Patent Publication Number: US-7914208-B2

Title: Reclosable fastener strip

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 10/054,203 filed on Nov. 13, 2001 entitled “Reclosable Fastener Strip,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,954,969, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/524,439 filed on Mar. 14, 2000 entitled “Reclosable Baby Bottle Liner and Baby Bottle having Reclosable Liner,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,576,278 and all assigned to the same assignee, Com-Pac International, Inc. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application generally relates to a reclosable fastener for resealably closing a bag such as a baby bottle liner and more specifically to a fastener comprising a plurality of interlocking hooks, recesses and bulbous protuberances dimensioned and arranged to create a substantially vacuum tight seal for such bags. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Plastic film bags with reclosable fasteners are in widespread use in many industries and the home. The separable and reclosable fastener provides a convenient means for access into the bag and allows the bag to be reused. 
     Nursing pouches and disposable baby bottle liners provide a convenient way for nursing, working mothers to provide nourishment and sustenance for newborns and growing babies. Current baby bottle liners do not provide a way to safely store breast milk while minimizing the risk of external contamination of the milk, and internal bacterial growth. One such exemplary prior art baby bottle and liner is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,251 (“the &#39;251 patent”). The &#39;251 patent describes a baby bottle liner that provides a reclosable feature at one end of the liner. A serious drawback of this prior art patent involves the risk of contamination of the contents of the liner at the ends of the reclosable fastener and through the fastener itself. The liner of the &#39;251 patent permits contamination by microbes through the sides of the fastener which are open to the environment. Further, the fastener itself permits air and water to enter the inside of the liner and contaminate the contents thereof. Consequently, a nursing mother may be feeding her child breast milk that may be contaminated with microbes which could cause serious gastrointestinal problems for the child. 
     Further, the prior art does not solve the problem of how to place an airtight, watertight or vacuum tight reclosable string fastener on a liner that is of a size of most liners for baby bottles. Conventional baby bottle liners are generally narrow in width. Hence, placement and sealing of a reclosable fastener onto a liner of narrow width is also a serious problem. 
     Reclosable fasteners have been the subject of considerable development throughout the years, as is evidenced by the volumes of patents covering these devices. A common reclosable fastener construction consists of a single rib and corresponding groove assembly. The rib terminates into a generally asymmetric arrowhead-shaped, member commonly referred to as the male end of the fastener. The corresponding groove, commonly called the female end of the fastener, ordinarily consists of walls terminating into hooks for grabbing the rib and interlocking the fastener. 
     This construction offers many advantages, as well as disadvantages. For instance, the fastener elements can be easily and economically manufactured by extrusion methods. The fastener is also securely retained in the closed position to discharge of contents of the bag. The flanges readily open from the outside by applying a separating force on the pull flanges extending from the mouth of the bag. The key disadvantage of the single rib and groove construction is that unless the fastener components have a certain size or stiffness and are manufactured to closely adhere to strict tolerances, the fastener elements are difficult to align and interlock and do not provide an airtight, watertight, or vacuum tight seal. 
     The above disadvantages have been overcome by constructing a separable fastener with a plurality of interlockable hook-shaped ribs that can be small in size and are composed of a relatively soft and resiliently flexible material that can be aligned and interlocked by simple inward pressure. However, this construction requires at least one of ribs to be hinged to the bag wall to prevent the fastener from opening by internal pressure, yet still does not achieve a vacuum tight seal. Therefore, a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a reclosable fastener having the advantage of multi-rib and groove construction to facilitate alignment and interlocking engagement of fastener elements and which provide a substantially vacuum tight seal. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a reclosable fastener which provides ample resistance to internal separating forces without requiring complex structures manufactured into the fastener elements. 
     A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a substantially flangeless reclosable fastener that is both substantially watertight and airtight and yet small in size, which reduces plastic usage and cost and allows use of watertight reclosable fasteners in relatively small flexible containers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to a reclosable fastener that resealably closes a bag. The bag includes opposing panels, each having an inner surface, and the fastener is adapted to be affixed to the upper portions of the inner surfaces of the bag panels. The fastener readily secures to the bag walls between the fastener and bag walls and forms a vacuum tight seal. 
