Zipper seal packages with seals with shaped pattern

Abstract

Reclosable packages include an impressed pattern which is impinged against by the slider. This creates an aesthetically pleasing appearance. This further creates an aesthetically pleasing sound and corresponding tactile sensation when the slider is moved. This sound can be enhanced by providing internal protuberances to the slider. When a string zipper or similar zipper is used, the web to zipper seal line can include the impressed pattern. However, when a flanged zipper is used, the impressed pattern and the web to flange seal lines are formed in different locations.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of using seal bars with a pattern of hills and valleys in order to create a corresponding pattern in the seal lines along the base of the interlocking zipper element and the web of a reclosable package. This results in a clicking or similar sound when the slider is moved. This sound can be enhanced by bars or similar protrusions on the inside of the slider to contact the undulating seal lines. The present invention further relates to the reclosable package manufactured by this method.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the prior art, form fill seal (FFS) methods and apparatus are well developed. Likewise the packages, particular reclosable packages, formed by these methods and apparatus are well developed. However, further improvements in the tactile and visual aesthetics of reclosable bags, which are consumer products, are always sought. In particular, improvements in the tactile aesthetics of a slider are sought.

Prior art in this area includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,260 entitled “Flexible Storage Bag with Audible Closure Indicator” issued on Jul. 15, 2003 to Randall et.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,145 entitled “Adhesive Closure for Flexible Bag” issued on Nov. 3, 1998 to Dais et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,128 entitled “Fastener Assembly with Slider Providing Tactile and/or Audible Feedback” issued on Mar. 3, 1998 to Toney et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,613 entitled “Plastic Film Zipper Bag Having Straightened Heat Seals” issued on Oct. 6, 1992 to Herrington, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,244 entitled “Easy Opening Bag” issued on Oct. 23, 1984 to Ausnit; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0086604, entitled “Package Having Recorded Audio Pattern”, published on May 6, 2004 for Grandey; and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0153273 entitled “Flexible Package with Audio Tract”, published on Oct. 24, 2002 for Mallik et al.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a decorative pattern on the seal lines of a reclosable package, particularly reclosable packages manufactured by form fill seal methods.

It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a reclosable package wherein aesthetically pleasing sounds are generated as the slider is moved.

These and other objects are attained by providing a seal bar at the location opposite the base of the interlocking elements for sealing the zipper to the web or film walls of a reclosable package, wherein the seal bar contains hills and valleys or a similar undulated pattern. This results in the pattern being transferred to the seal line on the walls of the reclosable package. This pattern provides a pleasing visual appearance. Additionally, the impinging of a moving slider against the pattern on the seal line can cause an aesthetically pleasing sound. This sound can be enhanced by adding bars or similar protuberances within the interior of the slider.

The patterned impressions are formed on the base of the interlocking elements, whether a string zipper or a flange zipper. In the case of a flanged zipper, the pattern is transferred only to the base of the interlocking elements and typically not the walls of the film.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of seal bars sealing a string zipper to the film of a reclosable package.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the seal bars sealing a string zipper to the film of a reclosable package, each seal bar illustrating a different possible pattern which could be on the seal bars.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of a reclosable package produced by the seal bars.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along plane 4-4 of FIG. 3, showing the internal protuberances in the slider which impinge against the undulated or patterned seal lines.

FIG. 5 shows a rotating seal wheel with a pattern formed on the sealing surface thereof.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a seal bar which seals the flanges of a flanged zipper to the web and forms a patterned impression on the interlocking elements of the zipper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one sees that FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of shaped seal bars 10, 12 sealing the base of first and second interlocking profiles 102, 104 of string zipper 100 to first and second sheets of polymer web or film 200, 202 thereby forming the patterned seal lines 302 as shown in FIG. 3. String zipper 100 includes first and second interlocking profiles 102, 104 as is well-known in the prior art. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other zippers can be substituted for string zipper 100, such as a flanged zipper 150 as illustrated in FIG. 6. First and second sheets of web 200, 202 can be formed from a single sheet of web or can be individual sheets of web which are sealed together in order to form the reclosable package 300 of FIG. 3.

Shaped seal bars 10, 12 have undulating patterns which can be shaped as ripples, hills and valleys, waves or virtually any pattern, including a random pattern. In FIG. 2, sealing bar 10 is illustrated as having a toothed pattern while sealing bar 12 is illustrated as having a wave pattern. In practice, the patterns of shaped seal bars 10, 12 are typically matched to each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, zipper 100 includes slider 106 which separates interlocking profiles 102, 104 when moved in an opening direction and which joins or interlocks interlocking profiles when moved in a closing direction, as known in the prior art. Additionally, slider 106 is arranged to have side walls 108, 110 impinge against patterned seal lines 302 as shown in FIG. 3. This impinging against the pattern seal lines 302 causes a clicking or similar audible sound, and corresponding tactile sensation, as slider 106 is moved in either the opening direction or the closing direction. This clicking or similar noise can be enhanced by internal protuberances such as bars 112 as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 5, a rotating seal wheel 20 can be substituted for the shaped seal bars 10, 12. Rotating seal wheel 20 includes peripheral patterned surface 22 which is similar to the pattern on shaped seal bars 10, 12 in order to generate a similar patterned seal line 302.

