U.S. patent application number 11/728483 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-02 for slider zipper with hinged secondary locking profile.
This patent application is currently assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. Invention is credited to Steven Ausnit, Kenny E. McCracken, Glyn Russell.
Application Number | 20080240625 11/728483 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39521940 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080240625 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McCracken; Kenny E. ; et
al. |
October 2, 2008 |
Slider zipper with hinged secondary locking profile
Abstract
The zipper assembly for a reclosable package or bag includes a
zipper with exterior interlocking elements and flanges, and
typically includes a slider. Additionally, a hinged secondary
zipper formed from interior interlocking elements. A first interior
interlocking element is hinged by an interior flange with respect
to the first flange while the second interior interlocking element
is attached to the second flange. The hinging of the secondary
zipper causes forces or loads from within the reclosable package or
bag to configure the secondary zipper in a shear configuration,
rather than a peeling configuration, thereby increasing the
interior burst strength of the package or bag.
Inventors: |
McCracken; Kenny E.;
(Lawrenceville, GA) ; Russell; Glyn; (New City,
NY) ; Ausnit; Steven; (New York, 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: |
39521940 |
Appl. No.: |
11/728483 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/2508 20130101;
B65D 33/2591 20130101; B65D 33/2566 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/64 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/16 20060101
B65D033/16 |
Claims
1. A zipper assembly for a reclosable package, including: a first
profile with a first flange and a first exterior interlocking
element; a second profile with a second flange and a second
exterior interlocking element; a secondary zipper including a first
interior interlocking element and a second interior interlocking
element; an interior flange joining the first interlocking element
to an interior face of the first flange; and the second interior
interlocking element joined to an interior face of the second
flange.
2. The zipper assembly of claim 1 wherein a load on the first and
second flanges applies a shear force to the secondary zipper.
3. The zipper assembly of claim 1 wherein a load on the first and
second flanges is redirected away from the secondary zipper to a
location above the secondary zipper.
4. The zipper assembly of claim 1 further including a slider
mounted on the first and second profiles, whereby movement of the
slider in an opening direction separates the first and second
exterior interlocking elements from each other and movement of the
slider in a closing direction interlocks the first and second
exterior interlocking elements together.
5. The zipper assembly of claim 1 wherein the secondary zipper is a
press-to-close zipper.
6. The zipper assembly of claim 2 wherein the interior flange is
joined to an interior of the first flange proximate to the first
exterior interlocking element.
7. The zipper assembly of claim 6 wherein the first profile, the
interior flange and the first interior interlocking element are
extruded as a first single piece.
8. The zipper assembly of claim 7 wherein the second profile and
the second interior interlocking element are extruded as a second
single piece.
9. The zipper assembly of claim 2 wherein the interior flange is
joined to an interior of the first flange adjacent to the secondary
zipper.
10. The zipper assembly of claim 9 wherein the first profile, the
interior flange and the first interior interlocking element are
simultaneously extruded as a first single piece.
11. The zipper assembly of claim 10 wherein the second profile and
the second interior interlocking element are extruded as a second
single piece.
12. The zipper assembly of claim 9 further including a stem between
the first interior interlocking element and the interior
flange.
13. The zipper assembly of claim 12 wherein the first profile, the
interior flange, the stem and the first interior interlocking
element are simultaneously extruded as a first single piece.
14. The zipper assembly of claim 13 wherein the second profile and
the second interior interlocking element are extruded as a second
single piece.
15. A zipper assembly for a reclosable package, including: a first
profile with a first exterior flange and a first exterior
interlocking element; a second profile with a second exterior
flange and a second exterior interlocking element; a secondary
zipper including a first interior interlocking element attached to
an interior of the first flange by a first interior flange and a
second interior interlocking element attached to an interior of the
second flange by a second interior flange.
16. The zipper assembly of claim 15 wherein the first profile, the
first interior flange and the first interior interlocking element
are simultaneously extruded as a first single piece.
17. The zipper assembly of claim 16 wherein the second profile, the
second interior flange and the second interior interlocking element
are simultaneously extruded as a second single piece.
18. The zipper assembly of claim 15 further including a slider
mounted on the first and second profiles, whereby movement of the
slider in an opening direction separates the first and second
exterior interlocking elements from each other and movement of the
slider in a closing direction interlocks the first and second
exterior interlocking elements together.
19. The zipper assembly of claim 15 wherein the first interior
interlocking element is one of a male and female profile and the
second interior interlocking element is another of a male and a
female profile.
