Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02308518 2000-OS-12
PACKAGE WITH A ZIPPER CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT OPERABLE BY
A SLIDER DEVICE AND HAVING A PEELABLE SEAL
Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure generally relates to closure arrangements for
packages. In particular, the present disclosure relates to closure
arrangements
having recloseable profiles and slider devices to open and close the profiles.
Background
Many packaging applications use resealable containers to store various
types of articles and materials. These packages may be used to store and ship
food
products, non-food consumer goods, medical supplies, waste materials, and many
other articles. Slider devices have been used to help open and close closure
profiles
on recloseable and/or resealable bags and other packages.
Resealable packages are convenient in that they can be closed and
resealed after the initial opening to preserve the enclosed contents. The need
to
locate a storage container for the unused portion of the products in the
package is
thus avoided. As such, providing products in resealable packages appreciably
enhances the marketability of those products.
Some perishable goods are sold to consumers already packaged in a
recloseable package. For example, cheese, meat or vegetable products can be
packaged in a bag with recloseable closure profiles so that after opening the
package,
it can be re-closed. Often these packages include tamper evident features to
inform
the consumer whether the package previously has been opened. Because of the
construction of these packages with recloseable closure profiles, it has been
difficult
to place tamper evident features on bags or packages that include a slider
device to
help open and close the recloseable closure profiles.
Improvements in packaging, that includes tamper evident features and
easily recloseable seals, are desirable.
CA 02308518 2000-OS-12
Summary of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a package, such as a flexible bag, having
a combination of a resealable, recloseable zipper closure mechanism and a
tamper
evident peelable seal. Opening and closing of the zipper closure mechanism is
accomplished by a slider device mounted on the zipper closure mechanism. The
slider device facilitates mating and unmating of the first and second profile
members
of the zipper closure. A peelable seal is positioned on the package between
the
zipper closure mechanism and the package interior. Access to the interior of
the
package interior, and any items packaged therein, cannot be gained until the
zipper
closure has been opened and the tamper evident peelable seal has been opened.
In particular, a package with a surrounding wall defining an interior and
with a mouth is disclosed; the mouth providing access to said package
interior. A
recloseable zipper closure having first and second interlockable closure
profiles is
positioned along the mouth for selective opening and closing of the mouth. A
slider
device is mounted on the zipper closure and is configured and constructed to
selectively interlock and disengage the first and second closure profiles so
as to open
and close the zipper closure. A peelable seal is positioned between the
recloseable
zipper closure and the package interior, so as to deny access to the package
interior
until the peelable seal is broken. A method of opening a package is also
provided.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible, recloseable package;
FIG. 2 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the flexible, recloseable
package depicted in FIG. 1 having a peelable seal;
FIG. 3 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a zipper closure
arrangement useable in recloseable packages depicted in FIGS. l and 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, schematic, cross-sectional fragment of a flexible
package having a further embodiment of a peelable seal;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged, schematic cross-sectional fragment of a flexible
package having another embodiment of a peelable seal; and
2
CA 02308518 2000-OS-12
FIG. 6 is an enlarged, schematic cross -sectional fragment of a flexible
package having yet another embodiment of a peelable seal.
Detailed Description
Attention is directed to FIGS. 1 and 2, which illustrate an example of a
packaging arrangement in the form of a resealable, flexible package 10 having
a
zipper closure 11 with first and second closure profiles 12, 14 and a slider
device 16
to open and close (mate and unmate) the profiles 12, 14.
The flexible package 10 includes first and second opposed panel sections
20, 22 made from flexible, polymeric film. For some manufacturing
applications,
the first and second panel sections 20, 22 are heat-sealed together along two
edges
24, 26 (FIG. 1) and meet at a fold line in order to form a three-edged
containment
section for a product within the interior 25 (FIG. 2) of the package 10. The
fold line
comprises the bottom edge 28. Alternatively, two separate panel sections 20,
22 of
polymeric film may be used and heat-sealed together along the two edges 24, 26
and
at the bottom edge 28. The package 10 may include pleats to allow expansion of
package 10 in width; a pleat in the bottom is commonly referred to as a
"bottom
gusset". Access is provided to the interior 25 of the package 10 through a
mouth 30
(FIG. 1). By "interior", it is meant the inner volume of the package
configured and
constructed to hold items. The "interior" of the package is defined by the
inner
surfaces 20a, 22a of first and second panel sections 20, 22 and by a permanent
bottom seal, for example bottom edge 28.
