Reclosable pouch having a clicking closure device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9475616-B2
Application number	US-201514813326-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2015
Priority date	Feb 22, 2011
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

A reclosable pouch includes an elongated closure mechanism, disposed at the top portion of the pouch, having a first male closure element coupled to a first bag wall defining a plurality of deformed segments. A first female closure element coupled to a second bag wall opposes the first male closure element. The first female closure element has first and second spaced legs that are constructed and arranged to engage the first male closure element in order to close the opening of the pouch. The deformed segments of the first male closure element create at least one of a first clicking feel and a first clicking sound when the first female closure element engages the first male closure element to close the opening of the pouch.

First claim

We claim:

1. A reclosable pouch comprising:
(A) a body portion having:
(a) a top portion;
(b) a bottom portion; and
(c) a first bag wall and a second bag wall, each extending from the bottom portion to the top portion, the first and second bag walls forming an opening at the top portion of the pouch; and

(B) an elongated closure mechanism disposed at the top portion of the pouch, the elongated closure mechanism including:
(a) a first male closure element coupled to the first bag wall, the first male closure element defining a plurality of deformed segments, wherein each of the deformed segments of the first male closure element is of a first length;
(b) a first female closure element coupled to the second bag wall and opposing the first male closure element on the first bag wall, the first female closure element having first and second spaced legs that are constructed and arranged to engage the first male closure element in order to close the opening of the pouch, wherein the deformed segments of the first male closure element create at least one of a first clicking feel and a first clicking sound when the first female closure element engages the first male closure element to close the opening of the pouch;
(c) a second male closure element coupled to one of the first bag wall and the second bag wall, the second male closure element defining a plurality of deformed segments, wherein each of the deformed segments of the second male closure element is of a second length that is different than the first length of the deformed segments of the first male closure element; and
(d) a second female closure element coupled to one of the first bag wall and the second bag wall, the second female closure element being configured to engage with the second male closure element to close the opening of the pouch.

2. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of deformed segments of the first male closure element and each of the plurality of deformed segments of the second male closure element comprise deformations.

3. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 2 , wherein the deformations of at least one of (i) the plurality of deformed segments of the first male closure element and (ii) the plurality of deformed segments of the second male closure element are formed by a first toothed gripper wheel and a second smooth gripper wheel being deployed in an opposing manner to form a gap between the wheels in which at least one of the first and second male closure elements can be received.

4. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 3 , wherein the first toothed gripper wheel and the second smooth gripper wheel are at approximately forty-five degree angles from one another, and the gap between the wheels is constructed and arranged to receive at least the first male closure element to provide the deformations therein.

5. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 4 , wherein each of the first male closure element and the second male closure element includes a stem having a width, such that the gap is of a distance less than the width of the stem of at least the first male closure element, so that the stem is deformed substantially only on a side of the stem acted upon by the first toothed gripper wheel.

6. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 2 , wherein the deformations of at least one of the plurality of deformed segments of the first male closure element are formed by:
(i) an engagement end of the first male closure element being reshaped on one side of the first male closure element;
(ii) a base of the first male closure element being substantially unchanged; and
(iii) a stem of the first male closure element being substantially unchanged on a second side of the first male closure element.

7. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 2 , wherein the deformations of at least one of the plurality of deformed segments of the second male closure element are formed by:
(i) an engagement end of the second male closure element being reshaped on one side of the second male closure element;
(ii) a base of the second male closure element being substantially unchanged; and
(iii) a stem of the second male closure element being substantially unchanged on a second side of the second male closure element.

8. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 1 , wherein engaging the first female closure element with the first male closure element to close of the opening of the pouch creates both the first clicking feel and the first clicking sound.

9. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second male closure element is sized and arranged to interlock in the second female closure element such that a second clicking sound is generated upon interlocking.

10. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 9 , wherein the first male closure element generates the first clicking sound at a first audible frequency, and the second male closure element generates the second clicking sound at a second audible frequency.

11. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 10 , wherein the second audible frequency differs from the first audible frequency.

12. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 1 , wherein a length of at least one of the deformed segments of the first male closure element and the second male closure element is less than 0.15 of an inch.

13. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first male closure element and the second male closure element comprises a base and a stem that extends from the base to terminate in an engagement end, the engagement end having a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of a hook, an arrow head, a three-lobed arrow head, a rounded stem, an asymmetrical triangle, and a symmetrical triangle.

14. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 13 , wherein the stem of the at least one of the first male closure element and the second male closure element has sealing surfaces.

15. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first male closure element comprises asymmetric deformations in each of the deformed segments, the asymmetric deformations being capable of creating the at least one of the first clicking feel and the first clicking sound when the first male closure element engages with the first female closure element.

16. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 15 , wherein the second male closure element comprises asymmetric deformations in each of the deformed segments, the asymmetric deformations being capable of creating at least one of a second clicking feel and a second clicking sound when the second male closure element engages with the second female closure element.

17. The reclosable pouch as recited in claim 16 , wherein each of the asymmetric deformations comprises:
(i) a distal end of each of the first and second male closure elements being reshaped on one side of the first and second male closure elements;
(ii) a base of each of the first and second male closure elements being substantially unchanged; and
(iii) a stem of each of the first and second male closure elements being substantially unchanged on a second side of the first and second male closure elements.

18. The reclosable pouch of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deformed segments of the first male closure element is intermittent undeformed segments along a length of the first male closure element.

19. The reclosable pouch of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deformed segments of the second male closure element is intermittent undeformed segments along a length o

Assignees

• Johnson & Son Inc S C

Inventors

• Price William D
• Dawkins Richard R

Classifications

• B65D2203/12

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

• B65D33/255 Primary

  being provided with special visual, audible or tactile indicating means, e.g. indicating proper engagement (B65D33/2516 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D33/2566

  using two or more independently operable slide fasteners · CPC title

• B65D75/5855

  Peelable seals · CPC title

• B65D33/24 Primary

  using self-locking integral or attached closure elements, e.g. flaps (B65D33/25 takes precedence) · CPC title