Claims
- 1. A flexible package comprising:
(a) a package surrounding wall having first and second panel sections and a mouth therebetween; said mouth providing access to a package interior; (b) a resealable closure mechanism along said mouth for selective opening and closing of said mouth; said closure mechanism extending from a first side edge to a second side edge and including first and second closure profiles;
(i) said first and second closure profiles being constructed and arranged to interlock; and (c) a slider device for selectively opening and closing said closure mechanism; said slider device having a housing defined by a first sidewall and a second sidewall each having a first end and a second end, the slider device further having:
(i) a top wall; (ii) a spreader depending from said top wall for separating said first and second closure profiles; (iii) a first hook construction depending from said top wall, said first hook construction having:
(A) a first end opposite said top wall; (B) a first deflection surface positioned on an internal surface of said first hook construction at said first end and positioned at an angle of about 40 to 50 degrees from said top wall; and (C) a first engagement surface to engage said first closure profile; (iv) a second hook construction depending from said top wall, said second hook construction having:
(A) a second end opposite said top wall; (B) a second deflection surface positioned on an interior surface of said second hook construction at said first end and positioned at an angle of about 40 to 50 degrees from said top wall; and (C) a second engagement surface to engage said second closure profile; and (v) a channel defined by said first and second hook constructions and extending therebetween to accept said closure mechanism.
- 2. A flexible package according to claim 1, wherein:
(a) said first hook construction comprises:
(i) a first hook base defined by said first end; (ii) said first hook base extending from said first sidewall to said first engagement surface; (iii) said first engagement surface and said first deflection surface joined at a first tip; and (b) said second hook construction comprises:
(i) a second hook base defined by said second end; (ii) said second hook base extending from said second sidewall to said second engagement surface; (iii) said second engagement surface and said second deflection surface joined at a second tip.
- 3. A flexible package according to claim 2, wherein said first deflection surface and said second deflection surface have an angle therebetween of about 80 to 100 degrees.
- 4. A flexible package according to claim 3, wherein said first deflection surface and said second deflection surface have an angle therebetween of about 90 degrees.
- 5. A flexible package according to claim 2, wherein said slider device further comprises:
(a) a guide construction extending past at least one of said first and second ends of said first sidewall in a direction away from remaining portions of said slider device and toward one of said first and second side edges;
(i) said guide construction being constructed and arranged to abut at least one of said first and second side seals, when the slider device is selectively moved along the mouth adjacent to one of the first and second seals.
- 6. A flexible package according to claim 5, wherein:
(a) said guide construction includes first and second fingers depending from said top wall; and said first finger projects beyond said first end.
- 7. A flexible package according to claim 2, said slider device having:
(a) a first width at said first end; and (b) a second width at said second end, said first width being essentially equal to said second width.
- 8. A flexible package according to claim 2, wherein:
(a) said first closure profile defines a first shoulder; (b) said first engagement surface engages said first shoulder; (c) said second closure profile defines a second shoulder; and (d) said second engagement surface engages said second shoulder.
- 9. A flexible package according to claim 8, wherein each of said first and second upper flanges defines a notch adjacent to said first side edge.
- 10. A flexible package according to claim 1, further comprising a tamper-evident structure encasing said slider device and said resealable closure mechanism.
- 11. A flexible package according to claim 10, said tamper-evident structure having an area of weakness.
- 12. A flexible package according to claim 11, wherein said area of weakness:
(a) extends essentially parallel to said resealable closure mechanism for a first portion of said resealable closure mechanism; and (b) extends to each of said first side edge and said second side edge at an angle other than perpendicular to said resealable closure mechanism.
