Child-resistant zipper and packaging bag incorporating said zipper

Abstract

A zipper unit for a packaging bag is provided comprising a sealing zipper to seal the packaging bag in a ally sealed state. The sealing zipper is configured to be opened with the opening operation of the packaging bag. The zipper unit also comprises a locking zipper having a fit-engagement strength stronger than the fit-engagement strength of the sealing zipper. A releasing cutout portion is provided in a part of a fit-engagement body of the locking zipper. The locking zipper is configured to be opened from the releasing cutout portion. The locking zipper may be situated as the first zipper at the opening of the packaging bag to prevent the packaging bag from being opened, for example, by a child. The sealing zipper may be provided as the second zipper closest to the inside of the packaging bag and accessible by release or opening of the locking zipper.

Claims

1. A child-resistant zipper unit comprising a pair of adhesion band members adhered to opposing inner side surfaces of an opening of a packaging bag, and a fit-engagement body configured to releasably engage opposing surfaces of the adhesion band members, wherein the fit-engagement body comprises: a sealing zipper which releasably engages the inner side surfaces of the opening in a sealed state which is released with the opening operation of the opening of a packaging bag; and a locking zipper comprising a first fit-engagement portion with at least one fit-engagement protrusion, and a second fit-engagement portion with at least one fit-engagement recess, wherein the first and second fit-engagement portions are on opposing surfaces of the fit engagement body and the at least one fit-engagement protrusion and recess are adapted to releasably engage the first and second fit-engagement portions in a locked state, the locking zipper also comprising at least one releasing cutout portion provided in the fit-engagement body, wherein engagement of the at least one fit-engagement protrusion and recess is released by sliding laterally the first fit-engagement portion and the second fit-engagement portion in opposite directions towards the at least one releasing cutout portion to unlock the locking zipper, wherein the locking zipper and the sealing zipper are arranged in parallel on the inner side surfaces of the opening.

2. The zipper unit according to claim 1, wherein, in the locking zipper, the at least one releasing cutout portion is a plurality of releasing cutout portions, and the at least one fit-engagement protrusion and recess is a plurality of fit-engagement protrusions and recesses, the plurality of releasing cutout portions are alternately provided along first and second fit-engagement portions between the plurality of fit-engagement protrusions and recesses, respectively, and wherein the locked state of the locking zipper is released when the engaged plurality of fit-engagement protrusions and recesses are caused to slide oppositely and laterally toward an adjacent releasing cutout portion of the plurality of releasing cutout portions.

3. A zipper packaging bag provided with a zipper unit comprising a pair of adhesion band members adhered to inner opposing side surfaces of an opening of the packaging bag, and a fit-engagement body configured to releasably engage opposing surfaces of the adhesion band members, wherein the fit engagement body comprises a sealing zipper which releasably engages the inner side surfaces of the opening in a sealed state which is released with the opening operation of the opening of the packaging bag; and a locking zipper comprising a first fit-engagement portion with at least one fit-engagement protrusion, and a second fit-engagement portion with at least one fit-engagement recess, wherein the first and second fit-engagement portions are on opposing surfaces of the fit engagement body and the at least one fit-engagement protrusion and recess are adapted to releasably engage the first and second fit-engagement portions in a locked state, the locking zipper also comprising a plurality of releasing cutout portions provided in the fit-engagement body, wherein the at least one fit-engagement protrusion and recess is a plurality of fit-engagement protrusions and recesses, wherein engagement of the plurality of fit-engagement protrusions and recesses are released from the plurality of releasing cutout portions, wherein the plurality of releasing cutout portions are alternately provided along the first and second fit-engagement portions between the plurality of fit-engagement protrusions and recesses, respectively, and the locked state of the locking zipper is released when the engaged plurality of fit-engagement protrusions and recesses slide oppositely and laterally toward an adjacent releasing cutout portion of the plurality of releasing cutout portions and wherein the locking zipper is provided as a first zipper at the opening of the packaging bag, and the sealing zipper is provided as a second zipper accessible on release of the locking zipper.

4. The zipper unit according to claim 1, wherein the sealing zipper is accessed by opening the locking zipper.

5. The zipper unit according to claim 1, wherein the locking zipper and the sealing zipper are integral.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention description below refers to the accompanying drawings, of which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side sectional view taken along arrow line II-II of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a lock structure when the opening is widened;

(5) FIG. 4 is a front view of another embodiment of the present invention; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a side sectional view taken along arrow line V-V of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) In one embodiment of the present invention, a zipper unit, for example, a polyethylene or polypropylene zipper unit, is provided having a fit-engagement body 2 comprising first and second fit-engagement portions which may be releasably fit-engaged; basically, the zipper is formed by the adhesion band members 1 and the fit-engagement portions of body 2 protruding therefrom; due to the fit-engagement strength of the fit-engagement portions of body 2, the opening P1 of the packaging bag P may be releasably engaged (See FIGS. 1 and 4).

