Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SCORED TAMPER EVIDENT FASTENER TAPE
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims the benefit of United States (U.S.) Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 60/314,787, filed August 24, 2001. The present
application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
09/866,457, filed May 25, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S. Patent
Application
Serial No. 09/090,851, filed June 4, 1998, now U.S. Patent No. 6,257,763. All
of the
above-referenced applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention:
The present invention generally relates to reclosable bags, and more
specifically, but not exclusively, concerns sealed, tamper evident reclosable
bags.
Back ogr' und:
Various inventions have been made in the area of reclosable plastic bags
with slider zippers. For example, the Herrington U.S. Patent 5,007,143 shows a
zipper profile which is opened and closed by a slider that is grasped by the
user for
opening and closing the bag. It is desirable in certain situations to provide
tamper
evidence to the user of the reclosable bag. The Hustad et al. U.S. Patent
5,456,928
is an example of a patent disclosing a reclosable bag for use with food
products
which has tamper evident means incorporated therein. There are certain
situations,
for example, where a slider zipper reclosable bag is used to contain a product
that
is being marketed and it is also desirable to provide tamper evidence.
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Certain types of items, such as perishable foods, need to be hermetically
sealed within bags so as to prevent contamination. To ensure that contents of
the
bag have not been contaminated or tampered with by the bag being opened, such
bags typically incorporate some sort of tamper evident feature. Tear lines on
the
bags, for example, have been used as one type of tamper evident indicator. At
the
tear line, the walls of the bag are weakened to allow for tearing of the bag,
but the
walls are not punctured along the tear line so as to maintain a hermetic seal.
In one
technique to create the hermetically sealed tear line, the tear line is
thermally
treated in order to weaken the material along the tear line. For instance, one
technique uses a laser to heat and weaken layers of plastic sheets in the bag
as the
laser traverses along the tear line. As should be appreciated, through laser
scoring
a tamper evident tear line for hermetically sealed bags is able to be created.
However, laser scoring equipment can be too expensive for some vendors. In
addition, to ensure that the walls of the bag are not punctured, process
control
tolerances are required during laser scoring. Some bag manufacturers do not
have
the capability, environment, training, equipment and/or experience to be able
to
maintain appropriate control tolerances. Therefore, it is desirable for
vendors that
do not have the systems in place to produce hermetically sealed score lines to
be
able to produce hermetically sealed tamper evident bags with conventional
2o equipment.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the invention includes a plastic film bag having a pair of
side walls which define a mouth of the bag. There is provided a reclosable
fastener
extending along the mouth of the bag and secured to the side walls. The
fastener
includes a pair of flexible fastening strips secured to the side walls and
including
reclosable interlocking rib and groove profile elements on the respective
strips. A
slider straddles the fastener for opening and closing the fastener. The slider
includes a
1o depending separator extending between the flexible plastic strips. There is
also
provided a sheet of plastic film closing the mouth of the bag which sheet is
capable of
rupture to provide access and tamper evidence.
In an alternative embodiment, each of the pair of side walls of the plastic
film
bag has an upper region that forms a sheet of plastic film disposed between
the side
walls for closing the mouth of the bag.
In yet another embodiment, one of the pair of side walls of the plastic film
bag
is secured to the inner face of one of the pair of flexible plastic strips and
the other of
the pair of side walls is secured to the inner face of the other of the pair
of flexible
plastic strips. The sheet preferably forms at least one curved region. The
sheet allows
the flexible plastic strips to separate from each other a greater distance
when the rib
and groove profile elements are in a non-interlocked configuration. In another
embodiment, one of the pair of side walls is secured to an outer face of one
of the pair
of flexible plastic strips and the other of the pair of side walls is secured
to an outer
face of the other of the pair of flexible plastic strips.
A further embodiment concerns a reclosable fastener tape for a tamper evident
hermetically sealed bag. The fastener tape includes a first fastener strip and
a second
fastener strip. The first fastener strip and the second fastener strip have
mating
profiles constructed and arranged to mate with one another in a reclosable
fashion. A
sheet connects the first fastener strip to the second fastener strip. The
sheet has an
3o unpunctured tear line formed between the first fastener strip and the
second fastener
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strip for providing a tamper evident hermetic seal when the fastener tape is
sealed
with the bag.
In another embodiment, a reclosable hermetically sealed bag includes a
fastener
tape. The fastener tape has a first fastener strip and a second fastener strip
each
including profile elements for mating with one another in a reclosable
fashion. A
sheet seals the first fastener strip to the second fastener strip. The sheet
has at least
one laser scored tear line formed between the first fastener strip and the
second
fastener strip for providing a tamper evident seal. A bag portion is sealed to
the
fastener tape to form a sealed cavity.
1o A further embodiment concerns a method for making a tamper evident seal for
a
recloseable bag. In this method, first and second interlockable fastener
strips are
provided, and a first sheet of flexible film with first and second opposing
parallel
edges is provided. A first pattern of weakening is scored on the first sheet
spaced
apart from the first edge. A second pattern of weakening is scored on the
first sheet
spaced apart from the second edge. The first sheet of flexible film is
attached to the
first fastener strip after scoring the first pattern. The assembly of fastener
strips and
first sheet is provided for subsequent attachment to a second sheet of
flexible film.
In another embodiment, first and second interlockable fastener strips are
provided, and a sheet of flexible film with first and second opposing parallel
edges is
2o provided. A first pattern of weakening on the sheet is scored on the sheet.
A second
pattern of weakening on the sheet is scored on the sheet. The sheet of
flexible film is
attached to the first fastener strip after scoring the first pattern. The
sheet is folded to
form a bottom of the bag.
These and other embodiments for the present invention will be shown and
described in the Description of the Preferred Embodiment, the drawings, and
the
claims to follow.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a reclosable plastic bag including the
5 tamper evident zipper slider of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the structure of FIG.
