Tamper evident structure, method for making such a structure, and tamper evident package comprising such a structure

A method for forming a tamper evident structure for flexible packages, the method comprising:

• forming a slider-zipper assembly having a slider adapted to engage with a zipper to close and open the zipper, wherein the zipper comprises a longitudinal male element (106), and a longitudinal female element (108) engageable with said longitudinal male element (106), a first flap (114) extending longitudinally, downwardly from, and along the length of said longitudinal male element (106), and a second flap (116) extending longitudinally, downwardly from, and along the length of said longitudinal female element (108);
• and
• forming a tamper evident diaphragm (200) having a first end portion (212) adapted to be sealed with an outer surface portion of said first flap (114) of said longitudinal male element (106) of said zipper at two vertically spaced sealing areas by means of two vertically spaced first sealing portions (216,218) so as to provide a first gap (220) therebetween, said two vertically spaced first sealing portions (216,218) being separate and distinct from said first end portion (212) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) and said first flap (114) of said male element (106) and extending transversely across said first gap (220) from inner surface portions (217, 219) of said first end portion (212) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) to outer surface portions (113,115) of said first flap (114) of said longitudinal male element (106), wherein said first gap (220) is structured so as to effectively inhibit the flow of heat to said first flap (114) of said longitudinal male element (106) when a first panel member of the flexible package is sealed to an outer surface portion (213) of said first end portion (212) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200), a plurality of first vertically spaced temperature sensitive ribs (202) configured along the length of said outer surface portion (213) of said first end portion (212) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) for sealing the first panel member of the flexible package to said tamper evident diaphragm (200), wherein said first vertically spaced temperature sensitive ribs (202) are structured to melt when heat is applied through the first panel member, and wherein said vertically spaced first sealing portions (216,218) are disposed at vertical elevations upon said first end portion (212) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) so as to be interposed between consecutive ones of said plurality of first vertically spaced temperature sensitive ribs (202) disposed upon said first end portion (212) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) and are structured so as to remain intact and maintain said first gap (220) after said first temperature sensitive ribs (202) melt;
• and a second end portion (214) adapted to be sealed with an outer surface portion (117) of said second flap (116) of said female element (108) of said zipper at two vertically spaced sealing areas by means of two vertically spaced second sealing portions (222,224) so as to provide a second gap (226) therebetween, said two vertically spaced second sealing portions (222,224) being separate and distinct from said second end portion (214) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) and said second flap of said female element (108) and extending transversely across said second gap (226) from inner surface portions (223,225) of said second end portion (214) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) to outer surface portions (117,119) of said second flap (116) of said female element (108), wherein said second gap (226) is structured so as to effectively inhibit the flow of heat to said second flap (116) of said female element (108) when a second panel member of the flexible package is sealed to an outer surface portion (215) of said second end portion (214) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200), and a plurality of vertically spaced second temperature sensitive ribs (202) configured along the length of said outer surface portion (215) of said second end portion (214) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) for sealing the second panel member of the flexible package to said tamper evident diaphragm (200), wherein said plurality of vertically spaced second temperature sensitive ribs (202) are structured to melt when heat is applied through the second panel member, and wherein said vertically spaced second sealing portions (222,224) are disposed at vertical elevations upon said second end portion (214) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) so as to be interposed between consecutive ones of said plurality of second vertically spaced temperature sensitive ribs (202) and are structured to remain intact and maintain said second gap (226) after said second temperature sensitive ribs (202) melt.

A tamper evident flexible package comprising:

• a pair of opposite panels coupled to configure a pocket having three closed sides and a top open side;
• and
• a tamper evident structure sealed to at least one panel of the pair of opposite panels proximate to the top open side, wherein the tamper evident structure comprises a slider-zipper assembly having a slider adapted to engage with a zipper to close and open the zipper, wherein the zipper comprises a longitudinal male element (106), and a longitudinal female element (108) engageable with said longitudinal male element (106), a first flap (114) extending longitudinally, downwardly from, and along the length of said longitudinal male element (106), and a second flap (116) extending longitudinally, downwardly from, and along the length of said longitudinal female element (108);
• and a tamper evident diaphragm (200) having a first end portion (212) adapted to be sealed with an outer surface portion of said first flap (114) of said longitudinal male element (106) of said zipper at two vertically spaced sealing areas by means of two vertically spaced first sealing portions (216,218) so as to provide a first gap (220) therebetween, said two vertically spaced first sealing portions (216,218) being separate and distinct from said first end portion (212) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) and said first flap (114) of said male element (106) and extending transversely across said first gap (220) from inner surface portions (217, 219) of said first end portion (212) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) to outer surface portions (113,115) of said first flap (114) of said longitudinal male element (106), wherein said first gap (220) is structured so as to effectively inhibit the flow of heat to said first flap (114) of said longitudinal male element (106) when a first panel member of the flexible package is sealed to an outer surface portion (213) of said first end portion (212) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200), a plurality of first vertically spaced temperature sensitive ribs (202) configured along the length of said outer surface portion (213) of said first end portion (212) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) for sealing the first panel member of the flexible package to said tamper evident diaphragm (200), wherein said first vertically spaced temperature sensitive ribs (202) are structured to melt when heat is applied through the first panel member, and wherein said vertically spaced first sealing portions (216,218) are disposed at vertical elevations upon said first end portion (212) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) so as to be interposed between consecutive ones of said plurality of first vertically spaced temperature sensitive ribs (202) disposed upon said first end portion (212) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) and are structured so as to remain intact and maintain said first gap (220) after said first temperature sensitive ribs (202) melt;
• and a second end portion (214) adapted to be sealed with an outer surface portion (117) of said second flap (116) of said female element (108) of said zipper at two vertically spaced sealing areas by means of two vertically spaced second sealing portions (222,224) so as to provide a second gap (226) therebetween, said two vertically spaced second sealing portions (222, 224) being separate and distinct from said second end portion (214) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) and said second flap of said female element (108) and extending transversely across said second gap (226) from inner surface portions (223,225) of said second end portion (214) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) to outer surface portions (117,119) of said second flap (116) of said female element (108), wherein said second gap (226) is structured so as to effectively inhibit the flow of heat to said second flap (116) of said female element (108) when a second panel member of the flexible package is sealed to an outer surface portion (215) of said second end portion (214) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200), and a plurality of vertically spaced second temperature sensitive ribs (202) configured along the length of said outer surface portion (215) of said second end portion (214) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) for sealing the second panel member of the flexible package to said tamper evident diaphragm (200), wherein said plurality of vertically spaced second temperature sensitive ribs (202) are structured to melt when heat is applied through the second panel member, and wherein said vertically spaced second sealing portions (222,224) are disposed at vertical elevations upon said second end portion (214) of said tamper evident diaphragm (200) so as to be interposed between consecutive ones of said plurality of second vertically spaced temperature sensitive ribs (202) and are structured to remain intact and maintain said second gap (226) after said second temperature sensitive ribs (202) melt.