Abstract:
The disclosure relates to a security zipper and bag, or one-time closable zipper and bag, and methods of manufacture thereof, wherein the zipper includes double zipper profiles with a layer or strip of adhesive positioned between the two interlocking elements of one of the zipper profiles. Upon the one-time closing of the zipper, the adhesive secures the two double zipper profiles together and prevents a subsequent opening of the zipper or bag without leaving evidence of such opening, such as damage to the zipper or bag. Alternately, adhesive can be provided within the female profiles, with a liner over the adhesive to prevent premature activation.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/329,269, filed on Apr. 29, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a zipper for a security bag and the method of manufacture thereof. Examples of uses of the security bag include, but are not limited to, money transfers for banks and ATM companies, identification and storage of criminal evidence, and identification and storage of medical specimens. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    In the prior art, tamper or pilferage evident bags or containers are desired for many applications including, but are not limited to, money transfers for banks and ATM companies, identification and storage of criminal evidence, and identification and storage of medical specimens. These bags, containers or flexible packages typically are designed to be closed a single (once and only once) time and are intended to have several characteristics. Firstly, after the package is closed, it is intended that the package cannot be re-opened without obvious damage to the package. Secondly, it is intended that it is virtually impossible to re-open the package through the original package opening. Thirdly, it is intended that the package is sealed well enough that covert pilferage of the contents is difficult, if not impossible. 
         [0006]    While much of the prior art has been generally satisfactory for its intended purposes, further improvements are sought in achieving the above goal, especially in view of the following. Firstly, security bags that use only an adhesive closure can sometimes be re-opened by freezing the adhesive to temperatures as low as negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit. At the low temperatures, the adhesive loses its adhesive properties and the bag can be opened, the contents pilfered from the bag, and once the adhesive returns to room temperature, the bag can be reclosed using the adhesive. Secondly, some zipper profiles for security bags can be made from rigid material making them difficult to open. However, this may sometimes be defeated by heating the zipper profile in order to soften the zipper profiles. Thirdly, some zippers for security bags may be susceptible to certain tools. For example, one may use a small screwdriver or a piece of wire and work it between the zipper profiles to pry them apart and allow access to the contents of the security bag. 
         [0007]    Commonly assigned patent application Ser. No. 12/951,664 entitled “Zippered Security Bag” filed on Nov. 22, 2010 by Anzini et al. relates to a zippered security bag. 
         [0008]    Prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,701 entitled “Zippered Cook-in-Bag Pouch and Method” issued on May 8, 1990 to Van Erden; U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,835 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Making Extruded Separable Fastener with Reactivatable Adhesive” issued on Jun. 6, 1989 to Gould; U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,710 entitled “Self-Aligning Closable Extruded Profile Plastic Fastener and Method” issued on Dec. 20, 1988 to Nocek; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,674 entitled “Non-Reclosable mechanically Fillable and Closable Link Bag Structure and Method” issued on May 17, 1988 to Nocek. 
       SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0009]    It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a zipper, and method of manufacture thereof, for a security bag or container which is tamper or pilferage evident. 
         [0010]    It is therefore a further object of the present disclosure to provide a zipper, and method of manufacture thereof, for a security bag or container, which reduces or eliminates the ability of a malefactor to compromise the security of the zipper by application of heat or cold, or by the use of tools or other implements. 
