U.S. patent application number 10/178127 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-25 for transverse direction zipper tape.
Invention is credited to Plourde, Eric P., Schaller, Stephen P..
Application Number | 20030235352 10/178127 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29734594 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030235352 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Plourde, Eric P. ; et
al. |
December 25, 2003 |
Transverse direction zipper tape
Abstract
The reclosable container or bag (100) includes a zipper tape
(18) with interlocking profiles (14, 16) of a zipper (12). First
and second lines of perforation (28, 30) are formed parallel to and
between the interlocking profiles (14, 16). Furthermore, the zipper
tape (18) is looped so as to align the first and second lines of
perforation (28, 30) with each other thereby forming a perforated
cap structure (10). An additional layer of material (24) is formed
to cover the first and second lines of perforation (28, 30) to
maintain a hermetic seal prior to tearing of the first and second
lines of perforation (28, 30). Typically, a notch (120, 122) is
formed in at least one of the crush areas (116, 118) on the end of
the zipper tape (18) to direct the user's tearing force to the
lines of perforation (28, 30) thereby providing access to the
zipper (12) and providing subsequent evidence of prior opening of
reclosable container or bag (100).
Inventors: |
Plourde, Eric P.; (Homewood,
IL) ; Schaller, Stephen P.; (Manteno, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Gerald Levy, Esq.
PITNEY, HARDIN, KIPP & SZUCH LLP
685 Third Avenue
New York
NY
10017-4024
US
|
Family ID: |
29734594 |
Appl. No.: |
10/178127 |
Filed: |
June 24, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/204 ;
383/205; 383/61.2; 383/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/2533
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/204 ;
383/61.2; 383/205; 383/63 |
International
Class: |
B65D 033/16; B65D
065/26 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A reclosable container including: a first film panel and a
second film panel with at least some edges thereof joined together;
a zipper tape with first and second interlocking profile members,
said first and second interlocking profile members being separated
by a portion of width of said zipper tape, said portion of width of
said zipper tape being shaped into a loop thereby allowing said
first and second interlocking profile members to engage with each
other; said zipper tape including at least one line of weakness
spaced between and parallel to said first and second interlocking
profile members; said zipper tape including an additional layer
covering one side of said at least one line of weakness thereby
providing a seal to prevent passage of matter through said at least
one line of weakness prior to tearing of said at least one line of
weakness; said zipper tape being sealed to an interior of said
first and second film panels inwardly adjacent from one edge where
said first and second film panels are joined together, whereby
tearing said at least one line of weakness provides access to said
first and second interlocking profile members, and subsequently
provides evidence of access to said first and second interlocking
profile members.
2. The reclosable container of claim 1 wherein said zipper tape
includes a first end, a second end, a first lateral edge and a
second lateral edge, wherein said first interlocking profile is
inwardly adjacent from and parallel to said first lateral edge,
said second interlocking member is inwardly adjacent from and
parallel to said second lateral edge.
3. The reclosable container of claim 2 wherein said first end
includes a first crush area wherein a portion of said first side is
sealed to a portion of said second side and wherein said second end
includes a second crush area wherein a portion of said first side
is sealed to a portion of said second side.
4. The reclosable container of claim 2 wherein said first and
second crush areas extend to said first end and said second end,
respectively.
5. The reclosable container of claim 2 wherein said first and
second crush areas are spaced inwardly from said first and second
ends, respectively.
6. The reclosable container of claim 2 wherein said first end is
sealed wherein a portion of said first side is sealed to a portion
of said second side and wherein said second end is sealed wherein a
portion of said first side is sealed to a portion of said second
side.
7. The reclosable container of claim 3 wherein said first and
second crush areas include notches aligned with said at least one
line of weakness.
8. The reclosable container of claim 7 wherein said at least one
line of weakness includes two parallel lines of weakness and
wherein said portion of width of said zipper tape shaped into a
loop aligns said two parallel lines of weakness with each
other.
9. The reclosable container of claim 8 wherein said two parallel
lines of weakness are two parallel lines of perforation.
10. The reclosable container of claim 9 wherein said loop includes
an additional layer of material inwardly from said zipper tape.
11. The reclosable container of claim 10 wherein said zipper tape
includes a cylindrical stiffener located inwardly from an apex of
said loop.