(8) The adhesion band members 1 are band-like members for adherence to the opposing inner sides of the opening P1 of, for example, a packaging bag P, e.g. a polyethylene or polypropylene bag (See FIG. 1). The first fit-engagement portion of fit-engagement body 2 comprises fit-engagement protrusions 2A and the second fit-engagement portion comprises fit-engagement recesses 2B provided on the opposing surfaces of the fit-engagement body 2 and permit the band-like bodies 1 to be fit-engaged with each other.

(9) In an embodiment of the present invention, a zipper unit is provided comprising two kinds of zippers: the locking zipper 10 and the sealing zipper 20 (See FIGS. 1 and 4). The sealing zipper 20 is a zipper for releasably engaging the opposing inner side surfaces of the opening P1 of bag P to each other in a sealed state; it is a zipper of a general type in which the fit-engaged fit-engagement body 2 (e.g. the engagement of first and second portions of the fit-engagement body 2) is opened or released with the opening operation of the opening P1 of the packaging bag P.

(10) The locking zipper 10 is a zipper in which the fit-engagement the first and second portions of the fit-engagement body 2 is stronger than that of the sealing zipper 20; it is provided so as to be difficult to open through the opening operation of the opening P1 of the packaging bag P. Furthermore, at least one releasing cutout portion 3 is provided in a part of the fit-engagement body 2 (See FIGS. 1 and 4). This releasing cutout portion 3 is provided so as to open or release the locked state of the locking zipper 10 (e.g. the engagement of first and second portions of the fit-engaged fit-engagement body 2 by the locking zipper 10).

(11) In the locking zipper 10 shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the fit-engagement portions of body 2 comprises a plurality of releasing cutout portions 3 alternately provided with fit-engagement recesses 2B and protrusions 2A along the longitudinal direction of the fit-engagement body 2 (See FIG. 3(A)). And, when the fit-engagement protrusion 2A and the fit-engagement recess 2B in the fit-engaged state are caused to slide oppositely in the direction of the adjacent releasing cutout portion 3 (See FIG. 3(B)), the fit-engagement body 2 is opened or released from its locked state (See FIG. 3(C)). Although a large number of releasing cutout portions 3 are provided along the fit-engagement body 2 in the drawings, the number and interval of the releasing cutout portions 3 are not restricted to those shown but can be set arbitrarily from at least 1 to a plurality.

(12) In the locking zipper 10 shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the releasing cutout portion 3E is provided at a longitudinal end portion of the fit-engagement body; by inserting a finger into the releasing cutout portion 3E, the fit-engagement state of the fit-engagement body 2 is released. That is, by inserting a fingertip into the releasing cutout portion 3E, it is possible to forcibly open, e.g. disengage the fit-engagement body 2 by disengaging the engagement between recesses and protrusions of first and second fit engagement portions. Although, in the shown example, the releasing cutout portions 3E are provided at both longitudinal end portions of the fit-engagement body 2, it is also possible to provide the releasing cutout portion 3E solely at one side of the end portions. Furthermore, apart from forming the releasing cutout portion 3E in a width allowing insertion of a fingertip, it is also possible to form the releasing cutout portion 3 by cutting out a part of the fit-engagement body 2. Thus, a releasing cutout portion 3E permits opening of the fit-engagement body 2 with a fingertip, or other means.

(13) The packaging bag P of an embodiment of the present invention is a packaging bag P provided with zippers releasably engaging the opening P1 by the fit-engagement strength of the fit-engagement body 2 (See FIGS. 1 and 4). That is, the present invention provides a zipper unit and packaging bag P incorporating a zipper unit comprising a locking zipper 10 and a sealing zipper 20 at the opening P1.

(14) Thus, the locking zipper 10 may be selected from a locking zipper as defined herein, such as a locking zipper 10 shown in FIG. 1 or a locking zipper 10 shown in FIG. 4. Regarding the sealing zipper 20, any type of conventionally used sealing zippers are sufficient.

(15) Preferably, by providing the locking zipper 10 as the first zipper at the opening P1 of the packaging bag P, the opening of the packaging bag by a child is hindered (See FIGS. 1, 2 and 5). Furthermore, by providing the sealing zipper 20 as the second zipper, closest to the inside P2 of the packaging bag P, and accessed only by opening or releasing locking zipper 10, the packaging bag P is sealed. Although, in the shown examples, the locking zipper 10 and the sealing zipper 20 are separately provided, these may also be provided integrally.

(16) The zipper unit described herein is applicable to all packaging bags in which both a locking zipper 10 and the sealing zipper 20 are concurrently used at the opening P1. Thus, in addition to the flat bag as shown in the drawings, the packaging bag of the present invention may be gusseted bags of various types, including, but limited to, bottom gusset or side gusset bags, with or without a flat-bottom configuration. Further, regarding the configuration, structure, size, contents, etc., of the packaging bag P, various modifications are possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

(17) P: Packaging bag P1: Opening P2: the inside of the packaging bag 1: Adhesion band member 2: Fit-engagement body 2A: Fit-engagement protrusion 2B: Fit-engagement recess 3: Releasing cutout portion 10: Locking zipper 20: Sealing zipper