20. The zipper assembly of claim 15 further including a stem formed
between the second interior flange and the second exterior flange.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a slider zipper with a
hinged secondary locking profile. This slider zipper is
particularly applicable to large packages or bags which require a
high burst strength.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Large packages, bags or pouches, such as those used for pet
food, charcoal, cat litter and similar items are typically filled
and sealed shut, with no reclosure mechanism. These packages may be
formed by form fill and seal (FFS) or by other methods. Prior
attempts to incorporate a zipper reclosure mechanism have been
unsatisfactory due to the unique requirements of a large bag with a
relatively heavy load. In particular, filling from the bottom
places all of the load on the reclosure during filling. This load
can cause the zipper reclosure to fail and open. Similarly,
dropping a filled bag onto a pallet or similar rough handling
during transportation, as well as exposing a bag to elevated
temperatures during transportation, can cause the zipper reclosure
to fail.
[0005] The prior art has addressed these deficiencies by folding
over the end of the package, particularly a multi-wall package,
using an expensive label as tape thereby allowing successful
filling and transport. Similarly, the prior art has addressed these
deficiencies by using a liner peel seal below the zipper and a
solid tear line in the zipper flange to provide a fill and
transport system that does not rupture and spill the contents.
However, these methods have slow rates of production, as well as
increased costs of production, and frequently do not result in a
satisfactory product for the consumer.
[0006] Some further examples of the prior art which are not
entirely satisfactory are found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,482 entitled
"Multiwall Bag with Zipper and Fin" issued on Dec. 27, 2005 to
Hartzell et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,904 entitled "Enhanced
Slider Zipper Multiwall Bag and Associated Methods" issued On Aug.
15, 2006 to Hartzell et al.
[0007] Typical prior tamper-evident zipper assemblies are disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,738 entitled "Tamper Evident Reclosable
Plastic Bag" issued on Mar. 12, 2002 to Buckman et al.; U.S. Pat.
No. 4,647,063 entitled "Reclosable Bag with Laminated Liner and
Method" issued on Jan. 13, 1987 to Sullivan; and U.S. Pat. No.
5,509,735 entitled "Closure Arrangement Having a Peelable Seal"
issued on Apr. 23, 1996 to May.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a zipper assembly for reclosable packages, particularly
large bags, formed by form fill and seal or other methods, which
provides for high burst strength in order to accommodate bottom or
top filling as well as to allow the bags to withstand dropping or
shock loading without the zipper reclosure bursting open.
[0009] It is therefore a further object of the present invention to
provide such a zipper assembly without significant increases in
manufacturing and related costs.
[0010] It is therefore a still further object of the present
invention to provide a method of manufacture for a product
achieving the above objects.
[0011] These and other objects are attained by providing a zipper
assembly for reclosable packages, particularly large bags, wherein
the flanges are joined to each other by a hinged secondary zipper.
The hinging of the secondary zipper causes the external forces on a
bag from bottom filling or shock loading (or forces from within the
bag, typically created when the bag is dropped on its top or side)
to redirect the forces so as to reconfigure the secondary zipper
from a peel position to a shear position. As the force required to
separate the secondary zipper in a shear position is much greater
than the force required to separate the secondary zipper in a
peelable position, the load-bearing capacity of the package or bag
is increased.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Further objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following description and from the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical reclosable package
incorporating the zipper assembly of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the upper portion of
plane 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the cross section of the zipper
assembly of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the upper portion of
plane 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the cross section of a first
alternative embodiment of the zipper assembly of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the upper portion of
plane 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the cross section of a second
alternative embodiment of the zipper assembly of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the zipper assembly of
FIG. 3, shown with the zipper assembly under load so as to apply a
shear force to the secondary zipper.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] 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 a typical reclosable
package 100, such as a large bag, which incorporates the zipper
assembly 10 of the present invention. Reclosable package 100 may be
formed by form fill and seal or by other methods. Reclosable
package 100 includes a front wall 102 and a rear wall 104. Front
and rear walls 102, 104 may be separate polymeric or multi-sheet
panels sealed together at edges 106, 108. Alternatively, front and
rear walls 102, 104 may be provided as a single tube. Front and
rear walls 102, 104 may be formed from virtually any substrate in
the packaging art--laminate films, plain poly films, multi-wall
paper, and polypropylene woven layer bags or any combination or
hybrid thereof. Additionally, gussets (not shown) may be provided
between front and rear walls 102, 104 at edges 106, 108, or
similarly at bottom 1 10.