12. A zipper tape for application in the transverse direction on a
web of material, the zipper tape including a web of material with
first and second parallel interlocking profile members spaced from
each other, at least one line of weakness in said web positioned
between said first and second parallel interlocking profile
members, and an additional layer covering one side of said at least
one line of weakness thereby providing a seal to prevent passage of
matter through said at least one line of weakness prior to tearing
of said at least one line of weakness.
13. The zipper tape of claim 12 further including a first end, a
second end, a first side and a second side, wherein said first
interlocking profile is inwardly adjacent from and parallel to said
first side, said second interlocking member is inwardly adjacent
from and parallel to said second side.
14. The zipper tape of claim 13 wherein said first end includes a
first crush area wherein a portion of said first side is sealed to
a portion of said second side and wherein said second end includes
a second crush area wherein a portion of said first side is sealed
to a portion of said second side.
15. The zipper tape of claim 13 wherein said first and second crush
areas extend to said first end and said second end,
respectively.
16. The zipper tape of claim 13 wherein said first and second crush
areas are spaced inwardly from said first and second ends,
respectively.
17. The zipper tape of claim 12 wherein said first end is sealed
wherein a portion of said first side is sealed to a portion of said
second side and wherein said second end is sealed wherein a portion
of said first side is sealed to a portion of said second side.
18. The zipper tape of claim 14 wherein said first and second crush
areas include notches aligned with said at least one line of
weakness.
19. The zipper tape of claim 18 wherein said at least one line of
weakness includes two parallel lines of weakness and wherein said
zipper tape is looped thereby aligning said two parallel lines of
weakness with each other.
20. The reclosable container of claim 19 wherein said two parallel
lines of weakness are two parallel lines of perforation.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a transverse direction
zipper tape for a reclosable container, such as a plastic bag. More
specifically, the present invention relates to the attachment of a
perforated cap zipper tape to a web in a transverse direction.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In the prior art, tamper-evident, hermetic reclosable
containers, such as plastic bags, are known. Typical examples of
this prior art are U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,122 entitled "Easy Open Bag
Structure" issued to Boeckmann et al. on Jun. 11, 1991 and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,100,246 entitled "Pull Bead and Guide Rails for Easy
Open Flexible Containers" issued to La Pierre et al. on Mar. 31,
1992. While this art is well-developed, improvements in various
aspects are sought.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is a method and apparatus relating to
a reclosable container, such as a plastic bag, with a segment of
perforated cap zipper tape applied to the web in a transverse
direction. This provides a hermetic, tamper-evident, easy opening
package, even for polyethylene packages that would normally require
the consumer to use scissors to open the package. The cap or base
is typically made from a material that will keep the inner flanges
from sealing together from the main seal but still allow the zipper
segment end seals to fuse together. Alternatively, the thickness of
the cap or base can be used to provide enough insulation from the
main seal.
[0006] More particularly, the perforated cap zipper tape provides a
loop between the flanges of two zipper profiles and perforations
are provided within the loop, so that the loop, which forms a
header, can be removed from the package to provide access to the
package and to provide evidence of prior opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Further objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following description and claims, and from the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the perforated cap and
related structure of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the formed bag of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the end seals
of the formed bag of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the end
seals of the formed bag of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the end seals
of the formed bag of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like
numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, one
sees that FIG. 1 is a perspective view of perforated cap structure
10 of the present invention.
[0014] Zipper 12 includes male interlocking profile 14 and female
interlocking profile 16. Zipper tape 18 is secured to both male and
female interlocking profiles 14, 16 thereby forming extended tack
flange 20 below female interlocking profile 16, extended tack
flange 21 below male interlocking profile 14, and loop 22 between
interlocking profiles 14, 16. Loop 22 of zipper tape 18 further
includes interior reinforcing layer 24 thereby forming a "cap
structure". The upper interior apex of loop 22 further typically
includes stiffener 26 therewithin. Moreover, a first line of
perforation 28 (or a similarly weakened area) is formed through
zipper tape 18 between the apex of loop 22 and male interlocking
profile 14. Similarly, a second line of perforation 30 (or a
similarly weakened area) is formed through zipper tape 18 and
between the apex of loop 22 and female interlocking portion 16. In
order to maintain a hermetic seal prior to the tearing of first and
second lines of perforation 28, 30, typically the internal
reinforcing layer 24 is not perforated. However, first and second
lines of perforation 28, 30 can extend through internal reinforcing
layer 24 if the hermetic quality of the package is not necessary.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, first and second lines of perforation 28,
30 allow the upper portion or header 32 of loop 28 to be removed.
