Watertight slider-zipper assembly for reclosable packaging

Abstract

A slider-zipper construction that provides a watertight seal below the interlocked zipper profiles on the product side of the zipper. The seal comprises at least one seal part that is compressible or at least partially collapsible. The slider is designed to compress or at least partially collapse that seal part in the area below the plow of the slider, where the zipper profiles cannot be interlocked due to the interference of the plow.

1 . A slider-zipper assembly comprising a zipper and a slider mounted to said zipper, wherein said zipper comprises first and second zipper parts and said slider comprises a plow for separating opposing sections of said first and second zipper parts to open said zipper, said first zipper part comprising a first base strip, a first profiled closure member supported by said first base strip and a first sealing structure supported by said first base strip, and said second zipper part comprising a second base strip, a second profiled closure member supported by said second base strip and a second sealing structure supported by said second base strip, wherein said first and second profiled closure members are mutually interlockable for closing sections of said zipper during slider movement, said first sealing structure is compressible or at least partially collapsible, and said first and second sealing structures contact each other in closed sections of said zipper and an open section of said zipper penetrated by said plow of said slider.  
   
   
       2 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said slider is designed to exert a pressure that compresses or at least partially collapses at least a portion of said first sealing structure that is disposed beneath said plow.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said second sealing structure is compressible or at least partially collapsible.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , herein said first sealing structure is made of different material than said first base strip.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first sealing structure is hollow.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said first sealing structure is a hollow tube joined along a peripheral zone to said first base strip.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said first sealing structure is C- or U-shaped and is joined to or integrally formed with said first base strip.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said second sealing structure is hollow.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said second sealing structure is foamed material.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said second sealing structure is a body of plastomeric material.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said first sealing structure and said first base strip are made of the same material.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first sealing structure is foamed material.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said second sealing structure is foamed material.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first sealing structure is a body of plastomeric material.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said second sealing structure is a body of plastomeric material.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first base strip is made of a first material having a first modulus of elasticity, and said first sealing structure is made of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity less than said first modulus of elasticity.  
   
   
       17 . A reclosable package comprising a receptacle and an assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said zipper of said assembly is joined to or integrally formed with said receptacle.  
   
   
       18 . A slider-zipper assembly comprising a zipper and a slider mounted to said zipper, wherein said zipper comprises first and second zipper parts and said slider comprises a plow for separating opposing sections of said first and second zipper parts to open said zipper, said first zipper part comprising a first base strip, a first profiled closure member supported by said first base strip and a sealing structure supported by said first base strip, and said second zipper part comprising a second base strip and a second profiled closure member supported by said second base strip, wherein said first and second profiled closure members are mutually interlockable for closing sections of said zipper during slider movement, and said sealing structure is compressible or at least partially collapsible and contacts said second base strip along closed sections of said zipper and an open section of said zipper penetrated by said plow of said slider.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said slider is designed to exert a pressure that compresses or at least partially collapses at least a portion of said sealing structure that is disposed beneath said plow.  
   
   
       20 . The assembly as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said sealing structure is hollow.  
   
   
       21 . The assembly as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said sealing structure is a hollow tube joined along a peripheral zone to said first base strip.  
   
   
       22 . The assembly as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said sealing structure is C- or U-shaped and is joined to or integrally formed with said first base strip.  
   
   
       23 . The assembly as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said sealing structure and said first base strip are made of the same material.  
   
   
       24 . The assembly as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said sealing structure is foamed material.  
   
   
       25 . The assembly as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said sealing structure is a body of plastomeric material.  
   
   
       26 . The assembly as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said first base strip is made of a first material having a first modulus of elasticity, and said sealing structure is made of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity less than said first modulus of elasticity.  
   
   
       27 . A reclosable package comprising a receptacle and an assembly as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said zipper of said assembly is joined to or integrally formed with said receptacle.  
   
   
       28 . A reclosable package comprising a receptacle and a slider-zipper assembly comprising a zipper joined to or integrally formed with said receptacle and a slider mounted to said zipper, wherein said zipper comprises first and second interlockable profiled closure members, and said slider comprises a plow for separating opposing sections of said first and second profiled closure members to open said zipper, further comprising a substantially watertight seal extending the width of said package and disposed inside said receptacle on the product side of said profiled closure members, said seal comprising a first seal part that is compressible or at least partially collapsible, wherein said slider is designed to exert a pressure that compresses or at least partially collapses at least a portion of said first seal part that is disposed beneath said plow.  
   
   
       29 . The package as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said zipper comprises first and second flanges joined to said receptacle.  
   
   
       30 . The package as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said zipper comprises first and second base strips respectively supporting said first and second profiled closure members and joined to said receptacle in areas behind said closure members.  
   
   
       31 . The package as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said first seal part comprises a hollow structure.  
   
   
       32 . The package as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said first seal part comprises foamed material.  
   
   
       33 . The package as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said first seal part comprises plastomeric material.  
   
   
       34 . The package as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said seal further comprises a second seal part that contacts said first seal part along its entire length when said zipper is closed.  
   
   
       35 . The package as recited in  claim 34 , wherein one or both of said first and second seal parts comprises a hollow structure.  
   
   
       36 . The package as recited in  claim 34 , wherein one or both of said first and second seal parts comprises foamed material.  
   
   
       37 . The package as recited in  claim 34 , wherein one or both of said first and second seal parts comprises plastomeric material.