ZIPPER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

Abstract

An anti-slip assembly is provided and may include an elongated assembly having a first side and an opposite second side. The elongated assembly may be wound onto a core of a spool for one or more of storage or transportation. The assembly also may include an alignment body that can be coupled with the first side of the elongated assembly. The alignment body may be formed of a material configured to stick with the second side of second segments of the elongated assembly while the elongated assembly is wound onto the core of the spool.

Description

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The subject matter described herein relates to zipper assemblies of resealable enclosures that enable the repeated sealing and opening of the enclosures.

Discussion of Art

Many enclosures include reclosable zipper assemblies to allow users to repeatedly open and close the enclosures. For example, plastic bags may have zipper assemblies with opposing profiles formed from intermeshing or interlocking elements. These elements may be bodies having complimentary or matching shapes to allow the profiles to interlock with each other to close the enclosure. A user may pull the profiles away from each other with sufficient force to separate the elements to open the enclosure. The zipper assemblies can be coupled with the enclosures by attaching opposite sides of the profiles with panels of the enclosures.

The zipper assemblies may be separately formed from the enclosures and later added (e.g., via heat sealing) to inner surfaces of the enclosures. The zipper assemblies may be manufactured in a continuous, extremely long zipper assembly that is wrapped around a spool for transportation. Upon arrival, the continuous, long zipper assembly may be unwound from the spool while being cut into shorter zipper assemblies having appropriate lengths for the enclosures, and then heat sealed to the enclosures.

One problem with storing and/or transporting the zipper assemblies on spools is that segments of the long, continuous zipper assembly may slide relative to each other. For example, the long, continuous zipper assembly may be wound around itself in several layers on the spool, such as by a movable guide traversing or moving the elongated zipper assembly back-and-forth in a lateral direction (e.g., parallel to or about parallel to the axis of rotation of the spool), as the spool rotates to take up or wind the zipper assembly onto the core of the spool. The long, continuous zipper assembly may be formed from a relatively slick polymer material, such as a polymer that has a sufficiently low adhesion to itself, that one or more upper or outer layers of the wound zipper assembly may laterally slide (along or parallel to a rotation axis of the spool) relative to one or more lower or inner layers of the wound zipper assembly. At times, the zipper assembly may slide to one of the axial ends of the spool and slide beneath a lower layer of the zipper assembly.

This can cause the zipper assembly to catch on itself and make it more difficult to unwind the zipper assembly. For example, more force may be required to pull the segment of the zipper assembly that has slid beneath a lower segment of the zipper assembly. This force may damage the zipper assembly, such as by stretching or breaking the zipper assembly, and/or may cause difficulties in the system that unwinds and cuts the zipper assembly due to this system expecting to pull the zipper assembly with only a defined, relatively small force.

It may be advantageous to have a zipper assembly that differs from those that are currently available.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one example, a zipper assembly for a resealable enclosure is provided. The zipper assembly may include an elongated flange having a panel side and an opposite interlocking side. The panel side may be coupled with a panel of the resealable enclosure. The zipper assembly also may include interlocking elements protruding from the interlocking side of the flange. The interlocking elements may be shaped to mate with each other to close the enclosure and shaped to be pulled apart to open the enclosure. The zipper assembly also may include an alignment body coupled with the panel side of the flange. The alignment body of first segments of the flange may stick with one or more of the panel sides of second segments of the flange or the alignment body on the second segments of the flange while the flange is wound onto a spool. The alignment body may be disposed on one flange or both flanges of the zipper assembly.

In another example, a method for manufacturing a zipper assembly for a resealable enclosure is provided. The method may include forming an elongated flange having a panel side and an opposite interlocking side. The panel side can be formed to be coupled with a panel of the resealable enclosure. The method also may include forming interlocking elements protruding from the interlocking side of the flange. The interlocking elements may be formed in shapes to mate with each other to close the enclosure and shaped to be pulled apart to open the enclosure. The method also may include forming an alignment body on the panel side of the flange. The alignment body of first segments of the flange may be formed in locations to stick with one or more of the panel sides or the alignment body on second segments of the flange while the flange is wound onto a spool.

