser scoring is costly and can be inconsistent. Improvements are desirable.
In general, a plastic zipper closure arrangement for use with a reclosable package is provided; the closure arrangement includes: a first attachment flange and a second attachment flange positioned opposing each other; a first zipper profile member extending from the first attachment flange; a second zipper profile member extending from the second attachment flange and positioned to releasably mate with the first zipper profile member; the first and second zipper profile members being positioned between a package side and a consumer side of the first and second attachment flanges; the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange each having an area of weakness on the consumer side; and the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange being sealed together along a seal region on the consumer side; the seal region being between the area of weakness and terminal ends of the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange.
In example embodiments, the seal region is an inseparable permanent bond.
In one example, the area of weakness comprises a lower thickness of the first attachment flange and second attachment flange than a remaining portion of the first attachment flange and second attachment flange.
In examples, the area of weakness has a thickness less than 50% than the thickness of a remaining portion of the first and second attachment flanges.
In some embodiments, the area of weakness is a laser score line.
In examples, the seal region is a very low density polyethylene (i.e., plastomer) sealant.
In one or more embodiments, the seal region extends only partially between the area of weakness and terminal ends of the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange.
In some arrangements, the seal region extends fully between the area of weakness and terminal ends of the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange.
In example embodiments, the first zipper profile member is a male profile member, and the second zipper profile member is a female profile member.
In examples, each of the areas of weakness includes: first and second opposite end edges with a longitudinal length extending between the end edges; and a first tear notch in the first end edge.
In some examples, each of the areas of weakness includes a second tear notch in the second end edge.
In another aspect, a recloseable pouch is provided comprising: first and second opposing polymeric panels, having first and second opposite side edges; a bottom; and an openable and closeable mouth opposite of the bottom; the polymeric panels defining an interior volume therebetween; the mouth providing access into the interior volume when in an open condition; the pouch having a closure arrangement along the mouth; the closure arrangement including: a first attachment flange and a second attachment flange positioned opposing each other; the first attachment flange being non-removably secured to the first polymeric panel; the second attachment flange being non-removably secured to the second polymeric panel; a first zipper profile member extending from the first attachment flange; a second zipper profile member extending from the second attachment flange and positioned to releasably mate with the first zipper profile member; the first and second zipper profile members being positioned between a package side and a consumer side of the first and second attachment flanges; the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange each having an area of weakness on the consumer side; and the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange being sealed together along a closure seal region on the consumer side; the closure seal region being between the area of weakness and terminal ends of the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange.
In example embodiments, the area of weakness comprises a lower thickness of the first attachment flange and second attachment flange than a remaining portion of the first attachment flange and second attachment flange.
In examples, the seal region is an inseparable permanent bond.
In some implementations, the area of weakness has a thickness less than 50% than the thickness of a remaining portion of the first and second attachment flanges.
In examples, the closure seal region extends only partially between the area of weakness and terminal ends of the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange.
In one or more embodiments, the closure seal region extends fully between the area of weakness and terminal ends of the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange.
In some examples, each of the areas of weakness includes: first and second opposite end edges with a longitudinal length extending between the end edges; and a first tear notch in the first end edge.
In some embodiments, each of the areas of weakness includes a second tear notch in the second end edge.
Some embodiments further include a header seal joining the first and second opposing polymeric panels together along terminal ends of the first and second polymeric panels; the closure seal region being between the header seal and the area of weakness.
A variety of examples of desirable product features or methods are set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing various aspects of this disclosure. The aspects of the disclosure may relate to individual features as well as combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the claimed invention.
A consistent tear can be accomplished by sealing the top of both opposing zipper flanges together so that they, along with both sides of the film, tear as a unit. Providing a sealant layer at the top of each of the zipper flanges makes this convenient and easy to implement on existing pouch converting equipment. Tearing in this manner, as a unit, allows for a straight and clean tear. When the opposing zipper flanges are not sealed together, they can tear independently, allowing the front panel of the pouch to sometimes tear in a different direction than the back panel. Example embodiments follow.
The surrounding wall 22 includes first and second polymeric wall panels 26, 28 (
The pouch 20 includes a closed bottom 34. The closed bottom 34, in this embodiment, is between the first side 30 and second side 32 and at an opposite end of the pouch as the reclosable zipper closure 24. The closed bottom 34 can be part of the same single piece of film or material that forms the first wall panel 26 and second wall panel 28; alternatively, the closed bottom 34 can be a seal connecting together the first wall panel 26 and second wall panel 28.
