Reclosable airtight container and method of manufacture

• US 10,640,262 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Packaging Solutions Limited (Teck Keung Manufacturing Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Global Packaging Solutions Limited (Teck Keung Manufacturing Ltd.)
• Inventors: Branson, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascua, Jes F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Attel, Nina K
• Application Number:
  US15/248,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20180057220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 383 611, 383 63- 65
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/2541 characterised by the slide fastener, e.g. adapted to interlock with a sheet between the interlocking members having sections of particular shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 45/00 Folding thin material specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of particular products, see appropriate subclasses, e.g. D06F89/00

Abstract

The present invention includes a reclosable bag having first and second walls and an open top defined by first and second elongate flexible fastener strips attached to the first and second walls, respectively, adjacent the top of the walls. One of the fastener strips has a profile portion forming at least one groove and the other fastener strip has a profile portion forming at least one rib with a portion of each rib received and retained in one of said grooves when the bag top is closed. Each of the fastener strips has a base connected to the respective wall, and each of the strips has an upper edge adjacent the upper edge of the other strip. Third and fourth fastener strips are located within the bag walls parallel to and below the first and second fastener strips. The third and fourth fattener strips have one or more pairs of ribs and grooves. An inverted slider is mounted on the second and third fastener strips within the bag and is movable in one direction longitudinally of the third and fourth fastener strips to progressively separate the one or more rib from the one or more grooves to open the bag: the slider is also being movable in the opposite direction to progressively return the one or more rib portion to a retained condition in the one or more groove to close the bag. A plow extends from the slider to the exterior of said bag above the top of said bag. The plow has a finger tab extending affixed thereto at the distal end thereof. The plow is constructed and arranged to selectively separate said first and second rib and groove and to move said slider within said bag to separate said third and fourth rib and groove when said plow is moved longitudinally along said fastener strips from a first end of said strips to a second end of said strips. The plow is also constructed and arranged to slide said slider longitudinally along the third and fourth fastener strips from said second end and back to said first end so as to interlock said third and fourth ribs and groves and seal said third and fourth fastener strips within said bag. Alternatively, the Claim 1 first and second fastener strips may be selectively sealed by pressing the outer walls of said bag together proximate said first and second fastener strips so as to longitudinally interlock said first and second fastener strips together.

Claims

1. A reclosable bag comprising:

first and second walls;

an open top defined by first and second elongate flexible fastener strips attached to the first and second walls, respectively, adjacent a top of the first and second walls, wherein one of said first and second fastener strips includes a profile portion forming at least one groove and the other of said first and second fastener strips includes a profile portion forming at least one rib, wherein a portion of each at least one rib is configured to be received and retained in one of said at least one grooves in a first retained condition to form a first seal when the open top is closed, wherein each of the first and second fastener strips includes a base connected to the respective wall, and wherein the first fastener strip includes an upper edge adjacent to an upper edge of the second fastener strip;

third and fourth fastener strips located within the first and second walls parallel to and below and spaced from the first and second fastener strips, said third and fourth fastener strips having one or more pairs of ribs and grooves that may be connected in a second retained condition to form a second seal;

an inverted slider mounted on the third and fourth fastener strips within the bag and movable in a first direction longitudinally of the third and fourth fastener strips to progressively separate the one or more pairs of ribs from the one or more pairs of grooves to open the bag, and the slider being movable in an opposite second direction to progressively return the one or more pairs of ribs to the second retained condition in the one or more pairs of grooves to close the bag;

wherein the slider comprises of inwardly facing flanges separated by a predetermined distance at least less than a combined width of the third and fourth fastener strips when partially engaged such that the third and fourth fastener strips are easily opened but substantially leakproof when sealed, further comprising,

a plow extending from the slider to the exterior of the bag and above the top of the first and second walls;

the slider being located below the top of the first and second walls and engaging the third and fourth fastener strips so that the slider is entirely enclosed within the bag and below the first seal when the first and second fastener strips are in the first retained condition, the plow further having a finger tab affixed thereto and extending therefrom at a distal end thereof;

wherein the finger tab is located above the top of the first and second walls and does not engage any of the first and second fastener strips or the third and fourth fastener strips; and

wherein the plow is constructed and arranged to selectively separate the at least one rib and the at least one groove of the first and second fastener strips when moved longitudinally in the first direction and simultaneously to move the slider within the bag to separate the one or more pairs of ribs from the one or more pairs of grooves of the third and fourth fastener strips when moved longitudinally in the first direction.

2. The bag of claim 1, wherein the plow is integral with the slider and is made of one integral homogenous unit of plastic.

3. The bag of claim 2, wherein said plow is constructed and arranged to slide said slider longitudinally along said third and fourth fastener strips in the opposite second direction so as to interlock said one or more pairs of ribs and the one or more pairs of grooves of the third and fourth fastener strips and return the one or more pairs of ribs and grooves to the second retained condition.

4. The bag of claim 1, wherein said first and second fastener strips may be selectively sealed in the first retained condition forming the first seal by manually pressing the first and second walls of said bag together proximate said first and second fastener strips and manually interlocking said first and second fastener strips together longitudinally.

5. The bag of claim 1, wherein said slider has first and second travel-end stop positions on said third and fourth fastener strips, the first travel-end stop position being a bag-closed stop position, and the second travel-end stop position being a bag-opened stop position.