In another example, an anti-slip assembly is provided and may include an elongated assembly having a first side and an opposite second side. The elongated assembly may be wound onto a core of a spool for one or more of storage or transportation. The assembly also may include an alignment body that can be coupled with the first side of the elongated assembly. The alignment body may be formed of a material configured to stick with the second side of second segments of the elongated assembly while the elongated assembly is wound onto the core of the spool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The inventive subject matter may be understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below:

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a recloseable or resealable enclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates one example of a long, continuous zipper assembly from which the zipper assembly shown in FIG. 1 may be cut;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of one example of a zipper assembly according to one example of the inventive subject matter described herein;

FIG. 4 illustrates one example of contact between an alignment body shown in FIG. 3 on overlapping sections of the zipper assembly shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of one example of a method for manufacturing a zipper assembly for a resealable enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more embodiments of the inventive subject matter set forth herein include a zipper assembly and a method for manufacturing the zipper assembly, where the zipper assembly is less prone to moving (e.g., slipping or sliding) relative to itself while wound onto a spool during transport, storage, etc. While one or more examples are provided herein that relate to zipper assemblies used in connection with resealable enclosures, not all embodiments of the inventive subject matter are limited to zipper assemblies. One or more embodiments described herein may be used in connection with other elongated bodies that may be wound onto themselves, such as conduits (e.g., hoses, flexible tubes, etc.), cables, wires, etc. These bodies may be wound onto spools, such as by driving the spool to rotate at different speeds while movable guides laterally move the bodies back-and-forth in directions that are parallel to (or substantially parallel to) the axes of rotation of the spools. As the spools rotate, incremental incoming portions of the bodies may be wrapped under tension around the rotating drum or center of the spool, with the not yet wrapped portion of the body being stretched under tension while being pulled by the rotating spool. The tension of the wrapped portion of the body for a given turn may be a function of the speed at which the body is being pulled. The body speed, in turn, may be a function of the rotational speed of the spool and the outer diameter of the coil of body in the area where the wrapped portion contacts the coiled body.

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a recloseable or resealable enclosure 100. The enclosure 100 may be a flexible enclosure that includes one or more films or panels 102 formed in the shape of an open-ended bag. A zipper assembly 104 may be coupled with the films 102 at or near an opening 106 of the enclosure 100. The zipper assembly 104 may attach to itself to allow a consumer to repeatedly open and close the enclosure 100. The films 102 and/or zipper assembly 104 may be formed from one or more polymers, and may include non-common material as described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates one example of a long, continuous zipper assembly 204 from which the zipper assembly 104 shown in FIG. 1 may be cut. FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of one example of a zipper assembly 304 according to one example of the inventive subject matter described herein. Alternatively, the zipper assembly 304 may represent another elongated body, such as a hose, conduit, cable, or the like. The zipper assemblies 204, 304 may be significantly longer than the zipper assembly 104, such as several hundred meters long versus several centimeters long.

The zipper assembly 304 may include elongated flanges 308 having panel sides 310 and opposite interlocking sides 312. The panel sides 310 can be coupled with inside surfaces of the panels 102 of the resealable enclosure 100. For example, the panel sides 310 of the zipper assembly 304 may be coupled (e.g., heat sealed) to inside surfaces of the panels 102 of the resealable enclosure 100 so that the zipper assembly 204 can be repeatedly opened and closed to provide access into and enclose the interior of the enclosure 100.

The zipper assembly 304 includes interlocking elements 314, 316 protruding from the interlocking sides 312 of the flange 308. The interlocking elements 314, 316 can be shaped to mate with each other to close the enclosure 100 and to be pulled apart to open the enclosure 100. For example, the interlocking element 314 can include an elongated body with a bulbous head that is received into a cradle shaped body of the interlocking element 316. Optionally, the interlocking element 314 and/or 316 may have a different shape, the interlocking elements 314, 316 may have the same shape as each other, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the zipper assembly 204 may be wrapped around a spool 218 for storage, transport, or the like. As described above, an upper segment or layer 220 of the zipper assembly 204 may laterally slide along or parallel to an axis of rotation 222 of the spool 218. This can cause the upper segment or layer 220 of the zipper assembly 204 to slide under another, lower segment or layer 224 of the same zipper assembly 204. As a result, the segment or layer 220 of the zipper assembly 204 may catch on the segment or layer 224 of the zipper assembly 204 and prevent or impede unrolling of the zipper assembly from the spool 218.

