Slider and closure mechanism for closure assembly

Abstract

A closure assembly usable with a pouch includes an elongate closure mechanism and a slider. The closure mechanism includes opposing closure members, each having an upper interlocking profile spaced from a lower interlocking profile. The slider includes a separator member spaced between opposing channel walls, and upper closure bars and lower closure bars protruding inwardly from the channel walls. The slider may be operatively disposed on the closure mechanism with the upper closure bars engaging the upper interlocking profiles, the lower closure bars engaging the lower interlocking profiles, and the separator member disposed between the upper interlocking profiles. The slider occludes the upper interlocking profiles and the lower interlocking profiles when urged in a closing direction along the closure mechanism, and de-occludes the upper interlocking profiles without de-occluding the lower interlocking profiles when urged in an opening direction opposite the closing direction.

1 . A closure assembly, comprising: 
 a first elongate closure member having a first upper interlocking profile spaced from a first lower interlocking profile;    a second elongate closure member having a second upper interlocking profile opposite the first interlocking profile and a second lower interlocking profile opposite the first lower interlocking profile; and    a slider including a separator member spaced between a first channel wall and a second channel wall, the slider including an upper closing bar disposed on an inner surface of one of the first and second channel walls aligned with the upper interlocking profiles and spaced from a lower closing bar disposed on an inner surface of one of the first and second channel walls aligned with the lower interlocking profiles;    wherein the slider is operationally disposed on the first elongate closure member and the second elongate closure member such that the slider de-occludes the first upper interlocking profile and the second upper interlocking profile when moved along the first elongate closure member and the second elongate closure member in a first direction without de-occluding the first lower interlocking profile and the second lower interlocking profile; and    wherein the slider occludes the first upper interlocking profile with the second upper interlocking profile and occludes the first lower interlocking profile with the second lower interlocking profile when moved along the first elongate closure member and the second elongate closure member in a second direction opposite the first direction.    
   
   
       2 . The closure assembly of  claim 1  further including a flange portion extending beyond the upper interlocking profile of one of the first and second closure members in a direction opposite the respective lower interlocking profile, the flange portion not opposed by the other of the first and second closure members.  
   
   
       3 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second lower interlocking profile is a male profile comprising an asymmetrical barbed head.  
   
   
       4 . The closure assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the asymmetrical barbed head hooks away from the upper interlocking profiles.  
   
   
       5 . The closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first upper interlocking profile comprises a symmetrical male profile, the second upper interlocking profile comprises a symmetrical female profile, the first lower interlocking profile comprises a symmetrical female profile, and the second lower interlocking profile comprises an asymmetrical hooked male profile.  
   
   
       6 . The closure assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the asymmetrical hooked male profile is turned away from the upper interlocking profiles.  
   
   
       7 . The closure assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an exposed upper flange extending upwardly beyond the first upper interlocking profile, wherein the exposed upper flange is offset beyond an upper edge of an opposing backing member for the second upper interlocking profile.  
   
   
       8 . The closure assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the exposed upper flange is an upper portion of a first pouch sidewall, and the opposing backing member is an upper portion of a second pouch sidewall.  
   
   
       9 . A slider for operatively engaging an elongate resealable closure mechanism, the slider comprising: 
 a channel defined by a left channel wall connected to a right channel wall at an upper end thereof, the channel adapted to receive the elongate resealable closure mechanism therein through a lower end opposite an upper end;    a lower closure bar protruding into the channel adjacent the lower end;    an upper closure bar protruding into the channel and spaced between the lower closure bar and the upper end; and    a separator finger spaced between the left channel wall and the right channel wall, the separator finger being aligned with the upper closure bar and not aligned with the lower closure bar.    
   
   
       10 . The slider of  claim 9 , wherein the elongate resealable closure mechanism includes a pair of opposing upper interlocking profiles spaced from a pair of opposing lower interlocking profiles, and wherein the separator finger extends between the upper interlocking profiles and not between the lower interlocking profiles when the slider is operatively engaged on the resealable closure mechanism.  
   
   
       11 . The slider of  claim 10 , wherein the upper closure bar engages one of the upper interlocking profiles and the lower closure bar engages one of the lower interlocking profiles when the slider is operatively engaged on the elongate resealable closure mechanism.  
   
   
       12 . The slider of  claim 9 , wherein the upper closure bar is substantially vertically coextensive with the upper interlocking profiles, and the lower closure bar is substantially vertically coextensive with the lower interlocking profiles.  
   
   
       13 . A method of occluding and de-occluding a closure mechanism on a pouch having a first sidewall and a second sidewall defining an opening into an interior space therebetween, the method comprising the steps of: 
 sliding an actuation member along the closure mechanism in a first direction to de-occlude an exterior pair of interlocking members;    gripping an exposed upper flange above one of the exterior pair of interlocking members and an opposing one of the first and second sidewalls;    urging the first and second sidewalls away from each other to de-occlude an interior pair of interlocking members including an asymmetric interlocking member; and    sliding the actuation member in a second direction opposite the first direction to re-occlude the exterior and interior pairs of interlocking members.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the actuation member further comprises a body defining a channel between two opposing channel walls, and a separator member disposed in the channel spaced between the opposing channel walls, and wherein the separator member extends between the exterior interlocking members and does not extend between the interior interlocking members.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the actuation member further comprises a first closure member protruding into the channel and a second closure member protruding into the channel, and wherein the first closure member is aligned and substantially coextensive with the interior pair of interlocking members and the second closure member is aligned and substantially coextensive with the exterior pair of interlocking members.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second closure member is spaced between the first closure member and a top wall of the channel.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first closure member comprises a first closure bar disposed on a first one of the channel walls and a second closure bar opposing the first closure bar disposed on the other of the channel walls, and the second closure member comprises a third closure bar disposed on the first one of the channel walls and a fourth closure bar opposing the third closure bar disposed on the other of the channel walls.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of urging requires more force to de-occlude the interior pair of interlocking members if urged from an interior side of the inner pair of interlocking members than from an exterior side of the same.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the asymmetric interlocking member includes a hook that is turned toward the interior space.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the asymmetric interlocking member includes a male member having a first hook on an interior side and a second hook on an exterior side, wherein the first hook is smaller than the second hook.