Patent Publication Number: US-7585111-B2

Title: Reclosable pouch and closure element therefor having interlocking closure profiles

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable 
   REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   SEQUENTIAL LISTING 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a reclosable pouch and a closure mechanism therefor. 
   2. Description of the Background of the Invention 
   A reclosable pouch for storage of items typically includes a closure mechanism disposed at, or adjacent to, a mouth of the pouch. Frequently, the closure mechanism for a reclosable pouch includes an extruded male closure element disposed on one sidewall of the reclosable pouch that interlocks with a complementary extruded female closure element disposed on an opposite sidewall of the reclosable pouch. In many cases, the male closure element has an elongate solid core arrow-shaped male closure profile, and the female closure element has an elongate solid core channel-shaped female closure profile. 
   In other cases, a portion of the male or closure profile has a hollow portion. For example, one elongate extruded male closure profile has a hollow circular head portion disposed on a solid shaft portion. Another elongate extruded hollow male closure profile has a hollow circular or trapezoidal interlocking portion that is disposed directly on a backing member. Yet another male closure assembly includes an array of non-elongate arrow-shaped male closure elements, each of which has a barbed head portion disposed on a hollow cylindrical shaft portion. 
   One closure mechanism includes a first non-extruded elongate arrow-shaped closure profile that fits interlockingly within a hollow core of a second non-extruded larger elongate hollow arrow-shaped closure profile. Both the first and second closure profiles have an opening into a base of a hollow shaft portion and a hollow head portion. The first closure profile extends into the opening in the base of the second closure profile and nests within the hollow shaft and head thereof. Each closure profile has a multi-layer portion of a sidewall that is formed by either folding and overlapping a portion of a pouch sidewall or laminating a separate strip onto a pouch sidewall and then crimping or stamping the multi-layer portion into the arrow shape. 
   Yet another type of closure mechanism includes elongate interlocking tongue and groove profile strips that can be clamped together on opposite sides of a bag or pouch to seal the sidewalls of the bag or pouch therebetween. Such tongue and groove profile strips may be secured to or separate from an outer surface of each sidewall of the bag or pouch. In one example, the tongue profile strip has a hollow bulbous tongue portion that snap-fits into the groove profile strip. 
   Other non-interlocking portions of a closure element also may have a hollow profile. For example, some closure elements have elongate hollow circular bumper ridge or seal bead profiles disposed adjacent to a male and/or female closure profile. Other closure elements include an elongate hollow circular bumper ridge disposed inside an elongate channel-shaped female closure profile. 
   Grip ridges may also be disposed on a sidewall of a reclosable pouch adjacent to the closure profiles to provide increased traction for a user trying to open and/or close the closure profiles. The grip ridges are often disposed on a surface of a backing member or the sidewall of the reclosable pouch such that a cross-sectional profile of the pouch is thicker at the grip ridge, including a thickness of both the grip ridge and the backing member, than at an adjacent portion of the pouch including a thickness of only the backing member. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a reclosable pouch includes opposing first and second sidewalls defining a mouth of the pouch, a first closure element disposed along the first sidewall adjacent the mouth and having a first elongate male interlocking profile, and a second closure element disposed along the second sidewall opposite the first closure element and having second and third elongate male interlocking profiles. Each male interlocking profile includes a male interlocking member disposed on a hollow shaft. The second and third male interlocking profiles further define an elongate female interlocking profile therebetween such that the first male profile releasably interlocks into the female interlocking profile. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a closure strip includes a plurality of spaced male closure elements. Each male closure element has an elongate male interlocking profile including a male interlocking member disposed proximate an end of a shaft having a hollow core. A pair of adjacent male closure elements defines a substantially complementary elongate female closure element therebetween. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, an elongate closure profile includes a first male interlocking profile adjacent to a second male interlocking profile. Each male interlocking profile includes a first shaft wall spaced from a second shaft wall and a male interlocking member disposed across a distal end of the shaft walls. The first male interlocking profile and the second male interlocking profile define a female interlocking profile therebetween configured to interlockingly accept an opposing interlocking profile. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a reclosable pouch including hollow core closure elements according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2A  is a fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  with portions behind the plane of the cross-section omitted for purposes of clarity and the closure elements fully interlocked; 
       FIG. 2B  is a fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  with portions behind the plane of the cross-section omitted for purposes of clarity and with a pair of closure elements according to another embodiment of the present invention fully interlocked; 
       FIG. 2C  is a fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  with portions behind the plane of the cross-section omitted for purposes of clarity and with a pair of closure elements according to yet another embodiment of the present invention occluded; 
       FIG. 2D  is a fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  with portions behind the plane of the cross-section omitted for purposes of clarity and with a pair of closure elements according to a further embodiment of the present invention fully disengaged; 
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary isometric view of a portion of a closure strip including hollow core closure elements according to an additional aspect of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  with portions behind the plane of the cross-section omitted for purposes of clarity; 
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary isometric view with portions removed of a reclosable pouch according to another aspect of the present invention and including the closure strip of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a closure strip according to another aspect of the present invention having hollow interlocking profiles and pleated grip ridges; 
       FIG. 7  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a the closure strip of  FIG. 6  applied to a backing member in a first configuration according to a further aspect of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the closure strip of  FIG. 6  applied to a backing member in a second configuration according to yet another aspect of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a reclosable pouch having hollow interlocking profiles according to an additional aspect of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  are fragmentary cross-sectional views taken generally along the lines  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9  showing the reclosable pouch in an open position and occluded, respectively, with portions behind the plane of the cross-section omitted for purposes of clarity; 
       FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a reclosable pouch having hollow interlocking profiles according to yet one more aspect of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 12A and 12B  are fragmentary cross-sectional views taken generally along the lines  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11  showing the reclosable pouch in an open position and occluded, respectively, with portions behind the plane of the cross-section omitted for purposes of clarity; 
       FIG. 13  is a fragmentary, enlarged, isometric view of a closure strip on the reclosable pouch of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIGS. 14A-14F  are fragmentary, enlarged, cross-sectional views of various hollow closure profiles according to further aspects of the present invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of a male closure element according to a further aspect of the present invention having a hollow core; 
       FIG. 16  is a front elevational view of a die plate according to one more aspect of the present invention for extruding the closure element of  FIG. 15 ; and 
       FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of an intermediate male closure element according to yet another aspect of the present invention immediately after being extruded from the die plate of  FIG. 16 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention is directed toward apparatuses, methods, kits, and combinations for opening and/or closing a reclosable pouch. While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, several specific embodiments are discussed herein with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered only as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. For example, where the invention is illustrated herein with particular reference to a reclosable thermoplastic pouch, it will be understood that any other pouch, such as a bag (for example a paper, plastic, or foil bag, a handbag, a shopping bag, or a shoulder or duffle bag), a sack (for example, a carrier or courier sack), a purse, a pocketbook, a suitcase, or the like can, if desired, be substituted in whole or in part for the reclosable pouch in the apparatuses, methods, kits, and combinations herein described. 