To prevent this slipping or sliding of the zipper assembly 204, the zipper assembly 304 may include one or more alignment bodies 326 coupled with the panel side(s) 310 of the flange 308. The alignment bodies 326 may be disposed on an exterior surface of the panel sides 310 of the flange 308 or may be disposed in one or more recesses extending into the panel sides 310 of the flange 308. In one example, each or at least one of the alignment bodies 326 may continuously extend along the length of the zipper assembly 304. Alternatively, each or at least one of the alignment bodies 326 may be discontinuous along the length of the zipper assembly 304 between opposite ends of the zipper assembly 304. For example, an alignment body 326 shown in FIG. 3 may be formed as sections or bodies of the material(s) forming the alignment body 326 that are spaced apart by gaps along the length of the zipper assembly 304.

As described above, the zipper assembly 204 can overlap itself on the spool 218, but may laterally slide beneath itself and prevent or impede unrolling of the zipper assembly 204 off the spool 218. With the zipper assembly 304 having the alignment body 326, however, the alignment body 326 in different sections of the zipper assembly 204 may engage the alignment body 326 and/or the panel side 310 of other sections of the zipper assembly 204. The alignment body 326 can be formed from one or more materials that are tackier or stickier than the material(s) forming the zipper assembly 304, such as the material(s) forming the flange 308 or the panel side 310 of the flange 308. For example, the flange 308 and panel side 310 of the flange 308 may be formed from a polyethylene resin or blend or the like, and the alignment body 326 can be formed from a polyethylene material or blend, that can include very low density polyethylene, lineal low density polyethylene (butene, hexane, octene types, from a polyethylene copolymer like EVA, EVOH, and other elastomers and plastomers with ethylene content, pressure sensitive adhesives, another elastomer, plastomer, ethyl vinyl acetate copolymers, pressure sensitive adhesives, another polymer, oil, and/or plasticizer that may include benzoates, lactates, phthalates, sebacates, mineral oils, citrates, or the like. Optionally, the alignment body 326 may be formed from or may include an adhesive material. This adhesive material may only help keep the zipper assembly 304 from sliding relative to itself on the spool 218 or may also be used in adhering the flange 308 of the zipper assembly 304 to the panels 102 of the enclosures 100. For example, the alignment body 326 may be or include an adhesive that, upon application of heat and pressure, chemically bonds or binds the flange 308 to the panels 102 of the enclosure 100. As another example, the alignment body 326 may be or include an adhesive that, upon application of pressure but not heat, chemically bonds or binds the flange 308 to the panels 102 of the enclosure 100.

The alignment body 326 may be tackier, or stickier, to the flange 308 than the flange 308 is to itself. For example, upon application of an identical lateral force onto the zipper assembly 204 on the spool 218 but without the alignment body 326 and onto the zipper assembly 304 on the spool 218 but with the alignment body 326, the zipper assembly 204 may laterally move or move more than the zipper assembly 304.

The alignment body 326 in one section of the zipper assembly 304 may temporarily stick to the flange 308 of another section of the zipper assembly 304. The force needed to move (e.g., laterally slide) these sections of the zipper assembly 304 relative to each other may be larger than the force needed to cause overlapping sections of the zipper assembly 204 to slide relative to each other, but may be less than the force required to separate the interlocking bodies 314, 316 from each other.

The alignment body 326 can help the overlapping sections of the zipper assembly 204 to stick to each other, thereby preventing lateral or axial sliding of the overlapping sections of the zipper assembly 204 along or parallel to the axis of rotation 222 of the spool 218. As a result, the zipper assembly 204 may be prevented from sliding to either axial end of the spool 218 and may be prevented from sliding beneath other sections of the zipper assembly 204. This can reduce or eliminate wasted spools 218 of zipper assembly 204 that otherwise may be thrown out due to nonuse, as described above.

