Packages having reclosable pour spout with slider-operated zipper

Abstract

A package having a reclosable pour spout with a slider-operated zipper. The package comprises: a receptacle having an interior volume and a spout that, when in an opened state, allows access to the interior volume, the receptacle having first and second sides, and the spout starting near the first side and extending toward but not coming near the second side; a length of flexible zipper arranged to close the spout when the zipper is closed; and a slider mounted to the zipper, the slider being movable in a closing direction for closing the zipper and movable in an opening direction for opening the zipper.

1 . A package comprising: 
 a receptacle having an interior volume and a spout that, when in an opened state, allows access to said interior volume, said receptacle having first and second sides, and said spout starting near said first side and extending toward but not coming near said second side;    a length of flexible zipper coextensive with said spout, said spout being closed when said zipper is closed and being opened to the extent that said zipper is opened; and    a slider mounted to said zipper, said slider being movable in a closing direction and being disengageable from each other for opening said zipper when said slider is moved in an opening direction.    
   
   
       2 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said receptacle comprises first and second walls, said first wall having a width dimension in a transverse direction when said first wall is in a planar state, said width dimension being the distance between first and second side edges of said first wall;    said length of zipper is substantially less than said width dimension of said first wall, said zipper comprising first and second zipper strips, said first zipper strip comprising a first closure profile and a first flange having one portion connected to said first closure profile and another portion joined to said receptacle in a first zone of zipper/receptacle joinder, and said second zipper strip comprising a second closure profile and a second flange having one portion connected to said second closure profile and another portion joined to said receptacle in a second zone of zipper/receptacle joinder, and    said slider is mounted to said first and second closure profiles, said first and second closure profiles being interlockable with each other to close said zipper when said slider is moved in a closing direction and being disengageable from each other for opening said zipper when said slider is moved in an opening direction,    wherein said portion of said first flange that is joined to said receptacle is joined to a first portion of said first wall, and at least part of said portion of said second flange that is joined to said receptacle is joined to a first portion of said second wall.    
   
   
       3 . The package as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said zipper length is less than half of said width dimension of said first wall.  
   
   
       4 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a box surrounding said receptacle.  
   
   
       5 . The package as recited in  claim 2 , wherein a second portion of said first wall is joined to a second portion of said second wall in a first zone of wall joinder that extends from near to the top edges of said first and second walls toward a bottom of said receptacle, said first zipper strip extending from near said first zone of wall joinder to near said first side edge of said first wall, and a third portion of said first wall is joined to a third portion of said second wall in a second zone of wall joinder that is generally parallel to said transverse direction, said second zone of wall joinder being disposed higher than an elevation of an uppermost portion of said zipper and extending at least from said second side edge of said first wall to said first zone of wall joinder.  
   
   
       6 . The package as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a layer of peel seal material having first and second sides, said layer of peel seal material extending continuously from said first side edge of said first wall to said first zone of wall joinder, wherein a fourth portion of said first wall is joined to said first side of said layer of peel seal material and a fourth portion of said second wall is joined to said second side of said layer of peel seal material to form a peel seal.  
   
   
       7 . The package as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said layer of peel seal material is lower than an elevation of said first and second closure profiles of said zipper.  
   
   
       8 . The package as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said layer of peel seal material is higher than an elevation of said first and second closure profiles of said zipper.  
   
   
       9 . The package as recited in  claim 2 , wherein a second portion of said first wall is joined to a second portion of said second wall in a zone of wall joinder that is generally parallel to said transverse direction, said second portions of said first and second walls being respective extensions of and aligned with said first portions of said first and second walls.  
   
   
       10 . The package as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a layer of peel seal material having first and second sides and disposed lower than an elevation of said first and second closure profiles of said zipper, said layer of peel seal material extending continuously from said first side edge to said second side edge of said first wall, wherein a third portion of said first wall is joined to said first side of said layer of peel seal material and a third portion of said second wall is joined to said second side of said layer of peel seal material to form a peel seal.  
   
   
       11 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said receptacle further comprises a first gusset panel connected to said first wall, and a second gusset panel connected to said first gusset panel and to said second wall, a second part of said portion of said second flange that is joined to said receptacle being joined to a portion of said first gusset panel, and said second gusset panel comprising a portion that is joined on one side to a second portion of said second wall and on another side to said portion of said first gusset panel that is joined to said second part of said portion of said second flange.  
   
   
       12 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said receptacle further comprises a first gusset panel connected to said first wall, and a second gusset panel connected to said first gusset panel and to said second wall, said first and second gusset panels having respective top edges disposed at lower than the elevations of said first and second closure profiles so that no portion of said first and second gusset panels interferes with interlocking of said first and second closure profiles.  
   
   
       13 . A package comprising: 
 a receptacle having an interior volume and comprising first and second walls, said first wall having a width dimension in a transverse direction when said first wall is in a planar state, said width dimension being the distance between first and second side edges of said first wall;    a zipper joined to said receptacle in first and second zones of zipper/receptacle joinder, said zipper comprising first and second zipper strips, said first zipper strip comprising a first closure profile and a first flange having one portion connected to said first closure profile and another portion joined to said first wall in said first zone of zipper/receptacle joinder, and said second zipper strip comprising a second closure profile and a second flange having one portion connected to said second closure profile and another portion joined to said second wall in said second zone of zipper/receptacle joinder;    a slider mounted to said first and second closure profiles, said first and second closure profiles being interlockable with each other to close said zipper when said slider is moved in a closing direction and being disengageable from each other for opening said zipper when said slider is moved in an opening direction;    a first slider end stop positioned to stop said slider from moving further in said closing direction; and    a second slider end stop positioned to stop said slider from moving further in said opening direction,    wherein the distance between said first slider end stop and said first side edge is substantially smaller than the distance between said second slider end stop and said second side edge, said slider being movable between said first and second slider end stops.    
   
   
       14 . The package as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said first and second slider end stops are separated by a distance that is not greater than half of said width dimension of said first wall.  
   
   
       15 . The package as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a box surrounding said receptacle.  
   
   
       16 . The package as recited in  claim 13 , wherein respective corners of said first and second walls are connected to the respective remainders of said first and second walls by respective lines of weakened tear resistance that facilitate removal of said corners to expose said slider.  
   
   
       17 . The package as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a top seal that joins said first wall to said second wall and blocks access to said zipper, said top seal comprising a portion made of peelable seal material or a portion that is removable with the aid of lines of weakened tear resistance formed in said first and second walls, said zipper being accessible when said peelable seal material is peeled apart or when said removable portion is removed.  
   
   
       18 . The package as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising a generally vertical seal having one portion that intersects or lies adjacent to said top seal and another portion that intersects or is adjacent to said second slider end stop.  
   
   
       19 . The package as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising a generally transverse seal that extends from one end of said first and second zones of zipper/receptacle joinder to said second side edge of said first wall.  
   
   
       20 . A package comprising: 
 a piece of bag making film sealed at a top seal of predetermined length, at a bottom seal and at a first vertical seal that extends from said top seal to said bottom seal to form a tube that is closed at both ends, said closed tube having an interior volume;    a zipper disposed within said interior volume and comprising first and second mutually interlockable zipper strips joined to confronting portions of said tube;    a slider mounted to said zipper, said first and second zipper strips being interlockable with each other to close said zipper when said slider is moved in a closing direction and being disengageable from each other for opening said zipper when said slider is moved in an opening direction;    a first slider end stop positioned to stop said slider from moving further in said closing direction; and    a second slider end stop positioned to stop said slider from moving further in said opening direction,    wherein the distance between said first slider end stop and one end of said top seal is substantially smaller than the distance between said second slider end stop and the other end of said top seal, said slider being movable between said first and second slider end stops.    
   
   
       21 . The package as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said first and second slider end stops are separated by a distance that is not greater than half of said predetermined length of said top seal.  
   
   
       22 . The package as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said piece of bag making film also sealed at a second vertical seal that extends downward from said top seal to a region adjacent said second slider end stop.  
   
   
       23 . The package as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said tube comprises first and second walls and a side gusset connected to said first and second walls, portions of said gusset being captured between portions of said first and second walls in a portion of said top seal.  
   
   
       24 . A method of manufacture comprising the following steps: 
 (a) inserting a slider on a section of zipper comprising first and second flanged zipper strips;    (b) joining a flange of said first zipper strip to a web of packaging material, said first and second zipper strips being transverse to a machine direction and having a length equal to or less than one quarter of the width of said web;    (c) forming said web into a tube;    (d) cross sealing said tube at an elevation below said first and second zipper strips to form a bottom seal that extends completely across the tube;    (e) cross sealing said tube at an elevation above said first and second zipper strips to form a top seal that extends completely across the tube; and    (f) joining a flange of said second zipper strip to said web.