   It has been discovered that the closure assemblies described herein are unique assemblies exhibiting improved performance as closure mechanisms. Such closure assemblies exhibit improved functioning as closure assembly mechanisms including, for example, improved opening and/or closing of a reclosable pouch, retaining the closure assembly in an open and/or closed position, and/or improved tactile feel to a user. The closure assemblies of the present invention also exhibit improved ease of use, and/or reduce or minimize an amount of material required to produce a closure assembly. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a reclosable pouch  10  includes first and second opposing pouch sidewalls  12 ,  14  that define a mouth or opening  16  into an interior space  18  of the reclosable pouch. A closure mechanism for opening and closing the mouth  16  of the reclosable pouch  10  includes a male closure element  20  and a female closure element  22  opposingly disposed along the pouch sidewalls  12 ,  14  generally coextensive with a mouth edge  24  of the pouch sidewalls to selectively interlockingly engage and disengage with each other. One or more gripping ridges  25  or other surface irregularities or gripping assists are located along the sidewalls  12 ,  14  between male closure element  20  and female closure element  22  and the adjacent mouth edge  24  to provide increased gripping traction for a user trying to open or close the mouth  16 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 2A , a male closure element  20  has an elongate interlocking profile including a shaft defined by a pair of opposing spaced apart shaft walls  26 ,  28  extended outwardly from a pouch sidewall  14 , a head wall  30  spanning across distal ends of the shaft walls opposite the pouch sidewall, and flanges  32 ,  34  extending laterally outwardly from base ends of the shaft walls along the pouch sidewall. The shaft walls  26 ,  28  converge at or near the head wall  30  and, with the pouch sidewall  14 , define and enclose a hollow shaft core  36 . The head wall  30  protrudes laterally past the shaft walls  26 ,  28  to define male interlocking members, such as hooks or barbs  38 , on opposite sides of the shaft. The barbs  38  may be symmetrical or asymmetrical about the shaft walls  26 ,  28 , depending on the application in which the barbs are utilized. Other forms of interlocking members may also be used, such as, for example, enlarged or bulbous head portions, arrow-shaped heads, and/or other various shaped projections suitable for forming an interlocking fit with a complementary female interlocking member. 
   A female closure element  22  has an elongate interlocking profile substantially complementary to the profile of the male closure element  20  and includes a channel  39  defined by a pair of opposed channel walls or sides  40  that are hollow, a bottom wall  42 , and a female interlocking members, such as pair of in-turned hooks or barbs  44 , for interlocking engagement with the barbs  38  of the male closure element  20 . Each channel side  40  further includes an interior or inner wall  46  spaced from an exterior or outer wall  48  and a bottom flange  50  extending laterally outwardly from a base end of the outer wall. The inner wall  46  and the outer wall  48  converge together at or near a distal end of the profile and are spaced from each other at the pouch sidewall end of the profile so that the inner wall  46  is independently attached to the pouch sidewall  12  at a predetermined distance from the outer wall  48 . The bottom wall  42  and each flange  50  are substantially coplanar and are attached to the pouch sidewall  12 . The inner wall  46 , outer wall  48 , and pouch sidewall  12  define a hollow core  52  inside each channel side  40 . The hollow core  52  in one embodiment may extend an entire elongate length of the female closure element  22 , or the hollow core may be interrupted by sections of material at intermediate locations between ends of the female closure element. In another embodiment (not shown), a channel  39  may have any number of walls to define any number of shapes and/or configurations so long as the channel can be configured to interlock and/or engage a male interlocking member. Illustratively, the channel  39  may be bowl-shaped, U-shaped, V-shaped, W-shaped, and/or concave shaped, and combinations thereof. 
   The profile of the male closure element  20  is received within the profile of the female closure element  22  with the barbs  38  interlockingly engaging the hooks  44  to seal or close the pouch sidewalls  12 ,  14  together at a mouth  16 . A user may alternatingly engage and disengage the male closure element  20  and the female closure element  22  by pressing the closure elements together as shown in  FIG. 2A  and pulling the closure elements apart. Gripping ridges  25  disposed between a mouth edge  24  of the reclosable pouch  10  and each of the male closure element  20  and the female closure element  22  provide traction for the fingers of the user while opening and/or closing the reclosable pouch. 
   In  FIG. 2B , another male closure element  20   b  is shown having a hollow shaft core  36  and a head wall  30  similar to the male closure element  20  of  FIG. 2A , and also includes a pair of hollow ridges or bumper ribs  54  on opposite base sides of the shaft. Each bumper rib  54  includes an inner wall  56  extended angularly upwardly from a base end of an adjacent shaft wall and an outer wall  58  extended angularly downwardly from an apex of the inner wall. The apex in this embodiment is shorter than or disposed below the shaft walls  26 ,  28 . Each bumper rib  54  is disposed between one of the shaft walls  26 ,  28  and adjacent flanges  32 ,  34 . The inner wall  56  and the outer rib wall  58  of each rib  54  and a pouch sidewall  12  together define a hollow core  60 . Each bumper rib  54  may act as a bumper or cushion for an opposing barb end of a female channel side  40  to prevent crushing of the male shaft walls  26 ,  28  when the male closure element  20  is engaged within a female closure element  22 . The bumper ribs  54  may also help keep female channel hooks  44  engaged to male head barbs  38  by urging the channel sides  40  inwardly toward the shaft walls  26 ,  28 . The hollow cores  60  of each bumper rib  54  may also provide a wider and softer tactile sensation to a user and in some instances require less material than a similarly sized solid core bumper rib. 
