RECLOSEABLE ZIPPER CLOSURE, RECLOSEABLE POUCH, AND METHODS

Abstract

A zipper closure arrangement for use with a reclosable package includes: a first attachment flange and a second attachment flange; a first zipper profile member extending from the first attachment flange; a second zipper profile member extending from the second attachment flange and positioned to releasably mate with the first zipper profile member. The first and second attachment flanges each having an area of weakness and are sealed together along a seal region. The seal region is between the area of weakness and terminal ends of the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange. This results in a tear-off region that is straight and consistent.

Claims

1. A plastic zipper closure arrangement for use with a reclosable package; the closure arrangement comprising: (a) a first attachment flange and a second attachment flange positioned opposing each other; (b) a first zipper profile member extending from the first attachment flange; (c) a second zipper profile member extending from the second attachment flange and positioned to releasably mate with the first zipper profile member; (i) the first and second zipper profile members being positioned between a package side and a consumer side of the first and second attachment flanges; (e) the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange each having an area of weakness on the consumer side; and (f) the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange being sealed together along a seal region on the consumer side; the seal region being between the area of weakness and terminal ends of the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange.

2. The plastic zipper closure arrangement of claim 1, wherein the seal region is an inseparable permanent bond.

3. The plastic zipper closure arrangement of claim 1 wherein the area of weakness comprises a lower thickness of the first attachment flange and second attachment flange than a remaining portion of the first attachment flange and second attachment flange.

4. The plastic zipper closure arrangement of claim 1 wherein the area of weakness has a thickness less than 50% of the thickness of a remaining portion of the first and second attachment flanges.

5. The plastic zipper closure arrangement of claim 1 wherein the area of weakness is a laser score line.

6. The plastic zipper closure arrangement of claim 1 wherein the seal region is a very low density polyethylene or polyethylene copolymer sealant.

7. The plastic zipper closure arrangement of claim 1 wherein the seal region extends only partially between the area of weakness and terminal ends of the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange.

8. The plastic zipper closure arrangement of claim 1 wherein the seal region extends fully between the area of weakness and terminal ends of the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange.

9. The plastic zipper closure arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first zipper profile member is a male profile member, and the second zipper profile member is a female profile member.

10. The plastic zipper closure arrangement of claim 1 wherein each of the areas of weakness includes: (a) first and second opposite end edges with a longitudinal length extending between the end edges; and (b) a first tear notch in the first end edge.

11. The plastic zipper closure arrangement of claim 10 wherein each of the areas of weakness includes a second tear notch in the second end edge.

12. A recloseable pouch comprising: (a) first and second opposing polymeric panels, having first and second opposite side edges; a bottom; and an openable and closeable mouth opposite of the bottom; the polymeric panels defining an interior volume therebetween; the mouth providing access into the interior volume when in an open condition; (b) the pouch having a closure arrangement along the mouth; the closure arrangement including: (i) a first attachment flange and a second attachment flange positioned opposing each other; (A) the first attachment flange being non-removably secured to the first polymeric panel; (B) the second attachment flange being non-removably secured to the second polymeric panel; (ii) a first zipper profile member extending from the first attachment flange; (iii) a second zipper profile member extending from the second attachment flange and positioned to releasably mate with the first zipper profile member; (A) the first and second zipper profile members being positioned between a package side and a consumer side of the first and second attachment flanges; (iv) the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange each having an area of weakness on the consumer side; and (v) the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange being sealed together along a closure seal region on the consumer side; the closure seal region being between the area of weakness and terminal ends of the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange.

13. The recloseable pouch of claim 12 wherein the area of weakness comprises a lower thickness of the first attachment flange and second attachment flange than a remaining portion of the first attachment flange and second attachment flange.

14. The recloseable pouch of claim 12 wherein the seal region is an inseparable permanent bond.

15. The recloseable pouch of claim 12 wherein the area of weakness has a thickness less than 50% than a thickness of a remaining portion of the first and second attachment flanges.

16. The recloseable pouch of claim 12 wherein the closure seal region extends only partially between the area of weakness and terminal ends of the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange.

17. The recloseable pouch of claim 12 wherein the closure seal region extends fully between the area of weakness and terminal ends of the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange.

18. The recloseable pouch of claim 12 wherein each of the areas of weakness includes: (a) first and second opposite end edges with a longitudinal length extending between the end edges; and (b) a first tear notch in the first end edge.

19. The recloseable pouch of claim 12 wherein each of the areas of weakness includes a second tear notch in the second end edge.

20. The recloseable pouch of claim 12 further including a header seal joining the first and second opposing polymeric panels together along terminal ends of the first and second polymeric panels; the closure seal region being between the header seal and the area of weakness.