         [0011]    These and other objects are attained by the present disclosure by providing a one-time closable zipper, for a security bag or container, which typically uses zipper profiles (which may be double zipper profiles) which are configured to be difficult to separate and may be made from polypropylene, resulting in zipper profiles which are difficult to re-open and which are typically not susceptible to significant softening in response to heating. Additionally, the zipper profiles are placed on a base web adjacent to an area where an adhesive enhancer and an adhesive are coated. The adhesive may be colored or configured in a colored pattern so that attempts to open the zipper would likely leave a stress pattern in the adhesive. The present disclosure further relates to the method for making such zippers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Further objects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic of a first method for manufacturing a security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view along plane  2 A- 2 A of  FIG. 1 , as well as  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  14 , showing a cross-sectional view of a security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  is an alternative cross-sectional view along plane  2 A- 2 A of  FIG. 1 , as well as  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  14 , showing a cross-sectional view of a security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a schematic of a second method for manufacturing the security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a schematic of a third method for manufacturing the security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a schematic of a fourth method for manufacturing the security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along plane  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 , showing a cross-sectional view of a security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a schematic of a fifth method for manufacturing the security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along plane  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 , showing a cross-sectional view of a security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of typical male and female interlocking elements used in a security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the typical male and female interlocking elements of  FIG. 9 , illustrating how these elements are resistant to opening or separating when rotated or twisted with respect to each other. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of an embodiment of the security bag of the present disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view along plane  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view along plane  13 - 13  of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a plan view illustrating the method and process of assembly of a security bag of the present disclosure. 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view along plane  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view a first step of the construction of a further embodiment of the security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0030]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a second step of the construction of a further embodiment of the security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0032]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 18 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a third step of the construction of a further embodiment of the security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0034]      FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of a fourth step of the construction of a further embodiment of the security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0036]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0037]      FIG. 24  is a cross-sectional view of a first step of construction of a still further embodiment of the security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0038]      FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view of a second step of construction of still further embodiment of the security zipper of the present disclosure. 
           [0039]      FIG. 26  is a plan view of apparatus for removing release liner from sections of the web which will subsequently form the side seals of the bag of the present disclosure. 
           [0040]      FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional view along plane  27 - 27  of  FIG. 26 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional view along plane  28 - 28  of  FIG. 26 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 29  is a cross-sectional view along plane  29 - 29  of  FIG. 26 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 30  is a cross-sectional view along plane  30 - 30  of  FIG. 26 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 31  is a perspective view of the cut-out of  FIG. 26 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0045]    Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one sees that  FIG. 1  is a schematic of a first method for producing a security zipper (or one-time closable zipper)  100  of the present disclosure. A base web  10  is unwound from a roll  12 . The base web  10  is typically polymeric material and can be produced by such methods as, but not limited to, extrusion, lamination or similar methods. More specifically, the base web  10  may be made from, but is not limited to, polyethylene (such as metallocene linear low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene and high density polyethylene, the meaning of these terms being known to those skilled in the art), nylon, polyester, or similar materials, or blends, co-extrusions or laminations thereof. An adhesive enhancer extruder  14  is used to extrusion coat strips  102 ,  103  of base web  10  with an adhesion enhancer (see  FIGS. 2A and 2B ) onto and in the area that will eventually be joined together by an adhesive. These areas are bounded on either side by interlocking elements. This extrusion is typically performed when the base web  10  is supported by cast roll  16 . The heat generated by the extrusion coating typically permanently fuses the adhesive enhancer to the base web  10 . The adhesion enhancer is a material that shows great affinity for adhesives. When an adhesive contacts the adhesion enhancer, it becomes extremely difficult to separate the two under normal conditions. Typical adhesive enhancers include, but are not limited to, adhesive resins such as Admer brand resins (e.g., SE  800 , a modified polyolefin or ethylene maleic anhydride) produced by Mitsui and Bynel brand materials (acid or anhydride modified ethylene vinyl acetates and/or acid or anhydride modified ethylene acrylates) produced by DuPont. Other examples could include ethylene acrylic acid copolymers, such as those manufactured by Dow under the tradename Primacor. Profile extruder  18  extrudes zipper profile material (such as, but not limited to, polypropylene, or the materials listed above for the base web) through profile dies  20  to form first and second double zipper profiles  104 ,  106  (see  FIG. 2 ) on web base  10 , likewise supported by a portion of cast roll  16 , adjacent to both sides of, or straddling, the areas of strips  102 ,  103  of adhesive enhancer (see  FIG. 2 ). While a large number of zipper profile shapes may be used, it has been found that the male/female wedge zipper profile shapes shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , and described in greater detail hereinafter, are particularly advantageous in that it is virtually impossible to re-open the zipper profiles without causing obvious damage to zipper  100  or the security bag  400  (see  FIG. 11 ).  FIG. 2A  discloses a typical arrangement for a double zipper (security zipper  100 ) wherein first and second male interlocking elements  110 ,  112  are formed on first double zipper profile  104 , on both sides of strip  102  of adhesive enhancer, and corresponding first and second female interlocking elements  114 ,  116  are formed on a second double zipper profile  106 , on both sides of strip  103  of adhesive enhancer. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 2B  (wherein the genders of interlocking elements  110 ′ and  114 ′ have been changed with respect to respective interlocking elements  110  and  114  of  FIG. 2A ), each double zipper profile  104 ,  106  could include a male interlocking element and a female interlocking element, configured so that the male interlocking element of the first double zipper profile can interlock with the female interlocking element of the second double zipper profile and the male interlocking element of the second double zipper profile can interlock with the female interlocking element of the first double zipper profile. In the finished security bag  400  (see  FIG. 11 ), first double zipper profile  104  is intended to be joined to the first wall of a security bag and second double zipper profile  106  is intended to be joined to the second wall of a security bag. 