     According to an example, the fastener, in particular, includes a reclosable fastener for resealably closing a bag with opposing wall panels, each wall panel having an inner surface, the fastener adapted to be affixed to the upper portions of the inner surfaces. The fastener features a first continuous, elongated, profile strip with at least one first hook disposed thereon, the at least one first hook having a half-arrowhead profile being disposed at an end of the profile strip. The fastener also includes a second continuous, elongated, profile strip with at least one first hook having a half-arrowhead profile disposed thereon, the first hook being disposed at an end of the profile strip. Further, the fastener has at least one continuous recess disposed along the length of each of the first and second profile strips, the at least one recess being sized, constructed, and arranged to resealably mate with the first hook on the opposing strip forming an vacuum tight seal and at least one continuous recess on each of the first and second profile strip being dimensioned not to mate with the hooks. 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art might construe the term “air tight” differently. Webster&#39;s Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition, copyright 1997 by Merriam-Webster, Inc., defines “air tight” to mean “impermeable to air, or nearly so.” Under such as definition for “air tight,” those of ordinary skill in the art might construe an “air tight” seal on a plastic bag to mean a seal that is actually impermeable, or only nearly impermeable to air. Alternatively, persons of ordinary skill might construe an “air tight” reclosable seal to be defined by an industry standard air leak test known as ASTM D3078-02. Under this standard, a bag is submersed in water above which a pressure is applied. Leaks in the bags seal are manifested as air bubbles. As used herein, an “air tight” seal means a seal that will meet the ASTM D3078-02 test. Under the test, an airtight seal would prohibit the transfer of air molecules from the inside to the outside and vice versa, and should be able to keep air molecules in a bag after the seal&#39;s closure and air molecules outside the bag after the seal&#39;s closure, for as long as the product contained within the bag is expected to be kept reasonably fresh. The term “vacuum tight” as used herein is also defined as at least meeting the “air tight” standard. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side cross-sectional view of a continuous, profiled, elongated reclosable fastener that is a flanged reclosable fastener; 
         FIG. 2  shows a plastic film bag having reclosable separable fastener structure embodying the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of another example of a continuous, profiled, elongated reclosable fastener; 
         FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view of yet another example of a continuous, profiled, elongated reclosable fastener; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional view of still another example of a continuous, profiled, elongated reclosable fastener. 
         FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional view of yet still another example of a continuous, profiled, elongated reclosable fastener 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a continuous, profiled, elongated reclosable fastener  10  according to the present invention. The fastener  10  includes a first continuous elongated profile strip  12  and a second continuous elongated profile strip  14 . The fastener  10  is readily secured to the inner surfaces of a bag  16  ( FIG. 2 ) without entrapment of air between the fastener elements and the bag  16 . Reclosable plastic containers may be formed utilizing the disclosed fastener. 
     The bag  16  may be fabricated from any suitable plastic film or sheet material, as is commonly known in the art. The bag  16  has a pouch  18  including opposing wall panels  20 ,  22  with inner surfaces  24 ,  26 . The wall panels are defined by a first  28   a ,  30   a , second  28   b ,  30   b , third  28   c ,  30   c  and fourth  28   d ,  30   d  edges. The bag  16 , shown in  FIG. 2 , is formed by folding a single sheet into two wall panels  20 ,  22 , wherein the side edges of the panels  28   a ,  30   a ,  28   c ,  30   c  may be closed by heat seal. Alternatively, the wall panels  20 ,  22  may be two separate pieces where the first  28   a ,  30   a , second  28   b ,  30   b , and third  28   c ,  30   c  edges are heat sealed to form the pouch  18 . 
     The fourth edges  28   d ,  30   d  provide an access opening to the pouch  18 . The profile strips  12 ,  14  are affixed to the upper portions of the inner surfaces  24 ,  26  of wall panels  20 ,  22  to close and seal the bag  16  from the exterior environment. Preferably, the profile strips  12  and  14  are sealed on their rear surface  13  and  15  to inner surfaces  24  and  26  by means of heat sealing. The segments  32 ,  34  distal to the profile strips  12 ,  14  act as pull flanges for opening the fastener assembly  10  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     An important aspect of the invention is the fact that the first continuous elongated profile strip  12  and the second continuous elongated profile strip  14  are configured and arranged to provide a vacuum tight seal upon interconnection thereof. The vacuum tight seal provides the important function of keeping foreign material including bacteria, molds, and viruses from entering the pouch  18 . Further, this seal starves any bacteria or other microbes inside the contents of the pouch of oxygen, thus destroying the ability to replicate exponentially. Hence, the risk of contamination of the pouch&#39;s contents is greatly reduced. Moreover, the vacuum tight seal provides resistance to inadvertent opening of the seal due to external pressure on the pouch  18  or due to internal pressure from within the pouch  18 . 
     A further advantage of the disclosed examples of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is to provide a substantially flangeless reclosable fastener  10  that is both substantially vacuum tight and yet small in size, which reduces plastic usage and cost and allows use of water tight or vacuum tight reclosable fasteners in relatively small flexible containers. 
     The present inventive reclosable fastener  10  has been found to provide a particularly durable vacuum tight seal. Fastener  10  includes first continuous elongated profile strip  12  and second continuous elongated profile strip  14  each having at least two hooks  42 ,  52 ,  44 ,  54  thereon. First continuous elongated profile strip  12  has hooks  42 ,  52 ; second continuous elongated profile strip  14  has hooks  44 ,  54  hooks thereon. While only two pairs of hooks  42 ,  52  and  44 ,  54  are constructed and arranged on the profiles  12 ,  14  in the variant shown in  FIG. 1 , it is appreciated that a greater or lesser number of hooks can be used as desired, with a corresponding increase/decrease in width of the strips  12 ,  14 . 
     Preferably hooks  42 ,  52  on the first continuous elongated profile strip  12  and hooks  44 ,  54  on the second continuous, elongated profile  14 , as extruded, are of equal height and have a half arrowhead-shaped tip  43 , a concave tail  45 , and a generally upstanding neck  47  connecting the hip and tail. Hooks  42 ,  52  are adjacent to each other on the first profile strip  12 . Optionally, the hooks  44 ,  54  on second profile strip  14  are also adjacent to each other in one variant of the invention. At least one hook  44  is at an end of the first continuous elongated profile strip  12 . The second hook  54  is located proximal to hook  44 . It is appreciated that a hook  44  formed at an end of a profile strip will have a partially-concave tail segment  49 . 
     In one variant of the invention, the first continuous, elongated profile strip  12  has a plurality of continuous recesses  62 ,  72 ,  82 ,  92  along a length of the strip. The second continuous, elongated profile strip  14  has a plurality of continuous recesses  64 ,  74 ,  84 ,  94  along a length of the strip. A plurality of neck segments  62 ′,  62 ″,  72 ′,  82 ′ and  92 ′ are disposed along base segment  64  and define recesses  62 ,  72 ,  82  and  92  along the first profile strip  12 . Likewise, neck segments  64 ′,  64 ″,  74 ′,  84 ′ and  94 ′ are disposed along base segment  65  and define recesses  64 ,  74 ,  84  and  94  along the second profile strip  14 . The base segments  63 ,  65  do not extend beyond the neck segments  62 ′,  92 ′ and  64 ′,  94 ′ located at the opposite ends of each base segment. In other words, the fastener is flangeless; no lateral flanges are used to seal the fastener to the bag wall. Of course, it is appreciated that any number of recesses can be created along the first and second profile strips  12 ,  14 , including but not limited to more than four recesses, with a corresponding increase/decrease in corresponding hooks and other members. In one variant of the invention, at least one of the recesses is dimensioned to resealably mate with one of hooks. The recesses  62 ,  72  are substantially congruent to hooks  44 ,  54  such that releasably interlocking the hooks into the recesses creates a secure airtight and watertight seal. Similarly, recesses  64 ,  74  are substantially congruent to hooks  42 ,  52  such that releasably interlocking hooks  42 ,  52  into recesses  64 ,  74  creates a secure airtight and watertight seal. It is appreciated that the presently disclosed examples provide a reclosable fastener with a plurality of airtight and/or watertight seals between corresponding members of the profile strips  12 ,  14 . 
