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US 12,486,079 B2Granted
Biodegradable zipper for zip packaging
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsEric P. Plourde, Christine N. Shimel, Lars G. Wihlborg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A biodegradable (repulpable, compostable and/or water soluble) zipper is provided for attachment to a biodegradable flexible package. The biodegradable zipper is formed using a water-soluble polymer that can be combined with a repulpable and/or compostable material, such as a plant-based cellulose material. The biodegradable zipper enables the biodegradable package to be opened and closed by the consumer, so that the consumer has the option to determine, change or manipulate the contents of the biodegradable flexible package.
Claims18
A biodegradable re-closeable flexible package comprising:
- biodegradable front and back walls, each including a first side, a second side, a top and a bottom;
- the biodegradable front and back walls being joined together at the respective first sides, second sides and bottoms;
- a re-closeable mouth defined by the top of the front wall and the top of the back wall;
- and
- a biodegradable zipper positioned at the top of the front wall and the top of the back wall, the biodegradable zipper including at least two interlocking elements connected to the front wall below the top of the front wall and at least two opposing interlocking elements connected to the back wall below the top of the back wall;
- and
- a slider extending from the top of the front wall and the top of the back wall to below the at least two interlocking elements and the at least two opposing interlocking elements;
- the biodegradable zipper being movable between a first open position that disengages the at least two interlocking elements connected to the front wall from the at least two opposing interlocking elements connected to the back wall and a second closed position that engages the at least two interlocking elements connected to the front wall to the at least two opposing interlocking elements connected to the back wall;
- wherein the biodegradable zipper consists of about 20% to less than 100% by weight of a water-soluble polymer and greater than zero to about 80% by weight fibers of a plant-based cellulose material selected from repulpable wood pulp fibers and/or repulpable paper fibers.
6 more elements
A biodegradable zipper, comprising:
- at least two adjacent first interlocking elements adapted for positioning below a top of a first wall of a flexible package;
- and
- at least two adjacent second opposing interlocking elements adapted for positioning below a top of a second wall of the flexible package;
- and
- a slider adapted to extend from the top of the front wall and the top of the back wall to below the at least two interlocking elements and the at least two opposing interlocking elements;
- the flexible package having a re-closeable mouth defined by the top of the front wall and the top of the back wall;
- the biodegradable zipper consisting of about 20% to less than 100% by weight of a water-soluble polymer and greater than zero to about 80% by weight fibers of a plant-based cellulose material selected from repulpable wood pulp fibers and/or repulpable paper fibers;
- the biodegradable zipper being movable between a first open position that disengages the at least two adjacent first interlocking elements from the at least two adjacent second opposing interlocking elements and a second closed position that engages the at least two adjacent first interlocking elements to the at least two adjacent second opposing interlocking elements.
5 more elements
A method of making a biodegradable zipper for a re-closeable flexible package, comprising the steps of:
- forming at least two adjacent first interlocking elements adapted for positioning below a top of a first wall of a flexible package using a biodegradable material;
- and
- forming at least two adjacent second opposing second interlocking elements adapted for positioning below a top of second wall of the flexible package using the biodegradable material;
- and
- forming a slider adapted to extend from the top of the front wall and the top of the back wall to below the at least two interlocking elements and the at least two opposing interlocking elements;
- the flexible package having a re-closeable mouth defined by the top of the front wall and the top of the back wall;
- the biodegradable zipper being movable between a first open position that disengages the at least two adjacent first interlocking elements from the at least two adjacent opposing second interlocking elements and a second closed position that engages the at least two adjacent first interlocking elements to the at least two adjacent opposing second interlocking elements;
- the biodegradable material consisting of about 20% to less than 100% by weight of a water-soluble polymer and greater than zero to about 80% by weight fibers of a plant-based cellulose material selected from repulpable wood pulp fibers and/or repulpable paper fibers.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.