Abstract:
A reclosable pouch in combination with an elongate closure mechanism. The elongate closure mechanism includes a first base member disposed along a first sidewall. A pair of interlocking members extends from a first surface of the first base member, and are parallel to each other with a space therebetween. A plurality of partial indentations is disposed along a second surface of the first base member, extending longitudinally between the opposite ends of the elongate closure mechanism, and being visible between the opposite ends of the elongate closure mechanism. The pair of interlocking members extending from the first base member occlude and deocclude with a pair of interlocking members extending from the second base member, in order to resealably close the mouth. The plurality of partial indentations remains visible during the occluding and deoccluding.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/809,297, filed Jul. 27, 2015, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/040,905, filed Sep. 30, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,139,340, issued Sep. 22, 2015, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/455,205, filed May 29, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,578,572, issued Nov. 12, 2013. 
     
    
     REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       SEQUENTIAL LISTING 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to a reclosable thermoplastic pouch with an elongate closure mechanism and a method of closing such a pouch. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    A thermoplastic pouch having a resealable closure mechanism applied longitudinally across a mouth thereof to allow repeated opening and closing of the pouch is known in the art. The closure mechanism can include multiple pairs of interlocking closure profiles, which can be difficult to seal and/or can cause consternation in a user in not knowing whether the multiple pairs of interlocking closure profiles have been properly sealed. It is, therefore, desirable to provide a reclosable closure mechanism for a thermoplastic pouch that includes a tactile guide path for a user&#39;s fingers, to assure proper sealing of the closure mechanism. In the past, there have been attempts to provide a tactile guide for a closure mechanism on a pouch, for various reasons. 
         [0006]    For example, one thermoplastic pouch has front and rear walls and a single pair of mutually interlocking opposing rib and groove closure elements disposed across a mouth of the pouch. Outer surfaces of the walls are roughened coextensive with and over the rib and groove elements, to provide a series of ridges with valleys therebetween that inhibit easy sliding of a user&#39;s fingers along the ridges and valleys, in order to facilitate a user&#39;s application of force tangential to the outer surfaces, in order to open the bag by displacing the opposing rib and groove elements tangentially past one another. 
         [0007]    Another thermoplastic pouch has a powder-resistant flexible zipper, wherein the flexible zipper includes a line of longitudinally spaced apart apertures that extend completely through first and second base members of the zipper. The apertures are disposed between spaced apart pairs of interlocking hood members in order to allow powder trapped between the interlocking members to pass through the base member. In allowing powder to pass through the zipper, however, the apertures may diminish the sealing integrity of the zipper, especially if the pair of interlocking members interior to the apertures should inadvertently open. 
         [0008]    A further thermoplastic pouch has a double profile closure mechanism disposed across a mouth of the pouch. External ridges are disposed on the pouch running parallel to and between the double profiles. Alternatively, or in addition to the external guide ridges, one or more internal ridges is disposed on the pouch running parallel to the double profiles. The internal and/or external guide ridges assist in alignment of the closure mechanism to facilitate closing thereof. The ridges disposed on the pouch require the addition of extra material to the pouch, which may add to the cost to manufacture the pouch. 