1.
FIG. 2A is a view similar to FIG. 2 of an alternative embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the
direction of
1o the arrows.
FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 in the
direction of
the arrows.
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the slider of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. S in the direction of the
arrows.
FIG. 7 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 3 of an alternative embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 7A is a front elevation similar to FIG. 1 of the alternative embodiment
of
the present invention.
FIG. 7B is a view similar to FIG. 7 of an alternative embodiment of the
present
invention.
FIG. 7C is a view similar to FIG. 7A of a further alternative embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a vertical section taken through the zipper slider and the bag of
FIG.
1.
FIG. 8A is a view similar to FIG. 8 of an alternative embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 8.
FIG. 9A is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 8A.
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8 of an alternative embodiment of the
present
invention.
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FIG. 10A is a view similar to FIG. 10 of a further alternative embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective sectional view of an alternative
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 of a further alternative embodiment of
the
present invention.
FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 of another alternative embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 of a further alternative embodiment of
the
present invention.
FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 of another alternative embodiment of the
present mvenrion.
FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 of a further alternative embodiment of
the
present invention.
FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of a reclosable flexible bag including a
tamper evident zipper slider according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of the reclosable bag of FIG. 17 as taken
along line 18-18 of FIG. 17.
FIG. 19 is a cross sectional, perspective view of a reclosable bag according
to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 20 is a front elevational view of a reclosable plastic bag including a
tamper evident zipper slider according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 21A is a cross sectional view of the reclosable bag of FIG. 20 as taken
along line 21-21 of FIG. 20.
FIG. 21B is a cross sectional view of a reclosable bag according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 22A is a plan, unfolded view of the flexible sheet of the bag of FIG.
21 A.
3o FIG. 22B is a plan, unfolded view of the flexible sheet of the bag of FIG.
21B.
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FIG. 23 is front elevational view of a hermetically sealed, reclosable
fastener tape according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 24 is a plan, unfolded view of a flexible sheet used in the FIG. 23
fastener tape.
FIG. 25 is a cross sectional view of the FIG. 23 fastener tape as taken along
line XXV-XXV of FIG. 23.
FIG. 26 a cross sectional view of the FIG. 23 fastener tape attached to the
side walls of a bag.
FIG. 27 is a cross sectional view of a reclosable bag incorporating a
to hermetically sealed, tamper evident fastener tape according to another
embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 28 is a front elevational view of a hermetically sealed, tamper evident
fastener tape according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 29 is a plan, unfolded view of the flexible sheet incorporated in the
FIG. 28 fastener tape.
FIG. 30 is a cross sectional view of the FIG. 28 fastener tape as taken along
line XXX-XXX of FIG. 28.
FIG. 31 is a cross sectional view of a reclosable bag incorporating the FIG.
28 fastener tape.
FIG. 32 is a cross sectional view of a reclosable bag incorporating a
hermetically sealed, tamper evident fastener tape according to further
embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 33 is a schematic process diagram illustrating techniques for
manufacturing reclosable bags according to other embodiments of the present
invention.
FIG. 34 is a schematic process diagram illustrating techniques for
manufacturing fastener tapes according to other embodiments of the present
invention.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODllVIENTS
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the
invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the
drawings
and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless
be
understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby
intended, such
alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such
further
applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being
contemplated
as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention
relates.
A number of embodiments of the present invention are shown in detail,
although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some
features that
are not relevant to the present invention may not be shown for the sake of
clarity.
Examples of recloseable bags have been describe in a number of references,
including: U.S. Patent No. 5,956,924 to Thieman; U.S. Patent No. 6,257,763 to
Stolmeier et al.; U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/107,694, filed March
27,
2002; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/389,860, filed
6/18/02,
all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
2o Referring now to the drawings in detail, a plastic bag 11 is illustrated
which
consists of a pair of side walls 12 and 13 which are connected together at the
bottom
and at the sideward edges 16 and 17 of the bag. The connection at the bottom
15 may
be merely by folding a single sheet of plastic to produce the two side walls
12 and 13
or may be actual melting and cutting or adhering the two side walls together
by
adhesive. The side edges 16 and 17 are frequently formed by melting the two
side
walls together and then by cutting apart from the adjacent side walls of
further bags
being produced. The two side walls 12 and 13 define a mouth 20 of the bag
along
which a reclosable fastener 21 extends. The fastener includes a pair of
flexible plastic
strips 22 and 25 which are secured to the side walls 12 and 13 and include
reclosable
3o interlocking rib and groove profile elements 26, 27, 30, and 31. The
reclosable
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fastener further includes a flange 32 which functions to close over the top of
the
fastener when it is in closed position.
A slider 35 is arranged to straddle the fastener 21 for opening and closing
the
fastener. The slider 35 has a fixed separator member 36 which extends down
between
the profile elements 26 and 30 for the purpose of separating them and opening
the
fastener when the slider is moved rightwardly as viewed in FIG. 2. FIG. 3
shows the
slider section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and shows the profile
elements in
open condition. When the slider is moved leftwardly as viewed in FIG. 2 the
slider
functions to close the profile elements and to connect them as shown in FIG.
4. The
1o connection occurs by reason of the walls 37 of the slider squeezing the
profile
elements together. The embodiment depicted in FIG. 2A is identical to that
shown in
FIG. 2 with the exception that side walls 12 and 13 are attached to flexible
plastic
strips 22 and 25, respectively, such that interference of the side walls with
slider 35 is
minimized.
The slider is retained on the fastener elements by shoulders 43 and 44 which
are
also formed on the fastener elements. The slider has inwardly projecting
flanges 38
which engage the shoulders 43 and 44 to retain the slider on the fastener.
