U.S. patent application number 11/143311 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-21 for reclosable packages with two-dimensional zipper attachement.
Invention is credited to Clifton Ronald Howell, Joel L. Johnson, Kevin Owen.
Application Number | 20060285777 11/143311 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37573400 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060285777 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Howell; Clifton Ronald ; et
al. |
December 21, 2006 |
Reclosable packages with two-dimensional zipper attachement
Abstract
A reclosable package having a two-dimensional zipper attachment
on the exterior of one wall. The zipper comprises a pair of zipper
strips that have straight central sections and end sections that
curve or bend, diverging from the straight central section.
Directly below the interface of the zipper profiles, the wall has a
line of weakened tear resistance that can be torn open after the
zipper has been opened. A flap portion of the wall, with one of the
zipper strips attached to its periphery, can then be folded back to
provide a wide opening for accessing the package contents.
Inventors: |
Howell; Clifton Ronald;
(Buford, GA) ; Owen; Kevin; (Flowery Branch,
GA) ; Johnson; Joel L.; (Stockbridge, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dennis M. Flaherty, Esq.;Ostrager Chong Flaherty & Broitman P.C.
Suite 825
250 Park Avenue
New York
NY
10177-0899
US
|
Family ID: |
37573400 |
Appl. No.: |
11/143311 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/63 ; 383/120;
383/203; 383/61.2; 383/64; 383/66 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/2591
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/063 ;
383/064; 383/203; 383/061.2; 383/066; 383/120 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/16 20060101
B65D033/16; B65D 30/20 20060101 B65D030/20; B65D 33/00 20060101
B65D033/00 |
Claims
1. A reclosable package comprising: a receptacle having an interior
space and comprising a first wall; and a flexible zipper joined to
said first wall and disposed on the exterior of said receptacle,
said zipper comprising first and second zipper strips, said first
zipper strip comprising a first closure profile and a first flange
having one portion connected to said first closure profile and
another portion joined to said first wall in a first zone of
joinder, and said second zipper strip comprising a second closure
profile and a second flange having one portion connected to said
second closure profile and another portion joined to said first
wall in a second zone of joinder, said first and second closure
profiles being interlockable with each other, wherein if the
portion of said first wall to which said zipper is joined were
disposed in a generally planar state, a respective lengthwise
portion of each of said first and second zipper strips would be
curved.
2. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein said first wall
comprises a line of weakened tear resistance disposed between said
first and second zones of joinder.
3. The package as recited in claim 2, wherein if said portion of
said first wall to which said zipper is joined were disposed in a
generally planar state, a first segment of said line of weakened
tear resistance would be straight, and second and third segments of
said line of weakened tear resistance would diverge from said first
segment at opposite ends thereof
4. The package as recited in claim 2, wherein said first wall
comprises a flap portion after said zipper has been opened and said
line of weakened tear resistance has been torn, said second zipper
strip being attached to said flap portion.
5. The package as recited in claim 1, further comprising a slider
mounted to said zipper.
6. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein said receptacle
further comprises a second wall joined to said first wall in third
and fourth zones of joinder respectively disposed at a top and a
bottom of said receptacle.
7. The package as recited in claim 6, wherein said receptacle
further comprises first and second side gussets, said first gusset
comprising a first gusset panel connected to said first wall and a
second gusset panel connected to said second wall and to said first
gusset panel, and said second gusset comprising a third gusset
panel connected to said first wall and a fourth gusset panel
connected to said second wall and to said third gusset panel.
8. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein if said portion of
said first wall to which said zipper is joined were disposed in a
generally planar state, a first lengthwise section of said second
closure profile would be straight, and second and third lengthwise
sections of said second closure profile would be curved, said
second and third lengthwise sections being respectively connected
to opposite ends of said first lengthwise section.
9. The package as recited in claim 8, wherein said second flange is
notched in said first and second curved lengthwise sections.
10. The package as recited in claim 1, further comprising a header
that covers and blocks access to said zipper.
11. An article comprising a web of bag making film and a zipper
assembly joined thereto, said zipper assembly comprising first and
second zipper strips, said first zipper strip comprising a first
closure profile and a first flange having one portion connected to
said first closure profile and another portion joined to said web
in a first zone of joinder, and said second zipper strip comprising
a second closure profile and a second flange having one portion
connected to said second closure profile and another portion joined
to said web in a second zone of joinder, said first and second
closure profiles being interlockable with each other, wherein if
the portion of said web to which said zipper assembly is joined
were disposed in a generally planar state, each of said first and
second zipper strips would be curved along at least respective
lengthwise portions thereof.
