Abstract:
A child resistant/elderly friendly slider closure arrangement for plastic bags includes a finger actuated member that must be actuated before the closure can be opened. The finger actuated member is pivotally mounted on the body of a slider in a location to engage the closure or another slider.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a slider closure arrangement for plastic bags, and, more particularly to child resistant and elderly friendly slider closure arrangements for plastic bags.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Plastic bags with and without closures are available for a wide variety of uses. One type of closure for these bags is a pinch to close closure. This closure includes interlocking male and female profiles that close or lock upon being pressed together and open by being pulled apart. Another type of closure includes interlocking male and female profiles that are opened and closed by a slider mounted on the closure and moved along the closure to effect opening and closing.  
           [0003]    Both of these closures can be opened and closed by users of all ages. This ease of operation is preferred unless the bag contains pharmaceuticals; lawn, garden or pool chemicals or similar products. It would be beneficial to have a slider closure arrangement for bags containing hazardous or harmful products that is child resistant yet operable by adults.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    A slider closure arrangement for bags used for pharmaceuticals; lawn, garden and pool chemicals, and similar materials is preferably child resistant and elderly friendly. To meet these requirements, the slider closure arrangement of the present invention takes two steps and requires manual dexterity rather than brute force to open. The slider in this arrangement includes a finger actuated portion that when actuated by being pressed by a finger, places the slider in an operative configuration such that as the slider is moved along a closure, the closure is opened or closed. The finger actuated portion engages a notch, a knurled surface, a post or a termination on the closure, is hooked onto another slider, or is out of engagement with the closure and must be actuated into contact with the closure in order for the slider to be operative. Thus, the finger actuated portion must be actuated while the slider is moved along the closure in order to open the closure thereby requiring two mechanical steps to open the closure.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the bottom of a slider closure arrangement constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a side schematic cross sectional illustration of the slider closure arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 with a finger actuated portion of the slider in a notch in the closure;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a side schematic cross sectional illustration of a slider closure arrangement similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 with a separation member on the finger actuated portion of the slider;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a slider closure arrangement with a finger actuation portion of a slider engaging a knurled surface on a closure;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of first and second interlocking sliders, one with a finger actuated portion, mounted on a closure;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 a  is a schematic illustration similar to FIG. 5 with a separation member on the finger actuated portion;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a slider closure arrangement on a bag in which a termination on the closure includes a post for docking the slider;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a slider closure arrangement on a bag with a termination on the closure similar to the termination in FIG. 6 and the slider includes a finger actuated portion that fits over a post on the termination;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a slider closure arrangement with a finger actuated portion on the slider for engaging and opening the closure; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a slider closure arrangement with a slider that is actuable to one of two positions to engage and open the closure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    Referring to FIG. 1 there is schematically illustrated a reclosable closure  10  that is of the type found on reclosable plastic bags. One example of a closure of this type may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,286 incorporated by reference herein although closures of other types may also be used. The closure  10  includes a first profiled track  12  and a second profiled track  14  that are connected together to close the closure  10  and separated to open the closure  10  by a slider  16 . The slider  16  includes a separation member  18  that has a wide portion or end  20  and a narrow portion or end  22 . To open the closure  10 , the separation member  18  should be between the first  12  and second  14  profiled tracks.  
         [0017]    A notch  24  (FIG. 2) is formed in the closure  10  in each of the first  12  and second  14  tracks and preferably near an end of the closure  10 . The slider  16  includes a finger actuated member or latch  26  hinged to the slider  16  by a hinge  27 . The latch  26  is pivotally mounted on the slider  16  and includes a finger engagement portion or finger pad  28  and a hook portion  30 . In the slider locked or latched position the hook portion  30  is located in the notch  24  and resists moving the slider  16  to open the closure  10 . To release the slider  16  and open the closure  10 , a user must engage the finger pad  28  with a finger to pivot the hook portion  30  out of the notch  24 . While depressing the finger pad  28 , the slider  16  is moved along the closure  10  to open the closure  10 . Thus, two mechanical steps are required to open the closure  10 .  
