Closure mechanism with multiple frequency feedback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10077140-B2
Application number	US-201615205030-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2016
Priority date	Jul 27, 2010
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A closure mechanism includes a first elongate closure member having a series of regularly spaced features disposed along an entire length of the first elongate closure member. The series of regularly spaced features includes a plurality of vertically extending elongate features on an outer surface of the first closure member. The vertically extending elongate features are spaced apart along the entire length of the first closure member in alternating and repeating distances. A second elongate closure member includes a series of regularly spaced features disposed along an entire length of the second closure member and sealingly engages the first closure member. A slider interacts with (i) the series of regularly spaced features on the first elongate closure member to produce a first feedback at a first frequency, and (ii) the series of regularly spaced features on the second elongate closure member to produce a second feedback at a second frequency.

First claim

I claim:

1. A closure mechanism comprising:
a first elongate closure member that includes a series of regularly spaced features being disposed along an entire length of the first elongate closure member, the series of regularly spaced features including a plurality of vertically extending indentations on an outer surface of the first elongate closure member, the vertically extending indentations being spaced apart along the entire length of the first elongate closure member, with each vertically extending indentation of the plurality of vertically extending indentations being spaced a distance D 1 from an adjacent vertically extending indentation of the plurality of vertically extending indentations, such that the distance D 1 between each vertically extending indentation and the adjacent vertically extending indentation is the same along the entire length of the first elongate closure member;
a second elongate closure member that includes a series of regularly spaced features being disposed along an entire length of the second elongate closure member, the series of regularly spaced features including a plurality of vertically extending indentations on an outer surface of the second elongate closure member, the vertically extending indentations being spaced apart along the entire length of the second elongate closure member, with each vertically extending indentation of the plurality of vertically extending indentations being spaced a distance D 2 from an adjacent vertically extending indentation of the plurality of vertically extending indentations, such that the distance D 2 between each vertically extending indentation and the adjacent vertically extending indentation is the same along the entire length of the second elongate closure member, the distance D 1 being greater than the distance D 2 , and the second elongate closure member being configured to sealingly engage the first elongate closure member; and
a slider that slides along the first and second elongate closure members to engage or to separate the first and second elongate closure members, such that portions of the slider engage with (i) the series of regularly spaced features on the first elongate closure member to produce a first feedback at a first frequency, and (ii) the series of regularly spaced features on the second elongate closure member to produce a second feedback at a second frequency, as the slider is slid along the first and second elongate closure members,
wherein the first feedback at the first frequency differs from the second feedback at the second frequency due to the distance D 1 between each of the regularly spaced features of the series on the first elongate closure member being greater than the distance D 2 between each of the regularly spaced features of the series on the second elongate closure member.

2. The closure mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first and second feedbacks produce an audible sound.

3. The closure mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the slider comprises a first projection that engages the series of regularly spaced features on the first elongate closure profile and a second projection that engages the series of regularly spaced features on the second elongate closure member.

4. A pouch comprising:
sidewalls that define a mouth;
a first elongate closure member disposed proximate to the mouth, the first elongate closure member including a series of regularly spaced features being disposed along an entire length of the first elongate closure member, the series of regularly spaced features including a plurality of vertically extending indentations on an outer surface of the first elongate closure member, the vertically extending indentations being spaced apart along the entire length of the first elongate closure member, with each vertically extending indentation of the plurality of vertically extending indentations being spaced a distance D 1 from an adjacent vertically extending indentation of the plurality of vertically extending indentations, such that the distance D 1 between each vertically extending indentation and the adjacent vertically extending indentation is the same along the entire length of the first elongate closure member;
a second elongate closure member disposed proximate to the mouth, the second elongate closure member including a series of regularly spaced features being disposed along an entire length of the second elongate closure member, the series of regularly spaced features including a plurality of vertically extending indentations on an outer surface of the second elongate closure member, the vertically extending indentations being spaced apart along the entire length of the second elongate closure member, with each vertically extending indentation of the plurality of vertically extending indentations being spaced a distance D 2 from an adjacent vertically extending indentation of the plurality of vertically extending indentations, such that the distance D 2 between each vertically extending indentation and the adjacent vertically extending indentation is the same along the entire length of the second elongate closure member, the distance D 1 being greater than the distance D 2 , and the second elongate closure member being configured to sealingly engage the first elongate closure member; and
a slider that slides along the first and second elongate closure members to close or to open the first and second elongate closure members, such that portions of the slider engage with (i) the series of regularly spaced features on the first elongate closure member to produce a first feedback at a first frequency, and (ii) the series of regularly spaced features on the second elongate closure member to produce a second feedback at a second frequency, as the slider is slid along the first and second elongate closure members,
wherein the first feedback at the first frequency differs from the second feedback at the second frequency due to the distance D 1 between each of the regularly spaced features of the series on the first elongate closure member being greater than the distance D 2 between each of the regularly spaced features of the series on the second elongate closure member.

5. The pouch of claim 4 , wherein the first and second feedbacks produce an audible sound.

6. The pouch of claim 4 , wherein the slider comprises a first projection that engages the series of regularly spaced features on the first elongate closure profile, and a second projection that engages the series of regularly spaced features on the second elongate closure member.

Assignees

• Johnson & Son Inc S C
• Johnson & Son Inc S C

Inventors

• Ackerman Bryan L

Classifications

• Y10T24/2532

  having interlocking surface with continuous cross section · CPC title

• A44B19/16 Primary

  Interlocking member having uniform section throughout the length of the stringer {(for sacks or bags B65D33/2508)} · CPC title

• Y10T24/2534

  Opposed interlocking surface having dissimilar cross section · CPC title

• B65D2203/12

  Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means (B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence) · CPC title

• A44B19/24

  Details · CPC title