U.S. patent application number 11/405786 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-18 for high strength slider end stop.
This patent application is currently assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.. Invention is credited to Per Bentsen.
Application Number | 20070240288 11/405786 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38267967 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070240288 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bentsen; Per |
October 18, 2007 |
High strength slider end stop
Abstract
A zipper for a reclosable bag is disclosed, wherein the end
stops of the zipper are formed with a dot of hot glue or adhesive.
These end stops are designed to limit the range of travel of the
slider and prevent the slider from being removed from the zipper.
Additionally, a vertical wall facing the slider is formed to
prevent the slider from riding over the end stop.
Inventors: |
Bentsen; Per; (Suffern,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAY PITNEY LLP;ACCOUNT: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
7 TIMES SQUARE
NEW YORK
NY
10036-7311
US
|
Assignee: |
ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
|
Family ID: |
38267967 |
Appl. No.: |
11/405786 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/399 ;
24/436 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/2598 20150115;
B65D 33/2591 20130101; Y10T 24/2532 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
024/399 ;
024/436 |
International
Class: |
A44B 19/36 20060101
A44B019/36 |
Claims
1. A zipper for a reclosable bag including: a first profile; a
second profile; a slider which, when moved in a first direction
along said first and second profiles, separates said first profile
from said second profile and, when moved in a second direction
opposite to said first direction, interlocks said first profile to
said second profile; end stops for restricting movement of said
slider, said end stops formed on said first profile by depositing
glue on said first profile, said end stops having a wall
substantially perpendicular to said first and second profiles
facing said slider.
2. The zipper of claim 1 wherein each of said end stops is formed
from a dot of hot glue.
3. The zipper of claim 2 wherein said end stops are formed
proximate to ends of said first profile.
4. The zipper of claim 2 wherein said end stops are formed
proximate to ends of said first profile and said second
profile.
5. The zipper of claim 4 wherein said walls are formed by a
reciprocating blunt end.
6. The zipper of claim 5 wherein said reciprocating blunt end
includes a stick resistant surface.
7. The zipper of claim 6 wherein said stick resistant surface
includes polytetrafluoroethylene.
8. The zipper of claim 1 wherein said walls are formed by a
blade.
9. The zipper of claim 1 wherein said walls are formed by a
grinding element.
10. The zipper of claim 1 wherein a gas stream is impinged against
said end stops to form said walls.
11. The zipper of claim 1 wherein said endstops are formed on top
of said first profile.
12. A zipper for a reclosable bag including: a first profile; a
second profile; a slider which, when moved in a first direction
along said first and second profiles, separates said first profile
from said second profile and, when moved in a second direction
opposite to said first direction, interlocks said first profile to
said second profile; end stops formed from glue for restricting
movement of said slider, said end stops having a wall facing said
slider.
13. The zipper of claim 12 wherein each of said end stops is formed
from a dot of hot glue.
14. The zipper of claim 13 wherein said end stops are formed
proximate to ends of said first profile.
15. The zipper of claim 13 wherein said end stops are formed
proximate to ends of said first profile and said second
profile.
16. The zipper of claim 15 wherein said walls are formed by a
reciprocating blunt end.
17. The zipper of claim 12 wherein said walls are formed by a
blade.
18. The zipper of claim 12 wherein said walls are formed by a
grinding element.
19. The zipper of claim 12 wherein a gas stream is impinged against
said end stops to form said walls.
20. The zipper of claim 12 wherein said end stops are formed on top
of said zipper.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to the use of hot glue or
similar adhesive to form an end stop with a vertical face for a
slider on the zipper of a reclosable bag.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In the prior art of slider-operated zippers for reclosable
bags, it is well known to form end stops on the zippers to limit
the extent of travel of the slider. This prevents the slider from
being moved beyond the end of the zipper and removed from the
zipper. The end stops can be formed by the methods disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,569,368 entitled "Method for Manufacturing a
Plastic Zipper with End Stops", issued on May 27, 2003 to Machacek
or U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,551 entitled "Method of Making a Fastener
Arrangement with Notches at Spaced Preseals", issued on Oct. 29,
2002 to Provan et al. These methods have proven satisfactory for
their intended purposes in many ways. However, these involve
relatively complex molding systems, sometimes using polymers
similar to those used to form the zipper components or the web of
the walls of the reclosable bag. U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,107 entitled
"Glue Drop End Stops for Zippered Bag", issued on Jan. 25, 2005 to
Sweeney et al., discloses end stops formed from ultra-violet light
curable glue. The resulting end stops have a rounded shape which
can allow the legs of the slider to spread, so that the slider
rides over the end stop.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a simplified method and apparatus for forming end stops for
the zipper of a reclosable bag.
