Abstract:
A resealable closure mechanism includes a first closure including a plurality of profiles including two functional male closure profiles and a first plurality of non-functional male closure profiles, wherein at least one of the non-functional male closure profiles is disposed between the two functional male profiles. A second closure opposes the first closure and includes two female closure profiles configured to interlock with the functional male closure profiles. The non-functional male profiles are configured such that the female profiles cannot interlock therewith.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/806,156, filed Jun. 29, 2006, and entitled “Resealable Closure Mechanism.” 
     
     REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable 
       SEQUENTIAL LISTING 
       [0003]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates generally to closure mechanisms, and more particularly to closure mechanisms having at least one functional male closure profile and at least one female closure profile. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Background of the Invention 
         [0007]    A thermoplastic pouch in the form of a bag for the storage of items generally includes a closure mechanism, which has two separate closure strips attached to inner surfaces of opposing pouch walls. A first closure strip typically has one or more continuous closure elements or profiles of various cross-sectional shapes that interlock with one or more closure elements of a second opposing closure strip. These closure mechanisms are known in the art. 
         [0008]    In some instances, closure mechanisms have a zipper strip that has a male profile and a female profile, wherein the male profile has a base and at least one male interlocking member extending from the base toward the female profile. The female profile has a base and at least one female interlocking member extending from the base toward the male profile. The male and female interlocking members are engageable with each other to join the male and female profiles together. One or both of the profiles is provided with at least one high compression member that allows the interlocked profiles to be sealed to thermoplastic film across the widths of respective bases thereof without the interlocking members being crushed or distorted. 
         [0009]    Other closure devices have male and female fastening strips arranged to be interlocked over a predetermined length. The female fastening strip has a female closure element having parallel webs that have hook closure portions. The male fastening strip has a male closure element having parallel webs that also have hook closure portions. The hook portions of the male closure element have guide surfaces to guide the hook portions for occlusion with the female hook portions. The male fastening strip also has wings that are flexible and extend from the base of the fastening strip. The wings terminate in an end portion that projects outwardly from the wings. 
         [0010]    Some fasteners have extruded reclosable plastic profile strips, wherein the profile strips have a plurality of interlocking ribs that have a generally arrow-head shaped cross-section or a fastener rib having a generally arrow-head shaped cross-section on one strip interlockably received in a fastener rib having a generally groove-shaped cross-section on the opposing strip. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a resealable closure mechanism includes a first closure including a plurality of profiles including two functional male closure profiles and a first plurality of non-functional male closure profiles, wherein at least one of the non-functional male closure profiles is disposed between the two functional male profiles. A second closure opposes the first closure and includes two female closure profiles configured to interlock with the functional male closure profiles. The non-functional male profiles are configured such that the female profiles cannot interlock therewith. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a resealable closure mechanism includes a first closure strip including a functional male closure profile and a plurality of non-functional male closure profiles, wherein a web of material interconnects the functional and non-functional closure profiles. A second closure strip opposes the first closure strip and includes a female closure profile extending therefrom and configured to interlock with the functional male closure profile. The non-functional male profile is configured such that the female profile cannot interlock therewith. 
         [0013]    Other aspects and advantages of the present application will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description. Like reference numerals in the drawings designate like structures in the various embodiments. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an front elevational view of a reclosable pouch according to the present application; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, partial sectional view taken generally along the lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 , omitting portions behind the plane of section for purposes of clarity. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a resealable pouch in the form of a thermoplastic storage bag  10  comprises first and second bag walls  12 ,  14 . The first and second bag walls  12 ,  14  are joined at first and second side portions  16 ,  18 , respectively, and at a bottom portion  20 . An opening  22  is formed at a top portion  24  of the bag  10 . A first closure strip  26 , extending from the first side portion  16  to the second side portion  18 , is secured to an inside surface of the first bag wall  12 . Second and third closure strips  28   a ,  28   b  extend from the first side portion  16  to the second side portion  18  and are secured to an inside surface of the second bag wall  14 . The first, second, and third closure strips  26 ,  28   a ,  28   b  are disposed near the top portion  24  of the bag  10  and the first closure strip engages the second and third closure strips  28   a ,  28   b  to comprise a closure mechanism for the bag. 
         [0017]    As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the second and third closure strips  28   a ,  28   b  include first and second spaced apart generally symmetric female closure profiles  30   a ,  30   b , respectively. The female closure profile  30   a  includes first and second legs  32   a ,  32   b  extending therefrom with hooks  34   a ,  34   b  extending downwardly from the legs  32   a ,  32   b  toward the second closure strip  28   a . Similarly, the female closure profile  30   b  includes first and second legs  36   a ,  36   b  extending therefrom with hooks  38   a ,  38   b  extending downwardly from the legs  36   a ,  36   b  toward the second closure strip  28   b.    