Referring to FIG. 8 the reclosable fastener has formed homogeneously and
coextensively therewith a sheet of plastic 40. This sheet of plastic 40 may be
extruded
2o along with the fastener elements 22 and 25 but has a somewhat less thick
construction
than the strips 22 and 25 and particularly the web portion thereof 41 and 42.
The
embodiment shown in FIG. 8A is identical to that shown in FIG. 8 with the
exception
that side walls 12 and 13 are attached to flexible plastic strips 22 and 25,
respectively,
such that interference of the side walls with the slider (not shown) is
minimized.
It is intended that the present bag be used frequently in situations where the
bag
is filled at the factory with a product and then is marketed to the consumer.
The
consumer then buys the bag and is reassured that it has not been tampered with
because the closure 40 is in place and needs to be ruptured before the
consumer can
use the contents of the bag. If the consumer does not wholly consume the
contents, he
3o can then reclose the bag and use it further to contain the partially filled
bag.
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An alternative embodiment of the reclosable fastener of FIG. 8 is shown in
FIG.
10 and involves a tamper evidence closure 50 that extends between the walls or
webs
41' and 42' of the reclosable fastener elements 22' and 25'. The construction
of FIG.
10 is extruded in a similar fashion to the construction of FIG. 8. The
embodiment
5 shown in FIG. 10A is identical to that shown in FIG. 10 with the exception
that side
walls 12 and 13 are attached to flexible plastic strips 22' and 25',
respectively, such
that interference of the side walls with the slider (not shown) is minimized.
Still another alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS.
7
and 7A. The reclosable closure and slider are identical to those above
described
10 except that the sheet 40 is eliminated. In place of the sheet 40, the
tamper evident
slider of FIG. 7 has a sheet 60 which forms a hood that covers and surrounds
the
reclosable closure 70 and the slider 71 of the bag of FIGS. 7 and 7A. In
certain
situations, the embodiment of FIG. 7 will be provided with perforations 72
which
facilitate removing the tamper evident sheet 60. If desired, perforations may
also be
provided in the embodiment of FIG. 8 such as for example at the location 61.
The
embodiment depicted in FIG. 7B is identical to that shown in FIG. 7 with the
exception that sheet 60 is attached to side walls 12 and 13 and perforations
72 have
been relocated. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7C is identical to that shown in
FIG.
7A with the exception that the length of sheet 60 is decreased so that its
edges are
coextensive with the sideward edges 16' and 17' of the bag.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the side wall 113 is secured to outer face
81 of flexible plastic strip 125 at region 102 and side wall 112 is secured to
outer face
80 of flexible plastic strip 122 at a similar location (not shown). The side
walls may
be secured to the flexible plastic strips by methods known in the art,
including heat
sealing and use of adhesives. The regions of the side walls closest to
shoulders 143
and 144, upper regions 90 and 91 of side walls 112 and 113, respectively, form
a sheet
of plastic film 100 disposed between the side walls that acts as a tamper-
evident
closure.
In forming film 100, each of the pair of side walls 112 and 113 folds over
itself
3o as seen at upper regions 90 and 91. Film 100 typically extends along planes
parallel
to a plane passing between inner face 82 and outer face 80 of flexible plastic
strip 122
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and a plane passing between inner face 83 and outer face 81 of flexible
plastic strip
125. However, film 100 may also extend along planes oblique or a plane
perpendicular to a plane passing between inner face 82 and outer face 80 of
flexible
plastic strip 122 and a plane passing between inner face 83 and outer face 81
of
flexible plastic strip 125 in this and the other embodiments discussed. Film
100
preferably has at least one curved region 101. The length of side walls 112
and 113
that form film 100 is typically that which allows the flexible plastic strips
to separate
from each other a greater distance when the rib and groove profile elements
126, 127,
130 and 131 are in a non-interlocked configuration and can be determined by
one
to skilled in the art. In this way, film 100 acts as a gusset, thus allowing
easier access to
the film of plastic film bag 111.
The sheet of plastic film 100 preferably has a plurality of perforations 175
for
facilitating its rupture. The plurality of perforations 175 is preferably
located in
curved region 101 but may be located at other places on film 100 as one
skilled in the
art would appreciate. Alternatively, film 100 may be ruptured by cutting.
The embodiment depicted in FIG. 12 is identical to that shown in FIG. 11 with
the exception that curved region 101 of film 100 is replaced by a double layer
of film
joined together and defining a seal 130 that extends along the width of film
100 and
film 100 extends along planes oblique to a plane passing between inner face 82
and
outer face 80 of flexible plastic strip 122 and a plane passing between inner
face 83
and outer face 81 of flexible plastic strip 125. Seal 130 may involve the two
ends of
film being secured together or may involve collapsing and sealing curved
region 101.
Base 131 of seal 130 may be weakened as a result of formation of the seal and
may
allow one to grasp and tear the seal to open bag 111. The ability to tear seal
130 to
rupture film 100 will depend on the film thickness and the extent to which
formation
of seal 130 has weakened base 131 of the seal or the area around the base of
the seal.
Alternatively, a plurality of perforations 175 may be placed near or along
base 131 of
seal 130 to aid in rupturing the film. Film 100 may also be ruptured by
cutting.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. i3, side wall 212 is secured to inner face 82
of flexible plastic strip 122 and side wall 213 is secured to inner face 83 of
flexible
plastic strip 125. The regions of the side walls closest to profile element
127, upper
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regions 190 and 191 of side walls 212 and 213, respectively, form a sheet of
plastic
film 200 disposed between the side walls. Film 200 is further disposed between
the
flexible plastic strips 122 and 125. Film 200 preferably has at least one
curved region.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, film 200 has three curved regions 201a-
201c
and includes a U-shaped region 202 that functions as a gusset as described
above.
Film 200 and slider 35 (not shown in this figure) will not interfere with each
other in
this and similar embodiments (e.g., FIGS. 14 and 15) and the necessity of
sealing two
layers of film 200 is avoided.
