Child resistant zipper closure system and rockable slider device and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10681966-B2
Application number	US-201816051090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2018
Priority date	Jul 2, 2018
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

A slider for a zipper closure includes a separator plow that is positionable between interlocking tracks of the zipper closure to open the zipper closure by pivoting an opening end of the slider in a direction toward a notch to position the plow between the interlocking closures. The slider can be disengaged by pivoting the slider so that the plow is outside of the interlocking tracks.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A slider for a zipper closure having interlocking members with complementary profiles for interlocking and unlocking; the slider comprising:
(a) an opposite opening end and closing end;
(b) a top member;
(c) a pair of spaced legs depending from the top member; the spaced legs defining an open volume therebetween to allow for passage of the tracks therethrough and with the legs straddling the tracks;
(d) internal surfaces spaced sufficiently close together in a vicinity of the closing end to press the profiles into interlocking relationship as the slider is moved in a closing direction along the zipper closure;
(e) a separator plow extending from the opening end; the separator plow being selectively moveable into a position to be between the interlocking members and separate the interlocking profiles as the slider is moved in an opening direction along the zipper closure by pivoting the opening end of the slider in a direction toward the profiles;
(f) a protrusion extending from at least one of the legs into the open volume toward the opposite leg; and
(g) wherein at least one leg has a first track-accommodating groove and a second track-accommodating groove; the first and second track-accommodating grooves being separated by the protrusion.

2. The slider of claim 1 wherein the protrusion is in the vicinity of the opening end.

3. The slider of claim 1 wherein the first track-accommodating groove and second track-accommodating groove are angled relative to each other at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°.

4. The slider of claim 1 wherein the first track-accommodating groove and second track-accommodating groove are angled relative to each other at an angle of 10-60°.

5. The slider of claim 1 wherein the first track-accommodating groove and second track-accommodating groove are angled relative to each other at an angle of 20-40°.

6. The slider of claim 1 wherein the protrusion has a triangle-shaped periphery.

7. The slider of claim 1 wherein the internal surfaces comprise internal surfaces of the legs, and the separator plow extends from the top member into the open volume between the legs.

8. The slider of claim 1 wherein each of the spaced legs has a hook at a free end to engage an external portion of the zipper closure to retain the slider in operative position on the zipper closure.

9. The slider of claim 1 wherein the slider is molded as a single piece.

10. A child resistant slider zipper closure system comprising:
(a) a reclosable zipper closure with a male track and a female track having complementary profiles for interlocking and unlocking;
(b) a notch located in the male and female tracks; the notch being spaced a distance from an end of the zipper closure; and
(c) a slider having an opposite opening end and closing end and being slidably located on the zipper closure, the slider including a top member and a pair of spaced legs depending from the top member, the spaced legs defining an open volume therebetween to allow for passage of the tracks therethrough and with the legs straddling the tracks; a separator plow extending from the opening end; the slider being pivotable relative to the zipper closure to selectively move the separator plow into or out of a position between the interlocking members;
(i) the separator plow being positionable between the interlocking members to separate the tracks and open the zipper closure by pivoting the opening end of the slider in a direction toward the notch; and
(ii) the separator plow being positionable outside of the interlocking members to prevent separation of the tracks by pivoting the opening end of the slider in a direction away from the notch and outside of the tracks; and

(d) a pair of end stops at opposite ends of the zipper closure.

11. The slider zipper closure system of claim 10 wherein:
(a) the slider further includes a protrusion extending from at least one of the legs into the open volume toward the opposite leg;
(b) the separator plow extends from the top member into the open volume between the legs; and
wherein when the slider is pivoted to selectively move the separator plow into or out of a position between the interlocking members, the protrusion engages against an external portion of the zipper closure to provide a tactile indication of a changed position of the separator plow.

12. The slider zipper closure system of claim 11 wherein the at least one leg of the slider has a first track-accommodating groove and a second track-accommodating groove; the first and second track-accommodating grooves being separated by the protrusion.

13. The slider zipper closure system of claim 12 wherein the first track-accommodating groove and second track-accommodating groove are angled relative to each other at a first angle greater than 0° and less than 90°.

14. The zipper closure system of claim 10 wherein the end stops comprise ultrasonically welded terminations.

15. The zipper closure system of claim 10 wherein the end stops comprise flexible clips.

16. The zipper closure system of claim 10 wherein a first of the end stops in the vicinity of the notch has an angled surface extending at a non-zero and non-perpendicular angle from a top of the first end stop in a direction toward the notch.

17. The zipper closure system of claim 16 wherein:
(a) the at least one leg of the slider has a first track-accommodating groove and a second track-accommodating groove; the first and second track-accommodating grooves being separated by the protrusion; the first track-accommodating groove and second track-accommodating groove being angled relative to each other at a first angle greater than 0° and less than 90°; and
(b) the angled surface of the first end stop and said first angle are within 10° of each other.

18. The zipper closure system of claim 17 wherein the angled surface of the first end stop and said first angle are within 0°-5° of each other.

19. The zipper closure system of claim 17 wherein the angled surface of the first end stop and said first angle are each between about of 20-40°.

20. The zipper closure system of claim 10 wherein:
(a) the slider further includes a spring tab extending from the closing end and between the spaced legs;
(b) the separator plow extends from the top member into the open volume between the legs; and
wherein when the slider is pivoted to selectively move the separator plow into a position between the interlocking members, the spring tab engages against a top of at least one of the profiles so that a user must apply a continuous force on the slider to overcome a force of the spring tab to keep the plow between the interlocking members.

21. The zipper closure system of claim 20 wherein the spring tab is angled from the top member in a range of 15-40°.

22. The zipper closure system of claim 20 wherein the spring tab extends from the top member and less than 75% of a length of the spaced legs.

23. A method of operating a zippered bag having an openable and recloseable mouth; the method comprising:
(a) providing a zippered bag having first and second panels each having a top forming the mouth, a bottom, and first and second opposing sides; a recloseable zipper closure including interlocking members with complementary profiles for interlocking and unlocking; one profile being in proximity to the top of the first panel, and the other profile being in proximity to the top of the second panel; the complementary profi

Assignees

• Reynolds Presto Products Inc

Inventors

• Athans John D
• Derue Nicholas A
• Thompson Zachary R
• Thompson Gregg
• Snyder Scott

Classifications

• B65D33/259 Primary

  End stops · CPC title

• B65D33/25865

  reaching between the interlocking fastener profiles · CPC title

• B65D33/2541 Primary

  characterised by the slide fastener, e.g. adapted to interlock with a sheet between the interlocking members having sections of particular shape · CPC title

• B65D25/08

  with provisions for removing or destroying, e.g. to facilitate mixing of contents · CPC title

• A44B19/265 Primary

  with means for preventing the accidental intrusion of material into the slider body, e.g. with shield or guard · CPC title