12. The article as recited in claim 11, wherein said web comprises
a line of weakened tear resistance disposed between said first and
second zones of joinder.
13. The article as recited in claim 12, wherein if said portion of
said web to which said zipper assembly is joined were disposed in a
generally planar state, a first segment of said line of weakened
tear resistance would be straight, and second and third segments of
said line of weakened tear resistance would diverge from said first
segment at opposite ends thereof
14. The article as recited in claim 11, wherein if said portion of
said web to which said zipper assembly is joined were disposed in a
generally planar state, a first lengthwise section of said second
closure profile would be straight, and second and third lengthwise
sections of said second closure profile would be curved, said
second and third lengthwise sections being respectively connected
to opposite ends of said first lengthwise section.
15. The article as recited in claim 11, wherein said second flange
is notched in said first and second curved lengthwise sections.
16. A reclosable package comprising: a receptacle having an
interior space and comprising front and rear walls; a flexible
zipper joined to said front wall and disposed on the exterior of
said receptacle, said zipper comprising first and second zipper
strips, said first zipper strip comprising a first closure profile
and a first flange having one portion connected to said first
closure profile and another portion joined to said front wall in a
first zone of joinder, and said second zipper strip comprising a
second closure profile and a second flange having one portion
connected to said second closure profile and another portion joined
to said front wall in a second zone of joinder, said first and
second closure profiles being interlockable with each other; and a
slider mounted to said zipper, wherein if the portion of said front
wall to which said zipper is joined were disposed in a generally
planar state, each of said first and second zipper strips would be
curved along at least respective lengthwise portions thereof and
said slider would follow a curved path when traversing said curved
lengthwise portions.
17. The package as recited in claim 16, further comprising first
and second slider end stops disposed at opposing ends of said
zipper.
18. The package as recited in claim 17, wherein said first and
second slider end stops comprise respective zones where said first
and second closure profiles are fused to each other.
19. The package as recited in claim 16, wherein said front wall
comprises a line of weakened tear resistance disposed between said
first and second zones of joinder.
20. The package as recited in claim 16, wherein if said portion of
said front wall to which said zipper is joined were disposed in a
generally planar state, a first lengthwise section of said second
closure profile would be straight, and second and third lengthwise
sections of said second closure profile would be curved, said
second and third lengthwise sections being respectively connected
to opposite ends of said first lengthwise section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to zippers comprising a
pair of interlockable strips (e.g., made by extruding plastic
material and joined at the ends) for use in reclosable pouches,
bags or other packages of the type in which material, such as
foodstuff, detergent, etc., may be stored.
[0002] Reclosable bags are finding ever-growing acceptance as
primary packaging, particularly as packaging for foodstuffs such as
cereal, fresh vegetables, snacks and the like. Such bags provide
the consumer with the ability to readily store, in a closed, if not
sealed, package any unused portion of the packaged product even
after the package is initially opened.
[0003] Reclosable bags typically comprise a zipper assembly
installed in the mouth of the bag. Such zipper assemblies typically
comprise a pair of interlockable zipper elements that form a
closure. The zipper elements can take on various configurations,
e.g. interlocking rib and groove elements having so-called male and
female profiles, interlocking closure members having hook-shaped or
ball-shaped closure profiles, etc. A consumer can gain access to
the contents of the bag by opening the zipper and, if
tamper-evident means, such as an external header or an internal
membrane or peel seal are also present, breaching the
tamper-evident means.
[0004] In one type of zipper assembly, the zipper comprises a pair
of extruded zipper strips having closure profiles for interlockable
engagement, pull flanges for disengaging the closure profiles from
each other and extension flanges for attaching the walls of the bag
or other package to the zipper. In this type, the zipper strips are
pressed together to close the zipper.
[0005] Due to difficulty in manually aligning the interlockable
closure profiles of flexible zipper strips, it is known to provide
a slider or clip that cams or pushes incoming (from the reference
point of the slider) sections of the closure profiles into
interlocking relationship as the slider or clip slides along the
zipper in either direction.
[0006] It is now also well known to provide zipper assemblies that
are both opened and closed by a slider mounted to the zipper. When
the slider moves in one direction along the zipper, the incoming
section of the zipper is closed; when the slider moves in the
opposite direction, the outgoing section of the zipper is opened.