         [0046]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , one sees that, alternatively, the profile extruder  18  and profile dies  20  may be replaced with a roll of pre-made zipper profiles (not shown) which are heat sealed or otherwise joined to base web  10 . 
         [0047]    The orientation of base web  10  may be changed by one or more idler wheels  22 , as required by the particular application. An adhesive melt pump  24 , typically including an application nozzle, applies a layer  118  of adhesive to strip  102  of adhesive enhancer (see  FIG. 2 ). The adhesive can be applied in a thin sheet, in one or more beads or in a pattern. The adhesive may be colored so that attempts to open the finished and sealed security bag result in signs of stress in the adhesive. Providing strips of different color adhesive or adhesive enhancer next to each other could further enhance this tamper or pilferage evident feature. The layer of adhesive  118  can be applied on one or both of strips  102 ,  103  of adhesive enhancer (i.e., between male interlocking elements  110 ,  112  on first double zipper profile  104  and/or between female interlocking elements  114 ,  116  on a second double zipper profile  106 ). Many pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) that provide high bond strength to the adhesion enhancer and further provide high cohesive strength can be used for layer  118  of adhesive. However, Collano&#39;s T2 2049 rubber-based adhesive has proven to work well for this application. Alternatively, when a two-sided adhesive tape is desired, JDC (John Deal Coatings) B-550, which is a rubber-based double faced pressure sensitive tape on a PET center carrier, has been found to be very satisfactory. 
         [0048]    A release liner  120 , typically made from a paper or polymer product, is provided from roll  26  and placed over layer  118  of adhesive to protect the adhesive and to prevent the adhesive from prematurely adhering to another surface. Two sheets of release liner  120  are typically required if adhesive is provided over both strips  102 ,  103  of adhesive enhancer. The release liner  120  typically does not extend into the side seals of the security bag (see, for example,  FIG. 11 ) Similarly, if beads or patterns of adhesive have been applied, the release liner  120  can be used to press down, spread out, and flatten the adhesive before the adhesive has cooled and solidified. If desired, a line of perforations  122  (see  FIGS. 2A and 2B ) can be formed between the zipper halves by perforating wheel  30 , or by a similar method. Alternatively, the two halves can be severed from each other. The zipper  10  is then typically wound onto a spool (not shown) as is, or it can be folded and wound unmated, or folded and wound with one or both sets of profiles mated. If desired, the base web  10  can be printed at any point. Additionally, the zipper  10  may be provided directly to a method and apparatus for the manufacture of the security bags. 
