Patent Publication Number: US-10315807-B2

Title: Air pocket flange closure for push-to-open recloseable packages

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This application is a National Phase Application of PCT International Application No.: PCT/US2015/058030 filed on Oct. 29, 2015, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/069,918, filed on Oct. 29, 2014, and U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/102,696, filed on Jan. 13, 2015, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to a closure for a reclosable package wherein air pockets are formed on the flanges of the closure. A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a closure which contains a small sack of air adjacent to and impinging upon the closure profiles. When closed, the closure creates a leak-resistant configuration. By pressing the air sack, the user separates the closure profiles. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     Closures for reclosable packages are well-known in the prior art and well-developed for their intended purposes. However, sometimes it may be difficult for the consumer, particularly if aged or otherwise challenged, to grab the flanges or package walls in order to separate the flanges or package walls thereby opening the package. 
     Moreover, in the marketplace, there may be a movement away from rigid packaging to flexible packaging, with an interest in “liquid pouches”. While spouts are frequently provided for such packages, the traditional way of opening a zipper or closure can be inconvenient in that this requires two hands instead of one. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a zipper, closure or reclosure for a reclosable package which allows a consumer to more easily grab the flanges or package walls in order to open the package. 
     It is therefore a further object of the present disclosure to provide improvements in the art of closures, reclosures and zippers for containers, particularly with respect to push-to-open closures. 
     These and other objects are attained by providing a closure, reclosure or zipper for a reclosable package, wherein the consumer side flanges include opposing compartments filled with air. This provides sufficient separation between the consumer side flanges or between the package walls to allow the consumer to grab the consumer side flanges or package walls more easily. Moreover, if the compartments are provided adjacent to the interlocking elements of the closure, it is possible for the user to squeeze the air-filled compartments thereby forcing apart the interlocking elements of closure. 
     In a further aspect of the present disclosure, a closure is provided which contains a small sack of air adjacent to the closure profiles. When closed, the closure creates a leak-resistant configuration. By pressing the air sack, the user separates the closure profiles. This typically allows the closure to be opened with one hand. Moreover, the elimination of the spout may result in reduced weight, reduced waste, reduced volume of the empty pouch, and reduced costs, particularly in view of possible faster integration speeds. 
    
    
     
