US 6,293,701 B1Granted

Resealable closure mechanism having slider device and methods

OwnerMladomir Tomicinventor

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Abstract

A slider device for use with a resealable package includes a top wall with first and second ends, a spreader depending from the top wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a first hook construction extending from the first sidewall, a second hook construction extending from the second sidewall, and a guide construction. Preferably, the slider device includes a pair of drag-reducing standoffs in projection from the sidewalls. In preferred embodiments, the guide construction includes first and second fingers projecting beyond at least one end of one of the sidewalls. The slider device is usable with a reclosable zipper arrangement defining a pair of shoulders for engaging with the hook constructions of the slider device. Certain embodiments may include ridge structure on the slider and zipper for providing tactile feedback to the user. In another embodiment, there may be a color change as the zipper changes condition from an open position to a closed, interlocked position. Methods of assembling and operation are described.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A flexible package comprising:

(a) a package surrounding wall having first and second side seals and a mouth therebetween;
said mouth providing access to a package interior;
(b) a recloseable zipper along said mouth for selective opening and closing of said mouth;
said zipper including first and second closure profiles;
(i) said first closure profile defining a first shoulder;
(A) said first profile including:
a first closure member with a first catch;
a first guidepost;
a second guidepost;
a first upper flange;
and a first sealing flange;
(1) said first shoulder being between said second guidepost and said first sealing flange;
(2) said first sealing flange being secured to said package surrounding wall;
(ii) said second closure profile defining a second shoulder;
(A) said second profile including:
a second closure member with a second catch;
a third guidepost;
a second upper flange;
and a second sealing flange;
(1) said first and second catches being constructed and arranged for selective interlocking;
(2) said second shoulder being between said third guidepost and said second sealing flange;
(3) said second sealing flange being secured to said package surrounding wall;
(iii) said first and second closure profiles being constructed and arranged to interlock;
and
(c) a slider device for selectively opening and closing said zipper;
said slider device including:
(i) a top wall;
(A) said top wall being mounted for slidable movement over said first and second upper flanges;
(ii) a spreader depending from said top wall for separating said first and second closure profiles;
(iii) a first hook construction having a first flange to slidably cover said first shoulder of said first closure profile;
(iv) a second hook construction to slidably cover said second shoulder of said second closure profile;
(v) a first sidewall depending from said top wall;
said first sidewall having first and second opposite ends;
and
(vi) a guide construction extending past at least one of said first and second ends of said first sidewall in a direction away from remaining portions of said slider device and toward one of said first and second side seals;
(A) said guide construction being constructed and arranged to engage at least one of said first and second side seals, when the slider device is selectively moved along the mouth adjacent to one of the first and second seals.

33 more elements

A recloseable zipper arrangement comprising:

(a) a first closure profile;
said first closure profile defining a first shoulder;
(i) said first profile includes:
a first closure member with a first catch;
a first guidepost;
a second guidepost;
a first upper flange;
and a first sealing flange;
(ii) said first shoulder being between said second guidepost and said first sealing flange;
(b) a second closure profile;
said second closure profile defining a second shoulder;
(i) said first and second closure profiles being constructed and arranged to interlock;
(ii) said second profile includes:
a second closure member with a second catch;
a third guidepost;
a second upper flange;
and a second sealing flange;
(A) said first and second catches being constructed and arranged for selective interlocking;
(B) said second shoulder being between said third guidepost and said second sealing flange;
and
(c) a slider device operably mounted on said first and second closure profiles;
said slider device including:
(i) a top wall;
(A) said top wall being mounted for slidable movement over said first and second upper flanges;
(ii) a spreader depending from said top wall to separate said first and second closure profiles;
(iii) a first hook construction to slidably cover said first shoulder of said first closure profile;
(iv) a second hook construction to slidably cover said second shoulder of said second closure profile;
(v) a first sidewall depending from said top wall;
said first sidewall having first and second opposite ends;
(vi) a guide construction projecting beyond at least one of said first end and said second end of said first sidewall in a direction away from remaining portions of said slider device;
(vii) a second sidewall depending from said top wall;
a first standoff in extension from said first sidewall;
a second standoff in extension from said second sidewall;
(A) said first standoff being in slidable communication with said first profile;
and
(B) said second standoff being in slidable communication with said second profile.

33 more elements

A slider device for use with a resealable package having interlocking closure members, the slider device comprising:

(a) a top wall;
(b) a spreader depending from and being integral with said top wall;
said spreader for camming apart interlocked closure members, when the slider device is operably mounted on a resealable package with interlocking closure members;
(c) a first sidewall;
said first sidewall including at least a portion cantilevered from and integral with said top wall;
said first sidewall having first and second opposite ends;
(d) a second sidewall;
said second sidewall including at least a portion cantilevered from and integral with said top wall;
(i) said first and second sidewalls defining a slide channel for receipt of interlocking closure members, when the slider device is operably mounted on the resealable package with interlocking closure members;
(e) a first hook construction extending from and integral with said first sidewall;
(f) a second hook construction extending from and integral with said second sidewall;
(i) said first and second hook constructions for locking the slider device onto the resealable package, when the slider device is operably mounted on the resealable package with interlocking closure members;
and
(g) a guide construction extending past at least one of said first end and said second end of said first sidewall in a direction from remaining portions of the slider device;
(i) said guide construction depending from said top wall;
(ii) said guide construction including first and second fingers;
said first finger projecting beyond said first end;
said second finger depending from said top wall.

15 more elements

A flexible package comprising:

(a) a package surrounding wall having first and second side seals and a mouth therebetween;
said mouth providing access to a package interior;
(b) a recloseable zipper along said mouth for selective opening and closing of said mouth;
said zipper including first and second closure profiles;
(i) said first closure profile defining a first shoulder;
a first closure member;
and a first upper flange;
(ii) said second closure profile defining a second shoulder;
a second closure member;
and a second upper flange;
(iii) said first and second closure members being constructed and arranged to interlock;
and
(c) a slider device for selectively opening and closing said zipper;
said slider device including:
(i) a top wall;
(ii) a spreader depending from said top wall;
said spreader separating said first and second closure profiles;
(A) said spreader extending only between said first and second upper flanges and not penetrating between said first and second closure members;
(iii) a first hook construction having a first flange to slidably cover said first shoulder of said first closure profile;
(iv) a second hook construction to slidably cover said second shoulder of said second closure profile;
(v) a first sidewall depending from said top wall;
said first sidewall having first and second opposite ends;
and
(vi) a guide construction extending past at least one of said first and second ends of said first sidewall in a direction away from remaining portions of said slider device and toward one of said first and second side seals;
(A) said guide construction being constructed and arranged to engage at least one of said first and second side seals, when the slider device is selectively moved along the mouth adjacent to one of the first and second side seals, and to maintain said spreader in a position spaced from each of said first and second side seals.

22 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/365,215Filed 30 Jul 1999 · us provisional application
Priority: 18 Nov 1998
Granted: 25 Sep 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B65D 33/2508
Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners: using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially…
A44B 19/267
Sliders: for slide fasteners with edges of stringers having uniform section throughout the length thereof
Y10T 24/2534
Having interlocking surface with continuous cross section: opposed interlocking surface having dissimilar cross section
Y10T 24/2582
Slider having specific configuration, construction, adaptation, or material: having specific contour or arrangement of converging channel,…

Family

Application60/108,845Us provisional application · filed 18 Nov 1998
US 6,293,701 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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