         [0009]    The tactile guide path disclosed herein may overcome some of the drawbacks with the known tactile guide arrangements by providing a guide path for a user&#39;s fingers on a multiple zipper closure mechanism, without sacrificing the sealing integrity of the closure mechanism. Further, the tactile guide path may be manufactured in a post-production process without the addition of extra material to the pouch. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The present invention provides reclosable pouch in combination with an elongate closure mechanism. The reclosable pouch includes first and second sidewalls each having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second sidewalls being connected together in order to define an interior space of the pouch between the first and second sidewalls, and a mouth defining an opening into the interior space, and an elongate closure mechanism disposed along the first and second sidewalls for resealably closing the mouth, the elongate closure mechanism extending longitudinally from one end of the mouth to an opposite end of the mouth. The elongate closure mechanism includes (a) a pair of interlocking members extending from the first surface of the first sidewall, the pair of interlocking members being parallel to each other with a space therebetween, (b) a plurality of partial indentations being disposed along one of the first surface and the second surface of the first sidewall, the plurality of partial indentations (i) partially extending into the one of the first surface and the second surface of the first sidewall, (ii) extending longitudinally between the opposite ends of the elongate closure mechanism in the space between the pair of interlocking members extending from the first surface of the first sidewall, and (iii) being visible between the opposite ends of the elongate closure mechanism, and (c) a pair of interlocking members extending from the first surface of the second sidewall, the pair of interlocking members being parallel to each other with a space therebetween. The pair of interlocking members extending from the first surface of the first sidewall is configured to occlude and to deocclude with the pair of interlocking members extending from the first surface of the second sidewall, in order to resealably close the mouth. The plurality of partial indentations remains visible during occluding and deoccluding of the pair of interlocking members extending from the first surface of the first sidewall with the pair of interlocking members extending from the first surface of the second sidewall, to provide a tactile guide path to facilitate a user in the occluding of the respective pairs of interlocking members. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a pouch including a closure mechanism according to one aspect of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  is a partial cross-sectional isometric view of a first aspect of the closure mechanism of  FIG. 1 , taken generally along the lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2B  is a partial cross-sectional isometric view of a second aspect of the closure mechanism of  FIG. 1 , taken generally along the lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged exterior partial side view of the closure mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an isometric partial cross-sectional view of a closure mechanism according to another aspect of the invention, taken generally along the lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an isometric partial cross-sectional view of a user&#39;s fingers engaging the closure mechanism of  FIG. 1  in one possible method of using the pouch of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, wherein similar structures have similar reference numbers. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a reclosable pouch  50  having a first sidewall  52  and a second sidewall  54  that are connected by, for example, folding, heat sealing, and/or an adhesive, along three peripheral edges  56 ,  58 ,  60  to define an interior space  62  between the first and second sidewalls  52 ,  54 , and a mouth  64  along a top edge  66  where the first and second sidewalls  52 ,  54  are not connected, so as to allow access to the interior space  62 . An elongate closure mechanism  68  is disposed along the first and second sidewalls  52 ,  54  across the mouth  64 , extending longitudinally between the peripheral edge  56  and the peripheral edge  60  of the pouch  50 , to allow the mouth  64  to be repeatedly occluded and deoccluded, thereby respectively sealing and unsealing the mouth  64 . 
         [0019]    The closure mechanism  68 , in one aspect, include a first base member  70  and a second base member  72  as illustrated, for example, in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . A first pair  74  of opposing interlocking members  74   a  and  74   b  project from opposing interior surfaces  76  and  78  of the base members  70  and  72 , respectively. Similarly, a second pair  80  of opposing interlocking members  80   a  and  80   b  project from the opposing interior surfaces  76  and  78  of the base members  70  and  72 , respectively. The second pair  80  of opposing interlocking members is parallel to and spaced on an exterior side from the first pair  74 . Each pair of the opposing interlocking members  74   a  and  74   b , and  80   a  and  80   b  includes elongate generally constant profiles disposed across the mouth  64  of the pouch  50 . Each pair  74 ,  80  of opposing interlocking members is illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  as having a single male and a female profile. However, each of the pairs  74 ,  80  of opposing interlocking members may include one or more sets of elongate profiles, as desired, that form a seal across the mouth  64  of the pouch  50 , for example, as illustrated in Pawloski et al. U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,736, Pawloski U.S. Pat. No. 7,410,298, and Dais et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,070,584, 5,478,228, and 6,021,557. Further, the first and second base members  70 ,  72  may be integral with or separate and attached to the respective first and second sidewalls  52 ,  54 . 
         [0020]    In a preferred embodiment, the sidewalls  52 ,  54  and the closure mechanism  68  are made of thermoplastic, which may be formed by known thermoplastic extrusion and bag forming techniques, such as, disclosed in Dais et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,070,584, 5,478,228, and 6,021,557, Geiger et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,248, Zieke et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,789, and Porchia et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,461. Other materials and formation techniques sufficient to form structures as described herein are also within the general purview of the present invention. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a first plurality  82  of partial indentations  84  is disposed along an exterior surface  86  of the first base member  70 , wherein the first plurality of partial indentations extends longitudinally along the closure mechanism  68  between the first and second pairs  74 ,  80  of opposing interlocking members. A second plurality  88  of partial indentations  90  may optionally be disposed along an exterior surface  92  of the second base member  72 , wherein the second plurality of partial indentations also extends longitudinally along the closure mechanism between the first and second pairs  74 ,  80  of opposing interlocking members. 