The zipper closure 11 may be selected from a variety of configurations
and structures. For example, the zipper closure 11 can be constructed
according to
U.S. Patent Nos. 4,240,241; 4,246,288; or 4,437,293; each of which is
incorporated
by reference herein.
In the particular zipper closure 11 shown in FIG. 3, the zipper closure 11
has first and second closure profiles 12, 14 in the form of a first profile
member 32
and second profile member 34. A first depending fin or flange 42 extends from
first
profile member 32, and a second depending fin or flange 44 extends from second
profile member 34. If the zipper closure 11 is formed separately from the
panel
3
CA 02308518 2000-OS-12
sections 20, 22 (FIG. 1 ), the first and second fins 42, 44 are attached,
typically
thermally fused, to inner surfaces 20a, 22a of the respective first and second
panel
sections 20, 22. Thermally fusing typically refers to the application of
pressure and
heat either or both of the panel sections 20, 22 and fins 42, 44.
Alternatively, the
zipper closure 11 may be extruded with the panel sections 20, 22 such that the
first
fin 42 is integrally formed with the first panel section 20, and the second
fin 44 is
integrally formed with the second panel section 22.
Refernng again to FIGS. 1 and 2, slider device 16, mounted on zipper
closure 11, engages and disengages first and second closure profiles 12, 14.
Slider
device 16 functions by facilitating the mating, engaging or interlocking
(closing) and
unmating (opening) of zipper closure 11, and is typically made from a molded
plastic material. When slider device 16 is slid in a first direction along
zipper
closure 11, slider device 16 closes closure profiles 12, 14 by pressing the
two
profiles 12, 14, in particular, first profile member 32 and second profile
member 34
(illustrated in FIG. 3) together so that they mate, providing a seal. When
slider
device 16 is slid in the opposite second direction, slider device 16 opens
profiles 12,
14 by providing a wedge between the two profiles 12, 14. First and second
closure
profiles 12, 14 can then be spread apart to provide access to the package
interior
through mouth 30. Slider devices and how they function to open and close
zipper
closures, in general, are taught, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,063,644;
5,301,394; 5,442,837, and 5,664,229, each of which is incorporated by
reference
herein. A preferred slider device is taught in U.S. patent applications
09/365,215
and 29/108,657, both filed July 30, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference
in
their entirety.
A tamper evident peelable seal is provided between zipper closure 11 and
package interior 25; the tamper evident seal provides evidence whether or not
the
recloseable package 10 has been previously opened. By "tamper evident", it is
meant that an attempt to breach the integrity of a seal is evidenced or shown
by a
distortion or destruction of the seal. By "peelable", it is meant that the
bonding
strength between the layers forming the peelable seal is less than the bonding
strength of other layers in the package 10, so that when a pulling force is
applied, the
4
CA 02308518 2000-OS-12
layers forming the peelable seal will break or peel apart before other
portions of
package 10. FIG. 2 illustrates a peelable seal SO in package 10 configured and
constructed to protect the interior 25 of package 10. FIGS. 4, 5 and 6
illustrate
specific examples of tamper evident peelable seals 50 as peelable seals 450,
550,
650, respectively, in packages 410, 510, 610, respectively. It will be
appreciated that
when peelable seal SO is undisturbed (that is, seal 50 has not been opened or
otherwise breached), access cannot be gained to the package interior 25 (FIG.
2).
Referring still to FIG. 2, peelable seal SO is positioned between zipper
closure 11 and package interior 25 and provides a seal that does not allow
access to
interior 25 of package 10 unless peelable seal 50 is opened. A cavity 15 may
be
created between peelable seal 50 and zipper closure 11, depending on the
structure
and position of peelable seal 50. It will be appreciated that cavity 1 S is
not the
intended receptacle for items to be stored within package 10.
