Reclosable zipper

• US 5,403,094 A
• Filed: 10/06/1993
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reynolds Presto Products Inc. (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Original Assignee: Reynolds Consumer Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Tomic, Mlsdomir
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pascua, Jes F.
• Application Number:
  US08/132,265
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 383/63, 383/64, 383/65, 24/587, 24/576, 24/400, 24/399
• US Class Current: 383/63
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 19/16 Interlocking member having uniform section throughout the length of the stringer for sacks or bags B65D33/2508
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/255 being provided with special visual, audible or tactile indicating means, e.g. indicating proper engagement B65D33/2516 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/2558 the slide fastener having a non-constant section throughout the length of the fastener, e.g. slightly undulated interlocking members or castellated stringers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 24/50 including member having elongated, resilient, interlocking face with identical, parallel cross-sections throughout its length

Abstract

A reclosable zipper for a reclosable bag comprises a first closure having a first base, a first pair of locking members integrally connected to the first base, and a center guide post integrally connected to the first base. The center guide post is positioned adjacent to and between the first pair of locking members. The zipper further comprises a second closure having a second base, a second pair of locking members integrally connected to the second base, and a pair of outer guide posts integrally connected to the second base. The second pair of locking members are positioned adjacent to and between the pair of outer guide posts. The second closure is disposed adjacent and opposite to the first closure, and the second closure is constructed and arranged to interlock with the first closure over a predetermined length by engagement of the second pair of locking members with the first pair of locking members. The second pair of locking members and the pair of outer guide posts have transverse notches formed therein at intermittent locations along the predetermined length. The notches enhance the ease of locking the zipper and provide positive tactile feedback indicative of effective locking of the zipper.

Claims

1. A reclosable zipper comprising:

a pair of closures disposed adjacent and opposite to one another, said pair of closures being configured to interlock with one another over a predetermined length, one of said pair of closures having transverse notches having a top, a bottom, and a pair of sides formed therein at intermittent locations along said predetermined length, said notches dividing said one of said pair of closures into deflectable segments so as to enhance the ease of interlocking said pair of closures, wherein said one of said pair of closures includes a base and a locking member integrally connected to said base and having a tip, and wherein said one of said pair of closures includes a guide post integrally connected to said base, said guide post being positioned adjacent to said locking member, and wherein said notches are formed in said locking member and said guide post at intermittent locations along the length of said locking member and said guide post.

2. The reclosable zipper of claim 1, wherein said notches in said locking member and said notches in said guide post are transversely aligned relative to one another.

3. The reclosable zipper of claim 1, wherein said notches have a trapezoidal shape such that the top of said notches is wider than the bottom of said notches.

4. The reclosable zipper of claim 1, wherein said notches have a generally rectangular shape such that the top of said notches have substantially the same width as the bottom of said notches.

5. The reclosable zipper of claim 1, wherein said notches extend from the tip of said locking member to a depth spaced slightly away from said base.

6. The reclosable zipper of claim 1, wherein said notches are narrow relative to the longitudinal distance between said notches.

7. The reclosable zipper of claim 1, wherein the other of said pair of closures includes transverse notches formed therein at intermittent locations along said predetermined length.

8. The reclosable zipper of claim 7, wherein said notches in said one of said pair of closures are offset relative to said notches in said other of said pair of closures.

9. A reclosable zipper, comprising:

a first closure having a first base, a first pair of locking members integrally connected to said first base and having tips, and a center guide post integrally connected to said first base, said center guide post being positioned adjacent to and between said first pair of locking members; and

a second closure having a second base, a second pair of locking members integrally connected to said second base and having tips, and a pair of outer guide posts integrally connected to said second base, said second pair of locking members being positioned adjacent to and between said pair of outer guide posts, said second closure being disposed adjacent and opposite to said first closure, said second closure being constructed and arranged to interlock with said first closure over a predetermined length by engagement of said second pair of locking members with said first pair of locking members, said second pair of locking members and said pair of outer guide posts having transverse notches having a top, a bottom, and a pair of sides formed therein at intermittent locations along said predetermined length.

10. The reclosable zipper of claim 9, wherein said notches in said second pair of locking members and said pair of outer guide posts are transversely aligned relative to one another.

11. The reclosable zipper of claim 9, wherein said notches have a trapezoidal shape such that the top of said notches is wider than the bottom of said notches.

12. The reclosable zipper of claim 9, wherein said notches have a generally rectangular shape such that the top of said notches have substantially the same width as the bottom of said notches.

13. The reclosable zipper of claim 9, wherein said notches extend from the tips of said second pair of locking members and said pair of outer guide posts to a depth spaced slightly away from said second base.

14. The reclosable zipper of claim 9, wherein said notches are narrow relative to the longitudinal distance between said notches.

15. The reclosable zipper of claim 9, wherein said first pair of locking members and said center guide post include transverse notches formed therein at intermittent locations along said predetermined length.

16. The reclosable zipper of claim 15, wherein said notches in said first pair of locking members and said center guide post are offset relative to said notches in said second pair of locking members and said pair of outer guide posts.

17. The reclosable zipper of claim 9, wherein said center guide post abuts said second base when said first and second closures are interlocked with one another.