In one type of slider-operated zipper assembly, the slider
straddles the zipper and has a separating finger at one end that is
inserted between the closure profiles to force them apart as the
slider is moved along the zipper in an opening direction. The other
end of the slider is sufficiently narrow to force the profiles into
engagement and close the zipper when the slider is moved along the
zipper in a closing direction.
[0007] Other types of slider-operated zipper assemblies avoid the
use of a separating finger. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,450
discloses a zipper comprising a pair of mutually interlockable
profiled structures, portions of which form a fulcrum about which
the closure profiles may be pivoted out of engagement when lower
edges of the bases (on the other side of the fulcrum point) are
forced towards each other by the sidewalls of the moving
slider.
[0008] Many existing form-fill-seal (FFS) machines operate on bag
making film and do not incorporate equipment for attaching zipper
assemblies to the bag making film. However, zipper application
machines are available that can be coupled to the FFS machine to
provide the zipper application function. In addition, a slider
insertion device may be incorporated as part of the zipper
application station. However, operators of FFS machines who do not
wish to purchase a zipper applicator and a slider inserter require
that bag making film with slider-zipper assemblies be available for
purchase. This film can then be run through the FFS machine.
Although the packager may need to modify his FFS machine to handle
bag making film with slider-zipper assemblies attached, including
providing clearance for the sliders to pass through the machine,
the FFS machine need not be modified to provide equipment that
seals the zipper to bag making film.
[0009] Reclosable bags are known in which both zipper strips of the
zipper assembly are attached to the exterior of the front panel.
Such bags can be made on an FFS machine by feeding bag making film
with preattached zipper assemblies. The FFS machine need not
perform any zipper application step.
[0010] One such bag is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 10/263,420 entitled "Resealable Packages with Front Panel
Slider-Zipper Assembly". In one embodiment disclosed therein, the
zipper is attached to the front wall of the bag receptacle by means
of conduction heat sealing. The zipper comprises a short flange
heat sealed to the front wall at a first zone of joinder located at
a first height, and a long flange heat sealed to the front wall at
a second zone of joinder located at a second height lower than the
first height, thereby securing the zipper to the bag receptacle
along the length of the zipper. To facilitate opening of the
package by the consumer, a closed line (e.g., oval shaped) of
weakened tear resistance is formed in the section of the front wall
that spans the zones of joinder. To stabilize the zipper and
provide slider end stops, the zipper ends can be sealed to the
front wall.
[0011] There is a continuing need for improved reclosable package
designs whereby bag making film with preattached zipper assemblies
(with or without sliders) can be formed, filled and sealed without
the FFS machine needing to perform any zipper application step.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention is directed to a reclosable package
having a two-dimensional zipper attachment on the exterior of one
wall. The zipper comprises a pair of zipper strips that have
straight central sections and end sections that curve or bend,
diverging from the straight central section. Directly below the
interface of the zipper profiles, the wall has a line of weakened
tear resistance that can be torn open after the zipper has been
opened. A flap portion of the wall, with one of the zipper strips
attached to its periphery, can then be folded back to provide a
wide opening for accessing the package contents. The invention is
also directed to a web of packaging material having such a
two-dimensional zipper attachment.
[0013] One aspect of the invention is a reclosable package
comprising: a receptacle having an interior space and comprising a
wall; and a flexible zipper joined to the wall and disposed on the
exterior of the receptacle, the zipper comprising first and second
zipper strips, the first zipper strip comprising a first closure
profile and a first flange having one portion connected to the
first closure profile and another portion joined to the wall in a
first zone of joinder, and the second zipper strip comprising a
second closure profile and a second flange having one portion
connected to the second closure profile and another portion joined
to the wall in a second zone of joinder, the first and second
closure profiles being interlockable with each other, wherein if
the portion of the wall to which the zipper is joined were disposed
in a generally planar state, a respective lengthwise portion of
each of the first and second zipper strips would be curved.
[0014] Another aspect of the invention is an article comprising a
web of bag making film and a zipper assembly joined thereto, the
zipper assembly comprising first and second zipper strips, the
first zipper strip comprising a first closure profile and a first
flange having one portion connected to the first closure profile
and another portion joined to the web in a first zone of joinder,
and the second zipper strip comprising a second closure profile and
a second flange having one portion connected to the second closure
profile and another portion joined to the web in a second zone of
joinder, the first and second closure profiles being interlockable
with each other, wherein if the portion of the web to which the
zipper assembly is joined were disposed in a generally planar
state, each of the first and second zipper strips would be curved
along at least respective lengthwise portions thereof.