It is possible to release first closure profile 12 from second closure profile
14 (i.e., open or unzip the zipper closure 11), however, peelable seal 50 will
remain
intact and retain the security of the contents of the package 10 by not
permitting
package 10 to be opened and access gained to the interior 25. Preferably,
peelable
seal 50 extends the entire width of package 10; that is, from edge 24 to edge
26
(FIG. 1), or at least the entire length of zipper closure 11.
Peelable seals are known in the packaging art, and examples of peelable
seals that may be useable with the package of the present disclosure are
taught in
U.S. Patent Nos. 4,923,309; 4,925,316; 5,425,825; 5,456,928; 5,470,156; and
5,733,636 the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. There
are
many general methods for providing peelable seals on a package 10 having first
and
second panel sections 20, 22. One approach is to provide a thin bead or layer
of
adhesive between panel section 20 and 22; the bonding strength of the adhesive
to
the interior surfaces 20a, 22a is less than the tearing strength of panels 20,
22.
Another approach is to adhere a multilayered film to each of interior surfaces
20a,
22a along the width of package 10 below zipper closure 11. This results in a
first
multilayered film on the interior surface 20a of the first panel section 20
and a
second multilayered film on the interior surface 22a of the second panel
section 22.
5
CA 02308518 2000-OS-12
A peelable seal 50 is formed by sealing, such as heat sealing, the first and
second
multilayered films to one another. Another approach is to adhere a layer of
film to
each of interior surfaces 20a, 22a or fins 42, 44 and to introduce a
contaminant to
one or both of the film layers. When the peelable seal 50 is formed by heat
sealing
the layers to one another, the bond between them is weak due to the surface
contamination. All of these peelable seals are broken or otherwise breached by
separating first and second panel sections 20, 22.
Peelable seal 50, no matter how constructed or applied, should provide a
seal across the width of package 10, or at least along the length of zipper
closure 11,
so that any tampering, vandalism, mutilation, or other attempts to access
interior 25
are readily discernible. When broken, peelable seal 50 may exhibit distortion,
a
color change, the emergence of graphics or the like, or may have an inability
to
reseal. Specific examples of various embodiments of a peelable seal 50 will
now be
described in reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.
FIG. 4 illustrates a package 410 having a zipper closure 411 with first
and second closure profiles 412, 414. Although not shown in FIG. 4, a slider
device
is used to engage and disengage first and second closure profiles 412, 414.
First
panel section 420 is thermally fused to first closure profile 412 and sealant
strip 426,
and second panel section 422 is thermally fused to second closure profile 414
at
preselected locations.
Package 410 further includes peelable seal 50, in particular a peelable
seal 450 having a T-shaped peelable strip 424 and a sealant strip 426, that
seals the
access to package interior 425. Peelable seal 450 provides a peelable feature
to
package 410 at the location 428. The T-shaped peelable strip 424 is composed
of
peelable material and includes a top portion 432 and a stem portion 434. The
stem
portion 434 is integrally formed with the top portion 432 and extends
perpendicular
to the center of the top portion 432. Non-sealable strips 421, 423 are
positioned
parallel to each other and are spaced from each other so as to form a gap 430
between strips 421, 23 and stem portion 434 of T-shaped peelable strip 424.
The
stem portion 434 projects into a gap 430 between the non-sealable strips 421,
423,
and the base of the stem portion 434 is attached to the inner surface of the
second
6
CA 02308518 2000-OS-12
closure profile 414. The sealant strip 426 is composed of low-temperature
sealant
material and is firmly attached to the outer (left) surface of the top portion
432 of the
peelable strip 424. Since the sealant strip 426 bonds readily to other
materials at low
temperatures, the sealant strip 426 acts as a bridge for attaching the first
panel
section 420 to the top portion 432 of the peelable strip 424. Alternatively,
the first
panel section 420 may be thermally fused directly to the top portion 432 of
the
peelable strip 424 by use of higher temperatures, greater pressure and/or
greater
dwell time during the heat sealing process.