   In  FIG. 2C , yet another female closure element  22   c  is shown having a channel profile with hollow channel sides  40  similar to the female closure element  22  in  FIG. 2A , and also includes a second set of in-turned hooks  62  spaced along inner channel sidewalls  46  between hooks  44  and a bottom wall  42 . In another embodiment, the second hooks  62  may be disposed directly adjacent to the hooks  44 . The second hooks  62  provide an additional seal and interlocking mechanism between a male closure element  20   c  and the female closure element  22   c  to decrease the possibility of unwanted disengagement of the male closure element from the female closure element. In another embodiment, a second set of barbs  64  (shown in dotted lines) may extend outwardly from an exterior surface of each shaft wall  28  and  30  between barbs  38  and flanges  32 ,  34  to provide a second interlocking mechanism between the male closure element  20   c  and the female closure elements  22   c . The barbs  38  engage hooks  62  and the barbs  64  engage hooks  44  when the male closure element  20   c  is fully interlocked with the female closure element  22   c.    
   In  FIG. 2D , another set of elongate profiles for a male closure element  20   d  and a female closure elements  22   d  is shown. The male closure element  20   d  includes a hollow elongate male profile having a head wall  30   d  with pleats  64  therein and a hollow shaft core  36   d . The female closure element  22   d  includes an elongate female channel profile having hollow cores  52   d  defined between an inner wall  46   d  and an outer wall  48   d . Each outer channel wall  48   d  has a plurality of pleats  66  formed therein. The pleats  66  in the outer walls  48  provide a springy tactile sensation to the user and provide increased deflection of the profiles when interlocking and unlocking opposing closure elements  20   d  and  22   d . Each of the male closure element  20   d  and the female closure element  22   d  may be secured and/or separately extruded on to, for example, a like polymer to any backing member  68  such as directly to a pouch sidewall or to an intermediate backing strip. 
   In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a closure strip  70  includes a male closure member  72  that engages or interlocks with a female closure member  74 . The male closure member  72  and the female closure member  74  are suitable for securement to opposing pouch sidewalls  12 ,  14  as shown in  FIG. 5  to form a reclosable pouch  10 . The male closure member  72  includes the hollow core male closure element  20   b  of  FIG. 2B  having a backing strip  76  disposed across a base end thereof to define an enclosed hollow shaft core  36  and enclosed hollow bumper ribs  54 . The female closure member  74  includes the hollow core female closure element  22  of  FIG. 2A  having another backing strip  76  disposed across a base end thereof to define enclosed hollow channel sides  40 . The backing strips  76  are attached to opposing inner surfaces of the pouch sidewalls  12 ,  14  such that the male closure element  20   b  opposes the female closure element  22  to facilitate interlocking engagement thereto. The male closure member  72  and the female closure member  74  may alternatively include any of the hollow core closure elements disclosed herein or any other closure element adapted to interlockingly engage with closure elements similar to the hollow core closure elements disclosed herein. The backing strips  76  may be formed of extruded thermoplastic or other materials, such as, for example, cloth, paper, cardboard, or rubber, and combinations thereof. 
   The hollow core male and female closure elements  20  and  22 , and the various embodiments disclosed herein, may cause such closure elements to have a wider and softer tactile sensation to a user than similarly sized solid core closure elements. The hollow core male and female closure elements  20  and  22  also generally require less material than similarly sized solid core closure elements and can be extruded at higher rates of speed than similarly sized solid core closure elements. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 6 , a closure strip  100  for sealing or closing a mouth of a reclosable pouch or other container includes a male/female profile set  102  of repeating elongate hollow core male interlocking profiles  104  disposed between sets of pleated grip ridges profiles  106 . Each male interlocking profile  104  includes a pair of spaced apart arcuate shaft walls  108  and a head wall  110  spanning a top end of the shaft walls that define a hollow core  112  and an opening  114  into the hollow core. The shaft walls  108  in each male interlocking profile  104  are bowed or converge inwardly toward each other, and the head wall  110  is arched outwardly from the hollow core  112 . The male interlocking profiles  104  may use less material and provide a softer and stretchier tactile feel than similarly sized solid core profiles. The head wall  110  overhangs laterally beyond the shaft walls  108  to define interlocking members, such as hooks  116 . Adjacent male interlocking profiles  104  define a female interlocking channel  118  therebetween. The female interlocking channel  118  is configured or sized to engage or accept therein an opposing male interlocking profile (not shown) similar to or the same as the male interlocking profiles  104  such that the hooks  116  may interlock with similar hooks on the opposing male interlocking profile. 
   The pleated grip ridge profiles  106  are formed in flanges  120  extending laterally outwardly from each opposite end of the male/female profile set  102 . Each grip ridge profile  106  has an asymmetrical saw tooth shape including a first portion  122  disposed substantially orthogonally to the flange  120  and a second portion  124  that is angled toward the closure element. The asymmetrical saw tooth shape of the grip ridge profile  106  provides more aggressive gripping traction directed away from the male/female profile set  102  than in the opposite direction in order to provide additional gripping traction when opening the interlocking profiles  104 . However, any other ridge profile shape having a first portion and a second portion angularly disposed from the first portion could be used, such as rectangular shapes, wave shapes, circular shapes, and/or polygonal shapes, and combinations thereof (not shown). A hook  126  disposed along an outer end of each set of grip ridge profiles  106  is angled toward the interlocking profiles  104  to provide additional gripping structure and to make it easier for a user to isolate the edge of the closure strip  100  when trying to open interlocked closure strips  100 . In some embodiments, all sections of the closure strip profile may have substantially the same thickness, or in other embodiments some sections of the closure strip profile may be thicker than other sections for structural and/or aesthetic reasons. 