A possible alternative embodiment forms the seal lines with a set of shaped seal bars or seal wheels and thereafter forms the impressed pattern with a separate set of forming bars or seal wheels.

FIG. 6 shows a flanged zipper 150 with first and second interlocking profiles 152, 154 and respective first and second flanges 156, 158 and first and second interlocking elements 160, 162. Seal bar 50 includes lower extended sealing arm 52 which includes a sealing surface 54 at the end thereof to seal sheet of web 200 to first flange 156 and further includes upper arm 56 which includes patterned end surface 58 for impressing a corresponding patterned line 304 on the base of first interlocking element 160. A second sealing bar (not shown) opposing first seal bar 50 is also provided to seal second sheet of web 202 to second flange 158 and to form a patterned line (not shown, but typically substantially identical to patterned line 304) on the base of second interlocking element 162. Patterned lines 304 on first and second interlocking elements 160, 162 are impinged against by the walls of a slider (not shown, but see slider 102 of FIG. 3) so as to produce audible sounds and corresponding tactile sensations similar to those produced by the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 when the slider is moved.

Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A reclosable package including:

first and second walls;

a string zipper with first and second interlocking profiles, the first interlocking profile being joined to the first wall and the second interlocking profile being joined to the second wall in order to form a reclosable opening in the package;

a slider on the zipper, wherein when the slider is moved in a first direction, the first interlocking profile and the second interlocking profile interlock with each other and when the slider is moved in a second direction, the first interlocking profile and the second interlocking profile are separated from each other; and

at least one patterned line, formed on the first wall adjacent to the first interlocking profile, against which the slider impinges, whereby when the slider is moved, audible sounds are generated.

2. The reclosable package of claim 1 further including a first seal line between the first wall and the first interlocking profile and a second seal line between the second wall and the interlocking profile and wherein the at least one patterned line is formed on at least one of the first and second seal lines.

3. The reclosable package of claim 2 wherein the at least one patterned line includes a first patterned line formed on the first seal line and the a second patterned line formed on the second seal line.

4. The reclosable package of claim 3 wherein the slider includes internal protuberances impinging against the first and second patterned lines.

5. The reclosable package of claim 4 wherein the slider includes side walls upon which the protuberances are formed.

6. The reclosable package of claim 1 wherein a pattern of the patterned lines is chosen from the group consisting of a toothed pattern, an undulating pattern and a hill and valley pattern.

7. The reclosable package of claim 3 wherein the first and second patterned lines are formed as the first and second seal lines by seal bars including sealing surfaces with a corresponding pattern.

8. The reclosable package of claim 7 wherein the seal bars comprise a set of first and second opposed seal bars.

9. The reclosable package of claim 3 wherein the first and second patterned lines are formed as the first and second seal lines by a seal wheel including a sealing surface with a corresponding pattern.

10. The reclosable package of claim 9 wherein the sealing surface of the seal wheel is on the periphery of the seal wheel.

11. A reclosable package including:

first and second walls;

a zipper including a first interlocking profile and a second interlocking profile, the first interlocking profile including a first interlocking element and a first flange and the second interlocking profile including a second interlocking element and a second flange, the first flange being joined to the first wall and the second flange being joined to the second wall in order to form a reclosable opening in the package;

a slider on the zipper, wherein when the slider is moved in a first direction, the first interlocking element and the second interlocking element interlock with each other and when the slider is moved in a second direction, the first interlocking element and the second interlocking element are separated from each other; and

at least one patterned line, formed on at least the first interlocking element, against which the slider impinges, whereby when the slider is moved, audible sounds are generated.

12. The reclosable package of claim 11 further including a first seal line between the first wall and the first flange and a second seal line between the second wall and the second flange and wherein the at least one patterned line is formed simultaneously with at least one of the first and second seal lines.

13. The reclosable package of claim 12 wherein the at least one patterned line includes a first patterned line formed on the first interlocking element and the a second patterned line formed on the second interlocking element.

14. The reclosable package of claim 13 wherein the slider includes internal protuberances impinging against the first and second patterned lines.

15. The reclosable package of claim 14 wherein the slider includes side walls upon which the protuberances are formed.

16. The reclosable package of claim 11 wherein a pattern of the patterned lines is chosen from the group consisting of a toothed pattern, an undulating pattern and a hill and valley pattern.

17. The reclosable package of claim 13 wherein the first and second patterned lines are formed by a first portion of a set of seal bars and the first and second seal lines are formed by a second portion of a set of seal bars.

18. The reclosable package of claim 17 wherein the set of seal bars comprises first and second opposed seal bars.

19. The reclosable package of claim 13 wherein the first and second patterned lines are formed by a seal wheel including a sealing surface with a corresponding pattern.

20. The reclosable package of claim 19 wherein the sealing surface of the seal wheel is on the periphery of the seal wheel.