Abstract:
A variable alignment zipper ( 10 ) having a rib and groove interlocking means. The male interlocking profile ( 16 ) has a plurality of male ribs ( 26, 30, 32 ), each formed with a double-barbed end section. The male interlocking profile ( 16 ) is interlockable with a female interlocking profile ( 20 ), where the female interlocking profile ( 20 ) includes grooves ( 64, 68 ) formed by a plurality of male ribs ( 44, 48, 52 ). By varying the interlocking relationship of the male ribs ( 26, 30, 32 ) of the male interlocking profile ( 16 ) with the grooves ( 64, 68 ) of the female interlocking profile ( 20 ), the variable alignment zipper can align in any one of four positions for closure.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to improvements in flexible continuous plastic zippers of the rib and groove type wherein the ribs and grooves are sized and shaped to interlock when pressed together and to be releasable when pulled apart so as to form a reclosable zipper. More specifically, the present invention relates to a variable alignment zipper used on a reclosable bag where the alignment of multiple ribs and grooves provides numerous configurations for closure while maintaining a balanced tactile feel to the user when the bag is opened or closed.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to improvements in the package making art and may be practiced in the manufacture of reclosable thermoplastic bags and packages of the kind that may be used for various consumer products. Such packages often include a form of peel-seal to render the pack moistured and/or airtight prior to an initial opening of the package. A zipper with interlocking profiles protects any remainder of the product therein after the initial opening.  
           [0003]    The prior art for zippers with interlocking profiles is fairly well developed but nevertheless remains open to improvements, specifically those which contribute to an ease of use. In the prior art, the Ausnit patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,325,084 and 4,787,880) disclose multiple male profiles on both sides of the zipper halves. A limitation on the use of multiple male profiles is the opening and closing emphasis of the profiles. In an operation with two or more male profiles, the higher force needed to open or close the profiles could convey to the user that the zipper is being damaged. An improvement to existing zippers would be to achieve a more level tactile feel when the user is opening or closing the zipper. This balanced tactile feel is achievable by an alternative design of interlocking male and female profiles.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Accordingly, the present invention relates to a variable alignment zipper having a rib and groove type interlocking means. The male interlocking profile of the zipper has a plurality of male ribs, each with a double-barbed end section. The male interlocking profile is interlockable with a female interlocking profile. The female interlocking profile has a plurality of male ribs which form grooves for engaging the male interlocking profile. The bordering ribs of the female interlocking profile are each shaped with a single-barbed end section facing inward toward a middle male rib formed with a double-barbed end section. By varying the engagement of the male and female interlocking profiles, the zipper can align in any one of four positions for closure. These various alignments would each provide a balanced tactile feel to the user during an opening or closing of the zipper. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a front view of the variable alignment zipper of the present invention attached to a reclosable bag;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the variable alignment zipper of the present invention in a first engagement and with the view taken from reference line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the variable alignment zipper of the present invention in a second engagement with the view taken from reference line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the variable alignment zipper of the present invention in a third engagement and with the view taken from reference line  4 - 4  of FIG. 1;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the variable alignment zipper of the present invention in a fourth engagement and with the view taken from reference line  5 - 5  of FIG. 1.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0011]    Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, a variable alignment zipper  10  attached to a reclosable bag  12  is shown in FIG. 1. A male interlocking profile  16  and a female interlocking profile  20  are also shown as covering the length of the zipper  10 .  
