US 2016/0257448 A1 · LIMITING ACCESS TO A STRUCTURE WHICH IS OPENED AND CLOSED USING A PLASTIC ZIPPER

Abstract

Access-limiting mechanism limits access to a container. Access is controlled by moving a slider back and forth along a plastic zipper, opening and closing the zipper. The access-limiting mechanism includes, in addition to the slider, a coupler. The coupler can stay fixed, immovable, at a given location, relative to the zipper; or can be moved along the zipper. As the slider moves close to the coupler, the slider and coupler are releasably coupled to each other, limiting the ability of the slider to open the zipper. Access can be further limited by adding a second control mechanism such as a cover, optionally a latching cover, overlying one or both of the slider and coupler. To open the container, the slider and coupler, and/or as applies the cover, are released from respective coupling or latching arrangements. Then, the slider can be moved away from the coupler to open the container.

Claims50

Dependent claims

Apparatus for mounting on a package having a product-receiving compartment, such package further having zipper-type structure for accessing such product-receiving compartment, such package including a first plastic wall having a first edge, a second plastic wall having a second edge, and a zipper, such zipper having a length, and including first and second interlocking rails at or proximate respective ones of the first and second edges of such first and second plastic walls, such first and second interlocking rails having lengths, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a slider having a slider body, said slider body having a slider top, and comprising a slider channel adapted to interface with such interlocking rails, said slider body being adapted to being moved back and forth along such lengths of such interlocking rails whereby interaction between said slider channel and such interlocking rails opens and closes the portions of such interlocking rails over which said slider is moved, thereby opening and closing the respective portions of such length of such zipper;
and
(b) a coupler, having a coupler body, adapted to be mounted on such package, said coupler having a coupler top, and having coupling structure whereby said coupler is adapted to being releasably coupled to said slider body, so as to limit the ability of said slider to open such zipper, thus to limit access to such internal compartment through such zipper while said coupler is coupled to said slider.

Apparatus limiting access to a compartment of a package through a plastic zipper when said apparatus is mounted on such package, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a slider, having a slider body, said slider body comprising a slider channel adapted to interface with first and second interlocking rails on such package, said slider body being adapted to being moved back and forth along lengths of such interlocking rails whereby interaction between said slider channel and such interlocking rails opens and closes the portion of such zipper over which said slider is moved;
(b) a coupler, having a coupler body, said coupler body comprising a coupler channel adapted to interface with such interlocking rails of such zipper, said coupler body being adapted to being moved back and forth along such length of such interlocking rails whereby interaction between said coupler channel and such interlocking rails opens and closes the portion of such zipper over which said coupler is moved;
and
(c) a restraining mechanism on one of said slider body and said coupler body, said restraining mechanism being designed and configured to engage structure on the other of said slider body and said coupler body, to thereby couple said slider and said coupler to each other.

1 more element

Apparatus limiting access to a compartment of a package through a plastic zipper when mounted on such package, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a slider, having a slider body, said slider body comprising a slider channel adapted to interface with first and second interlocking rails on such package, said slider body being adapted to being moved back and forth along lengths of such interlocking rails whereby interaction between said slider channel and such interlocking rails opens and closes such zipper;
(b) a coupler, having a coupler body, said coupler being adapted to being attached to such package;
and
(c) a restraining mechanism on one of said slider body and said coupler body, said restraining mechanism being designed and configured to automatically engage structure on the other of said slider body and said coupler body, to thereby couple said slider and said coupler to each other, as at least one of said slider and said coupler is slid along the length of such zipper such that said slider and said coupler come close enough to each other to sufficiently close such zipper as to prevent unauthorized access to solid-state contents of such package through such zipper.

1 more element

Apparatus limiting access to a compartment of a package through a plastic zipper when mounted on such package, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a slider, having a slider body, said slider body comprising a slider channel adapted to interface with first and second interlocking rails on such package, said slider body being adapted to being moved back and forth along lengths of such interlocking rails whereby interaction between said slider channel and such interlocking rails opens and closes such zipper;
(b) a coupler, having a coupler body, said coupler being adapted to being attached to such package;
and
(c) a restraining mechanism on one of said slider body and said coupler body, said restraining mechanism being designed and configured to engage structure on the other of said slider body and said coupler body, thereby to couple said slider and said coupler to each other such that, in the process of said slider body and said coupler body interacting with each other to so couple said slider and said coupler to each other, an element on at least one of said slider body and said coupler body is resiliently deflected, enough that such deflection can be readily seen with a naked eye.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Limiting access to a structure which is opened and closed using a plastic zipper

Life of this patent

Limiting access to a structure which is opened and closed using a plastic zipper

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims50