Patent Publication Number: US-9896241-B2

Title: Reclosable package or bag with scented zipper

Description:
This application is a national phase of PCT/US2012/048987, filed on Jul. 31, 2012, which is a continuation-in-part of PCT/US2012/032477, filed on Apr. 6, 2012, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/472,437 filed on Apr. 6, 2011 and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/476,390 filed on Apr. 18, 2011, the disclosure of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure pertains to a reclosable package or bag with a scented or fragrant component, such as, but not limited to, a reclosable zipper, in order to provide an olfactory feedback mechanism that enhances the contents of the package for the user. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     It is well known in the prior art to package scented products in reclosable packages. However, this typically requires a relatively large amount of fragrance-carrying material and further requires the release of the fragrance within the storage volume of the package at the time of initial packaging, which is typically well before the package is opened by the consumer. The prior art further includes U.S. Pat. No. 7,497,623 entitled “Packages with Active Agents”, issued on Mar. 3, 2009 to Thomas. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a reclosable package or bag wherein fragrance can be provided with a reduced amount of fragrance-carrying material. 
     It is therefore a further object of the present disclosure to provide a reclosable package or bag wherein the fragrance is not released until the package is opened by the consumer. 
     This and other objects are obtained by providing a reclosable package or bag wherein the fragrance-carrying material, such as scent oil, is contained within the zipper, typically within an internal zipper volume. The scent remains covered until the zipper is opened. The consumer is exposed to the scent only when the package or bag is opened. The consumer is likewise isolated from the scent when the package is closed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further objects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a typical reclosable package used with the zippers or reclosures of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a zipper profile of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a zipper profile of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a still further embodiment of a zipper profile of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a zipper of the profile of the present disclosure, shown with the bag walls of a reclosable package. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a variation of the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a further variation of the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a still further variation of the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the disclosure, shown with the bag walls of a reclosable package. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a variation of the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of a further variation of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of a still further variation of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of yet a still further variation of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-section view of a variation of the disclosure wherein a header is formed over the zipper. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment with fragrance-carrying oil located between two peel seals. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment with fragrance-carrying oil located within a peel seal. 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment with fragrance-carrying oil mixed within the peel seal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one sees that  FIG. 1  is a typical reclosable package  100  incorporating the zipper or reclosure  10  of the present disclosure. 
     The package  100  of  FIG. 1  is meant to be illustrative and is representative of many different possible embodiments. Package  100  includes first (front) and second (rear) walls  102 ,  104  which are co-extensive with each other and are sealed together by bottom seal  106  and side seals  108 ,  110 , which may include thermal, ultrasonic, adhesive or similar seals. Some embodiments may substitute a fold in a single sheet of material for one of the seals, particularly the bottom seal  106 . The first and second walls  102 ,  104  are typically made of polymer or laminate, but are not limited thereto. The resulting structure forms mouth  112  which is reclosable by zipper or reclosure  10 , leading to storage volume  114  where the consumer product is stored. 
     Various embodiments of zipper or reclosure  10  are illustrated in  FIGS. 2-13 . Zipper  10  is typically formed from polymeric material and includes first profile  12  and second profile  14  which extend across the length of the mouth  112 . In the illustrated embodiment, the zipper  10  is attached to the interior of first and second walls  102 ,  104 , but other embodiments may include a zipper which is attached to the upper edge of front and rear walls  102 ,  104 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , first profile  12  includes first base  16  from which first and second arms  18 ,  20  extend thereby forming an internal zipper volume  22  therebetween. First and second arms  18 ,  20  further terminate in respective first and second distal hooks  24 ,  26  thereby forming an interlocking female element  28 . Second profile  14  includes second base  30  with a post  32  extending therefrom, terminating in an arrowhead-shaped element  34  thereby forming an interlocking male element  36  for engagement with the interlocking female element  28 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , fragrance-carrying oil  40  is placed within internal zipper volume  22  in first profile  12  near the juncture of first base  16  and first and second arms  18 ,  20 . This fragrance-carrying oil  40  could either be blended on the polymer formulation of the zipper  10  (fully or coextruded) or applied in a separate step after formation (such as extrusion) of first and second profiles  12 ,  14 . In this configuration, prior to the opening of the zipper  10  (i.e., the separation of the first and second profiles  12 ,  14  from each other) the fragrance will be substantially confined within internal zipper volume  22  and will not penetrate into storage volume  114  of the package  100  (see  FIG. 1 ). As it is expected that the fragrance would not escape externally, the fragrance would be expected to last for an extended period. In other embodiments, the fragrance-carrying oil  40  could be applied on a single zipper  10  wherein the intention could be to modify the smell of the packed product or to release the fragrance externally to increase the appeal of the product before the consumer opened the zipper  10 . 
