Pouch with slider and grip members

A reclosable pouch, comprising:

• first and second side portions and an opening at an upper end of the pouch;
• a first closure strip that includes complementary opposing interlocking members disposed on the first and second side portions and a second closure strip that includes complementary opposing interlocking members disposed on the first and second side portions and spaced from the first closure strip;
• a slider adapted to straddle the mouth of the pouch and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein a separator member is disposed adjacent one end of the slider for separating the interlocking members of the first closure strip when the slider is moved toward the first position, and wherein a protrusion is disposed adjacent an opposite end of the slider for engaging the interlocking members of the first and second closure strips when the slider is moved toward the second position;
• and
• a first flange and a second flange adjacent the opening of the pouch and extending from the first side portion and the second side portion, respectively, wherein a grip member is disposed on at least one of the first and the second flanges.

A method of opening a closed pouch, comprising:

• moving a slider straddling a mouth of a pouch having opposing first and second side panels from a first position to a second position, wherein a separator member disposed within the slider opens interlocking profiles of a first closure mechanism disposed between the mouth of the pouch and a second closure mechanism when the slider is moved toward the second position;
• gripping at least one grip member disposed between the first closure mechanism and the mouth of the pouch and the opposing first and second side panels adjacent the mouth of the pouch;
• and
• pulling at least one of the opposing first and second side panels in a direction substantially opposite each other and away from an interior of the pouch.