Patent NZ-505603-A (NZ)
Title: Reclosable package seal, interlocking male and female profiles formed by folding package material into multiple layers; apparatus for making the seal; and a flexible package comprising the seal
Inventor: FORMAN HAROLD M
IPC: B65D33/25
Filed: 2000-07-05
Abstract: A flexible package entirely formed from a continuous web of substantially constant thickness packaging material, comprising a closed package body comprising at least one thickness of flexible material and having opposite ends, at least one package body end seal, an interlocking closure which may be repeatably opened and resealed comprising inner and outer interlocking portions integral with the package body and comprising multiple stacked and sealed together continuously connected layers of the packaging material.   The closure is operative to open and close the package body to provide and prevent, respectively, access to the package interior, and at least a part of the interlocking closure outer portion comprising at least one more layer than the inner portion. A method of making a resealable interlocking closure for a resealable package, consisting of the steps of: transporting in lengthwise direction a web of flexible packaging material of selected width and indeterminate length, layering the web to form at least one stack of packaging material, securing together the layers of the at least one stack of packaging material to form at least one strip, forming inner and outer portions of a resealable interlocking closure, at least the interlocking closure inner portion being formed from the at least one strip of packaging material and for at least a part of its length being thinner in cross section than the interlocking closure outer portion. Also described is an apparatus for making a resealable interlocking closure for a resealable package, comprising in combination: means for transporting in lengthwise direction a web of flexible packaging material of selected width and indeterminate length, means for fanfolding the web to form at least one stack of packaging material, means for securing together the fanfolded layers of the at least one stack of packaging material, means for forming inner and outer portions of a resealable interlocking closure, at least the interlocking closure inner portion being formed from the at least one stack of packaging material and for at least a part of its length being thinner in cross section than the interlocking closure outer portion. A flexible package formed from a continuous web of substantially constant thickness packaging material and at least one discrete strip of substantially constant thickness flexible material comprising in combination: a closed package body comprising at least one thickness of flexible material and having opposite ends, at least one package body end seal, an interlocking closure which may be repeatably opened and resealed comprising inner and outer interlocking portions integral with the package body and comprising stacked and sealed together layers of the packaging material and at least one discrete strip of substantially constant thickness flexible material configured and interlocked with the packaging material, the closure being operative to open and close the package body to provide and prevent, respectively, access to the package interior. The drawing shows an example of the resealable closure (shown as 22) for the flexible package formed from the packaging material.  The layers 23 and 24 that form opposite sides of the package are folded to produce a female profile 22A and a male profile 22B.  The male and female profiles each consist of several layers of the packaging material folded and heat sealed together.  The female portion is formed of more layers than the male portion, so that the female portion is thicker than the male portion.