[0015] A further aspect of the invention is a reclosable package
comprising: a receptacle having an interior space and comprising
front and rear walls; a flexible zipper joined to the front wall
and disposed on the exterior of the receptacle, the zipper
comprising first and second zipper strips, the first zipper strip
comprising a first closure profile and a first flange having one
portion connected to the first closure profile and another portion
joined to the front wall in a first zone of joinder, and the second
zipper strip comprising a second closure profile and a second
flange having one portion connected to the second closure profile
and another portion joined to the front wall in a second zone of
joinder, the first and second closure profiles being interlockable
with each other; and a slider mounted to the zipper, wherein if the
portion of the front wall to which the zipper is joined were
disposed in a generally planar state, each of the first and second
zipper strips would be curved along at least respective lengthwise
portions thereof and the slider would follow a curved path when
traversing the curved lengthwise portions.
[0016] Other aspects of the invention are disclosed and claimed
below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIGS. 1 and 2 are drawings showing isometric view of a
reclosable bag having a two-dimensional zipper attachment with a
slider in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1
shows the zipper closed; FIG. 2 shows the zipper open.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a fragmentary sectional view of
a slider-zipper assembly attached to a wall of a reclosable bag in
accordance the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic showing a front view of a reclosable
bag having a two-dimensional zipper attachment in accordance with
another embodiment of the invention.
[0020] Reference will now be made to the drawings in which similar
elements in different drawings bear the same reference
numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] A reclosable package having a two-dimensional zipper
attachment in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is
depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. The package comprises a receptacle 2
having an interior volume for containing product and a
slider-zipper assembly 4 attached to the exterior of the
receptacle. In this embodiment, the receptacle 2 comprises a front
wall 10 and a rear wall 12 having upper marginal portions joined at
a top seam 14 and lower marginal portions joined at a bottom seam
16 by any conventional means, e.g., conduction heat sealing. The
front and rear walls are connected by respective gusseted side
walls, only one of which is partially visible in FIG. 1 (indicated
by numeral 18). The structure of each gusseted side wall is
entirely conventional, each gusset comprising a respective pair of
gusset panels connected to each other at a central fold, the other
side of one gusset panel being connected to the front wall at
another fold and the other side of the other gusset panel being
connected at a fold to the rear wall. Although not visible in FIGS.
1 and 2, the receptacle further comprises a vertical lap or fin
seal that extends down the middle of the rear wall.
[0022] The walls and gussets of the receptacle comprise
thermoplastic web material or film. The receptacle may be formed of
various types of thermoplastic material, such as low-density
polyethylene, substantially linear copolymers of ethylene and a
C3-C8 alpha-olefin, polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride,
mixtures of two or more of these polymers, or mixtures of one of
these polymers with another thermoplastic polymer. The person
skilled in the art will recognize that this list of suitable
materials is not exhaustive. The preferred thermoplastic materials
are polyethylene and polypropylene.
[0023] The zipper of the slider-zipper assembly 4 is also made of
thermoplastic material. Therefore the preferred method of attaching
the slider-zipper assembly 4 to a wall of the receptacle is by
conventional conduction heat sealing, whereby the surface of the
zipper and/or the wall is softened or melted by application of heat
and pressure, the softened or melted material thereafter fusing the
zipper and wall together when it solidifies upon cooling. However,
it should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention is
not limited to applying thermoplastic zippers to thermoplastic web
material by heat sealing. If the bag material is a laminate
comprising, for example, a metallized thermoplastic film or paper
coated with a layer of thermoplastic material, with the layer of
metal or paper being disposed on the exterior of the receptacle,
then the zipper could be attached (i.e., joined) to that layer by
any suitable means, such as an adhesive layer, an adhesive bonding
strip and so forth.
[0024] Receptacles of the type comprising heat sealable materials
can be readily manufactured on a vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS)
machine by wrapping a web of packaging film around a fill tube so
that the lateral marginal portions of the web are overlapping;
joining those overlapping lateral marginal portions to each other
to form the aforementioned lap or fin seal; folding diametrally
opposed portions of the web inward to form respective side gussets;
cross sealing (i.e., in the transverse direction) the gusseted tube
to form a bottom of a pocket; filling the pocket with product;
cross sealing the gusseted tube along a transverse line at an
elevation above the product fill line to close the top of the
pocket; and then severing the completed package from the work in
process by cutting the gusseted tube at or above the top seal.