21. A method of opening the recloseable pouch; the recloseable pouch having a storage pouch section and a removable pouch section; the method comprising: (a) opening the pouch by tearing off the removable pouch section from the storage pouch section along an area of weakness; the removable pouch section including opposing polymeric panels; each panel having attached thereto: (i) an attachment flange with the area of weakness; (ii) a closure seal region sealing together the attachment flanges; and (iii) a header seal sealing together the polymeric panels.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the storage pouch section includes a recloseable zipper closure attached to the attachment flanges adjacent to a remaining portion of the area of weakness.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic, front elevational view of a reclosable pouch or package incorporating a zipper closure, constructed in accordance with principles of this disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic, front elevational view of the recloseable pouch of FIG. 1, showing a portion of pouch torn off along a tear line;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the zipper closure used in the pouch of FIGS. 1 and 2, constructed in accordance with principles of this disclosure; and

[0028] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the recloseable pouch of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] A consistent tear can be accomplished by sealing the top of both opposing zipper flanges together so that they, along with both sides of the film, tear as a unit. Providing a sealant layer at the top of each of the zipper flanges makes this convenient and easy to implement on existing pouch converting equipment. Tearing in this manner, as a unit, allows for a straight and clean tear. When the opposing zipper flanges are not sealed together, they can tear independently, allowing the front panel of the pouch to sometimes tear in a different direction than the back panel. Example embodiments follow.

[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a reclosable zipper pouch (or package) generally at 20. The pouch 20 will generally be flexible and can be made from a polymeric film, although other materials are usable. The pouch 20 includes a surrounding wall 22. The surrounding wall 22 encloses an interior volume 23 (FIG. 4). A reclosable zipper closure 24 is part of the pouch 20 to allow for selective closing and opening of the pouch 20 to either allow access to the interior volume 23 or block access to the interior volume 23. The zipper closure 24 is made from a polymeric material (i.e. plastic).

[0031] The surrounding wall 22 includes first and second polymeric wall panels 26, 28 (FIG. 4) in opposition to each other. First and second sides 30, 32 join the first and second wall panels 26, 28. In some embodiments, the first and second sides 30, 32 can be seals connecting together the first and second wall panels 26, 28, while in other embodiments, the first and second sides 30, 32 are not seals, but merely form the sides 30, 32.

[0032] The pouch 20 includes a closed bottom 34. The closed bottom 34, in this embodiment, is between the first side 30 and second side 32 and at an opposite end of the pouch as the reclosable zipper closure 24. The closed bottom 34 can be part of the same single piece of film or material that forms the first wall panel 26 and second wall panel 28; alternatively, the closed bottom 34 can be a seal connecting together the first wall panel 26 and second wall panel 28.

[0033] The pouch 20 has an open mouth 36 at the end of the pouch 20 that is opposite from the closed bottom 34. The mouth 36 provides access to the interior volume 23, when the reclosable zipper closure 24 is in an unlocked position. When the reclosable zipper closure 24 is in a locked position, access to the interior volume 23 is blocked.

[0034] Turning now to FIG. 3, the zipper closure 24 is illustrated. The zipper closure 24 includes a first attachment flange 38 and a second attachment flange 40 positioned opposing each other. In the pouch 20 of FIG. 4, the first attachment flange 38 is non-removably secured to the first polymeric wall panel 26, while the second attachment flange 40 is non-removably secured to the second polymeric wall panel 28. The flanges 38, 40 can be secured to the panels 26, 28 with conventional sealant, for example, a very low density polyethylene sealant (i.e., plastomer), or other conventional techniques.

[0035] The zipper closure 24 includes a first zipper profile member 42 extending from the first attachment flange 38. Many variations are possible. In the non-limiting example shown, the first zipper profile member 42 is a male profile member 43. The male profile member 43 includes a stem 44 extending generally perpendicular from the first attachment flange 38. At an end of stem 44 opposite of where it extends from the flange 38, the male profile member 43 has a head 45 with a pair of shoulders 46.

[0036] The zipper closure 24 includes a second zipper profile member 48 extending from the second attachment flange 40 and positioned to releasably mate with the first zipper profile member 42. Many variations are possible. In the non-limiting example shown, the second zipper profile member 48 is a female profile member 49. The female profile member 49 includes a pair of legs 50 extending generally perpendicular from the second attachment flange 40. At an ends of the legs 50 opposite of where it extends from the flange 40, the female profile member 49 has inwardly extending and opposing hooks 51.

[0037] When the first zipper profile member 42 and the second zipper profile member 48 are pressed together to be releasably mated, the member 43 is received between the legs 50. The hooks 51 snap over the head 45. Interference between the shoulders 46 and the hooks 51 releasably lock the zipper closure 24 in the closed position. To open the zipper closure 24, the first and second zipper profile members 42, 48 are pulled apart from each other.

[0038] Each of the first and second attachment flanges 38, 40 has a package side 54 and a consumer side 56. The first and second zipper profile members 42, 48 are positioned between the package side 54 and consumer side 56 of the first and second attachment flanges 38, 40. By package side 54, it is meant that when the first and second attachment flanges 38, 40 are part of the pouch 20, the package side 56 is the part of the flanges 38, 40 that includes everything from the zipper profile members 42, 48 to the package bottom 34 (including the zipper profile members 42, 48). The consumer side 56 is the part of the flanges 38, 40 that is between (above) the zipper profile members 42, 48 and the mouth 36 of the pouch 20. See FIG. 3, in which the broken line 55 divides the flanges 38, 40 between the package side 54 and consumer side 56.