         [0018]    A slider  116  and closure  110  similar to the slider  16  and closure  10  of FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown in FIG. 3 with the exception that the separation member  118  is part of the hook portion  130  of the finger actuated member  126  and member  126  is hinged to the slider  116  by a hinge  127 . The other components shown in FIG. 3 are the same as the corresponding components in FIGS. 1 and 2 and are identified by the reference numbers used in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the slider closure arrangement illustrated in FIG. 3 the separation member  118  is moved into engagement with the closure  110  when the finger actuated member  126  is depressed. Otherwise, the separation member  118  is out of engagement with the closure  10 . As a result, the slider  116  can be moved anywhere on the closure  110  without opening the closure  110  until the finger actuated member  126  is actuated and held which positions the separation member  118  in the closure  110 . While the finger actuated member  126  is held, the slider  116  can be moved along the closure  110  to open the closure  110 .  
         [0019]    Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a slider closure arrangement with a closure  210  on a bag  212 . The closure  210  includes an end or termination clip  214  such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,286 and a knurled or roughened surface  216  running adjacent to and along the length of the closure  210 . A slider  218  is mounted on the closure  210 . The slider  218  is similar to the sliders  16  and  116  except that it includes a finger actuated member latch  220  that engages the knurled or roughened surface  216  to hold or lock the slider  218  in place. The finger actuated member latch  220  is pivotally mounted on the slider  218  and includes a finger pad  222  and a surface engagement portion  224 . When the slider  218  is at rest the surface engagement portion  224  engages the knurled or roughened surface  216  to lock or hold the slider  218  in place. To open the closure  210 , the finger actuated member latch  220  is actuated by depressing the finger pad  222  to lift the surface engagement portion  224  off of the knurled or roughened surface  216 . While holding the finger actuated member latch  220 , the slider  218  is moved along the closure  210  to open the closure  210 .  
         [0020]    A two slider arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 5. This slider arrangement includes a closure  310  similar to closures  10 ,  110  and  210 . The closure  310  is terminated by end clips  312  similar to end clips  214 . To open and close the closure  310  a first slider  314  and a second slider  316  are used. The first slider  314  is similar to the slider  16  in FIG. 1 with the exception that a finger actuated member or latch  318  includes a hook  320  that is moved by engagement with a finger engagement portion or pad  322  by a user&#39;s finger. The latch  318  is hinged on the slider  314  by a hinge  319 . Otherwise, the first slider  314  includes the same components as the slider  16  in FIG. 1 including a separation member positioned in the closure  310 .  
         [0021]    The second slider  316  is a mirror image of the first slider  314  with the exception that the second slider  316  includes a hook  324  fixed to the second slider  316  rather than to a finger actuated member. The hook  324  is oriented opposite to the orientation of the hook  320  such that when they are brought together they lock.  
         [0022]    When the first slider  314  is connected to the second slider  316  by the hooks  320  and  324 , and the joined sliders  314  and  316  are moved along the closure  310 , the closure  310  remains closed because as one of the sliders opens the closure  310 , the other slider closes the closure  310 . To open the closure  310 , the finger engagement portion  322  is depressed to move the hook  320  away from the hook  324  thereby uncoupling the hooks  320  and  324 . Once the hooks  320  and  324  are disconnected, either slider  314  or  316  maybe moved to open the closure  310 . When it is desired to close the closure  310  and prevent a child from opening the closure  310 , the two sliders  314  and  316  can be connected together by the hooks  320  and  324 .  