The sheet of plastic film 200 preferably has a plurality of perforations 275
for
to facilitating its rupture. The plurality of perforations 275 is preferably
located in any of
the curved regions 201a-201c but may be located at other places on film 200 as
one
skilled in the art would appreciate. Alternatively, film 200 may be ruptured
by
cutting.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 14 is similar to that shown in FIG. 13 except
that only one curved region 301 is present. Side walls 212 and 213 are secured
to
inner faces 82 and 83 of flexible plastic strips 122 and 125, respectively, in
a region of
the side walls closer to profile element 127, upper regions 290 and 291 of
side walls
212 and 213, respectively. This configuration allows for minimal spreading of
fastener 121. That is, the flexible plastic strips of fastener 121 minimally
spread from
each other when the rib and groove profile elements 126, 127, 130 and 131 are
in a
non-interlocked configuration. Moreover, less excess film is present in this
embodiment, thus minimizing interference of the film with the fastener.
The sheet of plastic film 300 preferably has a plurality of perforations 375
for
facilitating its rupture. The plurality of perforations 375 is preferably
located at
curved region 301 but may be located at other places on film 300 as one
skilled in the
art would appreciate. Alternatively, film 300 may be ruptured by cutting.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 15 is similar to that shown in FIG. 14 with the
exception that the region of side walls 212 and 213 that are secured is more
distant
from profile element 127 than the region of side walls secured in the
embodiment
shown in FIG. 14. Specifically, region 203 of side wall 212 is secured to
inner face 82
of flexible plastic strip 122 and similar region (not shown) of side wall 213
is secured
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to inner face 83 of flexible plastic strip 125. One other difference in this
embodiment
compared to that shown in FIG. 14 is that curved region 301 is replaced by a
double
layer of film joined together and defining a seal 230 that extends along the
width of
film 200. Seal 230 may involve the two ends of film being secured together or
may
involve collapsing and sealing curved region 301 in FIG. 14. Furthermore, it
can be
seen that film 200 extends along planes oblique to a plane passing between
inner face
82 and outer face 80 of flexible plastic strip 122 and a plane passing between
inner
face 83 and outer face 81 of flexible plastic strip 125.
As in the embodiment shown in FTG. 12, base 231 of seal 230 may be weakened
to as a result of formation of the seal and may allow one to grasp and tear
the seal to
open bag 211. Alternatively, a plurality of perforations 276 may be placed
along base
231 of seal 230 to aid in rupturing the film. Film 200 may also be ruptured by
cutting.
FIG. 16 depicts a plastic film bag wherein side wall 12 is secured to outer
face
80 of flexible plastic strip 122 and side wall 13 is secured to outer face 81
of flexible
plastic strip 125. A sheet of plastic film 400 is disposed between side walls
12 and 13
and, in this embodiment, is also disposed between the pair of flexible plastic
strips
122 and 125. Film 400 preferably has at least one curved region 401 and is
typically
secured to the pair of flexible plastic strips 122 and 125 by adhesive strips
402 and
403, respectively. However, film 400 may be secured to the pair of flexible
plastic
strips by other methods known in the art, including heat sealing.
As discussed when describing the other embodiments, film 400 may have a
plurality of perforations 475 for facilitating its rupture or may simply be
cut through.
Alternatively, depending on the strength of the adhesive used, film 400 may be
manually removed for entry into the bag.
It is to be noted that the sheet of flexible plastic film disposed between the
side
walls can have regions other than curved regions, including pleats and other
forms of
folds that will act as a gusset.
FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate side elevational and cross sectional views,
respectively, of a flexible, reclosable bag 611 according to another
embodiment of the
present invention. The use of an "N" hundred series prefix (NXX) with an
element
number (XX) refers to an element that is the same as the non-prefixed element
(XX)
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previously described or depicted, except for the differences which are
described or
depicted hereafter.
Container 611 includes a sheet 600 of flexible plastic film with side edges
616
and 617 and bottom 615. A reclosable fastener 621 extends across a mouth 620
at the
top of bag 611. Reclosable fastener 621 includes a pair of flexible plastic
strips 622
and 625 which are secured at their ends to sides 616 and 617 by a pair of
fused
endstops 618. Each side 616 and 617 includes a fused border 616' and 617',
respectively, which extend from the bottom of bag 615 to endstops 618. A fused
zone
615' extends along the bottom edge 615 of bag 11, and fuses together the loose
ends
of side walls 612 and 613.
A slider 635 is slidably coupled to fastener strips 622 and 625, slider 635
being
adapted and configured to close and open the fastener strips of mouth 621. As
best
seen in FIG. 18, fastener strip 622 includes a pair of inwardly pointing
profile
elements 626 and 627. Fastener strip 625 includes a more closely spaced pair
of
outwardly pointing profile elements 630 and 631. Sliding movement of slider
635 in
a closing direction engages profile elements 630 and 631 between profile
elements
626 and 627 to close bag 611.
Referring to FIG. 18, side walls 612 and 613 extend upward from bottom 615
toward the outer surfaces of fastener strips 622 and 625, respectively. Each
side wall
2o folds over itself and forms a curved region 601 beneath and between
fastener strips
622 and 625. Side walls 612 and 613 are fused to respective fastener strips
622 and
625 in a fused zone 602 that extends lengthwise along bag 611. Curved region
601
includes a tear line 675 that extends across the length of bag 611, curved
region 601
acting as a tamper evident seal. Tear line 675 can include a series of
perforations, or
for those embodiments in which hermeticity is required, it can include a line
of
weakening which does not perforate completely through the thickness of sheet
600.
In order to gain access to the contents of bag 611, the user separates the
mouth
of the bag, moves slider 635 to unlock the fastener strips, and tears through
line of
weakening 675 of curved region 601. Curved region 601 separates along line of
3o weakening 675, allowing easy access to the contents of bag 611. Since
curved region
601 extends completely to and is fused with regions 616' and 617', it is
possible to
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achieve a hermetic tamper evident seal that extends from side to side. Opening
of the
tamper evident seal does not affect the integrity of any bag components that
are fused
together at regions 616' or 617'.
