Tamper-evident reclosable bag

Abstract

A plastic bag comprises opposing body panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. A reclosable zipper extending along a mouth portion formed opposite the sealed bottom of the plastic bag. The zipper is preferably free of graspable upper pull flanges in order to best accommodate a slider and inhibit operation of the zipper without the slider. The slider is mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position. The zipper is closed while the slider is in the closed position. The zipper is opened in response to movement of the slider to the open position. To inhibit tampering with the contents of the bag, the bag includes a tamper-evident feature. In one set of embodiments, the tamper-evident feature initially maintains the slider in the closed position and allows the slider to move away from the closed position toward the open position in response to removing or breaking the tamper-evident feature. In another set of embodiments, the tamper-evident feature initially maintains a mouth portion of the plastic bag in a folded position and allows the mouth portion to be unfolded in response to removing or breaking the tamper-evident feature.

1 - 49 . (canceled)  
   
   
       50 . A reclosable slider bag comprising: 
 first and second opposing body panels connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides;    a reclosable zipper extending along a mouth formed opposite the bottom and including a rib profile and a groove profile, the rib profile and the groove profile adapted to interlock with each other;    a slider slidably mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position, the rib profile and the groove profile being interlocked while the slider is in the closed position, the rib profile and the groove profile being progressively disengaged in response to movement of the slider to the open position; and    a removable member detachably connected to at least one of the opposing body panels at a line of weakness located below the rib profile and the groove profile, the member extending over the zipper and protruding above the slider, the member being removable from the at least one of the opposing body panels along the line of weakness to allow access to an interior of the bag.    
   
   
       51 . The bag of  claim 50  wherein the member is capable of being grasped by fingers to allow the member to be torn from the at least one of the opposing body panels along the line of weakness.  
   
   
       52 . The bag of  claim 50  wherein the line of weakness includes a perforation.  
   
   
       53 . The bag of  claim 50  wherein the line of weakness includes a thinned area.  
   
   
       54 . The bag of  claim 50  wherein the line of weakness includes a score.  
   
   
       55 . The bag of  claim 50  wherein the member extends over only a portion of a length of the zipper.  
   
   
       56 . The bag of  claim 50  wherein the member envelops the zipper.  
   
   
       57 . The bag of  claim 50  wherein the line of weakness is present in both of the first and second opposing body panels.  
   
   
       58 . The bag of  claim 57  wherein the member is removable along the respective line of weakness in each of the first and second opposing body panels.  
   
   
       59 . The bag of  claim 50  wherein the line of weakness has a length that is less than a length of the zipper.  
   
   
       60 . The bag of  claim 50  wherein the line of weakness extends along the member.  
   
   
       61 . The bag of  claim 50  wherein the member includes first and second member panels connected to each other at uppermost portions.  
   
   
       62 . The bag of  claim 61  wherein the first and second member panels are connected at a location above the slider.  
   
   
       63 . A method of accessing contents within a bag, the bag including first and second opposing body panels and a reclosable zipper extending along a bag mouth formed by the body panels, the zipper having a slider slidably mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position wherein the zipper is interlocked and an open position wherein the zipper is unlocked, the zipper including a rib profile and a groove profile, the method comprising: 
 tearing an upwardly extending member from the body panels along a line of weakness in the body panels to permit access to contents with the bag, the line of weakness being below the rib profile and the groove profile; and    moving the slider from the closed position to the open position to gain access to contents with the bag.    
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the line of weakness is a perforation.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the line of weakness is a thinned area.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the line of weakness is a score.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the step of tearing the member from the body panels along the line of weakness comprises grasping the member.  
   
   
       68 . A method of using a reclosable slider bag, the bag comprising first and second opposing body panels defining an interior, a reclosable zipper extending along a bag mouth formed by the body panels, and a member detachably attached to at least one of the body panels and at least partially enveloping the zipper, the zipper having a slider slidably mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position wherein the zipper is interlocked and an open position wherein the zipper is unlocked, the zipper providing access to the interior of the bag, the method comprising: 
 removing the member from the at least one of the body panels along a line of weakness located below the zipper; and    moving the slider in a first direction to disengage the zipper, thereby providing access to the interior of the bag.    
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 68  wherein the step of removing the member at the line of weakness comprises removing the member at a perforation, a thinned area, or a score.  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 68  wherein the step of removing the member from the at least one of the body panels comprises grasping the member.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 69  wherein the step of removing the member from the at least one of the body panels comprises tearing the member from the at least one of the body panels along the line of weakness.