         [0023]    A different version of the slider closure arrangement of FIG. 5 is illustrated in FIG. 5 a . All of the components of the slider closure arrangement of FIG. 5 a  are identical to the corresponding components in FIG. 5 and are identified by the same reference numbers with the exception of the separation member  410  and the hook  324 . The separation member  410  is part of the finger actuated member or latch  418  instead of part of the slider  314 . When the finger actuated member of latch  418  is depressed, the hooks  320  and  324  are unhooked and the separation member  410  is moved into the closure  310 . In this state, the first slider  314  may be moved to open the closure  310 . If the finger actuated member  418  is released, the separation member  410  is removed from in the closure  310  and the first slider  314  will not open the closure  310 . The hook  324  of the second slider  316  in the embodiment of FIG. 5 a  is privotally mounted on the second slider  316  by a hinge  454 . The hook  324  has a separation member  452  that functions in the same manner as the separation member  410 . In order to open the closure  310 , the separation member  452  is moved into the closure  312  by pressing on a finger actuation member  450  on hook  324 . Thus, when the first slider  314  is unhooked from the second slider  316  as described above, moving the second slider  316  along the closure  310  will not open the closure unless the finger actuating member  450  is pressed.  
         [0024]    A slider closure assembly in which a slider is locked on a termination clip is illustrated in FIG. 6. This slider closure arrangement includes a closure  510  secured to a bag  511 . The closure  510  is the same as the closures  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  310  described in the above paragraphs. The closure  510  is terminated at its ends by an end or termination clip  512 . The termination clip  512  differs from the previously discussed termination clips in that it includes a post  514 .  
         [0025]    A slider  516  is mounted on the closure  510 . The slider  516  is similar to the previously described sliders in that slider  516  includes a separation member that is located in the closure to open and close the closure  510 . The slider  516 , however, differs from the previously described sliders in that the slider  516  includes a first side  518  and a second side  520  joined by a flexible hinge  522 . The second  520  side of the slider  516  includes an indention or recess  524  of approximately the same size and configuration as the post  514  such that the recess  524  will fit over the post  514 .  
         [0026]    The slider  516  can be locked onto the termination clip  512  by moving the slider  516  along the closure  510  toward the clip  512 . As the slider  516  approaches the clip  512 , the user squeezes the rear end portions  526  and  528  of the first side  518  and the second side  520 , respectively, of the slider  516  in the direction of the arrows  530 . This causes the forwarded end portions  532  and  534  of the first side  518  and the second side  520 , respectively, to move apart in the direction of the arrows  536 . By spreading apart the forward end portions  532  and  534  of the first side  518  and the second side  520 , the slider  516  can be moved onto the termination clip  512  until the recess  524  is over the post  514 . The rear end portions  526  and  528  may then be released allowing the forward end portions  532  and  534  to close over the termination clip  512  locating the post  514  in the recess  524  and locking the slider  516  onto the termination clip  512 . To open the closure  510 , the user must pinch the rear end portions  526  and  528  of the slider  516  to separate the forward end portions  532  and  534  and lift the recess  524  off the post  514 . While pinching the rear end portions  526  and  528 , the slider  516  may be pulled along the closure  510  away from the termination clip  512  to open the closure  510 .  
         [0027]    Alternatively, the termination clip  512  can include a ramp  515  adjacent the post  514 . The ramp  515  eliminates the need for a user to pinch the rear end portions  526  and  528  as the slider  516  approaches the clip  512 . Instead, as the slider  516  approaches the clip  512 , the forward end portion  534  engages the ramp  515  lifting the forward end portion  534 . The forward end portion  534  passes over the post  514 , it snaps down onto the clip  512  with the recess  524  over the post  514 .  