The pouch 20 has an open mouth 36 at the end of the pouch 20 that is opposite from the closed bottom 34. The mouth 36 provides access to the interior volume 23, when the reclosable zipper closure 24 is in an unlocked position. When the reclosable zipper closure 24 is in a locked position, access to the interior volume 23 is blocked.
Turning now to
The zipper closure 24 includes a first zipper profile member 42 extending from the first attachment flange 38. Many variations are possible. In the non-limiting example shown, the first zipper profile member 42 is a male profile member 43. The male profile member 43 includes a stem 44 extending generally perpendicular from the first attachment flange 38. At an end of stem 44 opposite of where it extends from the flange 38, the male profile member 43 has a head 45 with a pair of shoulders 46.
The zipper closure 24 includes a second zipper profile member 48 extending from the second attachment flange 40 and positioned to releasably mate with the first zipper profile member 42. Many variations are possible. In the non-limiting example shown, the second zipper profile member 48 is a female profile member 49. The female profile member 49 includes a pair of legs 50 extending generally perpendicular from the second attachment flange 40. At an ends of the legs 50 opposite of where it extends from the flange 40, the female profile member 49 has inwardly extending and opposing hooks 51.
When the first zipper profile member 42 and the second zipper profile member 48 are pressed together to be releasably mated, the member 43 is received between the legs 50. The hooks 51 snap over the head 45. Interference between the shoulders 46 and the hooks 51 releasably lock the zipper closure 24 in the closed position. To open the zipper closure 24, the first and second zipper profile members 42, 48 are pulled apart from each other.
Each of the first and second attachment flanges 38, 40 has a package side 54 and a consumer side 56. The first and second zipper profile members 42, 48 are positioned between the package side 54 and consumer side 56 of the first and second attachment flanges 38, 40. By “package side 54”, it is meant that when the first and second attachment flanges 38, 40 are part of the pouch 20, the package side 56 is the part of the flanges 38, 40 that includes everything from the zipper profile members 42, 48 to the package bottom 34 (including the zipper profile members 42, 48). The “consumer side 56” is the part of the flanges 38, 40 that is between (above) the zipper profile members 42, 48 and the mouth 36 of the pouch 20. See
In reference again to
The area of weakness 58, 59 can be made in a variety of manners. In one example, the area of weakness 58, 59 comprises a lower (smaller) thickness of the first attachment flange 38 and second attachment flange 40 than a remaining portion of the first attachment flange 38 and second attachment flange 40. For example, the area of weakness 58, 59 has a thickness less than 60%, often less than 50% than a thickness of a remaining portion of the first and second attachment flanges 38, 40. In many cases, the thickness of the area of weakness 58, 59 is between 10% and 45%, about 25%-40%, of the thickness of the remaining portion of the first and second attachment flanges 38, 40.
The area of weakness 58, 59 can also be a laser score line, in other embodiments.
In reference to
In accordance with principles of this disclosure, and in reference now to
To attach the flanges 38, 40 to the panels 26, 28, while various techniques are possible, in the example shown, there are attachment regions 76 of sealant between and against an inner surface 27, 29 of wall panels 26, 28 and exteriorly directed surfaces 39, 41 (
In
The pouch 20 further includes a header seal 78 joining the first and second opposing polymeric panels 26, 28 together along terminal ends 71, 72 of the first and second polymeric panels 26, 28. The closure seal region 70 is between the header seal 78 and the area of weakness 58, 59.
From the above, and in reference to
The above structure is useable in a method of opening the recloseable pouch 20. The method includes opening the pouch 20 by tearing off the removable pouch section 82 from the storage pouch section 80 along area of weakness 58, 59. The removable pouch section 82 includes portions of the opposing polymeric panels 26, 28, with each portion of panel 26, 28 having attached thereto: attachment flange 38, 40 with the area of weakness 58, 59; closure seal region 70 sealing together the attachment flanges 38, 40; and header seal 78 sealing together the polymeric panels 26, 28. The storage pouch section 80 includes the recloseable zipper closure 24 attached to the attachment flanges 38, 40 adjacent to a remaining portion of the area of weakness 58, 59.
A consistent tear 68 is accomplished by sealing (preferably, inseparably sealing) the top of both opposing zipper flanges 38, 40 together to form closure seal region 70, so that they, along with both sides 26, 28 of the film, tear as a unit—the removable pouch section 82.
The above disclosure is example principles. Many embodiments can be made using these principles.
