Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to an end clip for a closure for a reclosable package or similar apparatus. The end clip includes any of a variety of inwardly extending engagement elements to engage portions of a closure held therebetween, particularly the flanges of the closure. The end clip is ultrasonically welded or similarly bonded to itself through the closure flanges.

Description:
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/940,995, filed on Feb. 18, 2014, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to an end clip for a closure for a reclosable package or similar apparatus, wherein the clip is ultrasonically welded to itself through the closure flanges. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     End clips for polymeric closures for reclosable packages are well-known. They are intended to provide the function of preventing the slider from being pulled off of the end of the closure during ordinary use. 
     The prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,807 entitled “Plastic End Clips Fused to Plastic Zipper”, wherein the clip is fused with the closure profile and wherein the end clip material is required to be compatible with closure material for an acceptable bond thereby slowing the manufacturing/assembly process. The use of many types of plastic, some of which are incompatible, typically requires clips made from different plastics for each zipper. The prior art further includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,286 entitled “End Clamp Stops for Plastic Reclosable Fastener”, wherein a post is staked and driven through the closure flange and possibly the film, entering an aperture in the opposing side of the clip where it is staked or deformed by heat, ultrasonics or another method. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide for a reliable end clip for use with polymeric closures for reclosable packages while providing a method which is adaptable to high speed manufacturing and assembly. 
     This and other objects are attained by providing a welded end clip. The clip in the area of the closure flanges is welded to itself through the closure flanges. The clip includes one of various configurations of engagement elements, including, but not limited to, opposing teeth or triangular (or otherwise raised) energy directors. The opposing teeth may be offset with respect to each other, with a gap of a width less than that of opposing teeth, thereby resulting in a multiple shear joint configuration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further objects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front plan view of a reclosable plastic bag with a closure including end clips of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front plan view of an end clip of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a side plan view of an end clip of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a first embodiment of an end clip of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a second embodiment of an end clip of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of a third embodiment of an end clip of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of a fourth embodiment of an end clip of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements through the several views, one sees that bag or package  10  includes front and rear polymeric package walls  12 ,  14  which are co-extensive and sealed to each other by a bottom seal  16  and side seals  18 ,  20  thereby forming mouth  22 . Mouth  22  is made reclosable by polymeric closure  24 . Closure  24  is illustrated as a zipper but is not limited thereto. Closure  24  includes first closure profile  26  and second closure profile  28 . First closure profile  26  includes first interlocking element  30  and first flange  34  while second closure profile  28  includes second interlocking element  32  and second flange  36 . 
     Closure  24  is operated by the slider  40  as controlled by a user. When the slider  40  is moved in an opening direction, the first and second interlocking elements  30 ,  32  are separated from each other, thereby separating the first and second closure profiles  26 ,  28  from each other. Similarly, when the slider  40  is moved in a closing direction, the first and second interlocking elements  30 ,  32  are interlocked with each other, thereby interlocking the first and second closure profiles  26 ,  28  with each other. The polymeric end clips  44 ,  46  are placed on ends of the closure  24  and are intended to prevent the slider  40  from being pulled off of the end of the closure  24 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-7 , end clip  44  (or  46 ) includes an upper horizontal element  50  which joins to the first and second proximal ends  52 ,  54  of respective first and second opposed downwardly extending vertical sidewalls  56 ,  58 . The first and second distal ends  60 ,  62  of respective first and second vertical sidewalls  56 ,  58  include respective first and second inwardly extending opposed engagement elements  64 ,  66  which are separated by a slit, a space or similar relationship  67 . The end clips  44 ,  46  are made from polymeric material, such as, but not limited to, polyethylene, polyolefins, polyesters, nylons, polypropylenes, etc. and the resiliency of the resulting configuration will typically allow the end clips  44 ,  46  to be snapped onto the closure  24  prior to the welding or similar bonding process. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first and second flanges  34 ,  36  are positioned between first and second vertical sidewalls  56 ,  58  and engaged in slit, space or similar arrangement  67  formed by first and second inwardly extending opposed engagement elements  64 ,  66 . First and second inwardly extending opposed engagement elements  64 ,  66  pierce the first and second closure flanges  34 ,  36  and are then welded to each other, through the first and second closure flanges  34 ,  36 , by ultrasonic welding.  FIG. 3  further illustrates welder  100  which can be construed as a heat welder, an induction welder, an ultrasonic welder, or similar device to apply energy to the clips  44 ,  46 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 4-7 , the bottom views of the first and second inwardly extending opposed engagement elements  64 ,  66  have various toothed or similar configurations to ensure a thorough intermixing and bonding of the ultrasonic welding process.  FIG. 4  illustrates a configuration with opposing teeth  72 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a configuration with two energy directors  68 ,  70  of triangular cross section on second inwardly extending opposed engagement element  66 , which are directed through the first and second closure flanges  34 ,  36  and into the first inwardly extending opposed engagement element  64  for ultrasonic welding. Similar energy directors may be stacked vertically as well as laterally, or anywhere on the inner face or faces of the vertical sidewalls  56 ,  58 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a multiple shear joint configuration wherein the teeth  72  of one engagement element are pointed towards the inter-tooth gaps  74  of the other engagement element. Moreover, the teeth  72  are somewhat wider than the opposing gaps  74  between teeth  72 . This causes a tight intermeshing between the engaged teeth  72  and a thorough intermixing and bonding during the ultrasonic welding process. Additionally, the use of multiple spaced elements piercing the first and second closure flanges would reduce the tendency of the end clips  44 ,  46  to rotate, thereby making the end clips more stable.  FIG. 7  illustrates a configuration wherein teeth  72  from one engagement element are directly opposed to teeth of an opposing engagement element. It should be further noted that while compatibility of the materials of the clip and the flanges is not necessary, the use of compatible materials would result in the possibility of welding the clip to the outside of the flanges without necessarily piercing the flanges. 
     Typically, the resulting advantages include, but are not limited to, a design and function which are simpler than that of the prior art, the use of a less complicated machine for installation of the end clips, the possibility of increased manufacturing speed, the elimination of the requirement of the compatibility of the material of the closure and the material of the clip; and the elimination of the requirement of a post being driven through the closure flange and/or package wall film. 
     Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby.