Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a zipper for a reclosable package or bag, wherein the female profile has been crushed at first periodical intervals and the male profile has been cut at second periodic intervals. This provides audible and tactile feedback characteristics to the zipper.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of provisional application Ser. No. 61/729,708, which was filed on Nov. 26, 2012, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
         [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a zipper for a reclosable package or bag, wherein the female profile has been crushed at first intervals and the male profile has been cut at second intervals in order to generate increased audible and/or tactile feedback during operation of the zipper. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    In the prior art, audible zippers for reclosable packages or bags are known. Audible zippers provide an audible and tactile feedback to the user when opening and/or closing. This results in a more reliable and trustworthy operation of the zipper by the user. 
         [0006]    While many of these audible zippers are well-adapted for their intended purposes, further improvements are sought in providing the audible and/or tactile feedback, controlling the opening force and preventing sliding of the interlocked profiles with respect to each other. Additionally, further improvements are sought with respect to simplification of manufacturing and reduction of manufacturing costs. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0007]    It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide improvements in audible zippers for reclosable packages or bags. 
         [0008]    This and other objects are attained by providing a zipper for a reclosable package or bag wherein the female profile has been crushed at first periodic intervals and the male profile has been cut at second periodic intervals, wherein the first periodic intervals may be the same or different from the second periodic intervals. Typically, it is expected that that cuts in the male profile will provide for increased audible feedback when the zipper is being opened while the crushed areas in the female profile will provide for increased tactile feedback when the zipper is being closed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Further objects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of the interlocked male and female profiles along a plane where neither of the profiles are cut or crushed. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side plan view of the male profile of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the male profile of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side plan view of the female profile of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the female profile of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side plan view of the male profile of the present disclosure, illustrating an embodiment with non-periodic spacing and non-uniform depths of the cuts, as well as an orientation that is not perpendicular with the base of the profile. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the male profile of the present disclosure, illustrating cuts which are not perpendicular with the longitudinal axis of the profile. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a side plan view of the female profile of the present disclosure, illustrating crushed areas which are of non-uniform depth, longitudinal length and spacing. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the female profile of the present disclosure, illustrating crushed areas which are not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the profile. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the zipper of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one sees that  FIG. 1  is a typical cross-sectional view of zipper (or reclosure)  10 , along a plane which includes neither the crushed or cut portions which will be described hereinafter. Zipper  10 , which is typically made from a polymeric material, includes a first profile  12  and a second profile  14 , as is typically used in connection with a reclosable package, bag or similar container. Moreover, the terms “first profile” and “second profile” may refer to sides of the zipper or reclosure that the respective interlocking elements are on, rather than necessarily separate or independent interlocking elements. First profile  12  includes a first base  16  which forms first upper flange  18  and first lower flange  20 . First interlocking element  22 , illustrated as a male element, extends from a central portion of first base  16 . First interlocking element  22  includes a post element  24  which terminates in an arrowhead-shaped element  26 . Second profiles includes a second base  30  which forms second upper flange  32  and second lower flange  34 . Second interlocking element  36 , illustrated as a female element, extends from a central portion of second base  30 . Second interlocking element  36  includes first and second interlocking arms  38 ,  40  which terminate at their respective distal ends in first and second hooks  42 ,  44 , which, in the interlocked configuration, engage the arrowhead-shaped element  26 . These zipper profiles  12 ,  14  are meant to be illustrative of a typical embodiment. However, it is envisioned that this disclosure is applicable to a wide range of zipper types, such as, but not limited to, multiple male elements on each profile (with some elements crushed and others cut), J-hooks, and many other embodiments. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first (or male) interlocking element  22  includes periodic cuts  50  with extend partially through the interlocking element  22 . This partial extension through the interlocking element  22  permits the interlocking element  22  to maintain its single integral structure. The periodic cuts  50  may be formed by blade  100  which is heated to the extent to soften the polymeric material of the zipper  10 . These cuts  50  are illustrated as being perpendicular to the first base  16  (and the longitudinal axis of the profile  12 ) and extending at a uniform depth along the substantial height of the first interlocking element  22 . However, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , it is envisioned that cuts  50  may be implemented at different and/or non-uniform depths, different and/or non-uniform angles (with respect to either the base or the longitudinal axis of the profile  12 ) by way of slanting the blade  100  and different and/or non-uniform spacings. Cuts  50  may be spaced apart from each other in a manner which is not periodic. Typically, cuts  50  will provide audible feedback (i.e, generated noise) when the zipper  10  is being opened or the first and second profiles  12 ,  14  are being separated from each other (and may modify the opening force of the zipper  10 ), while crushing the profile will enhance the tactile feedback when closing the zipper  10 , as when the first and second profiles  12 ,  14  are being interlocked or joined to each other. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the second (or female) interlocking element  36  includes periodic crushed areas  52  in the first and second interlocking arms  38 ,  40 . These crushed areas  52  are illustrated as being of uniform depth and longitudinal length, periodic spacing, and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second interlocking element  36 . However, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , it is envisioned that crushed areas  52  may be implemented at various and/or non-uniform depths, various and/or non-uniform longitudinal lengths, various and/or non-uniform angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the profile  14  and various and/or non-uniform spacings. Crushed areas  52  may be spaced apart from each other in a manner which is not periodic. Moreover, when cuts  50  are periodically spaced at first intervals on first profile  12  and crushed areas  52  are periodically spaced at second intervals on second profile  14 , the first and second intervals may be different from each other or may be the same. Crushed areas  52  will provide increased tactile feedback when closing the zipper  10 , increase friction between the first and second (male and female) interlocking elements  22 ,  36  and will modify the opening force of the zipper  10 . Additionally, other combinations of cutting and crushing the zipper could be implemented, such as doing both cutting and crushing on one part of the zipper or placement of the cuts on the female profile in combination with crushed areas on the male profile. 
         [0023]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the zipper  10 , illustrating an embodiment without a second lower flange  34 . 
         [0024]    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.