[0025] The slider-zipper assembly 4 is applied to the web of
packaging material before it enters the VFFS machine. As previously
discussed, it is advantageous to attach a multiplicity of
slider-zipper assemblies to the web at spaced intervals therealong
off site, wind the web with attached slider-zipper assemblies on a
supply reel, transport the supply reel to the site of the VFFS
machine, and then feed a portion of the web with attached
slider-zipper assemblies that is paid out from the supply reel.
Alternatively, slider-zipper assemblies can be attached in line by
a zipper application station disposed upstream of the VFFS machine.
In either case, the converter need not modify the VFFS machine to
perform any zipper application operation.
[0026] The structure of one type of slider-zipper assembly that can
be incorporated in the reclosable package depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2
will now be explained with reference to FIG. 3, which is a
cross-sectional view taken along a plane that intersects the zipper
but not the slider. The zipper comprises a pair of zipper strips 6
and 8 (e.g., of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,450). The
zipper strip 6 comprises a closure profile 22 and an extension
flange 24 having one portion connected to closure profile 22 and
another portion joined to one portion of wall 10 in a first zone
that extends the full length of the zipper strip 6. The zipper
strip 8 comprises a closure profile 26 and an extension flange 28
having one portion connected to closure profile 26 and another
portion joined to another portion of wall 10 in a second zone that
extends the full length of the zipper strip 8. As shown in FIG. 3,
the closure profiles 22 and 26 are mutually interlockable for
closing the zipper, and the bottom portions of the extension
flanges 24 and 28 are bent outward at substantially right angles so
that those bottom portions lie flat against the receptacle wall 10.
As explained in more detail below, the zones of zipper-to-wall
joinder comprise respective straight sections that run generally
parallel to each other and respective curved sections that run
generally parallel to (or equidistant from) each other.
[0027] The embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 further includes a slider
20 mounted on the zipper to facilitate its opening and closing. To
this end, moving the slider 20 toward one end causes opposing
sections of the closure profiles 22 and 26 to disengage and moving
the slider 20 toward the opposite end brings opposing sections of
the closure profiles into engagement. Slider 20 is shaped to
straddle the closure profiles. In a straddling slider, the ends of
the slider are open to allow the zipper to pass through.
Alternatively, a slider having a separating finger or plow may be
employed. The slider 20 may be made in multiple parts and welded
together or the parts may be constructed to be snapped together.
The slider may also be of one-piece construction. The slider can be
made using any desired method, such as injection molding. The
slider can be molded from any suitable plastic, such as nylon,
polypropylene, polystyrene, acetal, polyketone, polybutylene
terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polycarbonate, or
ABS.
[0028] To facilitate opening of the receptacle after the zipper has
been opened, a line of weakened tear resistance (hereinafter "tear
line"), indicated by dashed line 30 in FIG. 3, is formed in
receptacle wall 10 in the region between the zones of zipper
flange-to-wall joinder. The tear line 30 runs parallel to the zones
of joinder, so that it also comprises straight and curved sections.
The tear line 30 is designed to rupture when the disengaged zipper
strips are pulled apart by the consumer. The tear line may be
formed by conventional means such as laser scoring or perforating.
For example, the tear line 30 may comprise a line of spaced
perforations. In cases where the receptacle needs to be
hermetically sealed, the line of perforations may be capped by a
sealing stripe (not shown in FIG. 3), as taught in U.S. Pat. No.
5,063,639. The sealing stripe may be heat sealed to the receptacle
wall 10 in a band-shaped zone that extends on both sides of the
perforated line 30. Such a sealing stripe effectively hermetically
seals the perforations, while still leaving the line of weakened
tear resistance provided by the perforations.
[0029] Returning to FIG. 1, the slider-zipper assembly 4 is shown
in a closed state. Assuming that the package shown in FIG. 1 is
empty and that the front wall 10 is disposed in a substantially
planar state, it can be seen that the zipper is not straight from
one end to the other, but rather is bent in two places (i.e.,
curved sections 38 and 40) equidistant from the opposite ends,
causing straight portions 34 and 36 to diverge from the central
straight zipper portion 32, by an angle that is in the range of 30
to 90 degrees. Bending may be facilitated by heating zipper
portions 38 and 40 prior to bending. If necessary, the zipper
flanges may be notched or cut in curved portions 38 and 40 to
prevent buckling of the flange on the inside of the curved zipper
portions and to prevent uplifting of the flange on the outside of
the curved zipper portions. The rate of change in the angle of the
curved zipper sections must be gradual enough that the slider 20
can make the turn without undue force being applied.
