Patent Publication Number: US-9850038-B2

Title: Child resistant zipper closure for recloseable pouch with double slider and methods

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application 61/792,384, filed Mar. 15, 2013, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to reclosable zipper pouch. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a reclosable zipper pouch that is child resistant. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A reclosable pouch having a slider operated zipper closure is easy to open for children and adults. If the pouch is intended to have contents that are potentially harmful, there is a need to provide a closure and method to increase the difficulty for children to open the pouch and yet still be easy to open for adults and senior citizens. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, this disclosure provides a child resistant slider zipper closure system having two moveable sliders. 
     The sliders can be physically linked together and slide as a single unit. 
     The two sliders can be physically released from one another and slide individually. 
     There can be a method of releasing the sliders from one another is not intuitive to children. 
     The method of releasing the sliders from one another can require physical dexterity not typical of small children. 
     When the sliders are linked, the zipper closure remains closed when the linked sliders are slid in any direction. 
     When the sliders are released from one another, the zipper closure can be opened by moving one or both sliders in a direction opposite one another. 
     In another aspect, this disclosure provides a flexible package with a child resistant slider zipper closure system having two moveable sliders. 
     In the package, the two sliders can be physically linked together and slide as a single unit. 
     In the package, the two sliders can be physically released from one another and slide individually. 
     In the package, there is method of releasing the sliders from one another that is not intuitive to children. 
     In the package, the method of releasing the sliders from one another requires physical dexterity not typical of small children. 
     In the package, when the sliders are linked, the zipper closure remains closed and the linked sliders can be slid in any direction. 
     In the package, when the sliders are released from one another, the zipper closure can be opened by moving one or both sliders in a direction opposite one another. 
     In another aspect, a double slider for a plastic zipper closure having a male track and a female track including interlocking male and female profiles is provided. The double slider includes a first slider and a second slider. Each of the first slider and second slider has a body with an opening end and a closing end. The body includes a top member and first and second legs extending therefrom. Each of the sliders has a separator finger depending from an internal surface of the top member and between the first and second legs. The slider body of each is adapted to move along top edges of the tracks with the first and second legs straddling the tracks, and the finger positioned between the tracks. The separator finger is wider toward the opening end of the slider than at the closing end of the slider. The first and second legs have internal surfaces that are spaced wider apart toward the opening end to permit separation of the male and female profiles by the wider end of the finger extending between the first and second legs toward the opening end. The first and second legs having internal surfaces spaced sufficiently close together toward the closing end to press the male and female profiles into interlocking relationship as each slider is moved in a fastener closing direction. The first slider and second slider are selectively releasably connected together between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the first and second slider is moved together along the top edges of the track, and the opening end of the first slider body is against the opening end of the second slider body. In the disengaged position, the first and second sliders move independent of each other along the top edges of the track. 
     In example aspects, the first slider and second slider have a projection-receiver arrangement to allow the selective releasable connection therebetween. 
     In another aspect, a zippered plastic bag having an openable and reclosable mouth is provided. The bag includes first and second panels each having a top forming the mouth, a bottom, and first and second opposing sides. The first and second panels are joined to each other along the respective bottoms, their respective first opposing sides, and their respective second opposing sides. The bag includes a zipper closure including a male and a female track. The male track includes a male profile in proximity to the top of the first panel. The female track includes a female profile in proximity to the top of the second panel. The male and female profiles have complementary cross sections for interlocking to close the mouth and for unlocking to open the mouth. A first slider is located on the zipper closure. The first slider cooperates with the zipper closure in opening and closing the mouth by moving along the male and female tracks. A second slider is located on the zipper closure. The second slider cooperates with the zipper closure in opening and closing the mouth by moving along the male and female tracks. The first slider and the second slider are oriented on the zipper closure such that when at least one of the first slider and second slider is moving in a direction toward the other of the first slider and second slider, the zipper closure is interlocking. When at least one of the first slider and second slider is moving in a direction away from the other of the first slider and second slider, the zipper closure is unlocking. 
     In example aspects, the first slider and second slider are releasably connected together. 