[0019] Bottom 110 may be sealed shut, or folded over and then
glued. Reclosable package 100 is typically bottom filled, so that
the seal or glued fold may be formed after filling. However, other
methods of filling, such as top filling before the application of
zipper assembly 10, are equally applicable to the present
invention.
[0020] Mouth 112 is formed at the top of the reclosable package 100
of FIG. 1, and is reclosably sealed by zipper assembly 10.
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, zipper assembly 10 is formed from
polymeric materials and includes first interlocking profile 12,
second interlocking profile 14 and optional slider 15 (see FIG. 1).
First profile 12 includes first exterior interlocking element 16
and first flange 18. Similarly, second profile 14 includes second
exterior interlocking element 20 and second flange 22. Optional
slider 15 is mounted on first and second profiles 12, 14 and
operates in a conventional manner by interlocking first and second
exterior interlocking elements 16, 20 of respective first and
second profiles 12, 14 when moved in a closing direction and
separating first and second exterior interlocking elements 16, 20
of respective first and second profiles 12, 14 when moved in an
opening direction.
[0022] The interior of first flange 18 is glued, sealed or
otherwise attached to the exterior of front wall 102 and the
interior of second flange 22 is glued, sealed or otherwise attached
to the exterior of rear wall 104.
[0023] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, secondary
zipper 30, comprising first and second interior interlocking
elements 32, 34, in a press-to-close configuration, joins the
interior faces of first and second flanges 18, 22.
[0024] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, first interior interlocking
element 32 includes engaging element 36 with teeth 38 extending
therefrom, which is joined to secondary flange 40 by stem 42.
Secondary flange 40 is sealed or otherwise joined to the interior
of first flange 18 directly adjacent to secondary zipper 30.
Additionally, first interior interlocking element 32 and other
various elements of first profile 12 may be simultaneously extruded
as a single piece. Second interior interlocking element 34 likewise
includes teeth 48 extending therefrom which interlock with teeth 38
of engaging element 36. Second interior interlocking element 34 is
sealed or otherwise joined to the interior of second flange 22.
Additionally, second interior interlocking element 34 and the other
various elements of second profile 14 may be simultaneously
extruded as a single piece.
[0025] The embodiment of FIG. 3 includes the various elements of
FIG. 2, except that secondary flange 40 extends from engaging
element 36 to a portion of first flange 18 immediately below or
proximate to first exterior interlocking element 16 thereby
eliminating (or incorporating) stem 42.
[0026] In the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, the separation of
engaging element 36 from first flange 18 by the use of secondary
flange 40 provides a hinged arrangement wherein forces or loads on
walls 102, 104 and hence first and second flanges 18, 22
(particularly forces or loads from within the package or bag 100)
are redirected thereby causing the secondary zipper 30 to be
subjected to shear forces, as shown in FIG. 5, rather than pealing
forces, thereby greatly increasing the strength of the zipper
assembly 10, and hence the strength of the bag 100. This can
likewise be viewed as forces being directed to a location above the
secondary zipper 30.
[0027] Similarly, FIG. 4 discloses an alternative embodiment
wherein the secondary zipper 30 includes first and second interior
interlocking elements 50, 52. First interlocking element 50
includes a male profile 54 with an arrowhead shape and first
internal flange 56. First interior flange 56 can be sealed to first
flange 18. Alternatively, male profile 54, first interior flange 56
and first flange 18 can be simultaneously extruded. Second interior
interlocking element 52 includes a female profile 60 for receiving
male profile 54. Female profile 60 is formed by opposed walls 62,
64 terminating in respective detent hooks 66, 68 for engaging the
arrowhead shape of male profile 54. Second interior interlocking
element 52 further includes second interior flange 70 extending
therefrom. Second interior flange 70 further includes stem 72 and
connecting portion 74 which is sealed to the interior of second
flange 22, thereby forming a hinging relationship. Alternatively,
second flange 22, second interior flange 70 (including stem 72 and
connecting portion 74) and female profile 60 may be simultaneously
extruded (in which case connecting portion 74 may be optional).
[0028] The resulting hinged configuration reacts to an internal
load in the package or bag 100 by exerting a shear force against
secondary zipper 30.
[0029] Those skilled in the art will recognize a broad range of
possible contents for the packages 100, including, but certainly
not limited to, charcoal, pet food, livestock or other animal food,
cat litter, fertilizer, seeds, plant bulbs, rock salt, and
foodstuffs.
[0030] 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.
* * * * *