Tamper evident resealable packaging

Abstract

A reclosable package has a first wall and a second wall opposite to the front wall. A first zipper profile including a first interlocking member is attached to the first wall and a second profile having a second interlocking member, engageable with the first interlocking member, is attached to the second wall. A slider is positioned on the profiles for movement along the profiles from side to side of the package. Package material is provided which must be removed or ruptured to permit operation of the slider or to provide access to the package contents. In either event, the steps needed to permit the initial access to the package contents leave clear evidence for a consumer that the package has been opened.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A reclosable package having a top, bottom, and sides, said package comprising: 
 a first wall and a second wall opposite to said first wall;    a first zipper profile having a first interlocking member and a first flange portion, said first flange portion being attached to said first wall along a line extending substantially from side to side of said package;    a second zipper profile having a second interlocking member engageable with said first interlocking member and a second flange portion, said second flange being attached to said second wall along a line extending substantially from side to side of said package; and    at least one of said walls and flange portions including a wall segment beyond the attachment line of said wall to its associated flange portion, said segment extending over said profiles' interlocking members to a frangible connection with an opposite one of said walls.    
     
     
         2 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a slider disposed upon said interlocking members for movement from side to side of said package between a zipper fully open and a zipper fully closed position, said at least one segment extending over said slider.  
     
     
         3 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 2  wherein a first segment extends from said first wall; a second segment extends from said second wall and said frangible connection comprises a peel seal joining said first and second segments.  
     
     
         4 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 2  wherein a first segment extends from said first wall; a second segment extends from said second wall and said frangible connection comprises a strip of peel seal, said strip having one surface attached to said first segment and an opposite surface attached to said second segment.  
     
     
         5 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 2  wherein a first segment extends from said first wall; a second segment extends from said second wall, said first and second segments being sealed to one another along a finned section and said frangible connection comprises a line of perforations extending below said finned section.  
     
     
         6 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 2  further comprising a notch cut extending below said finned section at one side of said package in line with said line of perforations.  
     
     
         7 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 2  wherein a first segment extends from said first profile flange; a second segment extends from said second profile flange and said frangible connection comprises a peel seal joining said first and second segments.  
     
     
         8 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 2  further comprising a second peel seal below said interlocking members joining one of said first wall and first flange portion to one of said second wall and second flange portion.  
     
     
         9 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said second peel seal joins said first and second walls.  
     
     
         10 . A reclosable package having a top, bottom, and sides, said package comprising: 
 a first wall and a second wall opposite to said first wall;    a first zipper profile having a first interlocking member and a first flange portion, said first flange portion being attached to said first wall along a line extending substantially from side to side of said package;    a second zipper profile having a second interlocking member engageable with said first interlocking member and a second flange portion, said second flange being attached to said second wall along a line extending substantially from side to side of said package; and    a sealing strip within said package extending from side to side and from wall to wall of the package, said sealing strip being joined by a frangible connection to at least one of said walls.    
     
     
         11 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 10  further comprising a slider disposed upon said interlocking members for movement from side to side of said package between a zipper fully open and a zipper fully closed position, said at least one segment extending over said slider.  
     
     
         12 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said sealing strip is hard sealed to said second wall; and 
 said frangible connection comprises a peel seal joining said sealing strip to said first wall.  
 
     
     
         13 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said sealing strip includes a first portion joined to said first wall and a second portion joined to said second wall; and 
 said frangible connection comprises a peel seal joining said first portion to said second portion.  
 
     
     
         14 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 12  further comprising a longitudinal fold in said sealing strip, said fold being directed away from said interlocking members.  
     
     
         15 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 13  wherein one of said sealing strip portions includes a longitudinal fold, said fold being directed away from said interlocking members.  
     
     
         16 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said seal strip is arched toward said interlocking members.  
     
     
         17 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said seal strip of material is loosely fan-folded longitudinally, said folds extending toward and away from said interlocking members.  
     
     
         18 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said sealing strip is hard sealed to said first wall and hard sealed to said second wall; and 
 said frangible connection comprises a line of perforations extending longitudinally along said sealing strip.  
 
     
     
         19 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 18  further comprising a cap overlying said line of perforations.  
     
     
         20 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 18  wherein said sealing strip is longitudinally arched toward said interlocking members.  
     
     
         21 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said sealing strip is longitudinally folded and said peel seal extends substantially along said fold; and 
 further comprising a hard seal joining said sealing strip to said second profile flange.  
 
     
     
         22 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 21  further comprising an arch formed between said peel seal and said hard seal joining said sealing strip to said second wall.  
     
     
         23 . A reclosable package having a top, bottom, and sides, said package comprising: 
 a first wall and a second wall opposite to said first wall;    a first zipper profile having a first interlocking member and a first flange portion, said first flange portion being attached to said first wall along a line extending substantially from side to side of said package;    a second zipper profile having a second interlocking member engageable with said first interlocking member and a second flange portion, said second flange being attached to said second wall along a line extending substantially from side to side of said package;    a slider disposed upon said interlocking members for movement from side to side of said package between a zipper fully open and a zipper fully closed position; and    a header secured to said package and containing said zipper profiles and slider, said header being joined by a frangible connection to at least one of said walls or one of said profile flanges.    
     
