Reclosable package; and methods
AssigneeReynolds Consumer Products, Inc.
InventorJames E. Buchman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of making packages having a reclosable zipper closure encased in a tamper-evident structure, and the packages made thereby. The method includes providing a package having an interior defined by a bottom seam and side seams. The side seams are present as a body seam and a tamper-evident structure seam; there is no side seam present across the zipper closure. The lack of a side seam present across the zipper closure facilitate removal of the tamper-evident structure. A slider device may be present on the packages to facilitate mating and unmating of the zipper closure.
Claims19
A flexible, reclosable package comprising:
- (a) a surrounding wall defining a package interior, the surrounding wall defined by a bottom edge and side edges, the side edges comprising:
- (i) a body seam,
- (ii) a tamper-evident structure seam;
- and
- (iii) a non-seam section;
- (b) a zipper closure comprising a first closure profile and a second closure profile, the first and second closure profiles being constructed and arranged to selectively interlock;
- the zipper closure having first and second stop regions proximate the non-seam section;
- the zipper closure providing access to the package interior;
- and
- (c) a first tamper evident-structure encasing the closure profiles.
A method of manufacturing a reclosable package comprising a zipper closure, the method comprising:
- (a) providing an extended length of a zipper construction, the zipper construction comprising:
- (i) a zipper closure comprising a first closure profile and a second closure profile, the first and second closure profiles being constructed and arranged to selectively interlock;
- (ii) a stop region connecting the first closure profile to the second closure profile;
- (b) sealing the extended length of the zipper construction to a surrounding wall;
- (c) sealing the surrounding wall to partially define a package interior, the sealing providing:
- (i) side body seams extending along a portion of the surrounding wall;
- (ii) non-seam sections along the slider stop region;
- and
- (d) creating a bottom seam;
- the bottom seam and the side body seams defining the package interior.
A method of using a package, the package comprising a surrounding wall having side edges each comprising a body seam and a non-seam section, the surrounding wall defining a package interior, a zipper closure comprising a first closure profile, a second closure profile, and stop areas in the non-seam section where the first closure profile is bonded to the second closure profile, and a first tamper evident-structure encasing the zipper closure, the first tamper-evident structure having a weakness positioned therein below the zipper closure;
- the method comprising:
- (a) penetrating the first tamper-evident structure at the weakness;
- (b) removing the first tamper evident-structure at the non-seam sections, while leaving the stop areas attached to the zipper closure;
- (c) exposing the zipper closure;
- and
- (d) after exposing the zipper closure, unmating the first and second closure profiles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.