# US 2019/0168920 A1 · Package having a lap or fin seal gap elimination feature > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168920 A1 - Document ID: US20190168920A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/150,541 - Filed: 2018-10-03 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-25 - Inventors: Mark Steele - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168920A1 ## CPC - B65D 33/2508: {using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor} - B31B 70/61: {by applying or securing strips or tape} - B31B 70/81: Forming or attaching accessories, e.g. opening devices, closures or tear strings - B31B 70/8133: {Applying the closure elements in the cross direction} - B29C 65/02: by heating, with or without pressure - B29C 65/48: using adhesives {, i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding} - B29C 66/133: {Fin-type joints, the parts to be joined being flexible (the parts to be joined being rigid B29C66/1312)} - B29C 66/4322: {by joining a single sheet to itself (B29C66/4332 takes precedence)} - B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)} - B29C 66/72321: {consisting of metals or their alloys} - B29C 66/8511: {Bag making machines} - B29L 2005/00: Elements of slide fasteners - B29L 2031/7128: {Bags, sacks, sachets (tea bags B29L2031/7122; medical bags B29L2031/7148)} - B31B 2150/10: the longitudinal axes of the containers being parallel to the direction in which the sheets or blanks are fed - B31B 2160/10: rectangular and flat, i.e. without structural provision for thickness of contents - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B31B: MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making wound articles, e.g. wound tubes, B31C; combined making and filling B65B) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A flexible package having a closure device and a lap or fin seal is provided that reduces or eliminates an air gap present at the fin or lap seal portion of packages. The package can include a film with a closure applied to the film. The flexible package can include a film having a closure device applied to the film transverse to the first and second side edges of the film, with the first side edge portion extending into the fin seal such that at least a portion of the first side edge portion eliminates an air gap between the fin or lap seal and at least one of the first and second side edge portions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flexible package having air gap filling features, comprising: a film having a first film side edge, a second film side edge, and a fin seal or lap seal; and a closure device applied to the film and having top and bottom edge portions and first and second side edge portions, the first side edge portion having one or more protruding elements and the second side edge portion having one or more indents, with the first side edge portion or the second side edge portion extending into the fin seal to eliminate an air gap at the fin or lap seal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the one or more indents extend transverse to the fin or lap seal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the bottom edge portion is sealed with the fin or lap seal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the top edge portion is sealed with the fin or lap seal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the bottom edge portion is sealed with the fin or lap seal and the top edge portion is not sealed with the fin or lap seal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second side edge portions is cantilevered relative to the first or second film side edges. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the closure device is recloseable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The package of claim 7, wherein the closure device is a zipper device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1, wherein the first and second side edge portions of the closure device are configured to facilitate interlocking. ### Claim 10 A package having air gap filling features, comprising: a film having a first film side edge, a second side film side edge, and a fin or lap seal; and a closure device having top and bottom edge portions and first and second side edge portions, the first side edge portion having one or more protruding elements extending into the fin or lap seal such that at least a portion of the first side edge portion eliminates an air gap between the fin or lap seal and at least one of the first and second side edge portions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The package of claim 10, wherein the bottom edge portion is sealed with the fin or lap seal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The package of claim 10, wherein the top edge portion is sealed with the fin or lap seal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The package of claim 10, wherein the bottom edge portion is sealed with the fin or lap seal and the top edge portion is not sealed with the fin or lap seal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The package of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first or second side edge portions is cantilevered and extends past one of the first and second film side edges. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The package of claim 10, wherein the closure device is recloseable zipper device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The package of claim 10, wherein the first and second side edge portions of the closure device are configured to facilitate interlocking. ### Claim 17 A package closure device adapted to eliminate a lap or fin seal air gap, comprising: a top edge portion and a bottom edge portion; and a first side edge portion and an opposing second side edge portion, the first side edge portion having a shaped portion extending into the fin or lap seal such that at least a portion of the first side edge portion eliminates an air gap at the fin or lap seal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The package of claim 17, wherein at least one of the bottom edge portion and the top edge portion is sealed with the fin or lap seal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The package of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first or second side edge portions is cantilevered and extends past a package side edge. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The package of claim 17, wherein the package closure device is a recloseable device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The package of claim 17, wherein the first and second side edge portions of the package closure device are adapted to facilitate interlocking.