   In one embodiment, the closure strip  100  is an extruded polymeric material having a symmetrical overall profile for ease of manufacture and to prevent unbalanced shrinking or necking of the closure strip during extrusion. The entire closure strip  100  may be applied directly to a pouch sidewall (not shown). Alternatively, the closure strip  100  may be prepared for application to a pouch sidewall  130  by trimming one set of ridges  106   a  off of the closure strip as indicated by dashed lines in  FIG. 7  to form an asymmetrical closure strip  100   a  having a male female profile set  102  of interlocking profiles  104 , flanges  120   a ,  120   b , a single set  106   b  of grip ridges  106 , and a single hook  126 . In another alternative, the asymmetrical closure strip  100   a  may be extruded directly to include grip ridges  106  and a hook  126  on only one side of the male/female profile set  102  of interlocking profiles  104 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The closure strip  100   a  may then be post-applied to a pouch sidewall  130  or other backing member as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
   In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , only the flange portion  120   a  is attached to the pouch sidewall  130 , thereby leaving openings  114  into hollow cores  112  of the interlocking profiles  104  open and the grip ridges  106  without a backing. In another embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the pouch sidewall  130  is attached to both of flange portions  120   a  and  120   b  and covers openings  114  into hollow cores  112  of the closure elements  104 , thereby forming a closure element having an enclosed hollow core. The pouch sidewall  130  does not extend behind the grip ridges  106  so that the grip ridges may provide a ribbed tactile sensation to a user on both sides thereof, and/or so the ridges may have increased stretchiness. Alternatively, the pouch sidewall  130  may be secured behind the grip ridges  106  in order to reduce any stretchiness of the closure strip  100   a . A second closure strip (not shown) including similar pleated grip ridges may be attached to a second pouch sidewall (not shown) opposite the first closure strip in order to provide a high level of gripping traction for both pouch walls. The grip ridges on the second closure strip may be mirror images of the grip ridges  106  on the closure strip  100   a  so that the grip ridges do not mate against each other, or the opposing grip ridges may be complementary so that they do mate against each other. The closure strips  100  or  100   a  may alternatively be extruded or otherwise formed directly as part of the pouch sidewalls (not shown), in which case the entire closure strip may have substantially the same thickness as adjoining portions of the surrounding bag wall. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 9-10B , another reclosable pouch  210  includes a first pouch sidewall  212  opposing a second pouch sidewall  214  that together define an opening or mouth  216  into an interior space  218  of the reclosable pouch. Closure strips  222  are disposed in opposing positions on pouch sidewalls  212  and  214  coextensive with a mouth edge  220  of the pouch sidewalls to selectively engage and disengage with each other for alternatingly closing and opening the reclosable pouch. 
   Each closure strip  222  includes a plurality of elongate hollow-back interlocking male closure profiles  224  regularly spaced in parallel relation to each other and to the mouth edge  220 . Although three male closure profiles  224  are shown in  FIGS. 9-10B , more or fewer profiles could be used. Each male closure profile  224  includes a stem portion defined by a pair of spaced apart parallel shaft walls  226  extending from a pair of angled spaced apart transition walls  228  and a head portion defined by a head wall  230  extending across, and in one embodiment laterally beyond, the stem walls. An interconnecting wall  232  extends between adjacent transition walls  228  of adjacent male profiles  224 . The shaft walls  226 , transition walls  228 , and head wall  230  of each male closure profile  224  define a hollow core or central space  234  therebetween and an opening  236  into the hollow core. 
   Each pair of adjacent male closure profiles  224  further defines an elongate female closure profile  238  therebetween. Each female closure profile  238  defines a channel having sidewalls defined by adjacent shaft walls  226  and transition walls  228  of the adjacent male closure profiles  224 , the interconnecting wall  232  therebetween, and a barb wall portion  240  of the head wall  230 . The female closure profile  238  is sized and configured to interlockingly accept the head portion of an opposing male profile  224  as best shown in  FIG. 10B . When the closure strip  222  includes more than two male closure profiles  224 , the male closure profiles may be spaced at a regularly repeating distance to facilitate interlocking of any two opposing closure elements. Alternatively, adjacent male closure profiles could be spaced at irregular intervals (not shown) in order to facilitate interlocking of opposing profiles at a predetermined spatial relationship. 
   Each closure strip  222  further includes an elongate flange  242  extending laterally from an outer transition wall  228  on an end male closure profile  224  and an elongate flange  244  extending laterally from an outer transition wall on an opposite end male closure profile. The flange  242  is disposed on one of the pouch sidewalls  212  or  214  such that the head portions of the male closure profiles  224  point toward the interior side of the pouch sidewall  212  or  214 . The flange  242  may be attached to either the interior side or an exterior side of the pouch sidewalls  212 ,  214 . Alternatively, the flange  242  may be formed integrally with the pouch sidewalls  212  or  214  (not shown). Each flange  244  may include at least one elongate grip rib  246  formed therein to facilitate gripping of the closure strip  222  by a user when opening and/or closing the reclosable pouch  210 . The grip ribs  246  may have, for example, a saw tooth shaped profile as shown in  FIG. 6 , a V-shape, a U-shape, a rectangular shape, or any other shape sufficient to facilitate gripping of the closure strip  222  and combinations thereof. The entire closure strip  222  shown in  FIGS. 9-10B  has a constant thickness ‘t’ throughout. Alternatively, some portions of the closure strip  222  may have a thickness greater than other portions. For example, the grip ribs  246  may be thickened portions of the end wall  244 , or the head wall  230  could have a greater thickness to provide greater shape stability for the head portion. Other portions of the closure strip  222  may also have a different thickness for other structural and/or tactile aesthetic reasons. 
   The closure strip  222  on the pouch sidewall  212  is laterally offset from the closure strip on the on the pouch sidewall  214  such that a male closure profile  224  on one closure element is directly opposite a female closure profile  238  on the opposite closure element as shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B . To seal or close the mouth  216 , the male closure profiles  224  of one closure strip  222  are urged into interlocking engagement within the opposing female closure profiles  238  of the opposing closure strip such that the barb wall portions  240  of the engaged closure profiles are snapped or urged past each other. 
   The closure strip  222  may be extruded, for example, by any sufficient extrusion technique known to those skilled in the art from any suitable thermoplastic material for providing a resealable or interlocking closure element. Other manufacturing techniques or materials that would form a suitable closure element  220  may also be used as described herein. In one embodiment, the closure strip  222  is extruded having an interlocking profile that is a single layer. In another embodiment, the closure strip  222  may be extruded having an interlocking profile that has two or more layers, and the layers may be the same or different materials. 
