Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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POUCH WITH SLIDER AND GRIP MEMBERS
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable
REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR
DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable
SEQUENTIAL LISTING
[0003] Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present disclosure relates to a closure assembly, and more
particularly, to a
closure assembly having at least one grip member adjacent thereto and a slider
operationally
disposed thereon.
2. Description of the Background of the Invention
[0005] Closure assemblies in combination with sliders are well known to those
skilled in
the art. In one instance, a closure assembly includes spaced apart upper and
lower pairs of
interlocking profiles. A slider disposed on the closure assembly includes a
separator finger
that extends only between the upper pair of opposing interlocking profiles so
that the slider
does not separate the lower pair of profiles. When the slider is slid along
the closure
assembly in a first direction, the slider only opens the upper pair of
opposing interlocking
profiles. A user must then manually open the lower pair of opposing
interlocking profiles,
such as by pulling the profiles apart. When the slider is slid in a second
direction along the
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closure assembly, the slider utilizes projections thereon to close and
interlock the upper and
lower pairs of opposing interlocking profiles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to one aspect, a reclosable pouch comprises first and second
side
panels and a mouth at an upper end of the pouch. A first closure mechanism
that includes
complementary opposing interlocking profiles is disposed on the first and
second side panels
and a second closure mechanism that includes complementary opposing
interlocking profiles
is disposed on the first and second side panels and spaced from the first
closure mechanism.
A slider is adapted to straddle the mouth of the pouch and is movable between
a first position
and a second position. A separator member is disposed adjacent one end of the
slider for
separating the interlocking profiles of the first closure mechanism when the
slider is moved
toward the first position. A protrusion is disposed adjacent an opposite end
of the slider for
engaging the interlocking profiles of the first and second closure mechanisms
when the slider
is moved toward the second position. A grip member is disposed between the
first closure
mechanism and the mouth.
[0007] According to a different aspect, a reclosable pouch comprises first and
second side
portions and an opening at an upper end of the pouch. A first closure strip
that includes
complementary opposing interlocking members is disposed on the first and
second side
portions and a second closure strip that includes complementary opposing
interlocking
members is disposed on the first and second side portions and spaced from the
first closure
strip. A slider is adapted to straddle the mouth of the pouch and is movable
between a first
position and a second position. A separator member is disposed adjacent one
end of the
slider for separating the interlocking members of the first closure strip when
the slider is
moved toward the first position. A protrusion is disposed adjacent an opposite
end of the
slider for engaging the interlocking members of the first and second closure
strips when the
slider is moved toward the second position. A first flange and a second flange
adjacent the
opening of the pouch extend from the first side portion and the second side
portion,
respectively. A grip member is disposed on at least one of the first and the
second flanges.
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[0008] In another aspect, a method of opening a closed pouch includes the step
of moving
a slider straddling a mouth of a pouch having opposing first and second side
panels from a
first position to a second position. A separator member disposed within the
slider opens
interlocking profiles of a first closure mechanism disposed between the mouth
of the pouch
and a second closure mechanism when the slider is moved toward the second
position.
Another step includes gripping at least one grip member disposed between the
first closure
mechanism and the mouth of the pouch and the opposing first and second side
panels
adjacent the mouth of the pouch. Finally, a different step recites pulling at
least one of the
opposing first and second side panels in a direction substantially opposite
each other and
away from an interior of the pouch.
[0009] Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will bccome
apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description and the attached drawings,
in which like
elements are assigned like reference numerals.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a partial isometric view of a pouch having a closure assembly
including
a slider operatively disposed thereon;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1
showing an
opening end of the slider in a first embodiment with portions behind the plane
of the cross-
section omitted for purposes of clarity;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1
showing a closing
end of the slider in a first embodiment with portions behind the plane of the
cross-section
omitted for purposes of clarity;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1
showing an
opening end of the slider in a second embodiment with portions behind the
plane of the cross-
section omitted for purposes of clarity; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 1
showing an
opening end of the slider in a third embodiment with portions behind the plane
of the cross-
section omitted for purposes of clarity.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 depicts a pouch 10 having a first side panel 12 disposed
opposite a second
side panel 14. A mouth 16 of the pouch 10 is provided on an upper end 18
thereof and
provides access to an interior space 20. A closure assembly 22 is disposed
adjacent the
mouth 16 to facilitate the opening and closing of the pouch 10. The closure
assembly 22
includes a first closure mechanism 24 and a second closure mechanism 26
disposed on inner
walls 28 of the first and second side panels 12, 14. The first closure
mechanism 24 is
disposed between the mouth 16 of the pouch and the second closure mechanism
26. Both the
first and second closure mechanisms 24, 26 are elongate and have elongate
closure
members/profiles disposed on the inner walls 28 of the respective opposing
first and second
side panels 12, 14 extending in a direction substantially parallel to the
mouth 16.
