U.S. patent application number 17/056846 was filed with the patent office on 2021-07-29 for child deterrent zipper closure (as amended).
The applicant listed for this patent is ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.. Invention is credited to Marco AGUILAR, David MATTHEWS, Eric PLOURDE.
Application Number | 20210229871 17/056846 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005539937 |
Filed Date | 2021-07-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210229871 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PLOURDE; Eric ; et
al. |
July 29, 2021 |
CHILD DETERRENT ZIPPER CLOSURE (as amended)
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to resealable zippers or
reclosures for flexible packaging which is child-deterrent or
child-resistant. This zipper or reclosure includes two profiles,
wherein at least one profile includes a tab created from flange
material between upper and lower sets of interlocking elements. The
user grasps the tab to separate the two profiles in order to open
the packaging. The flange may alternatively include a finger
aperture or a finger slit.
Inventors: |
PLOURDE; Eric; (Frankfort,
IL) ; AGUILAR; Marco; (Elgin, IL) ; MATTHEWS;
David; (Gilman, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. |
Glenview |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005539937 |
Appl. No.: |
17/056846 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
June 28, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2019/039727 |
371 Date: |
November 19, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62691648 |
Jun 29, 2018 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2215/04 20130101;
B65D 33/2541 20130101; B65D 33/2566 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/25 20060101
B65D033/25 |
Claims
1. A zipper or reclosure, including: at least one profile with at
least one upper interlocking element and at least one lower
interlocking element; a flange between the at least one upper
interlocking element and the at least one lower interlocking
element; and a tab below the at least one upper interlocking
element.
2. The zipper or reclosure of claim 1, wherein the tab is partially
cut from the flange.
3. The zipper or reclosure of claim 2 wherein the tab is formed by
a semi-circular cut, with a portion of the tab remaining attached
or integral with the flange or at least one profile.
4. The zipper or reclosure of claim 3 wherein the semi-circular cut
is U-shaped or C-shaped.
5. The zipper or reclosure of claim 1 further including a lower
flange extension below the at least one lower interlocking
element.
6. The zipper or reclosure of claim 1 wherein a portion of material
between a portion of the tab and the flange is removed.
7. The zipper or reclosure of claim 6 wherein the portion of the
material that is removed is semi-circular thereby forming a gap
between at least a portion of the flange and at least a portion of
the tab.
8. The zipper or reclosure of claim 1 wherein the at least one
upper interlocking element and the at least one lower interlocking
element are press-to-close interlocking elements.
9. The zipper or reclosure of claim 1 wherein the tab overlaps the
at least one lower interlocking element
10. The zipper or reclosure of claim 1 wherein the zipper or
reclosure is made from polymeric material.
11. A zipper or reclosure, including: at least one profile with at
least one upper interlocking element and at least one lower
interlocking element; a flange between the at least one upper
interlocking element and the at least one lower interlocking
element; and a finger aperture in the flange.
12. The zipper or reclosure of claim 11 wherein at least one upper
interlocking element and at least one lower interlocking element
are press-to-close interlocking elements.
13. A zipper or reclosure, including: a first profile including a
first upper interlocking element and a first lower interlocking
element; a first flange between the first upper interlocking
element the first lower interlocking element; a second profile
including a second upper interlocking element and a second lower
interlocking element; a second flange between the second upper
interlocking element the second lower interlocking element; and a
first finger aperture in the first flange.
14. The zipper or reclosure of claim 13 wherein the first upper and
lower interlocking elements and the second upper and lower
interlocking elements are press-to-close interlocking elements.
15. The zipper or reclosure of claim 13 wherein the second flange
includes a second finger aperture.
16. The zipper or reclosure of claim 15 wherein the first finger
aperture is offset from the second finger aperture.
17. A zipper or reclosure, including: at least one profile with at
least one upper interlocking element and at least one lower
interlocking element; a flange between the at least one upper
interlocking element and the at least one lower interlocking
element; and a finger slit in the flange.