         [0022]    In one aspect, each plurality  82 ,  88  of partial indentations is arranged in a generally linear pattern extending completely from the peripheral edge  56  to the peripheral edge  60 , as illustrated for the pluralities  82  and  88  of partial indentations in  FIG. 1 . However, each plurality  82 ,  88  of partial indentations may extend partially across the sidewalls  52 ,  54  or may be broken up into regions including indentations and regions lacking indentations (not shown). Further, each plurality  82 ,  88  of partial indentations may be arranged in a curvilinear pattern between the peripheral edges  56 ,  60 , as illustrated for the plurality  88  of partial indentations in  FIG. 3 , or may be alternatively arranged as a mix of generally linear and curvilinear patterns. 
         [0023]    The partial indentations  84 ,  90  that make up the first and second pluralities  82  and  88 , respectively, may be generally linear, generally curvilinear, or may have shapes having generally linear and/or curvilinear perimeters. The partial indentations  84 ,  90  may be manufactured, in one preferred method, for example, using a double roller mechanism applied to create the partial indentations  84 ,  90 , wherein the double roller mechanism includes a first roller wheel with cutting and/or embossing surfaces applied to the exterior surfaces  86 ,  92  and a second roller wheel with a smooth surface of a rubber or hard metal, such as steel, applied opposite to the first roller wheel. In another method, a double roller having complimentary opposing male and female embossing surfaces may be used to create the partial indentations  84 ,  90 . Alternatively, the double roller mechanism may be applied such that the embossing surfaces thereon are applied to interior surfaces of the first and second base members  70 ,  72 . 
         [0024]    The partial indentations  84 ,  90  do not extend completely through the respective first and second base members  70  and  72 . Rather, each of the partial indentations  84 ,  90  extends only part way through the corresponding base member, thereby not allowing any leakage therethrough. The partial indentations  84 ,  90  may touch each other, as shown, for example, in  FIG. 1  as overlapping offset zigzag or interlocking diamond shapes, which according to one preferred aspect, is used for the indentations  84 ,  90  of one or more of the pluralities of indentations  82 ,  88 . Alternatively, the partial indentations  84 ,  90  may be spaced apart from each other longitudinally, as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , such that spacing between longitudinally spaced partial indentations  84 ,  90  may be constant or variable along the first and/or second pluralities  82 ,  88 , respectively. The partial indentations  84 ,  90  may include longitudinally spaced apart transverse linear indentations and/or may include indicia, such as words, logos, or other informational patterns, and may be selected for aesthetics of the pattern or to enhance the tactile sensation imparted to a user&#39;s fingers.  FIG. 3  illustrates some other exemplary possible patterns that may be utilized for the partial indentations  84 ,  90 , such as wavy lines, and longitudinally spaced sets of transversely aligned circles. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2A , the exterior surfaces  86 ,  92  of the respective first and second base members  70 ,  72  do not have indentations and are, therefore, smooth in regions that are directly opposite to or coextensive with the pairs of opposing interlocking members  74 ,  80 . Thus, a transverse space is formed between each of the pluralities  82 ,  88  of the longitudinally spaced partial indentations  84 ,  90 , respectively, and each adjacent interlocking member. In another embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 2B , regions that are directly opposite to or coextensive with the pairs of interlocking members  74 ,  80  are adjacent to or may slightly overlap with uppermost and lowermost extremes of the pluralities  82 ,  88  of the longitudinally spaced partial indentations  84 ,  90 , respectively. 
         [0026]    In another aspect, a closure mechanism  68 a optionally includes a third pair  94  of opposing interlocking members  94 a and  94 b projecting from the opposing interior surfaces  76  and  78  of the base members  70  and  72 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The third pair  94  of the opposing interlocking members is parallel to and spaced from the second pair  80  on an opposite side thereof from the first pair  74  of opposing interlocking members. In this aspect, the first and second pluralities  82 ,  88  of partial indentations  84 ,  90 , respectively, are disposed along the respective exterior surfaces  86 ,  92  of the respective first and second base members  70 ,  72  coincident with the second pair  80  of opposing interlocking members and transversely spaced between the first pair  74  and the third pair  94  of interlocking members. It is contemplated that further aspects may include more than three pairs of opposing interlocking members, as desired. 