[0006] It is therefore a further object of the present invention to
provide an economic method and apparatus for forming end stops for
the zipper of a reclosable bag.
[0007] It is therefore a still further object of the present
invention to provide a method and apparatus for forming end stops
for the zipper of a reclosable bag, wherein the slider has a
reduced or eliminated tendency to run over the end stop.
[0008] These and other objects are achieved by providing a drop of
adhesive, such as hot glue, onto the location where an end stop is
sought to be formed. The glue is initially sufficiently heated to
be dispensed, and then subsequently cools to form a high strength
end stop. Additionally, a vertical (that is, perpendicular to the
zipper) wall is formed in the glue drop thereby preventing the
slider from riding over the end stop. This configuration typically
and preferably results in an end stop which can withstand a force
of at least twenty pounds as the slider is pushed against the end
stop.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Further objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following description and from the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reclosable bag, including
a zipper with an end stop formed from a dot of hot glue or similar
adhesive.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a first cross-sectional view of the end stop
formed from a dot of hot glue or similar adhesive.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a second cross-sectional view of the end stop
formed from a dot of hot glue or similar adhesive, with a somewhat
increased height as compared to FIG. 2. Additionally, FIG. 3 shows
a simple apparatus for dispensing the hot glue drop and for forming
the vertical wall in the resulting end stop.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like
numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one
sees that FIG. 1 is a perspective view of reclosable bag 10.
Reclosable bag is formed from a front panel 12 sealed to a rear
panel 14 along bottom seal 16 and side seals 18, 20. A mouth 22 is
formed between the upper surfaces of front and rear panels 12, 14.
A reclosable zipper 30 is used to selectively open and close the
mouth 22. Reclosable zipper 30 includes first profile 32 sealed
downwardly adjacent from the upper surface of front panel 12 and
second profile 34 sealed downwardly adjacent from the upper surface
of rear panel 14. Likewise, a slider 40 is used to selectively open
and close the zipper 30, when moved in a first direction, by
separating the first profile 32 from the second profile 34 and,
when moved in a second direction (opposite to the first direction),
by joining or interlocking the first profile 32 to the second
profile 34. The structure of zipper profiles 32, 34 and sliders 40
is well known to those skilled in the art, particularly after
review of the present disclosure.
[0014] In order to limit the range of motion of the slider 40
thereby preventing slider 40 from being removed from the reclosable
bag 10, end stops 42, 44 are formed proximate to the ends of first
profile 32. End stops 42, 44, as shown in FIG. 2 are formed by a
drop of hot glue, such as hot melt adhesive, as dispensed from a
tipped dispenser 100, as shown FIG. 3. The hot glue subsequently
cools to form the end stops 42, 44. An alternative embodiment
places the end stops on the top of the zipper as shown by elements
42', 44' in FIG. 1.
[0015] End stops 42, 44 have a vertical (that is, perpendicular to
first profile 32) wall 50 to face the slider 40 and prevent the
slider 40 from spreading and running over the end stop 42 or 44.
Vertical wall 50 can be formed, typically prior to the cooling of
the hot glue, with reciprocating blunt end 200, preferably chilled
or with a stick resistant surface, such as polytetrafluoroethylene,
as shown in FIG. 3. In a variation of this embodiment, conventional
room temperature glue is used and reciprocating element 200
includes a blade or grinding element to form the vertical wall
after the glue has dried or cured. In a further embodiment of this
invention, reciprocating element 200 is replaced by blowers 201,
203 which blow air (or other gas) against the side of the end stop
42, 44 opposite to that where the vertical wall is sought to be
formed. This air or gas stream causes the formation of a vertical
wall much in the same way that wind causes waves in the ocean. Of
course, two blowers 201, 203 are required as the vertical walls 42,
44 of a single zipper face in opposite directions. As it is
envisioned that these end stops 42, 44 will be formed on an
assembly line type configuration (that is, with the zipper moving)
either before or after being sealed to the panels 12, 14 to form
reclosable bag 10, tipped dispenser 100 and reciprocating blunt end
200 may be at successive stations along a line.
[0016] Additionally, the end stops 42, 44 can be formed on one or
both of the profiles 32, 34.
[0017] 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.
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