18. The zipper or reclosure of claim 17 wherein the at least one
upper interlocking element and at least one lower interlocking
element are press-to-close interlocking elements.
19. A zipper or reclosure, including: a first profile including a
first upper interlocking element and a first lower interlocking
element; a first flange between the first upper interlocking
element the first lower interlocking element; a second profile
including a second upper interlocking element and a second lower
interlocking element; a second flange between the second upper
interlocking element the second lower interlocking element; and a
finger slit in the first flange.
20. The zipper or reclosure of claim 19 wherein the first upper and
lower interlocking elements and the second upper and lower
interlocking elements are press-to-close interlocking elements
Description
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of
U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/691,648, filed on Jun. 29,
2018, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in
its entirety and for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Field of the Disclosure
[0002] The present disclosure relates to closures, reclosures or
zippers for flexible packaging which is child-deterrent or
child-resistant. In particular, a profile of the closure, reclosure
or zipper includes tabs which are partially cut from the flange and
includes upper and lower press-to-close interlocking elements, on
respective upper and lower portions of the flange, for engagement
with the opposing profile.
Description of the Prior Art
[0003] The prior art of child-resistant packaging is
well-developed. An example is disclosed in PCT/US2018/44941,
entitled "Child Resistant Reclosable Bags," filed on Aug. 2, 2018.
Further examples are disclosed in PCT/US2019/34143 entitled
"Running Tab Lock in a Transverse Direction (TD) Application,"
filed on May 28, 2019; PCT/US2016/061979 entitled "Zipper Child
Deterrent Closure With Three Web/Flange Design," filed on Nov. 15,
2016; and U.S. Pat. No. 10,287,063 entitled "Child Resistant
Reclosable Bags," issued on May 14, 2019. However, further
developments and improvements are sought, particularly with respect
to press-to-close zippers or reclosures. In particular,
developments and improvements in applications such as
child-resistant packaging for dishwasher pods or medication are
sought.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to
provide a child-resistant or child-deterrent closure, reclosure or
zipper, particularly as a press-to-close zipper, for flexible
packaging.
[0005] It is therefore a further object of the present disclosure
to provide a closure, reclosure or zipper, particularly a
press-to-close zipper, which is not intuitively obvious for a child
to operate.
[0006] It is therefore a still further object of the present
disclosure to provide a closure, reclosure or zipper, particularly
a press-to-close zipper, which can be easily operated by an
adult.
[0007] It is therefore a still further object of the present
disclosure to provide a closure, reclosure or zipper, particularly
a press-to-close zipper, which can be easily, economically and
reliably manufactured.
[0008] This and other objects are attained by providing a closure,
reclosure or zipper, typically configured as a press-to-close
zipper, with a tab created from flange material on one of the
profiles, between upper and lower sets of interlocking elements.
The closure, reclosure or zipper is opened by a user grasping the
tab and pulling apart the first and second profiles, thereby
releasing the press-to-close interlocking elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Further objects and advantages of the disclosure will become
apparent from the following description and from the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1A is a side plan view of a two-piece press-to-close
zipper or reclosure of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 1B is an end view of a two-piece press-to-close zipper
or reclosure of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating the tab extended so as to
overlap with the lower interlocking elements in an embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates the removal of a semi-circular portion of
the top flange around the tab.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic of a further embodiment of the present
disclosure, wherein an aperture for finger insertion is
provided.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic of a still further embodiment of the
present disclosure wherein a slit for finger insertion is
provided.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Referring now to the drawings in detail, one sees that FIGS.
