Abstract:
The present disclosure relates a leakproof or leak-resistant zipper with profiles which include an inter-engaging element with inter-engaging fingers and a leakproof or leak-resistant structure. The slider, when moved in the closing direction, urges the fingers of one profile to inter-engage with the fingers of the other profile and further urges the elements of the leakproof or leak-resistant structure into engagement with each other. The slider, when moved in the opening direction, separates the inter-engaging fingers of the inter-engaging elements and further allows the elements of the leakproof or leak-resistant structure to separate.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a leakproof or leak-resistant fastener with a slider, such as is used as the zipper in a reclosable container. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   In the prior art, the slider-operated zippers are well-known for reclosable bags. While this art is well-developed and has proven satisfactory for its intended purposes, further improvements are desired with respect to maintaining the leakproof integrity of such reclosable bags. As recognized in U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,481 entitled “Bag Comprising Matching Closing Sections Actuated by a Slider”, and its numerous progeny applications, certain deficiencies in the sealing can occur when the zipper profiles or strips remain in a separated configuration ahead of the slider. This can be problematic for reclosable bags which contain liquids, gels, fine particulates or frozen foods. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improvements in the leakproof characteristics of slider-operated zippers. 
   This and other objects are attained by providing a slider-operated zipper with first and second interlocking profiles. The illustrated profiles terminate in inter-engaging elements which include at least two finger elements terminating in detent hooks. However, single finger elements could also be used. The detent hooks of the first profile inter-engage with the detent hooks of the second profile in the inter-engaged position. The inter-engaging elements are brought together in an inter-engaged or closed position by the slider moving in a first direction. Likewise, the inter-engaging elements are separated from each other to result in the open position by the slider moving in a second direction, opposite to the first direction. 
   Additionally, a leakproof or leak-resistant structure is formed on the profiles inwardly adjacent from the inter-engaging elements. The first profile has a female groove-like element while the second profile has a male arrowhead-like or wedge element which is engaged by the female element. The slider is configured to urge the male element into the female element when the slider is moved in a closing direction. After the slider has been moved in an opening direction, the male and female elements of the leakproof or leak-resistant structure will separate as there is no structure to hold the elements in the engaged configuration. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of the slider-operated zipper of the present invention, shown in the closed or inter-engaged position at the closing end of the slider. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the slider-operated zipper of the present invention, at the opening end of the slider with the zipper disengaged. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the zipper of the present invention, shown with the profiles separated from each other, without the slider. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the leakproof or leak-resistant structure, as the arrowhead-like or wedge element is inserted into the groove-like element. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the leakproof or leak-resistant element, with the arrowhead-like or wedge element inserted and the walls of the groove-like element spreading apart. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the leakproof or leak-resistant structure, as the arrowhead-like or wedge element is inserted into the groove-like element. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the arrowhead-like or wedge element of the second embodiment of the leakproof or leak-resistant structure, illustrating the flexible resilience of the sides of the arrowhead-like or wedge element in this embodiment. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the slider-operated zipper of the present invention, including a single finger and two hooks. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a further alternative embodiment of the slider-operated zipper of the present invention, including a hinge construction. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one sees that  FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of the slider-operated zipper  10  of the present invention, in the closed or inter-engaged configuration. Slider-operated zipper  10  includes first profile  12 , second profile  14  and slider  16 . 
   First profile  12  includes first flange portion  20  with groove-like female element  22  and further includes first inter-engaging head  24 . First flange portion  20  attaches to a first bag wall (not shown). Groove-like female element  22  includes upper rib  30 , rear wall  32  and lower rib  34  thereby bounding groove  36 . First inter-engaging head  24  includes lower guide wall  40  and first and second inter-engaging fingers  42 ,  44 . First and second inter-engaging fingers  42 ,  44  terminate in respective first and second detent hooks  46 ,  48 . 