     It is further appreciated that, preferably, at least two continuous recesses  62 ,  72  are dimensioned to resealably mate with hooks  44 ,  54 , and/or at least two continuous recesses  74 ,  84  are dimensioned to resealably mate with hooks  42 ,  52 . 
     In another variant of the invention, at least one continuous recess on each respective profile strip is not dimensioned to mate with a respective hook, but rather dimensioned to tightly fit into a recess that is substantially congruent to a profile member. It is appreciated that when member  56  is inserted into recess  84 , the tight fit between the member  56  and the recess  84  also creates an additional substantially airtight and watertight seal. The interaction between the other recesses and members causes a similar result with the combination of the interaction of the various hooks, recesses, and members creating a substantially leak-proof failsafe seal. Of course, it is further appreciated that while the geometry of the members as shown in  FIG. 1  is of a mono-hooked rib geometry, a variety of geometric configurations can be used, e.g. a rectangular geometry, a triangular geometry, etc. The fastener  10  of the present invention provides for at least one protuberance along a length of each of the first and second profile strips  12 ,  14  dimensioned to fit securely in one of the continuous recesses on each of the profile strips, and not dimensioned to mate with one of the hooks  42 ,  52 ,  44 ,  54 . In the present embodiment, the protuberances  56 ,  66 ,  76 ,  86 ,  96 , as extruded, have a rounded tip  57 , a concave tail  59 , and a generally upstanding neck  61  connecting the tip and tail. The tip is dimensioned to snuggly communicate with a corresponding recess to add to airtight and watertight qualities of the fastener  10 . It is also appreciated that a protuberance  96  formed at the end of a profile strip will have a partially concave tail  63 . 
     As further seen in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of ridges  48 ,  58 ,  68 ,  78 ,  88 ,  98 ,  108 ,  118  are located on the back sides of each of the first and second profile strips  12 ,  14 . Ridges  48 ,  58 ,  68 ,  78 ,  88 ,  98 ,  108 ,  118  provide a suitable way to obtain an airtight and watertight seal of back sides of the first and second profile strips  12 ,  14  to the inside surfaces  24 ,  26  ( FIG. 2 ) of panels  20 ,  22  ( FIG. 2 ). 
       FIG. 3  shows another example of a reclosable fastener strip in accordance with the present invention. 
     While only a few, preferred embodiments of the invention have been described hereinabove, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the embodiment may be modified and altered without departing from the central spirit and scope of the invention. As illustrated, the fastener strip  120  includes first and second profile strips  12 ,  14 . The elongated profile strips  12  and  14  are respectively affixed to the inner surfaces  24  and  26  of wall panels  20  and  22  to close and seal the bag  16  from the exterior environment. In the illustrated example of  FIG. 3 , the second continuous elongated profile strip  14 , in particular, includes a first portion  122  and a second portion  124  conjoined with a hinge element  126 . By inclusion of hinge element  126 , further resistance to inadvertent opening of the pouch  18  is afforded. The second portion  124  of the second elongated profile strip  14  is affixed to the inner surface  26 . 
     The first continuous elongated profile strip  12  includes at least one hook element hook  128  and the first portion  122  of the second elongated profile strip  14  also includes a similar hook element  130 . Preferably, the hooks  128  and  132  are constrictive in the range of equal height and have a half arrow head-shaped tip  132 ,  134 , respectively. Similar to the similarly described embodiment, corresponding recesses are formed in each of the strips  12  and  14 . When the strips  12  and  14  are releasably interlocked, the hook elements  128  and  130  releasably interlock into recesses creating, in conjunction with additional structure to be described below, a vacuum-type seal. 