In one embodiment, the alignment bodies 326 are disposed in locations over the interlocking bodies 314, 316. Stated differently, the alignment bodies 326 may be in positions where the interlocking bodies 314, 316 are located directly between the alignment bodies 326 (e.g., the interlocking bodies 314, 316 are intersected by a line extending along a shortest path from one alignment body 326 to the other alignment body 326). For example, the alignment body 326 and the interlocking body 314 may be directly opposite each other on opposite sides 310, 312 of the flange 308, and another alignment body 326 and the interlocking body 316 may be directly opposite each other on opposite sides 310, 312 of the other flange 308, as shown in FIG. 3. Placing the alignment body 326 directly behind or over the interlocking bodies or elements 314, 316 may help force the alignment bodies 326 into more direct or forceful contact as the elongated body crosses over an underlying layer of the elongated body. Placing the alignment bodies 326 so that the bodies 326 are not behind the interlocking bodies or elements 314, 316 (e.g., off center on the flanges in FIG. 3) may result in the overlapping alignment bodies 326 not being forced into contact as well as if the bodies 326 were directly behind the interlocking bodies or elements 314, 316.

FIG. 4 illustrates one example of contact between the alignment body 326 on overlapping sections 400, 402 of the zipper assembly 304. Only shorter sections 400, 402 of the zipper assembly 304 are shown in FIG. 4, but each of these sections 400, 402 may be significantly longer and connected with each other. For example, the zipper assembly 304 may be a long, continuous body extending from a first end 404 to an opposite second end 406, with the sections 400, 402 representing overlapping segments or parts of the zipper assembly 304 on the spool 218. The sections 400 can represent underlying or lower layers of the zipper assembly 304 as the zipper assembly 304 is wound onto the spool 218. The sections 402 can represent overlaying or upper layers of the zipper assembly 304 as the zipper assembly 304 is wound onto the spool 218.

The portions of the alignment body 326 on an upper or outwardly facing (e.g., facing away from the axis of rotation 222 of the spool 218) panel side 310 of the flange 308 on an underlying layer 400 of the zipper assembly 304 and/or the portions of the alignment body 326 on a lower or inwardly facing (e.g., facing toward the axis of rotation 222 of the spool 218) panel side 310 of the flange 308 on an overlying layer 402 of the zipper assembly 304 may contact each other and/or other parts of the panel sides 310 of the flange 308. The locations where this contact occurs may be referred to as alignment body contact points or areas 408. The force to separate the layers 400, 402 of the zipper assembly 304 at one contact point or area 408 may not be significant (and may be too small to prevent lateral movement of the upper or overlying layer 402 relative to the lower or underlying layer 400). But the several or many contact points or areas 408 created by the many wraps of the zipper assembly 304 around the spool 218 can significantly increase this force whereby lateral movement of the upper or overlying layer 402 relative to the lower or underlying layer 400 is prevented.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of one example of a method 500 for manufacturing a zipper assembly for a resealable enclosure. The method 500 may be used to manufacture the zipper assembly 104 for the enclosure 100, where the zipper assembly 104 is formed as a shorter or shortened segment of the longer zipper assembly 304 having the alignment body 326. At 502, an elongated body may be formed. The body may be or include a flange having opposite sides and an opposite interlocking side. Optionally, the body may be a hose, other conduit, cable, or the like. At 504, interlocking elements optionally can be formed to protrude from the interlocking side of the flange. The interlocking elements may be formed in shapes to mate with each other to close the enclosure and shaped to be pulled apart to open the enclosure. The flange and the interlocking elements can be formed via extrusion as one example. As another example, no interlocking elements may be formed. For example, in a method 500 applied to hoses, conduits, cables, etc., no interlocking elements may be formed and/or the hose, conduit, cable, etc. may be obtained in the method 500 instead of formed. At 506, an alignment body is formed on the elongated body. In one example, the alignment body can be formed in locations to stick with the panel sides or the alignment body of other locations of the flange while the flange is wound onto a spool. The alignment body can be formed via extrusion, such as in a co-extrusion process where the flange and interlocking elements, as well as the alignment body, are extruded at the same time. Alternatively, the flange and interlocking elements may be extruded with the alignment body separately extruded and added to the panel side of the flange. As another example, the alignment body can be added to the hose, conduit, cable, etc., such as by adhering the alignment body to the hose, conduit, cable, etc.

