Patent Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a one piece multi-rib fastener including at least two groups of ribs, each rib with one or more hooks, wherein the groups are separated by a space less than the width of the maximum number of ribs within one of the groups.

Full Description:
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/596,884 filed on Feb. 9, 2012, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to zipper for a reclosable package, wherein the zipper includes a multi-rib fastener including at least two groups of ribs, each rib with one or more hooks. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In the prior art, multi-alignment zippers are well known. While these zippers are well-developed and suitable for their intended purposes, further improvement are sought with respect to the strength of the interlocked zipper, especially when the profiles are not perfectly aligned and parallel when closed, and with respect to leak-resistance. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide improvements in reclosable zippers, particularly with respect to strength, particularly providing a range of alignments, and with respect to leak-resistance. 
     This and other objects are attained by providing profiles which are one-piece multi-rib fasteners including at least two groups of ribs, each rib with one or more hooks, wherein the groups of ribs are separated by a space less than the width of the maximum number of ribs within one of the groups and wherein the total number of ribs in each of the groups may be at least two, and perhaps more. 
    
    
     
       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. 1A  is a cross-sectional view of a typical multi-rib fastener of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view of a rib with a single hook. 
         FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the multi-rib fastener of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 2B-2D  illustrate various closure configurations of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the multi-rib fastener of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a closure configuration of the embodiment of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the multi-rib fastener of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a closure configuration of the embodiment of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     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. 1A  illustrates a multi-rib fastener  10  with a base  12  forming a first flange  14  and a second flange  16 . Multi-rib fastener  10  is typically an integral configuration made from a polymeric material. First and second flanges  14 ,  16  include upwardly extending anti-seal protrusions  18 . Multi-rib fastener  10  of  FIG. 1A  further includes ribs  20  which are arranged in a first group  22  of three ribs  24  and a second group  26  of three ribs  28 . In the configuration and orientation of  FIG. 1A , all ribs  24 ,  28  are pointing upwardly and are parallel with each other. Ribs  24 ,  28  are male-type elements with posts  30  and arrowhead-shaped tip  32 . Arrowhead-shaped tip  32  is formed from left hook  34  and right hook  36  (numerals shown on leftmost rib  24  only in  FIG. 1A ).  FIG. 1B  illustrates an embodiment of rib  24 ′ with a single hook  34 . First group  22  of ribs  24  is separated by second group  26  of ribs  28  by space or gap  40 . Space or gap  40  typically has a width less than the width of either the first or second group  22 ,  26  of ribs  24 ,  28 . 
     While ribs  24 ,  28  have a male-type configuration, the arrangement of the left and right hooks  34 ,  36  allow the ribs from opposing identical or substantially identical multi-rib fasteners  10 ,  10 ′ to inter-engage with each other thereby forming a closure or zipper as shown in  FIGS. 2B-2D . It can be envisioned that female elements are formed between immediately adjacent ribs  24  or  28 , for receiving the rib  24  or  28  of the opposing multi-rib fastener  10  or  10 ′. In other words, immediately adjacent ribs form a space for receiving and inter-engaging ribs from an opposing multi-rib fastener. In  FIG. 2B , the ribs  24 ,  28  of multi-rib fasteners  10 ,  10 ′ are aligned with each other and fully engaged so that two ribs are received within each group of ribs of the opposing fastener. In  FIG. 2C , the multi-rib fasteners  10 ,  10 ′ are slightly offset so that only one rib is received within each group of ribs of the opposing fastener. In  FIG. 2D , only one group of ribs of each multi-rib fastener is inter-engaged. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  disclose a similar embodiment wherein first group  22  includes three ribs  24  but second group  26  includes two ribs  28 .  FIG. 3A  illustrates the multi-rib fasteners  10 ,  10 ′ separated and  FIG. 3B  illustrates the multi-rib fasteners  10 ,  10 ′ engaged. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  disclose a similar embodiment wherein first group  22 , second group  26  and third group  29  each include two ribs  24 ,  28 ,  31 , respectively. It is envisioned that, typically, the multi-rib fasteners  10  or  10 ′ would not include less than a total of five ribs. Likewise, it is envisioned that it is possible that multi-rib fastener  10  may have a different groups of ribs than on multi-rib fastener  10 ′ (for instance the multi-rib fastener  10  of  FIG. 3A  may be combined with the multi-rib fastener  10 ′ of  FIG. 4A ). 
     It is envisioned in all of the embodiments that the gap or space  40  between groups of ribs will facilitate the closing of the profile as compared to a closure with a similar number of ribs but with no spaces between the groups of ribs. 
     The force required to close the profile and to open it, as well as the sound made by those actions will be related to the configuration of the groups of ribs and the spaces therebetween, the number of ribs interacting with each other, the size of the ribs, the size and number of hooks on those ribs, the angle of those hooks, the type of polymer used and any intentional mechanical deformation applied to those ribs. Different variation of all these parameters can be used to modify the opening force, closing force and sounds generated. 
     Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 5  it is envisioned that some profiles may include transversal cuts  50 . These cuts  50  could be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ribs as shown in  FIG. 5  or at an angle as shown at C in  FIG. 5 . The space between cuts can vary (as shown at A in  FIG. 5 ) as well as the depth of the cuts (as shown at B in  FIG. 5 ). Different groups of ribs could have different cuts, angle, frequency and penetration. Additionally, as shown by A, B and C of  FIG. 5 , the cuts  50  could be different in various locations or different ribs of the multi-rib fastener  10 . 
     A typical advantage of a zipper closure formed from multi-rib fasteners as disclosed herein is that with the indicated groups of ribs, spaces between groups and cuts, improved interlocking will be achieved even when the groups are interlocked but are not perfectly aligned and parallel when closing. 
     Similarly, another typical advantage of the disclosed embodiments is that improved leak resistance is achieved. 
     It is envisioned that the zipper could include two separate multi-rib fastener with equal or different rib constructions and configuration or could be in a single self-mating constructions. 
     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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8