[0039] In reference again to FIG. 3, the first attachment flange 38 and the second attachment flange 40 each has an area of weakness 58, 59 on the consumer side 56. The area of weakness 58, 59 is the region in the flanges 38, 40 that are torn, when the consumer is opening the pouch 20.

[0040] The area of weakness 58, 59 can be made in a variety of manners. In one example, the area of weakness 58, 59 comprises a lower (smaller) thickness of the first attachment flange 38 and second attachment flange 40 than a remaining portion of the first attachment flange 38 and second attachment flange 40. For example, the area of weakness 58, 59 has a thickness less than 60%, often less than 50% than a thickness of a remaining portion of the first and second attachment flanges 38, 40. In many cases, the thickness of the area of weakness 58, 59 is between 10% and 45%, about 25%-40%, of the thickness of the remaining portion of the first and second attachment flanges 38, 40.

[0041] The area of weakness 58, 59 can also be a laser score line, in other embodiments.

[0042] In reference to FIG. 1, each of the areas of weakness 58, 59 includes a first end edge 61, an opposite second end edge 62, and a longitudinal length 64 extending between the end edges 61, 62. Optionally, the first end edge 61 has a first tear notch 66. Optionally, the second end edge 62 has a second tear notch 67. The tear notches 66, 67 may also extend through the panels 26, 28 in the sides 30, 32. The tear notches 66, 67 are helpful to the consumer in starting the tear to result in tear line 68 (FIG. 2). By tear line, it does not necessarily mean a geometrically straight line, but rather, a generally linear tear that extends between the end edges 61, 62 without extreme deviations. In FIG. 2, the tear line 68 is shown as the top edge along a storage pouch section 80, and the bottom edge along a removable pouch section 82.

[0043] In accordance with principles of this disclosure, and in reference now to FIG. 4, the first attachment flange 38 and the second attachment flange 40 are sealed together along a closure seal region 70 on the consumer side 56. Preferably, the flange 38 and flange 40 are inseparably sealed together with a permanent bond to form the closure seal region 70. In alternatives, the closure seal region 70 can be a peelable bond. The closure seal region 70 is between the area of weakness 58, 59 and terminal ends 71, 72 of the first attachment flange 38 and the second attachment flange 40. While there can be many possible implementations, preferably, the closure seal region 70 comprises a region 74 of polyethylene sealant, such as a very low density polyethylene or polyethylene copolymer sealant. The region 74 is between the opposing faces of attachment flanges 38, 40.

[0044] To attach the flanges 38, 40 to the panels 26, 28, while various techniques are possible, in the example shown, there are attachment regions 76 of sealant between and against an inner surface 27, 29 of wall panels 26, 28 and exteriorly directed surfaces 39, 41 (FIG. 3) of the first attachment flange 38 and second attachment flange 40. There are attachment regions 76 of sealant on the package side 54, and two regions 76 on the consumer side 56. One of the regions 76 is on the opposite side of the region 74.

[0045] In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the closure seal region 70 extends only partially between the area of weakness 58, 59 and terminal ends 71, 72 of the first attachment flange 38 and the second attachment flange 40. In alternative embodiments, the closure seal region 70 extends fully between the area of weakness 58, 59 and terminal ends 71, 72 of the first attachment flange 38 and the second attachment flange 40.

[0046] The pouch 20 further includes a header seal 78 joining the first and second opposing polymeric panels 26, 28 together along terminal ends 71, 72 of the first and second polymeric panels 26, 28. The closure seal region 70 is between the header seal 78 and the area of weakness 58, 59.

[0047] From the above, and in reference to FIG. 2, it can be appreciated that the pouch 20 has a storage pouch section 80 and a removable pouch section 82. The removable pouch section 82 includes at least some of the area of weakness 58, 59; the closure seal region 70; the header seal 78; and the portions of the wall panels 26, 28 secured to these features. The storage pouch section 80 is the rest of the pouch 20, including everything below tear line 68; that is, in general, the pouch 20 from the tear line 68 to the bottom 34.

[0048] The above structure is useable in a method of opening the recloseable pouch 20. The method includes opening the pouch 20 by tearing off the removable pouch section 82 from the storage pouch section 80 along area of weakness 58, 59. The removable pouch section 82 includes portions of the opposing polymeric panels 26, 28, with each portion of panel 26, 28 having attached thereto: attachment flange 38, 40 with the area of weakness 58, 59; closure seal region 70 sealing together the attachment flanges 38, 40; and header seal 78 sealing together the polymeric panels 26, 28. The storage pouch section 80 includes the recloseable zipper closure 24 attached to the attachment flanges 38, 40 adjacent to a remaining portion of the area of weakness 58, 59.

[0049] A consistent tear 68 is accomplished by sealing (preferably, inseparably sealing) the top of both opposing zipper flanges 38, 40 together to form closure seal region 70, so that they, along with both sides 26, 28 of the film, tear as a unitthe removable pouch section 82.

[0050] The above disclosure is example principles. Many embodiments can be made using these principles.