   The entire closure strip  222  is both elastically and resiliently deformable in a spring- or accordion-like manner in a lateral direction because the male closure profiles  224  have hollow cores  234  and openings  236 . As a result, the closure strip  222  may feel softer to the user and provide a wider finger contact area in comparison to closure strip of a similar size having non-hollow back profiles. This resilient lateral deformability also helps facilitate pressing the male closure profiles  224  into the female closure profiles  238 . The closure strip  222  also provides a relatively thin cross sectional area of material that may provide advantages for higher speed processing during production and may require less material than a closure strip having solid closure profiles of similar size. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 11-13 , another reclosable pouch  210  includes closure mechanisms  260  disposed in opposing relation on inside surfaces  262  of pouch sidewalls  212  and  214  proximate an opening  216 . Each closure mechanism  260  includes a closure strip  264  and a base member  266 . The closure strip  264  is substantially similar to the closure strip  222  of  FIG. 10A , including elongate interlocking hollow-core male closure profiles  224  defining complementary elongate interlocking female closure profiles  238  therebetween, except that the flanges  242  and  244  are not included. The base member  266  extends laterally across openings  236  into hollow cores  234  of the male closure profiles  224  and is attached to interconnecting walls  232 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the closure strip  264  may have a constant thickness t 1  throughout, and the base member may have a constant thickness t 2  throughout. The thickness t 1  may be the same as or different than the thickness t 2 . Alternatively, different portions of the closure strip  264  may have different thicknesses for structural and/or aesthetic reasons. 
   A base member  266  may be secured and/or separately extruded on to, for example, a like polymer to an inside surface  262  of each pouch sidewall  212  and  214  in an offset opposing relation such that the male closure profiles  224  on one closure mechanism  260  are opposite the female closure profiles  238  on the opposing closure mechanism. Such offset relation allows the reclosable pouch  210  to be sealed or closed along the mouth  216  by the opposing closure mechanisms  260  without undue distortion and/or wrinkling of the pouch sidewalls  212 ,  214  as shown in  FIG. 12B . 
   Grip traction enhancers, such as elongate grip ridges  268 , are located on the interior surface  262  of each pouch sidewall  212 ,  214  between a mouth edge  220  thereof and each closure mechanism  260 . The grip ridges  268  provide enhanced traction for a user to grip the pouch sidewalls  212 ,  214  when opening and/or closing the reclosable pouch  210 . Other traction enhancing formations, such as, for example, the grip ridges shown in  FIG. 6 , dimples, raised bumps, and/or a high friction surface strip, or a combination thereof, could also or alternatively be used to provide enhanced gripping traction. 
     FIGS. 14A-14F  show examples of different profiles  224   a - 224   f  for elongate hollow-core interlocking closure strips similar to closure strip  222  shown in  FIG. 10A  or closure strip  264  shown in  FIG. 12A . In  FIG. 14A , each of a plurality of male closure profiles  224   a  is generally arrow-shaped having a head wall  230   a  with a barb portion  240   a  defining a barbed head and parallel straight spaced apart shaft walls  226   a  connecting the head wall to interconnecting walls  232   a . The shaft walls  226   a , head wall  230   a , interconnecting wall  232   a , and barb portion  240   a  define a hollow core  234   a  and an opening  236   a  leading therein. In  FIG. 14B , each of a plurality of male closure profiles  224   b  is generally triangularly shaped having cutback spaced apart shaft walls  226   b  and a head wall  230   b  defining a hollow core  234   b . The shaft walls  226   b  and an interconnecting wall  232   b  of each pair of adjacent male closure profiles  224   b  define a complementary female closure profile  238   b  therebetween. In  FIG. 14C , each of a plurality of male closure profiles  224   c  has a more rounded arrow shape than the male closure profiles  224   a  in  FIG. 14A . In  FIG. 14D , each male closure profiles  224   d  is defined by a generally continuously curved wall defining a rounded bulbous hollow-core ridge  234   d  with spaced apart cutback shaft wall portions  226   d  and an oversized headwall portion  230   d . Adjacent male closure profiles  224   d  define a complementary female closure profile  238   d  therebetween. In  FIG. 14E , each of a plurality of male closure profiles  224   e  includes spaced apart cutback shaft walls  226   e  and angled head walls  230   e  that define a hollow-core  234   e  and an opening  236   e . Angled transition walls  228   e  extend between adjacent male closure profiles  224   e , which also define a complementary female closure profile  238   e  therebetween. In  FIG. 14F , each of a plurality of male closure profiles  224   f  includes a peaked head wall  230   f  with a barb portion  240   f  and outwardly slanted spaced apart shaft walls  226   f  defining a hollow-core  234   f . Adjacent shaft walls  226   f  of adjacent male closure profiles connect directly to each other without a separate interconnecting base wall portion. Adjacent male closure profiles  224   f  define a complementary female closure profile  238   f  therebetween. This list of hollow-core interlocking profile examples is not exhaustive, and other hollow-core interlocking profiles having similar interlocking characteristics are also contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 15 and 17 , a male closure profile  300  of a hollow longitudinally elongate interlocking closure element, as seen in  FIG. 15 , includes a base wall  302 , shaft walls  304 ,  306 , head wall  308 , and grip ridges  310   a ,  310   b . The base wall  302  includes two laterally adjacent coplanar base wall portions  302   a  and  302   b  attached at a seam  312  disposed therebetween. The seam  312  is the location of a thermal weld or bond between the base wall portions  302   a  and  302   b . Grip ridges  310   a ,  310   b  are located on opposite lateral ends of the base wall  302  for providing a surface for a user to grip when opening and/or closing a reclosable pouch (not shown). In another embodiment (not shown), either of both of the grip ridges  310   a ,  310   b  may be omitted. The shaft wall  304  extends substantially perpendicularly upwardly from the base wall portion  302   a  and is laterally spaced between the grip ridge  310   a  and the seam  312 . The shaft wall  306  similarly extends perpendicularly upwardly from the base wall portion  302   b  and is laterally spaced between the seam  312  and the grip ridge  310   b . In one example, the shaft walls  304  and  306  are spaced apart a distance sufficient to allow them to flex inwardly and nearly touch when being interlocked with a female closure element. The head wall  308  spans across the ends of shaft walls  304 ,  306  and forms male interlocking members, such as hooks  314  and  316 , for interlocking engagement with the opposing female closure profile. The shaft walls  304  and  306 , base wall  302 , and the head wall  308  together define an enclosed hollow shaft core  318  having substantially parallel shaft walls. In one embodiment, the hook  314  is smaller than the hook  316  to provide a differential opening force when separated from a complimentary interlocking closure element in a manner well known in the art, and a structural support material, such as foam  320 , is disposed inside the hollow shaft core  318 . In another embodiment, the hooks  314  and  316  may be substantially the same size, and the hollow shaft core  318  may be substantially devoid of material. 