         [0012]    In FIG. 2, the male interlocking profile  16  is interlocked with the female interlocking profile  20  in a first engagement of the zipper. The male interlocking profile  16  is a resiliently flexible profile attached to a side  22  of a reclosable bag by a web portion  24 . The male interlocking profile  16  includes three male ribs  26 ,  30 ,  32 , with each of the male ribs having double-barbed end sections (illustrated as an end section  34  for the male rib  32 ). The bordering of the male ribs  26 ,  30 ,  32  creates grooves  35  and  36 . The number and shape of the ribs can vary based on factors known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0013]    The female interlocking profile  20  is a resiliently flexible profile opposite and facing the male interlocking profile  16 . The female interlocking profile  20  is attached to a second side  37  of the reclosable bag by a web portion  38 . The female interlocking profile includes three male ribs  44 ,  48  and  52 . The male ribs  44  and  52  are each formed with a single-barbed end section (illustrated as an end section  56  for the male rib  44 ). The single-barbed end sections of the male ribs  44 ,  52  extend laterally to the third male rib  48 . The male rib  48  has a double-barbed end section  60 . The bordering of the male ribs  44  and  52  to the male rib  48  creates grooves  64  and  68 . The number and shape of the ribs can vary based on factors known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0014]    For interlocking the male interlocking profile  16  and the female interlocking profile  20  in the first engagement of the variable alignment zipper  10 , the profiles are pressed together. In the first engagement, a first male rib of the male interlocking profile  16  secures to a first groove of the female interlocking profile  20 . As shown, the male rib  26  sizably conforms to the groove  68  with the male rib  26  adequately secured by an integral double-barbed end section. With a single-barbed end section on the male rib  52  of the female interlocking profile  20 , the male rib  52  slides into the groove  35  with less resistance to and movement of the male rib  30  than if the male rib  52  had a double-barbed end section.  
         [0015]    The male interlocking profile  16  and the female interlocking profile  20  are adapted to be separated by pulling them apart in directions  70  and/or  72  thereby breaking the interlocking relationship of the male rib  26  with the groove  68 . Similar to the closing operation, the single-barbed male rib  52  would encounter less resistance from the male rib  30  as the profiles are being pulled apart than if the male rib  52  had a double-barbed end section. For the other three interlocking engagements described below, the male and female interlocking profiles are similarly pulled apart in order to separate the profiles from one another.  
         [0016]    For interlocking the male interlocking profile  16  and the female interlocking profile  20  in a second engagement of the variable alignment zipper  10 , the profiles are pressed together. In the second engagement, two male ribs of the male interlocking profile  16  secure to two grooves of the female interlocking profile  20 . As shown in FIG. 3, the male ribs  26  and  30  sizably conform to the grooves  64  and  68  respectively. Both male ribs  26  and  30  are adequately secured to the female interlocking profile  20  by an integral double-barbed end section for each male rib. With a single-barbed end section on the male rib  52  of the female interlocking profile  20 , the male rib  52  slides into the groove  36  with less resistance to and movement of the male rib  32  than if the male rib  52  had a double-barbed end section. Similar to the closing operation, the single-barbed male rib  52  would encounter less resistance from the male rib  32  as the profiles are being pulled apart than if the male rib  52  had a double-barbed end section.  
         [0017]    For interlocking the male interlocking profile  6  and the female interlocking profile  20  in a third engagement of the variable alignment zipper  10 , the profiles are pressed together. In the third engagement, two male ribs of the male interlocking profile  16  secure to two grooves of the female interlocking profile  20 . As shown in FIG. 4, the male ribs  30  and  32  sizably conform to the grooves  64  and  68  respectively. Both the male ribs  30  and  32  are adequately secured to the female interlocking profile  20  by an integral double-barbed end section for each male rib. With a single-barbed end section on the male rib  44  of the female interlocking profile  20 , the male rib  44  slides into the groove  35  with less resistance to and movement of the male rib  26  than if the male rib  44  had a double-barbed end section. Similar to the closing operation, the single-barbed male rib  44  would encounter less resistance from the male rib  26  as the profiles are being pulled apart than if the male rib  44  had a double-barbed end section.  
         [0018]    For interlocking the male interlocking profile  16  and the female interlocking profile  20  in a fourth engagement of the variable alignment zipper  10 , the profiles are pressed together. In the fourth engagement, a male rib of the male interlocking profile  16  secures to a groove of the female interlocking profile  20 . As shown in FIG. 5, the male rib  32  sizably conforms to the groove  64 . The male rib  32  is adequately secured to the female interlocking profile  20  by an integral double-barbed end section. With a single-barbed end section on the male rib  44  of the female interlocking profile  20 , the male rib  44  slides into the groove  36  with less resistance to and movement of the male rib  30  than if the male rib  44  had a double-barbed end section. Similar to the closing operation, the single-barbed male rib  44  would encounter less resistance from the male rib  30  as the profiles are being pulled apart than if the male rib  44  had a double-barbed end section.  
         [0019]    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 and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.