     In example aspects, the first slider and second slider have a projection-receiver arrangement to allow the selective releasable connection therebetween. 
     In another aspect, a method of operating a zippered plastic bag having an openable and reclosable mouth is provided. The method includes providing a zippered plastic bag including a zipper closure with male and female tracks. The male track includes a male profile, and the female track includes a female profile. The male and female profiles have complementary cross sections for interlocking to close the bag mouth and for unlocking to open the bag mouth. A first slider is located on the zipper closure, and a second slider is located on the zipper closure. The method includes opening the mouth by unlocking the zipper closure by moving at least one of the first slider and second slider in a direction away from the other of the first slider and second slider. 
     In example aspects, the method further includes closing the mouth by interlocking the zipper closure by moving at least one of the first slider and second slider in a direction toward the other of the first slider and second slider. 
     In example aspects, the step of opening the mouth by unlocking the zipper closure includes releasing a connection between the first slider and second slider. 
     A variety of examples of desirable product features or methods are set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing various aspects of this disclosure. The aspects of the disclosure may relate to individual features as well as combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the claimed invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a thermoplastic bag having a fastener and double slider in a disengaged position, constructed in accordance with principles of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the fastener and one of the sliders of  FIG. 1  in assembled position on a thermoplastic bag; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken generally along lines  3 -- 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of an example embodiment of a double slider, useable with the fastener of  FIGS. 1-3 , the double slider being in an engaged position; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of one of the sliders of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective view of one of the sliders of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic perspective view of another example embodiment of a double slider, useable with the fastener of  FIGS. 1-3 , the double slider being in a disengaged position; and 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic perspective view of another example embodiment of a double slider, useable with the fastener of  FIGS. 1-3 , the double slider being in a disengaged position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a plastic double slider  100  and a profiled plastic fastener or zipper closure  11 . The double slider  100  includes a first slider  10  and a second slider  10 ′, which can be selectively engaged (or connected) and disengaged (or disconnected). 
     The first slider  10  has been illustrated in  FIG. 2  assembled on the zipper closure  11  at the top edge or mouth  40  of a thermoplastic bag or package B. It should be understood that the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ have the same internal structure, and they operate to open and close the bag B in the same manner, but in opposite directions. Thus, description of first slider  10  is also a description of second slider  10 ′. 
     In the example embodiment, the bag B (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) is formed from a single flexible plastic sheet folded upon itself and comprises first and second opposing body panels  25  and  26 . Body panels  25  and  26  are fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides  28  and  30  and a bottom  32  which extends between the pair of sides  28  and  30 . Bag B preferably has the zipper closure  11  extending along a mouth formed opposite the bottom  32  of bag B, in which the zipper closure  11  has a male track  12  and a female track  13 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , tracks  12  and  13  have interlocking male and female profiles  14  and  15  extending the length thereof in the form of rib and groove elements on the respective tracks. The tracks  12  and  13  may be extruded separately with a fin and attached to the respective sides of the bag mouth  40 , or may be extruded integrally with the sides of the bag mouth  40 . If the tracks  12  and  13  are extruded separately, they are most effectively attached by means of a respective first and second fin  16 , incorporated within the tracks, that is heat sealed to the bag mouth  40 . The male and female profiles  14  and  15  have complementary cross-sectional shapes and are closed by pressing a bottom of the elements together first and then rolling the elements to a closed position toward the top thereof. The cross-sectional shapes of the interlocking male and female profiles  14  and  15  are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,143, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     In  FIG. 2 , only the first slider  10  is illustrated. The first slider  10  straddles the zipper closure  11  at the top of the bag B and is adapted for opening or closing the interlocking tracks  12  and  13  of the zipper closure  11 . The first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ may be molded from any suitable plastic such as, for example, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, Delrin, or ABS. The first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′, in this example, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,376,035, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     In an example embodiment, shown in  FIG. 2 , the first slider  10  comprises an inverted U-shaped member including a transverse support member or body  17  from which the separator finger  18  extends downward. The body  17  is itself U-shaped and includes two integral legs  19  extending downward. The finger  18  is positioned between the legs  19 . The body further includes opposite side walls  20 ,  21 , which each has an inwardly extending shoulder structure  22 . The body  17  is adapted to move along the top edges of the tracks  12  and  13  with the legs  19  straddling these elements and the finger  18  positioned between the tracks  12  and  13 . Shoulder structure  22  engages a bottom of the zipper closure  11  to prevent the first slider  10  from being lifted off the edges of the tracks  12  and  13 , while the first slider  10  straddles the zipper closure  11 . 