   The male profile  300  may be attached directly to a reclosable pouch sidewall or the male profile may be attached to an intermediate base strip (not shown) to form a closure strip for subsequent application to a reclosable pouch sidewall. In one embodiment, the male profile  300  having a hollow shaft core  318  may tend to provide a higher opening force to closing force ratio than a similarly sized solid core male profile when interlocked with a complimentary female profile because the shaft walls  304  and  306  can flex inwardly as the female interlocking closure element is urged over the head wall  308  and hooks  314 ,  316 . For example, in one embodiment, the male profile  300  was extruded from a polymer material to have a final dimension of 0.123 inches wide by 72 mils thick, which resulted in a 0.36 pound closing force, an 8 pound external opening force, and a 10 pound internal opening force. 
   Illustratively, any of the closure elements disclosed herein may be extruded as a single layer or in multiple layers by any convenient extrusion process known to those skilled in the art, and, for example, from a thermoplastic material similar to that used for a pouch wall, or any other extrudable material suitable for forming an closure element having and elongate profile. The closure elements could also be formed in single or multiple layers by other suitable processes, such as by hand forming, molding, carving, etching, folding and crimping, aggregation, or accumulation of other materials, such as, for example, wax, rubber, metal, cloth, polymeric material, plastic, and/or any other suitable flexible material, and combinations thereof. For example, and referring now to  FIGS. 15-17 , extrudable material, such as, for example, a thermoplastic, may be extruded through a die plate  350  having an extrudate aperture  352 , which is configured to form an intermediate male profile  300   a  for an elongate male closure element. The extrudate aperture  352  includes a first portion  354  configured to form a first base wall portion  302   a , a second portion  355  configured to form a second base wall portion  302   b , a third portion  356  configured to form a shaft wall  304 , a fourth portion  357  configured to form a shaft wall  306 , and a fifth portion  358  configured to form a head wall  308  and hooks  314 ,  316 . The following illustration of the intermediate male profile  300   a  is equally applicable to the extrudate aperture  352  because in this embodiment the intermediate male profile has the same dimensions as the extrudate aperture immediately upon exiting the extrudate aperture. 
   The intermediate male profile  300   a  includes two laterally spaced base wall portions  302   a  and  302   b  that form a gap  360  between adjacent ends  362   a ,  362   b  of the base wall portions. The gap  360  in one embodiment is a size so that the die swell of the extrudate causes the ends  362   a  and  362   b  to fuse together shortly after exiting the extrudate aperture  352 , thereby forming the enclosed hollow shaft core  318  and the seam  312  of the male profile  300  shown in  FIG. 15 . Alternatively, the gap  360  may be a size so that the ends  362   a ,  362   b  do not fuse together. Having the ends  362   a  and  362   b  fused together at the seam  312  may increase the flexural resiliency of shaft walls  304  and  306  by, for example, providing mechanical separation between the shaft walls along the base wall  302  and/or by entrapping air within the enclosed hollow shaft core  318 . Each shaft wall  304 ,  306  of the intermediate male profile  300   a  is outwardly bowed and includes an upper shaft wall portion  304   a ,  306   a  that is angularly displaced from a lower shaft wall portion  304   b ,  306   b , respectively. Each of the upper and lower shaft wall portions  304   a ,  304   b ,  306   a ,  306   b  are angularly displaced outwardly from a perpendicular to the respective base wall portions  302   a ,  302   b  an angle α or β, respectively, sufficient to allow the upper and lower shaft wall portions to shrink inwardly while the extrudate is cooling so that the shaft walls  304  and  306  are substantially perpendicular to the base wall  302  when the closure element is fully cooled. The intermediate male profile  300   a  further includes grip ridges  310   a  and  310   b  and head wall  308 , defining hooks  314 ,  316 , all similar to, but larger than the same structures on the final male profile  300 . 
   In one embodiment, the die plate  350  is configured to provide for a wall thickness of the base wall portions  302   a  and  302   b  of between about 0.1 inches and about 2 inches, or between about 0.2 inches and 1 inch, or about 0.55 inches. The die plate  350  is also configured to provide for a gap  360  between about 0.001 inches and about 1 inches, or between about 0.005 inches and about 0.5 inches, or about 0.015 inches. The die plate  350  is also configured to provide for an overall width of the base wall portions and the gap between about 0.2 inches and about 3 inches, or between about 0.5 inches and about 1.5 inches, or about 0.72 inches. The die plate  350  is also configured to provide for a total height of the profile  300   a  between about 0.1 inches and about 1.5 inches, or between about 0.2 inches and about 0.75 inches, or about 0.335 inches. The die plate  350  is also configured to provide for wall thickness of the shaft walls  304  and  306  between about 0.01 inches and 0.5 inches, or about between about 0.03 inches and about 0.1 inches, or about 0.0459 inches thick. The die plate  350  is also configured to provide for an initial minimum space between the shaft walls between about 0.01 inches and about 0.5 inches, or between about 0.1 inches and about 0.2 inches, or about 0.13 inches. The die plate  350  is also configured to provide for a wall thickness of the head wall  308  between about 0.01 inches and 0.3 inches thick, or between about 0.03 inches and about 0.1 inches, or about 0.045 inches thick along a centerline thereof. The die plate  350  is also configured to provide for both α and β between about 0° and 30°, or between about 5° and 15°, or about 10° immediately upon exiting the extrudate aperture  352 . Alternatively, the angles α and/or β may be larger or smaller to form final shaft walls that are bowed outwardly or inwardly, and other dimensions may be used to form differently configured closures. The intermediate male profile  300   a  is then drawn and cooled after being extruded to form the male profile  300  shown in  FIG. 15 . Alternatively, the intermediate profile  300   a  may be drawn and cooled in a manner to form a final closure element profile (not shown) with outwardly bowed or inwardly bowed shaft walls and with or without maintaining a gap between the ends of the base wall portions. 
   In other embodiments of the present invention a closure mechanism for a reclosable pouch is provided where the closure mechanism has at least one elongate male closure profile and at least one elongate female closure profile. The elongate male closure profile in one embodiment includes at least one hollow core shaft and at least one male interlocking member disposed on the shaft. In yet another embodiment the female closure profile includes at least one hollow core channel wall and at least one female interlocking member. Illustratively, a closure mechanism includes at least one elongate male closure profile with at least one hollow core shaft and at least one elongate female closure profile with solid channel walls. Alternatively, a closure mechanism includes at least one elongate female closure profile with at least one hollow core channel wall and at least one elongate male closure profile with solid walls. 
