Reclosable Bag And Zipper Therefor

Abstract

A reclosable zipper fastener has a slider 40 and first and second profiles 24, 26 . Each profile has a body 32, 34 and a flange 28, 30 which has three zones which are, successively and in the direction away from the body, an anti-seal zone 42, 43 , a line-of-weakness formation zone 44, 45 and a sealing zone 46, 47 . The zipper can be used in a bag in which it is secured internally of a top seal 20 , the line-of-weakness zones 44, 45 forming lines along which a top portion of the bag can be removed to open the bag. The bag can then be sealed using the zipper. A tamper-evident feature is thus provided.

1 . A zipper for use in making a reclosable container, the zipper comprising first and second profiles each having a portion extending longitudinally of the profile and being shaped for releasable engagement with the corresponding portion of the other profile, at least one of the profiles having a longitudinally extending flange portion which comprises successively from the portion for releasable engagement:
 a first, antiseal zone which does not seal to a substrate upon application of a sealing means;   a second, line-of-weakness-forming zone which forms in said substrate a line of weakness extending in the longitudinal direction of the zone, upon application of a sealing means; and   a third, seal zone which forms a longitudinally-extending seal with the substrate upon application of a sealing means.   
   
   
       2 . A zipper according to  claim 1 , in which both profiles have longitudinally-extending flange portions. 
   
   
       3 . A zipper according to  claim 2 , in which both flange portions extend laterally in the same direction from the engagement portions when the portions are in engagement with each other. 
   
   
       4 . A zipper according to  claim 2 , in which both flange portions have said first, second and third zones. 
   
   
       5 . A zipper according to any preceding  claim 1 , in which the or each second zone is formed as:
 a low-seal zone having a degree of sealability between that of the first zone and that of the third zone;   a line of serrations; or   a tear strip.   
   
   
       6 . A reclosable container having an opening and a zipper according to  claim 1 , the first and second profiles being attached to respective wall portions of the container, by way of a seal between the wall portion and the third zone of the flange portion of the profile, the second zone forming a line-of-weakness in the respective wall portion which can be severed along the line of weakness to allow access to the zipper and thereby opening of the container. 
   
   
       7 . A container according to  claim 6 , in which the zipper includes longitudinally extending flange portions with said first, second and third zones and the attachment of both profiles to the respective container walls is by way of seals between the respective wall portions and the third zones of the flange profiles, the second zones of the flanges portions forming respective lines of weakness which can be severed along the lines of weakness to allow complete removal of a portion of the container to allow the said access to the zipper. 
   
   
       8 . A container according to  claim 6 , in which the container is a bag of flexible sheet material, the zipper being attached to respective interior surfaces of opposed wall portions of the bag, the wall portions being sealed to each other outwardly of the zipper, so that the bag can be opened by severing along the line-of-weakness formed in the respective wall portion and can be subsequently closed by engagement of the zipper profiles. 
   
   
       9 . A zipper according to  claim 7 , in which the container is a bag of flexible sheet material, the zipper being attached to respective interior surfaces of opposed wall portions of the bag, the wall portions being sealed to each other outwardly of the zipper, so that the bag can be opened by severing along both lines-of-weakness formed in the respective wall portions, thus allowing removal of a portion of the bag comprising the sealed wall portions and subsequent closure of the bag by engagement of the zipper profiles. 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . (canceled)