In some embodiments, sheet 600 comprises a plurality of layers which are
5 simultaneously formed together in a coextrusion process. For example, sheet
600 may
be coextruded including an oxygen barrier layer 600c fabricated from a
material such
as ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOIT) which assists in maintaining hermeticity of
the
interior of bag 611. Further, film 600 may include an inner layer 600a which
adheres
well to itself during fusion processes, and another layer 600b which does not
adhere
10 well to itself. With this selection of layers, it is possible to create the
fused areas 602
such that the folded-over side wall adheres well to itself (between adjacent
layers
600a) and also to the material of the fastener strips, but which does not
adhere to itself
throughout curved region 601 (between adjacent layers 600b).
Tear line 675 may be formed by a variety of methods. For example, tear line
15 675 may be perforated by heat and/or mechanical means. In a more preferred
embodiment, tear line 675 does not include perforations, and instead is a line
of
weakness which maintains hermeticity without perforations. For example, a line
of
weakness 675 can be fabricated using a laser which weakens one or more layers
of
sheet 600 as the laser traverses along its path. In some embodiments, film 600
includes one or more layers chosen to selectively absorb the particular
wavelength of
energy emitted by the laser, and can also include one or more layers which
transmit
the laser light without absorption. The absorbing layers are thereby heated
more by
the laser than the transmitting layers, and are thus weakened by the heating.
FIG. 19 illustrates a cross sectional and perspective view of a bag 711
according
to another embodiment of the present invention. Bag 711 is substantially the
same as
bag 611, except that bag 711 includes fastener strips 722' and 725' which
incorporate
a different orientation of profile elements 626, 627, 730 and 731. It is
understood that
the various sheet, bag, and tamper evident seal configurations shown herein
can be
used with a variety of different reclosable fastener elements. In addition, it
is noted
that curved area 701 of film 700 can be oriented downward, as shown in FIG.
19, and
can also be oriented upward as shown in FIG. 11.
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FIGS. 20, 21A, and 22A illustrate various aspects of a flexible, reclosable
bag
811 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Container 811
includes a sheet 800 of flexible plastic film with side edges 816 and 817 and
folded
bottom 815 (not shown). A reclosable fastener 821 extends across a mouth 820
near
the top of bag 811. Reclosable fastener 821 includes a pair of flexible
plastic strips
822 and 825 which are secured at their ends to sides 816 and 817 by a pair of
fused
endstops 818. Each side 816 and 817 includes a fused border 816' and 817',
respectively, which extend from the bottom of bag 815 to bag mouth 820.
A slider 835 is slidably coupled to fastener strips 822 and 825, slider 835
being
adapted and configured to close and open the fastener strips of mouth 821. As
best
seen in FIG. 21A, fastener strip 822 includes a pair of profile elements 826
and 827
and fastener strip 825 includes a pair of profile elements 830 and 831.
Sliding
movement of slider 835 in a closing direction engages profile elements 830 and
831
with profile elements 826 and 827 to close bag 811.
Sheet 800 of bag 811 is preferably folded along bottom 815, and includes fused
zones 816' and 817' along sides 816 and 817, respectively, extending from
bottom
815 toward mouth 820 at the top of container 811. As best seen referring to
FIG.
21A, sides 812 and 813 are fused to their respective fastener strips along
lengthwise
fused zones 802. The open edges of sheet 811 extend upward past the profile
2o elements of the fastener strips 822 and 825, forming a hooded enclosure 860
joined at
the top along lengthwise fused zone 820'. Hood 860 extends from fused zone
816' to
817', and preferably completely encloses the slider and fastener strips of bag
811.
Referring to FIG. 20, tear line 875 comprises portions 875a, 875b, and 875c
which extend from side to side of the bag, and both above and below the slider
and
profile elements as will be described. Bag 811 includes a tear line 875a along
the
length of hood 860. Tear line 875a extends inwardly from each fused zone 816'
and
817' at a location between top most fused zone 820' and fused endstops 818. A
transition portion 875b of tear line 875 extends from upper portion 875a at an
angle
downward in hood 860 past the slider and profile elements to a central, lowest
portion
875c. Portion 875c extends between the bottom profile element of the fastener
strips
and fusion zone 802. Tear line 875 is thus a non-linear pattern of weakening,
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comprising a plurality of linear portions or sections which are not on a
single straight
path. Although substantially linear portions 875a, 875b, and 875c have been
shown
and described, the present invention also contemplates those embodiments in
which
one or more portions or sections of the tear line are curved.
In order to gain access to the contents of bag 811, the user tears off the top
part
of hood 860. Hood 860 separates along line of weakening 875, allowing easy
access
to slider 835 and to the contents of bag 811 along the central portion 875c of
the
ruptured hooded enclosure. By placing line of weakness 875a above endstop 818,
it is
possible to achieve a hermetic tamper evident seal that extends from side to
side.
1o Removal of the top portion of hooded enclosure 860 does not affect the
integrity of
various bag components that are fused together at endstop 818.
Tear line 875 includes a series of perforations, or for those embodiments in
which hermeticity is required, a line of weakening which does not perforate
completely through the thickness of sheet 800. Tear line 875 may be formed by
a
15 variety of methods, as previously discussed for tear line 675. For example,
tear line
875 may be perforated by heat and/or mechanical means. In a more preferred
embodiment, tear line 875 is fabricated using a laser which weakens one or
more
layers of sheet 800 as the laser traverses along its path. Further, film 800
may
comprise a plurality of layers which are simultaneously formed together in a
20 coextrusion process, such as that previously described for sheet 600.
