Zipper and zipper arrangements and methods of manufacturing the same
A zipper arrangement for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags that includes a zipper and at least one slider. The zipper includes first and second opposing tracks. The first track has a first profile and the second track has a second profile. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other. The first track has one or more spaced primary notches interrupting the first profile. At least one slider is inserted onto the first profile via a respective one of the primary notches. The slider is adapted to engage and disengage the first and second profiles in response to movement along the zipper. The second track may have one or more to spaced primary notches interrupting the second profile. The spaced primary notches of the second track are generally aligned to respective ones of the primary notches of the first track. At least one slider is inserted onto the aligned pairs of primary notches via a respective one of the generally aligned notches.
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The Applicants note that application Ser. No. 13/184,010 was filed on Jul. 15, 2011. Application Ser. No. 13/184,010 is a continuation reissue application from this application (application Ser. No. 10/652,572).
This application is a reissue application of U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,189 (application Ser. No. 09/307,937); U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,189 is related to an application entitled “Assembly And Accumulation Of Sliders For Profiled Zippers” Ser. No. 09/307,893 filed May 10, 1999, and to an application entitled “Fastener With Slider Thereon For Use In Manufacturing Recloseable Bags” Ser. No. 09/302,843 filed May 10, 1999. Both applications are filed concurrently with this application, and are assigned to the same assignee as the assignee of this application. Both applications and their disclosures are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to zippers, zipper arrangements, and methods of manufacturing the same. Specifically, the present invention is directed towards zipper arrangements having a notched zipper and at least one slider for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags and methods of manufacturing the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPlastic bags are popular for storing food and other items. Zippered plastic bags that can be securely closed and reopened are particularly popular due to their perceived ability to maintain freshness of the food stored in the bags and/or to minimize or eliminate leakage into and out of the bag. These bags are used one at a time by consumers. These bags are also used by businesses to package items that are then sold to consumers. For example, nuts, candy, snacks, ingredients, salt, cheese, and other food and non-food products are packed in these bags by form, fill and seal machines.
Slider bags have become popular with customers for a variety of reasons, including difficulty in opening and closing a zippered bag without a slider. Product manufacturers have not, however, used zippers with sliders in their form, fill and seal machines for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include the difficulty in having a reliable assembly of sliders to zipper at form, fill and seal manufacturing rates, supplying zipper with sliders that are not prone to machine jamming and excessive downtime, and installing sliders in tight and constraining areas in form, fill and seal machine footprints.
Accordingly, a need exists to address the above-noted problems by supplying zippers in a convenient configuration and having methods of easily placing sliders onto zippers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one embodiment of the present invention, a zipper arrangement for use in manufacturing bags includes a zipper and at least one slider. The zipper includes first and second opposing tracks. The first track has a first profile and the second track has a second profile. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other. The first track has one or more spaced primary notches interrupting the first profile. The slider is inserted onto the first profile via a respective one of the primary notches. The slider is adapted to engage and disengage the first and second profiles in response to movement along the zipper.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the second track has a second profile and one or more spaced primary notches interrupting the second profile. The second primary notches are generally aligned with respective ones of the first primary notches to form aligned pairs of primary notches. The slider is inserted onto the first profile via a respective one of the aligned pairs of primary notches.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a folded zipper includes first and second opposing tracks that each have one or more primary notches interrupting respective profiles. The primary notches are generally aligned to respective ones of the first primary notches to form aligned pairs of primary notches. The zipper includes a plurality of fold areas generally transverse to a length of the zipper and the zipper is folded along the fold areas.
According to a further embodiment, a folded zipper has a first track having one or more primary notches and a second track having one or more spaced slits interrupting the second profile. The slits are generally aligned to respective ones of the primary notches. The zipper includes a plurality of fold areas generally transverse to a length of the zipper and the zipper is folded along the fold areas.
According to one method of the present invention, a zipper and at least one slider are provided. The first track has one or more spaced primary notches interrupting the first profile. The slider is mounted onto a second profile and into a respective one of the primary notches. The slider is slid onto the first profile via a respective one the primary notches.