As described above, not all embodiments of the inventive subject matter described herein are limited to zipper assemblies of enclosures that are wrapped onto spools. Optionally, the alignment body can be added to another elongated body that is wrapped onto itself, such as a hose, other conduit, cable, or the like. The combination of the elongated body and the alignment body can be referred to as an anti-slip assembly. The elongated body can be referred to as an elongated assembly having opposite first and second sides, and that can be wound onto a core of a spool for storage and/or transportation.

In one example, a zipper assembly for a resealable enclosure is provided. The zipper assembly may include an elongated flange having a panel side and an opposite interlocking side. The panel side may be coupled with a panel of the resealable enclosure. The zipper assembly also may include interlocking elements protruding from the interlocking side of the flange. The interlocking elements may be shaped to mate with each other to close the enclosure and shaped to be pulled apart to open the enclosure. The zipper assembly also may include an alignment body coupled with the panel side of the flange. The alignment body of first segments of the flange may stick with one or more of the panel sides of second segments of the flange or the alignment body on the second segments of the flange while the flange is wound onto a spool. The alignment body may be disposed on one flange or both flanges of the zipper assembly.

The alignment body may stick with the flange to prevent the flange from laterally moving relative to itself while on the spool. The alignment body may be formed from a polymer material. The alignment body may be formed from a first material that differs from a second material from which the flange is formed. The alignment body may have greater tackiness when engaging the flange than the flange has when engaging itself.

The alignment body may stick to the flange and require a lesser force to separate the first segments of the flange from the second segments of the flange than separating the interlocking elements from each other. The alignment body and the interlocking elements may be disposed opposite each other on opposite sides of the flange.

In another example, a method for manufacturing a zipper assembly for a resealable enclosure is provided. The method may include forming an elongated flange having a panel side and an opposite interlocking side. The panel side can be formed to be coupled with a panel of the resealable enclosure. The method also may include forming interlocking elements protruding from the interlocking side of the flange. The interlocking elements may be formed in shapes to mate with each other to close the enclosure and shaped to be pulled apart to open the enclosure. The method also may include forming an alignment body on the panel side of the flange. The alignment body of first segments of the flange may be formed in locations to stick with one or more of the panel sides or the alignment body on second segments of the flange while the flange is wound onto a spool.

The alignment body can be formed to stick with the flange to prevent the flange from laterally moving relative to itself while on the spool. The alignment body may be formed from a polymer material. The alignment body can be formed from a first material that differs from a second material that the flange is formed. The alignment body may be formed to have greater tackiness when engaging the flange than the flange has when engaging itself.

The alignment body may be formed to stick to the flange and require a lesser force to separate the first segments of the flange from the second segments of the flange than separating the interlocking elements from each other. The flange may be formed as a first elongated body that extends from a first end to an opposite, second end, and the alignment body can be formed as a second elongated body that extends along the flange in a direction that extends from the first end of the flange toward the second end of the flange.

In another example, an anti-slip assembly is provided and may include an elongated assembly having a first side and an opposite second side. The elongated assembly may be wound onto a core of a spool for one or more of storage or transportation. The assembly also may include an alignment body that can be coupled with the first side of the elongated assembly. The alignment body may be formed of a material configured to stick with the second side of second segments of the elongated assembly while the elongated assembly is wound onto the core of the spool.

The elongated assembly may be a zipper assembly that can be coupled with a resealable enclosure. The alignment body may stick with the second side of the elongated assembly to prevent the second side from laterally moving relative to itself while on the core of the spool. The alignment body may be formed from a polymer material. The alignment body can be formed from a first material that differs from a second material that the second side of the elongated assembly is formed. The alignment body may have greater tackiness when engaging the second side of the elongated assembly than the second side has when engaging itself. The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. “Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description may include instances where the event occurs and instances where it does not. Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it may be related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “about,” “substantially,” and “approximately,” may not be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and/or interchanged, such ranges may be identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise.