[0016] A slider 30 is operationally disposed on the upper end 18 of the pouch
over the
mouth 16 to move between a first position and a second position. More
particularly, the
slider 30 is movable between an opening end 32 and a closing end 34, wherein
the first and
second positions may coincide with the opening and closing ends 32, 34 or any
two positions
therebetween. The slider 30 defines a channe136 extending between a closing
side 38 and an
opening side 40 thereof. The slider 30 at least partly opens the mouth 16 and
the closure
assembly 22 when the slider 30 is moved along the closure assembly 22 toward
the opening
end 32 and at least partly closes the mouth 16 and the closure assembly 22
when moved
toward the closing end 34.
[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first and second closure mechanisms 24,
26 are
elongate and extend the length of the mouth 16. The first and second closure
mechanisms 24,
26 may be disposed directly onto upper portions of the first and second side
panels 12, 14 or
may be disposed on discrete strips of material distinct from the first and
second side panels
12, 14. With respect to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first
closure
mechanism 24 comprises an upper female interlocking profile 42 and an upper
male
interlocking profile 44 disposed on the first and second side panels 12, 14,
respectively. The
second closure mechanism 26 comprises a lower male interlocking profile 46 and
a lower
female interlocking profile 48 disposed on the first and second side panels
12, 14,
respectively. In the depicted embodiment, the upper male and female
interlocking profiles
44, 42 are elongate and resealable with each other, and similarly, the lower
male and female
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interlocking profiles 46, 48 are elongate and resealable with each other.
However, other
embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure may include more than
two closure
mechanisms or one or more closure mechanisms having non-elongate interlocking
members/profiles.
[0018] The upper female and male interlocking profiles 42, 44 are spaced
between the
mouth 16 and the lower male and female interlocking profiles 46, 48. A medial
space 50 is
defined by the space between the upper female and male interlocking profiles
42, 44 and the
lower male and female interlocking profiles 46, 48. Each of the upper and
lower female
interlocking profiles 42, 48 includes a pair of inwardly hooked arms 52 for
interlocking
receipt of the upper and lower male interlocking profiles 44, 46,
respectively. The upper
male interlocking profile 44 has a symmetrical barbed head 54. The lower male
interlocking
profile 46 has an asymmetrical barbed head 56 to provide a differential
opening force, such
that more force is needed to open the lower male and female interlocking
profiles 46, 48 from
an interior side 58 of the closure assembly 22 than from an exterior side 60
thereof. In one
embodiment, the asymmetrical barbed head 56 includes a single hook 62 that is
turned
toward the interior side 58. In another embodiment (not shown), the
asymmetrical barbed
head 56 may include a pair of opposing hooks in which the hook on the interior
side 58 is
larger than a hook extending toward the exterior side 60. In a further
embodiment (not
shown), both the upper and lower male interlocking profiles 44, 46 may, for
example, have
asymmetrical barbed heads or symmetrical barbed heads. In yet another
embodiment (not
shown), both the upper and lower male interlocking profiles 44, 46 may be
disposed on the
first or second side panel 12, 14 and the upper and lower female interlocking
profiles 42, 48
disposed on the opposing first or second side panel 12, 14. In any of the
embodiments
disclosed herein, the male and female profiles may be disposed on any of the
first or second
panels 12, 14 and may comprise any type of interlocking profile known to those
skilled in the
art.
[0019] A first grip member 64 is disposed on the inner wall 28 of the first
side panel 12
between the mouth 16 and the first closure mechanism 24. A second grip member
66 is
disposed on the inner wa1128 of the second side panel 14 between the mouth 16
and the first
closure mechanism 24. The first and second grip members 64, 66 have
substantially
triangular cross-sections with apexes 68, 70, respectively. The apex 68 of the
first grip
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member extends toward the second side panel 14 and the apex 70 of the second
grip member
66 extends toward the first side panel 12. In a different embodiment depicted
in FIG. 4, a
first grip member 64' is disposed on an outer wall 72 of the first side panel
between the
mouth 16 and the first closure mechanism 24 and a second grip member 66' is
disposed on
the outer wall 72 of the second side panel 14 between the mouth 16 and the
first closure
mechanism 26. In yet another embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, a first grip
member 64" is
disposed on the inner wa1128 of a first flange portion 74 integral with the
upper end 18 of the
first side panel 12 and a second grip member 66" is disposed on the inner
wal128 of a second
flange portion 76 integral with the upper end 18 of the second side panel 14.