According to another method, a zipper and at least one slider are provided. The slider is positioned in a respective one of the aligned pairs of primary notches. Each of the first and second opposing tracks has one or more primary notches interrupting respective profiles. The slider is slid onto the first and second profiles via a respective one of the aligned pairs of primary notches.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the flowing detailed description and upon reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5a is a perspective view of a zipper having spaced primary notches according to one embodiment.
FIG. 7d is a perspective view of a folded zipper arrangement according to one embodiment.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed but, on the contrary, to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTSTurning now to the drawings,
Referring to
The male and female profiles 28, 34 are releasably engageable with each other to provide a recloseable seal to the package. In the illustrated embodiment of
It is not necessary that the first and second fin 30, 36 be releasably engaged to each other by a one time breakable preferential area of weakness. For example, the first fin 30 may be separate from the second fin 36 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
The recloseable package 14 has the slider 16 (
The sliders to be used in the present invention may include various sliders that are adapted to move and disengage the male and female profiles 28, 34 from each other. One such slider (slider 16) is depicted in
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the zipper may have one slider instead of the plurality of sliders described in the zipper arrangement of
The plurality of primary notches 12 are preferably located near the ends of the recloseable package 14 for a variety of reasons. For example, locating the primary notches 12 near the ends of the package 14 is generally more aesthetically pleasing to customers. In addition, this location allows the slider 16 to move and open the package 14 across a greater distance, resulting in a wider mouth of the package 14. Locating the primary notches 12 near the ends of the package 14 may also assist in forming the side seals of the package 14 since the profiles do not need to be flattened. Side seals of the package 14 may be formed more easily and/or efficiently because of the reduction or elimination in temperatures, pressures, and times associated with fusing the male and female profiles 28, 34 together near the ends of the package 14. Locating the primary notches near the ends of the package 14 may eliminate the need to fuse the male and females profiles 28, 34 together if the male and female profiles 28, 34 are cut away at the areas where the side sealing occurs.
The relationship between the notch 12 and the slider 16 will be discussed with respect to
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the zipper may include a plurality of secondary notches. Referring specifically to
The secondary notches 54 are not adapted to engage the separator finger 48 of the zipper 16 which inhibits or prevents the slider 16 from disengaging the male and female profiles 28, 34. In other words, the separator 48 is ineffective to force a top portion (the ears) of the male and female profiles 28, 34 apart so as open the package 14. The slider is considered to be “parked” when it is in this condition. The secondary notches 54 also give a user of the package 14 the feel of a secure closure and assurance that the bag is closed with certainty. The secondary notches are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,208, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The secondary notches 54 are preferably located at the closed end of the bag. As shown in
According to another embodiment (
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a zipper (not shown) comprises a male track and a female track. The male track includes a male profile and the female track includes a female profile. Neither the male track nor the female track comprises a first fin or a second fin, respectively, according to this embodiment. The zipper includes a plurality of generally aligned primary notches formed in the zipper. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a slider may be placed in a respective one of the plurality of aligned primary notches. A slider is then slid onto the male and female profiles via a respective one of the aligned primary notches. Alternatively, a plurality of sliders are slid onto the male and female profiles via respective ones of the aligned primary notches. Alternatively, a primary notch may interrupt only one of the profiles, as described above with respect to
A filled and sealed food or storage bag may be formed by a form, fill and seal machine. The zipper arrangement of
The zipper 10 with the sliders 16 of
The bag 90 may have an end termination or stop (not shown) for inhibiting or preventing the slider 16 from going past the ends of the zipper. The end terminations also hold the male and female profiles together to resist stresses applied to the profiles during normal use of the plastic bag. One type of end termination is in the form of a strap/clip that wraps over the top of a zipper. Further information concerning such an end termination may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,208, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. One end of the strap is provided with a rivet-like member that penetrates through the zipper fins and into a cooperating opening at the other end of the strap. Other types of end termination are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,482,375, 5,448,807, 5,442,837, 5,405,478, 5,161,286, 5,131,121 and 5,088,971, which are each incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
The bag 90 may also have an end termination formed from first and second upstanding panels (not shown) extending upwardly from the respective first and second body panels. The opposing ends of the first upstanding panels are connected to the respective opposing ends of the second upstanding panel to form an open pocket in which the slider and zipper are captured. This is discussed in further detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,669, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The form, fill and seal machines may produce the bags in a different manner than as described in
Prior to being used in, for example, a form, fill and seal machine, a zipper may be stored by a variety of methods, including being folded in a box. One example of a folded zipper arrangement 120 is shown in
Referring to
In another embodiment, a zipper includes a plurality of fold areas or regions to assist in folding the zipper along the fold areas. The zipper has a first track with a plurality of spaced primary notches interrupting the first profile and a second track with a plurality of spaced slits (not shown) 75 (see FIG. 5a) interrupting the second profile. The slits are generally aligned with respective ones of the primary notches. The plurality of fold areas are generally aligned with respective ones of the aligned slits and primary notches. The zipper may include a breakable line of weakness or an area of weakness (not shown) located in the fold areas to assist in separating portions of the zipper from the remainder thereof.
