Reynolds Consumer Products Inc.

Reynolds Metals Company

Other

Timothy J May

Mladomir Tomic

Gregory L Petkovsek

Catherine E Kettner

Greg Melchoir

Richard G Custer

Wendy S Nichols

Bill C Munger

Mark Ericson

Elizabeth J Kapperman

Robert Styer

A reclosable zipper having a sealant applied thereon, for use in a polymeric bag. The reclosable zipper includes a first and second closure member, with each closure member having an interior surface and an exterior surface. A first sealant is present on the exterior surface of each of the first and second closure profiles; this sealant is used to attach a polymeric film that forms a bag body. A second sealant is present on the interior surface of each of the first and second closure profiles; this sealant enhances the seal between the closure profiles at the side edges of the bag.

Recloseable zipper with sealant on inner and outer surfaces of closure members

A zipper closure for a polymeric package includes a plurality of profile members on a first polymeric surface, where one and not more than one of these plurality of profile members is colored differently from the remaining profile members on the same polymeric surface. The differently colored profile members provide a visual reference for properly orienting the zipper closure to the polymeric packaging during manufacture.

Polymeric package closure and method

A slider device is disclosed for use with a resealable package. The slider device includes structure for preventing or minimizing the likelihood that the slider device can be removed from the resealable package. In one embodiment, the slider device includes a top wall and first and second sidewalls depending from the top wall. The first sidewall has a barb member extending inwardly toward the first closure profile of the resealable closure mechanism. The barb member is constructed and arranged to engage the first closure profile in response to a pulling force on the slider device away from the resealable closure mechanism. In another embodiment, the first sidewall also includes a hook construction defining a flange to slidably cover a shoulder of the first closure profile. The hook construction and flange define an offset that is constructed and arranged to engage the shoulder of the first closure profile in response to a pulling force on the slider device away from the resealable closure mechanism. In yet another embodiment, the second sidewall defines a slide channel for receiving a tongue member cantilevered from the second closure profile. A spreader for separating the first and second closure profiles biases the tongue member towards the slide channel such that said tongue member is captured within said slide channel when said slider device is being removed from said resealable closure mechanism.

Resealable closure mechanism having a slider device and methods

A resealable, flexible package having a reinforced slider device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the flexible package includes a resealable closure mechanism, such as a recloseable zipper for selective opening and closing of the package. The zipper includes a first and second closure profile. A slider device is operably mounted on the zipper for selectively opening and closing the resealable zipper. The slider device has a top wall and first and second sidewalls depending from the top wall. The slider device includes a reinforcement structure to increase the force required to remove the slider device from the flexible package. In one embodiment, the slider device includes at least one rib member integral with and extending outwardly from the top wall and each of the sidewalls. In another embodiment, the slider device includes a first and second rib member constructed and arranged to reinforce the top wall and each of the sidewalls at separate locations. Accordingly, the rib members increase the rigidity of the slider device, thereby increasing the force required to remove the slider device from the flexible package.

Resealable package having a reinforced slider device

Disposable container

A closure arrangement for a flexible package includes two base strips having channels and film-attachment portions, and a closure strip inserted within and slidably engaging the channels of the base strips. The closure arrangement includes shoulders on the channels configured to engage and retain the outer portions of the closure strip. The closure strip slides within the channels of the base strips to open and close the closure arrangement. A package and method of constructing a package are also described.

Reclosable profile arrangement using slidable closure strip

Closure arrangements for use with flexible packages include a zipper-type closure, which, after initial sealing, if access is gained to a package interior, the arrangements provide evidence of that access. In certain embodiments, a closure with mating male and female profiles is used which, after initial sealing of the package, if access is desired to the package interior, one of the male or female profiles breaks, to prevent a resealing of the package. In other embodiments, after initial mating of the male and female closure profiles in order to seal the package, if access is desired to the package interior, the package walls are torn in order to gain access. In other embodiments, after initial sealing of the package by mating of the male and female profiles, if access is desired to the package interior, the male and female profiles are deformed, such that they no longer mate to provide a secure closure. Methods for using the arrangements herein are also provided.