     The fragrance-carrying oil  40 , and therefore the scent, is therefore contained within internal zipper volume  22 . The scent remains covered until the package  100  is opened by separating the first and second profiles  12 ,  14  of the zipper  10  (and may be re-covered by closing the package). The resulting advantages include that the scent is used more economically in that the zipper  10 , rather than the entire package  100 , is scented. Similarly, the shelf-life of the scent is preserved. The consumer is exposed to the scent only when the package  10  is open, and is isolated from the scent when the package  100  is closed. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment wherein first profile  12  includes first and second extending detent arms  42 ,  44  (terminating in respective first and second detent hooks  43 ,  45 ) and second profile  14  includes third and fourth extending detent arms  46 ,  48  (terminating in respective third and fourth detent hooks  47 ,  49 ). The detent arms  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  inter-engage as shown in  FIG. 3 . Two alternative locations (that is, typically, only one location needs to be used, however, some applications may use both locations)  40 ,  40 ′ for fragrance-carrying oil are disclosed. Location  40  is at the valley or cavity formed between first and second extending detent arms  42 ,  44  while location  40 ′ is on the top of second extending detent arm  44 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment wherein first and second detent hooks  43 ,  45  are oriented outwardly to engage third and fourth detent hooks  47 ,  49  which are oriented inwardly. Ridge  50  is formed between third and fourth extending detent arms  46 ,  48 , extending into internal zipper volume  22 . Two alternative locations  40 ,  40 ′ for the fragrance-carrying oil are disclosed. Location  40  is on the inverted apex of ridge  50  of second profile  14  while location  40 ′ is on first profile  12 , immediately below the inverted apex of ridge  50 , within the internal zipper volume  22 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  disclose embodiments of flanged zippers  10 , similar to the zipper  10  disclosed in  FIG. 3 . In both  FIGS. 5 and 6 , first profile  12  includes first customer side flange  52  and first product side flange  54 . In  FIG. 5 , second profile  14  includes second customer side flange  56  and second product side flange  58 . In  FIG. 6 , second customer side flange  56  is provided while second product side flange is eliminated. In  FIG. 5 , first and second bag walls  102 ,  104  are sealed to respective first and second product side flanges  54 ,  58 . In  FIG. 6 , first bag wall  102  is sealed to first product side flange  54  while second bag wall  104  is sealed to second profile  14 . In  FIG. 5 , peel seal  60  is positioned between first and second product side flanges  54 ,  58  thereby forming internal zipper volume  22  between the peel seal  60  and the interlocking elements. In  FIG. 6 , peel seal  60  is positioned between first product side flange  54  and second bag wall  104 , forming an internal zipper volume  22  similar to that of  FIG. 5 . In both  FIGS. 5 and 6 , there are two alternative locations  40 ,  40 ′ for fragrance-carrying oil. Location  40  is on the first product side flange  54  within internal zipper volume  22 . Location  40 ′ is on a lower exterior surface of fourth extending detent arm  48  with internal zipper volume  22 . 
       FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 5 , eliminating first and second consumer side flanges, and extending second product side flange  58 . There are two alternative locations  40 ,  40 ′ for fragrance-carrying oil. Location  40  is on the interior of the tip of first product side flange  54  and location  40 ′ is on the interior of the tip of second (extended) product side flange  58 . 
       FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7 . Second product side flange  58  is not extended in this figure. There are two alternative locations  40 ,  40 ′ for fragrance-carrying oil. Location  40  is on first product side flange  54 , proximate to the interlocking elements while location  40 ′ is on the lower exterior surface of fourth extending detent arm  48 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate a zipper similar to that of  FIG. 2 . First and second bag walls  102 ,  104  are sealed or otherwise attached to respective first and second bases  16 ,  30 . In  FIG. 9 , the location  40  for the fragrance-carrying oil is on the exterior of second arm  20 , oriented toward an interior or product side of the package  100 . In  FIG. 10 , location  40  for the fragrance-carrying oil is on the lower side (i.e., oriented toward the interior) of the interlocking male element  36 , while alternative location  40 ′ is on the interior lower side of second base  30 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a zipper  10  similar to that of  FIG. 3 , with the first and second bag walls  102 ,  104  sealed or otherwise attached to base portions of the respective first and second profiles  12 ,  14 . There is a product side portion of the second profile  14  which is free of attachment to second bag wall  104  thereby forming a further portion of the interior of bag  100 . Location  40  for the fragrance-carrying oil is formed on the exterior of the base portion of the second profile  14  which is free of attachment to the second bag wall  104 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a zipper  10  similar to that of  FIG. 2 , wherein first and second wings  60 ,  62  are formed outwardly adjacent from respective first and second arms  18 ,  20 . The exterior side of first wing  60  includes the location  40  for the fragrance-carrying oil. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a zipper  10  similar to that of  FIG. 2 . Protrusion  64 , including fragrance-carrying oil  40 , extends from second base  30  so as to be positioned adjacent to first arm  18 , within the interior of package  100 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates an embodiment with a zipper  10  similar to that shown in  FIG. 3 . First and second bag walls  102 ,  104  are sealed or otherwise attached to an exterior of first and second profiles  12 ,  14 , respectively and extend over zipper  10  to be joined to each other at seal  106  thereby forming header  108 . First and second bag walls  102 ,  104  include first and second lines of weakness  110 ,  112 , allowing the user to tear off a portion of header  108  thereby gaining access to zipper  10 . Fragrance-carrying oil  40  is located on the exterior of second profile  14  so as to be contained within the space of header  108 , whereby the fragrance would be released when the user opens or tears off the header  108 . 
       FIG. 15  illustrates an embodiment wherein the fragrance-carrying oil  40  is located at a position between closely-spaced first and second peel seals  60 ,  61 .  FIG. 16  illustrates an embodiment when the fragrance-carrying oil  40  is a location within the peel seal  60 , while  FIG. 17  illustrates an embodiment wherein the fragrance-carrying oil  40  is mixed with the material of peel seal  60 . Typically, the peel seals  60 ,  61  are on the product side of the zipper  10 . 
     Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.