It is contemplated, however, that the zipper may be folded in other shapes, such as being rolled or packed. The zipper 120 of one box may be spliced to a zipper arrangement (not shown) of a second box. The zipper may also be folded without the sliders 16 (not shown).
The zipper arrangement and sliders of the present invention may be made from a variety of suitable materials. Some examples of materials that may be used in forming the profiles, tracks, and fins include the following resins: high density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), metallocenecatalyzed LLDPE, polypropylene (PP), ethylene-propylene copolymer (E-P copolymer), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), low density polyethylene (LDPE), very low density polyethylene (VLDPE), and nylon.
The fins may be comprised of a plurality of layers where the outer layer is made of a lower melting temperature material and the inner layer is made of a higher melting temperature material to assist in inhibiting fusion of the fins. Similarly, one fin may be made of a plurality of layers where the outer layer is made of a lower melting temperature material and the inner layer is made of a higher melting temperature material. For example, the lower melting temperature materials may include EVA, LDPE, VLDPE, LLDPE, and metallocene-catalyzed LLDPE.
The slider may be molded from any suitable plastic, such as, for example, nylon, polypropylene, polystyrene, Delrin, or ABS. The opposing wall panels may be made from any suitable thermoplastic film such as, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, copolyester, or mixtures thereof. Furthermore, the wall panels of the present invention can have multiple layers joined by coextrusion or lamination. Thus, one skilled in the art can design and coextrude multi-layered polymeric bags which will incorporate the various properties inherent in differing polyethylene and polypropylene compositions. It is further possible to incorporate pigments, metallic components, paper, and/or paper/plastic composites into or on the layer or layers of the polymeric bags of the instant invention.
Methods of Forming Notches
The primary notches and optional secondary notches may be formed by a variety of methods. For example, one method of forming the primary notches in a zipper is shown in
The moveable member 162 is shown in
The punching apparatus 160 may also contain a second moveable member (not shown) that can form a plurality of secondary notches in a similar manner as described above for the moveable member 162. Alternatively, the punching apparatus may comprise a tiered moveable member (not shown) that simultaneously punches a plurality of aligned primary and secondary notches. According to another embodiment, a punching apparatus (not shown) may be designed to punch a first track without punching a second track. One such punching apparatus would include a moveable member located vertically above the zipper and adapted to move in a downward direction for punching a first track without punching a second track. This embodiment may be employed without first separating the male and female profiles.
Method of Placing at Least One Slider onto a Zipper
One method of placing at least one slider onto a zipper is shown in
The escapement mechanism 180 comprises a slider holder 182, a threader or slider finger 184, and a restraining finger 186. The slider holder 182 is designed to be compatible with an assembly of sliders 16 or individual sliders. The slider holder 182 includes a vertical column with a channel sized to hold the sliders 16. The channel of the slider holder 182 includes an open top and an open bottom. It is contemplated that the slider holder 182 may be shaped in a different manner than shown in
As shown in
Referring to
According to this embodiment, the threader finger 184 and the restraining finger 186 are powered by independent pistons. Internal air passages allow only one of the threader finger 184 and the restraining finger 186 to be fully retracted when the other is completely extended. Referring to
According to one embodiment, the slider to be used in the method described above may be of the type described above in
According to another method of the present invention, a slider may be placed on a zipper as described above. The zipper may be of a length generally corresponding to a width of the bag after the slider is placed on the zipper.