   In other embodiments, at least one male interlocking member is configured to engage and interlock with at least one female interlocking member; and/or at least one female interlocking member is configured to engage and interlock with at least one male interlocking members. 
   A male closure profile of the present invention may also have at least one ridge having an enclosed hollow core disposed adjacent to a shaft of the male closure profile. 
   A closure mechanism of the present invention may also include a male closure profile that is disposed on one sidewall of a reclosable pouch, and on the opposite side of the reclosable pouch a female closure profile is disposed on the other sidewall of the reclosable pouch. The male interlocking member and the female interlocking member may be independently configured to engage and/or interlock each other. The male and/or female closure profile may be secured to the sidewall and/or separately extruded on to the sidewall. 
   In yet another embodiment, a closure mechanism has at least one base member attached to at least one side of the male closure profile opposite the male interlocking member and defines at least one hollow core shaft. Alternately, the closure mechanism has at least one base member attached to at least one side of the female closure profile opposite the female interlocking member and defines at least one hollow core cannel wall. 
   A female interlocking member of the present invention may have at least one hook or barb extending from at least one wall of a hollow core channel wall, and may be configured to engage and/or interlock with a male interlocking member including, for example, engaging and/or interlocking at least one male hook or barb of the male interlocking member. In yet another embodiment, the female interlocking member has two female barbs that may or may not be spaced apart extending from the hollow core channel wall. The hooks or bards may be independently configured to independently engage and/or interlock with a male interlocking member including, for example, engaging and/or interlocking at least one male hook or barb of the male interlocking member. 
   A male interlocking member of the present invention may also have at least one hook or barb extending from at least one hollow core shaft of the male interlocking member, and is configured to engage and/or interlock with a female interlocking member including, for example, engaging and/or interlocking at least one female hook or barb of the female interlocking member. 
   Illustratively, a closure mechanism of the present invention may include a male interlocking member having a first male barb and a second male barb; and a female interlocking member having a first female barb and a second female barb. The first male barb and second male barb may be independently configured to independently interlock and/or engage the first female barb and/or the second female barb; and the first female barb and second female barb may be independently configured to independently interlock and/or engage the first male barb and/or the second male barb. In a fully interlocked configuration, at least one of the male barbs and at least one of the female bars are interlocked and engaged. 
   In another embodiment, a closure mechanism has a male interlocking member and/or a female interlocking member that has at least one wall having at least one pleat. The pleats may, for example, assist in improving the interaction and/or engagement of the male and female interlocking members, and/or may improve the seal of the closure mechanism when the male and female interlocking members are engaged in an interlocking position. 
   In other embodiments of the present invention, an elongate male closure profile is provided having at least one shaft that has a first shaft wall laterally spaced from a second shaft wall, a hollow core disposed between the first shaft wall and the second shaft wall, a base end, and a distal end opposite the base end; and at least one male interlocking member proximate the distal end of the shaft. In one embodiment, the shaft walls converge proximate the distal end. 
   In another embodiment, a male closure profile has at least one ridge having a hollow core laterally adjacent a base end of a shaft and a flange extended laterally outwardly from the ridge opposite the shaft. The ridge may include a first ridge wall extended angularly upwardly from the base end of a shaft wall and a second ridge wall extended angularly downwardly from an end of the first ridge wall opposite the base end of the shaft wall. 
   A male closure profile of the present invention may also have at least one backing member disposed across a base end of a first shaft wall and a second shaft wall defining an enclosed hollow core between the first shaft wall and the second shaft wall. 
   In yet other embodiments of the present invention, an elongate female closure profile is provided having a channel member that has at least one interior wall defining an interior of the channel and a female interlocking member; and at least one exterior wall laterally spaced from the interior wall. At least one of the interior walls and at least one of the exterior walls may also define a hollow core therebetween. The channel member may have any number of walls to define any number of shapes and/or configurations so long as the channel can be configured to interlock and/or engage an interlocking member, for example, a male interlocking member. Illustratively, the channel may be bowl-shaped, U-shaped, V-shaped, W-shaped, and/or concave shaped, and combinations thereof. 
   In yet other embodiments, a female closure profile has an interior wall and an exterior wall that meet or converge proximate a distal end thereof. 
   In still other embodiments, a female closure may also have a flange extending laterally from a base end of an exterior wall. 
   In another embodiment, a female closure profile has an interior wall having a first interior channel wall, a second interior channel wall, and a base interior channel wall extending laterally from a base end of the first interior channel wall to a base end of the second interior channel wall. 
   A female closure profile in one embodiment provides a female interlocking member having at least one female barb extending into a channel from an interior wall near the distal end thereof. In one embodiment, the female interlocking member has at least two female barbs extending into the channel from the interior wall between a distal end of the interior wall and a base end of the interior wall opposite the distal end. 
   In yet another embodiment, a female closure profile has at least one backing member disposed across an interior wall and an exterior wall opposite the distal end of where the interior wall and exterior wall converge. 
   A female interlocking member of the present invention may have a female closure element configured to interlock and/or engage a complementary male interlocking member. In yet another embodiment, a male interlocking member of a male closure element is configured to engage a complementary female interlocking member. 
   In embodiments with multiple male closure profiles and/or multiple elongate male closure profiles with multiple shafts and/or male interlocking members, each shaft and male interlocking member may be independently shaped and/or configured. 
   In embodiments with multiple elongate female closure profiles and/or multiple elongate female closure profiles with multiple channel members and/or exterior walls the shape and/or configuration of each channel and/or exterior wall can be independently shaped and/or configured. 
   A male or female hook or barb useful in the present invention can be of any shape and/or size as long as it can be configured to engage and/or interlock with a corresponding male, or female interlocking member on a closure mechanism by, for example, catching another hook or barb of the corresponding male or female interlocking member. Additionally, single or multiple hooks or barbs can be used on a male or female interlocking member. Illustratively, a hook or barb can be a protrusion; a bump; a convex shape; a sharp point projecting in reverse direction to a main axis, such as an arrow; a curved or sharply bent point; and/or a projection that is not necessarily sharp or pointed, but has an acute or obtuse end, such as a square, rectangle, blunt or rounded tip. Combinations of hooks and barbs can be used in the present invention. 
   The reclosable pouches, closure elements, and/or associated structures and profiles of the present invention may be extruded as a single layer or as two or more layers, and different portions may be single or multiple layers. Different layers may be the same or different materials. For example, different layers may be co-extruded and bonded at the same time, or the different layers may be individually extruded and bonded at different times. 