Tamper-evident closure arrangements and methods

A flexible bag includes a female profile and a male profile cooperatively arranged to inhibit interlock-blockage caused by small substances. The female profile includes first and second opposing legs. Each of the legs of the female profile includes a securing head at an extended end, a base adapted for attachment to the first panel section of the bag. A neck is between the securing head and the base. At least one of the first and second legs has a plurality of portions removed to form a first series of breaks. The portions removed include the securing head and the neck. The male profile is adapted for attachment to the second panel section of the bag, and is arranged to interlock with the first and second legs. A method of constructing a flexible bag, and a method for using a flexible bag are also described.

Closure arrangement for reclosable bag and method thereof

A closure arrangement for a polymeric bag has a pair of opposing films joined at a fold line and perforated along the fold line. The arrangement includes a base strip, a pair of heat-resistant strips, and a peelable strip composed of peelable material. The base strip has opposing inner and outer surfaces, and the outer surface of the base strip is securably arranged with respect to one of the pair of opposing films of the polymeric bag. The pair of heat-resistant strips are securably arranged to the inner surface of the base strip, and are spaced from each other so as to form a gap therebetween. The peelable strip includes a first portion having opposing first and second surfaces and a stem portion extending perpendicular to the first surface of the top portion. The stem portion extends into the gap between the pair of heat-resistant strips and is arranged with respect to the inner surface of the base strip. Various other closure arrangements are also disclosed.

Closure arrangement having a peelable seal

An apparatus is arranged to construct a reclosable zipper attached to a polymeric web. The zipper has a female profile with first and second elongated legs substantially perpendicular to the web and a channel therebetween. The apparatus includes a punch wheel having a first surface for supporting a first portion of the web on a first side of the zipper. The punch wheel includes a plurality of projecting punches for engaging the channel between the first and second legs of the female profile and for exerting a punch force through the first leg to remove slugs from the first leg. The apparatus includes a die wheel adjacent to and coaxially aligned with the punch wheel. The die wheel has a second surface for supporting a second portion of the web on a second side of the zipper and has a plurality of voids for receiving the punches. The punch wheel includes a cam for pushing the punch, and the first and second surfaces are tapered. Each of the punches can have an L-shaped cross section, with a bottom of the L shaped structure engaging the channel.

Closure arrangement for reclosable bag

A flexible package includes first and second opposed panel sections, a header section having a hanghole, and a tear string. The header section is positioned adjacent the first and second panel sections and encloses a portion of the package. The tear string is enclosed and arranged in the header section to provide hanging support at the hanghole and to tear open the enclosed portion in response to a pulling force at an end of the tear string. A method and apparatus for making the flexible package are also featured.

Method for making flexible package with hanghole and tear string

Closure arrangement having peelable seal

This invention provides a heat-sealable, peelable composition comprising ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, polyethylene based wax and polypropylene. The composition can further comprise a dye or an ink. The composition can be heat-sealed onto a surface of a polymeric bag to provide a peelable seal. A closure arrangement for a polymeric bag with first and second opposing films comprises first and second opposing base strips, a first peelable strip of a first color, and a second peelable strip of a second color. An outer surface of the first base strip is attached to an inner surface of the first film. An outer surface of the second base strip is attached to an inner surface of the second film. The first peelable strip is attached to the inner surface of the first base strip, and the second peelable strip is attached to the inner surface of the second base strip. The first and second peelable strips are disposed between the first and second base strips. The second peelable strip is generally parallel to and opposes the first peelable strip. The second color of the second peelable strip is lighter than the first color of the first peelable strip. The first color of the first peelable strip is visible through the second peelable strip when the first and second peelable strips are heat sealed to each other to form a peelable seal. The second color of the second peelable strip substantially masks the first color of the first peelable strip when the peelable seal is broken. Thus, breaking the peelable seal produces an irreversible color change in the peelable seal area. Such an irreversible visual change alerts a consumer that the peelable seal has previously been broken.

Growing community of inventors

Greenville, WI, United States of America

Timothy J May