This written description uses examples to disclose the embodiments, including the best mode, and to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to practice the embodiments, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The claims define the patentable scope of the disclosure, and include other examples that occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

Claims

1. A zipper assembly for a resealable enclosure, the zipper assembly comprising: an elongated flange having a panel side and an opposite interlocking side, the panel side configured to be coupled with a panel of the resealable enclosure;interlocking elements protruding from the interlocking side of the flange, the interlocking elements shaped to mate with each other to close the enclosure and shaped to be pulled apart to open the enclosure; andan alignment body coupled with the panel side of the flange, the alignment body of first segments of the flange configured to stick with one or more of the panel sides of second segments of the flange or the alignment body on the second segments of the flange while the flange is wound onto a spool.

2. The zipper assembly of claim 1, wherein the alignment body is configured to stick with the flange to prevent the flange from laterally moving relative to itself while on the spool.

3. The zipper assembly of claim 1, wherein the alignment body is formed from a polymer material.

4. The zipper assembly of claim 1, wherein the alignment body is formed from a first material that differs from a second material from which the flange is formed.

5. The zipper assembly of claim 1, wherein the alignment body has greater tackiness when engaging the flange than the flange has when engaging itself.

6. The zipper assembly of claim 1, wherein the alignment body is configured to stick to the flange and require a lesser force to separate the first segments of the flange from the second segments of the flange than separating the interlocking elements from each other.

7. The zipper assembly of claim 1, wherein the alignment body and the interlocking elements are disposed opposite each other on opposite sides of the flange.

8. A method for manufacturing a zipper assembly for a resealable enclosure, the method comprising: forming an elongated flange having a panel side and an opposite interlocking side, the panel side formed to be coupled with a panel of the resealable enclosure;forming interlocking elements protruding from the interlocking side of the flange, the interlocking elements formed in shapes to mate with each other to close the enclosure and shaped to be pulled apart to open the enclosure; andforming an alignment body on the panel side of the flange, the alignment body of first segments of the flange formed in locations to stick with one or more of the panel sides or the alignment body on second segments of the flange while the flange is wound onto a spool.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the alignment body is formed to stick with the flange to prevent the flange from laterally moving relative to itself while on the spool.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the alignment body is formed from a polymer material.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the alignment body is formed from a first material that differs from a second material that the flange is formed.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the alignment body is formed to have greater tackiness when engaging the flange than the flange has when engaging itself.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the alignment body is formed to stick to the flange and require a lesser force to separate the first segments of the flange from the second segments of the flange than separating the interlocking elements from each other.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the flange is formed as a first elongated body that extends from a first end to an opposite, second end, and the alignment body is formed as a second elongated body that extends along the flange in a direction that extends from the first end of the flange toward the second end of the flange.

15. An anti-slip assembly comprising: an elongated assembly having a first side and an opposite second side, the elongated assembly configured to be wound onto a core of a spool for one or more of storage or transportation; andan alignment body coupled with the first side of the elongated assembly, the alignment body formed of a material configured to stick with the second side of second segments of the elongated assembly while the elongated assembly is wound onto the core of the spool.

16. The anti-slip assembly of claim 15, wherein the elongated assembly is a zipper assembly configured to be coupled with a resealable enclosure.

17. The anti-slip assembly of claim 15, wherein the alignment body is configured to stick with the second side of the elongated assembly to prevent the second side from laterally moving relative to itself while on the core of the spool.

18. The anti-slip assembly of claim 15, wherein the alignment body is formed from a polymer material.

19. The anti-slip assembly of claim 15, wherein the alignment body is formed from a first material that differs from a second material that the second side of the elongated assembly is formed.

20. The anti-slip assembly of claim 15, wherein the alignment body has greater tackiness when engaging the second side of the elongated assembly than the second side has when engaging itself.