     
         24 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 23  wherein said header is connected by a first hard seal to said first wall, by a second hard seal to said second wall and said frangible connection comprises a line of perforations extending longitudinally along said header between said first hard seal and said second hard seal.  
     
     
         25 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said line of perforations is covered by a cap strip.  
     
     
         26 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 23  wherein said header comprises a first segment joined to said first wall by a first hard seal, a second segment joined to said second wall by a second hard seal and said frangible connection comprises a peel seal joining edges of said first and second segments respectively opposite to said first and second hard seals.  
     
     
         27 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 23  wherein said frangible connection comprises a peel seal joining said header to one of said walls.  
     
     
         28 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 27  wherein the header is joined to the other of said walls by a hard seal.  
     
     
         29 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 27  wherein said header is also joined to the other of said walls by a second peel seal.  
     
     
         30 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 27  further comprising a flap extending between said peel seal and a free edge of said header.  
     
     
         31 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 29  further comprising a first flap extending between said peel seal and a first free edge of said header and a second flap extending between said second peel seal and an opposite free edge of said header.  
     
     
         32 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 23  wherein said header comprises a first segment joined to said first wall by a first peel seal, a second segment joined to said second wall by a second peel, and a hard seal joining edges of said first and second segments respectively opposite to said first and second peel seals.  
     
     
         33 . A reclosable package having a top, bottom, and sides, said package comprising: 
 a first wall and a second wall opposite to said first wall;    a first zipper profile having a first interlocking member and a first flange portion, said first flange portion being attached to said first wall along a line extending substantially from side to side of said package;    a second zipper profile having a second interlocking member engageable with said first interlocking member and a second flange portion, said second flange being attached to said second wall along a line extending substantially from side to side of said package;    a slider disposed upon said interlocking members for movement from side to side of said package between a zipper fully open and a zipper fully closed position; and    a strip of film material peeled sealed to top ends of said first and second zipper profiles, said strip being disposed in the path of movement of said slider and preventing movement of said slider.    
     
     
         34 . A reclosable package having a top, bottom, and sides, said package comprising: 
 a first wall and a second wall opposite to said first wall;    a first zipper profile having a first interlocking member and a first flange portion, said first flange portion being attached by a first hard seal to said first wall along a line extending substantially from side to side of said package;    a second zipper profile having a second interlocking member engageable with said first interlocking member and a second flange portion, said second flange being attached by a second hard seal to said second wall along a line extending substantially from side to side of said package;    said first flange portion having an extension beyond said first hard seal; and    a frangible connection between said extension and at least one of said second wall and second flange portion.    
     
     
         35 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 34  further comprising a slider disposed upon said interlocking members for movement from side to side of said package between a zipper fully open and a zipper fully closed position.  
     
     
         36 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 35  wherein said extension is within the package and sealed to said second flange along a third hard seal and sealed to said first flange along a fourth hard seal and said frangible connection comprises a first line of perforations in said extension between said third hard seal and said fourth hard seal and a second line of perforations in said extension between said first hard seal and said third hard seal.  
     
     
         37 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 35  wherein said extension extends over the top of the package and is joined to said second wall by a peel seal forming said frangible connection.  
     
     
         38 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 35  wherein said extension extends over the top of the package and is joined to said second flange portion by a peel seal forming said frangible connection.  
     
     
         39 . A reclosable package having a top, bottom, and sides, said package comprising: 
 a first wall and a second wall opposite to said first wall;    a first zipper profile having a first interlocking member and a first flange portion, said first flange portion being attached to said first wall along a line extending substantially from side to side of said package;    a second zipper profile having a second interlocking member engageable with said first interlocking member and a second flange portion, said second flange being attached to said second wall along a line extending substantially from side to side of said package;    a slider disposed upon said interlocking members for movement from side to side of said package between a zipper fully open and a zipper fully closed position; and    a flap extending from said second wall over the top of said package adjacent to said slider and preventing movement of said slider, said flap being secured in position by a frangible connection.    
     
     
         40 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 39  wherein said flap is attached to said second wall by a hard seal and to said first profile by a peel seal.  
     
     
         41 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 40  comprising an extension of said flap between said peel seal and a free end of said flap.  
     
     
         42 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 40  wherein said peel seal attaches said flap to said first profile flange.  
     
     
         43 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 42  comprising an extension of said flap between said peel seal and a free end of said flap.  
     
     
         44 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 39  wherein said flap includes a first segment attached to said first wall by a hard seal, a second segment attached to said second wall by a hard seal and said frangible connection comprises a peel seal joining said first and second segments.  
     
     
         45 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 3  wherein free edges of said first and second segments extend beyond said peel seal.  
     
     
         46 . The reclosable package in accordance with  claim 39  wherein said slider is disposed at a fully closed end of said package and said flap is positioned behind an opening end of said slider.