The first and
second flange portions 74, 76 bend about folds 78, 80, respectively, so that
the first and
second flange portions 74, 76 may be rotated between positions substantially
flush with the
outer wall 72 of the first and second side panels 12, 14, respectively, and
positions
substantially perpendicular with the first and second side panels 12, 14 so
that the first and
second flange portions 74, 76 extend outwardly away from the interior space 20
within the
pouch 10. The first and second flange portions 74, 76 may be integral with the
first and
second side panels 12, 14 or discrete strips of material distinct from the
first and second side
panels 12, 14.
[0020] In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, one or both of the first
and second
grip members 64, 64', 64" and 66, 66', 66" may be disposed on the inner and
outer walls 28,
72 of the side panels 12, 14 or the first and second flange portions 74, 76.
In one
embodiment (not shown), a plurality of grip members are provided on at least
one of the first
and second side panels 12, 14. The plurality of grip members may be disposed
on the inner
wa1128 of the side panels 12, 14, the outer wa1172 of the side panels 12, 14,
or a combination
of the inner and outer walls 28, 72 of the side panels 12, 14. For example, a
pair of grip
members may be provided on the inner wa1128 of the first side panel 12 and an
opposing pair
of grip members provided on the inner wall 28 of the second side panel 14. In
a different
example, a pair of grip members on the first side panel includes one grip
member on the inner
wa1128 and a second grip member on the outer wa1172. In a different
embodiment, only one
grip member is provided on the inner or outer walls 28, 72. One skilled in the
art will realize
the various combinations of grip members encompassed by the present disclosure
may be
included on various panels and flanges of reclosable pouches.
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[0021] Any combination of the grip members disclosed herein will assist a user
in
opening, holding, or filling the pouch 10. The grip members assist a user in
opening,
holding, or filling the pouch 10 regardless of whether the slider 30 is
disposed on the pouch
10, e.g., if the slider 30 is removed from the pouch 10 the user may still use
the grip members
to hold the pouch 10 and pull the first and second closure mechanisms 22, 24
apart to open
the pouch 10. Further, combining grip members with the pouch 10 will provide
the user a
visual cue to determine whether the pouch 10 is fully opened when the slider
is slid toward
the opening end 32, i.e., the first and second closure mechanisms 24, 26 are
unsealed. The
grip members may also be made of similar or different materials from each
other or the pouch
itself to provide, for example, a different tactile feel or coefficient of
friction to assist in
gripping the pouch 10. Further, the grip members may be colored differently
from each other
or the pouch 10 itself to make the grip strip more prominent and to provide
other visual cues.
For example, all or a portion of the first and second flange portions 74, 76,
the first and
second grip members 64", 66", and the first and second closure mechanisms 24,
26 of the
embodiment depicted in FIG. 5 may be colored. When the closure assembly 22 is
opened the
first and second flange portions 74, 76 flare outwardly from the side panels
12, 14 and
provide a visual indication to the user of a greater colored surface area than
provided when
the closure assembly 22 is closed, i.e., the first and second flange portions
bend outwardly
about folds 78, 80 so that the flange portions 74, 76 are substantially less
flush with the side
panels 12, 14 to provide a greater surface area for viewing the colored
portions of the first
and second flange portions 74, 76, the first and second grip members 64", 66",
and the first
and second closure mechanisms 24, 26.
[0022] FIGS. 2 and 3 depict the slider 30 having a left channel wall 82
laterally spaced
from a right channel wall 84, which defines the channel 36 that is sized to
receive the closure
assembly 22 therein. The left channel wall 82 is connected to the right
channel wall 84 at an
upper end 86 thereof by a top channel wall 88 extending laterally across the
channel 36. A
separator member 90 is disposed within the channel 36 spaced between the left
and right
channel walls 82, 84 adjacent the opening side 40 of the slider 30. In one
embodiment, the
separator member 90 comprises a substantially vertical separator finger that
depends from the
top channel wall 88. The separator member 90 depends a distance sufficient to
extend
between the upper female and male interlocking profiles 42, 44 but not between
the lower
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male and female interlocking profiles 46, 48 when the slider 30 is operatively
disposed on the
closure assembly 22. A lower closure protrusion, such as an opposing pair of
lower closure
bars 92, 94 are disposed on the left and right channel walls 82, 84,
respectively, and extend
the length thereof proximate a lower end 96 of the slider 30. An upper closure
protrusion,
such as an opposing pair of upper closure bars 98, 100 are disposed on the
left and right
channel walls 82, 84, respectively, proximate the upper end 86 of the slider
30. The lower
closure bars 92, 94 are aligned with the lower male and female interlocking
profiles 46, 48
and the upper closure bars 98, 100 are aligned with the upper female and male
interlocking
profiles 42, 44 when the slider 30 is operatively disposed on the closure
assembly 22. One
skilled in the art will realize the various manners in which the above
described embodiment
may be altered to provide upper and lower closure protrusions that are adapted
to close the
first and second closure mechanisms 24, 26 when the slider 30 is moved toward
the closing
end 34 and that are adapted to open the first closure mechanism 24 when the
slider 30 is
moved toward the opening end 32.