- 13. A slider device for use with a resealable closure mechanism having interlocking closure members, the slider device having a housing having a first end and a second end, the slider device comprising:
(a) a top wall; (b) a spreader depending from and being integral with said top wall; said spreader for separating interlocked closure members, when the slider device is operably mounted on the resealable closure mechanism having interlocking closure members; (c) a first sidewall extending from said top wall and defining a first hook construction at an end opposite said top wall; said first hook construction comprising:
(i) a first deflection surface positioned on an internal surface of said first hook construction; (ii) said first deflection surface forming an angle of about 40 to 50 degrees to a plane parallel to said top wall; (iii) said first hook construction further comprising a first engagement surface, said first engagement surface and said first deflection surface joining at a first tip; (d) a second sidewall extending from said top wall and defining a second hook construction at an end opposite said top wall, said second hook construction comprising;
(i) a second deflection surface positioned on an internal surface of said second hook construction; (ii) said second deflection surface forming an angle of about 40 to 50 degrees to a plane parallel to said top wall; (iii) said second hook construction further comprising a second engagement surface, said second engagement surface and said second deflection surface joining at a second tip; (iv) said first and second hook constructions for operably mounting and locking said slider device onto the resealable closure mechanism; and (e) a channel defined by said first and second hook constructions between said first tip and said second tip.
- 14. A slider device according to claim 13, wherein:
(a) said first hook construction further comprises:
(i) a first hook base extending from said first sidewall to said first engagement surface; and (b) said second hook construction comprises:
(i) a second hook base extending from said second sidewall to said second engagement surface.
- 15. A slider device according to claim 14, wherein a line extending from said first deflection surface and a line extending from said second deflection surface have an angle therebetween of about 80 to 100 degrees.
- 16. A slider device according to claim 15, wherein the line from said first deflection surface and the line from said second deflection surface have an angle therebetween of about 90 degrees.
- 17. A slider device according to claim 13, wherein:
(a) said first and second sidewalls define a slide channel therebetween for receipt of interlocking closure members, when the slider device is operably mounted on the resealable closure mechanism with interlocking closure members.
- 18. A slider device according to claim 13, further comprising a guide construction depending from said top wall.
- 19. A slider device according to claim 18, wherein:
(a) said guide construction includes first and second fingers; said first finger positioned at a first end of said slider device; and said second finger positioned at a second end of said slider device.
- 20. A slider device according to claim 13, wherein:
(a) said top wall defines an open aperture;
(i) a first portion of said top wall extending between said first end and said open aperture; said first finger depending from said first portion; and (ii) a second portion of said top wall extending between said second end and said open aperture; said second finger depending from said second portion.
- 21. A slider device according to claim 20, wherein:
(a) a portion of said first hook construction is under said open aperture in said top wall; and (b) a portion of said second hook construction is under said open aperture in said top wall.
- 22. A slider device according to claim 20, wherein:
(a) said spreader comprises first and second angled wedges defining a gap therebetween; said first and second angled wedges depending from said first portion of said top wall.
- 23. A slider device according to claim 20, wherein:
(a) said spreader comprises first and second angled wedges defining a groove therebetween; said first and second angled wedges depending from said first portion of said top wall.
- 24. A method of mounting a slider device on a resealable closure mechanism, the closure mechanism comprising first and second interlocking closure profiles, each of the first and second interlocking closure profiles comprising a mating closure member, a sealing flange, and an upper flange; the slider device comprising a top wall and first and second hook constructions projecting from the top wall, each of the first and second hook constructions comprising a deflection surface positioned on an internal surface of the hook construction and an engagement surface, each of the deflection surfaces being at an angle of 40 to 50 degrees to a plane parallel to the top wall, and an area between the first and second hook constructions for receiving the first and second interlocking closure profiles; said method comprising:
(a) contacting the upper flanges of the closure profiles against the deflection surfaces; and (b) urging the closure profiles against the deflection surfaces and between the hooking constructions into the area between the first and second hook constructions.
- 25. A method according to claim 24, wherein said step of urging the closure profiles against the deflection surfaces and between the hooking constructions into the area between the first and second hook constructions comprises: (a) deflecting at least one of the first and second hook construction to expand the area between the first and second hook constructions.
Parent Case Info
[0001] Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) is claimed to provisional application ser. No. 60/222,132, filed on Jul. 31, 2000, and entitled “SLIDER DEVICE, AND METHODS”. The complete disclosure of application 60/222,132 is incorporated by reference herein.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60222132 |
Jul 2000 |
US |