Slider end stop for a reclosable bag and methods

Abstract

A zipper profile arrangement for use in opening and closing a package. The zipper profile arrangement including a reclosable zipper profile having first and second zipper ends. End stops are located that the first and second zipper ends of the reclosable zipper profile. The ends stops include a volume of glue disposed between first and second zipper profiles of the reclosable zipper profile. The end stops prevent a slider of the zipper profile arrangement from separating from the reclosable zipper profile.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package having a reclosable zipper arrangement, in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the reclosable zipper arrangement of FIG. 1, showing one embodiment of a zipper profile and a slider;

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of the reclosable zipper arrangement of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the zipper profile of FIG. 2, taken along line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a zipper profile that can be used in the reclosable zipper arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the zipper profile of FIG. 5, shown with an end stop, in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the zipper profile of FIG. 6, taken along line 7-7;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the zipper profile of FIG. 6, illustrating one method of manufacture;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the zipper profile of FIG. 2, illustrating another method of manufacture;

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the zipper profile of FIG. 6, showing one type of a manufacture treatment;

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the zipper profile of FIG. 2, showing another type of a manufacture treatment;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a zipper profile, shown with an end stop, in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the package having a zipper profile as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, showing another embodiment of a end stop, in accordance with the principles disclosed;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the zipper profile and end stop of FIG. 13, taken along line 14-14;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a bag including a reclosable zipper arrangement, in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the bag of FIG. 15, shown with the reclosable zipper arrangement enclosed by a flap portion of the bag.

Claims

1. A zipper profile arrangement comprising: (a) a first zipper profile including a first profile member and a first ear extending from the first profile member, the first ear including a roughened surface;(b) a second zipper profile opposing the first zipper profile; the second zipper profile including a second profile member and a second ear extending from the second profile member, the second ear including a roughened surface opposing the first ear roughened surface;(c) a slider member mounted on the first and second zipper profile; the slider member constructed and arranged to selectively mate and unmate the first zipper profile and second zipper profile responsive to motion of the slider member along the first and second zipper profiles; and(d) a first end stop limiting motion of the slider member; the first end stop comprising adhesive between the first ear roughened surface and the second ear roughened surface.

2. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 1 wherein: (a) the first zipper profile has a first zipper profile first end and an opposite first zipper profile second end;(b) the second zipper profile has a second zipper profile first end and a second zipper profile second end; (i) the first zipper profile first end and the second zipper profile first end opposing each other to form a zipper first end;(ii) the first zipper profile second end and the second zipper profile second end opposing each other to form a zipper second end; and(c) the first end stop is on at least one of the zipper first end and zipper second end.

3. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 2 further comprising: (a) a second end stop limiting motion of the slider member; the second end stop comprising adhesive between the first ear and the second ear.

4. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 3 wherein: (a) the first end stop is on the zipper first end and the second end stop is on the zipper second end.

5. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 1 wherein: (a) the first ear includes at least one aperture;(b) the second ear includes at least one aperture opposing the at least one aperture in the first ear; and(c) the first end stop includes adhesive in the at least one aperture in the first ear and the at least one aperture in the second ear and connecting the first ear to the second ear.

6. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 4 wherein: (a) the first end stop includes at least one aperture in the first ear and second ear at the zipper first end with adhesive therein and connecting the first ear to the second ear at the zipper first end; and(b) the second end stop includes at least one aperture in the first ear and second ear at the zipper second end with adhesive therein and connecting the first ear to the second ear at the zipper second end.

7. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 1 wherein: (a) the first ear includes a plurality of apertures;(b) the second ear includes a plurality of apertures opposing the plurality of apertures in the first ear; and(c) the first end stop includes adhesive in the plurality of apertures in the first ear and the plurality of apertures in the second ear and connecting the first ear to the second ear.

8. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 4 wherein: (a) the first end stop includes a plurality of apertures in the first ear and second ear at the zipper first end with adhesive therein and connecting the first ear to the second ear at the zipper first end; and(b) the second end stop includes a plurality of apertures in the first ear and second ear at the zipper second end with adhesive therein and connecting the first ear to the second ear at the zipper second end.

9. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 1 wherein: (a) each of the first ear roughened surface and the second ear roughened surface is a knurled surface.

10. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 1 wherein: (a) each of the first ear roughened surface and the second ear roughened surface is a pitted surface.

11. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 4 wherein: (a) the first and second ears include roughened surfaces at each of the zipper first end and the zipper second end;(b) the first end stop includes adhesive between the roughened surfaces at the zipper first end; and(c) the second end stop includes adhesive between the roughened surfaces at the zipper second end.

12. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 11 wherein: (a) the first end stop connects the first ear to the second ear at the zipper first end; and(b) the second end stop connects the first ear to the second ear at the zipper second end.

13. A package comprising: (a) a package film having a surrounding wall defining an interior and a mouth providing access to the interior;(b) a zipper oriented along the mouth to provide selective opening and closing of the mouth; the zipper including: (i) a first zipper profile including a first profile member and a first ear extending from the first profile member;(ii) a second zipper profile opposing the first zipper profile; the second zipper profile including a second profile member and a second ear extending from the second profile member;(iii) a slider member mounted on the first and second zipper profile; the slider member constructed and arranged to selectively mate and unmate the first zipper profile and second zipper profile responsive to motion of the slider member along the first and second zipper profiles; and(iv) a first end stop limiting motion of the slider member; the first end stop including a roughened surface in the first ear and the second ear at the zipper first end with adhesive therebetween, the first end stop connecting the first ear to the second ear at the zipper first end.

14. A package according to claim 13 wherein: (a) the first zipper profile has a first zipper profile first end and an opposite first zipper profile second end;(b) the second zipper profile has a second zipper profile first end and a second zipper profile second end; (i) the first zipper profile first end and the second zipper profile second end opposing each other to form a zipper first end;(ii) the first zipper profile second end and the second zipper profile second end opposing each other to form a zipper second end;(c) the package further comprises a second end stop limiting motion of the slider member; the second end stop including a roughened surface in the first ear and the second ear at the zipper second end with adhesive therebetween, the second end stop connecting the first ear to the second ear at the zipper second end.

15. A package according to claim 14 wherein: (a) the first end stop includes at least one aperture in the first ear and second ear at the zipper first end with adhesive therein and connecting the first ear to the second ear at the zipper first end; and(b) the second end stop includes at least one aperture in the first ear and second ear at the zipper second end with adhesive therein and connecting the first ear to the second ear at the zipper second end.

16. A method of making a zipper profile arrangement; the method comprising: (a) providing a first zipper profile including a first profile member and a first ear extending from the first profile member;(b) providing a second zipper profile opposing the first zipper profile; the second zipper profile including a second profile member and a second ear extending from the second profile member;(c) mounting a slider member on the first and second zipper profile to selectively mate and unmate the first zipper profile and second zipper profile by moving the slider member along the first and second zipper profiles;(d) roughening a region in the first ear, and roughening a region in the second ear opposing the region of the first ear that is roughened; and(e) providing adhesive between the region of the roughened first ear and the region of the roughened second ear to create a first end stop limiting motion of the slider member.

17. A method according to claim 16 further comprising: (a) punching at least one hole in the first ear;(b) punching at least one hole in the second ear to opposing the at least one hole in the first ear; and (i) the step of providing adhesive includes squeezing adhesive through the at least one hole in the first ear and the at least one hole in the second ear and to connect the first ear and second ear to each other.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein: (a) the step of roughening includes treating inner surfaces of the first ear and the second ear with a corona treater to pit the inner surfaces and enhance the bond between the adhesive and the first and second ears.

19. A method according to claim 16 wherein: (a) the step of roughening includes knurling the inner surfaces of the first ear and the second ear to enhance the bond between the adhesive and the first and second ears.

20. A method of using a zipper arrangement; the method comprising: (a) moving a slider member along a zipper until the slider member abuts an end stop; the end stop including an adhesive that secures together opposing portions of the zipper, the opposing portions of the zipper including roughened surfaces.

21. A zipper profile arrangement comprising: (a) a first zipper profile having a first interlocking element;(b) a second zipper profile opposing the first zipper profile; the second zipper profile including a second interlocking element;(c) a slider member mounted on the first and second zipper profile; the slider member constructed and arranged to selectively mate and unmate the first and second interlocking elements of the first and second zipper profiles in response to motion of the slider member along the first and second zipper profiles; and(d) a first end stop limiting motion of the slider member; the first end stop comprising a fiber reinforced adhesive disposed between the first zipper profile and the second zipper profile.

22. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 21 wherein: (a) each of the first and second zipper profiles defines an aperture, the aperture being located adjacent to the first end stop; and(b) portions of the first end stop extend through each of the apertures defined in each of the first and second zipper profiles.

23. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 21 wherein: (a) the first and second zipper profiles each include a profile member and an ear extending from the profile member, the first end stop being disposed between the ears of the first and second zipper profiles.

24. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 21 wherein: (a) the first and second zipper profiles each include a profile member, the interlocking elements of the first and second zipper profiles extending from the profile members, the first end stop being disposed between the profile members of the first and second zipper profiles.

25. A zipper profile arrangement comprising: (a) a first zipper profile including a first profile member and a first ear extending from the first profile member;(b) a second zipper profile opposing the first zipper profile; the second zipper profile including a second profile member and a second ear extending from the second profile member;(c) a slider member mounted on the first and second zipper profile; the slider member constructed and arranged to selectively mate and unmate the first and second zipper profiles in response to motion of the slider member along the first and second zipper profiles; and(d) a first end stop limiting motion of the slider member; the first end stop including an inner stop portion and an outer stop portion, the inner stop portion being disposed only between the first and second ears of the first and second zipper profiles, the outer stop portion being disposed adjacent outer surfaces of the first and second ears of the first and second zipper profiles.

26. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 25 wherein: (a) the slider member includes a plow located between first and second shoulders, the first end stop arranged such that the plow contacts the inner stop portion and the shoulders contact the outer stop portion of the end stop to limit motion of the slider member.

27. A zipper profile arrangement according to claim 25 wherein: (a) the inner stop portion is a volume of adhesive; and(b) the outer stop portion is an overflow of adhesive, the overflow of adhesive extending over a top edge of each of the first and second ears of the first and second zipper profiles.

28. A paper bag, comprising: (a) a zipper profile arrangement including: (i) a first plastic zipper profile having a first interlocking element;(ii) a second plastic zipper profile opposing the first zipper profile; the second zipper profile including a second interlocking element;(iii) a plastic slider member mounted on the first and second zipper profile; the slider member constructed and arranged to selectively mate and unmate the first and second interlocking elements of the first and second zipper profiles in response to motion of the slider member along the first and second zipper profiles; and(b) an outer paper package material, the outer paper package material having an opening, the zipper profile arrangement being located at the opening of the outer paper package material, the outer paper package material further including: (i) a flap portion located adjacent to the opening, the flap portion being folded over the zipper profile arrangement to enclose a majority of the zipper profile arrangement.

29. A paper bag according to claim 28 further including: (a) a first end stop limiting motion of the slider member; the first end stop comprising adhesive disposed between the first zipper profile and the second zipper profile.

30. A paper bag according to claim 28 wherein: (a) the outer paper package material comprises multiple plies of paper.

31. A paper bag according to claim 30 further including: (a) an inner polyethylene layer surrounded by the outer paper package material.

32. A paper bag, comprising: (a) a toothless zipper profile arrangement including: (i) a first zipper profile including a first profile member and a first ear extending from the first profile member;(ii) a second zipper profile opposing the first zipper profile; the second zipper profile including a second profile member and a second ear extending from the second profile member;(iii) a slider member mounted on the first and second zipper profile; the slider member constructed and arranged to selectively mate and unmate the first and second zipper profiles in response to motion of the slider member along the first and second zipper profiles; and(iv) a first end stop limiting motion of the slider member; the first end stop comprising adhesive disposed between the first and second ears of the first zipper profile and the second zipper profile;(b) an outer paper package material, the outer paper package material having an opening, the zipper profile arrangement being located at the opening of the outer paper package material.

33. A paper bag according to claim 32 further including: (a) a bag flap extending from the outer paper package material, the bag flap being located adjacent to the opening, the bag flap being folded over the zipper profile arrangement to enclose a majority of the zipper profile arrangement.

34. A paper bag according to claim 32 wherein: (a) the outer paper package material comprises multiple plies of paper.

35. A paper bag according to claim 34 further including: (a) an inner polyethylene layer surrounded by the outer paper package material.