According to yet another method of the present invention, a slider may be placed onto a zipper where only a first track has a plurality of spaced primary notches interrupting a first profile. In this method, the sliders are pushed downward onto a second profile and into respective ones of the primary notches. The sliders are slid onto the first profile via the respective primary notches. This method may use a similar type of escapement mechanism 180 that would allow the sliders to be pushed downward onto a second profile. The sliders of the type described above in
While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiments illustrated, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The embodiments and obvious variations thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A zipper arrangement for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags, said zipper arrangement comprising:
- a zipper including first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and said second track having a second profile, said first and second profiles being releasable engageable to each other, said first track having one or more spaced primary notches interrupting said first profile; wherein said first track has a first fin extending downward from said first profile, wherein said first fin is detachably connected to said second fin, and
- at least one slider inserted onto said first profile via one of said primary notches, said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper.
2. A zipper arrangement for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags, said zipper arrangement comprising:
- a zipper including first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and said second track having a second profile, said first and second profiles being releasably engageable to each other, said first track having one or more spaced primary notches interrupting said first profile; and
- at least one slider inserted onto said first profile via one of said primary notches, said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper, wherein a depth of said primary notches is less than an internal opening of said slider.
3. A zipper arrangement for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags, said zipper arrangement comprising:
- a zipper including first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and said second track having a second profile, said first and second profiles being releasable engageable to each other, said first track having one or more spaced primary notches interrupting said first profile;
- at least one slider inserted onto said first profile via one of said primary notches, said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper, wherein said slider is pushed downward onto said second profile.
4. A zipper arrangement for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags, said zipper arrangement comprising:
- a zipper including first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and one or more spaced first primary notches interrupting said first profile, said second track having a second profile and one or more spaced second primary notches interrupting said second profile, said second primary notches being generally aligned with respective ones of said first primary notches to form one or more aligned pairs of primary notches, said first and second profiles being releasably engageable to each other; wherein said first track has a first fin extending downward from said first profile, wherein said second track has a second fin extending downward from said second profile, wherein said first fin is detachably connected to said second fin, and
- at least one slider inserted onto said zipper via one of said aligned pairs of primary notches, said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper.
5. A zipper arrangement for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags, said zipper arrangement comprising:
- a zipper including first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and one or more spaced first primary notches interrupting said first profile, said second track having a second profile and one or more spaced second primary notches interrupting said second profile, said second primary notches being generally aligned with respective ones of said first primary notches to form one or more aligned pairs of primary notches, said first and second profiles being releasably engageable to each other; and
- at least one slider inserted onto said zipper via one of said aligned pairs of primary notches, said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper, wherein a depth of said first primary notches is less than an internal opening of said sliders.
6. A zipper arrangement for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags, said zipper arrangement comprising:
- a zipper including first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and one or more spaced first primary notches interrupting said first profile, said second track having a second profile and one or more spaced second primary notches interrupting said second profile, said second primary notches being generally aligned with respective ones of said first primary notches to form one or more aligned pairs of primary notches, said first and second profiles being releasably engageable to each other; wherein a depth of said first primary notches is less than an internal opening of said sliders; and
- at least one slider inserted onto said zipper via one of said aligned pairs of primary notches, said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper, wherein a depth of said second primary notches is less than an internal opening of said sliders.
7. A zipper arrangement for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags, said zipper arrangement comprising:
- a zipper including first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and one or more spaced first primary notches interrupting said first profile, said second track having a second profile and one or more spaced second primary notches interrupting said second profile, said second primary notches being generally aligned with respective ones of said first primary notches to form one or more aligned pairs of primary notches, said first and second profiles being releasably engageable to each other; wherein said first track includes one or more first secondary notches and said second track includes one or more second secondary notches, said second secondary notches being generally aligned with respective ones of said first secondary notches to form aligned pairs of secondary notches, said first and second secondary notches extending at least partially into said respective first and second profiles, and
- at least one slider inserted onto said zipper via one of said aligned pairs of primary notches, said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipped.