FIG. 5 illustrates a package 510 with a zipper closure 511 having first
and second closure profiles 512, 514. Although not shown in FIG. 5, a slider
device
is used to engage and disengage first and second closure profiles 512, 514.
Package
510 further includes a peelable seal 50, in particular a peelable seal 550
having
peelable bands 566, 568 with each pair of peelable bands attached to each
other to
form individual peelable seals therebetween, to seal access to the package
interior
525. Non-sealable strips 560, 562, 564 surround the peelable bands 566, 568.
Therefore, one peelable seal is formed between the pair of peelable bands 566,
and
another peelable seal is formed between the pair of peelable bands 568.
The strength of the combined peelable seal is determined by the width of
the peelable bands 566, 568, the number of pairs of peelable bands 566, 568,
and the
material composition of the peelable bands 566, 568. The first and second
panel
sections 520, 522 that form the structure of package 510 are thermally fused
to the
respective fins 542, 544 of first and second closure profiles 512, 514 and
simultaneously, each member of the pairs of peelable bands 566, 568 is fused
to
each other. This fusion of opposing peelable bands 556, 568 creates the
individual
peelable seals. The pairs of non-sealable strips 560, 562, 564 surrounding
peelable
bands 556, 568 are composed of non-sealable material, and thus do not fuse
together.
FIG. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment of a package 610 having a
zipper closure 611 with engageable first and second closure profiles 612, 614.
Although not shown in FIG. 6, a slider device is used to engage and disengage
first
and second closure profiles 612, 614. Peelable seal 50, in particular peelable
seal
7
CA 02308518 2000-OS-12
650, seals access to package interior 625. The peelable seal 650 includes a
flat
peelable strip 690 attached to one of first and second closure profiles 612,
614; here,
peelable strip 690 is attached to second closure profile 614. First panel
section 620
is thermally fused to both first closure profile 612 and to the peelable strip
690. To
accommodate the peelable strip 690, the second closure profile 614, in
particular
second fin 644, is longer than first closure profile 612 and first fin 642.
Due to this
relatively large difference of the fin strip length, the second panel section
622 is
thermally fused to the second fin 644 at multiple locations to provide a firm
attachment therebetween. One surface of the peelable strip 690 is firmly
attached to
the second closure profile 614, for example by co-extruding the peelable strip
690
with the second closure profile 614 with second fin 644. If desired, a sealant
strip
may be interposed between the peelable strip 690 and the second fin 644. This
sealant strip, however, is not necessary to provide an effective bond between
the
peelable strip 690 and the second closure profile 614. As illustrated in FIG.
6, the
opposite surface of the peelable strip 690 is attached to the first panel
section 620 to
form a peelable seal 650.
Further details regarding various embodiments of peelable seals are
taught in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,923,309; 4,925,316; 5,425,825; 5,456,928;
5,470,156;
and 5,733,636.
When flexible package 10 (or any other package such as 410, 510, 610)
having zipper closure 11 operable by slider 16, is ready to be opened by the
purchaser of the package, slider device 16 is moved from a first position to a
second
position, so that slider device disengages first closure profile 12 from
second closure
profile 14 and opens zipper closure 11. This action will expose any cavity 15
and
peelable seal S0. To gain access to the items stored in package interior 25,
peelable
seal 50 must be broken. To break or otherwise open peelable seal S0, first
closure
profile 12 and second closure profile 14 of zipper closure 11 are grasped and
separated. This action of forcing the two closure profiles 12, 14 and the
attached
panel sections 20, 22 apart should break or otherwise breach peelable seal 50.
After
peelable seal 50 has been opened, access can be gained to the interior 25 of
package
10.
8
CA 02308518 2000-OS-12
When package 10 is resealed by closing zipper closure 11, peelable seal
50 does not return to its undistorted or undamaged state; rather, peelable
seal 50
evidences that the seal to the package interior 25 has been breached.
The above specification and examples are believed to provide a complete
description of the manufacture and use of particular embodiments of the
disclosure.
Many embodiments of the disclosure can be made.
9