         [0049]      FIG. 3  is a schematic of a second method for producing a security zipper  100  of the present disclosure. In  FIG. 3 , roll  26  dispenses a two-sided tape and release liner  120 ′ in lieu of release liner  120 . This further eliminates the adhesive melt pump  24  of  FIG. 1 . The two-sided tape and release liner  120 ′ can be made from an unsupported strip of adhesive, or a core material can be coated on both sides with similar, or dissimilar, adhesives. The resulting cross section is very similar to that shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
         [0050]      FIG. 4  is a schematic of a third method for producing a security zipper  100  of the present disclosure. In  FIG. 4 , a zipper extrusion  11  is used in place of base web  10 . Profile and flange extruder  19  integrally extrudes the zipper extrusion  11  with the first and second double zipper profiles  104 ,  106  formed thereon through flange and profile die  21 . Adhesion enhancer co-extruder  15  extrudes the strips  102 ,  103  of adhesion enhancer onto zipper flange extrusion  11 . Other materials for sealants, color lines, etc. could also be co-extruded onto zipper extrusion  11 . The zipper extrusion  11  is typically at an elevated temperature due to the extrusion processes. The zipper extrusion  11  is typically cooled in water tank  32 . Adhesive melt pump  24 , roll  26  of release liner  120  and perforating wheel  30  are provided similarly to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . Moreover, in this embodiment and other embodiments, the adhesive melt pump  24  and roll  26  of release liner  120  may be replaced with double-sided adhesive tape with a liner. If the zipper extrusion  11  and zipper profiles  104 ,  106  are formed from polypropylene, typically a localized sealant will be used to enhance the attachment of the zipper flange to the film of the security bag (see  FIG. 11 ). 
         [0051]      FIG. 5  is a schematic of a fourth method for producing a security zipper  100  of the present disclosure. The method of  FIG. 5  is similar to that of  FIG. 4  except that the security zipper  100  is flangeless (see  FIG. 6 ) so that the profile extruder  19 ′ extrudes only the first and second double zipper profiles  104 ,  106  and the flange is omitted (see  FIG. 6 ). A sealant layer may be additionally co-extruded in order to attach the security zipper  100  to the bag film. 
         [0052]      FIG. 7  is a schematic of a fifth method for producing a security zipper  100  of the present disclosure. Film and integral profile extruder  19 ″ integrally extrudes the bag film  200  and first and second double zipper profiles  104 ,  106  through film and integral profile die  21 ′. Similar to the embodiments of prior figures, adhesion enhancer coextruder  15  is used to extrusion coat strips  102 ,  103  with an adhesion enhancer (see  FIG. 8 ) onto the bag film in areas between the interlocking elements of the double zipper that eventually will be joined together by adhesive. This extrusion is typically performed when the base web  10  is supported by cast roll  16 . Idler wheel  22 , adhesive melt pump  24  and roll  26  of release liner  120  are provided similarly to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . The profiles could also be extruded onto the cast film just downstream of the cast film die, which is similar to the first method described above, but where the roll of the base film is replaced by the cast film. Alternately, an integral blown film process could be used, the blown film process typically producing tougher film than the cast process. 
         [0053]      FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional view of a typical male interlocking element  300  and female interlocking element  302 , as would be typically used for male interlocking elements  110 ,  112  and female interlocking elements  114 ,  116 , respectively. Male interlocking element  300  includes a base  304  with male element  306  extending therefrom, terminating in arrowhead shaped element  308 . First and second arcuate wings  310 ,  312  are formed on opposite adjacent sides of male element  306 . Female interlocking element  302  includes base  316  with first and second arms  318 ,  320  extending therefrom, terminating in respective first and second hook elements  322 ,  324 . In the interlocked configuration, first arm  318  of female interlocking element  302  extends between first arcuate wing  310  and male element  306  of male interlocking element  300  so that first hook element  322  engages a first side of arrowhead shaped element  308 . Similarly, second arm  320  of female interlocking element  302  extends between second arcuate wing  312  and male element  306  of male interlocking element  300  so that second hook element  324  engages a second side of arrowhead shaped element  308 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , if the male and female interlocking elements  300 ,  302  are rotated or twisted with respect to each other, the end of one of first and second arcuate wings  310 ,  312  serves a wedge point, engaging against base  316  of female interlocking element  302 , preventing further relative rotation, and maintaining the interlocked configuration of male and female interlocking elements  300 ,  302 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 11  shows finished security bag (or one-time closable bag or package)  400 . Security bag  400  includes front and rear polymeric walls  402 ,  404  (typically made from bag film  200 , such as is illustrated in  FIG. 7 ), joined together at bottom seal  406  (which may be replaced by a fold) and first and second side seals  408 ,  410  thereby defining a storage space  411  (see  FIGS. 12 and 13 ). The upper mouth  412  of security bag  400  is closed by security zipper  100  after the contents have been inserted and the one-time closability feature is desired. The release liner  120  is typically folded at an angle so that a loose end  121  projects above the top of the security bag  400  for easy access by the user.  FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of zipper  10 , typically achieved by facing the first and second zipper profiles  104 ,  106  of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  toward each other. As shown in  FIG. 11 , zipper  100  includes first and second endstops  140 ,  142  to constrain the movement of slider  124 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , slider  124  includes first and second walls  126 ,  128  with respective first and second interior pressure bars  130 ,  132 , thereby forming upper and lower chambers  134 ,  136 . Upper chamber  134  engages interlocked male and female interlocking elements  110 ,  114  while lower chamber engages interlocked male and female interlocking elements  112 ,  116 . First and second walls  126 ,  128  terminate in respective first and second inwardly oriented rails  138 ,  140  to maintain interlocked male and female interlocking elements  112 ,  116  therein. The portions of zipper  100  including adhesive  118  are engaged between pressure bars  130 ,  132 , so that when the release liner  120  is removed from zipper  100 , the movement of slider  124  pushes the first and second double zipper profiles  104 ,  106  together so that the adhesive  118  joins together the first and second double zipper profiles  104 ,  106 . Pressure bars  130 ,  132  may have a fixed gap between them, or may be cantilevered to maintain constant pressure therebetween. The slider  124  may be omitted and the double zipper profiles  104 ,  106  can be urged together manually to form the adhesive engagement. 
         [0055]    A method of manufacture of security bag  400  is illustrated in  FIG. 14 . An unmated zipper  100 , with a cross section similar to that shown in  FIG. 2A  or  2 B) is fed from the left on  FIG. 14  and folded into a U-shape resulting in the cross section shown in  FIG. 15  (alternately, the zipper  100  may be fed as two separate halves or slit and one half flipped next to the other half). Portions of the release liner  120  are removed so that the release liner  120  will not extend into the side seals  408 ,  410 . The release liner can be punched out where the side seals will be, or the release liner can be cut into segments which are shorter than the width of the finished security bag, or preferably it can be cut into segments and a portion folded at an angle so that it will project above the top of the zipper when the security bag is completed (see  FIG. 11 ). The release liner  120  is then re-applied to the adhesive. The first and second zipper profiles  104 ,  106  are mated in the area that will become the sides of the security bag  400  while leaving the rest of the profiles unmated. Slider endstops  140 ,  142  are created by crushing the upper zipper profiles, or are attached by other known methods. Endstops are typically created straddling where the bag side seals will be, resulting in an endstop  140 ,  142  at each side of the bag and keeping the slider  124  from coming off of either side of the bag  400 . Sometimes, endstop  142  may be omitted in that the slider  124  loses its functionality after the zipper  100  has been closed. Slider  124  is inserted onto the zipper. If the first and second double zipper profiles  104 ,  106  are still joined by perforations  122 , perforations  122  can be broken or left intact for the bag user to break. Alternately, if perforations  122  have not been formed, the base web  10  can be slit. Bag webs are introduced and attached to the lower portions of the zipper  100 . The bag web is typically heat sealed or otherwise joined (such as by, but not limited to, ultrasonic, adhesive or other bonding methods) to the lower portion of the zipper  10 . Side seals  408 ,  410  are then formed, typically by a hot knife seal which cuts and fuses the sides of a leading bag and a trailing bag (or by similar methods), or discrete side seals can be made on each side of the bag and the bag severed from the web and zipper by a separate blade, or a side seal can be made and the bags separated by cutting through the middle of the seal. As shown in  FIGS. 26-31 , the release liner  120  extends beyond the adhesive strip which it covers and between the tracks of the outward-facing zipper  100 . The upper track of the outside zipper is then peeled back (see  FIG. 28 ). Thereafter, to create the cut-outs, a separating plate  802  is provided that separates the liner  120  from the adhesive strip (see  FIG. 29 ). The separating plate  802  should be at a sufficient distance from the adhesive strip and/or has to have a bottom facing surface that is lined or coated with a substance to which the adhesive will not attach itself. To create the cut-out, a shaped knife  804  or punch acting against the plate cuts out an inverted U-shaped section  814  on the liner of a width slightly larger than the front and back seal of the required bags, that is indexed to the location of the bag side seals. At the same time, perforations  808  are created in the uncut area of the liner that are in-line with the cross-seals. Thereafter, the outside zipper upper track is returned to its former position (see similarities of  FIGS. 27 and 30  to each other, wherein the zipper is constrained by notched rollers  810 ,  812 , respectively). This process can take place at or in front of the bag machine or at an earlier stage, as long as provision can be made to index the cut-out section&#39;s position to the bag side seals. If the process takes place at the bag machine, the zipper is then sealed to the bag sides, and the cross-seals made at the cut-out locations to form the bag. To load the bag, the upper tracks of the double zipper are separated, the bag is loaded, the releasable liner is grasped adjacent to the perforations and removed, and the double zipper is press-closed, manually or by a slider so that the adhesive strip is thereby activated. 