8. The zipper arrangement of claim 7, wherein said slider includes a respective separator finger that extends at least partially between said first and second profiles to aid in disengaging said first and second profiles as said slider is moved along said zipper, at least one of said aligned pairs of secondary notches being adapted to engage said separator finger of one of said respective slider.
9. A zipper arrangement for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags, said zipper arrangement comprising:
- a zipper including first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and one or more spaced first primary notches interrupting said first profile, said second track having a second profile and one or more spaced second primary notches interrupting said second profile, said second primary notches being generally aligned with respective ones of said first primary notches to form one or more aligned pairs of primary notches, said first and second profiles being releasable engageable to each other; wherein said first track includes one or more first secondary notches and said second track includes one or more second secondary notches, said second secondary notches being generally aligned with respective ones of said first secondary notches to form aligned pairs of secondary notches, said first and second secondary notches extending at least partially into said respective first and second profiles; wherein said first primary notches merge into respective ones of said first and secondary notches, and
- at least one slider inserted onto said zipper via one of said aligned pairs of primary notches, said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper, at least one of said aligned pairs of secondary notches being adapted to park a respective one of said sliders.
10. A folded zipper for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags, said zipper comprising:
- first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and one or more spaced first primary notches interrupting said first profile, said second track having a second profile and one or more spaced second primary notches interrupting said second profile, said second primary notches being generally aligned with respective ones of said first primary notches to form aligned pairs of primary notches said first and second profiles being releasably engageable to each other;
- said zipper including a plurality of fold areas generally transverse to a length of said zipper and aligned with respective ones of said aligned pairs of notches, said zipper being folded along said fold areas.
11. The folded zipper of claim 10, wherein said zipper is folded in a general shape of an accordion.
12. The folded zipper of claim 10, wherein said fold areas divide said zipper into a plurality of zipper segments, said zipper segments of said folded zipper being generally parallel to each other.
13. The folded zipper of claim 10, wherein said first track has a first fin extending downward from said first profile and said second track has a second fin extending downward from said second profile.
14. The folded zipper of claim 13, wherein said first fin is detachably connected to said second fin.
15. The folded zipper of claim 10, further including at least one slider inserted onto said zipper via a respective one of said aligned pairs of primary notches before said zipper is folded along said fold areas so as to form a folded zipper arrangement said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper.
16. The folded zipper of claim 15, wherein said at least one slider is a plurality of sliders.
17. The folded zipper of claim 10, wherein said fold areas include respective fold lines to assist in folding said zipper.
18. The folded zipper of claim 10, wherein said zipper further includes a breakable line of weakness or an area of weakness in said fold areas to assist in detaching portions of said zipper.
19. The folded zipper of claim 10, wherein said one or more first spaced primary notches is a plurality of first spaced primary notches and said one or more second spaced primary notches is a plurality of second spaced primary notches.
20. A method of making a folded zipper for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags, said method comprising:
- providing a zipper comprising a zipper, said zipper including first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and one or more spaced first primary notches interrupting said first profile, said second track having a second profile and one or more spaced second primary notches interrupting said second profile, said second primary notches being generally aligned with respective ones of said first primary notches to form aligned pairs of primary notches, said first and second profiles being releasably engageable to each other, said zipper including a plurality of fold areas generally transverse to a length of said zipper and aligned with respective ones of said aligned pairs of notches; and
- folding said zipper along said fold areas.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of folding said zipper includes folding said zipper in a general shape of an accordion.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein said fold areas divide said zipper into a plurality of zipper segments, and wherein said step of folding said zipper is performed in a manner such that said zipper segments are generally parallel to each other.
23. The method of claim 20, wherein said first track has a first fin extending downward from said first profile and said second track has a second fin extending downward from said second profile.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein said first fin is detachably connected to said second fin.
25. The method of claim 20, wherein said zipper further includes at least one slider inserted onto said zipper via a respective one of said aligned pairs of primary notches before said zipper is folded along said fold areas so as to form a folded zipper arrangement, said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein said at least one slider is a plurality of sliders.