In one embodiment, the sheet 800 of bag 811 is fabricated from a continuous
sheet 803, which is shown in FIG. 22A. Tear lines 875 are introduced in a
preferably
repetitive pattern onto continuous sheet 803 and preferably in the unfolded
state. Tear
lines 875 are preferably located on sheet 800 generally parallel to the edges
of the
25 sheet, and spaced apart from the edge of the sheet so as to provide an
unscored region
along the edge for subsequent attachment to a fastener strip and/or second
sheet of
film. In one embodiment, each tear line 875 is further equally spaced apart
from
either the fold line or center line of the sheet of film. In one embodiment,
sheet 803
includes a plurality of sensor marks 877. Sensor mark 877 is sensed by a
sensor such
3o as an optical pick-up or conductivity probe. The passing of sensor mark 877
past the
sensor triggers the movement of the device which creates tear line 875, such
as the
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laser, so that the desired tear-off pattern is produced. After continuous film
803 has
been scored or perforated in the appropriate pattern, the continuous film is
severed
into separate portions 800 at bag-length intervals that are subsequently
folded to make
the side walls of container 811.
A bag 811' according to another embodiment of the present invention, which is
formed from sheet 800', will now be described with reference to FIGS. 21B and
22B.
In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 22B, both tear lines 875 are formed
on side
812' of the sheet 800', and no tear lines 875 are formed on side 813' of the
sheet 800'.
The sheet 800' is folded along fold line 815 and attached to fastener strips
822 and
825 to form bag 811'. Referring to FIG. 21B, edge 805 of side 813' of the
sheet 800'
is sealed to fastener strip 825 at fused zone 802. Side 812' of the sheet 800'
is sealed
to fastener strip 822 at fused zone 812.2'. Side 812' of the sheet 800' is
folded over to
form a hood 860', and due to the folding, both tear lines 875 are
substantially aligned
with and opposite to one another. Edge 804 of the sheet is attached to
fastener strip
825 at fused zone 806, thereby forming the closed bag 811'. The user gains
access to
bag 811' by tearing the upper half of the hood 860' along the tear lines 875.
Techniques for forming bags 811 and 811' will now be described with reference
to FIG. 33. In the illustrated embodiment, fastener strips 822 and 825 are
supplied on
rolls 1222 and 1225, respectively. In another embodiment, fastener strips 822
and 825
2o are supplied together on a single roll. As should be appreciated, fastener
strips 822
and 825 can be supplied in other manners as would be contemplated by those
skilled
in the art.
In the technique for manufacturing the bag 811 illustrated FIGS. 20, 21A and
22A, sheet 800 is supplied from roll 1200. In station 1201, the tear lines 875
are
formed on the sheet 800 in the pattern as illustrated in FIG. 22B. Following
station
1201, the now scored sheet 800 in station 1202 is attached to fastener strip
825 and
folded to form the bottom 815 of the bag 811 in the manner as described above.
In
station 1203, the sheet 800 is then attached to fastener strip 822 and the
edges 804,
805 are sealed together at zone 820' to form the closed bag 811. It should be
3o understood that stations 1201, 1202 and/or 1203 can be combined together,
and also
that some details of the process (welding stations, guiding rollers, etc.)
have not been
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shown for sake of clarity. In another embodiment, the scoring of the sheet in
station
1201 occurs after the sheet 800 is attached to fastener strips 822 and 825 in
stations
1202 and 1203.
In the technique for manufacturing the bag 811' illustrated FIGS. 21B and 22B,
sheet 800' is supplied from roll 1200. In station 1201, the sheet 800' is
scored to form
tear lines 875' in the pattern as illustrated in FIGS. 22B and as described
above. After
tear lines 875' are formed in the sheet 800', edge 805 of sheet 800' is sealed
to
fastener strip 825 at fused zone 802 in station 1202. Sheet 800' is then
folded to form
the bottom 815 of the bag 811'. In station 1203, side 812' of the sheet 800'
is sealed
to fastener strip 822 at fused zone 812.2'. Side 812' of the sheet 800' is
folded over to
form a hood 860' such that the tear lines 875 are substantially aligned with
one
another. Edge 804 of the sheet is attached to fastener strip 825 at fused zone
806,
thereby forming the closed bag 811'. It should be appreciated that stations
1201, 1202
an/or 1203 can be combined together. In another embodiment, the scoring in
station
1201 occurs after the bag is formed in stations 1202 and 1203. In some
embodiments
of the present invention, a slider is attached to the fastener profiles at any
point in the
process where the fastener strips are generally interlocked together.
In the embodiments described below, a hermetically sealed, tamper evident
fastener tape is created such that the fastener tape can be supplied to
customers who
do not have the systems in place to produce hermetically sealed score lines.
The
fastener tape according to the present invention allows customers to create
hermetically sealed tamper evident bags without incurring the cost of
expensive
equipment, such as laser scoring equipment. The tape can be made for use with
gusseted slider bags as disclosed above and/or with other types of
hermetically sealed
packaging that need tamper evident reclosable fasteners. The tape includes a
film
layer that is pre-scored and applied to the zipper on both flanges. This tape
can be
rolled onto a spool and shipped to the customer for use in their facilities.
In one
embodiment, once the customer receives the fastener tape, the customer is able
to seal
standard film to the tape and apply a slider to the finished package. In one
form of the
present invention, to use the package, the consumer opens the zipper with the
slider.
Upon first entry into the bag, the customer breaks an inner, laser scored
membrane by
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pulling the two sides of the zipper apart. After the membrane is broken the
first time,
it cannot be resealed. In another form of the present invention, the laser
scored tear
line is formed on an outside hood of the package. The consumer must first tear
the
package along the laser scored line in order to gain access to the package.
Although
5 laser scoring has been shown and described, the present invention
contemplates
mechanical methods of scoring, including puncturing methods of scoring.
