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.
Claims23
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 one interlocking element connected to the front wall and at least one interlocking element connected to the back wall;
- the biodegradable zipper being movable between a first open position that disengages the at least one interlocking element connected to the front wall from the at least one interlocking element connected to the back wall and a second closed position that engages the at least one interlocking element connected to the front wall to the at least one interlocking element connected to the back wall;
- wherein the biodegradable zipper includes about 20% to about 100% by weight of a water-soluble polymer and about zero to about 80% by weight of a plant-based cellulose material.
A biodegradable zipper, comprising:
- at least one interlocking element adapted for connection to a first wall of a flexible package;
- and
- at least one interlocking element adapted for connection to a second wall of the flexible package;
- the biodegradable zipper comprising about 20% to about 100% by weight of a water-soluble polymer and about zero to about 80% by weight of a plant-based cellulose material;
- the biodegradable zipper being movable between a first open position that disengages the at least one interlocking element adapted for connection to the first wall from the at least one interlocking element adapted for connection to the second wall and a second closed position that engages the at least one interlocking element adapted for connection to the first wall to the at least one interlocking element adapted for connection to the second wall.
A method of making a biodegradable zipper for a re-closeable flexible package, comprising the steps of:
- forming at least one first interlocking element adapted for connection to a first wall of a flexible package using a biodegradable material;
- and
- forming at least one second interlocking element adapted for connection to a second wall of the flexible package using the biodegradable material;
- the biodegradable zipper being movable between a first open position that disengages the at least one first interlocking element from the at least one second interlocking element and a second closed position that engages the at least one first interlocking element to the at least one second interlocking element
- the biodegradable material comprising about 20% to 100% by weight of a water-soluble polymer and zero to about 80% by weight of a plant-based cellulose material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.