Hidden flange child resistant closure for recloseable pouch and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11530076-B2
Application number	US-201916550872-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2019
Priority date	Dec 19, 2018
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

Abstract

A recloseable zipper pouch includes a recloseable zipper with interlocking profiles. At least one of the profiles has a grasping flange with a free end positionable both above and below the interlocking profile, and an attachment flange below the interlocking profile and attached to the wall of the pouch at an anchored portion on the attachment flange. The grasping flange is unattached to the first wall between opposite sidewall edges of the pouch. The complementary interlocking profile is attached to the opposite pouch wall. Some pouches can also include an opening in a side wall of the pouch to provide access to a portion of the grasping flange.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A recloseable package comprising:
(a) a first and second sidewall joined along respective sidewall edges and a bottom to form a package with an open mouth; and
(b) a recloseable zipper closure positioned adjacent the mouth, comprising:
(i) a first track comprising an interlocking profile, the first track further comprising a grasping flange having a free end positionable both above and below the interlocking profile; and an attachment flange being below the interlocking profile, the first track attached to the first sidewall at an anchored portion on the attachment flange; the grasping flange being unattached to the first sidewall between the sidewall edges; and
(ii) a second track comprising a complementary interlocking profile, the second track attached to the second sidewall;

wherein the grasping flange is freely movable and unattached to the first sidewall a complete distance between the sidewall edges;
and wherein when the package is in a closed condition with the interlocking profiles mated, a surface of the grasping flange opposes a surface of the attachment flange.

2. The recloseable package of claim 1 wherein the first sidewall defines an opening sized to provide access to a portion of the grasping flange by one or more fingers from a position outside of the package, and the second sidewall is free of openings.

3. The recloseable package of claim 2 wherein the opening is located in the first sidewall spaced from the sidewall edges and adjacent to the first track.

4. The recloseable package of claim 2 wherein the opening is located less than 3 mm from the grasping flange.

5. The recloseable package of claim 2 wherein the opening comprises one of a slit, perforation, or gap in the first sidewall.

6. The recloseable package of claim 2 wherein the first sidewall includes a tab extending from a remaining portion of the first sidewall, and a gap is between the tab and the remaining portion of the first sidewall in communication with the opening.

7. The recloseable package of claim 6 wherein the tab is arch-shaped.

8. The recloseable package of claim 7 wherein a peak of the arch-shaped tab is closer to the open mouth than ends of the arch-shaped tab.

9. The recloseable package of claim 7 wherein ends of the arch-shaped tab are closer to the open mouth than a peak of the arch-shaped tab.

10. The recloseable package of claim 6 wherein the tab extends a distance of greater than 50% along the zipper closure between the sidewall edges.

11. A recloseable zipper pouch comprising:
(a) a surrounding wall having a closed bottom, first and second opposite sides, and first and second opposing wall panels between the first and second opposite sides, and an open mouth defined by terminal ends of the first and second opposing wall panels; the surrounding wall defining an interior volume therein;
(b) a recloseable zipper closure between the terminal ends and the closed bottom; the zipper closure providing selective access to the interior volume through the mouth; the zipper closure including:
an attachment flange having an inner surface and an outer surface;
(ii) a first zipper profile member extending from the outer surface of the attachment flange and extending toward the second wall panel;
the attachment flange being secured to the first wall panel along only an anchored portion of the inner surface and being free of attachment to the first wall panel at a region behind the first zipper profile member;

(ii) a second zipper profile member secured to the second wall panel and extending toward the first wall panel and in a location to engage the first profile member;
(iii) the first and second profile members being constructed and arranged to selectively interlock when pressed together and unlock when forced apart; and

(c) an adjustable grasping flange integral with the attachment flange and being positionable between the attachment flange and the first wall panel;
the grasping flange having a free end, a first surface, and an opposite second surface;
(ii) the grasping flange being adjustable between a hidden position and a closure-opening position;
(A) the hidden position including the free end being located between the attachment flange anchored portion and the first zipper profile member, and the first surface being adjacent the inner surface of the attachment flange; and
(B) the closure-opening position including the first surface of the grasping flange pulled away from the inner surface of the attachment flange;

wherein the grasping flange is freely movable and free of attachment to the first wall panel at the region behind the first zipper profile member for a complete distance between the first and second opposite sides of the surrounding wall; and
wherein when the package is in a closed condition with the first and second profile members interlocked, the first surface of the grasping flange opposes the inner surface of the attachment flange.

12. The recloseable zipper pouch of claim 11 wherein the first wall panel defines an opening sized to provide access to a portion of the grasping flange by one or more fingers from a position outside of the zipper pouch, and the second wall is free of openings.

13. The recloseable zipper pouch of claim 12 wherein the opening is located in the first wall panel spaced from the first side and second side and adjacent to the first zipper profile.

14. The recloseable zipper pouch of claim 12 wherein the opening is located less than 3 mm from the grasping flange.

15. The recloseable zipper pouch of claim 12 wherein the opening comprises one of a slit, perforation, or gap in the first wall panel.

16. The recloseable zipper pouch of claim 12 wherein the first wall panel includes a tab extending from a remaining portion of the first wall panel, and a gap in communication with the opening is between the tab and the remaining portion of the first wall panel.

17. The recloseable zipper pouch of claim 16 wherein the tab is arch-shaped.

18. The recloseable zipper pouch of claim 17 wherein a peak of the arch-shaped tab is closer to the open mouth than terminal ends of the arch-shaped tab.

19. The recloseable zipper pouch of claim 17 wherein terminal ends of the arch-shaped tab are closer to the open mouth than a peak of the arch-shaped tab.

20. The recloseable zipper pouch of claim 16 wherein the tab extends a distance of greater than 50% along the zipper closure between the first side and second side of first wall panel.

21. The recloseable package of claim 2 wherein the opening is directly over in covering relation to the grasping flange.

22. The recloseable zipper pouch of claim 12 wherein the opening is directly over in covering relation to the grasping flange.

Assignees

• Reynolds Presto Products Inc

Inventors

• Hansen William Bradford
• Austreng Andrew R

Classifications

• B65D2215/08

  for fooling children, e.g. fake closures · CPC title

• B65D33/2508 Primary

  using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor · CPC title

• B65D33/2525 Primary

  located between the fastener and the product compartment · CPC title

• B65D33/243

  Combination of flaps, slits, tongues or apertures, e.g. apertures serving as hand or finger holes · CPC title