Reclosable packages for vacuum, pressure and/or liquid containment

Abstract

Flexible containers that are hermetically resealable are disclosed herein. Each resealable container comprises a receptacle and a pair of plastic zipper strips. The zipper strips are flattened at the ends within the side seal regions and are joined to each other, without substantial deformation of the closure profiles, in respective transition areas substantially contiguous with the side seals. These transition areas of zipper strip joinder assist in providing a leakproof transition from the openable section of the zipper to the side seals, where the closure profiles are fused and flattened (i.e., crushed).

1 . A reclosable package comprising: 
 a zipper comprising first and second zipper strips that have respective portions fused together in first and second zipper end seals, said first zipper strip comprising a length of a first closure profile having at least two projecting elements and first and second flanges extending in opposite directions and connected to said first closure profile, respective portions of said first and second flanges being flattened within the boundaries of said first and second zipper end seals, and said second zipper strip comprising a length of a second closure profile having at least one projecting element that fits between said at least two projecting elements of said first closure profile and a third flange connected to said second closure profile, respective portions of said third flange being flattened within the boundaries of said first and second zipper end seals, said first and second zipper end seals respectively comprising first and second substantially flat portions and first and second transition areas respectively connected to said first and second substantially flat portions on first, second and third sides, wherein along said first and third sides of each of said first and second transition areas, each of the two projecting elements of said first and second closure profiles that are furthest apart from each other is fused to some portion of the one of said first and second zipper strips of which said respective one of said furthest-apart projecting elements does not form a part; and wherein along a second side of and within each of said first and second transition areas, said first and second closure profiles are deformed and fused together but not flattened, the respective ends of the fused material along said second side being integrally connected to the fused material of said first and third sides, respectively; and    a receptacle comprising first and second panels that are joined to said first and second zipper end seals, joined to each other in first and second zones of panel joinder that extend along respective portions of first and second sides of said receptacle not overlapping said first and second zipper end seals, respectively, of said receptacle, and connected to each other by a fold or a third zone of panel joinder extending along a bottom of said receptacle,    wherein said first through third flanges are joined to said receptacle along their length, and said second zipper strip is not joined to said receptacle along the length of any fourth flange.    
   
   
       2 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein outside said first and second zipper end seals and said first and second zones of panel joinder, said first and second flanges are joined to said first panel only, and said third flange is joined to said second panel only.  
   
   
       3 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein outside said first and second zipper end seals and said first and second zones of panel joinder, said first through third flanges are joined to said first panel only, said first flange being disposed between said second and third flanges.  
   
   
       4 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first and second panels are joined to each other in third and fourth zones of panel joinder at a top and a bottom of said receptacle respectively.  
   
   
       5 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first zipper end seal and said first zone of panel joinder have respective edges that are collinear, and said second zipper end seal and said second zone of panel joinder have respective edges that are collinear.  
   
   
       6 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second closure profiles have a contact area in the range of 33 to 76%.  
   
   
       7 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second closure profiles comprises two hooked projecting elements and a hookless projecting element.  
   
   
       8 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising food product inside said receptacle.  
   
   
       9 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising liquid inside said receptacle.  
   
   
       10 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising pressurized gas inside said receptacle.  
   
   
       11 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a peel seal joined to said first and third flanges along their length.  
   
   
       12 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a line of weakness formed in a portion of said first panel that connects the respective portions of said first panel that are joined to said first and third flanges.  
   
   
       13 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising material between the portions of said first and second closure profiles within said first and second transition areas that melts at a temperature lower than the temperature at which the zipper material melts.  
   
   
       14 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said third flange is longer than said first flange in an elevational direction and extends above said first and second zipper end seals.  
   
   
       15 . A reclosable package comprising: 
 a zipper comprising first and second zipper strips that have respective portions fused together in first and second zipper end seals, said first zipper strip comprising a length of a first closure profile and first and second flanges extending in opposite directions and connected to said first closure profile, respective portions of said first and second flanges being flattened within the boundaries of said first and second zipper end seals, and said second zipper strip comprising a length of a second closure profile interlockable with said first closure profile and a third flange connected to said second closure profile, respective portions of said third flange being flattened within the boundaries of said first and second zipper end seals, said first and second zipper end seals respectively comprising first and second transition areas disposed at opposite ends of said first and second closure profiles, and first and second substantially flat portions that respectively border said first and second transition areas on three sides thereof, said first transition area comprising first sections of said first and second closure profiles that have been deformed and at least partially fused together but not flattened, and said second transition area comprising second sections of said first and second closure profiles that have been deformed and at least partially fused together but not flattened, wherein said third flange is longer than said first flange in an elevational direction and extends beyond said first and second zipper end seals; and    a receptacle comprising first and second panels that are joined to said first and second zipper end seals, joined to each other in first and second zones of panel joinder that extend along respective portions of first and second sides of said receptacle not overlapping said first and second zipper end seals, respectively, of said receptacle, and connected to each other by a fold or a third zone of panel joinder extending along a bottom of said receptacle, wherein said first through third flanges are joined to said first panel across the full width of said first panel, and respective central major portions of said first through third flanges are not joined to said second panel.    
   
   
       16 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said first and second panels are joined to each other in third and fourth zones of panel joinder at a top and a bottom of said receptacle respectively.  
   
   
       17 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said first zipper end seal and said first zone of panel joinder have respective edges that are collinear, and said second zipper end seal and said second zone of panel joinder have respective edges that are collinear.  
   
   
       18 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said first and second closure profiles have a contact area in the range of 33 to 76%.  
   
   
       19 . The reclosable package as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a line of weakness formed in a portion of said first panel that connects the respective portions of said first panel that are joined to said first and third flanges.  
   
   
       20 . A reclosable package comprising: 
 a zipper comprising first and second zipper strips that have respective portions fused together in first and second zipper end seals, said first zipper strip comprising a length of a first closure profile and first and second flanges extending in opposite directions and connected to said first closure profile, respective portions of said first and second flanges being flattened within the boundaries of said first and second zipper end seals, and said second zipper strip comprising a length of a second closure profile interlockable with said first closure profile and a third flange connected to said second closure profile, respective portions of said third flange being flattened within the boundaries of said first and second zipper end seals, said first and second zipper end seals respectively comprising first and second transition areas disposed at opposite ends of said first and second closure profiles, and first and second substantially flat portions that respectively border said first and second transition areas on three sides thereof, said first transition area comprising first sections of said first and second closure profiles that have been deformed and at least partially fused together but not flattened, and said second transition area comprising second sections of said first and second closure profiles that have been deformed and at least partially fused together but not flattened, wherein third and fourth sections of said first and second closure profiles that are respectively adjacent said first and second sections form channels therebetween, said channels within said third section being either sealed at one end thereof by said first transition area or communicating with channels formed by said first section that are sealed except where they communicate with said channels formed by said third section, and said channels within said fourth section being either sealed at one end thereof by said second transition area or communicating with channels formed by said second section that are sealed except where they communicate with said channels formed by said fourth section; and    a receptacle comprising first and second panels that are joined to said first and second zipper end seals, joined to each other in first and second zones of panel joinder that extend along respective portions of first and second sides of said receptacle not overlapping said first and second zipper end seals, respectively, of said receptacle, and connected to each other by a fold or a third zone of panel joinder extending along a bottom of said receptacle, wherein said first through third flanges are joined to said receptacle along their length.