         [0018]    The closure strip  26  includes a web of material  37  interconnecting a plurality of male closure profiles  40   a - 40   j . The male profiles  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   d - 40   g ,  40   i , and  40   j  are non-functional male closure profiles in that they are not adapted to engage other closure profiles and the male profiles  40   c  and  40   h  are functional male closure profiles in that they are adapted to engage other closure profiles. The non-functional male profiles  40   a ,  40   b  are disposed between the top portion  24  of the bag  10  and the functional male profile  40   c , the non-functional male profiles  40   d - 40   g  are disposed between the functional male profiles  40   c  and  40   h , and the non-functional male profiles  40   i  and  40   j  are disposed between the functional male profile  40   h  and bottom portion  20  of the bag  10 . 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the functional male closure profiles  44   c ,  44   h  have the same general cross-sectional shape. For example, each of the functional male closure profiles  40   c ,  40   h  includes a stem  42   c ,  42   h  with two opposing hook portions  44   c ,  44   h , respectively, that form a generally arrow-shaped cross-section. The hook portions  44   c ,  44   h  extend downwardly from top portions  45   c ,  45   h  of the stems  42   c ,  42   h  toward the first closure strip  26 , wherein the functional male profiles  40   c ,  40   h  are aligned with the female profiles  30   a ,  30   b , respectively. The hook portions  44   c  of the functional male closure profile  40   c  engage the hooks  38   a  of the female closure profile  30   a  and the hook portions  44   h  of the functional male closure profile  40   h  engage the hooks  38   b  of the female closure profile  30   b  to form a closure mechanism to seal the bag  10 . 
         [0020]    The non-functional male profiles  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   d - 40   g ,  40   i , and  40   j  include stems  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   d - 50   g ,  50   i , and  50   j  each having two opposing hook portions  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   d - 52   g ,  52   i , and  52   j , respectively. The hook portions  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   d - 52   g ,  52   i , and  52   j  extend downwardly from middle portions  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   d - 54   g ,  54   i , and  54   j  of the stems  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   d - 50   g ,  50   i , and  50   j  toward the first closure strip  26 . The hook portions  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   d - 52   g ,  52   i , and  52   j  are disposed a distance from the bag wall  12  small enough to prevent the hooks  38   a ,  38   b  of the female closure profiles  30   a ,  30   b  from engaging the hook portions  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   d - 52   g ,  52   i , and  52   j  of the non-functional male closure profiles  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   d - 40   g ,  40   i , and  40   j.    
         [0021]    Illustratively if, as a user is closing the closure strips  26 ,  28   a ,  28   b , pressure is exerted on one or both of the female closure profiles  30   a ,  30   b  toward one of the non-functional male closure profiles  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   d - 40   g ,  40   i , and  40   j , the female closure profile  30   a ,  30   b  will slide up the respective stem  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   d - 50   g ,  50   i , and  50   j  of the non-functional male closure profile  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   d - 40   g ,  40   i , and  40   j , but will not engage the hook portions  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   d - 52   g ,  52   i , and  52   j  thereof. Instead, the female closure profile  30   a    30   b  will pop off the respective non-functional male closure profile  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   d - 40   g ,  40   i , and  40   j  and realign with other male closure profiles  40   a - 40   j  until the female closure profile  30   a ,  30   b  engages a functional male closure profile  40   c ,  40   h.    
         [0022]    Although the embodiment of  FIG. 2  depicts a first closure strip  26  with ten male closure profiles  40   a - 40   j , any number and/or shape of male closure profiles may be used as long as a plurality non-functional male closure profiles surround one or more functional male closure profiles. Further, any number of female closure profiles may be utilized as long as a number of functional male closure profiles are present and aligned for engagement with the female closure profiles to provide a closure mechanism for the bag  10 . 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, the first closure strip  26  is extruded onto the first bag wall  12  using a die plate shaped to form the male closure profiles  40   a - 40   j  and the web of material  37  connecting the male closure profiles  40   a - 40   j . Each of the female closure profiles  30   a ,  30   b  may be extruded separately onto the second bag wall  14  such that there is no separate material other than the bag wall  14  connecting the female closure profiles  30   a ,  30   b.    
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0024]    The embodiments of the thermoplastic storage bag as described herein advantageously provide a consumer with a bag having a closure mechanism, wherein the closure mechanism comprises at least one functional male closure profile, a plurality of non-functional male closure profiles, and at least one female closure profile. The functional male closure profile and the female closure profile provide a resealable closure for the bag. The non-functional male closure profiles may provide a stabilizer and a guide for a user&#39;s fingers. The non-functional male closure profiles further may aide in aligning the functional male closure profile with the female closure profile. 
         [0025]    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 the embodiments of the application and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications, which come within the scope of the appended claims, are reserved.