     The first slider  10  has an opening end  50  and a closing end  52 . It will also be noted that the main slider body  17  and the separator finger  18  are wider toward the opening end  50  than at the closing end  52 . Similarly, the side walls  20  and  21  and the legs  19  have internal surfaces that are spaced wider apart at or adjacent or toward the opening end  50  of the first slider  10  to permit separation of the male and female profiles  14  and  15  by the finger  18  engaging the tracks  12  and  13 . The sidewalls  20  and  21  and legs  19  have internal surfaces that are spaced sufficiently close together at or adjacent or toward the closing end  52  of the first slider  10  to press the male and female profiles  14  and  15  into an interlocking relationship as the first slider  10  is moved in a fastener closing direction. Many embodiments are possible, and it should be understood that external surfaces of the first slider  10  can take almost any configuration without affecting the operation of the slider  10 . 
     In this example embodiment, the opposite ends of the zipper closure  11  are provided with end termination clips  23  ( FIG. 1 ). Each end clip  23  comprises a strap member which wraps over the top of the zipper closure  11 . 
     As mentioned previously, the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ have the same internal structure, and they operate to open and close the bag in the same manner, but in opposite directions. Thus, from a review of  FIG. 1 , it should be appreciated that the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ are oriented on the zipper closure  11  such that when at least one of the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ is moving in a direction toward the other of the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′, the zipper closure  11  is interlocking, to close the mouth  40 . When at least one of the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ is moving in a direction away from the other of the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′, the zipper closure  11  is unlocking, and the mouth  40  is opening. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , when the first slider  10  is moved in a direction toward side  30 , and away from the second slider  10 ′, the zipper closure  11  between the second slider  10 ′ and first slider  10  is unlocking, and the mouth  40  is opening in that section. When the first slider  10  is moving in a direction away from side  30  and in a direction toward second slider  10 ′ and toward side  28 , the zipper closure  11  is interlocking to close the mouth for the zipper closure section that is between the first slider  10  and the side  30 . 
     Similarly, when the second slider  10 ′ is moving in a direction toward the side  28  and away from the first slider  10 , the zipper closure  11  between the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ is unlocking to open the mouth  40  in that section. When the second slider  10 ′ is moving toward side  30  and first slider  10 , the zipper closure  11  between the side  28  and second slider  10 ′ is closing. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ are oriented on the zipper closure  11  relative to each other such that the opening end  50  of each first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ are adjacent to each other, when the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ are in engagement next to each other. It can be seen that the opening end  50  of the first slider  10  is closer to the opening end  50  of the second slider  10 ′ than it is to the closing end  52  of the second slider  10 ′. Similarly, the opening end  50  of the second slider  10 ′ is closer to the opening end  50  of the first slider  10  than it is to the closing end  52  of the first slider  10 . 
     When the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ are immediately adjacent to each other and the closing ends  50  are against each other, it should be appreciated that when the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ are moved together along the zipper closure  11 , the zipper closure  11  will remain interlocked and the mouth  40  closed in the sections  102 ,  104  of the zipper closure  11  that are between the respective closing end  52  and the sides  28 ,  30 . In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the section  102  remains closed between closing end  52  of the first slider  10  and the side  30 , while the section  104  remains closed between the closing end  52  of the second slider  10 ′ and the side  28 . In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , there is a section  106  of the zipper closure  11  that is unlocked to provide an opening at the mouth  40 . The section  106  is a section between the opening ends  50  of the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′. 