[0030] FIG. 2 shows the slider-zipper assembly 4 after the slider
20 has been moved from the zipper fully closed position to the
zipper fully opened position. Slider end stops (not depicted in
FIGS. 1 and 2) are provided to prevent the slider 20 from sliding
off either end of the zipper. In the zipper open state, the
majority of the closure profile of zipper strip 6 is disengaged
from the closure profile of the zipper strip 8 (except at the
slider end stops and at the parked position of the slider depicted
in FIG. 2). A two-dimensional area of the receptacle wall 10,
having a perimeter joined to the extension flange of the zipper
strip 6, forms a flap 42 that can be folded back to reveal a wide
opening 44 in the receptacle wall. The consumer can access the
contents of the package via opening 44. To reclose the package, the
flap 42 is restored to its original position covering the opening
44, thereby aligning the closure profiles of the zipper. Then the
zipper is closed by moving the slider 20 from the position shown in
FIG. 2 back to the position shown in FIG. 1.
[0031] Another embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIG. 4.
This embodiment differs from that shown in FIG. 1 in the shape of
the zipper. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the zipper has a
straight central section 32' connected at its ends to respective
curved end sections 38' and 40'. Each curved end section 38', 40'
may be an arc of predetermined radius, in which case the straight
central section is tangent to the curved end sections. The angle of
the arc is preferably at least 45 degrees, but not greater than 90
degrees. Slider end stops 46 and 48 are formed at the respective
terminations of the curved end section 38', 40'. The slider end
stops may consist of projections formed by ultrasonic stomping of
the closure profiles of the zipper strips. Alternatively, any other
known means of providing slider end stops (e.g., attachment of
U-shaped clips) can be used. Since the zipper is disposed outside
of the receptacle, the ends of the zipper strips need not be fused
together. However, if the slider is of a type having a separating
finger, then the ends of the zipper strips could be fused together
to form slider end stops.
[0032] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the
two-dimensional zipper attachment may be covered by a cover strip
50 whose periphery is sealed to the front wall 10. The upper and
lower boundaries of cover strip 50 are indicated by dashed lines in
FIG. 4. The cover strip provides a tamper-evident feature. The
cover strip 50 may be provided with an oval-shaped line of weakened
tear resistance that defines a removable tear-out section. Removal
of the tear-out section gives the consumer access to the
zipper.
[0033] While the disclosed embodiments are gusseted bags, the
concept of the invention also encompasses bags without gussets. In
addition, the receptacle may comprise a bottom wall contiguous with
the bottom edges of the front and rear walls and the bottom edges
of a pair of side walls (optionally gusseted).
[0034] Moreover, although the disclosed embodiments incorporate a
slider-zipper assembly wherein movement of the slider in one
direction opens the zipper and movement of the slider in the
opposite direction closes the zipper, the scope of the invention
encompasses use of a slider that only closes the zipper when moved
in either direction. If the slider only closes the zipper, then
other means, such as pull flanges, may be employed to open the
zipper. In accordance with further alternatives, the zipper is not
actuated by a slider. Instead the zipper has pull flanges that are
pulled apart by the consumer for opening whereas the closure
profiles can be pressed together using a thumb and a forefinger to
close the zipper.
[0035] Furthermore, the reclosable packages of the invention are
not limited to being manufactured on a VFFS machine. Methods of
manufacture could be used wherein the receptacle comprises front
and rear panels, the peripheries of which are joined together on
four sides to form top, bottom and two side seams. In this case,
the two-dimensional zipper is attached to one of the panels.
Alternatively, a two-dimensional zipper could be attached to the
front wall of a receptacle having a fold at the bottom and seams at
the top and two sides.
[0036] While the invention has been described with reference to
preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in
the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for members thereof without departing from the scope of
the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt
a particular situation to the teachings of the invention without
departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore it is
intended that the invention not be limited to the particular
embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out
this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments
falling within the scope of the appended claims.
[0037] As used in the claims, the verb "joined" means fused,
bonded, sealed, or adhered, whether by application of heat and/or
pressure, application of ultrasonic energy, application of a layer
of adhesive material or bonding agent, interposition of an adhesive
or bonding strip, etc. As used in the claims, the term "wall" is
used in a broad sense to include both a discrete piece of packaging
material and a portion of a folded piece of packaging material.
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