   The hollow portion of either the hollow core shaft or the hollow core channel may also include material to provide additional structural support to the male or female closure profile. Illustratively, the material may be a foam, such as, for example, a polymer, and/or a foamable resin. A polymer useful in the present invention includes, for example, an alkylene aromatic polymer, a rubber-modified alkylene aromatic polymer, a hydrogenated alkylene aromatic polymer and copolymers, an alpha-olefin homopolymer, a linear low density polyethylene, a copolymer of ethylene with a copolymerizable, a mono-ethylenically unsaturated monomer; a copolymer of propylene with a copolymerizable, a mono-ethylenically unsaturated monomer; a copolymer of ethylene with an alkane, and a thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE&#39;s), and combinations thereof. Other material useful in the present invention to provide structural support includes the material described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,844,055. Still other material useful in the present invention to provide structural support includes the material described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,586. Yet other material useful in the present invention to provide structural support includes the material described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,720. Other material useful in the present invention to provide structural support includes the material described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,844,055. Techniques useful in preparing a foamable composition include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,705. Other techniques useful in preparing a foamable composition include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,528. Combinations of the above materials to provide additional structural support may also be used in the present invention. Other additives, such as, for example, a stabilizer, a filler, and/or a reinforcing material; a blowing agent; a nucleating agent; an extrusion aid; an antioxidant; a flame retardant; a colorant; and/or a pigment; and combinations thereof, may also be incorporated into the materials to provide structural support. 
   Reclosable pouches, closure strips, closure elements, closure profiles, and/or grip ridges useful in the present invention can be made by various techniques known to those skilled in the art including those described in, for example, Geiger, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,248. Other useful techniques to make reclosable pouches, closure strips, closure elements, closure profiles, and/or grip ridges of the present invention include those described in, for example, Zieke et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,789. Other useful techniques to make reclosable pouches, closure strips, closure elements, closure profiles, and/or grip ridges of the present invention include those described in, for example, Porchia et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,561. Another technique for making reclosable pouches, closure strips, closure elements, closure profiles, and/or grip ridges of the present invention include those described in, for example, Pawloski et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0236158. The reclosable pouches, closure strips, closure elements, closure profiles, and/or grip ridges of the present invention may also be made by the process disclosed in Forman U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,425. Additional examples of making a reclosable pouch, closure strips, closure elements, and/or grip ridges as described herein include, for example, a cast post-applied process, a cast integral process, a hybrid of the cast post-applied and cast integral processes, a water bath extrusion process for extruding the closure mechanisms combined with post application of the closure mechanisms to a reclosable pouch sidewall film using lamination techniques in conjunction with a hot knife sealer process, and/or a blown process. 
   Illustratively, a reclosable pouch wall of the present invention can be made of any flexible material suitable for packaging a sample, article, and/or substance, including, for example, any suitable thermoplastic film. A flexible material useful in the present invention includes, for example, polyethylene (for example, low density polyethylene, and linear low density polyethylene), substantially linear copolymers of ethylene and a C 3 -C 8  alpha-olefin, polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl, and/or other polymers, in single or multiple layer, and combinations thereof. Additionally, the reclosable pouch wall can be constructed of any flexible material including, for example, paper and/or metal, including, for example, aluminum foil or sheets. The flexible material may be transparent or semi-transparent (to permit viewing of the sample, article, and/or substance in the reclosable pouch), translucent, lucent, clear, and/or opaque, at least in part, depending on the application in which the reclosable pouch will be utilized. 
   Two or more surfaces described herein may be attached together in a permanent or non-permanent manner by any fastening, securing, and/or joining techniques known to those skilled in the art. Examples include mechanically, chemically, and/or heat fastening, securing, and/or joining together two or more surfaces of a metal, a plastic, a polymer, a glass, a rubber, a paper, and/or a ceramic, and combinations thereof. A chemical agent useful in the present invention to fasten, secure, and/or join two or more surfaces includes, for example, an adhesion promoter, a binding agent (for example, a cyanoacrylate adhesive, or an epoxy putty), a bonding agent (for example, a hot melt adhesive), a crosslinking agent, a curing agent (for example, a UV light curing adhesive), a fixative agent, a sticking agent, and/or a vulcanizing agent, and combinations thereof. Exemplary chemical agents useful in the present invention include those described in, for example, The Handbook of Industrial Chemical Additives—2nd Edition, Gower Publishing Limited (Mar. 28, 1998). Additional examples of chemical agents useful in the present invention include those described in the Merck Index, Thirteenth Edition, John Wiley &amp; Sons, 13th edition (October 2001). Heat fastening, securing, and/or joining techniques useful in the present invention include, for example, ultrasound, heat or sonic staking, and/or laser welding or joining techniques. Mechanical techniques useful in the present invention, include, for example, the use of tabs, protrusions, clamps, fasteners, ties, fastening strips (for example, Velcro®), adhesive tape (for example, two sided tape), rivets, soldering, brazing, and/or welding, and combinations thereof. Alternatively, a surface of polymer, for example, may be extruded directly on to another surface (for example, a like polymer) capable of binding to the polymer. Combinations of the above fastening, securing, and/or joining techniques and agents can be used in the present invention. 
   INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
   The present invention provides apparatuses, methods, kits, and combinations useful for opening and/or closing a reclosable pouch. For example, the reclosable pouches, closure strips, closure elements, grip ridges, and profiles disclosed herein may have specific applicability for use on reclosable thermoplastic pouches, such as the pouches frequently used by consumers to store food and other items. The reclosable pouches, closure strips, closure elements, grip ridges, and profiles disclosed herein may also be used on other container and fastener applications and/or for other uses. A benefit of the hollow and pleated profiles disclosed herein is that they generally require less material to make; have a softer and wider tactile feel to a consumer; are easier to engage and seal because, for example, the overall amount of material may be uniform throughout the profile; can be structurally taller and at the same time use less material than similar solid or semi-solid profiles; require less cooling during manufacture compared to solid profiles, allowing, for example, higher production speeds while reducing energy costs; and have increased lateral deformability or stretchiness than similarly sized solid profiles. The reclosable pouches, closure strips, closure elements, grip ridges, and profiles disclosed herein may also be readily adapted for use with a slider closure mechanism. 
   The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in the nature of description rather than of limitation. All patents and other references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Many modifications, equivalents, and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings, therefore, it is to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.