         [0028]    A slider closure assembly with a slider that locks onto a post similar to the slider in FIG. 6 is illustrated in FIG. 7. This slider closure assembly is similar to that of FIG. 6 and the same components are identified by the same reference numbers. This slider closure assembly includes a slider  710  with a finger actuated member  712  pivotally mounted on the slider  710 . The finger actuated member  712  included a finger pad  714  and an extension  716 . The extension  716  fits into an opening  718  in a side of the slider  710 . The extension  716  includes a recess or opening  524  at least the size and shape of the post  514  so that the recess  524  fits over the post  514  locking the slider  710  to the termination clip  512 . This is accomplished by a user pinching the finger actuated member  712  at the finger pad  714 . This pivots the extension  716  in the direction of the arrow  722 . The slider  710  is then moved toward the termination clip  512  until the opening  524  is over the post  514 . The finger actuated member  712  can then be released and the opening  524  will move over the post  514 . To open the closure  510 , the finger actuated member  712  is pinched until the opening  524  is lifted off the post  514 . The slider  710  can then be moved away from the termination clip  514  and along the closure  510 . Once the slider  710  is away from termination clip  514 , the finger actuated member  712  can be released and the slider  710  will continue to open or close the closoure  510  depending on the direction the slider  710  is moved.  
         [0029]    The slider closure assembly in FIG. 7 may also include a ramp  715  similar in structure and function as the ramp  515  in FIG. 6.  
         [0030]    Another slider closure arrangement requiring a pinching action is illustrated in FIG. 8. The slider closure arrangement in FIG. 8 includes a closure  810  that has a first track  812  and a second track  814 . The first track  812  has a female profile  816  and the second track  814  has a male profile  818 . The female profile  816  and male profile  818  are interconnecting profiles and the closure  810  is closed when the profiles  816  and  818  are connected as in FIG. 8. Each track  812  and  814  includes a fin  820  that is sealed to or an integral part of a bag such as the bags  212  and  511  illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6 and  7 .  
         [0031]    A slider  822  is mounted on the closure  810  and opens and closes the closure  810  by separating and connecting the female profile  816  and the male profile  818 . The slider  822  includes a first retaining shoulder  824  and a second retaining shoulder  826  which assist in retaining the slider  822  on the closure  810 .  
         [0032]    To actuate the female profile  816  and the male profile  818 , the slider  822  includes a first finger actuated member  828  with a finger pad  829  and a second finger actuated member  831  with a finger pad  830  each pivotally mounted on the slider  822 . To open the closure  810  a user depresses or squeezes the first finger actuated member  828  and the second finger actuated member  831  to engage the closure  810 . This engagement causes the female profile  816  and the male profile  818  to separate, and as the slider  822  is moved along the closure  810  while squeezing the first finger actuated member  828  and the second finger actuated member  831 , the closure  810  is opened. Upon releasing the first finger actuated member  828  and the second finger actuated member  831 , the slider  822  will close the closure  810  by forcing the female profile  816  and the male profile  818  together but will not open it and is free sliding on the closure  810  once the closure is closed.  
         [0033]    Another slider closure arrangement requiring a slider to be moved up or down and then moved along the closure to open the closure is illustrated in FIG. 9. This slider closure arrangement includes a closure  910  with a first track  912  having a female profile  914  and second track  916  with a male profile  918 . The first track  912  also includes an upper secondary profile  920  and a lower secondary profile  922 . Similarly, the second track  916  includes an upper secondary profile  924  and a lower secondary profile  926 .  
         [0034]    A slider  928  is mounted on the closure  910 . The closure  910  is located in a central passage  930  through the slider  928 . The passage  930  has side walls  932  and  934 . The slider  928  further includes a first separation member  936  and a second closing member defined by shoulders  938  and  947 .  
         [0035]    The closure  910  can be closed by moving the slider  928  up relative to the closure  910  to engage the second closing member  938 ,  947  with the lower secondary profiles  922  and  926  and while in this position, moving the slider  928  along the closure  910 . The closure  910  can be opened by moving the slider  928  down relative to the closure  910  to engage the first separation member  936  with the upper secondary profiles  920 ,  924 . In this position, as the slider  928  moves along the closure  910 , the first separation member  936  separates the upper secondary profile causing the female  914  and male  918  profiles to disconnect or separate.  
         [0036]    While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.