Recloseable fasteners

Abstract

A recloseable fastener (10) or zipper of plastics material comprises first and second members (12, 20) which are profiled (18, 24) to create a closure by their interengagement. One of the closure members (12) is provided with an upstanding leg (30) which projects proud of the closure (18, 24) when closed. This leg (30) is positioned close to the closure so that it deflects upon closing of the closure, to enable the consumer to feel that the zipper is closing and then is closed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to recloseable fasteners or zippers of plastics material where the fastener comprises two profiled closure members having respective interengageable profiles. Such fasteners are used for example on bags and other containers of plastics material. The invention also includes bags or containers incorporating such fasteners.

When a consumer is closing an opened bag or other container by squeezing together the profiles it is not easy to feel whether the zipper is closing or not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved closure which gives the consumer a positive feel as the zipper is closed.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a recloseable fastener of plastics material comprising first and second closure members which are profiled to create a closure by their interengagement, wherein one of the closure members is provided with an upstanding leg which projects proud of the closure when closed.

The protrusion is preferably a leg on a flange of one of the closure members, positioned close to the interengaged closure. In this way, the leg will deflect upon closing of the closure and will enable the consumer to feel that the zipper is closing and then subsequently is closed.

Preferably, the interengageable closure is bounded on each side by an upstanding leg, the leg on one side of the closure bridging the gap between respective flanges of the closure members and the leg on the other side of the closure member being the leg projecting proud of the closure.

Preferably, the projecting leg protrudes by of the order of 0.5 mm beyond the closure.

In a preferred embodiment the two closure members provide three flanges.

Preferably, one closure member has a single flange extending from the closure and the other closure member has two flanges extending in opposite directions from the closure, the one of said two flanges which extends in the direction away from the single flange on the other closure member carrying the upstanding leg which projects proud of the closure.

Desirably, the two flanges which extend in the direction away from the flange which carries the protruding leg are provided with gripping beads on their facing internal surfaces.

In one embodiment, the first and second closure members are respectively provided with male and female profiles which are engageable to form the closure.

In another embodiment, the first and second closure members are provided with a double-track engageable closure.

The invention also includes a bag or container of plastics material incorporating a fastener in accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, two presently preferred embodiments of recloseable fastener in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of fastener in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of fastener in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the recloseable fastener or zipper is illustrated generally at 10. One of the closure members 12 is provided with two flanges 14 and 16, extending in opposite directions from a male closure element 18. Flange 16 is designed to be located within the bag or other container to which the zipper is fitted, and flange 14 is external to the bag or container. The other closure member 20 has just one flange 22 which is parallel to flange 14 but is longer than flange 14. This gives a three-flange zipper. The closure member 20 is provided at the inner end of the flange with a pair of hooked female closure elements 24 which engage with the male element 18 to provide the male/female closure. The male/female closure 18, 24 is bounded on each side by a leg member. In this embodiment both legs are provided on closure member 12. At the root of flange 14 is an upstanding leg 26 on the outside of the male/female engaging elements 18, 24. This upstanding leg 26 has a height which is substantially equal to the height of the male and female closure elements. It substantially bridges the gap between flange 14 and flange 22 when the zipper is closed. The external flanges 14 and 22 are provided on their internal faces with linear ribs 28 to aid the gripping of the flanges by the consumer when opening the zipper. A colour line 29 is provided on the outside of flange 14.

In accordance with the invention, closure member 12 is additionally provided with an upstanding leg 30 at the root of flange 16 which has a height which is greater than that of the male/female hooked closure elements when closed. As illustrated, it is proud of the outer surface of closure member 20 by a height x when the zipper is closed. The upstanding leg 30 is also positioned close to the male/female closure, i.e. immediately adjacent to the endmost hooked closure element 24 on closure member 20. The protruding leg 30 is located close to the male/female closure 18, 24 so that it will deflect upon closing of the zipper. This has the effect that upon closing of the zipper the leg 30 will both be proud of the closed profile and at the same time move, thus ensuring that the consumer is able to feel that the zipper is closing and subsequently has closed. This gives the consumer a positive indication, by feel, that the zipper has closed.

In a preferred embodiment, where the zipper flanges 14, 16, 22 have a thickness of 0.20 mm and the distance y between the outer surfaces of the closure members 12, 20 is 2.00 mm, the height x is 0.05 mm. In the illustrated embodiment, flange 14 has a length of 3.00 mm and flange 16 has a length of 7.00 mm. The distance from leg 30 to the end of flange 22 is 21.00 mm.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, those elements which are the same as in FIG. 1 are indicated by the respective same reference numerals with the addition of a “dash”. The closure here is a double-track closure, in that instead of a single-track male/female closure there are provided pairs of interengageable hooked members. Closure member 10′ has two hooked members 32a, 32b and closure member 20′ has two hooked members 34a, 34b, engageable with hooked members 32a and 32b. Leg 26 of the first embodiment is now provided on closure member 20′ and is indicated at 36. It bridges the gap between flanges 14′ and 22′. The thickness y of the closure is 1.80 mm in this embodiment. The dimension x is again 0.50 mm.

Claims

1. A recloseable fastener of plastics material comprising first and second closure members which are profiled to create a closure by their interengagement, wherein one of the closure members is provided with an upstanding leg which projects proud of the closure when closed.

2. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, in which the upstanding leg is positioned adjacent to the closure.

3. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, in which the upstanding leg is provided on a flange of one of the closure members.

4. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, in which the interengageable closure is bounded on each side by an upstanding leg, the leg on one side of the closure bridging the gap between respective flanges of the closure members and the leg on the other side of the closure member being the leg projecting proud of the closure.

5. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, in which the projecting leg protrudes by of the order of 0.5 mm beyond the closure.

6. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, in which the two closure members provide three flanges.

7. A fastener as claimed in claim 6, in which one closure member has a single flange extending from the closure and the other closure member has two flanges extending in opposite directions from the closure, the one of said two flanges which extends in the direction away from the single flange on the other closure member carrying the upstanding leg which projects proud of the closure.

8. A fastener as claimed in claim 7, in which the two flanges which extend in the direction away from the flange which carries the protruding leg are provided with gripping beads on their facing internal surfaces.

9. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, in which the first and second closure members are respectively provided with male and female profiles which are engageable to form the closure.

10. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, in which the first and second closure members are provided with a double-track engageable closure.

11. A fastener as claimed in claim 7, in which the single flange is longer than the similarly directed flange of the other closure member.

12. A bag or container of plastics material provided with a recloseable fastener as claimed in claim 1.

13. A bag or container of plastics material provided with a recloseable fastener as claimed in claim 7, in which the flange carrying the upstanding leg which projects proud of the closure is secured to that part of the bag which is on the inside of the closure.