         [0027]    It is contemplated that a third plurality  96  of partial indentations  98  may be disposed along an exterior surface  86  of the first base member  70 , wherein the third plurality  96  of partial indentations  98  extends longitudinally along the closure mechanism  68  below the lowermost pair of opposing interlocking members, for example, the first pair  74  of opposing interlocking members. Similarly, a fourth plurality  100  of partial indentations  102  may be disposed along an exterior surface  92  of the second base member  72 , wherein the fourth plurality  100  of partial indentations  102  extends longitudinally along the closure mechanism  68  below the lowermost pair of opposing interlocking members, for example, the first pair  74  of opposing interlocking members. Similar to the first and second pluralities  82 ,  88 , the third and fourth pluralities  96 ,  100  of partial indentations  98 ,  102 , respectively, may be longitudinally continuous or longitudinally spaced. In one embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the third plurality  96  of partial indentations  98  is transversely spaced from a bottom edge of the first pair  74  of opposing interlocking members. In another embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 2B , a top edge of the third plurality  96  of partial indentations  98  is adjacent to or may slightly overlap with a bottom edge of the first pair  74  of opposing interlocking members. 
         [0028]    In use, each of the first and second pluralities  82 ,  88  of the partial indentations  84 ,  90 , respectively, can provide a tactile guide path for a user&#39;s finger to facilitate proper occlusion of the closure mechanism  68 . Referring to  FIGS. 2A, 2B and 5 , to occlude the closure mechanism  68  that includes the first plurality  82  of the partial indentations  84 , a user grasps the closure mechanism  68 , for example, between a first finger  104  and a second finger  106 . The user locates the first finger  104  between the first and second spaced apart pairs  74 ,  80  of opposing interlocking members by feeling whether the first finger  104  is engaged against the first plurality  82  of the partial indentations  84 . The second finger  106  is located on the exterior surface  92  of the second base  72  opposite to the first finger  104 . Thus grasped, the user forces the first and second opposing fingers  104 ,  106 , together as indicated by the arrows  108  shown in  FIG. 5 , to locally occlude the first and second spaced apart pairs  74 ,  80  of opposing interlocking members that are disposed on either side of the user&#39;s fingers. The user slides the first and second opposing fingers  104 ,  106  along the closure mechanism  68 , as illustrated by the arrow  110  shown in  FIG. 5 , with the first and second fingers  104 ,  106  forced together, such that the first finger  104  is guided by the first plurality  82  of the partial indentations  84 . The user maintains the first finger  104  between the first and second spaced apart pairs  74 ,  80  of opposing interlocking members, while sliding the first and second fingers  104 ,  106  by feeling the first plurality  82  of the partial indentations  84  with the first finger  104 , whereby the first and second spaced apart pairs  74 ,  80  of opposing interlocking members are occluded along their entire length, and the mouth  64  is sealed. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0029]    A closure mechanism has been presented that may be used on reclosable thermoplastic pouches and that includes a tactile guide path. The tactile guide path may facilitate proper occlusion of the closure mechanism by guiding one or more of a user&#39;s fingers along a preferred path along the length of the closure mechanism. 
         [0030]    It is also contemplated that regions adjacent to and between the pairs of opposing interlocking members  74 ,  80  may be thicker than, and, therefore, stiffer than, the pouch sidewalls  52 ,  54  or other portions of the closure mechanism  68 . Without being bound by theory, it is believed that embossing and/or creation of the partial indentations in the above-noted regions may increase the pliability of the above-noted regions over a base that does not have such partial indentations, which can feel better to a user and can make the opposing interlocking members  74 ,  80  easier to occlude. 
         [0031]    Numerous modifications to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as being illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and to teach the best mode of carrying out the same. The exclusive right to all modifications within the scope of the impending claims is expressly reserved. All patents, patent publications and applications, and other references cited herein are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.