         [0056]    Another method of keeping the release liner  120  from the side seals  408 ,  410  is illustrated in  FIGS. 16-22  indicating a further aspect of the present disclosure to accomplish this.  FIGS. 16 and 17  illustrate a first step wherein first and second interlocking profiles  502 ,  504  of a double zipper  500  are provided and first profile includes an extended flange  506  attached by perforated line  508 . A third zipper  510  with first and second interlocking profiles  512 ,  514  maintains the double zipper  500  in alignment when first and second profiles  502 ,  504  are not interlocked. As shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the first and second profiles  504  are unfolded over third zipper  510 . A releasable tape with adhesive on one side has its adhesive side applied to the extended flange  506  while the flange is in an extended position, while also an adhesive bead is applied between first and second profiles  502 . At the same time, perforations  508  are applied to the extended flange adjacent to the outer profile, after which the extended flange  506  is folded over the first and second profiles  502 . Thereafter, the first and second profiles  504  are folded back over first and second profiles  502 , as shown in  FIG. 20 . The zipper is then wound for deliver to a bag machine. At the bag machine, profiles  504  and extended flange  506  are again unfolded to their position in  FIG. 19 , and sections of extended flange  506  are again unfolded to their position in  FIG. 19 , and sections of extended flange  506 , equivalent to a slightly great distance than two side seals of the bags required for the finished bags, are cut out or punched out, with the cut-outs  524  being indexed to the positions of the bag seals. If the cut-outs  524  are made at the bag machine, the first step of folding and unfolding may be omitted. Because the releasable tape has been cut out at the side seal locations, the side seals will extend over the profiles  502 ,  504  and seal these together. The security bag is now ready for use. To use the bag, the first and second profiles  504  are again folded back over zipper  510 , which is now also separated. The bag is now loaded, the releasable tape and extended flange  506  beyond the perforations is unfolded to its extended position, where it can be readily grasped and torn off along the perforation line, leaving the adhesive bead  515  exposed. The profiles  502 ,  504  are then pressed together either manually or by a slider so that the adhesive bead between profiles  502  is activated and will prevent profiles  502 ,  504  from being disengaged without evidence of tampering. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 23 ,  24  and  25  illustrate a still further embodiment of the zipper  600  wherein a male interlocking element  602  and a complementary female interlocking element  604  are provided on respective first and second flanges  606 ,  608 . As shown in  FIG. 25 , first and second flanges  606 ,  608  are provided for attachment to first and second bag walls  700 ,  702 . First flange  606  further includes extended lip  610  connected thereto via tear line or perforated line  612 . Adhesive  614  is added inside female interlocking element  604  after extrusion of female interlocking element. After the bag is made and cut-outs provided for the bag side seals as previously described and then filled, extended lip  610  is removed by tearing along line  612 , the male and female interlocking elements  602 ,  604  are joined and pressure is applied (such as, but not limited to, by rollers) so as to engage adhesive  614 , resulting in a permanent joinder, adhesion or seal. If required a double zipper can be used, and the adhesive  614  can be added inside of both female interlocking profiles and/or between the profiles. 
         [0058]    Thus the several aforementioned objects 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.