Reclosable bags having slider with finger that stops slider at side seal

Abstract

A reclosable bag comprising a receptacle having a mouth, a flexible closure located near the mouth, and a slider mounted over the mouth. The receptacle comprises first and second panels and first and second seals at respective ends of the mouth. The closure comprises first and second closure profiles. The slider comprises a finger that extends into the mouth, but not between the first and second closure profiles. The slider may be of a type that causes disengaged portions of the first and second closure profiles to mutually engage during travel in either direction. The finger prevents the slider from being pulled off either end of the closure by abutting the corresponding seal. The receptacle and closure may form an airtight boundary for an interior volume.

1 . A reclosable bag comprising a receptacle having a mouth and comprising first and second panels, a flexible closure located near said mouth and comprising first and second closure profiles, and a slider mounted over said mouth and comprising a finger that extends into said mouth, but not between said first and second closure profiles. 
   
   
       2 . The bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said slider causes incoming disengaged portions of said first and second closure profiles to mutually engage during travel in either direction. 
   
   
       3 . The bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said receptacle and said closure form an airtight boundary for an interior volume. 
   
   
       4 . The bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said slider is generally U-shaped and further comprises mutually opposing first and second sidewalls separated by a gap, and a bridge connecting said first and second sidewalls and overlying said gap, said finger projecting from said bridge into said gap. 
   
   
       5 . The bag as recited in  claim 4 , wherein a portion of said first panel passes between said first sidewall and said finger of said slider, and a portion of said second panel passes between said second sidewall and said finger of said slider. 
   
   
       6 . The bag as recited in  claim 4 , wherein each of said first and second closure strips comprises a respective upper flange, a portion of said upper flange of said first closure strip passing between said first sidewall and said finger of said slider, and a portion of said upper flange of said second closure strip passing between said second sidewall and said finger of said slider. 
   
   
       7 . The bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said receptacle comprises first and second seals located at opposite ends of said mouth, respective upper portions of said first and second panels spanning a space between said first and second seals, said slider finger extending between said upper portions of said first and second panels, and a first portion of said slider finger abutting said first seal when said slider reaches a first limit position at one end of said mouth. 
   
   
       8 . The bag as recited in  claim 7 , wherein a second portion of said slider finger abuts said second seal when said slider reaches a second limit position at another end of said mouth. 
   
   
       9 . The bag as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a one-way valve assembly installed in an aperture of said first panel, wherein said closure is substantially airtight when closed along its entire length. 
   
   
       10 . A reclosable bag comprising:
 a receptacle comprising first and second panels and having a mouth, an interior volume being accessible from an exterior volume when said mouth is in an open state;   a flexible closure located near said mouth and comprising first and second closure strips respectively joined or connected to said first and second panels, said first and second closure strips comprising respective closure profiles that are mutual engageable; and   a generally U-shaped slider slidably mounted over said mouth and designed to guide disengaged portions of said first and second closure profiles of said first and second closure strips into engagement during slider travel in either direction along said closure, said slider comprising mutually opposing first and second sidewalls separated by a gap, a bridge connecting said first and second sidewalls and overlying said gap, and a finger that extends into said gap but does not reach said closure profiles.   
   
   
       11 . The bag as recited in  claim 10 , wherein a portion of said first panel passes between said first sidewall and said finger of said slider, and a portion of said second panel passes between said second sidewall and said finger of said slider. 
   
   
       12 . The bag as recited in  claim 10 , wherein each of said first and second closure strips comprises a respective upper flange, a portion of said upper flange of said first closure strip passing between said first sidewall and said finger of said slider, and a portion of said upper flange of said second closure strip passing between said second sidewall and said finger of said slider. 
   
   
       13 . The bag as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said receptacle comprises first and second seals located at opposite ends of said mouth, respective upper portions of said first and second panels spanning a space between said first and second seals, said slider finger extending between said upper portions of said first and second panels, and a first portion of said slider finger abutting said first seal when said slider reaches a first limit position at one end of said mouth. 
   
   
       14 . The bag as recited in  claim 13 , wherein a second portion of said finger abuts said second seal when said slider reaches a second limit position at another end of said mouth. 
   
   
       15 . The bag as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a one-way valve assembly installed in an aperture of said first panel, wherein said closure is substantially airtight when closed along its entire length. 
   
   
       16 . A reclosable bag comprising:
 a receptacle having a mouth comprising first and second mouth walls joined to each other or to intervening material at first and second end seals;   a flexible closure located inside said receptacle near said mouth and comprising first and second closure profiles that are mutually engageable, said closure being substantially airtight when said first and second closure profiles are mutually engaged along their entire length;   a slider mounted over said mouth and comprising a finger that extends into said mouth; and   a one-way valve assembly installed in an aperture of said receptacle, whereby an interior volume bounded by said receptacle and said closure can be evacuated when said closure is closed.   
   
   
       17 . The bag as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said slider finger does not extend between said first and second closure profiles, and said slider finger abuts said first seal when said slider reaches a limit position. 
   
   
       18 . The bag as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said slider is generally U-shaped and further comprises mutually opposing first and second sidewalls separated by a gap, and a bridge connecting said first and second sidewalls and overlying said gap, said finger projecting from said bridge into said gap. 
   
   
       19 . The bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein a portion of said first mouth wall passes between said first sidewall and said finger of said slider, and a portion of said second mouth wall passes between said second sidewall and said finger of said slider. 
   
   
       20 . The bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein each of said first and second closure strips comprises a respective upper flange, a portion of said upper flange of said first closure strip passing between said first sidewall and said finger of said slider, and a portion of said upper flange of said second closure strip passing between said second sidewall and said finger of said slider.