       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 cross-sectional view along plane  1 - 5 - 1 - 5  of  FIG. 6 , illustrating a first embodiment of the closure of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view along plane  1 - 5 - 1 - 5  of  FIG. 6 , illustrating a second embodiment of the closure of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along plane  1 - 5 - 1 - 5  of  FIG. 6 , illustrating an embodiment of a further aspect of the closure, illustrating how the closure is closed. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along plane  1 - 5 - 1 - 5  of  FIG. 6 , illustrating an embodiment of a further aspect of the closure, illustrating the closure in a closed position in a leak-resistant configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view along plane  1 - 5 - 1 - 5  of  FIG. 6 , illustrating an embodiment of a further aspect of the closure illustrating how the closure is opened. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of a typical reclosable package using the closure of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements through the several views, one sees that  FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the closure, reclosure or zipper  10 , which is typically formed from polymeric material. The closure  10 , which is typically used in a reclosable package or bag  1000  (see  FIG. 6 ) includes a first closure profile  12  and a second closure profile  14 . The first closure profile  12  includes a first interlocking element  16  which is in the form of a male element with a shaft  18  and an arrowhead-shaped head  20 . In the illustrated orientation, a first consumer side flange  22  extends to the left of the first interlocking element  16  terminating in first consumer side tip  23  and a first product side flange  24  extends to the right of the first interlocking element  16  terminating in first product side tip  25 . As used in this disclosure, the term “consumer side” refers to the side of the closure which is directed toward the consumer or the exterior of the mouth of the reclosable package, while the term “product side” refers to the side of the closure which is directed to the storage volume of the package, wherein the contents or product is stored. 
     The second closure profile  14  includes a second interlocking element  30  which is in the form of a female element with first and second extending arms  32 ,  34  terminating in respective first and second detent hooks  36 ,  38  for engaging edges of the arrowhead-shaped head  20 , as illustrated. In the illustrated orientation, a second consumer side flange  40  extends to the left of the second interlocking element  30  terminating in second consumer side tip  41  and a second product side flange  42  extends to the right of the second interlocking element  30  terminating in second product side tip  43 . The interior faces of flanges  22 ,  24 ,  40 ,  42  include inwardly facing spacers  44  to reduce the sealing between the flanges of first and second closure profiles  12 ,  14  when the exterior faces of first and second closure profiles  12 ,  14  are sealed or otherwise joined to the interior walls of a reclosable package (not shown, typically formed from polymeric material). However, a peelable seal area  50  is typically formed between the first and second consumer side flanges  22 ,  40 . Additionally, in some embodiments, the first and second consumer side flanges  22 ,  40  may extend a short distance beyond their tips  23 ,  41 . 
     First air pocket  52  is formed between first interior pocket wall  54  and first consumer side flange  22 , as generally bounded by first consumer side tip  23  and peelable seal area  50 . Likewise, second air pocket  56  is formed to oppose and abut first air pocket  52 , between second interior pocket wall  58  and second consumer side flange  40 , as generally bounded by second consumer side tip  41  and peelable seal area  50 . First and second air pockets  52 ,  56  typically will be formed by insertion of compressed air in the die during the formation of the flanges  22 ,  24 ,  40 ,  42  of the closure  10 . First and second air pockets  52 ,  56  (and the first and second interior pocket walls  54 ,  58 ) abut and oppose each other so as to separate first and second consumer side tips  23 ,  41 , thereby allowing a consumer to more easily grasp the first and second consumer side tips  23 ,  41 , or the package walls (not shown) attached thereto, and to separate them, thereby peeling open the peelable seal area  50  and separating the first and second interlocking elements  16 ,  30  from each other, thereby gaining access to the storage volume of the package. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the closure  10 , wherein the elements are similar to those of  FIG. 1 . However, first and second air pockets  52 ,  56  are adjacent to first and second interlocking elements  16 ,  30  in the absence of a peel seal so that the user pressing on the first and second air pockets  52 ,  56  can cause the separation of the first and second interlocking elements  16 ,  30 . Alternatively, a peelable seal area similar to that illustrated as element  50  in  FIG. 1  may be placed on the first and second product side flanges  24 ,  42 . A further alternative is a very thin peelable seal area placed between the first and second air pockets  52 ,  56  and the first and second interlocking elements  16 ,  30 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the user can press down upon the opposing first and second air pockets  52 ,  56  in order to separate the first and second interlocking elements  16 ,  30 . That is, by placing the first and second air pockets  52 ,  56  next to the interlocking members  16 ,  30 , it could be possible to compress the consumer half of the air pockets, which would cause the portion of the air pocket next to the interlocking elements  16 ,  30  to expand, thereby forcing the interlocking members  16 ,  30  to separate. 
     A further aspect of the disclosure is illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 . The closure, reclosure or zipper  10 , which is typically made from polymeric material, includes a first flange  112  and a second flange  114 , between which a closable mouth  200  is formed. First and second flanges  112 ,  114  are intended to be connected to opposing walls  1001 ,  1002  of a container, bag, pouch  1000  or similar product as shown in  FIG. 6 . The first flange  112  includes a male closure element  116  while the second flange  114  includes a female closure element  118  with two extending arms  120 ,  122  with a space  124  therebetween for receiving the male closure element  116  in a closed leak-resistant configuration as shown in  FIG. 4 . Additionally, a sack of air (or other fluid, fluid being defined as a gas or a fluid, such as, but not limited to, air or water, respectively)  130  is formed by walls  132 ,  134  and is secured at one end by a connection point  135  to the second flange  114  so that a portion of the sack  130  extends over the female closure element  118 . A portion of sack  130  is engaged between the male and female closure elements  116 ,  118  in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 4 . Between male and female closure elements  116 ,  118 , the walls  132 ,  134  of sack  130  are pressed against each other, or at least in very close proximity to each other. In some embodiments, wall  134  may be sealed to at least one of extending arms  120 ,  122  in order to maintain sack  130  in the proper position. In order to separate the male and female closure elements  116 ,  118  from each other thereby opening the closure  10 , the user presses against the sack of air  130 , close to the connection point  135 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , thereby forcing air into the portion of the sack  130  engaged between the male and female closure elements  116 ,  118 . This forces the walls  132 ,  124  apart from each other in the portion which is engaged between male and female closure elements  116 ,  118 . This separates the male and female closure elements  116 ,  118  thereby opening the closure  10  and providing access to the associated bag or container (see package  1000  of  FIG. 6 ) through mouth  200 . While male and female closure elements are disclosed, a wide range of closure elements, as well as flange configurations, are adaptable to this disclosure. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a typical, but not restrictive, application of the closure, reclosure of zipper  10  of the present disclosure. A package  1000  is provided which is formed from two coextensive walls  1001 ,  1002 , typically of polymeric or similar material, sealed together by side seals  1003 ,  1005  and bottom seal  1004 , thereby leaving an upper reclosable mouth  1006  which is made reclosable by the closure, reclosure or zipper  10  being sealed to the interior of walls  1001 ,  1002  along a width thereof. 
     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.