A reclosable fastener tape 921 according to one embodiment of the present
invention is illustrated in FIGS. 23-25. As shown in FIG. 25, the fastener
tape 921
includes a pair of fastener strips 922. Fastener strips 922 and 925 are
designed to
10 mate with one another in a reclosable fashion. As illustrated, fastener
strip 922
includes a pair of inwardly pointing profile elements 926 and 927. Similarly,
flexible
fastener strip 925 includes a pair of outwardly pointing profile elements 930
and 931.
The outwardly pointing profile elements 930 and 931 are configured to be
received
between and lock with the inwardly pointing profile elements 926 and 927 in
order to
15 form a reclosable seal. Both strips 922 and 925 include upper sealing
members or
flanges 932, which provide a clean appearance when elements 926, 927, 930 and
931
are interlocked with one another. As should be appreciated, other types of
mating
profiles can be used to form the reclosable seal.
As shown in FIG. 23, fastener strips 922 and 925 are joined to one another
20 through a sheet or membrane 940. In one form of the present invention,
sheet 940 is
formed from a sheet of flexible plastic that extends below fastener strips 922
and 925.
Sheet 940 can be attached to the fastener strips 922 and 925 in manners as
generally
know to those skilled in the art, such as through heat sealing and/or through
adhesives,
to name a few. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 23, sheet 940 is attached
to
inner faces 982 of the fastener strips 922 and 925 at regions 902. As should
be
appreciated, sheet 940 in other embodiments can be attached to outer faces 980
of the
fastener strips 922 and 925 (FIG. 27), or sheet 940 can be integrally formed
with the
fastener strips 922 and 925 (FIG. 9).
Refernng to FIG. 24, in one embodiment, a line of weakness or tear line 975 is
formed on sheet 940, when in an unfolded state. In order to provide a hermetic
seal,
sheet 940 is not punctured along the tear line 975, but rather, sheet 940 is
weakened
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21
along the tear line 975. Sheet 940 along the tear line 975 can be weakened
using a
number techniques. For instance, the tear line 975 in the illustrated
embodiment is
thermally weakened by laser scoring. With laser scoring, the tear line 975 is
fabricated using a laser, which weakens one or more layers of sheet 940 as the
laser
traverses along the path for the tear line 975. In one form, sheet 940
includes one or
more layers chosen to selectively absorb the particular wavelength of energy
emitted
by the laser, and also includes one or more layers which transmit the laser
light
without absorption. The absorbing layers are thereby heated more by the laser
than
the transmitting layers, and are thus weakened by the heating.
to Tear line 975 is able to provide a visual cue of whether or not the
hermetic seal
has been broken for a package that incorporates the fastener tape 921
according to the
present invention. For added security, the tear line 925 in the illustrated
embodiment
incorporates an audible cue of whether the seal has been broken. The depth
and/or
length of individual scores of the scoring pattern are intermittently
increased and
decreased along the tear line 975 so that a "zipping" sound is created as the
tear line
975 is initially torn open. As depicted in FIG. 24, the tear line 975
preferably has high
976 and low 977 score line areas at which the scoring depth is increased and
decreased, respectively. The high score line area 976 has a scoring depth that
is
greater than the scoring depth of the low score line area 977. In another
embodiment
of the present invention, the length of score line areas 976 and 977 can
differ from one
another. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the high score line area
976 has
a length that is longer than the length of the low score line area 977. This
scoring
pattern can be created through a number of techniques. Using the laser scoring
technique, this scoring pattern is created by intermittently increasing and
decreasing
the intensity of the laser as the laser scores the tear line 975 along sheet
940.
As mentioned above, the fastener tape 921 according to one embodiment of the
present invention is supplied to customers that do not have the capability or
equipment to form hermetically sealed tear lines for tamper evident reclosable
packaging. The fastener tape 921 of the present invention can be supplied to
the
3o customers in a number of forms. In one form, the fastener tape 921 is
formed as a
continuous strip that is rolled around a roll, which is then supplied to the
customer,
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with or without a preapplied slider. In another form, as illustrated in FIG.
23, the
fastener tape 921 is sold as discrete units with a slider 935 already
installed on the
fastener tape 921. In one embodiment, ends of the fastener tape are sealed to
one
another at fused end stops 918 that are formed along the fastener strips 922
and 925.
Refernng to FIG. 26, once the fastener tape 921 is received, the customer is
able
to attach side walls 912 and 913 to the outer faces 980 of the fastener strips
922 and
925, thereby forming a hermetically sealed bag 911. Sheet 940 and the sidewalk
912,
915 form a hermetically sealed cavity 959 in which items, such as perishables,
can be
stored. A person gains access to the items stored in cavity 959 by tearing
open sheet
l0 940 along tear line 975.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 27, sheet 940 is attached to the outer
faces
980 of the fastener strips 922 and 925. To create a hermetically sealed
package, the
customer attaches the sidewalls 912 and 913 to sheet 940 such that the
sidewalls 912
and 913 span across the tear line 975. As shown, the sidewalls 912 and 913 are
attached proximal to regions 902. However, it should be appreciated that the
sidewalls 912 and 913 can be attached at other locations, such as being
directly
attached to the fastener strips 922 and 925.
A reclosable fastener tape 1021 according to another embodiment of the present
invention is illustrated in FIGS. 28-30. As illustrated in FIG. 30, the
fastener tape
1021 includes a pair of fastener strips 922 and 925 that are adapted to mate
with one
another in a resealable fashion. A hood or sheet 1060 is connected to the
outer faces
980 of the fastener strips 922 and 925 at connection regions 1020. In the
illustrated
embodiment, the hood 1060 spans around fastener strips 922 and 925. In yet
other
embodiments of the present invention, sheet 1060 is connected by thermal
fusion to a
single face 980 of one of the fastener strips 922 or 925. This assembly of
fastener
strips and partially attached sheet 1060 can be provided for processing in a
subsequent
operation that attaches a second sheet of flexible film for the bag side
walls, and also
in which the free end of sheet 1060 is attached to the outer face 980 of the
other
fastener strip.