When perforated cap structure 10 is sealed to a web to form a
reclosable container as shown in FIG. 2, this structure allows
header 32 to be removed to provide access to zipper 12 and the
contents of the reclosable container while further providing
evidence of prior opening, or tamper evidence.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a typical reclosable container or
bag 100 formed with perforated cap structure 10. Reclosable
container or bag 100 includes front and rear panels 102, 104 (shown
overlapping) of film with a bottom seal 106, side seals 108, 110.
It is envisioned that one or more of seals 106, 108, 110 could be
replaced by folds depending upon the particular method of formation
of reclosable container or bag 100. However, it is specifically
envisioned that reclosable container or bag 100 is formed by
placing zipper tape 18 in a transverse direction along a film in a
form fill and seal operation.
[0016] Main seal 112 is formed between front panel 102 and a first
side of zipper tape 18 and is likewise formed between rear panel
104 and a second side of zipper tape 18. The zipper tape 18 can be
made from a material that will keep the inner portions of the first
and second sides of zipper tape 18 from sealing together during the
formation of the main seal 112 but still allow the zipper segment
end seals proximate to side seals 108, 110 to seal together. This
may be done by providing a non-seal layer on the zipper segment but
applying sufficient additional heat and pressure, such as with a
hot knife or an ultrasonic welder, to form the zipper segment end
seals. Alternately, the thickness of zipper tape 18 or cap 24 can
be chosen to provide enough insulation from main seal 112 to
prevent the inner portions of the first and second sides of zipper
tape 18 from sealing to each other while similarly providing
sufficient additional heat and pressure to form the zipper segment
end seals.
[0017] An additional envisioned embodiment of bag 100 would include
a seal or fold along top 111 and further include lines of
perforation along front and rear panels 102, 104 downwardly
adjacent from top 111.
[0018] Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lateral ends of
zipper tape 18 have wide flat crush areas 116, 118 formed inwardly
adjacent from side seals 108, 110, respectively. In crush areas
116, 118, the interior of first and second sides of zipper tape 18
are sealed together. Notches 120, 122 are formed in the sides of
crush areas 116, 118 aligned with the ends of first and second
lines of perforation 28, 30 (first and second lines of perforation
28, 30 shown overlapping each other). Additionally, the bag film of
front and rear panels 102, 104 is removed to form a semi-circular
notch 126 inwardly adjacent from side seal 108 and downwardly
adjacent from top 111 of bag 100. This removal is typically done to
the front and rear panels 102, 104 prior to the attachment of
zipper tape 18 in order to avoid damage to the zipper tape 18. The
lower portion of semi-circular notch 126 is generally aligned with
notch 120 and first and second lines of perforation 28, 30 in order
to allow the user to grasp the portion of crush area 116 above
notch 126 (that is, header 32 of loop 28 as shown in FIG. 1) and to
easily tear along first and second lines of perforation 28, 30
above main seal 112 in order to provide access to zipper 12. Upon
opening zipper 12, the user has access to the contents of
reclosable package or bag 100. This embodiment further requires
zipper 12 to be segmented from the remaining supply of zipper by
cutting in the middle of a large crush area to form the zipper
segment and create the two separate crush areas 116, 118.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the end seals of zipper
tape 18. In this embodiment, crush areas 116, 118 are somewhat
narrower than that of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3.
Additionally, crush areas 116, 118 are inwardly inset from the ends
of zipper tape 18. This embodiment similarly requires zipper 12 to
be segmented between the crush areas 116, 118.
[0020] FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the end seals of zipper
tape 18. In this embodiment, the crush areas 116, 118 of FIGS. 2, 3
and 4 are replaced with seal ends 130, 132 which are segment sealed
at the very edges.
[0021] Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are
most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the
invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it
should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited
thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended
claims.
* * * * *