     In accordance with principles of this disclosure, the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ can be selectively releasably connected together between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the first and second sliders  10 ,  10 ′ move together along the top edges of the tracks  12 ,  13 . In the disengaged position, the first and second sliders  10 ,  10 ′ move independent of each other along the top edges of the tracks  12 ,  13 . When the sliders  10 ,  10 ′ are engaged and move together, the zipper closure  11  will remain interlocked and the mouth  40  closed in the sections  102 ,  104  of the zipper closure  11  that are between the closing end  52  and the sides  28 ,  30 . This can function as a child-resistant feature to opening the mouth  40  in that a child will not easily understand that the first and second sliders  10 ,  10 ′ need to be separated or disengaged and moved apart from each other to unlock the zipper closure  11  and open the mouth  40 . 
       FIGS. 4-8  show example embodiments of engagement structure to allow the releasable connection between the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′. The examples shown in  FIGS. 4-8  are each double sliders  100 , including first and second sliders that can function as described for first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′. Of course, alternatives are possible. 
     In general, the releasable connection between the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ can be a projection-receiver arrangement  110 . The projection-receiver arrangement  110  allows for selective releasable connection between the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′. The projection-receiver arrangement  110  will include at least one of a projection  112  and one of a receiver  114 . The projection  112  can be on either the first slider  10  or second slider  10 ′. Similarly, the receiver  114  can be on either the first slider  10  or second slider  10 ′. The projection  112  and receiver  114  are complementary to each other, such that the receiver  114  is sized to receive the projection  112  to operably connect the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′, and also to allow selective disconnection by removing the projection  112  from the receiver  114 . 
     In the example embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the projection-receiver arrangement  110  includes tab  120  on a first slider  121 . The tab  120 , in the embodiment show, generally extends from a top member  123  of the first slider  121 , and is recessed from a top plane of the top member  123 . The tab  120  has a protuberance  124  projecting therefrom. The second slider  122  is sized to receive the tab  120  just below the top member  126  of the second slider  122 . There is an aperture  128  in the second slider  122  oriented to receive the protuberance  124 . In the embodiment shown, the aperture  128  is in the top member  126 . In this manner, the tab  120  is received by the second slider  122  under the top member  126  of the second slider  122 , and the protuberance  124  can be releasably fitted within the aperture  128 . 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 8 , the projection-receiver arrangement  110  includes a lobed projection  132  extending from first slider  133 , and an aperture  134  in the second slider  135  sized to receive the lobed projection  132 . In the example embodiment shown, the lobed projection  132  extends from the top member  136  of the first slider  133 . The lobed projection  132  is shown with three lobes, but of course, many other shapes for the lobed projection  132  are possible. The aperture  134 , in this embodiment, is in the top member  137  of the second slider  135 . The aperture  134  is shaped as the complement of the lobed projection  132 . Of course, alternatives are possible. 
     In  FIGS. 4-6 , first slider is shown at  141 , while second slider is shown at  142 . In this embodiment, each of the first slider  141  and second slider  142  has both projection  112  and receiver  114 . In  FIG. 5 , the first slider  141  can be seen having projection  144 , extending as part of its top member  145 . The first slider  141  also includes receiver  146  which is adjacent to the projection  144  in the top member  145 . In  FIG. 6 , the second slider  142  has projection  148  as part of its top member  149 , and an adjacent receiver  150  defined by the top member  149 . The projection  144  of the first slider  141  is received by the receiver  150 , while the projection  148  of the second slider  142  is received by the receiver  146  of the first slider  141 . 
     A method of operating a zippered plastic bag can be applied using these principles. A bag, such as bag B of  FIG. 1  can be provided. There is a step of opening the mouth  40  by unlocking the zipper closure  11  by moving at least one of the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ in a direction away from the other of the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′. 
     There is a step of closing the mouth  40  by interlocking the zipper closure  11  by moving at least one of the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′ in a direction toward the other of the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′. 
     The step of opening the mouth  40  can include releasing a connection between the first slider  10  and second slider  10 ′. In some examples, this step of lacing a connection can include removing projection  12  from receiver  14  that is part of a projection-receiver arrangement between the sliders  10 ,  10 ′. 
     The above description represents example principles of this disclosure. Many embodiments can be made applying these principles.