Patent Publication Number: US-2016221726-A1

Title: Child resistant closure system including hood arrangement for recloseable bag and methods

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/208,223, filed Mar. 13, 2014, which claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/792,058, filed Mar. 15, 2013, which is 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 zipper closure can be 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, a child resistant slider zipper closure system is provided having a non-removable hood to cover the slider. 
     The slider zipper closure system can include the non-removable hood being positioned to cover the slider in the closed position. 
     The slider can be moved from under the non-removable hood to slide along the zipper. 
     The method to move the slider from under the non-removable hood will not be intuitive to small children. 
     The method to move the slider from under the non-removable hood can require physical dexterity not typical of small children. 
     The non-removable hood can be accompanied by a removable hood portion. 
     The non-removable hood can be non transparent. 
     In another aspect, a flexible package with a child resistant slider zipper closure system is provided having of a non-removable hood to cover the slider. 
     The flexible package may include the non-removable hood being positioned to cover the slider in the closed position. 
     The flexible package may include the slider being moved from under the non-removable hood to slide along the zipper. 
     The flexible package may include a method to move the slider from under the non-removable hood is not intuitive to children. 
     The flexible package may include the method to move the slider from under the non-removable hood requires physical dexterity not typical of small children. 
     The flexible package may include the non-removable hood being accompanied by a removable hood portion. 
     The flexible package may include the non-removable hood being non transparent. 
     In one aspect, a zippered plastic bag having an openable and recloseable 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 their respective bottoms, their respective first opposing sides, and their respective second opposing sides. A zipper closure is provided. The zipper closure includes a male and 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 hood arrangement includes at least a non-removable hood section in covering relation to a first portion of the zipper closure. 
     In example aspects, the hood arrangement includes an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the hood arrangement covers an entire extension of the zipper closure. In the open position, the hood arrangement includes only the non-removable hood section and covers no more than the first portion of the zipper closure. 
     In example aspects, the hood arrangement is secured to the first and second panels. In the closed position, the hood arrangement includes a removable hood section and the non-removable hood section. The removable hood section is removable from the first and second panels to expose the zipper closure when removed. 
     In example arrangements, the first and second panels are scored to permit removal of the removable hood section. 
     In example aspects, the non-removable hood section is non-transparent. 
     In example aspects, a slider is provided to move along the male and female tracks to open and close the profile members. The non-removable hood section will be sized to accommodate the slider. 
     In another aspect, a method of operating a zippered plastic bag having an openable and recloseable mouth is provided. The method includes providing a zippered plastic bag having 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 their respective bottoms, their respective first opposing sides, and their respective second opposing sides. A zipper enclosure includes a male and 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 hood arrangement includes at least a non-removable hood section in covering relation to a first portion of the zipper closure. The method includes opening the mouth by accessing the zipper closure within the non-removable hood section and then unlocking the male and female profiles. 
     In example aspects, the hood arrangement includes a removable hood section and the non-removable hood section. The method includes, before the step of opening the mouth, removing the removable hood section to expose a portion of the zipper closure. 
     In example aspects, the step of removing the removable hood section includes tearing the removable hood section from the first and second panels along a score line. 
     In example aspects, there is slider is located on the zipper closure, and the method includes opening the mouth by locating the slider within the non-removable hood section, and moving the slider along the male and female tracks to open the mouth by unlocking the male and female profiles. 
     In example aspects, the step of moving the slider includes either pinching the slider through the non-removable hood section, or hooking the slider with a finger, or temporarily peeling back the non-removable hood section. 
     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 schematic front view of one embodiment of a recloseable bag having a zipper closure and a slider, a removable hood section of the bag shown removed from a remaining portion of the bag, constructed in accordance with principles of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is schematic cross-sectional view of the bag of  FIG. 1 , but before the removable hood section is removed; 
         FIG. 3  is an end view of an example male and female track and slider, useable in the bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the recloseable bag of  FIG. 1  and showing the bag before a removable hood section is removed; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one example slider useable in the bag of  FIGS. 1 and 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the slider of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the slider of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an end view of the slider of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  an end view of an example male and female track, useable in the bag of  FIGS. 1 and 4 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an end view of another example male and female track, useable in the bag of  FIGS. 1 and 4 ; and 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating an example method, in accordance with principles of this disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , there is illustrated a pouch, package B, or thermoplastic bag B having a profiled plastic fastener or zipper closure  11 . The zipper closure  11  may optionally be openable and recloseable with a slider  10 . 