     Also illustrated in  FIG. 3  are a plurality of continuous recesses on each of the strips  12  and  14 , which are not dimensioned to mate with a respective hook, but rather are dimensioned to tightly fit into a corresponding recess that is substantially congruent to a corresponding bulbous profile member and, in particular, to a plurality of bulbous members  140 ,  142 ,  146  and  148 . When the members  140 ,  142 ,  146  and  148  are inserted into a corresponding recess in the opposing strip the resulting type of fit further increases the effectiveness of the seal. In particular, each of the members  140 ,  142 ,  146 , and  148  have a bulbous shape wherein a dimension of the largest portion of the member (e.g.,  150  as illustrated for member  142 ) is greater than a neck dimension (e.g., dimension  152  of member  142 ) to create even additional resistance to separation, thereby creating a substantially vacuum tight seal when used in conjunction with the hook elements  128 ,  130 . This interaction of hooks, recesses and bulbous members creates a substantially leak-proof fail safe seal. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another example of a hinged geometry having a plurality of hooks and a single bulbous member. In particular, the geometry  150  includes the first elongated profile strip  12  having first and second hooks  152  and  154  and the second profile strip having hooks  156  and  158 . It is noted that the hooks may be substantially the same size or, as illustrated, may be dimensioned having different sizes. In particular,  FIG. 4  illustrates hook  156  having a longitudinal dimension  160  greater than a longitudinal dimension  162  of hook  158 . By including a hook  156  with a larger longitudinal dimension or height, further increased holding force may be effected. Additionally, the first portion  122  of second elongated profile strip  14  may include an extension member  164  showing proper engagement of hook member  154  with the corresponding recess in second elongated profile strip  14  and the member  164  also defining the recess into which hook  154  engages. 
     Additionally,  FIG. 4  illustrates a single bulbous member  166  that interacts with a recess not dimensioned to mate with a hook, but rather with member  166 , the recessed beam defined by the first portion  122  of second elongated profile strip  14 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates yet another embodiment of a fastener  170  that includes a single hook  172 ,  174 , formed in each of profile strips  12  and  14 , respectively. Additionally, two bulbous members  176  and  178  are defined in first elongated profile strip  12  that mate with a respectively shaped recess within the second elongated profile strip  14 . However, the second elongated profile strip  14  includes one bulbous member  180 , which engages with a correspondingly shaped recess defined in strip  12 . It is noted that  FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a fastener  170  that utilizes less longitudinal distance than the fastener  120  of  FIG. 3 , additionally, the half arrowhead-shaped hook  172  has a tail portion  182  oriented downward to be lower than a neck portion  184  of the hook  172 . In contrast, the fastener  120  of  FIG. 3  includes the profile strip  14  having hook  130  with a tail portion oriented upward or above a neck portion  131  of the hook  130 . It is noted that either orientation of the hooks may be contemplated. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates yet another fastener  190 , including the strips  12  and  14  having a plurality of hooks, which may be dimensioned either the same or different, as illustrated. Additionally, the fastener  190  of  FIG. 6  features the first elongated strip  12  having an extended member  192  at a bottom portion of the strip  12  to define a recess into which a hook  194  of strip  14  is inserted during releasable sealing of strips  12  and  14 . Additionally, the example of  FIG. 6  demonstrates a geometry where each of the strips  12  and  14  include a respective bulbous member  196  and  198 . 
     In light of foregoing, the preferred embodiments described are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced herein. 
     It is appreciated that while the geometry and arrangement of the various recesses, bulbs and hooks described herein generally relate to a hook and a substantially congruent recess to the hook configured, sized, constructed and arranged for creating a vacuum tight seal, a variety of suitable geometries or configurations of the male members and female members are disclosed subject only to the condition that the seal made when the profiles are interlocked is vacuum tight.