27. The method of claim 20, wherein said fold areas include respective fold lines to assist in folding said zipper.
28. The method of claim 20, wherein said zipper further includes a breakable line of weakness or an area of weakness in said fold areas to assist in detaching portions of said zipper.
29. The method of claim 20, wherein said one or more first spaced primary notches is a plurality of first spaced primary notches and said one or more second spaced primary notches is a plurality of second spaced primary notches.
30. A method of placing a slider onto a zipper, said method comprising:
- providing said zipper, said zipper including first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and said second track having a second profile, said first and second profiles being releasably engageable to each other, said first track having one or more spaced primary notches interrupting said first profile;
- providing at least one slider, said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper;
- mounting said slider onto said second profile and into a respective one of said primary notches; and
- sliding said slider onto said first profile via a respective one of said primary notches.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein said at least one slider is a plurality of sliders.
32. The method of claim 30, wherein said first track has a first fin extending downward from said first profile.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein said second track has a second fin extending downward from said second profile.
34. The method of claim 30, wherein said slider comprises a first side wall, a second side wall and transverse body member bridging said first and second side walls, said transverse body member including a separator finger.
35. The method of claim 30, wherein said slider comprises a separator finger, said separator finger extending at least partially between said first and second profiles so as to disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper.
36. The method of claim 30, further including a step of positioning said slider so that a separator finger of said slider remains between said first profile and said second profile.
37. The method of claim 30, wherein said one or more first spaced primary notches is a plurality of first spaced primary notches.
38. A method of placing a slider onto a zipper, said method comprising:
- providing said zipper, said zipper including first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and said second track having a second profile, said first and second profiles being releasably engageable to each other, said first track having one or more spaced primary notches interrupting said first profile; wherein said first track has a first fin extending downward from said first profile, wherein said second track has a second fin extending downward from said second profiles, wherein said first fin is detachably connected to said second fin,
- providing at least one slider, said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper;
- mounting said slider onto said second profile and into a respective one of said primary notches; and
- sliding said slider onto said first profile via a respective one of said primary notches.
39. A method of placing a slider onto a zipper, said method comprising:
- providing said zipper, said zipper including first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and one or more spaced first primary notches interrupting said first profile, wherein said first track has a first fin extending downward from said first profile, wherein said second track has a second fin extending downward from said second profile, wherein said first fin is detachably connected to said second fin, said second track having a second profile and one or more plurality of spaced second primary notches interrupting said second profile, said second primary notches being generally aligned with respective ones of said first primary notches to form generally aligned pairs of primary notches, said first and second profiles being releasably engageable to each other;
- providing at least one slider, said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper;
- positioning said slider in a respective one of said aligned pairs of primary notches; and sliding said slider onto said first and second profiles via a respective one of said aligned pairs of primary notches.
40. A folded zipper for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags, said zipper comprising:
- first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and one or more spaced primary notches interrupting said first profile, said second track having a second profile and one or more spaced slits interrupting said second profile, said slits being generally aligned with respective ones of said primary notches, said first and second profiles being releasably engageable to each other;
- said zipper including a plurality of fold areas generally transverse to a length of said zipper and generally aligned with respective ones of said aligned slits and primary notches, said zipper being folded along said fold areas.
41. The folded zipper of claim 40, wherein said zipper is folded in a general shape of an accordion.
42. The folded zipper of claim 40, wherein said fold areas divide said zipper into a plurality of zipper segments, said zipper segments of said folded zipper being generally parallel to each other.
43. The folded zipper of claim 40, wherein said first track has a first fin extending downward from said first profile and said second track has a second fin extending downward from said second profile.
44. The folded zipper of claim 43, wherein said first fin is detachably connected to said second fin.
45. The folded zipper of claim 40, further including at least one slider inserted onto said zipper via a respective one of said primary notches before said zipper is folded along said fold areas so as to form a folded zipper arrangement, said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper.
46. The folded zipper of claim 45, wherein said at least one slider is a plurality of sliders.
47. The folded zipper of claim 40, wherein said fold areas include respective fold lines to assist in folding said zipper.
