Wide open feature for reclosable bags

• US 20030215160A1
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Kohl, James G., Piechocki, Duane, Berich, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 6,827,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 383/33
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/007 for facilitating the separation of the two walls, e.g. walls of inequal height, tabs; for maintaining the mouth of the sack or bag open
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/2508 using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor
• 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

Abstract

A reclosable plastic bag (10a, 10b) having a front wall (12) and a rear wall (14), opposed sides (16, 18) and an open top end (24) has a zipper (22) extending across the front and rear walls (12, 14) from side to side at the bag top. The zipper (22) includes first and second profiles (17, 19) having mating interlocking portions (26, 28). A camber inducing member (30, 32) is provided at the bag top on at least one of the profiles (17, 19) or the front and rear walls (12, 14) to urge the top end of the front wall (12) away from the top end of the rear wall (14) when the mating interlocking portions are disengaged from one another.

Claims

1. A reclosable plastic bag having a front wall and a rear wall, opposed sides and an open top end, a zipper extending across said front and rear walls from side to side, said zipper including first and second profiles having mating interlocking portions and a camber inducing member at said bag top on at least one of said front and rear walls, said camber inducing member urging a top end of said front wall away from a top end of said rear wall when said mating interlocking portions are disengaged from one another.

2. The reclosable plastic bag in accordance with claim 1 wherein said camber inducing member is positioned on a side of said one of said first and second profiles opposite to a side containing said mating interlocking portion.

3. The reclosable plastic bag in accordance with claim 1 wherein said camber inducing member comprises a strip of plastic material having coil memory.

4. The reclosable plastic bag in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said front and rear walls includes a camber inducing member.

5. The reclosable plastic bag in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a slider disposed for movement along said zipper to engage and disengage said mating interlocking portions.

6. The reclosable plastic bag in accordance with claim 3 wherein said strip of plastic material having coil memory is co-extruded with said zipper.

7. A zipper comprising first and second profiles having mating interlocking portions and a camber inducing member on at least one of said profiles, said camber inducing member urging said first profile away from said second profile when said mating interlocking portions are disengaged from one another.

8. The zipper in accordance with claim 7 wherein said camber inducing member is positioned on a side of said one of said first and second profiles opposite to a side containing said mating interlocking portion.

9. The zipper in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a slider disposed for movement along said profiles to disengage said interlocking portions when moved in a first direction and to engage said interlocking portions when moved in a direction opposite to said first direction.

10. A method of forming a reclosable plastic bag having a front wall and a rear wall, opposed sides and an open top end, a zipper extending across said front and rear walls from side to side, said zipper including first and second profiles having mating interlocking portions said method including the step of providing a camber inducing member at said bag top on at least one of said front and rear walls, said camber inducing member urging a top end of said front wall away from a top end of said rear wall when said mating interlocking portions are disengaged from one another.