1A and 1B illustrate a two-piece press-to-close zipper 10 (or
similar closure or reclosure), typically made of a polymeric
material, with a first profile 11 and a second profile 13. The
first profile 11 includes first upper interlocking element 12 and
first lower interlocking element 14 on respective upper and lower
edges of the first flange 16. Adjacent to, or partially
overlapping, the upper interlocking element 12 is a semi-circular
or similarly shaped (e.g., U-shaped or C-shaped) slit 20 cutting
through the first flange 16, thereby forming tab 22, with a portion
of the tab 22 remaining integral with or attached to first flange
16 or first profile 11. Similarly, second profile 13 includes
second flange 18 with second upper and lower interlocking elements
15, 17. First and second press-to-close upper interlocking elements
12, 15 interlock with each other in the closed configuration of the
press-to-close zipper 10. Similarly, first and second
press-to-close lower interlocking elements 14, 17 interlock with
each other in the closed configuration of the press-to-close zipper
10. While some configurations may include a tab structure on both
first and second flanges 16, 18, typically the tab structure is
included on only one flange. When the zipper 10 is incorporated
into a bag, package, pouch or similar container (not shown), second
profile 13 is attached below the top of a bag mouth at a point on
the joining flange, the upper half of the zipper 10 is attached to
the bag by a sealing flange or guiding and sealing flange extension
24 below the first lower interlocking element 14 (see FIG. 3). This
sealing arrangement creates a shearing action between the first and
second profiles 11, 13 when both bag walls are separated, as when
opening a typical bag, the shearing action preventing or inhibiting
the first and second profiles 11, 13 from separating and the zipper
10 (and thus the bag, package, pouch or similar container) from
opening.
[0017] Alternatively, first flange 16 of first profile 11 could
also be attached to the walls of the bag, package, pouch or similar
container between the first upper and lower interlocking elements
12, 14 as long as the seal between the first flange 16 and the bag
wall is sufficiently below the inverted tab 22 to allow the tab 22
to be grasped. The lower zipper half of first profile 11 could be
attached by an upper flange, and may, in some embodiments, be
attached to the guiding and sealing flange extension 24 as shown in
FIG. 3.
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates the tab 22 extended down to a point where
it overlaps the lower interlocking element 14. This locks the free
end of the tab 22 into the lower bottom interlocking element 14,
increasing the difficulty of opening the zipper 10 due to the need
to first unlock the overlapped portion of the tab 22 in order to be
able to subsequently grasp the tab 22 and open the press-to-close
zipper 10.
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates that a semi-circular portion 23 of the
first flange 16 around the tab 22 (inwardly of the slit 20 and
outwardly of tab 22) can be removed thereby forming a gap between a
portion of the tab 22 and the first flange 16 in order make
accessing the tab 22 easier. FIG. 3 further illustrates the guiding
and sealing flange extension 24 below the lower interlocking
element 14 of the first flange 16. The guiding and sealing flange
extension 24 providing attachment points for the zipper 10 as well
as aiding in guiding the zipper 10 during production of
packages.
[0020] This reclosure or zipper 10 therefore includes a tab 22
created from material from first flange 16 between first upper and
lower interlocking elements 12, 14.
[0021] Having no upper flanges to grasp, opening the zipper 10 is
non-intuitive for operation by a child. The sealing of the zipper
10 to the package walls is done in a way that pulling on the bag
walls above or below the zipper 10 will not open the zipper 10.
[0022] However, when the bag, package or pouch (and zipper 10) is
in a closed or interlocked configuration, an adult may grasp and
pull tab 22 so as to separate the first and second upper
interlocking elements 12, 15 from each other, and the first and
second lower interlocking elements 14, 17 from each other, thereby
allowing the first and second profiles 11, 13 to separate from each
other and to allow the bag, package or pouch to open. The
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 typically requires no
removal of material from the zipper 10 during manufacture, thereby
eliminating or minimizing waste and the need to dispose of
slugs.
[0023] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate alternatives wherein the first
flange 16 includes a finger aperture 30 (see FIG. 4, which may
include a second finger aperture 31, shown in phantom, offset from
first finger aperture 30, on the second flange 18) or a finger slit
32 (FIG. 5). This allows a user to insert a finger through the
aperture 30 or 31 or finger slit 32 and force the first and second
profiles 11, 13 apart (i.e., separating upper first and second
interlocking elements 12, 15 from other and separating lower first
and second interlocking elements 14, 17 from each other) thereby
opening the zipper 10 a manner that would not be expected to be
intuitive for a child.
[0024] 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.
* * * * *