48. The folded zipper of claim 40, wherein said zipper further includes a breakable line of weakness or an area of weakness in said fold areas to assist in detaching portions of said zipper.
49. The folded zipper of claim 40, wherein said one or more first spaced primary notches is a plurality of first spaced primary notches.
50. The folded zipper of claim 40, wherein said one or more spaced slits is a plurality of spaced slits.
51. A method of making a folded zipper for use in manufacturing thermoplastic bags, said method comprising:
- providing a zipper comprising a zipper, said zipper including first and second opposing tracks, said first track having a first profile and one or more spaced primary notches interrupting said first profile, said second track having a second profile and one or more spaced slits interrupting said second profile, said slits being generally aligned with respective ones of said primary notches, said first and second profiles being releasably engageable to each other, said zipper including a plurality of fold areas generally transverse to a length of said zipper and generally aligned with respective ones of said aligned slits and primary notches; and
- folding said zipper along said fold areas.
52. The method of claim 51, wherein said step of folding said zipper includes folding said zipper in a general shape of an accordion.
53. The method of claim 51, wherein said fold areas divide said zipper into a plurality of zipper segments, and wherein said step of folding said zipper is performed in a manner such that said zipper segments are generally parallel to each other.
54. The method of claim 51, wherein said first track has a first fin extending downward from said first profile and said second track has a second fin extending downward from said second profile.
55. The method of claim 54, wherein said first fin is detachably connected to said second fin.
56. The method of claim 51, wherein said zipper further includes at least one slider inserted onto said zipper via a respective one of said primary notches before said zipper is folded along said fold areas so as to form a folded zipper arrangement, said slider being adapted to engage and disengage said first and second profiles in response to movement along said zipper.
57. The method of claim 56, wherein said at least one slider is a plurality of sliders.
58. The method of claim 51, wherein said fold areas include respective fold lines to assist in folding said zipper.
59. The method of claim 51, wherein said zipper further includes a breakable line of weakness or an area of weakness in said fold areas to assist in detaching portions of said zipper.
60. The method of claim 51, wherein said one or more first spaced primary notches is a plurality of first spaced primary notches.
61. The method of claim 51, wherein said one or more spaced slits is a plurality of spaced slits.
62. A method of forming and filling a package, said method comprising:
- providing a zipper having one or more spaced primary notches interrupting a portion of said zipper;
- mounting a slider onto said zipper via a respective one of said primary notches, said slider being adapted to open and close said zipper;
- attaching said zipper to a web of thermoplastic film;
- forming said zipper-carrying web of film into a package having an open end;
- filling said package via said open end with a product; and
- wherein said step of mounting said slider occurs before said step of attaching said zipper.
63. A method of forming and filling a package, said method comprising;
- providing a zipper having one or more spaced primary notches interrupting a portion of said zipper; wherein said zipper includes first and second opposing profiles releasably engageable to each other and a first fin extending downward from said first profile; wherein said zipper includes a second fin extending downward from said second profile; wherein said first fin is detachably connected to said second fin,
- mounting a slider onto said zipper via a respective one of said primary notches, said slider being adapted to open and close said zipper;
- attaching said zipper to a web of thermoplastic film;
- forming said zipper-carrying web of film into a package having an open end; and
- filling said package via said open end with a product.
64. The method of claim 62, wherein said zipper further includes a plurality of fold areas and a breakable line of weakness or an area of weakness in said fold areas to assist in detaching portions of said zipper.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Aug 29, 2003
Date of Patent: Jun 10, 2014
Assignee: Reynolds Presto Products Inc. (Appleton, WI)
Inventors: Alexander R. Provan (Wolcott, NY), Thomas L. Coomber (Macedon, NY), Ian J. Barclay (Marion, NY), David V. Dobreski (Canandaigua, NY), Toby R. Thomas (Pleasant Prairie, WI)
Primary Examiner: James Brittain
Application Number: 10/652,572
International Classification: A44B 19/16 (20060101); A44B 19/42 (20060101); B65B 9/08 (20120101); B65D 33/25 (20060101);