     The slider  10  has been illustrated in  FIG. 1  assembled on the zipper closure  11  at the top edge or mouth  40  of the bag B. In the example embodiment, the bag B 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 mouth  40  formed opposite the bottom  32  of bag B, in which the zipper closure  11  has a male track  12  and a female track  13 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an end view of one useable slider  10  operably mounted on the zipper closure  11 .  FIGS. 5-8  show another slider  10 , useable with the bag B.  FIGS. 9 and 10  show two further example zipper closures  11  useable with the bag B. Like parts include the same reference numerals. 
     As shown in  FIG. 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 can be attached by 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  can be those as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,143, which is incorporated herein by reference. The male and female profiles may also be “press to close” zipper profiles that do not use a slider for opening and closing. Many embodiments are possible. 
     The 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 slider  10  may be molded from any suitable plastic such as, for example, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, Delrin, or ABS. The slider  10  can be as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,376,035, which is incorporated herein by reference. Other embodiments are possible. 
     In the example embodiments, the 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  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 sidewalls  20 ,  21  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 slider  10  straddles the zipper closure  11 . 
     The slider  10  has an opening end  50  and a closing end  52 . See  FIG. 1 . The opening end  50  of the slider  10  separates or unlocks the male and female profiles  14  and  15  by the finger  18  engaging the tracks  12  and  13 . The closing end  52  of the slider  10  presses the male and female profiles  14  and  15  into an interlocking relationship as the first slider  10  is moved in a fastener closing direction. 
     In this example embodiment, the opposite ends of the zipper closure  11  are provided with end termination clips  23  ( FIGS. 1 and 4 ). Each end clip  23  can include a strap member which wraps over the top of the zipper closure  11 . 
     As mentioned above, if contents  54  of the bag B are potentially harmful or hazardous, it is desirable to have a child resistant closure to help prevent children from being able to access the contents of the bag B. In accordance with principles of this disclosure, the bag B has a child resistant feature. 
     The bag B includes a hood arrangement  60 . The hood arrangement  60  includes at least a non-removable hood section  62  in covering relation to a first portion  64  of the zipper closure  11 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , in options that use slider  10 , the non-removable hood section  62  is sized to accommodate within and cover the slider  10 . In this manner, the slider  10  can be parked within the non-removable hood section  62  and be hidden from vision, especially from the perspective of a child. In preferred implementations, the non-removable hood section  62  is opaque or non-transparent. This further helps in hiding the slider  10  from visual detection by a child. 
     In options that do not use slider  10 , the first portion  64  of the zipper closure  11  will be an opening initiation point covered by the non-removable hood section  62 . 
     In general, the non-removable hood section  62  will cover the first portion  64  of the zipper closure  11 , which will include either slider  10  or an opening initiation point, and will require a degree of dexterity to open the zipper closure  11 . 
     In the example embodiments shown, the hood arrangement  60  includes an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the hood arrangement  60  can cover (in one non-limiting example) an entire extension of the zipper closure  11 . For example, the embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 4  shows the hood arrangement  60  before any part of it has been removed from the bag B. In the closed position, there will be no portion of the zipper closure  11  or slider that is physically exposed; that is, the entire zipper closure  11  and slider  10  are covered by the hood arrangement  60 . 
     In other non-limiting examples, the hood arrangement  60  can be less than an entire extension of the zipper closure  11 , i.e., a partial hood extending only partially along the zipper closure  11 . The hood arrangement  60  can be any size and may be open on one or more sides, in some non-limiting examples. In some examples, the hood arrangement  60  can be held closed on the body panels  25 ,  26  with tack, adhesive, or hard seal. Many variations are possible. 