[0023] The slider 30 of FIG. 4 is similar to the above described slider 30 of
FIGS. 2 and 3
except that portions of the left and right channel walls 82, 84 include
opposing grooves 102,
104, respectively. The opposing grooves 102, 104 extend the length of the
channel 36
beneath the top channel wall 88 and adjacent the upper end 86 of the slider
30. The opposing
grooves 102, 104 are adapted to allow the outwardly facing first and second
grip members
64', 66' to traverse the length of the slider 30 during an opening or closing
slider operation.
The size and number of grooves may be adapted by those skilled in the art to
allow various
numbers and types of grip members through the slider 30. In one embodiment,
the grip
members 64', 66' and the corresponding grooves 102, 104 are adapted to solely
hold, or assist
in holding, the slider 30 on the mouth 16 of the pouch 10.
[0024] The slider 30 of FIG. 5 is similar to the slider of FIGS. 2 and 3
except that a pair
of triangular guide members 106, 108 extend upwardly from the lower closure
bars 92, 94,
respectively, along the length of the channel 36. Recesses 110, 112 are
provided adjacent the
guide members 106, 108, respectively. The recesses 110, 112 and the guide
members 106,
108 are adapted to allow the first and second flange portions 74, 76,
respectively, and the
accompanying first and second grip members 64", 66", to be disposed
therebetween during
an opening or closing operation of the slider 30. In this particular
embodiment, the folds 78,
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80 of the first and second flange portions 74, 76 are disposed adjacent apexes
114, 116 of the
guide members 106, 108, respectively. When the slider 30 is moved in an
opening direction,
the opening side 40 of the slider is adapted to space the first and second
flange portions 74,
76 from the outer wall 72 of the first and second side panels 12, 14, thereby
assisting a user in
grabbing the first and second flange portions 74, 76 and the attendant first
and second grip
members 64", 66". When the slider 30 is in moved in a closing direction, the
closing side 38
of the slider 30 is adapted to close the first and second closure mechanisms
24, 26 by way of
the lower closure bars 92, 94 and upper closure bars (not shown) extending
from the guide
members 106, 108, respectively, adjacent the upper end 86 of the slider 30.
[0025] The closure assembly 22, including the first and second closure
mechanisms 24,
26 and the slider 30, may be made of any material suitable for providing a
relatively resilient
slider and a relatively flexible closure assembly. In one embodiment, the
slider 30 is molded
of a relatively stiff or rigid polymeric material and the closure assembly 22
is extruded from a
more pliable polymeric resin.
[0026] To open the closure assembly 22, a user urges the slider 30 in an
opening direction
along the mouth 16 of the pouch 10 from a first position, e.g., the closing
end 34, toward a
second position, such as the opening end 32. Movement of the slider 30 in the
opening
direction opens the upper female and male interlocking profiles 42, 44. The
remaining lower
male and female interlocking profiles 46, 48 of the second closure mechanism
26 are opened
by, for example, grasping the upper end 18 of the first and second side panels
12, 14 and at
least one grip member and urging at least one of the first and second side
panels 12, 14 away
from the opposing first and second side panel 12, 14. To close the closure
assembly 22, the
user urges the slider 30 in an opposite, closing direction, i.e., toward the
closing end 34 of the
pouch 10, along the mouth 16 of the pouch 10, thereby closing the upper female
and male
interlocking profiles 42, 44, and the lower male and female interlocking
profiles 46, 48.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0027] The apparatus described herein advantageously allows for grip members
to be
provided on an upper end of a pouch for assisting a user in opening a closure
mechanism not
fully opened by a slider when same is moved toward an opening end of the
pouch.
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[0028] Numerous modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in
view of the
foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as
illustrative only and
is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and
use what is herein
disclosed and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive
rights to all
modifications which come within the scope of this disclosure are reserved.
