Patent ID: 6964519
Filing Date: 2005-11-15
Classification: B65D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A combination zipper closure and flexible container, said zipper closure utilizing atmospheric and differential pressures for sealing an opening in a flexible container that stores articles, said zipper closure comprising: a first flexible mating strip attached to an edge of an opening and comprising a longitudinal hook-shaped ridge arranged along an interior edge thereof and having a T-shaped recess on an exterior edge thereof, said longitudinal hook-shaped ridge having an arcuate surface formed on one side of a longitudinal complementary hook-shaped groove that includes an arcuate surface, an extended section located on an opposite side of the complementary hook-shaped groove and having a longitudinal opening formed therein that allows the extended section to temporarily deform during opening and closing of the opening in the flexible container; a second flexible mating strip attached to an opposite edge of the opening and including a longitudinal hook-shaped ridge arranged along an interior edge thereof and having a T-shaped recess on an exterior edge thereof, said longitudinal hook-shaped ridge having an arcuate surface formed on one side of a longitudinal complementary shaped hook-shaped groove that includes an arcuate surface, an extended section located on an opposite side of the complementary hook-shaped groove from said longitudinal hook-shaped ridge and having a longitudinal opening formed therein that allows the extended section to temporarily deform during opening and closing of the opening in the flexible container; and, a slider comprising T-shaped appendages that engages the T-shaped recesses on each flexible mating strip to force the strips together to close the opening or separate the tracks to aid in unfastening the opening, wherein said mating strips are arranged such that when sealed the longitudinal hook-shaped ridge of the first flexible mating strip mates with the arcuate surface comprising the recess of the second flexible mating strip such that when air is evacuated from the container, both atmospheric pressure external to the flexible container and negative pressure attributable to a vacuum source exert forces normal to the surfaces of the seal that seals the opening.