3o Referring to FIGS. 28-29, the hood 1060 has preferably unpunctured tear
lines
or areas of weakening.1075 in order to provide a tamper evident hermetic seal
when
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the fastener tape 1021 is incorporated into a package. In one form of the
present
invention, the tear lines 1075 are formed through laser scoring. As depicted
in FIG.
29, tear lines 1075 are formed on continuous sheet 1060, preferably with sheet
1060 in
an unfolded state. As shown, each tear line 1075 include portions 1075a,
1075b, and
1075c which extend from side to side along the fastener tape 1021, both above
and
below the slider and profile elements as will be described. At portions 1075a,
the tear
line 1075 extends between closed or folded end 1084 of the hood 1060 and the
profile
elements of the fastener strips 922 and 925, as is shown in FIG. 28.
Transition
portions 1075b of the tear line 1075 extend from portions 1075a at an angle
past the
to profile elements to portion 1075c. Portion 1075c extends between profile
elements
927 and 931 of the fastener strips and connection region 1020. In the manner
as
discussed above, sheet 1060 can be formed with sensor marks that direct the
position
of the laser along tear line 1075 in order to produce the desired tear-off
pattern.
In one form of the present invention, the fastener tape 1021 is formed as a
continuous strip, which is wrapped around a roll or folded and sold to
customers that
produce hermetically sealed bags. In the FIG. 28 embodiment, the fastener tape
1021
is formed as a discrete component that is sold to the customer. As
illustrated, the
fastener tape 1021 includes sealed end stops 1018 along with slider 935, which
is used
to open and seal the fastener strips 922 and 925. At the customer's facility,
side walls
912 and 913 can be attached to opposite ends of the hood so as to form a
hermetically
sealed bag 1011 (refer to FIG. 31). In those embodiments in which the hood
1060 has
not been completely attached to the outer faces of both fastener strips, the
customer
can slide the slider 935 onto one end of the fastener strips 922 and 925
before sealing
the bag 1011.
In order to gain access to the contents of bag 1011, the user tears off the
top part
of hood 1060. Hood 1060 separates along tear line 1075, allowing easy access
to
slider 935 and to the contents of bag 1011 along portion 1075c of the ruptured
hooded
enclosure. By placing portions 1075a of the tear line 1075 above end stops
1018, it is
possible to achieve a hermetic tamper evident seal that extends from side to
side.
3o Removal of the top portion of hood 1060 does not affect the integrity of
various bag
components that are fused together at end stops 1018.
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A fastener tape 1121 according to another embodiment of the present invention
is illustrated in FIG. 32. In this embodiment, hood 1160 is formed from two
separate
sheets 1160a and 1160b that are joined together at connection zone 1184. Each
sheet
1160a and 1160b has a non-perforated tear line tear line 1075 of the type
described
above. The fastener tape 1121 is shipped to the customer with the two sheet
1160a
and 1160b separate from one another. This construction allows the customer to
easily
insert the slider 935 over the fastener strips 922 and 925, and then the
customer is able
to seal sheets 11060a and 1160b together. Further, in this embodiment, the
customer
attaches sidewalk 912 and 913 to the inner faces 82 of fastener strips 922 and
925.
Techniques for manufacturing the fastener tapes 921,1021, 1121 illustrated in
FIGS. 23-32 will now be described with reference to FIG. 34. One embodiment,
fastener strips 922 and 925 are respectively supplied from supply rolls 1322
and 1325.
It is contemplated that the fastener strips 922 and 925 can be supplied in
other
manners. For instance, the fastener strips 922 and 925 can be supplied
together on a
single roll.
In the technique for manufacturing the fastener tape 921 of FIGS. 23-27, sheet
940 is supplied from roll 1300. However, it should be understood that sheet
940 can
be supplied in other fashions. Referring to FIGS. 34, the sheet 940 in station
1301 is
scored to have a tear line 975 in the pattern illustrated in FIG. 24. Sheet
940 is then
folded and attached to the fastener strips 922 and 925 in station 1302 so as
to form
fastener tape 921. After station 1302, the fastener tape 921 is rolled onto
roll 1321
and supplied to the customers for further processing. It should be appreciated
that the
fastener tape can be shipped to customers in other types of containers.
To manufacture the FIG. 30 fastener tape 1021, sheet or hood 1060 is supplied
from roll 1300, but it is contemplated that hood 1060 can be supplied in other
manners. Referring to FIG. 34, the tear line pattern 1075 of FIG. 29 is formed
on the
hood 1060 in station 1301. In some embodiments of the present invention, hood
1060
is attached to both fastener strips 922 and 925 at station 1302, such as by
heat or
ultrasonics. In other embodiments of the present invention, hood 1060 is
attached at
station 1302 to only one of the fastener strips. In this alternate embodiment,
the
assembly of fastener strips and partially attached sheet 1060 is provided to a
customer
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for subsequent attachment to a second sheet of flexible film, the second sheet
forming
the side walls of the bag. After one or both of the fastener strips 922 and
925 are
attached, the fastener tape 1021 can then be shipped to the customer. In yet
another
embodiment of the present invention, a slider is inserted onto the fastener
strips at
5 station 1304. With respect to the FIG. 32 fastener tape 1121, the separate
sheets
1160a and 1160b are scored in station 1301, and then the sheets 1160a and
1160b are
attached to one another in station 1302 to form hood 1160. Further, in station
1302,
the sheets 1160a and 1160b are attached to fastener strips 925 and 922,
respectively.
It should be appreciated that station 1301 can occur after station 1302 or can
be
to combined with station 1302 such that the scoring and attaching occurs
simultaneously.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the
drawings
and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and
not
restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred
embodiment has
been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come
within the
15 spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