     In the open position, the hood arrangement  60  includes only the non-removable hood section  62  covering no more than the first portion  64  of the zipper closure  11 . In examples where a slider is used, the first portion  64  of the zipper closure  11  will be a portion of the zipper closure  11  where the slider  11  is parked, and the zipper closure  11  is in a closed and interlocked position. Many embodiments are possible. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the first portion  64  extends less than half of the zipper closure  11 , and typically, less than a third of the length of the zipper closure  11 . 
     In example implementations, the hood arrangement  60  may be secured to the first and second panels  25 ,  26 . The hood arrangement  60  may be a continuous piece of film with at least one of the body panels  25 ,  26  in some examples. In some examples, the hood arrangement  60  may be an independent piece of film that is then secured to the body panels  25 ,  26 . In some examples, the hood arrangement  60  may be film that is secured to the fins  16  of the male and female profiles  14 ,  15 . Many embodiments are possible. 
     In the closed position, the hood arrangement  60  includes a removable hood section  66  and the non-removable hood section  62 . The removable hood section  66  is removable from a remaining portion of the bag B. If the hood arrangement  60  is secured to the first and second panels  25 ,  26 , then the removable hood section  66  is removable from the first and second panels  25 ,  26  to expose a portion  70  of the zipper closure  11  when removed. 
     To permit easy removal of the removable hood section  66 , a variety of techniques can be used. In one example, the removable hood section  66  is removable from the first and second body panels  25 ,  26  along a score line  68 . In  FIG. 1 , the score line  68  is shown already broken, with the removable hood section  66  removed from the remaining portion of the bag B. The score line  68  can be in the form of a laser score on film at an intersection of the removable hood section  66  and a remaining portion of the bag B (which can be panels  25 ,  26 ; or flanges  16 , for example). The removable hood section  66  could also be removed by cutting; having a die line, which may be made with laser scores; or, by having perforations. The score line  68  can be straight or contour, and it can run a length of the zipper closure  11 , or it may extend only a partial length. Many embodiments are possible. 
     In should be understood that the bag B can be made including only the non-removable hood section  62 ; or, the bag B can be made with both the non-removable hood section  62  and the removable hood section  66 . 
     In use, in  FIG. 11 , if the bag has the removable hood section  66 , the user will remove the removable hood section  66  from a remaining portion of the bag B by tearing the removable hood section  66  along the score line  68 , in some examples. Of course, as mentioned above, removal of hood section  66  could also be by cutting; or by tearing along die lines; or by tearing along perforations, for example. This will expose portion  70  of the zipper closure  11 . See step  150 ,  FIG. 11 . 
     The opening initiation point can then be located within the non-removable hood section  62 . If this includes slider  10 , the slider  10  is located and moved along the male and female tracks  12 ,  13  in the direction of the “open arrow” ( FIG. 1 ) to open the mouth  40  by unlocking the male and female profiles  14 ,  15 . To close the mouth  40 , the slider  10  is moved along the zipper closure  11  in the opposite direction, in the direction of the “close arrow” ( FIG. 1 ), which will interlock the male and female profile  14 ,  15 . The slider  10  will be moved within the non-removable hood section  62  and parked therewithin. When the non-removable hood section  62  is non-transparent, the slider  10  will be visually hidden, especially from the perspective of a child. In options that do not use slider  10 , the open initiation point is located within the non-removable hood section  62 , and the zipper closure  11  is opened. 
     In options that use slider  10 , when the slider  10  is within the non-removable hood section  62 , and it is desirable to open the mouth  40 , the slider  10  can be retrieved from within the non-removable hood section  62  through a variety of techniques. See step  160 ,  FIG. 11 . In one technique, the slider  10  is pinched through the non-removable hood section  62  and moved along the male and female tracks  12 ,  13 . In another technique, the slider  10  can be accessed in the non-removable hood section  62  by hooking the slider  10  with a person&#39;s finger. In another technique, the slider  10  can be accessed within the non-removable hood section  62  by temporarily peeling back the non-removable hood section  62  to access the slider  10 . 
     The above description represents example principles of this disclosure. Many embodiments can be made applying these principles.