   Second profile  14  includes second flange portion  50  with arrowhead-like or wedge male element  52  and further includes second inter-engaging head  54  which includes third and fourth inter-engaging fingers  56 ,  58  and upper guide wall  60 . Second flange portion  50  attaches to a second bag wall (not shown). Third and fourth inter-engaging fingers  56 ,  58  terminate in respective third and fourth detent hooks  62 ,  64 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the opening end of slider  16  is wider than the closing end of slider  16 . First space  70  is formed between lower guide wall  40  and first inter-engaging finger  42 . Second space  72  is formed between first and second inter-engaging fingers  42 ,  44 . Third space  74  is formed between third and fourth inter-engaging fingers  56 ,  58  and fourth space  76  is formed between fourth inter-engaging finger  58  and upper guide wall  60 . Spaces  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76  are complementary in shape so as to receive third, fourth, first and second inter-engaging fingers  56 ,  58 ,  42 ,  44 , respectively, in the inter-engaged position shown in  FIG. 1  with first and second detent hooks  46 ,  48  engaging respective third and fourth detent hook  62 ,  64 . 
   Female groove-like element  22  and male arrowhead-like or wedge element  52  form leakproof structure  80 . Female groove-like element  22  and male arrowhead-like element  52  are typically free of detent engagement elements. Arrowhead-like or wedge element  52  is supported by stem  53  and is sized to spread the upper and lower ribs  30 ,  34  of groove-like element  22  as it is inserted therein as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , thereby forming a leakproof, or leak-resistant engagement as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  ( FIGS. 4 and 5  further illustrating an embodiment where upper and lower ribs  30 ,  34  are hinged and  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  7  and  9  further illustrating an embodiment where rear wall  32  is co-linear with first flange  20 ). Alternately, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , upper and lower ribs  30 ,  34  can be more rigid or stiff with male arrowhead-like or wedge element  52  including hinged or otherwise flexible resilient wings  82 ,  84  which deflect inwardly when they are urged between upper and lower ribs  30 ,  34 , and, through their resilience, form the leakproof or leak-resistant engagement. In this alternative configuration, there is minimal deflection of upper and lower ribs  30 ,  34  in the engaged configuration. 
   Moreover, after the slider  16  separates the first and second inter-engaging heads  24 ,  54  as shown in  FIG. 2 , the elements  22 ,  52  of leakproof structure  80  likewise separate as there is nothing to retain elements  22 ,  52  in the engaged configuration. As will be described hereinafter, when the slider  16  urges first and second inter-engaging heads  24 ,  54  into the inter-engaged position as shown in  FIG. 1 , slider  16  likewise urges elements  22 ,  52  of leakproof structure  80  into an engaged configuration. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , slider  16  includes top wall  86  with first and second side walls  88 ,  90  extending therefrom. Slider retaining flange  92  extends from a lower portion of first side wall  88  to impinge first profile  12  between groove-like female element  22  and first inter-engaging head  24  in order to urge the leakproof structure  80  into an engaged configuration in both the closing end cross-sectional view of  FIG. 1  and the opening end cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2 . Slider retaining flange  92  further acts to retain slider  16  on zipper  10  with slider retaining flange  92  being positioned between first and second inter-engaging heads  24 ,  54  and leakproof structure  80 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the opening end of slider  1  further includes first and second side wall extensions  94 ,  96  to maintain the leakproof structure  80  in its engaged configuration even as first and second inter-engaging heads  24 ,  54  are separated. Furthermore, opening end of slider  16  includes separating finger  98  extending from a mid-portion of top wall  86  in order to separate the first and second inter-engaging heads  24 ,  54 . 
     FIG. 8  illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention wherein first inter-engaging head  24  includes a single arrowhead-shaped male element  102  and second inter-engaging head  54  includes a female element formed from walls  104 ,  106  which terminate in detent hooks  108 ,  110 , respectively, to engage the arrowhead-shaped male element  102 . Further illustrated in this embodiment is retaining flange  112  on the lower or distal end of separator finger  98 . Retaining flange  112  maintains slider  16  on zipper  10 . 
     FIG. 9  illustrates a still further embodiment of the present invention wherein second flange  50  is hinged a hinging point  99  of the top of second inter-engaging head  54 . Additionally, rear wall  32  of female groove-like element  22  is co-linear with first flange  20 . 
   The resulting structure can be used with a reclosable bag wherein the slider  16  moving in the closing direction urges the first and second inter-engaging heads  24 ,  54  into the engaged position as well as urging the leakproof structure  80  into the engaged position as shown in  FIG. 1 . The movement of slider  16  in the opening direction separates first and second inter-engaging heads  24 ,  54 . Likewise, after the first and second inter-engaging heads  24 ,  54  are separated, elements  22 ,  52  of leakproof structure  80  separate as there is nothing to hold them in the engaged configuration. 
   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.